Category: News

PDE, USDE Visit Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology for CTE Month (February 13, 2023)

On February 13, 2023, in recognition of National CTE Month, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Executive Deputy Secretary Angela Fitterer visited Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology with U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Under Secretary James Kvaal. During the visit, President Pedro Rivera facilitated a roundtable discussion with students, educators, and staff, and highlighted the college’s accredited, two-year course offerings that prepare students for the workforce.

“Schools like Thaddeus Stevens play a critical role in Pennsylvania’s education system—they are giving students the skills and experiences they need to leave school and obtain fulfilling, family-sustaining careers,” said Executive Deputy Secretary Fitterer. “There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to success, and it is critical that we continue to support and invest in the schools that provide students with an engaging, tailored approach to learning and will allow them to chart their own course.”

“Graduates of our programs are in high demand here in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Pedro Rivera, President of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. “In two years or less, we equip our students with the skills they need to thrive in the growing number of hands-on, good-paying jobs that are waiting for them.”

CTE in Pennsylvania offers students the opportunity to develop critical skills through a combination of classes and hands-on learning experiences, which allow them to apply academics to real-world situations. These programs are built on foundations of academic rigor and high expectations for student learning and success.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a premier, residential, two-year, accredited technical college that prepares students for skilled employment in a diverse, ever-changing workforce. Founded in 1905 with 15 students, Thaddeus Stevens College has grown to more than 1,300 students and 24 high-skill, high-wage technical programs. The college was recognized by the Aspen Institute, an independent research panel, as one of the top 120 two-year colleges in the country for six consecutive years; it was the only two-year, technical college in Pennsylvania recognized by the Aspen Institute.

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

Shapiro Administration Urges Medical Assistance, CHIP Recipients To Update Contact Information Ahead Of Imminent Federal Changes Impacting Renewals (February 11, 2023)

The Shapiro Administration and the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) are urging anyone enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program to make sure their contact information is correct so they can receive timely updates about their benefits. Under new federal law, continuous MA eligibility will be separated from the public health emergency and will end on April 1, 2023. By keeping contact information up-to-date, recipients of Medicaid and CHIP will receive timely, necessary updates about their coverage and benefits so they are ready when it is time to renew their coverage.

These changes come following passage of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, and will force states to resume normal MA renewal determination processes after April 1, 2023. 

“Recent federal law changes Medicaid renewal guidelines, and we need everyone to be aware of those and know what they need to do to stay covered. In order to keep as many Pennsylvanians covered as possible, DHS needs the most accurate information available in our system so that when it is time to complete their annual renewal, Pennsylvanians can submit their renewal quickly and easily,” said DHS Acting Secretary Val Arkoosh. “Take the time now to ensure that your information is correct so when your renewal is due, you have what you need to avoid a potential disruption in coverage.” 

The Department of Human Services, along with other agencies across the Commonwealth, are undertaking an aggressive, multi-pronged outreach plan to reach Pennsylvanians and inform them of the upcoming changes. Outreach to MA recipients has already begun and will continue to include mail, text, email, and phone calls to make certain they are aware of the federal action affecting their benefits. DHS is also planning coordinated broad public communications via social media, community stakeholders, and press channels to notify the public of this change for MA recipients. This social media outreach – primarily for individuals to keep contact information up-to-date to receive information on time – has been ongoing for months now. 

Changes to Federal Policy 

The federal public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for individuals to continue to remain enrolled in MA even if they became ineligible based on regular eligibility criteria, except in rare circumstances. This is also known as the MA continuous coverage requirement. On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 into law, which affects continuous MA coverage requirements. 

No one will lose their health coverage without having an opportunity to complete a renewal, and renewals will be completed over 12 months. Renewals due in March 2023 will be the first affected by the end of continuous coverage. If a person is found ineligible for their current coverage or does not complete their renewal on time, their MA coverage will end. Pennsylvanians who are no longer eligible for MA will be referred to other sources of affordable medical coverage like CHIP and Pennie®, the commonwealth’s health and dental insurance marketplace, so they have no lapse in quality, affordable health care. A schedule and examples of communications that MA and CHIP households will receive leading up to their renewal is available from DHS here. 

Prepare for Renewals 

Information about when a person’s annual renewal is scheduled can be found on COMPASS or on the myCOMPASS PA mobile app. Anyone can set up a COMPASS account at www.dhs.pa.gov/compass and, if they have a mobile device, can download the myCOMPASS PA mobile app for free. Instructional videos on downloading and using the myCOMPASS PA app are available on DHS’s YouTube channel. Those without computer or mobile access can call DHS’ Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 or 215-560-7226 in Philadelphia, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., or visit their local County Assistance Office. 

Keep Contact Information Up-To-Date to Receive Updates 

Pennsylvanians whose contact information or personal circumstances have changed can use COMPASS to make the following updates to their case file at any time: 
-Changes to the number of people living in your household 
-Changes to your email address 
-Changes to your phone number 
-Changes to your mailing address 

COMPASS also allows users to sign up to receive e-notifications about their benefits. Keeping information up to date will help Pennsylvanians receive reminders about their annual benefit renewal quickly so they can prevent an avoidable lapse in coverage or services. 

Additionally, DHS encourages Pennsylvanians to opt-in to text messages to receive information about their benefits. The texts read: 

“The PA Dept of Human Services would like to text you important messages about your benefits. Carrier rates may apply. To Opt In, please reply ‘YES.’” 

If you receive a text like this from the number 1-833-648-1964, it is not a scam. Messages sent by DHS via text will never ask you for personal information, and you should not provide it. These are intended to be reminders about your benefits and other important information about programs administered by DHS and the federal government. 

DHS will provide additional information on the end of continuous coverage and other benefits affected by changes to the federal public health emergency in the coming weeks. For more information on the end of continuous coverage for MA and CHIP, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/phe. 

School Safety Grants Awarded to 166 Schools Across Pennsylvania (February 11, 2023)

On Friday, February 10, 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that more than $8 million in competitive Safe Schools Targeted grants have been awarded to 166 schools in Pennsylvania to improve school safety. Grants can be used to create safer school communities in a variety of ways, including purchasing safety equipment, implementing new programs, and hiring security personnel and school resource officers.

“Every student in Pennsylvania deserves a safe learning environment, and these Safe Schools Targeted Grants will help schools all across the Commonwealth invest in the resources and staff they need to keep students, teachers, and staff safe,” said Gov. Shapiro. “Students should be able to focus on learning and growing in the classroom, and my Administration will continue to work with our schools and local communities to ensure they have the support they deserve.” The list of awardees can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Office for Safe School website.

Pennsylvania School Districts Prevail in Equitable Funding Case (February 10, 2023)

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court President Judge RenĂŠe Cohn Jubelirer ruled that public education is a fundamental right under the Pennsylvania Constitution and must be equitably funded in a case brought by low-income school districts, along with parents and students, against the PA Department of Education (PDE).

In the ruling in the case of William Penn School District; et. al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Education, “The Court interpreted and applied the Equal Protection Clause to the credited facts in this case. Applying strict scrutiny, the Court concludes Petitioners have established an equal protection violation.”

Judge Jubelirer’s opinion also said that the state constitution imposes that “every student receive a meaningful opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and civically, which requires that all students have access to a comprehensive, effective, and contemporary system of public education.” Stating that “all witnesses agree that every child can learn”, the judge left it up to state legislators, the executive branch, educators, and the PDE to remedy the state’s education funding model.

Lastly, according to the Court, the options for reform are virtually limitless.” For more information from K-12 Dive, click here.

USDA Proposes Gradual Revisions to School Nutrition Standards through 2029 (February 7, 2023)

On February 3, 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced proposed revisions to school nutrition standards. Expressing concerns regarding U.S. rates of childhood obesity, Sec. Vilsack proposed school nutrition standards that would revise requirements on the use of whole grains, sodium, and sugar in school meals.

According to K-12 Dive, such changes would be made gradually between the fall of 2024 and the fall of 2029. Beginning in fall 2024, schools would be required to offer mostly whole grain products, with the choice of occasional enriched grain products. By fall 2025, they would be expected to reduce weekly sodium limits for breakfast and lunch by 10% and limit high-sugar products like yogurts and cereal. However, some flavored milk options with “reasonable limits” on added sugars would be allowed.

By fall 2027, added sugars would be limited to less than 10% of calories per week for breakfast and lunch, and weekly limits for sodium would decrease by another 10%. Sodium would then be reduced an additional 10% for school lunches alone in fall 2029. For more from K-12 Dive, click here.