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Tuesday, 17 January 2012 |
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Last week, Education Week published Quality Counts 2012, its annual report card for the nation and individual states for education performance. Pennsylvania ranked 7th in the nation for K-12 achievement and 13th in the nation overall when graded across the six distinct areas of policy and performance tracked by the report. The report shows that Pennsylvania received a grade at above the average state score on five of the six areas.
Source: PSBA Legislative Report, Jan. 13, 2012. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Monday, 09 January 2012 |
In October 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that it would participate in the pilot year of Green Ribbon Schools, which was created by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to recognize those schools that have achieved or made considerable progress toward energy efficient buildings, healthy students and school environment and the environmental literacy of all graduates.
The Green Ribbon Schools Application is now available on the PDE web site and at the Pathways to Green Schools’ web site. Interested public and private schools throughout the Commonwealth will submit their application for consideration to PDE. The deadline to apply is Thursday, February 23, 2012.
Once all applications are received and reviewed, the department will nominate up to four schools to the USDE to be designated as Pennsylvania’s Green Ribbon School. From those nominated by each state, it is expected that up to 50 awards will be presented by USDE.
All public and private schools that have configuration of K-12 are eligible to apply, including charter schools, career and technical centers, and those educational schools operated by intermediate units. All applicants must meet college- and career-ready standards, be in compliance with federal civil rights laws and all federal, state and local health and safety standards and regulations.
To access the Green Ribbon Schools Application, visit www.pathwaystogreenschools.org.
To learn more about the Green Ribbon Schools program, visit the USDE’s web site
at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/index.html. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Wednesday, 28 December 2011 |
Governor Tom Corbett announced that Pennsylvania has been awarded $41,326,299 under the federally-funded “Race to the Top” grant program.
The funding will be used to supplement the state’s support of student-specific educational choices in grades K-12, and the current efforts to increase the number of outstanding teachers working in Pennsylvania classrooms.
“I know, from my time spent as a teacher and with my own two children, that a one-size-fits-all approach to education does not create a successful learning environment,” Corbett said. “Our students need quality options that fit their academic abilities and their aspirations for the future. We must have educators who are prepared and capable of meeting the needs of our diverse student population.”
Pennsylvania joins 22 other states that have received Race to the Top grants. The grant will be allocated over the next four years by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
A significant focus of this grant will be used for the statewide implementation of a new teacher evaluation, which is currently being piloted in more than 100 school districts, charter schools, career and technical centers, and intermediate units. It will also provide the necessary means to develop a new principal evaluation, which is planned to be piloted during the 2012-13 school year.
“The focus of our grant application is to improve public education for every student,” Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis said. “The funds awarded to Pennsylvania will support the work already being done by Governor Corbett and the department to ensure that, regardless of ZIP code or socioeconomic status, every child receives an education that provides them with the opportunity to be successful.”
The new teacher and principal evaluation is a cornerstone of Corbett’s education reform agenda. Once developed, the evaluations will give parents, taxpayers and school leaders the ability to assess the quality of individuals tasked with educating students. Evaluations will also provide individual teachers and principals with meaningful feedback to help them to better serve students and increase achievement.
“The state House of Representative’s Education Committee recently voted out legislation that would base a significant portion of an educator’s and a principal’s assessment on multiple measures of student achievement,” Tomalis said. “This is an important piece of legislation that will benefit all students across the state.”
In addition, funding will also be directed to further develop Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System, which provides educators with valuable tools and resources to improve student achievement. Funding will also be allocated to provide students with greater access to quality charter schools and online curricular options that may not be available in their district, especially science, technology, engineering and math courses.
“As a result of the Race to the Top Grant award, funds will be allocated to increase transparency at Pennsylvania’s public schools,” Tomalis said. “Ultimately, the goal is to provide parents with the information necessary to make informed decisions regarding their child’s educational future.”
Half of the grant funding will be appropriated to local education agencies, such as school districts and intermediate units.
In addition to the new Race to the Top grant, Pennsylvania was awarded $38 million in September as part of the Striving Readers Grant Comprehensive Literacy Program grant. Under this initiative, Pennsylvania is pursuing a broad approach to improving literacy outcomes for all children.
In total, nearly $80 million has been awarded to Pennsylvania to improve educational opportunities for students.
Source: Press Release, PA Office of the Governor and PDE, Dec. 23, 2011. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Friday, 16 December 2011 |
Today, the White House announced that nine states -- California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington - will receive grant awards from the $500 million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge fund, a competitive grant program jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.
Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement of state grantees this morning at a White House event with over 100 early learning and development experts, educators, policymakers and researchers.
Through the competition, 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico have created plans to increase access to high-quality programs for children from low-income families, providing more children from birth to age 5 with a strong foundation they need for success in school and beyond. The number and list of winners was determined both by the quality of the applications and the funds available.
The fiscal year 2011 budget provided an additional $700 million to invest in early learning and elementary and post secondary education reform. In addition to the $500 million awarded today to Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grantees, seven states -- Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – have applied for a share of the $200 million to invest in K-12 education reform. Awards will be announced later this month.
Grant awards will range from around $50 million up to $100 million, depending on state population and proposed plans.
To learn more about the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge.
Source: Press Release from The White House Office of the Press Secretary, Dec. 16, 2011. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Friday, 16 December 2011 |
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This week, the House amended and unanimously approved SB 1183 that creates the offense of institutional sexual assault in a school or child center setting. The bill was then returned to the Senate for a concurrence vote, where it passed 48-2. SB 1183 will now go to Gov. Corbett for his signature.
The provisions of SB 1183 would apply whether or not the student is 16 years old, the age of consent in Pennsylvania. The amendment to SB 1183 incorporates language creating the offense of institutional sexual abuse, which would make it unlawful for a teacher, coach or other employee of a public or private school or a volunteer or employee of a center for children to engage in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse or indecent contact with a student, or a child receiving services at the center. The penalty would be a third-degree felony that would be punishable by up to seven years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $15,000.
Source: PSBA Legislative Report, Dec. 15, 2011. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Wednesday, 14 December 2011 |
Act 24 of 2011, signed into law on June 30, 2011, significantly amended Section 111 of the Pennsylvania Public School Code, which requires background checks for employees of public and private schools, intermediate units and area vocational-technical schools (AVTS), including independent contractors and their employees. There is a new Basic Education Circular (BEC) that provides school administrators with guidance concerning the duties imposed on them as the result of these important amendments. The Background Checks BEC can be found via the BEC table, posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) web site or by clicking here.
For additional information on these changes, please contact Denise Wolfgang in the PDE’s School Services office at 717-783-3750 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Publications ›› Press Releases
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Monday, 12 December 2011 |
The Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) board on Friday set the employer contribution rate, which is shared by school districts and the state, at 12.36 percent of a district's payroll. That is up from this year's 8.65 percent rate. The new rate is expected to generate $1.8 billion for the pension system.
Dramatic as the increase seems, it comes as no surprise to school district officials. A 2010 state law, known as Act 120, capped the annual increases for several years to smooth out the anticipated spike in pension obligations that were coming next year to help districts plan for this large bill.
"If Act 120 was not in effect the employer rate would have jumpled up to 29.65 percent next year, rather than 12.36 percent," said PSERS Executive Director Jeffrey Clay.
Source: Patriot-News, Dec. 11. 2011 -- By Jan Murphy. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Wednesday, 07 December 2011 |
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Click here for pertinent information regarding issues surrounding the Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form (“PDE-6004”), which must be completed by all current school employees pursuant to Act 24 of 2011. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Tuesday, 06 December 2011 |
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Pennsylvania is among seven states that have submitted applications for Race to the Top (RTTT) Phase Three funds. The states that will compete for a share of $200 million provided by Congress in 2010 include Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. (Nine states that were runners-up in the initial Race to the Top competition were eligible for Round Three, but South Carolina opted out and California submitted an incomplete application.) The applications include commitments to enhance data systems, raise academic standards, improve principal and teacher support and evaluation systems and implement school interventions in under-performing schools. By Dec. 16, applicants also have to provide a detailed narrative and budget. Race to the Top Round Three focuses on supporting efforts to leverage comprehensive statewide reform, while also improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Round Three awards will be announced in late-December. Award amounts within the $200 million fund are based on state population.
Pennsylvania has also has applied for a Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant. (Click here to see Pennsylvania’s application.) The $500 million competitive grant program is for states to use to improve early learning and development. Including Pennsylvania, there are 35 states that have submitted applications. In mid-December, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services will award the highest ranked applicants within funding availability. Awards will range from around $50 million up to $100 million, depending on a state's population of children from low-income families and proposed plan.
Source: PSBA Legislative Report, Dec. 1, 2011. |
Publications ›› Press Releases
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Monday, 05 December 2011 |
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According to an article in the Patriot News, this should be the time for the final charge to deliver a school voucher program to Pennsylvania, advocates say. Gov. Tom Corbett says he wants families to have taxpayer-funded vouchers so they can move children out of bad schools. With a General Assembly controlled by his fellow Republicans, Corbett hoped to see a voucher program in place for parents next fall. Corbett has said it is crucial for the legislature to get him a bill before the end of the month. Click here to read the Patriot News article.
Source: myPLS, The Eye Opener, Dec. 5, 2011. |
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