An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificate fee reduction.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jay Costa and 4 co-sponsors

SB 295 would reduce the state certification fees for teachers under the Public School Code, lowering costs for credentialing and potentially expanding the teacher workforce.

Referred to Education

Summary of SB 295 (2025-2026) – Public School Code of 1949: Certification of Teachers and State Certificate Fee Reduction

Purpose and intent

SB 295 aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949, specifically addressing the certification process for teachers and, in particular, providing for a reduction in the State certificate fee. The bill’s subject line highlights “State certificate fee reduction” within the broader framework of teacher certification.

Key provisions and changes

Amends the act of March 10, 1949 (Public School Code) to modify how State certificate fees are assessed or charged for teacher certification.

The exact numerical changes (e.g., the amount of the fee reduction, eligibility criteria, phase-in schedule, or applicability to specific certifying pathways) are not specified in the provided text. The bill is described as “further providing for State certificate fee reduction,” indicating an adjustment or potential lowering of fees paid to obtain or maintain teacher certification at the state level.

The bill is positioned within the broader topic of certification of teachers, suggesting that other related certification processes or requirements under the Public School Code may interact with the fee provision.

Who/what would be affected

Prospective and current teachers undergoing state certification processes would be directly affected, as the measure concerns the fees paid for state certification.

Public school districts and educator workforce pipelines could be indirectly affected by changes in cost barriers to certification, potentially influencing recruitment, retention, and credentialing timelines.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (or the agency administering teacher certification) would be responsible for implementing the revised fee structure and related administrative changes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Referred to the Senate Education Committee on June 25, 2026.

Governing process: As a bill amending the Public School Code, it would advance through committee consideration, potential amendments, and floor votes in the Senate, followed by consideration in the House (and possible reconciliation) before becoming law.

No actions or vote records are listed yet beyond the referral; no fiscal note, implementation date, or transition timeline is provided in the current summary.

Additional context and notes

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Vincent Hughes and co-sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Williams, Sen. Joe Picozzi, and Sen. Art Haywood.

The “Talent Recruitment Account” memo tag suggests alignment with broader workforce development and educator recruitment initiatives, possibly envisioning fee reductions as a component to attract more individuals into the teaching profession.

The exact policy design (e.g., whether the reduction is universal or targeted to certain groups, certification types, reciprocity with other states, or sunset/continuation provisions) remains to be clarified in the full text and subsequent amendments.

If you’d like, I can pull the full bill text or any available fiscal notes to provide precise figures, eligibility details, and implementation timelines.