On April 24, 2023, the PA House Education Committee voted to approve a bill that would help to address the teacher shortage in the Commonwealth. HB 141, known as the Time for Pennsylvania to Grow Our Own Educators Act, would amend the Public School Code to develop talent recruitment by providing for a Talent Recruitment Account, as well as establishing the Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program and grow-your-own educator career pathways. The 12-9 committee vote for legislation, which would encourage paraprofessionals and other school support personnel to attend postsecondary schools to obtain their teaching credentials, was along party lines with no Republicans voting for its passage. It has now been re-committed to the House Appropriations Committee.
Category: State Government Actions
Shapiro Administration Committed To Helping Pennsylvanians Amid Major Federal Changes To Medicaid Renewals, SNAP (April 22, 2023)
As a result of federal changes to Medicaid and CHIP which return to pre-pandemic renewal requirements, everyone who receives their health coverage through the state will need to complete a renewal sometime in the next year. Thus, Pennsylvanians who receive health coverage through the state must be aware of changes to Medicaid and CHIP programs and take action so they can protect themselves and stay covered. Importantly, they must keep their contact information up to date with the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) to stay covered.
The federal public health emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for individuals to remain enrolled in Medicaid even if they became ineligible based on regular eligibility criteria, except in certain circumstances. This was also known as the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. However, a federal law ended the continuous coverage requirement on March 31, 2023. Thus, all Pennsylvanians receiving Medicaid or CHIP must complete their annual renewal when it is due to maintain their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. No one will lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage without first having an opportunity to renew their coverage.
Pennsylvanians can update their contact information, report changes in their personal circumstances, and check their renewal date:
● Online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS
● Via the free myCOMPASS PA Mobile App
● By calling 1-877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 if they live in Philadelphia)
● By calling 1-800-986-KIDS (5437) if they are currently enrolled in CHIP
Renewals will be completed over 12 months at a person’s usual time of renewal, and renewals due in April 2023 will be the first to be affected by the end of continuous coverage. If a person is found ineligible for coverage or does not complete their renewal on time, their Medicaid coverage will end. Pennsylvanians who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will be referred to other sources of affordable medical coverage, like CHIP and Pennie®, so they have no lapse in quality, affordable health care.
Pennie is specifically tailored for Pennsylvanians by providing access to a wide variety of affordable, quality plan options, particularly for those found ineligible for Medicaid or CHIP. If cost is a barrier to coverage, many customers can find plans for under $10 per month.
Pennie® is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace and the only place to get financial assistance to help lower the cost of high-quality coverage and care. Those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage can apply for coverage at pennie.com, and some individuals will have their information securely transferred from Medicaid or CHIP for an easier enrollment process. Customers can simply call Pennie Customer Service at 1-844-844-8040 or find Pennie-certified pros at pennie.com/connect.
In addition to changes to Medicaid renewals, those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits saw a decrease in payments in March due to the end of federal pandemic-era policy. Since early 2020, SNAP recipients have been receiving an extra Emergency Allotment (EA) payment every month, but SNAP recipients will now receive just one SNAP payment moving forward. All SNAP households will lose a minimum of $95 a month in SNAP benefits with a statewide average loss of $181 per household. Additionally, a recent change to Social Security Income following the 2023 cost of living adjustment will cause some seniors and people with disabilities to experience, on average, a further $40 decrease in monthly benefits due to the end of SNAP EAs.
Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal to increase the minimum SNAP benefit for household with seniors and individuals with disabilities by 50% and provide universal free breakfast to all children in public school is designed to help combat the effects of the benefit decrease on the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.
To learn more about the end of SNAP extra payments and resources in your community, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/SNAPCares.
To learn more about Medicaid and CHIP renewals and access educational resources, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/phe.
For more information on health insurance options available to Pennsylvanians, visit www.pa.gov/healthcare.
PDE Urges FAFSA Completion prior to May 1st (April 17, 2023)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is encouraging Pennsylvanians to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) by May 1, 2023.
“Completing and submitting the FAFSA opens up a world of possibilities for many students across Pennsylvania – it’s the first step toward receiving both federal and state student aid. When the FAFSA is not filled out students are leaving money on the table that could potentially help them find their education,” said Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Acting Secretary of Education. “Filling out the FAFSA can help make college an affordable reality for many students by reducing or eliminating the need to borrow money, helping students feel more financially prepared and ready to take on their futures.”
All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college; business, trade, or technical school; hospital school of nursing; designated Pennsylvania open-admission institution; or nontransferable two-year program do have an extended deadline the first year they file: August 1, 2023.
Over 140 school districts across the Commonwealth have 50 percent or higher student FAFSA completion. School districts that have 70 percent or higher student FAFSA completion include:
- Garnet Valley School District, 70%
- Jenkintown School District, 70%
- Lower Moreland Township School District, 70%
- Marple Newtown School District, 70%
- Old Forge School District, 70%
- Pine-Richland School District, 70%
- Riverview School District, 70%
- Springfield School District, 70%
- Wallingford-Swarthmore School District 75%
The FAFSA is an important tool for students seeking postsecondary education opportunities, whether they’re stepping onto campus for the first time or returning in the fall. Current and prospective undergraduate and graduate students should submit the FAFSA to the U.S. Department of Education to determine eligibility for federal student aid.
By filling out the FAFSA, students can receive federal grants, work study, and loans for each year of postsecondary education. Many states and colleges award aid to postsecondary students based on federal aid eligibility, and states and many colleges will award their own aid based on that data
For more information, please visit the PDE website.
BSE Announces Revised RTI Application Process (April 7, 2023)
On April 7, 2023, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy released a PennLink message to all LEAs titled Special Education Plan Requirements – Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities using Response to Intervention. According to the message,
the PA Bureau of Special Education (BSE) has revised the application process for utilizing Response to Intervention (RTI) to identify students with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). Initial applications for school districts and charter schools may be submitted on an on-going basis. There is no deadline for submission.
The revised process requires school districts and charter schools to submit the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool as the application to PDE. The RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool will be used district-wide or for building levels (e.g., elementary, middle, and/or high school). Additional information and the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool are available on the PaTTAN website.
Each local education agency (LEA) must partner with their local intermediate unit and/or respective PaTTAN Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) lead consultant to conduct a comprehensive review using the fidelity tool and to receive assistance with the process.
Please contact PaTTAN MTSS designees below for support:
Dr. Jennifer Collins, State Lead ([email protected]t) – Harrisburg
Karen Brady ([email protected]) – Harrisburg
Bob Shields ([email protected]) – Pittsburgh
Sherry Hartman ([email protected]) – East
Upon review of all documentation, the Bureau of Special Education will issue a letter indicating the application is approved, disapproved, or requires revision.
For LEAs currently approved to implement RTI for SLD Determination, please continue to use the RTI for SLD Determination Fidelity Tool for internal assessment and improvement.
Additionally, LEAs are required to outline use of RTI for SLD Determination as part of the required submission for the district comprehensive special education plan and charter school annual report assurances within the Future Ready Comprehensive Planning Portal.
Questions related to this message may be directed to Shannon Eye, Special Education Adviser, at 717-829-5113 or [email protected].
PCCD Commits $4.8 Million In Grant Funds To Develop Safety And Security Training For All School Employees (April 7, 2023)
All school employees in Pennsylvania will receive three hours of safety and security training every year, at no charge to their schools, through a new training program grant approved on March 30th by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee.
“Every parent in America knows the fear of sending their children to school and worrying whether they might not come home at the end of the day,” said PCCD Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. “The horrors of Sandy Hook, of Uvalde, of Nashville, of Roxborough High School, of Westinghouse Academy and countless other communities are what keep parents up at night. We cannot harden our hearts to the violence that is plaguing our schools and our communities.
“Every kid deserves to be safe and feel safe, whether they’re in the classroom, on the playing field, waiting for the bus or walking home from school. Once launched, this new training program will empower and educate teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians, cafeteria workers and more on topics like situational awareness, suicide, bullying, substance abuse and emergency training drills. This is a critical investment in our kids’ safety and security.”
Established in 2018 by Article XIII-B of the Pennsylvania Public School Code, the School Safety and Security Committee is tasked with several responsibilities, including:
-Administering funding allocated for School Safety and Security Grants and related programs;
-Developing criteria and standards for conducting school safety and security assessments;
-Issuing surveys to measure school safety and security preparedness and gauge availability of mental health services and supports within schools;
-Establishing training requirements for school resource officers, school police officers, and school security guards; and
-Developing model plans, guidelines, and resources focused on trauma-informed approaches in schools and K-12 threat assessment.
The Committee committed $4.8 million in state funding to support the development and launch of a new School Safety and Security Training program for school employees and School Safety and Security Coordinators, pursuant to Act 55 of 2022. The school employee training will include an hour-long focus training on emergency training drills, including fire, natural disaster, active shooter, hostage situations and bomb threats, and the identification or recognition of student behavior that may indicate a threat the safety of that student, other students, school employees, other individuals, schools or the community. The school safety coordinator training will include these topics as well as more in-depth training on emergency preparedness, physical security assessments and securing facilities, and coordination and communication with law enforcement and emergency personnel. More information on these trainings will be released in the next few months and will be announced when available.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget would invest $100 million in new School Safety and Security Grants (including funding for statewide training), as well as $105 million in state funding for the Violence Intervention and Prevention Grants program administered by the Committee. The Shapiro-Davis budget plan also would invest $100 million this year in student mental health, so schools can draw down the funding they need and use it to fund mental health care for kids.