Category: Government Actions

PDE Announces CTC Supplemental Equipment Grant Applications Available (September 12, 2022)

On September 12, 2022, PDE Bureau of Career and Technical Education Dr. Lee Burket, Ed.D., Director disseminated a  PennLink to all CTC Director and School Superintendents titled Supplemental Equipment Grant Applications Available. The message states that the Bureau of Career and Technical Education is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Supplemental Equipment Grants. Approximately $5,550,000 in state funds are available for the purchase of equipment and for the purchase of a complete set of tools for use in the hands-on instruction of students enrolled in Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)-approved career and technical education (CTE) programs.

Pennsylvania secondary school districts and career and technical centers with PDE approved CTE programs are eligible to apply for this grant. The equipment and a complete set of tools must be a minimum of $3,000 per unit. The equipment must meet industry standards, and the Occupational Advisory Committee must have recommended each piece of equipment. Each grant will be awarded based on the funding formula. A match of local funds is not required.

The 2022-23 Supplemental Equipment Grant guidelines contain the application information and are available under Career and Technical Education Grants on PDE’s Grants page.

The deadline for applications is October 7, 2022, at 5 p.m. Applications should be submitted through the eGrants system.

Interested parties are asked to direct application questions to Lynn Aul at [email protected] or 717-783-6990. Questions related to available funds should be directed to Ben Hanft at [email protected] or 717-787-5423.

DHS Highlights Emerging Treatments, Supports for Individuals with Behavioral Health Challenges and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (September 9, 2022)

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life. This edition focuses on lived experiences and emerging treatments and supports for people with mental health challenges, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“DHS is committed to making a future that truly includes individuals with mental health challenges, intellectual & developmental disabilities, and those with dual diagnoses as fully integrated members of our communities, “said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “The Wolf Administration remains committed to ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have what they need so they can live their everyday lives, and I hope that the research and articles in this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal will help those working to achieve that goal.” 

This edition features research and articles on the following:

  • Data Discoveries: This article outlines results from the 2018 Pennsylvania Autism Needs Assessment, detailing the co-occurring diagnoses that were identified among the population of Pennsylvanians with autism.
  • The Intersection of Mental Health First Aid and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: This article details the training process and outcomes of Mental Health First Aid, an evidence-based course that provides basic first aid knowledge needed to recognize when someone is in a mental health crisis.
  • Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and Allegheny Department of Human Services START Pilot Partnership: Since spring 2021, Pennsylvania DHS and Allegheny County DHS have been working together on a three-year pilot program to better address the complex needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and/or acute behavioral health needs.
  • A Conversation about Mental Health and Autism: This article is an interview with a person with lived experience discussing the gaps, challenges, and opportunities of supporting someone with an autism spectrum diagnosis and co-occurring mental health diagnoses.
  • The Importance of Measuring Changes among Individuals Leaving Institution-Based Care: An Example from the Field:  This article details the transition process from an institutionalized setting to a community setting and the outcomes for individuals with autism.
  • Exploring Misconceptions about Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions in Autistic People: An article by a board-certified autism specialist that draws on research and lived experience to conclude that mental health conditions in autistic people are a result of the society in which they live with autism, not autism itself.

The journal is a collaboration of DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and collects resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities.

For more information visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

Secretary Miguel Cardona Announces the Road to Success Back to School Bus Tour (September 7, 2022)

On Monday, Sept. 12, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will launch the Road to Success Back to School Bus Tour alongside First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. The week-long, multi-state road trip will showcase the many ways school communities are helping students recover and thrive – putting them on the road to success. During the trip, the secretary be joined by First Lady Biden, Second Gentleman Emhoff, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, Under Secretary James Kvaal, and local students, families, and educators

First Lady Biden and Secretary Cardona will kick-off the tour in Tennessee with a visit highlighting ways states and districts are recruiting and preparing qualified educators into the classroom. The First Lady will join Secretary Cardona for the first two stops within the tour.

Later in the week, Second Gentleman Emhoff will join Secretary Cardona in Pennsylvania with visits that highlight how community schools are helping students recover academically and get the mental health supports they need, celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and raise awareness about the Administration’s actions to provide debt relief to millions, including teachers and administrators through Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Throughout the week, Secretary Cardona, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, Undersecretary James Kvaal, and local school leaders will join students, parents, and educators for additional events that celebrate the back-to-school season and underscore the Administration’s commitment to helping students recover from the impacts of the pandemic and continue on the road to success. As part of the Road to Success Bus Tour, Administration leaders will highlight academic and mental health programs and efforts to recruit and support educators funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), which provided historic resources to K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to reopen schools and help students of all ages recover.

The Road to Success Bus Tour will feature stops in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

“It’s a great feeling to see yellow school buses drive around our communities with excited children who are ready to thrive in this new school year. I am thrilled to be traveling across the eastern states and highlighting innovative ways local, state, and federal efforts are helping students recover and succeed in and out of the classroom,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This year will be one of the most important ever, as we not only work to catch students up, but put them in a position to do even better than where they were before March 2020.”

Preliminary details about bus tour activities are listed below. Additional information and exact timing for each site will be released the day prior to the tour stop. Many of the events will include a press availability with Secretary Cardona and local leaders.

To RSVP for stops on the tour, please email [email protected]. Follow the bus tour on social media at #RoadToSuccess.

DAY 3:
EVENT 2: Early Childhood Education
WHEN: Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 14
WHERE: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NOTE: With special guest Daniel Tiger.

DAY 4:
EVENT 1: Meeting Students’ Basic Needs in Higher Education
WHEN: Thursday morning, Sept. 15
WHERE: Reading, Pennsylvania
NOTE: With special guest Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff

EVENT 2: Community Schools Providing Wraparound Support to Students
WHEN: Thursday afternoon, Sept. 15
WHERE: Allentown, Pennsylvania
NOTE: With special guest Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff

EVENT 3: President Biden’s Debt Forgiveness Plan and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
WHEN: Thursday evening, Sept. 15
WHERE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NOTE: With special guest Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff

LEAs Notified of 2023 Governor’s STEM Competition (September 7, 2022)

On September 7, 2022, all LEAs received a PennLink titled 2023 Governor’s STEM Competition. The PennLink states that all commonwealth public and non-public high schools, Career and Technical Centers, Charter Schools, and home-schooled students are invited to participate in the virtual 2023 Governor’s STEM Competition. 

The Governor’s STEM Competition requires student teams to research, design, and present a device or project that can make the quality of life better for Pennsylvanian’s. Teams must collaborate with a local member of their community or a business and industry partner to help identify a challenge faced by Pennsylvanian’s along with designing a solution to that challenge. The Governor’s STEM Competition will provide teams with:

  • an authentic experience that applies skills learned in and outside the classroom,
  • opportunities to learn new skills or refine existing skills desired for careers in STEM
  • an opportunity to explore career pathways.

 Registration for the virtual competition is currently open for teams of five students in grades 9 – 12, the link can be found here. A team advisor must complete the registration form for all students participating in the competition by November 6, 2022. For the 2022-2023 school year, all registered teams will advance to the virtual state competition. 

All important dates and competition information may be found on the Governor’s STEM Competition website. If you have additional questions, contact your local intermediate unit or email [email protected].

Gov. Wolf Announces New Funding Awarded to Train Masonry Trades Apprentices in 29 PA Counties for In-Demand Jobs (September 6, 2022)

On September 6, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf today announced $297,000 in new funding through Pennsylvania’s Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program to help the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 continue its Western Pennsylvania Bricklayers Masonry Training Program in 29 counties and prepare apprentices for good-paying jobs. 

This funding will allow the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 to continue its apprenticeship program in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cameron, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, McKean, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Through the training courses, apprentices are taught bricklaying, tile setting, terrazzo work and stone masonry, while receiving on-the-job training under the supervision of Journeymen. The curriculum for the training program is a four-year commitment. At the end of the four years, a Journeyman will have completed 6,000 hours of on-the-job training as well as 576 hours of classroom and lab training.

Under Governor Wolf, 84 pre-apprentice and apprenticeship programs have been supported and more than $13 million has been invested through Pennsylvania’s Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Program.

The program works to increase apprenticeship availability to Pennsylvania employers to assist them with their talent recruitment and development. Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Program funding is provided to eligible applicants for the purpose of reaching the goal of increasing apprenticeship accessibility across the state. Eligible uses of funds include expenses related to instruction that complements on-the-job learning. For more information about the Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program and other economic development programs, visit the DCED website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of the agency’s news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.Â