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SB 1383

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for residence and right to free school privileges; and, in charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jarrett Coleman and 3 co-sponsors

SB 1383 would require annual residency verification for Pennsylvania students to attend public schools and qualify for free school privileges, affecting districts and families.

Referred to Education
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1383

Summary of Bill: SB 1383 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania Public School Code amendments

Purpose and intent

SB 1383 seeks to amend the Public School Code of 1949 to enhance oversight of student residency and access to free school privileges, with a particular focus on annual residency verification. The bill also revises provisions related to charter school enrollment and notification. The sponsor package includes a memo titled “Annual Residency Verification for Pennsylvania Students,” indicating a primary aim to ensure students reside within the district or approved boundaries and to tighten verification requirements.

Key provisions and changes

  • Pupils and attendance – residence and free school privileges

    • The bill proposes changes to standards governing student residence for purposes of attendance and qualification for free public education.
    • It would establish or modify requirements related to proving a student’s residency, potentially including documentation, verification timelines, and thresholds for determining eligibility for free school privileges.

  • Charter schools – enrollment and notification

    • The bill makes amendments to charter school enrollment procedures.
    • It would affect how charter schools verify eligibility for enrollment, the process by which families are notified about enrollment decisions, and related notice timelines or content.
    • The changes aim to align charter school enrollment with residency verification standards applicable to traditional public schools.

  • Annual residency verification framework (implicit core mechanism)

    • The accompanying memo emphasizes an “Annual Residency Verification for Pennsylvania Students,” suggesting a formal, ongoing process to confirm that students continue to meet residency requirements on an annual basis.
    • While specific procedural steps are not detailed in the summary material available, anticipated components likely include:
    • Required documentation for annual verification (e.g., proof of address, parent/guardian affirmation).
    • Timelines for submitting verification (e.g., school year start, mid-year reminders, or annual windows).
    • Consequences for non-verification or falsified residency (e.g., ineligibility for attendance, potential withdrawal).

Who is affected

  • Students and families

    • Students must meet residency requirements to attend public schools and to be eligible for free school privileges. Annual verification could require families to provide updated residency information.

  • Public school districts and charter schools

    • Districts and charter schools would implement verification procedures, track residency status, and enforce enrollment eligibility consistent with verified residency.
    • School administrators would manage documentation, notifications, and potential remedial actions for students not meeting residency verification.

  • Education policymakers and administrators

    • The Department of Education and school boards would oversee the implementation, monitoring, and potential penalties or administrative actions arising from residency verification non-compliance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status and referral
    • The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on June 22, 2026.
  • Legislative status
    • As of the latest action, SB 1383 has not yet advanced to final passage in the Senate; it remains under committee consideration.
  • Implementation timeline (upon passage)
    • The bill’s text does not specify exact implementation dates. Typical next steps would include rulemaking or guidance from the Department of Education and a defined effective date upon enactment, followed by established enrollment/verification cycles (likely aligned with the school year).

Notable details

  • Sponsors

    • Prime Sponsor: Senator Jarrett Coleman (R, SD 16)
    • Co-Sponsors: Senator Dawn Keefer (R, SD 31), Senator Patrick Stefano (R, SD 32), Senator Elder Vogel (R, SD 47)

  • Official title and scope

    • An Act amending the Public School Code of 1949, with emphasis on “residence and right to free school privileges” and, for charter schools, “enrollment and notification.”

Potential impact considerations

  • Strengthening residency verification could reduce issues of ineligible enrollment and potential strain on district resources.
  • Charter schools would need to align enrollment practices with verification requirements, impacting families seeking admission.
  • Administrative workload for districts and charter schools may increase due to documentation collection, tracking, and compliance monitoring.
  • For families, annual verification may introduce new reporting requirements and potential consequences for non-compliance.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a particular audience (e.g., school administrators, policymakers, or the general public) or compare it with current residency rules to highlight substantive changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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