Category: Government Actions

Gov. Wolf Repeats Call for Charter School Accountability (January 26, 2022)

Following state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s Capitol press conference on charter school accountability reform, Governor Tom Wolf applauded the legislators for their commitment and repeated his call for the General Assembly to pass the fair and bipartisan plan to improve charter schools in Pennsylvania.

The governor and legislators unveiled a plan last year that protects students by holding low performing charter schools accountable, protects taxpayers by reining in skyrocketing charter school costs and improves the public trust by increasing transparency of for-profit companies that manage some charter schools.

According to the governor, “Every student needs an education that prepares them for success in life, which is why charter schools should be focused on students – not profits. This is not about cutting funding. This is about ensuring taxpayers are not overpaying charter schools and draining money from traditional public school classrooms. We must ensure that every school, both charter and traditional, has the resources to give students the education they need.”

As per a subsequent press release, uncontrolled charter school costs are causing public school district program cuts and property tax increases. Charter schools have little public oversight and no publicly elected school board, despite being funded by taxpayers.

The governor’s bipartisan proposal would make the following improvements:
-Protect taxpayers by modernizing how Pennsylvania funds charter schools to match actual costs rather than forcing school districts to overpay.
-Protect students by creating charter school performance standards that hold low-performing charter schools accountable.
-Protect the public trust by requiring charter schools to have policies to prevent nepotism and conflicts of interest, so leaders do not use charter schools for their own financial benefit. Charter schools and their leaders would follow requirements of the State Ethics Commission since they are public officials.

The release also states that real school choice means quality learning. While some charter schools provide a great education, many charters, especially cyber charter schools, have poor educational outcomes. A 2019 Stanford University report found overwhelming negative results from Pennsylvania’s cyber schools and urged state reform.

In addition to supporting charter school reform legislation sponsored by Rep. Ciresi and other legislators, the governor’s administration has proposed six new regulations for charter schools to help provide much-needed consistency, transparency, and accountability, while preserving school choice.

To view the press release by clicking here.

PA Schools Awarded $8M in Safe Schools Grants (January 23, 2022)

On January 21, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf announced that $8 million in competitive Safe Schools Targeted grants has been awarded to 303 local education agencies (LEA) to increase school safety by purchasing equipment, enacting new programs, and hiring security personnel and school resource officers. 

More than $40 million in Safe Schools Targeted grants has been awarded to LEAs across the commonwealth since 2015.The list of 2021 awards can be found here. 

“We know that students learn best when they’re healthy, supported, and safe, and these grants ensure that schools can create and uphold a space that is conducive to learning,” said Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “The resources and supplies provided through these grants reduce anxiety and administrative burden, and help schools focus on their mission—educating and preparing learners for future success.”  

Under the program, the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Office for Safe Schools offers four types of targeted safety grants: equipment grants of up to $25,000; program grants of up to $20,000; School Police Officer (SPO) grants of up to $40,000; and School Resource Officer (SRO) grants of up to $60,000. The grants help LEAs reduce unnecessary student disciplinary actions and promoting an environment of greater productivity, safety, and learning; and enhance anti-violence efforts between schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations.

Seventy-eight LEAs received equipment grants totaling $1.74 million; 39 received program grants totaling more than $583,000; 24 received funding to hire school program officers totaling approximately $949,000; and 29 LEAs received grants to hire school resources officers totaling nearly $1.6 million. Additionally, 132 intermediate units received funding for equipment totaling nearly $2.6 million, and $670,000 was awarded to 53 intermediate units in program funding.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs, please visit the Department of Education’s website at www.education.pa.gov

CDC Updates Mask Guidelines (January 22, 2022)

On January 21, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its mask wearing guidance. The guidance covers when and how to wear a mask, types of masks, how to select a mask, special considerations, persons with disabilities, mask use and carbon dioxide, how to clean and store a mask. It also provides links to other additional resources.

Access this all-important information fro the CDC by clicking here.

BSE Reminds LEAs of March 31 APSEM 4010 Review Deadline (January 22, 2022)

On January 14, 2022, Carole L. Clancy, PDE Director of the Bureau of Special Education, released a PennLink titled Instructions for Reviewing 2020-21 Enrollments in the Approved Private School Electronic Management (APSEM) System to LEAs.  The memo states that local educational agencies (LEAs) have until March 31, 2022 to review the 4010 enrollments for School Year 2020-2021 in the Approved Private School Electronic Management (APSEM) System.

LEAs must use the following instructions to review your Approved Private School (APS) enrollments.

-Log-in to the MyPDESuite Login Page to access the APSEM system as an APS or LEA User.

-Click the Reports link on the header.

-Choose the 4010 Enrollment Report from the report dropdown.

-Choose 2020-2021 from the School Year dropdown.

-Click the Run button.

-Click the Open button at the bottom of the screen to open the spreadsheet.

-Review the 4010 enrollments data, including the student name, date of birth, primary exceptionality, age category, etc.

-LEA’s will submit a 4011 entry to correct any inaccuracies on the 4010 enrollment report. 

Recipients of the PennLink are directed to forward it to the individual responsible for the APSEM data review in their APS or LEA.  

For questions regarding this information, contact Jessica Burkey at 717-783-6906 or [email protected].

BSE Director Clancy Reminds LEAs of State Performance Plan Data Requirements – Postsecondary School Survey (Cohort 2 Exit) (January 21, 2022)

On January 21, 2022, Carole L. Clancy, Director of the PDE Bureau of Special Education, disseminated a Penn Link titled State Performance Plan Data Requirements – Postsecondary School Survey (Cohort 2 Exit). According to the memo, the accountability requirement under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) mandates each state determine the extent to which students are achieving transition outcomes (State Performance Plan – Indicator 14). To meet the federal reporting requirement, each local educational agency (LEA) is mandated to administer Exit- and Post-School Surveys to students (who have graduated, dropped out, or reached the maximum age) with individualized education programs (IEPs) once over a five-year period, based on the LEA’s assignment to a targeted sampling year.

For the 2021-22 school year, LEAs assigned to target sampling Year 2 are required to administer Exit Surveys. During 2022-23, these same LEAs will be required to complete the Post-School Surveys. The following information specifically addresses Exit Survey administration for 2021-22. LEAs assigned to target   sampling Year 2, are required to address the following:

Administer the Exit Survey for all student leavers (graduates, dropouts, and students who reach maximum age) who have IEPs. To access information from the September 21, 2021 webinar regarding the administration of the Exit Surveys, including a Frequently Asked Questions document and supporting handouts from the training, visit the Post School Outcomes webpage at PaTTAN – PaPOS Exit Survey Overview and Procedural Trainings.

Participate in the Pennsylvania Post-School Outcome Survey Cohort – Exit Survey Overview and Procedural Training Webinar scheduled for February 22, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Registration is required and  may be accessed directly at PaTTAN – Session-35803. Please note if you registered for the September 21, 2021 training, you are already registered. For questions about the Exit Survey or Indicator 14 process, please contact PaTTAN Educational Consultant Elaine Neugebauer at [email protected].