Bill > SB1116

This bill mandates that Pennsylvania schools provide age-appropriate education about communism, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, requiring instruction on the origins, historical development, and core tenets of communist ideology, as well as the human rights abuses and economic failures associated with communist regimes. The education would be integrated into existing courses like history, civics, and government, and would include comparisons between communist political systems and United States democratic principles. The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop model curriculum, primary source materials, and instructional resources, consulting with historians, human rights organizations, and survivors of communist regimes. Schools would be required to report annually on their instruction, and participation is voluntary. The bill defines key terms like "communism" as a political ideology advocating for centralized economic control and one-party authoritarian structures, and "totalitarian ideology" as a system characterized by suppression of individual freedoms and absence of democratic processes. Professional development will be offered to help educators teach this content effectively, and the department may support public awareness initiatives about the experiences of victims of communist regimes.

Education

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb1116