An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, providing for communism and socialism education.

PRINTER'S NO. 2903
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2209
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY RASEL, REICHARD, HAMM, KUZMA, HEFFLEY, WATRO,
JAMES AND ROWE, FEBRUARY 9, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 11, 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 miscellaneous provisions relating
to institutions of higher education, providing for communism
and socialism 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 2007-I. Communism and socialism education.
(a) One credit education program required.--Beginning in the
2027-2028 school year and in each school year thereafter, an
institution of higher education shall establish and implement a
one credit education program on the dangers and realities of
communism and socialism in a free society. The course shall be
required for all students attending an institution of higher
education that receives State funding.
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(b) Curriculum.-- An institution of higher education that
receives State funding may develop a curriculum or use, in part
or in whole, an already established curriculum for the education
program required under subsection (a). The education program
shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in the
following subjects:
(1) The definition of capitalism, communism and
socialism. The instruction shall include that:
(i) c apitalism is not a totalizing ideology, but
rather works across historical periods and in diverse
contexts on the idea that individuals can and should be
able to choose how to use resources, such as amassing
wealth, investing in innovation or giving to charities;
(ii) under the pretense of a classless, egalitarian
society, communist regimes in practice rely on force, use
brutality and repress speech, religion, assembly and all
other rights and freedoms; and
(iii) Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argued that
socialism was an intermediate step between free market
capitalism and the ultimate goal of communism. Lenin
concurred that socialism was the first, or lower, phase
of communist society.
(iv) The ideological father of fascism and
intellectual author of the "doctrine of fascism,"
Giovanni Gentile was inspired by thinkers such as Karl
Marx and viewed fascism as a form of socialism. By
ideological bases, fascism is a national collective while
socialism is an international collective.
(2) An overview of the real-world application of
communism and socialism in:
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(i) China.
(ii) Cuba.
(iii) Laos.
(iv) North Korea.
(v) The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
(vi) Vietnam.
(vii) Venezuela.
(viii) Any other past or present communist or
socialist government.
(3) The systematic destruction of civil liberties,
personal freedoms and freedom of the press in communist and
socialist societies.
(4) A free market and capitalist society in comparison
to a communist society.
(5) The role of government in communist societies.
(6) Marxism, the Communist Manifesto, written by Karl
Marx and Friedrich Engels, and other significant communist
ideologies.
(7) An overview of the history of communism in the
modern world, including:
(i) World War II;
(ii) the Korean War;
(iii) the Vietnam War;
(iv) the Cold War; and
(v) any other significant world event relating to
communism and socialism.
(8) Current communist regimes and nations at risk of
instituting a communist government.
(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
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subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Capitalism." An economic system characterized by:
(1) private or corporate ownership of capital goods;
(2) investments that are determined by private
decisions; and
(3) prices, production and the distribution of goods and
property that are determined mainly by competition in a free
market.
"Communism." An ideology and system of centralized political
power in which a single-party dictatorship abolishes private
property and controls the means of production and the
distribution of goods and services.
"Fascism." An ideology and system that:
(1) puts nation and, often, race above the individual;
(2) is characterized by severe economic and social
regimentation and by forcible suppression of the opposition;
and
(3) promotes planned economies in which it is the
government that determines what, how much and how to produce.
"Institution of higher education." Any of the following:
(1) A community college operating under Article XIX-A.
(2) A rural regional college established under Article
XIX-G.
(3) A university within the State System of Higher
Education under Article XX-A.
(4) A State-related institution as defined in section
2001-C.
(5) The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
(6) Any accredited private or independent college or
university.
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(7) Any private licensed school as defined in section 2
of the act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1585, No.174), known as
the Private Licensed Schools Act.
"Socialism." An ideology and system of political and
economic organization in which major industries and other
sectors, such as health care and education, are owned or
controlled by the government rather than by individuals and
private companies.
"State funding." Any State grant or loan authorized by a law
of this Commonwealth that an institution of higher education
receives either directly or indirectly, including any State
funding through the act of August 7, 1963 (P.L.549, No.290),
referred to as the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency Act, or the act of July 18, 1974 (P.L.483, No.174), known
as The Institutional Assistance Grants Act .
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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