HARRISBURG, PA — New legislation mandating that public and private schools immediately notify parents and staff of any weapon possession incidents is on its way to Governor Josh Shapiro for his signature, marking a significant step toward increasing transparency in school safety.
The bill, Senate Bill 246, sponsored by state Sen. Jarett Coleman, requires schools to notify parents, guardians, and employees within 24 hours of any incident where a knife, gun, or other weapon is brought onto school property, to a school-sponsored activity, or on school transportation.
The measure significantly expands on previous requirements, which only mandated that school districts report incidents to the Pennsylvania Department of Education if they resulted in an expulsion for weapon possession. Lawmakers argued the previous standard left too many families and staff unaware of potential safety threats.
The bill was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Proponents, including Sen. Coleman, stressed that parents deserve immediate and consistent information about weapon incidents, regardless of whether a student is ultimately expelled or if the possession was accidental. The new notification requirement is intended to create greater trust and a shared awareness of safety issues between schools and their communities.