On November 13, 2025, the PA Sate Board of Education (Board) held its 388th meeting during a series of meetings at the PDE building in Harrisburg and via Zoom. The Hon. Pedro Rivera opened the meeting at 1PM in the absence of Karen Farmer White.
Committee reports were provided by the Hon. Maureen Lally-Green reported on the progress of the Special and Gifted Education Committee. The essence of that report can be viewed on the PAPSA website at https://papsa-web.org/special-and-gifted-education-committee-reports-findings-to-pa-state-board-november-13-2025/.
Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe reported that the state budget for 2025-26 has been passed and signed by Gov. Shapiro. Budget highlights include a $105M increase in education subsidy. Increases include $565 in adequacy funding to support all schools, a $40M increase in the Special Ed. subsidy, $125M for school facilities, and $10M in additional funds for student teacher stipends. Dr. Rowe also reported that 713,000 students have been affected by the withholding and reduction of SNAP funding and that Gov. Shapiro has provided $5M to help offset the loss in funding for those affected.
Dr. Rowe also reported changes in the PA School Code regarding structural literacy that require by 2026 schools must report on their reading instruction programming and by 2027-28 schools must be employing evidence-based reading instruction and providing professional development in the area of literacy. In addition. schools must screen all K-3 students three times per year for reading competency and provide a reading plan for students found to be deficient. Basic skills assessment language has also been removed entirely from the Code.
Dr. Brian Gasper reported on state assessment results from 2024-25, which showed that numbers for five of six accountability indicators have increased. Only ELA scores dropped, and measures will be taken to address inadequacies.
Dr. Carissa Pokorny-Golden completed the series of reports with the Annual Certification Report which provided an education workforce update that revealed an increase in the K-12 graduation rate, but cautioned that the overall number of graduates is expected to decline moving forward due to a decrease in enrollment. There was also a slight decrease in postsecondary enrollment from 55% to 54.6%. Certification numbers showed a slight increase in Instructional I and II numbers for 2023-24, but those numbers are expected to rise for 2024-25. Administrative I certifications also rose in 2023-24, while Administrative II numbers held steady. Emergency permits continued an upward trend, but show a slowing down, which is seen as a positive development.
There being no action items or public comment, the meeting was adjourned.