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HB 428

An Act establishing the Pennsylvania Artist Fellowship Grant Program; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; and making appropriations.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Boyd and 19 co-sponsors

The study will assess whether parent-involvement policies can reduce recurring disciplinary infractions and report findings and recommendations to lawmakers.

Referred to Tourism, Recreation & Economic Development
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Bill Summary · HB 428

Summary — HB 428: Study — School Discipline Parent Involvement

Status: Passed first reading (filed Nov. 12, 2024). Jurisdiction: Education (elementary & secondary).

Main purpose

Direct the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study whether policies that increase parental involvement can reduce repeat student disciplinary infractions, and report findings and any recommended legislative changes to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

Key provisions

  • Requires DPI to conduct a study evaluating how parental-involvement policies may decrease recurring disciplinary infractions. At minimum the study must evaluate the likely impacts of:
    • Requiring a parent to attend a meeting with the student and school personnel as a condition of the student returning to the classroom after removal for disciplinary reasons.
    • Requiring a parent to attend counseling as a condition of student return.
    • Requiring parent-and-student joint counseling as a condition of student return.
    • Requiring a student to attend remote instruction instead of returning to the classroom, including social and academic impacts.
    • Other evidence‑based practices identified by subject‑matter experts to reduce disciplinary infractions.
  • Excludes students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 behavioral plan: the study will not review those infractions and will make no recommendations regarding those students.
  • DPI may contract with a third‑party organization to complete the study.
  • Reporting requirement: DPI must submit the study results and any recommendations (including proposed legislation) to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 15, 2026.
  • Appropriation: a one‑time, nonrecurring General Fund allocation of $25,000 (FY 2025–26) to DPI to conduct the study and prepare the report.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Department of Public Instruction (responsible for conducting/coordinating the study).
  • Secondary: public school districts, school personnel, students (general education population), parents, and potential third‑party contractors or research partners.
  • Not affected by study recommendations: students covered by IEPs or 504 behavioral plans (explicitly excluded).

Timeline & procedural notes

  • Study to be completed and reported to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 15, 2026.
  • $25,000 appropriation is for the 2025–26 fiscal year to support the study.
  • Bill focuses on informing policy; it does not itself change discipline procedures — any operational or statutory changes would require further action based on the study’s recommendations.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • The study could inform future policy choices about parent‑involvement conditions for reinstating students to classrooms and about use of remote instruction as a disciplinary alternative.
  • Resource implications for districts (if policies are later adopted) could include staff time, counseling capacity, transportation or scheduling supports for parent attendance, and equity concerns (parents’ work schedules, access to counseling, transportation, language supports).
  • Excluding students with IEPs/504 ensures disability‑specific disciplinary/behavioral protections are not reconsidered by this study, but may limit applicability of findings to student populations with disabilities.

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

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