Category: News

PDE Launches New Tool To Help Students Earn High School Equivalency (August 23, 2023)

On August 17, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced a new tool to help Pennsylvanians earn a high school equivalency (HSE) credential by combining their scores from different high school equivalency tests, an option that was not previously available in Pennsylvania. The opportunity to earn an HSE opens up employment and higher education opportunities for Pennsylvanians, giving them the freedom to chart their own course in life.

“This system will help more students achieve a credential, no matter their background, first language, or age,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “As we endeavor to increase credential attainment across all demographics, this commonsense approach will expand our workforce and enable learners to complete—or take the next step in—their education journey.”

Using TotalTranscript® by DiplomaSender, students can combine subtests of the two high school equivalency tests, the GED® test and the HiSET® exam, to earn the Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD), Pennsylvania’s high school equivalency credential. Students may also now combine Spanish and English subtests to earn the CSSD. CSSDs may be issued to applicants who reside in Pennsylvania, are at least 18 years of age, do not possess a secondary school diploma from the United States, and have either scored a passing score on a high school equivalency test or have completed 30 semester hours of study at a U.S. accredited institution of postsecondary education.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the PA Department of Education website. 

As 2024 ARP Deadline Looms, Survey Shows Anticipated Impact on Pupil Services (August 23, 2023)

As next year’s deadline for American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds approaches, school districts must prepare for the impact. To that end, with roughly a year left before the September 2024 obligation deadline, The School Superintendents Association (AASA) launched its fourth American Rescue Plan (ARP) survey of school district leaders to ascertain what spending priorities and challenges they are anticipating as the fiscal timeline tightens. The survey reveals 53% of school district leaders anticipate the need to decrease specialist staffing, including behavioral health personnel and reading specialists, as well as cuts or decreases in summer learning programming tailored exact student needs.

To access School District Spending of American Rescue Plan Funding Part IV, click here.

PDE Notifies LEAs of Special Ed. Form Revisions (August 22, 2023)

Bureau of Special Education Director Carole L. Clancy recently sent a PennLink message to all LEAs titled Revised Special Education Forms: Prior Written Notice for a Reevaluation Form and Request for Consent for a Reevaluation Form. It informs local educational agencies (LEAs) that the Prior Written Notice for a Reevaluation and Request for Consent form has been separated into two forms, the Prior Written Notice for a Reevaluation form and the Request for Consent for a Reevaluation form.

The form was separated into two forms to ensure LEAs provide parents with prior written notice and obtain parent consent at proper times during the reevaluation process in accordance with 34 CFR 300.300 and 300.503. The revised and the annotated versions are now available on the PaTTAN website at www.pattan.net. The “Special Education Forms” tab is located on the top of the home page for easy access to the revised and annotated forms. A training video on these forms is available at: https://www.pattan.net/Legal/Special-Education-and-Gifted-Forms. 

LEAs are required to start using these forms by November 1, 2023.

IRRC and General Assembly to Consider Sp. Ed. Terminology Changes (August 20, 2023)

The PA Department of Education (PDE) and the PA State Board of Education recently delivered two final-omitted regulations to the House and Senate Education Committees and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for consideration. The regulations are:

-State Board of Education #6-341 “Intellectual Disability Terminology Update” (IRRC #3379)

-Dept of Education #6-342 “Intellectual Disability Terminology Update” (IRRC #3380)

The regulations have been posted to IRRC’s website – www.irrc.state.pa.us.

IRRC is scheduled to consider both regulations at its September 21st public meeting.  The meeting begins at 10 am.  It will be held at IRRC’s office (333 Market St, 14th floor).  IRRC’s meetings are open to the public and also streamed on its website.  The link for viewing will be available the day of the meeting.  If your organization plans to attend the meeting and speak, please let me know.

Any comments submitted on the rulemakings will be posted to IRRC’s website.

Under the Regulatory Review Act, designated standing committees can take action on final regulations at any time up to 24-hours before the start of IRRC’s meeting. Interested parties are asked to contact Scott Schalles, IRRC Regulatory Analyst, with any questions about the regulatory review process and these regulations.

CMS Provides Toolkit for Schools Explaining the ‘Unwinding’ of Medicaid Services (August 19, 2023)

It is estimated that 536,400 children have lost access to Medicaid and CHIP insurance since automatic renewals ended in April. As a result, a toolkit from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) titled Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching Children and Families in School-Based and Early Education and Care Settings has been made available. It urges K-12 and early childhood educators, administrators, staff and parent-teacher associations to help families be aware of the change in public health policy through letters, robocalls, text messages, social media and other communications.

In addition, The School Superintendents Association (AASA) advises that raising awareness about continuous coverage also benefits school systems that rely on Medicaid reimbursements for school-based health services. In fact, keeping students enrolled in Medicaid will be especially important for the fiscal health of those districts, since Medicaid reimbursements for school-based services is the third- or fourth-largest federal revenue stream for school systems. 

To access the toolkit Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching Children and Families in School-Based and Early Education and Care Settings, click here.

For more from K-12 Dive, click here.