URGENT AND IMPORTANT ACT 45 INFORMATION Act 45 Alert - You must meet the new requirements by June 30, 2010 to maintain your principal’s certification.

Thomas W. Sigafoos, Jr. - Endorsed Candidate for NAESP President-Elect At its February meeting, the PAESSP Board of Directors unanimously endorsed Thomas W. Sigafoos, Jr., a fellow elementary principal, for President-Elect in the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) 2009 Election.

State School Principals Association Against Newly Announced Keystone Exam Initiative Click Here to View the Press Release

PELF to Offer Scholarships to Aspiring Principals in 2009 Once again, scholarships of $75 will be awarded to Pennsylvania principals to defray the cost of the PA principal certification examination.

GOVERNOR UNVEILS 2009-10 STATE BUDGET Governor Ed Rendell unveiled his 2009-10 budget at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 during a joint session of the General Assembly.

OPEN BOARD POSITIONS FOR 2009 PAESSP ELECTION Dr. Joan A. Crouse, a former PAESSP board member and the director of literacy and ESL services for Conewago Valley S.D. in New Oxford, Pa., will serve as the chairperson of the 2009 PAESSP Nominations Committee.

FORMER PAESSP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PASSES AWAY On a very sad note . . . Dr. Frank S. Manchester, PAESSP executive director from 1979 to 1996, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 following a lengthy illness.

DAVID G. BIERI ASSUMES THE PRESIDENCY OF PAESSP David G. Bieri, principal of Robert Morris Elementary School in the Scranton School District, Scranton, Pa., . . .

NEW ACT 45 LEGISLATION CHANGES HOW PRINCIPALS MAY ACQUIRE ACT48-PIL HOURS

Yarworth to Receive PAESSP’s 2008 Educational Excellence Award Dr. Joseph S. Yarworth, assistant professor of education at Albright College, has been selected to receive the prestigious Educational Excellence Award

Foriska Named PAESSP’s Western Region Office Manager The PAESSP is pleased to announce the hiring of Joseph J. Foriska as its new Western Region Office Manager.

UPDATE ON GCAs The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) recently questioned the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s proposed Graduate Competency Assessments.

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TO MODIFY PENNSYLVANIA’S ACADEMIC STANDARDS; PAESSP MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND The PA State Board of Education will hold three public hearings in August on revisions to the state’s academic standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and Mathematics.

UPDATE ON STATE BUDGET COMMONWEALTH PASSES 2008-09 BUDGET

Thank You For Voting! Congratulations New Board Members

Joint Statement in Opposition to Graduation Competency Assessments (GCAs) The Pennsylvania State Board of Education has proposed language on implementing Graduation Competency Assessments (GCAs).

Sexual Orientation and Youth New Guide Released by NASSP

GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES BUDGET PROPOSAL Governor Ed Rendell announced his proposed $28.3 billion budget on Tuesday, February 5.

BOARD APPROVES TEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES The State Board of Education approved a proposal that would require all students to pass a test to graduate from high school, starting with the class of 2014.

Click Here to Download a Copy of 2007 PAESSP Conference Keynote Speaker Neil Howe's PowerPoint Presentation

School Costing-Out Study The State Board of Education has released its school costing-out study.

Click Here to download PAESSP's No Child Left Behind Reauthorization White Paper (2007)

PAESSP PROVIDES TESTIMONY ON GRADUATION COMPETENCY ASSESSMENTS AT STATE BOARD HEARING Click the link above for more

Michael E. Allison Assumes Presidency of State Principals' Association Michael E. Allison, principal of Hopewell High School in Aliquippa, Pa., has assumed the presidency of PAESSP.

Senator Arlen Specter - PAESSP's 2007 Educational Excellence Award Recipient Sen. Arlen Specter has been selected as PAESSP’s 2007 Educational Excellence Award recipient.

2007 PELF Grant Recipients Announced Six people from school districts across the state have been selected to receive $75 grants.

Rhoades Announces Property Tax Reduction Plan Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) held a press conference September 27 to announce his proposal that would allow Pennsylvanians to vote on an increase in the sales tax and personal income tax for a reduction, or even elimination, of school property taxes.

Rendell pushes new system of health benefits for school employees Governor Ed Rendell urged the General Assembly to pass legislation that would create a statewide health-benefits system for school employees.

PA Students Improve on PSSA Tests Pennsylvania's schools are continuing to make progress toward meeting the goals of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests.

Professional Personal ID Number Remember -- In accordance with the new PDE regulations for Act 48 purposes:

Fast Facts About New Education Budget Education advocates had reason to cheer when the dust finally settled in this months’ budget skirmish.

PAESSP Hires New Executive Director PAESSP is pleased to announce that Dr. William Hartman, Jr. will become its new Executive Director!

PAESSP Seeking Act 93 Information - Pay for Performance Model Click on the link above for details.

PA Department of Education Releases No Child Left Behind Position Paper Click on the link above.

Pennsylvania Pandemic Flu Planning Materials PA Pandemic Preparedness for Schools

Release of the 2007 Professional Education Plan Guidelines PDE announces the release of the 2007 Professional Education Plan Guidelines

Assistant Principal of the Year Announced J. Edward Frick has been selected as PAESSP’s 2007 Robert E. Lavely Assistant Principal of the Year.

10 Big Effects of the No Child Left Behind Act Download and read this interesting NCLB article.

NAESP Member Referral Campaign The National Association of Elementary School Principals is requesting current members to refer two colleagues (principals, assistant principals, etc.).

What's NEW at the PA Department of Education? Copies of IDEA Implementing Regulations Click on the Link Above for the Latest from PDE

PAESSP Legislative Update November 10, 2006