In the near future, I will introduce legislation to revise the tuberculosis (TB) testing requirement for school volunteers and student teachers. Under current law, each student teacher and volunteer participating in student activities must be tested for TB, provisions enacted in 1949 and last amended in 1971.

This legislation will provide flexibility while continuing to prioritize student health and safety. While this requirement was appropriate at the time, it no longer reflects modern public health conditions or best practices.

TB testing requires healthcare visits, time, and out-of-pocket expenses that affect individuals with limited resources. This discourages parents, community members, and student teachers from volunteering or gaining classroom experience.

Pennsylvania schools are facing staffing challenges. Approximately 90% of school districts report shortages of substitute teachers, and roughly 70% report shortages of instructional aides. Providing flexibility around TB testing will help remove unnecessary barriers and expand opportunities for individuals to support our schools.

Please join me in supporting this important piece of legislation that will revise the TB testing requirement for volunteers and student teachers. Updating this policy will reflect modern public health standards and contribute to addressing staffing shortages in our schools.