Category: State Government Actions

PDE Encourages Schools and Libraries to Apply for Federal Assistance to Help Close the Digital Divide (June 30, 2021)

On June 29, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced the availability of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), a program that will help eligible schools and libraries close the digital divide and homework gap.

The ECF, which is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is a $7.17 billion temporary program that will help cover costs associated with laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons.

“Digital devices and reliable internet are critical resources for learners of all ages, however, the pandemic has increased inequities in access,” said Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “The ECF program will help schools across the state connect classrooms and communities, close the digital divide, and create digital equity.”

Created through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund is considered the nation’s largest single effort to ensure students have access to the digital devices and resources they need for the new school year. The program will also help libraries offer their patrons new ways to connect as well as bring connectivity home.

Schools and libraries that are eligible for support under the FCC’s E-rate Program may request support through the ECF, however, they do not need to be current E-rate participants. Those who are not current members must demonstrate eligibility under the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC’s) application review. ECF will fund modems, routers, Wi-Fi hotspots, laptops, tablets, and Chromebooks up to $400 a device. Purchases must be made between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. USAC is the program administrator. Applications for this program opened on June 29, 2021and will end on August 13, 2021. During the application filing window, eligible schools, libraries, and consortia of eligible schools and libraries, can submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. For more information, visit the ECF website. To apply, visit emergencyconnectivityfund.org.

Gov. Wolf Signs Budget with Largest Education Funding Increase in State History (June 30, 2021)

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf signed a state budget aimed at helping the commonwealth to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by making the largest investment in public education in state history, by investing in quality, affordable child care for parents who wish to return to the workforce, and by helping Pennsylvanians struggling with mortgage or rent payments stay in their homes.

According to the governor, the budget makes “crucial investments in our future by supporting the students and workers who will drive our economy forward in the years to come.”

The budget outlined in House Bill 1348 makes a historic $416 million increase in state funding for public education. The budget makes crucial investments to support the needs of schools and students, including a $200 million increase in the Fair Funding Formula, $100 million to support underfunded school districts through the Level Up initiative, $50 million in special education funding, $30 million for early education, $20 million for Ready to Learn, $11 million for preschool Early Intervention and $5 million for community colleges. The governor also stated that, “While there is much to celebrate in this bill, it is disappointing that we could not come together to fully provide for the needs of schools across the commonwealth. We need all public education funding to go through the fair funding formula to ensure each school district and each student in our commonwealth are getting the support they need. “

Gov. Wolf Supports Budget with Largest Education Funding Increase in State History (June 28, 2021)

On Monday, June 28, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced his support for the state budget that invests in the future of our children with the largest public school funding increase in state history. This budget also takes major steps to stabilize child care to help working parents as they return to the workforce.

According to the governor,  it is new funding specifically and equitably targeted at the most underfunded districts that disproportionately serve students of color, students in poverty, students with disabilities and English learners. 

The governor will sign the budget next week.

To obtain more detail on the budget, read the PA Newsroom press release by clicking here.

SB 664 Goes to the Governor (June 25, 2021)

On June 23, 2021, after the House amended SB 664 to specify that the PA Department of Education (PDE) produce a standard form for school districts to make available to parents to seek the extra year for their children, the Senate voted 50-0 to approve the amended bill. The bill was then signed by the Senate and House the next day and now goes to the governor.

The bill would allow parents to give their children an additional year of school to make up for the 2020-21 school year being disrupted by closings and operating changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To view the bill, click here.

PDE Sends PDE-4011 Advisement to All LEAs (June 25, 2021)

On June 25, 2021, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy, Director  sent a PennLink email titled Approved Private School Preliminary Deductions. That memo stated that in accordance with Section 24 PS 13-1376 of the School Code, it was sent to notify each school district of residence or charter school of a child enrolled in an Approved Private School (APS) of its preliminary payment amount for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year. As of May 10, 2021, student data has been entered by the local educational agencies (LEAs) and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) electronically through the Approved Private School Electronic Management (APSEM) system.

 If any student information listed is incorrect, it is the LEA’s responsibility to follow up with the APS and make corrections in APSEM. The LEA is responsible for submitting the 4011s to PDE in a timely manner. Please log into the APSEM system and run the 4010 Enrollment Deduction Report for school year 2019-2020. These amounts are preliminary and are subject to change before the June 1, 2021 deductions.

If an LEA should have any questions pertaining to the PDE-4011, accounting, and/or deductions, they are advised to contact Jessica Burkey at [email protected] or 717 783-6906.