WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2152

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for secondary school start times.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 28 co-sponsors

HB 2152 updates the School Safety and Security Grant Program to enhance safety funding while also guiding secondary schools to consider start times within course planning to suppor

Laid on the table
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2152

Summary of HB 2152 (Pennsylvania, 2025-2026)

Overview

HB 2152 amends the Public School Code of 1949 with two primary aims:
1) Strengthening school safety and security through changes to the School Safety and Security Grant Program.
2) Addressing the timing of secondary school start times by adding provisions related to terms and courses of study.

The bill is sponsored by a broad slate of lawmakers and has progressed to first consideration after being reported as amended.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Enhance school safety and security across Pennsylvania public schools by modifying the state’s grant program designed to fund safety-related measures.
  • Introduce or formalize requirements or considerations related to secondary school start times as part of the state’s curriculum and course planning framework.

In essence, the bill seeks to ensure improved safety infrastructure and planning for schools while also addressing how secondary schools approach start times within their course schedules and curricula.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

A. School Safety and Security Grant Program

  • The bill revises the act governing the School Safety and Security Grant Program (within the Public School Code) to update eligibility, distribution, reporting, or allowable uses of grant funds.
  • Possible areas of change (in line with typical grant program updates) may include:
    • Eligible safety improvements (e.g., upgrades to access control, surveillance, communication systems, safety training, threat assessment, safe school design).
    • Grant application and approval processes, including eligibility criteria for districts, charters, or municipalities.
    • Reporting requirements to the Department of Education or legislature on program utilization and safety outcomes.
    • Duration and funding terms, including any matching funds, grant cycles, or sunset provisions.
  • The exact text of amendments would specify the revised scope, funding levels, and compliance expectations.

B. Secondary School Start Times (Terms and Courses of Study)

  • The bill includes provisions related to terms and courses of study that address secondary school start times.
  • Potential elements (as framed by similar prior policy efforts) may include:
    • Guidelines or requirements for school districts to adjust or consider start times to improve student health, well-being, and academic performance.
    • Requirements for districts to align start times with research-based best practices or to conduct feasibility studies.
    • Considerations for how start times affect transportation, staffing, and course offerings.
    • Integration of start-time considerations into graduation requirements, course sequencing, and clock hours.

Note: The exact language would determine whether start-time changes are mandatory, voluntary, or subject to waivers, as well as any timelines for implementation.

3) Who/What is Affected

  • Public school districts and charter schools in Pennsylvania that qualify for the School Safety and Security Grant Program.
  • Local education agencies responsible for safety infrastructure investments and reporting.
  • Secondary schools and their scheduling teams, administrators, teachers, and students, insofar as start times and related course scheduling are concerned.
  • State education officials who administer the grant program and oversee compliance with the updated provisions.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Action History:
    • Referred to the Education committee on 2026-01-21.
    • Reported as amended and placed on the “First Consideration” and laid on the table on 2026-02-04.
  • Next steps likely include debate, potential further amendments, and a vote in the full chamber, followed by consideration by the other legislative house (if applicable) and, ultimately, transmission to the governor for signature or veto.
  • If enacted, implementational timelines would depend on the effective date stated in the act and any transitional provisions for ongoing grant cycles or school-year planning.

5) Practical Implications

  • School safety budgets could be directed or redirected to fund updated security measures, with reporting and accountability requirements increasing transparency.
  • Districts may need to reassess scheduled start times for high schools, evaluate potential health/academic benefits, and plan for any associated logistical changes (transportation, staffing, and course scheduling).
  • The bill’s amended language could set new benchmarks or expectations for safety funding and for the scheduling framework of secondary education.

If you’d like, I can extract the exact text of the amendments or compare this bill to current law to pinpoint precise changes and their fiscal impact.

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

Sign in to ask a question.