Category: Uncategorized

PAPSA Sponsor Vector Solutions Provides New Free Resources (June 1, 2026)

Longtime PAPSA sponsor Vector Solutions is continuing to provide access to invaluable resources for our members. This month, they are providing the following new resources. Access them via the links below.

Preventing Youth Suicide | A Practical Guide for K-12 School and District Leaders

Youth suicide is one of the most serious and complex challenges facing K-12 education today. School and district leaders are increasingly being called on to strengthen prevention systems, support student mental health, and respond confidently when concerns arise. 

Download the guide to explore practical strategies that help schools create safer, more supportive learning environments for students and staff.

Download Here

The Real Problem with Absenteeism Isn’t Absenteeism | A Strategic Guide for School Leaders

Chronic absenteeism continues to impact student outcomes, and many districts are struggling to make meaningful progress despite increased tracking and interventions. The challenge is that attendance is often treated as the problem, rather than a symptom of deeper issues.

Download our guide today and explore the strategies you need to improve attendance and drive student success.

Download Here

ASCA Data: PA Student-Counselor Ratio Better than National Average, but Still Not Meeting Recommended Level (March 28, 2026)

In the United States, 132,270 counselors served about 49.3 million students last school year. According to figures released by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the national student-to-school counselor ratio improved by 1% to 372-to-1 in the 2024-25 school year, an improvement over 2023-24 when it was 376-to-1. That ratio means about 529,000 more students had access to a school counselor.

In addition, for the first time, the high school student-counselor range of 195 to 224 students for every one counselor has met the ASCA recommended ratio of 250-to-1. However, elementary and middle schools still do not meet the recommended student-counselor ratios, with a range of 571 to 694 students for every counselor. Pennsylvania’s student-counselor rate in 2024-25 was 317 to 1.

These figures are based on data from the 35 states that report counselor count figures for elementary and middle schools separately from high schools.

View the ASCA chart by clicking here.

Source: K-12 Dive

IU 13 Provides Compliance Tracking Software (October 4, 2023)

With all the demands to track completion dates and renewals, collecting clearances and training certificates often becomes a manual task. A solution has been created by Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 to do this electronically, freeing your staff time to attend to other essential duties. If you would like to learn more about this exciting new program, developed by a school system for school systems, we welcome you to attend one of the following demonstrations:

Date: Tuesday October 24th 9am – 10am
Date: Wednesday November 1st 1pm – 2pm
Date: Thursday November 9th 9am – 10am

For registration to attend, please follow this LINK.

This product is offered by HR Solutions for Schools, developed by Lancaster-Lebanon IU13. For questions, please contact Claudia Schadler-Duong, HR Solutions for Schools Manager, at Claudia_Schadler_Duong@iu13.org or 717-947-1865.