Category: News

PSCA Needs Your Help to Get HB 2218 Passed (May 6, 2026)

Take Action
We are calling on all members to contact your state senator and urge them to support HB 2218. Pennsylvania is currently the only state in the nation that does not require defined school counseling programs or school counselors in schools.
This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring students receive the support they need by requiring schools to implement comprehensive counseling programs, with a goal of dedicating 80% of counselors’ time to direct and indirect student services.

Why It Matters
Supports student mental health and well-being
-Establishes consistent, statewide counseling standards
-Aligns Pennsylvania with national best practices

Learn More and Get Involved:
GET INVOLVED NOW
PA School Counseling Service Act White Paper

You can find your state representative using the link below!
Ask them to join as a cosponsor!
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

To help PSCA keep track of how many state representatives our membership contacts, please complete this optional Google Form below!
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Your advocacy matters. Together, we can ensure every student in Pennsylvania has access to the support they deserve.

Thank you for taking action!

Poll: Over Two-thirds  of HS Grads Opt Against College Due to Cost-of-Living Concerns (May 5, 2026)

According to an April 27, 2026 report by the Education Advisory Board (EAB), 67% of surveyed high school graduates who decided not to enroll in college cited the cost of living expenses as their primary motivator, according to new data published by consultancy EAB. That’s a sharp rise from the 51% who said the same last year.

As per the repot, the share of students entering the workforce directly after high school also rose, while the portion of students taking a gap year declined, “suggesting a growing emphasis on immediate economic needs.”

Newly enrolled college students said they prioritized career outcomes and internships while also expressing trepidation about artificial intelligence. Among them, 42% said they expect AI to influence the career they pursue, and about 10% reported already changing their fields of study because of AI.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

PDE Provides LEA Special Ed. Data Reports Online Preview (May 4, 2026)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 requires states to report annually to the public on each Local Educational Agency (LEA)’s performance on the targets established in the State Performance Plan. Annually, states are required to report LEA performance on the following State Performance Plan school-age indicators for students with disabilities: Graduation Rates; Dropout Rates; Participation and Performance on Statewide Assessments; Suspension Rates; Educational Environments; School-Facilitated Parent Involvement; Disproportionate Representation by Race/Ethnicity Receiving Special Education; Disproportionate Representation by Race/Ethnicity in Specific Disability Categories; Timelines for Initial Evaluation; Individualized Education Program Secondary Transition Goals and Services; and Post-School Outcomes. To fulfill the State Performance Plan public reporting requirement for the 2024-25 school year, each LEA will have an online Special Education Data Report (SEDR) that shows local performance on the above indicators. In some instances, an LEA’s report will not have data for every indicator (e.g., the data comes from cyclical monitoring and the LEA was not monitored in 2024-25, or the data set is too small to be reliable), and a reason code will be on the report.

Prior to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) publishing these reports publicly, LEAs will have an opportunity to preview the website and their reports. The preview period will begin , 2026, and end , 2026. To review your State Performance Plan SEDR, visit Preview of LEA SEDR and select your LEA from the drop-down list. The accompanying narrative explains how data are obtained and how to interpret the reports. It can be found at PennData > Public Reporting > State Performance Plan Narrative (psu.edu).

If your LEA has questions or concerns about the data displayed, consult your Intermediate Unit Data Manager to ensure that the data submitted to the state matches the data provided by your LEA. If questions remain following these internal reviews and verifications, contact Jodi Rissinger, Data Manager with PDE, via email at jrissinger@pa.gov or Dan Ficca at c-dficca@pa.gov.

When the SEDR Reports go live on the public site, they can be accessed by visiting the Special Education Data Reporting (formerly PennData) website at SEDR Report Dashboard (psu.edu) and selecting your LEA from the drop-down list.

The most current State Performance Plan approved by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is available for reference on the PDE website at www.education.pa.gov and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) website at www.pattan.net.

HHS Is Working to Restore LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention Hotline After White House Discontinued It (May 2, 2026)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to restart a suicide prevention hotline specialized for LGBTQ+ youth less than a year after President Donald Trump’s administration discontinued it.

The LGBTQ+ hotline is also known as the “Press 3 Option” within the broader 988 Lifeline. The 988 number is a crisis support and suicide prevention hotline for the general population that was passed in 2020, under the first Trump administration.

The hotline launched in 2022 and replaced a previous 10-digit 1-800-273-TALK number, and the specialized “press 3 option” for LGBTQ+ support followed in 2023, both under the Biden administration.

Kennedy’s announcement came a day before JAMA published a study showing youth suicide rates for 15- to 34-year-olds were 11% lower than what researchers expected between the launch of the broader lifeline in July 2022 and December 2024.

That means nearly 4,400 fewer U.S. teens and young adults died by suicide than projected in the first 2 1/2 years of the 988 mental health crisis hotline. 

The LGBTQ+ youth crisis line specifically fielded nearly 1.6 million calls, texts, and chats.

When the Press 3 Option was discontinued last summer, LGBTQ+ rights advocates warned it would be “a major hit” to LGBTQ+ youth — especially for those who have fewer access to resources, such as people living in rural areas. Those resources can include school supports such as gender support plans, inclusive classroom materials and school counselors.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.

PAPSA Sponsor Vector Solutions Provides a Free Webinar Opportunity for Pupil Services Administrators (May 1, 2026)

Coping and Resilience: Practical Strategies to Promote Youth Mental Health in a World with Social Media and AI

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM (ET)

Youth mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral challenges, are rising as students navigate an increasingly complex digital world shaped by smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence. These challenges often impact students’ ability to engage, regulate emotions, and thrive in school. By focusing on practical, classroom-based support, educators can play a critical role in strengthening student resilience and promoting well-being.

In this session, school leaders will gain high-impact strategies to support mental health and build resilience in the classroom, along with schoolwide approaches that foster coping skills and a more supportive learning environment.

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