On January 15, 2026, the PA State Board of Education (Board) held its 389th meeting at the PDE building in Harrisburg and via Zoom. Ms. Sandra Dungee-Glenn opened the meeting at 1:00 PM due to the in-person absence of Karen Farmer White.

Committee reports began with the Hon. Maureen Lally-Green who reported on the progress of the Special and Gifted Education Committee. The essence of that report can be viewed on the PAPSA website at https://papsa-web.org/special-and-gifted-education-committee-makes-recommendations-to-pa-state-board-january-15-2026/.

Ms. Dungee-Glenn then reported on the work of the Teacher and School Leader Effectiveness Committee. That committee is providing recommendations for teacher certification testing. Her report recommended that evaluations for those seeking primary certification include early childhood education, evidence-based reading practices, classroom management strategies, be aligned with any applicable competencies, be accessible online and in person, provide access to test materials, and determine whether an alternate pathway might be available to those not attaining a qualifying score. Her report also recommended the need for reading competencies, performance-based measures for those not attaining qualifying test scores, the Secretary of Ed. to address problems with misalignment of items within the process of certification, the General Assembly to provide funds for waiving fees for those experiencing financial hardship, and to allow for internships prior to the successful completion of certification assessments.

Reports to the Board from PDE leaders began with Mr. Rick Levis’ update regarding Act 47 of 2025, which was passed in November 2025. He spoke of the certification fee reduction that limits fees to no more than $50. He also addressed the grade span changes in Section 1202.2 which are: Primary – Grades PreK to 6; Secondary – Grades 7 to 12; and Specialized Areas – Grades PK to 12. These changes are hoped to address staffing issues with a focus on the shortage of teachers for middle level classrooms. He also spoke of the Accelerated Special Ed. Certification Program that will address Special Ed. staffing vacancies. In addition, he said that those with PreK to 4 certification will also be able to teach grades 5 and 6 and that those certified to teach grades 7-12 will also be able to teach 6th grade content areas. He ended his report by stating that the Early Preparation Program (EPP) will go into effect on July 1, 2028.

In additional reports, Dr. Lynette Kuhn informed the Board that FAFSA completion numbers are up while  Ms. Amy Lena reported that cyber schools are required to regularly conduct wellness checks on students and that beginning in 2027-28 LEAs must use universal screeners for evidence-based reading instruction from a PDE-approved list.

Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe concluded the PDE leader reports by informing the Board of her December 9, 2025 PA Senate confirmation as the new PA Secretary of Education as well as PA’s ranking tops in the nation in middle school CTE programming.

In a report by Council of Basic Education student members Nina Bhatia and Julia Antunes, whereby the importance of peer mentoring was stressed, it was recommended that the Board create a student-to-student video series for students to tell of their experiences in their K-12 education as well as their postsecondary endeavors. Dr Rowe responded favorably to the recommendation and work will begin to examine how it may come to fruition.

In the meeting’s only action item, there being no further discussion regarding the draft 2025 Annual Report to the Governor and the General Assembly, the Board unanimously approved that the report be accepted and submitted as such.

At the 389th Meeting of the PA State Board of Education (Board), the PDE Special and Gifted Education Committee made recommendations to the Board. The report was given by the Hon. Maureen Lally-Green.

The report began with a closeout of the periodic review of PA Gifted Ed. Regulations. The last issue in that process is the work of the Committee for the Evaluation for Giftedness. In that regard, a special committee of school psychologists provided additional that confirmed the that there appears to be no need to amend Chapter 16 at this time. Instead, what is needed is increased clarity and consistency in the process of evaluation.

To that end, it was recommended that a resource and training guide be created for evaluations that employ a holistic approach. It was also recommended that an annotated written report by the multi-disciplinary team, which includes recommendations, be required to help ensure clarity for parents, staff, and students. In addition, it was recommended that a statewide resource guide for screening and evaluation be created that would include selected assessment tools and their proper use.

The final committee report is due in one year.

On January 8, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that WellKids by PA Health & Wellness will join the network of managed care organizations (MCOs) offering health coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This addition follows the first CHIP re-procurement since 2013 and expands the number of affordable health coverage options available for children across Pennsylvania.

CHIP is a health insurance program for children and teens who are not eligible for Medicaid. CHIP provides affordable or no-cost health coverage through age 19. CHIP covers essential care like routine check-ups and well visits, immunizations, prescriptions, emergency care, mental health services, and dental, vision, and hearing screenings and care.

A family’s income determines the monthly cost of coverage, and no family makes too much for CHIP coverage. When families apply for CHIP for their children, they can pick a CHIP insurance plan that best meets their needs.

PA Heath & Wellness, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, was newly selected as an MCO for CHIP and will operate under the brand name WellKids by PA Health & Wellness. Leveraging its experience as a Medicaid MCO, including participation in Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices program, PA Health & Wellness will serve all counties across the Commonwealth.

WellKids by PA Health & Wellness will provide a full range of services, including preventive, routine, urgent, and emergency care for medical and behavioral health, as well as dental, vision, and pharmacy services.

PA Heath & Wellness has achieved National Committee for Quality Assurance accreditation, including Health Equity Accreditation, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality and equitable care.

Effective January 2026, CHIP will operate with a network of nine MCOs: Aetna, Capital Blue Cross, Geisinger Health Plan, Health Partners Plan, Highmark, Keystone First, United Healthcare, UPMC, and PA Health & Wellness. These MCOs will provide comprehensive health care coverage for eligible children statewide.

For more information about WellKids by PA Health & Wellness, call 1-855-445-1920 or visit the PA Health & Wellness website.

For more information, including how to apply for CHIP, visit DHS’ website.