Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB840

Introduced
3/10/25  

Caption

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for Targeted Industry Cluster Certificate Scholarship Program.

Impact

The bill is expected to have a significant impact on state education funding and align educational programs with current labor market demands. By providing scholarships for shorter, industry-specific programs, the bill encourages faster entry into the workforce in areas with immediate demand, such as nursing and public health. The Department of Education is tasked with collaborating with the Department of Labor and Industry to ensure that the programs funded through this initiative adequately meet the state's workforce requirements.

Summary

House Bill 840 aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949 in Pennsylvania to enhance the Targeted Industry Cluster Certificate Scholarship Program. This initiative seeks to provide financial assistance in the form of grants for eligible students pursuing programs of study at approved educational providers. The primary goal is to help residents defray the costs of education in fields critical to the state's workforce needs, particularly in healthcare and public health disciplines.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding HB840 appears to be positive, particularly among lawmakers who prioritize workforce development and education. Supporters argue that enhancing the scholarship program can lead to better employment opportunities for residents and ultimately strengthen the state's economy. Nonetheless, there may be concerns raised about funding sustainability and the selection process for eligible programs, which could spark debate among various stakeholders in education and industry.

Contention

Notable contention surrounding the bill may arise from discussions on how scholarships are allocated and which educational providers are deemed eligible. Critics could argue that the bill may not adequately address the needs of all educational institutions or potential students, and there might be worries about the effectiveness of the targeted programs. Additionally, defining what constitutes 'immediate workforce needs' could be a point of debate, potentially leading to differing opinions on the priorities that the state should focus on in workforce training and education.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2307

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for extraordinary special education program expenses.

PA HB2285

In school health services, further providing for health services; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for State reimbursement for health services.

PA HB1326

In pupils and attendance, further providing for computation of distances; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for pupil transportation data.

PA HB2025

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for reimbursements for borrowing costs during budget impasse; and establishing the School District Impasse Recovery Fund.

PA HB1885

In terms and courses of study, providing for school swimming education program; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for payments on account of school swimming education program; and making an appropriation.

PA HB2286

In Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program, further providing for definitions.

PA HB2436

In certification of teachers, further providing for State certificate fee reduction; and, in Keystone Telepresence Education Grant Program, further providing for Keystone Telepresence Education Grant Program.

PA HB1405

In certification of teachers, further providing for career and technical instructional certificate.

PA HB2317

In Commonwealth agency fees, further providing for Department of Labor and Industry to collect fees.

PA SB315

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 preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission and for minimum number of days or hours; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for admission fees for school-sponsored activities; in intermediate units, further providing for staff; in certification of teachers, further providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach and for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department, providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and for State certificate fee reduction, further providing for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate, for program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education and for postbaccalaureate certification, providing for assessment of basic skills, further providing for professional educator discipline fee and providing for career and technical administrative director certification flexibility; in pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant, for procedure upon filing of citation, for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements and for study of truancy procedure, providing for department supports to prevent truancy and further providing for reports to Superintendent of Public Instruction and for exceptional children and education and training; in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator and for school safety and security training, providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2025-2026 school year and further providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students and for enrollment of students; in evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions and providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts and providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; in interscholastic athletics accountability, further providing for council recommendations and standards; in charter schools, further providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for enrollment and notification and for enrollee wellness checks; in career and technical education, further providing for capital reserve fund for approved purchases of equipment and facility maintenance, for career and technical education equipment grants, for Cosmetology Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program and for Barber Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program; providing for Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; in educational tax credits, further providing for limitations; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for exit counseling; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to State-related university performance-based funding model, further providing for prohibition on scholarship displacement at public institutions of higher education and providing for cooperation and for State scholarship renewals; in institutions of higher education, further providing for powers and duties of State Board of Higher Education, for definitions, for Performance-based Funding Council and for public institution of higher education reporting, providing for State-related University Performance Fund, for performance-based funding formula and for public accountability and further providing for agency duties, for grant priority and for report; in Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship, further providing for agency; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2025-2026; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, for extraordinary special education program expenses, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; abrogating regulations; and making an editorial change.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.