HARRISBURG – Sen. Jarrett Coleman’s (R-16) public school financial transparency legislation, Senate Bill 698, was advanced out of the Senate Education Committee this week.

Senate Bill 698 requires public-school entities, including school districts, charter schools and cyber charter schools, to determine the value of any property they intend to acquire.

“In Pennsylvania, school districts are not required to obtain a property appraisal before making a purchase, which is always concerning especially when taxpayer dollars are involved,” Coleman said. “When a school district purchases real estate, the price tag can be in the millions of dollars, which is why my commonsense legislation focuses on establishing the appraisal requirement. We should be confident we’re getting our money’s worth while being transparent with the public.”

Under the bill, a school entity must consult with a certified real estate appraiser authorized under Pennsylvania law to establish a property’s value. By applying the same standard across all public schools, the bill creates a consistent and straightforward approach to real estate valuation.

The bill requires the appraisal to be made available to the public under Pennsylvania’s Right‑to‑Know Law. This ensures community members can easily review the basis for real estate decisions and how public funds are being spent.

Together, these updates promote uniform standards, strengthen transparency and help safeguard taxpayer resources in every sector of Pennsylvania’s public education system.

The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Information provided to TVL by:
Leo Knepper