Category: News

FAFSA Completion Numbers are Down; House Bill Seeks to Move Upcoming Ā Release Date to Oct. 1 (July 14, 2024)

The number of high school seniors who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid stalled this June, spawning fears of enrollment declines this fall,

According to the latest analysis from the National College Attainment Network, as of June 28th some 46% of the high school class of 2024 had submitted the new FAFSA form, which is drop from 53.2% at the same time in 2023. That is a decrease of about 250,000 applicants.

As a result, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced a handful of FAFSA support strategies for increasing completion rates. In fact, one $50 million investment has funded over 65 groups to encourage form completion by, among other things, allowing them to hire more advisers and coaches, as well as offering extended hours throughout the summer.

In addition, on July 10, 2024 the U.S. House education committee advanced a bill that would require the USDE to release the FAFSA by Oct. 1 each year. At present, the USDE is legally required to release the FAFSA by Jan. 1 each year. However, it typically makes the form public on Oct. 1.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

Title IX Athletics Rule Delayed Again; Title VI, 504, and Medicaid SBS Rules Also Delayed (July 13, 2024)

As reported by K-12 Dive, a July 5th regulatory update from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shows the Title IX athletics rule proposal has been moved to a ā€œlong-term actionā€ without a rough deadline, meaning the agency doesnā€™t expect a regulatory action within at least the next year. Originally, OMBā€™s Spring 2024 Unified Agenda had also included updates for high-profile forthcoming regulations on race discrimination and Section 504 and the athletics regulation was listed as being in the ā€œfinal rule stage,ā€ or one step away from release. The US Department of Education (USDE) has now set a December 2024 deadline for releasing a proposed Title VI rule on protecting students from discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, in addition to other forms of racial discrimination. The USDE has also set November as the new deadline for a proposed rule for Section 504 covering students with disabilities in schools and colleges.

Another disability-related regulation ā€” also now expected by November ā€” is aimed at easing the process of obtaining parental consent for Medicaid school-based health services. School administrative groups advocating for the proposed change aver that it would make the parental consent process more efficient and cost-effective for schools while still protecting participating studentsā€™ benefits.

However, in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the longstanding Chevron doctrine complicates the path of all of the proposed agency rules changes.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

State Board Holds 381st Meeting (July 11, 2024)

On July 11, 2024, the PA State Board of Education held its 381st meeting at the PDE offices and via Zoom. At the meeting, Bureau of Career and Technical Education Director Judd Pittman delivered a report from his bureau and thanked the Board for its support. He also acknowledged action items seeking re-accreditation as applied for by the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center and Indiana County Technology Center. Those requests were approved by the Board later in the meeting.

There was also discussion as to the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center’s not seeking re-accreditation for its Licensed Practical Nursing program and the affect it will have on current LPN program students. The Board was informed by committee chair Ernest Hadrick of that issue, which will be further addressed at the September meeting.

The Board also approved the updates to the accreditation guidelines for public postsecondary career and technical education.

BSE Memo Announces Approved Private School and Chartered School for the Deaf and the Blind Preliminary Deductions (July 6, 2024)

On July 1, 2024, PDE Bureau of Special Education Director Dr. Carole L. Clancy sent a PENN*LINK message to LEAs with the subject line Approved Private School and Chartered School for the Deaf and the Blind Preliminary Deductions. The memo states that in accordance with sections 13-1376 and 13-1376.1 of the School Code, 24 P.S. Ā§Ā§ 13-1376 and 13-1376.1, this message is to notify school districts and charter schools (collectively referred to hereinafter as ā€œlocal educational agenciesā€ or ā€œLEAsā€) that have placed students at an Approved Private School (APS) or Chartered School for the Deaf and the Blind (Chartered School) of its preliminary payment amount for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year.

As of May 15, 2024, student data has been entered by the LEAs and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) electronically through the Approved Private School Electronic Management (APSEM) system. If any student data is incorrect, it is the LEA’s responsibility to follow up with the APS or Chartered School and make corrections in APSEM. The LEA is responsible for submitting the Request for Change in Approved Private School or Chartered School Assignment to PDE in a timely manner.

Please log into the APSEM system and run the Application for Educational Assignment to Approved Private Schools and Chartered Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Enrollment Deduction Report for school year 2023-24. These amounts are preliminary and are subject to change before the June 1, 2025 deductions.

You may find the above information useful when completing your 2024-25 General Fund Budget (PDE-2028).

If you have any questions pertaining to the Request for Change in Approved Private School or Chartered School Assignment, accounting, and/or deductions, contact Eileen Jacobs-Crummel at [email protected] or 717-257-6652.