Category: State Government Actions

Gov. Shapiro Highlights Plans to Invest in MH Support for PA Students (May 19, 2023)

On May 17, 2023 Governor Josh Shapiro shared his plans to ensure that Pennsylvania students have access to mental health resources in schools during a visit to Hempfield Area High School in Westmoreland County, highlighting his Administration’s commitment to prioritizing mental health support so that Pennsylvanians have access to the resources they need and deserve.

In March, the Governor unveiled his budget proposal filled with solutions to the most pressing issues Pennsylvanians face – including the mental health crisis that students and families are grappling with all across the Commonwealth.

In Pennsylvania, over 40% of students reported symptoms of depression in 2021. In addition to his budget’s proposed investments to address this crisis, Governor Shapiro has directed Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphries to make mental health parity a reality in Pennsylvania by continuing to hold insurers accountable so that mental health benefits are covered fairly.

As Attorney General, Governor Shapiro started Safe2Say Something â€“ an anonymous tip reporting system for students that has seen over 100,000 tips – and his budget proposal aims to help ensure every PA student can receive the support they need.

To increase access and resources for every Pennsylvania student, Governor Shapiro’s budget includes:
-$500 million over the next five years so that schools can fund mental health counselors and services on site, prioritizing students’ mental health in addition to their physical health.
-$60 million annually to restore mental health funding to Pennsylvania counties, who provide critical community-based mental health services for residents.

In addition, on May 18, 2023 Governor Josh Shapiro hosted a National Governors Association (NGA) roundtable on youth mental health in Philadelphia with NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Delaware Governor John Carney, and frontline leaders in youth mental health care. Governor Shapiro is participating in this NGA initiative in collaboration with governors from across the nation to develop bipartisan solutions to address the growing youth mental health crisis.

Learn more about Governor Shapiro’s budget and plans to support Pennsylvanians’ mental health here.

PDE Applauds 2023 Migrant Education Program Graduates (May 17, 2023)

On May 16, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) congratulated Pennsylvania’s Migrant Education Program (MEP) students for earning a high school diploma or Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma during the 2023 Migrant Education Program Graduation Ceremony. This year’s celebration was held at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, with the theme, Education Without Borders—Let Learning Flow for Academic Success. Most of the graduates are pursuing postsecondary studies, while others are immediately entering the workforce, including the military

MEP is a federally funded program that supplements educational support services for migratory children. The program assists school districts and charter schools in coordinating the continuity of educational services for children who have had their schooling interrupted and provides formula grants to state educational agencies to establish or improve education programs for migrant children. Since its inception in 1966, the program has served more than 350,000 students from birth to age 22.

MEP provides services to students with unique educational needs due to their mobile lifestyles, the short spans of instruction they received in the classroom, the discontinuity of instruction between states, and their lack of “belonging” to any one school. To lessen the impact of these specific variables, MEP was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that migrant students:
-Receive appropriate educational and support services that address their special needs in a coordinated and efficient manner;
-Receive services that help reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that result from repeated moves;
-Overcome the challenges of mobility, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, and other factors associated with a migratory life, to succeed in school, and to successfully transition to postsecondary education or employment;
-Are not penalized by disparities among the States in curriculum, graduation requirements, and State academic content and student academic achievement standards;
-Receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet state content and student performance standards that all children are expected to meet; and
-Benefit from state and local systemic reform. The program ensures that all migrant students achieve challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma (or complete a GED), and upon graduation are prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment. To achieve that mission, MEP provides after-school and summer programs, in-home programs and health and social support services, parental involvement, advocacy, and enrichment programs.

PA House Passes Three Bills to Address Teacher Shortage (May 12, 2023)

On May 1, 2023, the PA House approved HB 141, known as the Time for Pennsylvania to Grow Our Own Educators Act, which 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 bill, passed by a  120-81 vote, would encourage paraprofessionals and other school support personnel to attend postsecondary schools to obtain their teaching credentials. It now moves on to the PA Senate. 

On May 2, 2023 two additional bills were passed. HB 100, passed 141-60 and would require the PA Department of Education (PDE) to establish a cross-age tutoring program for students whereby upper grade level students (grades 11-12) would tutor lower grade level students under the supervision of  a certified teacher or paraprofessional. The other bill, HB 688, also known as the PA Teacher Pipeline Scholarship program, would help address the ongoing teacher shortage by allowing college students studying to become teachers in PA state universities, state-related universities, community colleges, and independent nonprofit universities to receive a scholarship worth up to $7,000 per year, or $28,000 total. The bill passes the House by a vote of 119-81 and now moves on to the PA Senate.

PCCD to Provide Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) 2023 (May 9, 2023)

The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) is being administered this fall during the 2023-24 school year. Local Summary Reports presenting the results will be sent to the Superintendents of participating school districts and private/charter schools in April 2024. This year, registration for the PAYS is being conducted online to streamline the process.

Also, this year you can view a list of school districts who are registered in real-time. So, as a school district registers, this list is updated.

Link to View which School Districts are Registered for the 2023 PAYS

Link to Register your School District/School for the 2023 PAYS

PA Announces New Grant Funding Available to Support Disability Inclusive Curriculum in Schools (May 8, 2023)

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.