Category: State Government Actions

Shapiro Admin. Announces New Grant Funding Available To Support Disability Inclusive Curriculum In Schools (April 4, 2024)

On April 4, 2023 the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced the creation of a Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program to instruct K-12 students on the political, economic, and social contributions of individuals with disabilities. Under the program, schools can apply for up to $30,000 in grant funding to implement disability inclusive curriculum.

“In Pennsylvania, we are focused on ensuring every student has access to the educational resources they need, no matter their race, gender identity, language, or background,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By teaching our children about influential individuals with disabilities, such as Harriet Tubman, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Stephen Hawking, and Michael J. Fox, we can demonstrate the profound, positive impact that individuals with disabilities have on our society and create a more tolerant and inclusive world.”

PDE is requesting applications from public school entities and non-public schools interested in developing or expanding focused efforts and experiences to engage in the pilot program. Applications must be submitted by 3:00 PM on Monday, May 15, 2023. Schools can implement the new curriculum beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

Funding will be granted to successful applicants for a three-year period from the date of the award through June 30, 2026. A maximum of $10,000 per year is available to each school entity or non-public school entity.

The Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program, added to the Pennsylvania Public School Code last summer, is intended to promote topics and subject matter for instruction to all students, will help learners understand that disability is a natural part of the human condition, and will emphasize the critical contributions of individuals with disabilities. 

Disability Equality in Education led the effort to create legislation for disability inclusive curriculum, and its Director Alan Holdsworth said, “We look forward to working with schools and districts as they begin to embed disability into classroom lessons and conversations.”

The program will impact the overall culture and environment of schools by reducing the stigma of disability by including disability as a part of a school-wide strategic plan.

Governor Shapiro believes that the foundation for building strong and safe communities starts with an adequate and equitable public education system. His 2023-24 budget is the first step toward a comprehensive solution to improve our public schools, push education dollars out equitably, support our teachers, and invest in targeted solutions that meet students’ needs at every level.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the website.

PDH Charts Course To Improve Health Outcomes For All Pennsylvanians (April 4, 2023)

On April 4, 2023 the PA Department of Health (PDH) published the Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) that outlines goals, objectives, and strategies to improve the health of all Pennsylvanians over the next five years. This unveiling of the plan coincides with National Public Health Week, April 3 through April 9. 

The 2023-2028 SHIP was developed in collaboration with the Healthy Pennsylvania Partnership (HPP), with support from Harrisburg University. The HPP is made up of nearly 300 health care professionals, associations, health systems, health and human services organizations, community collaborations, local public health agencies, government agencies, and others focused on improving health outcomes across the Commonwealth. 

Under the overarching goal of improving the health status and life expectancy of Pennsylvanians, and eliminating health inequities, there are nine goals in the 2023-2028 SHIP:

1. Increase financial well-being, food security, and safe affordable housing;
2. Increase community safety by reducing the number of violent incidences that occur due to racism, discrimination, or domestic disputes;
3. Improve environmental health, focusing on environmental justice communities;
4. Increase the population at a healthy weight through increasing availability and accessibility of physical activity and affordable nutritious food;
5. Reduce the impact of tobacco and nicotine use;
6. Increase access to medical and oral health care;
7. Improve mental health and substance use outcomes through improved mental health services, trauma-informed trainings, and substance use interventions;
8. Improve health outcomes through improved chronic diseases management; and
9. Improve maternal and infant health outcomes by improving prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care.

Governor Shapiro’s 2023-2024 budget supports many of the SHIP’s goals by proposing investments in key areas like $2.3 million to expand maternal health programming and study ways to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, $500 million over the next five years for mental health services for students, and $16 million to increase the minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit by 50%, among other investments.

The SHIP acts as a road map for the HPP and others to improve health outcomes and eliminate health disparities by working across the continuum from the social determinants of health, preventative interventions, and accessing quality and culturally humble care.

The Department’s commitment to the overarching goal of the SHIP will be showcased during a statewide, online Health Equity Conference being held Tuesday, April 4. 

More information on the SHIP can be found on the Department of Health’s website at State Health Improvement Plan (pa.gov) .

PDE: $1.5 Million in Grants Now Available for IHEs to Attract More Special Ed. Teachers March 22, 2023)

According to PennWatch, on March 21, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced $1.5 million in grant funding is being made available to institutions of higher education (IHE) that partner with school districts to expedite the process to become a special education teacher.

The Accelerated Program for PK-12 Special Education Teacher Certification will provide grants to IHEs that have approved PK-12 special education certification programs and who partner with at least one LEA to provide those who currently hold bachelor’s degrees with summer field experiences, mentoring by experienced special educators during the school year, and deliver a postbaccalaureate program for PK-12 special education teacher certification within 18 months.

Programs must offer most of the coursework during summer 2023 and summer 2024; provide a combination of in-person and virtual options for flexibility and support to the accelerated program participants working full-time; and ensure a minimum of 12 weeks of student teaching.

The maximum grant award for an IHE is $100,000. Grant funds will be available through December 31, 2024.

Interested IHEs must apply by April 7, 2023 through the Attract-Prepare-Retain (APR) Repository.

A webinar will be held today (3/22/23) from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Sessions will be recorded and made available on the APR Repository for those unable to atttend.

Source: PennWatch.

To read the full PennWatch article, click here.

Bills to Require AEDs and CPR Training in Schools Introduced in PA Senate (March 19, 2023)

On March 16, 2023 two bills, Senate Bill 512 and Senate Bill 513, were introduced in the PA Senate that would require that each school, as well as other places where school activities occur, have at least one centrally located Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

The proposed legislation would also require all coaches in after-school programs to be certified to perform CPR and that schools must have emergency response teams and response plans for a sudden cardiac arrest. Click here for full article from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

PDE: More Than 23 Million Breakfasts Served To Students Through The Free School Breakfast Program (March 15, 2023)

On March 15, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that since its implementation, the Free School Breakfast Program has served more than 23 million breakfasts to students across the Commonwealth.
 
“Research shows that when students get proper nutrition, they are both physically and mentally prepared to learn and therefore, perform better in school,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By continuing to offer free breakfast to all students, we are fueling healthy minds and bodies while reducing stigma related to food insecurity in our schools.”
 
Last week in his budget address, Governor Josh Shapiro highlighted the importance of the program and proposed $38.5 million in funding to continue providing universal free breakfast through the 2023-24 school year. Rather than a one-time influx, Governor Shapiro’s proposal provides ongoing, sustainable state funding for free breakfast in the years to come, because students learn and grow better on a full stomach. The Governor’s budget proposal would also allow students who qualify for reduced meals to receive lunch at no cost.
 
Under the program, PDE will use the existing meal reimbursement program to pay schools for the difference between the free federal reimbursement and paid or reduced-price meal reimbursement so that no student has an out-of-pocket cost for a reimbursable breakfast and students eligible for reduced lunch can receive a school lunch at no cost to their families. Reimbursement applies only to standard breakfast and lunch served at schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Interested schools that do not currently participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs can find information for applying on PDE’s website.
 
The Free School Breakfast Program ensures that all students have access to a healthy, nutritious meal to start the school day and eliminates the stigma associated with free and reduced-price breakfast that may deter eligible students from participating.

On average, more than 455,000 free breakfasts are served each day in Pennsylvania schools. There are 3,129 schools that participate in the program, serving more than 1.6 million students. Since the program began, school breakfast participation is up overall, with participation doubling among students who would usually have to pay full price.

According to the School Nutrition Association, students who eat breakfast are more likely to reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math, score higher on standardized tests, have better concentration and memory, and be more alert and maintain a healthy weight.