The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is highlighting a suite of resources to support you and your staff during the 2025-26 school year. In line with Governor Josh Shapiro’s focus on anti-discrimination and digital literacy, educators can access these tools through the Standards-Aligned Portal (SAS) to promote student safety and well-being within their school community.
- Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Toolkit
Studying the Holocaust provides critical insights into key concepts like democracy, dictatorship, propaganda, collaboration, resistance, and genocide. To support this, a new toolkit provides educators with a range of resources, including videos, lesson plans, and classroom materials that can be adapted for both virtual and in-person learning
Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Toolkit – SAS - Information and Media Literacy (IML) Toolkit
The IML Toolkit provides educators and families with resources to help Pennsylvania’s youth navigate the digital world. By incorporating information literacy into learning, the toolkit helps students distinguish fact from fiction, promoting online safety and healthy digital skills for the next generation.
Information and Media Literacy Toolkit – SAS - Disability Inclusive Curriculum Toolkit
The PDE Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program aims to educate all K-12 students about the political, economic, and social contributions of individuals with disabilities by promoting the accurate and regular representation of disability in all aspects of school life.
The program teaches students that disability is a natural part of the human condition.
The toolkit is inclusive of all age/grade levels. It includes sample lesson plans, professional development offerings/opportunities, ideas for implementing a disability inclusive curriculum, disability-led organizational contacts, and other resources.
PA Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program – SAS - Bullying Prevention Resources
The PDE Center for Safe Schools’ (CSS) bullying and peer abuse prevention resources are informed by more than 25 years of research and practice, including Preventing Bullying Through Science Policy and Practice, a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The CSS Bullying Prevention website includes the following:
-Needs Survey
-Sample Letter to Schools
-Flyers -Definition of Bullying
-Types of Bullying
-Rough Play, Conflict, Bullying Characteristics
Safe and Supportive Schools: Bullying Prevention – SAS - Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention, and Child Exploitation Awareness Education The PDE Office of School Climate and Well-being has youth suicide awareness and child exploitation awareness resources to assist educators in all grade levels, including:
-Policies and Procedures
-Task Forces -Suicide Prevention Plan
-Curriculum Guidelines -Prevent Suicide PA (Program)
-Student Programs -Professional Development
-Crisis Resources
-School Resources and Materials
Safe and Supportive Schools: Mental Health – SAS
PDE wishes everyone a safe and successful school year. Its Division of Instructional Quality (DIQ) is available to assist with the above resources or any of our SAS Toolkits. You may contact DIQ at RA-EDINSTQUALITY@pa.gov .