Category: News

Shapiro Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians to Take Advantage of Summer Food Assistance Programs (June 12, 2023)

On June 9, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) urged Pennsylvanians to remember the many food assistance programs available to children and their families during the summer months.

“It is critical that students continue to have access to healthy meals when school is not in session, especially during the summer months when they’re busy growing, learning, and playing,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “There are hundreds of summer food sites operating across the Commonwealth, and it’s easier than ever to find a site near you. We encourage all parents and caretakers to locate their nearest location online or by phone or text.”

The USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder can help families access Summer Meal Program locations in their area. The program provides meals to children participating in enrichment, recreational, or activity programs over the summer. The site finder is also available in Spanish. It is updated weekly over the summer months.

Individuals can also find sites by calling 211, 1-866-3-Hungry, or 1-877-8Hambre, or by texting “Summer” or “VERANO” to 914-342-7744.

Children 18 years and under may receive meals through the program. And individuals 19 years and older who have a mental and physical disability and participates during the school year in a public or private school program is also eligible to receiver meals.

Meals are served at sites located in areas with significant concentrations of children from low-income families. All meals and snacks served through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) must meet federal nutrition standards, and require servings of grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables, and milk.

The SFSP, which began in 1976, is a federally-funded child nutrition program designed to reach those who are age 18 or younger in economically disadvantaged areas.

PA BSE Sends Table 8A Submission Message to LEAs (June 9, 2023)

On June 9, 2023, PA Bureau of Special Education (BSE) Director Carole Clancy sent a Penn*Link message titled July 2023 Special Education Table 8A Submission. The message states that in July 2023, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) assigned to this year’s reporting cohort will submit their data for Special Education Table 8A, Report of Children with Disabilities Evaluated July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. Below is a list of all LEAs required to submit Table 8A this July. If an LEA does not appear on this list, the LEA is not required to submit Table 8A data in July 2023

Table 8A data is collected on a cyclical basis. Those LEAs that are to submit Table 8A to the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) will be informed of such in June this year. Regardless of their reporting status, all LEAs in the state must continue to collect and maintain data regarding timely evaluations so that the LEA can assess its on-going compliance and program effectiveness and be prepared to report data to the state when notified to do so.

Table 8A is used for two purposes:
1. To calculate and report to the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) an annual state rate of compliance with timelines for completing initial evaluations of students to determine their eligibility for special education under the State Performance Plan; and
2. To report to the public on the performance of LEAs in the commonwealth in complying with the required timelines.

Data collected over the past several years on compliance with timelines for initial evaluations show that while many LEAs have achieved full compliance, others have not. When LEAs do not comply and improve performance, the overall state rate reported to OSEP is negatively affected. Further, any LEA that reports less than 100 percent compliance with timelines will be required to engage in quarterly reporting to the BSE to document correction of noncompliance. Therefore, it is imperative that all LEAs be as accurate as possible in collecting and reporting Table 8A data.

OSEP has advised that states should factor out from their Table 8A calculation those students whose evaluation timelines are affected by two exceptions in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulations. Specifically, Section 300.301(d) allows that the 60-day timeline for completing initial evaluations does not apply to a public agency if (1) the parent of a child repeatedly fails or refuses to produce the child for the evaluation, or (2) a child enrolls in a school of another agency after the timeline has begun and prior to a determination by the prior agency as to whether the child is a child with a disability. This second exception applies only if the subsequent public agency is making sufficient progress to ensure prompt completion of the evaluation and the parent and subsequent agency agree to a specific time when the evaluation will be completed. To ensure accurate reporting, it is critical that when a delay in meeting timelines occurs, LEAs must correctly code the reasons for the delay in accordance with the exceptions above.

The Table 8A Template for the July 2023 submission is available on the Special Education Data Reporting website at https://penndata.hbg.psu.edu under the Data Management tab in the 2022-2023 section; scroll down to Table 8A Template.

Selected LEAs must submit their Table 8A to their Intermediate Unit Data Manager no later than July 7, 2023. Questions regarding completion and submission of Table 8A should be referred to the Intermediate Unit Data Manager. Questions regarding the Penn*Link message may be referred to Jodi Rissinger in the BSE at [email protected].

Gov. Shapiro Highlights Universal Free Breakfast Proposal for PA Students (June 8, 2023)

Governor Shapiro’s first budget proposes $38.5 million to provide universal free breakfast to all Pennsylvania students – regardless of income – through the Free School Breakfast Program and to cover the cost of lunch for 22,000 school students whose families earn less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Since its implementation, the program has served more than 23 million breakfasts to students across the Commonwealth.

Under the program, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will use the existing meal reimbursement program to pay schools for the difference between the free federal reimbursement and paid or reduced-price meal reimbursement so that no student has an out-of-pocket cost for a reimbursable breakfast and students eligible for reduced lunch can receive a school lunch at no cost to their families at schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The Governor’s budget proposal seeks to provide sustainable, recurring state funding to extend the program and will also allow students whose families are between 130% and 185% of the poverty line to receive a free lunch.

Click here to view the press release.

Executive Order Establishes New Commission on Next Generation Engagement (June 8, 2023)

On June 6, 2023, Governor Shapiro signed an Executive Order establishing a new commission on Next Generation Engagement. The Executive Order states that Pennsylvanians aged 16-26 (“Next Generation”) make unique, diverse, and valuable contributions to the culture, society, and economy of Pennsylvania, which have a beneficial impact on life in the Commonwealth. It also states that the purpose of the Commission is to gather information regarding Next Generation Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs; review, evaluate, and assess programs affecting them; provide the Governor with information and recommendations regarding how best to meet their needs; and provide information about programs and services that may be relevant to Next Generation Pennsylvanians’ needs.

Click here to view Executive Order 2023-14.

Help Available for Those Affected by Federal Changes to Medicaid and CHIP Requirements (June 8, 2023)

The Shapiro Administration and local health centers are collaborating to support Pennsylvanians through federal changes to Medicaid and CHIP renewal requirements so they can complete their renewals, protect their health, and stay covered. 

The federal public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for individuals to remain enrolled in Medicaid even if they became ineligible, except in certain circumstances. This is also known as the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. A federal law ended the continuous coverage requirement on March 31, 2023. Now, all Pennsylvanians receiving Medicaid or CHIP must once again complete their annual renewal when it is due to determine if they are still eligible for coverage. No one will lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage without first having an opportunity to renew their coverage or update their information. 

To make sure they are getting all updates about their renewal and benefits, Pennsylvanians should make sure their contact information is up to date with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). They can do this and also report changes in their personal circumstances and check their renewal date: 
-Online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS
-Via the free myCOMPASS PA mobile app
-By calling 1-877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 if they live in Philadelphia)

Renewals will be completed over 12 months through April 2024, usually at a person’s usual time of renewal. If a person is found ineligible for coverage or does not complete their renewal on time, their Medicaid coverage will end. Pennsylvanians who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will be referred to other sources of affordable medical coverage, like CHIP and Pennie, so they have no lapse in coverage.

Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace and the only place to get financial assistance to help lower the cost of high-quality coverage and care. Those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage can apply for coverage through pennie.com, while some individuals will have their information securely transferred from Medicaid or CHIP for an easier enrollment process. Customers can simply call Pennie Customer Service at 1-844-844-8040 or find Pennie-certified pros at pennie.com/connect.

To learn more about Medicaid and CHIP renewals and to access educational resources, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/staycovered.

For more information on health insurance options available to Pennsylvanians, visit www.pa.gov/healthcare.