Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB479 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

                             
PRINTER'S NO. 464 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL 
No.479 
Session of 
2025 
INTRODUCED BY HAYWOOD, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, KANE, SAVAL 
AND SANTARSIERO, MARCH 21, 2025 
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 21, 2025 
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 
act relating to the public school system, including certain 
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 
laws relating thereto ," in terms and courses of study, 
providing for moment of silence on January 6 anniversary.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known 
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a 
section to read:
Section 1556.  Moment of Silence on January 6 Anniversary.--
(a)  Each school entity shall conduct a moment of silence during 
instructional hours for students and faculty to observe the 
anniversary of January 6, 2021, as a remembrance of the 
individuals who lost their lives or were wounded by 
insurrectionist attacks on that date.
(b)  The Department of Education shall establish a model 
curriculum for instruction in the events and significance of 
January 6, 2021, no later than twelve (12) months after the 
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20 effective date of this section. The model curriculum shall 
include all of the following where appropriate:
(1)  The historical context of the January 6 attacks.
(2)  The insurrectionist attacks on the United States 
Capitol.
(3)  United States Government response to the attacks.
(4)  Challenges and consequences in a post-January 6 world.
(c)  The Department of Education shall make available on the 
department's publicly accessible Internet website curriculum 
materials and other available resources regarding the events and 
significance of January 6, 2021, for voluntary use by school 
entities.
(d)  Nothing in subsections (b) and (c) shall be construed to 
require a school entity or nonpublic school to implement, adopt 
or use the curriculum, materials and other resources made 
available by the Department of Education under this section.
(e)  For purposes of this section, the term "school entity" 
shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter 
school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area career 
and technical school.
Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.
20250SB0479PN0464 	- 2 - 
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