On February 23, 2023, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Val Arkoosh and Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Strategic Initiatives and Market Development Cheryl Cook today joined leadership from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and Feeding Pennsylvania to highlight upcoming, significant federal changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that will take effect starting March 1, 2023. They also discussed how important it is for Pennsylvanians to support their local food banks and pantries as the statewide systems works to help people affected by this change. 

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which was passed and signed into law in December, ends a pandemic-era response policy that has provided recipients with an additional SNAP payment every month since early 2020. These payments, known as Emergency Allotments (EAs), bring SNAP households to the maximum monthly benefit for their household size or – if the household is already at its maximum – are $95, whichever is greater. 

February is the final month that EAs are authorized to be sent. All SNAP households will lose a minimum of $95 a month in SNAP benefits starting in March, with a statewide average impact 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 once EAs end. 

“As a physician, I’ve seen the close relationship between a person’s diet and health. Reliable access to healthy foods and the inherent dignity that comes with knowing you can feed yourself and your family can make a difference on both a person’s physical and mental wellbeing,” said Acting Secretary Arkoosh. “If you are having trouble purchasing food for yourself or your family and are worried about what to do or where to go when this extra payment ends, there are resources that can help.” 

When these additional benefits end, Pennsylvania’s charitable food network will be called to step up its fight against hunger in communities across the Commonwealth. Food banks in Pennsylvania typically serve approximately 2.2 million people annually, but since the pandemic began in March 2020, these food banks have served more than 684.2 million pounds of food to more than 83.7 million duplicated individuals and an average of 581,000 people each week. 

“The charitable food network has provided an extraordinary service since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and will be as helpful as possible as the impacts of these changes to SNAP benefits affect Pennsylvanians. However, food banks and pantries are the last line of defense against hunger, not a replacement for SNAP,” said Deputy Secretary Cook. “For the charitable food network to better serve those who need more help as a result of SNAP benefit reductions, it is important for all who are able, to donate time, money, and food to help our regional food banks and local food pantries.” 

Supporting local food banks and pantries through monetary donations, in-kind donations of needed food items, and volunteer time will help them continue their support through this change and make their heroic work possible. 

Food Assistance Resources Available 

The Shapiro Administration recognizes the impact these changes may have on households and wants to make sure families that need food assistance know where to go for help. 

• SNAP recipients who are pregnant or have kids under 5 may be able to get help buying food from PA WIC. You can call 1-800-WIC-WINS or apply online at www.pawic.com; 
• You can call 211 or visit www.pa211.org to connect with various local food resources; 
• Visit www.feedingpa.org to find local food banks and other food assistance programs; 
• Go to www.dhs.pa.gov/ending-hunger and www.agriculture.pa.gov/food_insecurity for information on assistance programs and other resources; and, 
• If you are a SNAP-eligible senior citizen, the Senior Food Box Program can also provide you with additional shelf-stable groceries. Learn more about these programs from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. 

Pennsylvanians who need to report changes to their household size, income, or expenses like housing, dependent care, and health care costs are encouraged to report any changes online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS, via the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling DHS’ Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930 (or 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia residents). This will help ensure households are receiving the maximum SNAP benefit based on their individual circumstances. 

For more information about SNAP Emergency Allotments and food assistance resources available, visit dhs.pa.gov/SNAPcares. 

On February 22, 2023 the Shapiro Administration announced an upcoming increase to base rates paid to child care providers participating in Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works (CCW) program. Effective March 1, 2023, base rates will be increased to remain at the 60th percentile of the market rate for child care in a provider’s region based on newly-available data. 

The initiative increases access to child care in the same communities where low-income families served through CCW live. Increasing base rates also helps child care providers who participate in the program to enhance services, invest in staff development and compensation, and promote overall quality of their child care program. The increase comes in response to the 2022 Market Rate Survey results. 

CCW base rates are set according to a federally-recognized market rate survey conducted every three years. The results of the surveys assist states in determining an appropriate level of reimbursement offered to providers participating in subsidized child care programs, and to keep parity with what providers charge for services. The most recent survey was completed in 2022 and reflects the challenging operating environment that child care providers have navigated through the pandemic and accompanying economic challenges. Increases to operational costs experienced by providers caused the current base rates to fall below the 60th percentile. Funding made available under the American Rescue Plan Act will support reestablishing rates at the 60th percentile. 

CCW helps make child care affordable and more accessible for low-income, working families so parents are able to work knowing their children are being cared for and learning in reliable and safe environments. Investments in rates paid for this program help support quality of care and the child care workforce across Pennsylvania’s entire child care system – helping our youngest Pennsylvanians access early learning programs that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

View the press release by clicking here.

Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Acting Secretary of Education has recently disseminated a PennLink  message titled PA Kindergarten Entry Inventory – 2023-24 School Year. The message informs LEAs that encourages all elementary schools to implement Pennsylvania’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (PA KEI) in the 2023-24 school year to assist in meeting federal requirements.  According to the message, PA KEI is a reliable reporting tool that offers teachers an instructional strategy for understanding and tracking a student’s proficiency at kindergarten entry. The PA KEI is available to all local education agencies (LEAs) at no cost.

The PA KEI collects information on a consistent set of standards-based indicators across the commonwealth. The PA KEI is based on Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood and the Pennsylvania Core Standards. PA KEI includes 30 indicators and provides a comprehensive profile that includes the domains of: Social and Emotional Development; English Language Arts; Mathematics; Approaches to Learning; and Health, Wellness and Physical Development. PA KEI is intended to be used by kindergarten teachers to record a student’s demonstration of skills within the first 45 calendar days of the kindergarten year. More information is available at www.kei-pa.org.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides opportunities to strengthen the contribution of high-quality early childhood education in school reform and improvement efforts. The law recognizes that school success starts before a student enters the K-12 setting and calls on states to describe how they will assist LEAs and elementary schools to collaborate with early childhood education programs, and to invest in evidence-based practices. ESSA supports early learning and LEA collaboration in three main ways: (1) expanding access to high-quality early learning; (2) encouraging alignment and collaboration from birth through third grade; and (3) supporting educators. The PA KEI is a tangible tool to assist LEAs in understanding the comprehensive learning strengths and needs of students entering the K-12 setting, in establishing common expectations and language for beginning and extending collaborative conversations with pre-kindergarten programs and families, and in planning and implementing joint professional development opportunities that focus on strengthening evidence-based practices for young learners.

Implementing the PA KEI requires a Point of Contact (POC) who will serve as the liaison between LEA administrative staff, implementing kindergarten teachers, the Office of Child Development and Learning (OCDEL), and data systems staff. A dedicated POC ensures effective communication and implementation throughout the PA KEI process. 

To initiate PA KEI participation in the 2023-24 school year, LAEs must send the POC name, email address, and phone number to [email protected] by May 30, 2023.

In addition, all kindergarten teachers who have not previously participated must complete a required professional development online course and obtain a certificate of completion to gain access to the web-based data system. Teachers with an expired proficient user certificate (more than five years since certification) are required to complete the professional development protocol.

Below is the tentative training schedule and timeline for participation:
March-September:             Required professional development online course available
August-September:            PA KEI systems professional development opportunities available
By the start of school:       Implementing kindergarten teachers must have a required professional development online course certificate of completion on file to gain systems access
45 calendar days from start of school:        Observation and evidence collection/scoring completed
60 calendar days from start of school:    Data submissions (student outcomes) finalized within data system

Questions about the PennLink message may be sent to [email protected].

A February 21, 2023 PennLink message from Lee Burket, Ed.D., Director, Bureau of Career and Technical Education, to all LEAs with the subject line 2023-2024 Career and Technical Education Information System (CATS) Secondary Program Approval File. The message read:

Dear Partner in Education:

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) encourages you to share this information pertaining to the reapproval of the Career and Technical Education Information System (CATS) program with high school principals, career and technical education (CTE) supervisors, curriculum coordinators, applicable department chairs, business managers, school counselors, CTE instructional staff, and school support personnel.

Reapproval of PDE Programs in Conditional Status

For the 2023-24 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Career and Technical Education (PDE/BCTE) in accordance with Chapter 339.4(a)(2), will continue to review all programs that were given conditional approval this past year (2022-23) due to required documentation missing or not provided by the deadline because of the new system errors.

The CATS file is a series of individual pages containing data elements pertaining to various aspects of approved programs. All school entities with approved programs must ensure that all data element information in CATS is accurate. Failure to comply may result in programs no longer being approved. Professional staff from the PDE/BCTE have been in contact with all CTCs and school districts to assist with the re-approval process in the new CATS system the previous year.

The FRCPP CATS system will open February 21, 2023. School districts and CTCs with programs in conditional approval will be required to enter data and complete the re-approval process as soon as possible and before May 31, 2023, to continue to have PDE-approved CTE programs. CATS can be accessed at the login on MyPDESuite.

2023-24 CATS Secondary Program Initial Approval

The 2023-24 CATS Secondary Program Approval file is now open for new secondary CTE program approval requests. The CATS file is a series of individual pages containing data elements pertaining to various aspects of approved CTE programs.

All FRCPP CATS information should be updated annually to include:

• CATS contact information.
• Upload new annual course catalog.
• Update any common support services and upload new LAC and other meetings provided on the Common LEA page.
• Updated letters of support that are dated, signed and on letterhead.
• Update any OAC member changes and upload latest OAC meeting minutes and dates.
• Crosswalk Phase IV task grids just released and uploaded.
• Review and update accountability annual targets by selecting the correct year and review with school program performance and click yes if targets were met or click no if they were not met.
• Update CTSO rosters.
• Update any scope and sequence changes, due to course revisions or articulation agreement changes.
• Update all one-to-one articulations and dual enrollment agreements annually.
• Update any teacher changes or expired teacher certifications and any industry credential revisions.
• Update any revisions to any apprenticeships/accreditations that may have occurred.

Schools must seek one of two deliveries. Where a Program of Study (POS) exists (state developed task grid, statewide articulation agreement), the school must apply for the POS delivery. Where a POS does not exist, the school must apply for a Career and Technical Education delivery. The deadline for seeking new program approval is May 31, 2023. CATS can be accessed at the login on MyPDESuite.

The Career Pathway Option is a radial button in CATS to connect two or more Classification of Instructional Programs (CIPs) that are POS approved programs and offer the same foundational technical curriculum the first year. This pathway allows students to experience several related CIPs in a POS Pathway and requires specific elements for pathway approval.

Any secondary school may submit a request for POS Pathway approval. Currently, there are 38 POS available on PDE’s website.

The competency/task grid for each POS is the foundational curriculum framework for the CIP. Therefore, all competencies/tasks must be addressed in the approved program.

POS competency/task grids have been revised and are posted on the PDE website. Local Education Agencies must use the most recent list available. Additional competencies should be added as recommended by your Occupational Advisory Committee. Each course in the scope and sequence must be cross walked to the task grid and aligned to the course where the tasks are taught and uploaded in the FRCPP CATS system on the specific information tab/student technical competencies page. 

Your approved POS will provide the benefit of the articulated credits indicated by the statewide group of postsecondary institutions on CollegeTransfer.net.

If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Keisling at (717) 783-6996 or [email protected].