Category: News in the Field

U.S. House GOP eyes 27% cut to Title I, Eliminating Funds for ELA (September 3, 2025)

According to a Labor Day news release, U.S. House Republicans are considering a $5.2 billion cut (27%) reduction in Title I funding for low-income schools and districts under a fiscal year 2026 (FY 26) proposal. The proposal would cut overall funding for the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), including K-12 and higher education programs, by 15% below the current budget of $78.7 billion, to $67 billion.

The House will now need to debate and approve the funding plan and then align its proposal with the Senate’s version. In July, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan bill that would fund the Education Department at $79 billion in FY 26, a slight increase to current spending. 

It is important to note that the House proposal would not consolidate current competitive formula funding grant programs into one formula grant program — an approach included in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal.

Congress must finalize the budget by the start of FY 2026 on October 1st. If that deadline isn’t met, there could be a federal government shutdown

Further, although the House GOP proposal for FY 26 would provide slight increases for special education ($26 million), charter schools ($60 million), and career and technical education state grants ($25 million), in addition to the Title I funding reduction, other K-12 programs are targeted for elimination include teacher training programs, full-service community schools, and English Language Acquisition programs

For more from K-12 Dive click here.

Governor, PDE Hold Roundtable Discussion with Educators, Students, and National Education Leaders to Highlight PA’s Investments in CTE (September 3, 2025)

On September 2, 2025, Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Acting Secretary Carrie Rowe joined the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, the Center for American Progress (CAP) President & CEO Neera Tanden, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and leaders from the School District of Philadelphia at Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical High School to highlight how Pennsylvania is leading the way on career and technical education (CTE) – giving more young people the freedom to chart their own course and build careers right here in Pennsylvania.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has secured more than $2 billion in additional funding for K-12 education – the largest investment in Pennsylvania history – and increased funding for vo-tech, CTE, and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million, a 50 percent increase compared to before he took office. Thanks to these investments, more than 3,000 additional students are now enrolled in CTE programs across the Commonwealth.

Click here to access the video and press release.

DHS Creates New Website to Help SNAP Recipients to Navigate Changes in Work Requirements (September 2, 2025)

The new website, dhs.pa.gov/work, will help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients understand upcoming work and reporting requirements put in place by the Republican budget bill that took effect on September 1, 2025.

SNAP recipients who are affected will now need to report their work, education, training, or volunteer hours to continue receiving benefits.

The Shapiro Administration has launched dhs.pa.gov/work, a new website to help Pennsylvanians navigate changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work and reporting requirements that are a result of the Republican budget bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump earlier this summer that went into effect on September 1, 2025. As a result of that federal legislation, certain SNAP recipients must now report work, education, training, or volunteer hours to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain benefits. These requirements will continue to expand throughout Fall 2025.

The website provides details on who is affected, how to meet the work and reporting requirements, and which SNAP recipients may qualify for an exemption and how to obtain one.

The federal budget bill also eliminates flexibilities that previously allowed states to request waivers for work and reporting requirements based on local unemployment rates or job availability.

Currently, under the new law, affected SNAP recipients must report at least 20 hours of work, education, training, or volunteering per week (or 80 hours per month) if they:

  • Are 18–54 years old,
  • Do not have a dependent child under 18, and
  • Are physically and mentally able to work.

Recipients who do not meet these requirements can only receive three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period. The earliest potential benefit loss in Pennsylvania is December 2025.

Additional requirements taking effect November 1, 2025, will affect other SNAP recipients who were not previously subject to them, including:

  • Adults 55–64 years old
  • Parents of any age whose youngest child is 14 or older
  • Veterans
  • Homeless individuals
  • Current or former foster children aged 24 or younger (starting when they turn 18)

To help SNAP recipients prepare, DHS is sending a voluntary survey to those who may be affected. Responses will help determine exemptions based on medical needs or life circumstances but will not affect eligibility. Recipients should return the survey promptly.

Additional support is available via:

  • DHS Resources: Video and infographic demos at dhs.pa.gov/work
  • Commonwealth’s website: Learn more about the impacts of the federal budget bill on Pennsylvanians at pa.gov/federalbudgetresponse
  • Employment Programs: PA CareerLink® and other programs to help recipients meet the 20-hour/week or 80-hour/month requirement
  • Further Assistance: Contact your local County Assistance Office or the DHS Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930 (Philadelphia: 215-560-7226)

Pennsylvanians should also keep their address up-to-date with DHS by calling the Customer Service Center or updating their address through COMPASS, and with the United States Postal Service so they don’t miss any important mailings about their benefits.

For more information on upcoming SNAP work reporting requirements, visit dhs.pa.gov/work.

Revised PDE 427 Forms Are Now Available (August 31, 2025)

The PDE 427 form is the summative assessment form that an LEA is to complete when an educator is being evaluated to adjust their certification level from an Instructional I to Instructional II or Educational Specialist I to Educational Specialist II. The 427 Form has been revised and split into two separate forms, one specifically for Classroom Teachers and another for Non-Teaching Professionals.

PDE 427A: This form is for Classroom Teachers and uses language from the Classroom Teacher Framework for Observation and Practice. This form is used when a teacher is being evaluated to move from an Instructional I to an Instructional II certification.

PDE 427B: This form is for Non-Teaching Professionals and uses language from the Non-Teaching Professional Framework for Observation and Practice. This form is used when a non-teaching professional is being evaluated to move from an Educational Specialist I to an Educational Specialist II certification.

Both forms are completed by the educator’s evaluator and must be kept in the educator’s personnel file at the LEA.

For additional forms and information, please visit the Certification — Fees and Forms webpage.

PDE Provides PA State Grant Communication Toolkit for Parents and Students (August 30, 2025)

With the 2025-26 academic year upon us, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has been actively monitoring 2025-26 PA State Grant completion rates since the process launched in early . While many PA State Grant applicants have successfully completed their 2025-26 PA State Grant record, a significant number still need to take action. PDE continues to email students regularly to encourage them to act, and PHEAA is now also asking for help in communicating with students who graduated in 2025 to ensure they do not miss out on their PA State Grant.

PDE is excited to announce the PA State Grant Program Communication Toolkit. Schools and partners can use the toolkit items to remind students about the PA State Grant Program and to encourage them to apply. The PA State Grant Program Communication Toolkit includes social media posts and images, newsletter content, email templates, and more! 

Please encourage students to sign in to Account Access to complete their certification signatures or the SGF as soon as possible so their 2025-26 PA State Grant eligibility can be determined.