HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation aimed at improving the efficiency and transparency of school transportation funding across the state. House Bill 1326, sponsored by state Representatives Paul Friel, D-Chester, and John Schlegel, received strong support in a 201-2 vote.
The bill mandates that school districts report the number of students transported to public, nonpublic, and charter schools, along with the total transportation costs for each, to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This data will be published online to enhance public accountability.
Additionally, the legislation modernizes mileage reporting requirements by allowing school districts to use GPS software for tracking, which is both more accurate and easier to use than manual methods.
“Over the past year, in a bipartisan manner, Representative Schlegel and I have spearheaded a work group with school transportation contractors, statewide associations representing school business, state department officials and school district transportation directors from across the commonwealth with the common goal to modernize Pennsylvania’s school transportation laws,” said Friel. “This bill is an excellent first step toward that goal.”
The collaborative effort behind the legislation involved a diverse group of experts and stakeholders, ensuring it addresses key challenges in the state’s outdated transportation system. If enacted, House Bill 1326 is expected to simplify compliance and better allocate resources in the school transportation sector.
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