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August 11, 2026
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Pennsylvania schools will soon face expanded responsibilities for CPR training, access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and cardiac emergency preparedness following the passage of Greg Moyer’s Law. Named in honor of a Pennsylvania student athlete who died from sudden cardiac arrest at a high school basketball game, the legislation amends the School Code to strengthen emergency response requirements while providing grant funding to help schools comply.

This article explains what the new law requires and the steps school entities should begin taking before the compliance deadline.

Key takeaways:

• Greg Moyer’s Law amends the Pennsylvania School Code to expand CPR training, AED placement, and cardiac emergency planning requirements for school entities.
• Schools must offer CPR and AED training at least every two years (increased from every three years), and certain school personnel must maintain certification.
• Schools have until May 2029 to comply with the new requirements, but planning should begin now.

What does Greg Moyer’s Law require?

The legislation makes several significant changes to Pennsylvania’s School Code designed to improve schools’ preparedness for cardiac emergencies.

Among the new requirements, the law:

• Provides $2.5 million in grant funding for CPR and AED training and establishes a program to assist schools with obtaining AED devices.
• Requires school entities to offer CPR and AED training to employees and volunteers at least once every two years.
• Requires at least one person in every school building during the school day to maintain CPR and AED certification.
• Requires school nurses (or their designees), athletic coaches, athletic directors, physical education teachers, and marching band directors to maintain CPR and AED certification.
• Requires every school to develop and annually review a cardiac emergency response plan based on nationally recognized standards.
• Requires AED devices to be readily accessible during interscholastic athletic practices and competitions, with a trained person available at each AED location.
• Requires schools to ensure there is access to an AED device on school premises.

What should school entities do now?

Although schools have until May 2029 to comply with the new requirements, planning should begin well before the deadline.

School entities should consider:

• Reviewing their existing CPR and AED training programs.
• Identifying employees who currently hold CPR and AED certifications and determining where additional training is needed.
• Evaluating current AED locations and whether additional devices should be installed.
• Beginning development of a compliant cardiac emergency response plan.

Taking these steps now can help districts spread implementation over time and better position themselves to meet the new statutory requirements.

How we can help

McNees’ Education Law Group advises school districts and other educational institutions on compliance with the Pennsylvania School Code and other state and federal education laws. We can help evaluate your district’s current policies, training programs, emergency response planning, and implementation strategy for Greg Moyer’s Law.