Bill > SB781

This bill amends the Pennsylvania Public School Code to introduce mental health days for students, requiring all public and private schools to adopt policies allowing excused absences for mental health reasons starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Students will be permitted to take up to two consecutive mental health days, with specific provisions defining what constitutes a mental health-related absence, including both certified conditions (such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD) and uncertified conditions (like situational grief, trauma, or overwhelming stress). The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop guidelines within 90 days of the bill's enactment, including a model policy and evidence-based guidance for schools to support students' mental health. The bill provides comprehensive definitions for terms like "mental health day," "fatigue," and "uncertified mental health-related condition," and requires schools to create support systems for students who utilize mental health days. The legislation aims to recognize and address students' mental health needs by providing a structured approach to acknowledging mental and emotional well-being as valid reasons for school absence, while ensuring that schools have clear protocols for managing and supporting students experiencing mental health challenges.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=781