Category: Government Actions

PDE Awards $14 Million in Dual Credit Innovation Grants to 15 Postsecondary Schools Across PA (April 28, 2025)

Dual credit programs open doors to opportunity for students by helping them earn college credit while still in high school. So, on Monday, April 28, 2025. the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the Shapiro Administration has awarded $14 million in grant funding to 15 public institutions of higher education to enable more high school students to enroll in dual credit programs across the Commonwealth, giving them more opportunities to chart their own course and prepare for successful careers. 

“Dual credit programs open doors for students to get a head start on college and career success,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. â€œBy investing in these opportunities, we’re helping more young people—especially those historically underrepresented in higher education—access in-demand courses that lead to credentials and careers our workforce needs. It’s about expanding opportunity and creating pathways to a future they choose.”

Dual credit programs improve student outcomes by enabling them to take college courses and earn credits for both high school and college – while still in high school. Dual credit offerings improve academic achievement, high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and college completion rates. In an effort to enable more underrepresented student access to dual credit programs, in July 2024 the School Code established the Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to provide funding for public colleges and universities to increase capacity to provide dual credit courses.

Awardees include:

Berks County
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, $946,951

Bucks County
Bucks County Community College (Main), $1,000,000

Cambria County
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, $1,000,000

Chester County
West Chester University of Pennsylvania, $576,066.74

Dauphin County
Harrisburg Area Community College (Wildwood), $808,454.13

Erie County
Erie County Community College, $1,000,000

Indiana County
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Main), $808,454.13

Lehigh County
Lehigh Carbon Community College, $1,000,000

Luzerne County
Luzerne County Community College, $1,000,000

Lycoming County
Pennsylvania College of Technology, $1,000,000

Northampton County
Northampton County Community College (Main), $860,161

Philadelphia County
Community College of Philadelphia, $999,982

Warren County
Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, $1,000,000

Washington County
Pennsylvania Westen University, $999,931

Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County Community College, $1,000,000

Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal builds on his commitment to creating prosperous pathways for learners across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s proposed 2025-26 budget includes continued support for public higher education, calling for a $13 million increase for community colleges, a $40 million increase for PASSHE universities, and $60 million to be distributed via performance-based funding for Pitt, Penn State, and Temple.

Federal Judge Rules Against Anti-DEI Policy (April 26, 2025)

In a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia April 24, 2025 ruling, supported the plaintiffs’ claim that the anti-DEI policy outlined in a Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter is “unconstitutionally vague.” In particular, the policy would make enforcement difficult because it did not explain the difference between “a lawful DEI practice and an unlawful one.”

The lawsuit was brought by the NAACP. For more details, click here.

Legal Challenge to Sec. 504 is Dropped (April 26, 2025)

According to a joint status report submitted by plaintiffs and defendants, a lawsuit that was seen as a constitutional challenge against Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act will no longer be pursued. The states involved as plaintiffs in the case filed in September 2024 were: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia

Disability rights advocates and families with children who receive Section 504 accommodations in schools raised concerns about the states’ lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). That lawsuit challenged an HHS rule that includes gender dysphoria in the definition of a disability under Section 504 and originally argued that Section 504 was unconstitutional.

Click for more from K-12 Dive.

Judge Pauses DEI Funding Freeze for Schools with DEI Programs (April 24, 2025)

On April 24, 2025, a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s threats to withhold funding from school systems that have diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, saying the actions ”raise the specter of a public ‘witch hunt’ that will sow fear and doubt among teachers.”

The preliminary injunction came in a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) in March 2025 by the National Education Association (NEA), its New Hampshire affiliate, and the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED). In their complaint, the organizations alleged an Education Department Dear Colleague letter (DCL) issued February 14, 2025 violates the Fifth and First Amendments, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act.

The April 24th ruling applies only to school systems receiving federal funding that employ or contract with the lawsuit’s plaintiffs or plaintiffs’ members. However, that covers NEA’s three million members along with the other plaintiff’s members.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

DOH Provides Measles Information to Prevent Spread in School and Child Care Settings (April 24, 2025)

In light of increasing numbers of measles cases both nationally and in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has created a document to help schools prepare for and respond to measles cases in their facilities.

This document is posted on the PA DOH website at MEASLES: INFORMATION TO PREVENT SPREAD IN SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE SETTINGS as well as on the Communicable and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases webpage. Schools are also reminded to contact the local Department of Health state health center (SHC)/district office or county/municipal health department before acting in response to a known or suspected communicable disease. Call 1-877-PA Health (1-877-724-3258); a representative is on-call 24 hours a day.

Guidance can be provided to schools regarding: disease information; appropriate letters and communications; identification of high risk individuals; appropriate action and treatment; and on-going support and assistance.