An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for Pennsylvania Promise Program; and establishing the Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund.

PRINTER'S NO. 1348
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 299
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, SAVAL, TARTAGLIONE, COMITTA, KANE,
HAYWOOD, FONTANA, CAPPELLETTI, COSTA, SCHWANK AND MILLER,
DECEMBER 5, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, DECEMBER 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; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," providing for Pennsylvania Promise
Program; and establishing the Pennsylvania Promise Program
Fund.
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 an
article to read:
ARTICLE XX-N
PENNSYLVANIA PROMISE PROGRAM
Section 2001-N. Scope of article.
This article relates to the Pennsylvania Promise Program.
Section 2002-N. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Academic year." A 12-month period commencing on or after
August 1 of the calendar year.
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
"Community college." An institution created under Article
XIX-A or the act of August 24, 1963 (P.L.1132, No.484), known as
the Community College Act of 1963.
"Eligible adult learner." An individual who:
(1) Is a resident of this Commonwealth at the time of
application to the agency for aid to assist with reeducation
programs under section 2008-N.
(2) Has been a domiciled resident of this Commonwealth
as determined by the agency.
(3) Is 24 years of age or older at the time of
application to the agency for aid to assist with reeducation
programs under section 2008-N.
(4) Has graduated from high school or an equivalent
approved by the Department of Education.
(5) Has applied for and been accepted to an institution
of higher education.
(6) Has completed a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid.
(7) Has applied for all available Federal grants, State
grants and institution grants.
"Eligible student." An individual who:
(1) Is a resident of this Commonwealth at the time of
application to the agency for a scholarship under section
2006-N or 2007-N.
(2) Has been a domiciled resident of this Commonwealth
as determined by the agency.
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(3) Is less than 24 years of age or is an active member
of a branch of the armed services at the time of application
to the agency for a scholarship under section 2006-N or 2007-
N.
(4) Has graduated from high school or an equivalent
approved by the Department of Education within the previous
five years.
(5) Has applied for and been accepted to an institution
of higher education.
(6) Has completed a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid.
(7) Has applied for all available Federal grants, State
grants and institution grants.
"Fees." Fixed charges to recover costs of certain services,
materials or activities provided. Fees may not exceed the
highest fixed charges set by the Board of Governors of the State
System of Higher Education.
"Full-time student." An individual enrolled in an
undergraduate degree program at an institution of higher
education and registered for a minimum of 12 credits per
semester or equivalent enrollment as set by the agency.
"Fund." The Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund established
under section 2005-N.
"Institution of higher education." Any of the following:
(1) A community college.
(2) A State-owned institution.
(3) A State-related institution.
(4) The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
"Part-time student." An individual enrolled in an
institution of higher education and registered for less than 12
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credits per semester or equivalent enrollment as set by the
agency.
"Program." The Pennsylvania Promise Program established
under this article.
"Room and board." The standard educational expense allowance
for the most recent year as determined by the agency.
"Scholarship for room and board." A scholarship for room and
board awarded by the agency under section 2007-N.
"Scholarship for tuition and fees." A scholarship for
tuition and fees awarded under section 2006-N.
"State-owned institution." An institution which is part of
the State System of Higher Education under Article XX-A and all
branches and campuses of the institution.
"State-related institution." The Pennsylvania State
University, Pennsylvania College of Technology, University of
Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University and associated
branch campuses of the universities.
"Tuition." An amount not to exceed the maximum undergraduate
in-State tuition rate established by the Board of Governors of
the State System of Higher Education for rendering educational
services, as enumerated in Article XX-A. The agency, at its
discretion, may increase the maximum amount.
Section 2003-N. Pennsylvania Promise Program.
The Pennsylvania Promise Program is established within the
agency.
Section 2004-N. Procedure.
(a) Agency.--The agency shall administer the program and
carry out this article.
(b) Regulations.--The agency may promulgate regulations
necessary to administer this article.
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Section 2005-N. Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund.
(a) Fund.--The Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund is
established in the State Treasury.
(b) Administration of fund.--Money in the fund is
appropriated to the agency on an ongoing basis to carry out this
article.
(c) Contributions and investment.--
(1) The fund may accept gifts, donations, legacies or
any other revenues.
(2) Interest earned by the fund shall remain in the
fund.
(d) Purpose.--Money in the fund shall be used for the
purposes stated in this article.
(e) Nonlapsing.--Money in the fund shall not lapse and shall
be available in subsequent fiscal years to be used in accordance
with the provisions of this article.
(f) Reallocation.--The agency may allocate money from the
fund to eligible students attending an institution of higher
education in accordance with sections 2006-N and 2007-N.
(g) Administrative costs.--The agency may, for program
administration, utilize the lesser of 5% or the actual costs to
the agency from money available in the fund for that fiscal
year.
Section 2006-N. Scholarship for tuition and fees.
(a) Application.--The agency shall accept applications, in a
form and manner as determined by the agency, from eligible
students for a scholarship for tuition and fees as provided in
this section.
(b) Scholarship at State-owned or State-related
institution.--An eligible student may receive a scholarship for
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tuition and fees at a State-owned institution or State-related
institution for the academic year. The amount of the scholarship
may not exceed the lesser of the maximum undergraduate in-State
tuition rate established by the Board of Governors of the State
System of Higher Education for rendering educational services as
enumerated in Article XX-A, or the outstanding tuition and fees
after Federal, State and institution grants have been applied,
if the eligible student:
(1) has a total annual household income that does not
exceed $250,000 subject to the adjustment in section 2009-N;
and
(2) is enrolled full time.
(c) Scholarship at community college.--An eligible student
may receive a scholarship at a community college for the
academic year in an amount not to exceed the outstanding tuition
and fees after Federal, State and institution grants have been
applied if, at a minimum, the eligible student is enrolled full
time.
(d) Review and approval.--
(1) The agency shall review all applications submitted
under this section.
(2) The agency may approve an application if the
application meets the requirements under subsection (b) or
(c) and if the eligible student submitting the application
meets the requirements of this article.
(e) Distribution of scholarship.--Once an eligible student
has been approved for a scholarship for tuition and fees, the
agency shall, upon receipt of an outstanding balance from an
institution of higher education, pay the outstanding tuition and
fee balance owed by the eligible student directly to the
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institution of higher education.
(f) Limitation on scholarship.--Notwithstanding any
provision of this act to the contrary, the agency may not issue
a scholarship in excess of the outstanding balance for tuition
and fees received from an institution of higher education.
(g) Renewal.--
(1) The scholarship for tuition and fees may not exceed
one academic year.
(2) The agency shall create an application to allow
previously approved eligible students to recertify their
eligibility.
(3) An eligible student at a State-owned institution or
State-related institution who has not exceeded the limitation
in subsection (i) may reapply for the scholarship for tuition
and fees if the eligible student:
(i) Is enrolled full time.
(ii) Is making satisfactory academic progress as
determined by the institution of higher education, unless
the eligible student is in the first year of college.
(iii) While attending a State-owned institution or
State-related institution, has a total annual household
income that does not exceed $250,000 subject to the
adjustment in section 2009-N.
(4) An eligible student at a community college who has
not exceeded the limitation in subsection (i) may reapply for
the scholarship for tuition and fees if the eligible student:
(i) Is enrolled full time or part time.
(ii) Is making satisfactory academic progress,
unless the eligible student is in the first year of
college.
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(h) Continued eligibility.--An eligible student must be
continuously enrolled in the institution of higher education for
the academic year which the eligible student received a
scholarship for tuition and fees. If the eligible student is not
continuously enrolled in the institution of higher education,
the agency, in its discretion, may deny renewal under subsection
(g).
(i) Limitation to scholarship.--
(1) An eligible student may not receive a scholarship
for tuition and fees if the eligible student:
(i) While attending a community college, has
completed more than four academic years or has earned an
associate's degree.
(ii) While attending a State-owned institution or
State-related institution, has completed four academic
years or has earned a bachelor's degree.
(2) A student who is otherwise eligible for a
scholarship for tuition and fees under this section may not
receive a scholarship if the local sponsor, as defined under
section 1901-A(2), reduces the amount of the payment made
under section 1913-A(a) as of the effective date of this
paragraph. The agency, in its sole discretion, may waive the
provisions of this paragraph.
(3) An eligible student may receive a scholarship for no
more than four academic years at an institution of higher
education.
Section 2007-N. Scholarship for room and board.
(a) Application.--The agency shall accept applications, in a
form and manner as determined by the agency, from eligible
students for a scholarship for room and board as provided in
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this section.
(b) Scholarship at State-owned institution or State-related
institution.--An eligible student at a State-owned institution
or State-related institution may receive a scholarship for room
and board for the academic year after Federal, State and
institution grants have been applied if the eligible student:
(1) has a total annual household income that does not
exceed $60,000 subject to the adjustment in section 2009-N;
and
(2) is enrolled full time.
(c) Scholarship at community college.--An eligible student
at a community college may receive a scholarship for room and
board for the academic year after Federal, State and institution
grants have been applied, if the eligible student:
(1) has a total annual household income that does not
exceed $60,000 subject to the adjustment in section 2009-N;
and
(2) is enrolled full time or part time.
(d) Review and approval.--
(1) The agency shall review all applications submitted
under this section.
(2) The agency may approve an application if the
application meets the requirements under subsection (b) or
(c) and if the eligible student meets the requirements of
this article.
(e) Distribution of scholarship at State-owned institution
or State-related institution.--If an eligible student has been
approved for a scholarship for room and board, the agency shall,
upon receipt of an outstanding balance from the State-owned
institution or State-related institution, pay the outstanding
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balance for room and board owed by the eligible student directly
to the institution.
(f) Distribution of scholarship at community colleges.--If
an eligible student has been approved for a scholarship for room
and board, the agency shall pay a scholarship for room and board
in a manner decided by the agency.
(g) Limitation on scholarship.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and
notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary,
the agency may not issue a scholarship for room and board in
excess of the outstanding balance received from a State-owned
institution or State-related institution.
(2) The agency may issue a scholarship for room and
board in excess of the outstanding balance received from a
community college.
(3) A student who is otherwise eligible for a
scholarship for tuition and fees under this section may not
receive a scholarship if the local sponsor, as defined under
section 1901-A(2), reduces the amount of the payment made
under section 1913-A(a) as of the effective date of this
paragraph. The agency, in its sole discretion, may waive the
provisions of this paragraph.
(h) Renewal.--
(1) A scholarship for room and board may not exceed one
academic year.
(2) The agency shall create an application to allow
previously approved eligible students to recertify the
eligible student's eligibility.
(3) An eligible student who has not exceeded the
limitation in subsection (j) may reapply for the scholarship
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for room and board if the student is enrolled full time at a
State-owned institution or State-related institution or is
enrolled full time or part time at a community college and:
(i) is making satisfactory academic progress as
determined by the institution of higher education, unless
the eligible student is in the first year of college; and
(ii) has a total annual household income that does
not exceed $60,000 subject to the adjustment in section
2009-N.
(i) Continued eligibility.--An eligible student must be
continuously enrolled in the institution of higher education for
the academic year for which the eligible student received a
scholarship for room and board. If an eligible student is not
continuously enrolled in the institution of higher education,
the agency, in its discretion, may deny renewal under subsection
(h).
(j) Limitation to eligibility.--
(1) An eligible student may not receive a scholarship
for room and board if the eligible student:
(i) Except as provided in paragraph (2), has
completed four academic years or has earned an
associate's degree while attending a community college.
(ii) Has completed four academic years or has earned
a bachelor's degree while attending a State-owned
institution or State-related institution.
(2) An eligible student may receive a scholarship for
two academic years at a State-owned institution or State-
related institution if eligibility under paragraph (1)(i) has
been exhausted.
Section 2008-N. Aid for adult reeducation.
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(a) Application.--The agency shall accept applications, in a
form and manner as determined by the agency, from an eligible
adult learner for aid for adult reeducation.
(b) Eligibility.--An eligible adult learner may receive
assistance for aid for adult reeducation programs for the
academic year if the eligible adult learner:
(1) has a total annual household income that does not
exceed $250,000 subject to the adjustment in section 2009-N;
and
(2) has applied for and been accepted into an adult
reeducation program or adult reeducation certificate program,
or is enrolled full time or part time in an institution of
higher education.
(c) Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Cluster Certificate
Scholarship Program.--The agency may use money allocated for
adult reeducation for the Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Cluster
Certificate Scholarship Program.
(d) Review and approval.--
(1) The agency shall review all applications submitted
under this section.
(2) The agency may approve an application if the
application meets the requirements under subsection (b) and
if the eligible adult learner meets the requirements of this
section.
(e) Priority.--When reviewing an application for aid under
this section, the agency shall prioritize aid for programs that
lead to an industry-recognized credential that is articulated
with college credit. The agency shall annually determine and
post on its publicly accessible Internet website industry-
recognized credentialed programs which qualify for aid priority
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under this section.
(f) Distribution of aid.--If an eligible adult learner has
been approved for aid under this section, the agency shall, upon
receipt of an outstanding balance from an institution of higher
education, pay the outstanding balance owed by an adult learner
directly to the institution of higher education.
(g) Limitation on aid.--Notwithstanding any provision of
this act, the agency may not issue any aid in excess of the
outstanding balance received from an institution of higher
education.
(h) Renewal.--
(1) Aid awarded to an eligible adult learner shall not
exceed one academic year.
(2) The agency shall create an application to allow
previously approved eligible adult learners to recertify
their eligibility.
(3) An eligible adult learner who has not exceeded the
limitation in subsection (i) may reapply for aid if the
eligible adult learner:
(i) Is enrolled full time or part time at an
institution of higher education or a certificate program
approved by the agency.
(ii) Has a total annual household income that does
not exceed $250,000 subject to the adjustment in section
2009-N.
(i) Limitation to eligibility.--An eligible adult learner
may not receive aid if the eligible adult learner:
(1) has completed more than four academic years while
attending a community college;
(2) has earned an associate's degree while attending a
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community college; or
(3) has completed an industry-recognized credential for
which the eligible adult learner was enrolled in order to
qualify for aid.
(4) has completed four academic years or has earned a
bachelor's degree while attending a State-owned institution
or State-related institution; or
(5) has completed an industry-recognized credential for
which the eligible adult learner was enrolled in order to
qualify for aid.
Section 2009-N. Annual income adjustment.
(a) CPI percentage change.--
(1) The household income limits under this article shall
be increased by a percentage equal to the percentage change
in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
statistics published by the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Any increase shall be rounded to the nearest $10.
The percentage change shall be determined by comparison of
the figure for the previous July, with that of the current
July figure. If the Consumer Price Index declines for a given
period, the household income limits under this article shall
be unchanged for that year.
(2) The agency shall, within 10 days following the
determination under paragraph (1), transmit notice of the
determination to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
(b) Coordination of programs.--Notwithstanding any provision
of law to the contrary, the agency shall coordinate efforts
between programs administered by the agency in order to maximize
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benefits to eligible students and to ensure an effective and
efficient use of Commonwealth funds.
(c) Uniform application.--To the extent possible, the agency
shall develop a single application for programs administered by
the agency to maximize the coordination of programs required
under subsection (b).
Section 2010-N. Annual report.
Beginning one year after the first scholarship is awarded
under this article, the agency shall provide the Governor, the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations
Committee of the Senate, the chairperson and minority
chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of
Representatives, the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
Representatives with a report which includes the following:
(1) The total number of students served by the program.
(2) A breakdown by race, gender, ethnicity and
socioeconomic demographic for all students served by the
program, if known.
(3) The total number of scholarships awarded and the
average amount awarded.
(4) A year-over-year comparison of the net total costs
at all institutions of higher education in this Commonwealth
which shall be used to evaluate the adequacy and success of
the program in lowering college costs.
(5) Recommendations, if any, for improving access and
affordability of higher education.
(6) A breakdown of the institutions attended by eligible
students in the program.
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(7) A breakdown of the majors in which the eligible
students in the program are enrolled.
(8) Any other information.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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