Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 16 D cosponsors

HB 1401 — 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, providing for educator preparation admission.

Last action — Laid on the table, May 12, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced May 05, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (16 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Teacher Certification GPA Requirement

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

37 added · 43 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of HB 1401 has clarified the admission requirements for teacher preparation programs. It now specifies that applicants must complete at least 48 credit hours or equivalent coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.8, while also allowing institutions to accept a small percentage of applicants who may not meet this GPA requirement. Additionally, the term "alternative program provider" has been removed, simplifying the language around who can recruit and admit applicants, which may help streamline the process for teacher preparation. This change is significant because it aims to maintain high educational standards while also offering some flexibility in the admissions process.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
1600 PRINTER'S NO.
1600 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
1683 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
1401 2025 INTRODUCED BY YOUNG, SANCHEZ, MERSKI, PROBST, PIELLI, SCHLOSSBERG, PROKOPIAK, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, ISAACSON, PARKER, ABNEY, O'MARA, OTTEN, TAKAC AND SCHWEYER, MAY 5, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 5, 2025 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;
1401 2025 INTRODUCED BY YOUNG, SANCHEZ, MERSKI, PROBST, PIELLI, SCHLOSSBERG, PROKOPIAK, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, ISAACSON, PARKER, ABNEY, O'MARA, OTTEN, TAKAC AND SCHWEYER, MAY 5, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 12, 2025 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 laws relating thereto," in certification of teachers,ng the providing for educator preparation admission.
amending, revising, consolidating and changing the providing for educator preparation admission.eachers, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Educator Preparation Admission.--(a) A preparing institution OR AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM PROVIDER shall <-- recruit and admit applicants who demonstrate potential for professional success in a public school by ensuring that each applicant admitted to an initial preparation program culminating in a bachelor's degree or higher shall have completed at least forty-eight (48) semester credit hours or the full-time equivalent of prior college or university coursework with a minimum grade point average of 2.8.
Educator Preparation Admission.--(a) A preparing institution shall recruit and admit applicants who demonstrate potential for professional success in a public school by ensuring that each applicant admitted to an initial preparation program culminating in a bachelor's degree or higher shall have completed at least forty-eight (48) semester credit hours or the full-time equivalent of prior college or university coursework with a minimum grade point average of 2.8.
ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM <-- PROVIDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS HAVE COMPLETED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITH A MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 2.8.
"ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM PROVIDER." AS DEFINED IN 22 PA.
CODE § <-- 49.1 (RELATING TO DEFINITIONS).
20250HB1401PN1683 - 2 -
20250HB1401PN1600 - 2 -
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes new requirements for the admission of applicants to educator preparation programs in Pennsylvania.

  • Section 1207.5

    (a) A preparing institution OR AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM PROVIDER shall recruit and admit applicants who demonstrate potential for professional success in a public school by ensuring that each applicant admitted to an initial preparation program culminating in a bachelor's degree or higher shall have completed at least forty-eight (48) semester credit hours or the full-time equivalent of prior college or university coursework with a minimum grade point average of 2.8. ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM PROVIDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS HAVE COMPLETED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITH A MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 2.8.

    This section requires that both preparing institutions and alternative program providers ensure applicants for educator preparation programs have specific educational qualifications and GPAs.

  • Section 1207.5

    (c) A preparing institution may accept up to ten percent (10%) of the applicants for admission to the initial preparation program who do not meet overall minimum GPA requirements under subsection (a). The criteria for admission of applicants under this subsection shall be developed and documented by the preparing institution and must include the requirements in 22 Pa. Code § 49.12 (relating to eligibility).

    This section allows institutions to admit a small percentage of applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, providing flexibility in the admissions process.

Action History

  1. Laid on the table, May 12, 2025

  2. First consideration, May 12, 2025

  3. Reported as amended, May 12, 2025

  4. Referred to EDUCATION, May 5, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 237 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (237)

237 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1401 do?
Teacher Certification GPA Requirement
Who sponsors HB 1401?
HB 1401 is sponsored by Regina G. Young (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Robert E. Merski (Democratic), Tarah Probst (Democratic), Chris Pielli (Democratic), Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), MaryLouise Isaacson (Democratic), Darisha K. Parker (Democratic), Aerion Abney (Democratic), Jennifer O'Mara (Democratic), Danielle Friel Otten (Democratic), Paul Takac (Democratic), Peter Schweyer (Democratic), and Jim Prokopiak (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 1401?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced May 05, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1401?
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