HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 Amid the AI boom, two Pennsylvania lawmakers want to go back to a saw, some wood and a skilled pair of hands.<\/p>\n
Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) and Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) said they plan to propose legislation that would require students in grades six through 12 to attend shop class.<\/p>\n
Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to quality shop classes varies across school entities,\u201d the lawmakers said in a co-sponsorship memo to colleagues. \u201cThis bill provides students with access to hands-on technical education regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status.\u201d<\/p>\n If passed, schools would need to give students at least one unit of hands-on technical education. That could mean tool use, home repair, craftsmanship, machine safety, technical drawing, robotics and engineering.<\/p>\n \u201cThe legislation allows flexibility for districts to design programs meeting local needs,\u201d the lawmakers said.<\/p>\n Even as industry embraces modernity with the expansion of data centers in the state, some lawmakers seem to be embracing tradition. Another piece of legislation proposed this week would offer a hunter education program<\/a> as an optional extracurricular class for students.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania bill would require recess for high school students <\/a><\/p>\n In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) used his best penmanship<\/a> to sign a bill into law that required all Pennsylvania students to learn cursive. That\u2019ll kick in next school year.<\/p>\n The governor has also pushed lawmakers to pass a ban on cellphones in schools. The Senate passed a bill<\/a> to do that last month, which the House is now considering.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n