HB 795 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in high schools, further providing for courses of study.

PRINTER'S NO.   819

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 795
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY M. MACKENZIE, KUZMA AND KAUFFMAN, MARCH 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in high schools, further providing
 6      for courses of study.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1605(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
10   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
11   amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
12   read:
13      Section 1605.    Courses of Study.--(a)     In all public, private
14   or parochial schools, there shall be integrated in the social
15   studies curriculum courses of study as provided in this act. It
16   shall be the duty of the superintendent having supervision over
17   any high school to prepare, and recommend to the board of school
18   directors maintaining the same, suitable courses of study, which
19   shall be adopted by said board of school directors, with such
20   changes as they may deem wise, subject to the provisions of this
 1   act. During grades seven through twelve inclusive, there shall
 2   be included at least four semesters or equivalent study in the
 3   history and government of that portion of America which has
 4   become the United States of America, and of the Commonwealth of
 5   Pennsylvania, of such nature, kind or quality, as to have for
 6   its purpose the developing, teaching and presentation of the
 7   principles and ideals of the American republican representative
 8   form of government, as portrayed and experienced by the acts and
 9   policies of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and
10   framers of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of
11   Rights. The study of the history of the United States, including
12   the study of the Constitution of the United States and the study
13   of the history and Constitution of this Commonwealth, shall also
14   be such as will emphasize the good, worthwhile and best features
15   and points of the social, economic and cultural development, the
16   growth of the American family life, high standard of living of
17   the United States citizen, the privileges enjoyed by such
18   citizens, their heritage and its derivations of and in our
19   principles of government. Such instruction shall have for its
20   purpose also the instilling into every boy and girl who comes
21   out of our public, private and parochial schools their solemn
22   duty and obligation to exercise intelligently their voting
23   privilege and to understand the advantages of the American
24   republican form of government as compared with various other
25   forms of government. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, and
26   continuing each school year thereafter, the instruction under
27   this subsection shall include instruction on the following
28   topics, including Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, Joseph
29   Stalin and the Soviet system, Fidel Castro and the Cuban
30   Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Pol Pot

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 1   and the Khmer Rouge and Nicolas Maduro and the Chavismo movement
 2   and how victims suffered under each of the aforementioned
 3   regimes through poverty, starvation, migration, systemic lethal
 4   violence and suppression of speech.
 5      (a.1)   No later than April 1, 2026, the State Board of
 6   Education shall promulgate regulations consistent with
 7   subsection (a).
 8      * * *
 9      Section 2.     All regulations and parts of regulations are
10   abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with this act.
11      Section 3.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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