Category: State Government Actions

PDE Seeking Applicants for a State School Psychologist Gifted Advisory Committee (January 13, 2024)

On January 12, 2024, PDE Bureau of Special Education Director Dr. Carole L. Clancy, sent a PennLink memo to LEAs titled Seeking Applicants for a State School Psychologist Gifted Advisory Committee. According to the memo, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is accepting applications until February 12, 2024 from certified school psychologists who have an interest in sharing professional expertise in the field of gifted identification, services, and programs by serving on a School Psychologist Gifted Advisory Committee.

PDE is responsible for ensuring that all school districts and other school entities providing gifted education services, whether directly or by contractual arrangements, administer gifted education identification, services, and programs in compliance with applicable state laws and regulations.  At the request of the State Board of Education, PDE is forming an advisory committee to provide input on the criteria currently used to determine whether a student is mentally gifted.

The panel will meet virtually 4-5 times between March 2024 and March 2025. Some work may be required between meetings.

Questions may be directed to [email protected].

Gov. Shapiro Releases Statement on the Basic Education Funding Commission’s Report (January 12, 2024)

On January 11, 2024, following the report and recommendations released by the Basic Education Funding Commission, Governor Josh Shapiro released the following statement:

“Last year, Commonwealth Court directed my Administration, legislative leaders, and education advocates to work together to ensure every child in Pennsylvania receives an adequate and equitable education. The report adopted today by the Basic Education Funding Commission is a reflection of that work and of the consensus across Pennsylvania, and among leaders in both parties, that there is a real path forward to deliver a comprehensive solution on K-12 education in Pennsylvania. I want to thank the members of the commission and their staff for all their hard work over these many months.

“Today’s report acknowledges that additional, targeted investments in public education are necessary to adequately meet the needs of school districts throughout Pennsylvania. The report also addresses a number of priorities of mine that continue the critical investments we have already made – including mental health supports for our kids, resources to repair, maintain, and secure school facilities, and efforts to increase and support our teachers.

“I look forward to addressing these points when I deliver my budget to the Legislature in a few weeks, and to continue working with leaders in both parties in order to deliver a thorough and efficient public education for students across our Commonwealth.

“As I said in my first budget address: we must approach this responsibility with hope and ambition – because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to do right by our kids, to fund our schools, and to empower parents to put their kids in the best position for them to succeed.”

In his first year in office, as the only Governor in the nation with a divided legislature, Governor Shapiro’s budget provided:
-A $567 million increase in basic education funding;
-A $46.5 million increase to provide universal free breakfast for K-12 students;
-$175 million for environmental repairs and upgrades in Pennsylvania schools;
-A $50 million increase in special education funding;
-A $23.5 million investment in workforce training and vo-tech programs;
-$100 million for student mental health; and
-$10 million for student teacher stipends.

Source: www.pa.gov

PA State Board of Ed. Holds January Meeting (January 12, 2024)

On January 11, 2024, the PA State Board of Education held its 378th meeting at the PDE offices and via Zoom. Chairperson Karen Farmer White opened the meeting at 1:00 PM.

During the meeting, Council for Basic Education Chair Dr. Lee Williams reported that the council is sending the Board proposed amendments to 22 PA Code Chapter 4 for its approval. Once approved, it will follow the Regulatory Review Act for review by committees of the PA House and PA Senate, as well as the IRRC and publishing in the PA Bulletin. She also informed the Board that Dr. Terry Rowe reported to the council that a data update and newly proposed standards within Act 35 are aimed at providing flexibility for school districts.

Next, Education Secretary Khalid Mumin spoke of proposed changes to pertinent statutes and regulations with regard to school operations, including extending or changing dates and/or revising specific regulations.

Professional Standards and Practices Commission Executive Director Shane Crosby then reported that of the 148 public disciplinary sanctions in 2023, 96 involved charges and convictions per Section 111. Further, 90 of those sanctions involved sexual misconduct. This was a higher percentage than the usual approximately 50% of cases being of a sexual nature. He also noted a significant increase in cases involving those with emergency permits. Crosby also reported that improvements in data base construction will lead to increased efficiency in tracking cases and identifying trends.

Chairperson White then reported that Board members have previously been provided a draft 2023 Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly for their review and approval. She also reported that applications by a pair of private schools seeking recognition as Approved Private Academic School Accrediting Organizations will be sent on to a special committee for review and to PDE as per 22 PA Code Chapter 52.

The meeting closed with the unanimous approval of three action items: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 4 (Academic Standards and Assessment); the 2023 Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly; and a Resolution Honoring James Argas, who has left the Board after serving from 1996 through 2023.

In a subsequent State Board of Career and Technical Education Meeting, Mr. Judd Pittman reported that the Board is preparing to announce competitive equipment grants totaling $4.4 million with a cap of $85,000 per grant. He also reported an interagency transaction with the PA Bureau of Special Ed. (BSE), Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Department of Labor (DOL), and Intermediate Units (IUs) will benefit students and staff through the provision of resources. Also, DOL has been instrumental in helping communities that lack a level of effective CTE programming. He ended his report stating that the Perkins Team is submitting preparing and submitting required documents to the federal government.

The meeting closed with the Board being trained on Accreditation Guidelines for PA Public Postsecondary CTE.

Shapiro Administration Announces Plan to Provide Food Access For Students During Summer Break (January, 10, 2024)

After securing universal free breakfast for public school students as part of the 2023-24 budget, the Shapiro Administration is working to ensure students continue to receive healthy meals during the summer. As a result, the Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Education (PDE) announced the Commonwealth’s intent to operate the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer-EBT) program in summer 2024, allowing children to access nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. 

The 2023-24 budget delivers a $46.5 million increase to provide universal free breakfast to Pennsylvania’s 1.7 million public school students. Due to this increase, every public school student regardless of income will be eligible to receive free breakfast. The funding also provides free lunch to all 22,000 Pennsylvania students who are eligible for reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). 

The Summer-EBT program was created by the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 to provide school aged children who are income eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) with an additional source of nutrition during the summer months when children are not in school to receive school meals.  

The total Summer-EBT benefit is set by federal law at $40 per month per eligible child to cover the three summer months – June, July, and August. Pennsylvania will be issuing the Summer EBT benefit as a single $120 issuance with all benefits issued by September 30, 2024. Summer-EBT benefits will be issued on a family’s existing EBT card, if possible, or a new EBT card will be issued to newly eligible families. 

An estimated 600,000 to 900,000 children will be automatically issued Summer-EBT benefits based on their eligibility for Free or Reduced-Priced meals under the NSLP.  

The groups of children who will be eligible for Summer-EBT include: 
-Children who are determined income eligible for Free or Reduced-Priced meals under the NSLP by applying through their school. 
-Children who are categorically eligible for NSLP because they are a foster child, a homeless child, or a runaway and they attend an NSLP participating school. 
Children who are eligible for Free or Reduced-Priced meals under the NSLP through direct certification. -Directly certified children are children who are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits or certain Medical Assistance eligibility.  
-If a child eligible through direct certification is aged six through seventeen, they will qualify for Summer-EBT regardless of whether they attend an NSLP participating school.  
-If a child eligible through direct certification is aged five or younger or aged eighteen or older, they will qualify only if they are enrolled in an NSLP participating school. 

Since most eligible children will be enrolled in Summer-EBT automatically, only a limited number of families will need to submit an application. Applications for Summer-EBT will need to be submitted to DHS’ County Assistance Offices to determine eligibility.  

Applications for Summer-EBT are not yet available The application process and additional details will be detailed further in the coming months. 

Schools that do not currently participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are encouraged to do so and can find information for applying on the PDE website.  

Additional information on the Summer-EBT program can be found by clicking here.

PA DHS Leader Elected To NASDDS Position (January 9, 2024)

Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced Kristin Ahrens’, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), appointment to board member-at-large at the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Kristin was elected by her peer state directors to help shape the work of NASDDDS in assisting member state agencies in building person-centered and culturally and linguistically appropriate systems of services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Under Ahrens’ leadership, DHS’ ODP serves more than 58,000 Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism. Ahrens has worked to expand DHS’ support for people with intellectual disabilities and autism increasing the number of individuals enrolled in ODP’s home and community based service waivers by more than 4,100. She has also overseen the Commonwealth’s increased ability to serve individuals in the community by modernizing program regulations and strengthening county infrastructure and staffing to accommodate the growth in the intellectual disabilities and autism home and community-based waiver programs.

In September, at the direction of Governor Shapiro, DHS began updating the data used to set rates for home and community-based services for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism. This process is needed to ensure that the rates for home and community-based services enable providers to set wages that support and retain qualified, dedicated staff who help individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. This reassessment is the latest effort by the Shapiro Administration to support and advocate for the intellectual disabilities and autism community. NASDDDS represents the nation’s agencies that provide services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Their work promotes leadership, systems innovation, and the development of national policies that support home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information, visit www.nasddds.org.