On August 29, 2019, Carole L. Clancy, Director of the Bureau of Special Education, released a PennLink communique titled Reporting of Expenditures Relating to Exceptional Students.

Act 16 of 2000 (24 PS §13-1372(8)) requires the Reporting of Expenditures Relating to Exceptional Students.  School districts and charter schools must report the number of students with disabilities for which expenditures were between $1 and $25,884.67; between $25,884.68 and $51,769.36; between $51,769.37 and $77,654.04; and $77,654.05 and over for the prior school year.

This report will now be collected at the student level through PIMS using the Student Fact Template for Special Education Act 16 Funds.  The template will be collected during Collection #1 (October 1 through October 29, 2019).  Data is to be based on expenditures incurred during the 2018-19 school year.

Guidelines regarding the Act 16 reporting can be found at Act 16 Information.

The Student Fact Template for Special Education Act 16 Funds can be found in the PIMS manual.

Failure to complete the Student Fact Template for Special Education Act 16 Funds report may have an adverse effect on an LEA’s special education funding.

Questions regarding this reporting requirement may be emailed to [email protected].  A copy of this information is being provided to each intermediate unit so they may assist school districts and charter schools with report preparation, as needed. 

On August 27, 2019, Noe Ortega, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education, announced via PennLink that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has partnered with the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) to host the annual Pennsylvania College Application Campaign throughout the months of November and December of 2019. The aim of the campaign is to increase the number of first-generation and underrepresented students pursuing a postsecondary education by assisting high school seniors and adults navigate the college admissions process, ensuring each participating individual submits at least one college application.

The campaign will expand the partnerships among libraries, institutions of higher learning, community education, and secondary education to take a holistic approach to meet the attainment goal set by the State Board of Education in 2018 to have 60 percent of our adults ages 25-64 hold a postsecondary credential by 2025.

 The ACAC regularly hosts webinars for anyone interested in learning more about the college application campaign. Click here to view their upcoming and past webinars:

PDE will be hosting an in-person training on September 4, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at the PA Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) office located at 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA.  ACAC staff will be available to provide a “train the trainer” program for individuals interested in leading a campaign at their school or library.  The training will also be livestreamed to two remote locations, which are: PATTAN-Pittsburgh and the Berks County Library System HQ. Email [email protected] to register. Contact State Coordinator Michael Dotts, Higher Education Associate at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, ([email protected]) with any questions.

On August 14, 2019, Jill Clodgo, PDH Chief of the Division of School Health, disseminated via PennLink, as a courtesy for the Division of Immunizations, a copy of a letter from PDH explaining the updated Tdap immunization guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in April 2018. To view the letter, click here or visit the PAPSA website at www.papsa-web.org, click on the “Resources” drop-down and go to “Downloads”.

In her email, Clodgo informs schools not to direct questions to the Division of School Health. Instead, all questions must be directed to the school’s immunizations nurse consultant, the school’s local district office, or the Division of Immunizations.

On Monday, August 12th, Jill Clodgo, PDH Chief of the Division of School Health, disseminated the August 2019 School Health Update. Items covered in the update include previous updates and PowerPoint presentations; CPR/AED training for school personnel and students; TB testing antigen shortage; Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) information for schools; Dental Hygiene Services Program (DHSP) information; cyber charter school screening and exam requirements; medical marijuana position; School Health Annual Reimbursement Request System (SHARRS); nursing services staffing; Supplemental staff nurses (LPNs or non-certified RNs) may be hired to assist the CSN to provide daily care of students and assist with completion of mandated screens and exams, as their licensure allows; and PDE Certification Staffing Policy Guidelines (CSPGs). To access the August 2019 School Health Update in its entirety, click here.