Pennsylvania HB 2176: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for social media literacy education.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2826
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2176
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PROKOPIAK, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS, BRENNAN, HANBIDGE,
GIRAL, MAYES, SANCHEZ, BOROWSKI, INGLIS AND SHUSTERMAN,
JANUARY 30, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 30, 2026
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; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
providing for social media literacy education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1556. Social Media Literacy Education.--(a) The
standards adopted by the State Board of Education in accordance
with 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic standards and
assessment) shall include:
(1) The effects of social media and mobile device usage on
students, including potential mental, psychological and physical
impacts.
(2) The potential impacts of social media and mobile device
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usage on academic growth and learning.
(3) How to use social media safely, including how to
identify suspicious online behavior such as cyberbullying,
predatory behavior and potential human trafficking.
(4) How to maintain personal security on mobile devices.
(b) The State Board of Education may review the existing
State standards for health, safety and physical education, as
specified in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 to revise the standards as
necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
(c) The department shall:
(1) Develop and make available to school entities and
nonpublic schools materials on social media literacy.
(2) Make available social media literacy programming in the
continuing professional education hours developed in accordance
with section 1205.2(f).
(d) Nothing in this section shall supersede or preempt any
provision of a collective bargaining agreement between a school
entity and an employe organization.
(e) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department" shall mean the Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Nonpublic school" shall mean a nonprofit school, other than
a public school located within this Commonwealth, in which a
resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory
school attendance requirements of this act and that meets the
requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public
Law 88-352, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.).
"School entity" shall mean a school district, intermediate
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unit, area career and technical school, charter school, regional
charter school or cyber charter school operating in this
Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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