Category: State Government Actions

PDE Opens Applications for $14 Million to Expand Dual Credit Programming Across PA (January 16, 2025)

On January 13, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the application window is open for $14 million in grant funding for dual credit programs. Grants will help public institutions of higher education to expand access to dual credit programs and improve delivery of college credit coursework at high schools serving significant populations of underserved students. Dual credit programs give students a head start on a higher education by allowing high school students to take college courses and earn both college and high school credit at the same time. Dual credit programs cut costs for students while giving them more freedom to chart their own course.

Established by a state law enacted in 2024, the Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program provides funding for public colleges and universities to increase capacity to provide dual credit courses to students statewide. Dual credit courses have been found to increase college readiness, college attendance, and college attainment, especially among traditionally underserved students—yet these students are underrepresented in dual credit courses.

More than 55,000 high school students enrolled in at least one dual credit course during the 2023-24 school year. From 394 school districts, 47 charter schools and 19 career and technical centers, the students enrolled in more than 8,000 dual credit courses altogether.

Priority will be given to public institutions of higher education that create or expand current offerings, including individual student scholarships, with a particular emphasis on providing courses aligned with high-priority occupations and/or serving students experiencing education instability, students enrolled in career and technical education programs, low-income students, historically underserved student groups, those who face financial, academic, or systemic barriers, and students in rural areas. Priority also will be given to institutions that propose to use funding to cover the entirety of course-related expenses so there is no cost to the student or high school.

Grant funding may be used to:
–Operate dual credit courses that are tuition free to high school students;
–Provide student academic supports to aid students enrolled in dual credit courses to be successful in the courses and to successfully transition to postsecondary education upon graduation from high school; 
–Increase the use of no-cost or low-cost textbooks or course materials used in dual credit courses;
–Provide professional development activities for high school teachers to enable them to teach dual credit courses; and
–Support public institutions of higher education in seeking external accreditation for their dual credit courses, such as through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).

Funding may only be used to offer college coursework to high school students enrolled in eligible school districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools or regional charter schools.

PDE Announces Over $4.5 Million for CTE to Help Students Chart Their Own Course and Succeed (January 16, 2025)

On January 13, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that more than $4.5 million in competitive grant funding has been awarded to 58 career and technical centers (CTCs) and school districts to help Pennsylvanians chart their own course through career and technical education programs.

The full list of recipients can be found on PDE’s Competitive Equipment Grants page.

This funding is a result of sustained investments in career and technical education (CTE), which provides students with the skills and knowledge to obtain high-priority occupations through a combination of classes and hands-on learning experiences allowing them to apply academics to real-world problems. More than 80 CTCs in Pennsylvania offer a combination of classes and hands-on learning in programs approved by PDE. Thousands of students earn industry credentials or certifications for local jobs in high demand, so they graduate on a path for success.

PDH – Memo Informs LEAs of New Laws for Type 1 Diabetes and Tick Removal (January 13, 2025)

On January 10, 2025, the PA Department of Health (PDH) Division of School Health has sent a memo to make all LEAs aware of several recent changes made to the PA School Code pertaining to student health initiatives. Act 117 of 2024 requires all school entities, including school districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, and intermediate units, and nonpublic schools to share Type 1 Diabetes educational materials with parents and guardians of students either in writing, electronically, or on the school entity or nonpublic school’s publicly accessible internet website. The attached Type 1 Diabetes educational materials must be made available beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The materials are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website at this link: Act 117 – Parental Education of Type 1 Diabetes | Department of Health | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Additionally, Act 120 of 2024 established a new protocol for tick removal from students. This protocol must be implemented in all public school entities including school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, cyber charter schools, regional charter schools and area career and technical schools as soon as possible. Please see the attached guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which is also available online at this link:  Act 120 Tick Legislation Guidance for School Nurses

Documents and information can also be accessed on the PAPSA website by clicking on the items below or visiting the “Resources” drop-down and selecting “Downloads.”

–School Health Room Tick Removal Flyer
–Act Act 117 of 2024 – Type 1 Diabetes Educational Materials to be Shared with Parents and Guardians
–Diabetes Parent Fact Sheet
–Act 120 of 2024 Establishes a New Protocol that Must be Used for Tick Removal
–Tick Legislation Guidance for School Nurses

DHS Highlights Research, Resources on Trauma-Informed Training to Improve Community Safety for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism (January 10, 2025)

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) today released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research for people with mental and behavioral health challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to help them live an everyday life. This edition focuses on the importance of trauma-informed training so that interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism can be de-escalated and handled safely for all involved. 

“DHS works to ensure that Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism have the services and supports they need, but we also want to make sure that all Pennsylvanians have these resources,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. â€œWe know that there is no one way to approach a law enforcement interaction but it is our hope that the research in this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal can help law enforcement, as well as individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism and their families, find the resources they need to improve their everyday lives.”

In June 2024, informed by conversations with individuals with autism and their families, the Pennsylvania State Police created a card that can be carried by people with autism and presented during any encounter with law enforcement to ensure the interaction is as safe and productive as possible. PSP’s Office of Community Engagement developed the informational card, which is available on the Safety Resources page of PSP’s website. Individuals may print the card from the website and carry it in a wallet, or they can choose to save it on their phone.

“Trauma-informed training and resources like this are critical in fostering safer and more effective interactions between law enforcement and individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism,” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “When officers are aware of and prepared for the unique needs of these individuals, they can respond in ways that promote safety and reduce the risk of misunderstandings.”

The Shapiro Administration believes that every Pennsylvanian with intellectual disabilities and autism deserves to receive the supports they need to achieve an everyday life with dignity and opportunity to pursue their goals and live, work, and recreate among their families and peers. Life-changing investments in Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget secured historic increases in funding for home and community-based services for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) as well as increases in rates for the providers responsible for essential care and support of these individuals every day.

This edition of the Positive Approaches Journal features research and articles on the following:

  • Data Discoveries investigates encounters between the justice system and individuals with autism and outlines how interactions can be prevented or deescalated and can result in more equitable outcomes. 
  • How WE Can Keep Our Autistic Loved Ones Safer details trainings and provides case studies for both law enforcement and individuals with autism and their loved ones to help have safer interactions with law enforcement.
  • Police Department Mental Health Liaison Program details the successes of a pilot program in Lehigh County to assess the needs of individuals who engage with the police and refer them to the appropriate service providers. 
  • Aid in PA: Resources for Emergency Preparedness demonstrates the Aid in PA website, which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic as a source for accurate emergency information and resources for Pennsylvanians who are autistic and/or have an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD).
  • Pennsylvania Crisis Intervention Teams: Enhancing Police Responses to Mental Health Crises details the development of Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) in police departments across the Commonwealth to respond appropriately to behavioral health crises.
  • THE POINT: Empowering Youth outlines an organization that provides an after-school community center, on-campus support and mentoring, and a program to support students in juvenile detention.

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

Read this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.

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

PDH Alerts Pennsylvanians About Recall of Children’s Jewelry Set Due to Lead and Cadmium Levels (January 10, 2025)

 The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) is alerting parents and caregivers about the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall of Yaomiao Children’s Jewelry Sets. Lead and cadmium levels that exceed federal safety standards have been found in the jewelry sets. These products may be serious health hazards, especially to children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

People who have purchased the jewelry set should immediately dispose of the product.  Photos of any disposed sets can be sent to [email protected]. Purchasers can also contact the seller, LordRoads for a full refund.

This recall affects three Yaomiao-branded children’s jewelry sets. Approximately 6,900 sets were sold in the U.S. exclusively online at Amazon.com from January 2022 through March 2024 for between $8 and $21, depending on the set.

The sets have between three and 12 pieces of jewelry. The jewelry is silver colored with multicolored gems shaped as a unicorn, a butterfly, a heart, a turtle, a star, or a rainbow with a cloud. Each set comes packaged individually in small plastic bags inside a lavender colored box with the words “A Special Gift for the Charming You” printed on it. “Yaomiao” appears on the box’s outer plastic wrap.

PDH maintains a toll-free lead information hotline (1-800-440-LEAD) to provide information about lead poisoning prevention, testing, follow-up, and local resources.

More information about the health impacts of lead can be found on the PDH website. 

Parents and caregivers of children who may have used the recalled jewelry sets should contact their child’s health care provider about getting a blood lead test. 

PDH shared a health alert notice to communicate this recall among state and local public health agencies, health care providers, hospitals, and emergency management officials.Â