Perkiomen Valley to pilot new elementary ELA materials aligned to science‑of‑reading Curriculum staff recommended piloting Great Minds Arts & Letters and Amplify CKLA for grades 4–5 (and new level 4–5 foundations) to better align K–5 instruction with structured‑literacy/science‑of‑reading practices; a comparative module pilot will run early in the next school year.

Perkiomen Valley is set to revolutionize elementary education by piloting new ELA materials that align with the latest in structured literacy and the science of reading!

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#PA #CitizenPortal #LiteracyInnovation #TeacherSupport #CurriculumReform #PennsylvaniaEducation

Board notes appointment of Dr. Sanchez and approves multiple career, special-education contracts The board reported an appointment of Dr. Sanchez as director of career and technical education starting July 1 and approvals of contracts and equipment purchases for career and special-education programs, including a contract with the Center of Autism Services and Innovations and an agreement to provide TIMS support to Chester-Upland SD.

Exciting changes are coming to career and technical education in Pennsylvania with the appointment of Dr. Sanchez and new contracts to enhance special education services!

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#PA #AutismSupportSystems #CitizenPortal #SpecialEducationServices #PennsylvaniaEducation

District outlines career-academy plan, schedules May vote to move ninth graders District staff proposed a phased career-academy model that would send all ninth graders to Cassius and launch parallel academies at Cassius and the Career Magnet School; the board will vote on the ninth-grade transition at the second May meeting.

A bold new career-academy plan is set to transform high school education, giving ninth graders at Cassius a unique chance to gain industry-recognized credentials and real-world experience.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EquityInEducation #StudentAccess #PennsylvaniaEducation

Eastern Center receives state grants; $11.03 million base bid approved for building-trades renovation Cheltenham board received a report that the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology accepted a $216,090.12 Pennsylvania Department of Labor school-to-career grant, a $191,000 supplemental equipment grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and approved an $11,029,000 base bid for building-trades renovations to expand program capacity.

Eastern Center is set to transform career education with over $400,000 in state grants and a $11 million renovation to boost student capacity and hands-on training opportunities!

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#PA #CitizenPortal #PennsylvaniaEducation #CareerTechnicalEducation #HandsOnLearning

Pennsylvania lawmakers outline plan to expand "structured literacy," screenings and training Representatives Justin Fleming and Jason Orteite told the Keystone Education Report that legislation and budget steps will expand phonics-based "structured literacy" across Pennsylvania, including early screenings (K2), an initial $10 million appropriation, vetted vendor lists, and a 10-year goal to raise third-grade reading to about 75%.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing for a major shift in education with a new "structured literacy" plan aimed at boosting third-grade reading proficiency to 75% in the next decade.

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#PA #TeacherTraining #CitizenPortal #LiteracyInitiatives #EarlyScreening #PennsylvaniaEducation

Parents urge transparency on Chromebooks and ed‑tech; district details filters, classroom monitoring and AI pilot Two parents urged Colonial School District to disclose which devices and apps students use, how much daily device time they receive, and opt‑out options; district staff described a new education‑focused filter, classroom‑monitoring tools and plans for an AI pilot with privacy agreements under review.

Parents are demanding clarity on how educational technology is impacting their children, revealing alarming concerns about device use and content accessibility in schools.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EdTechInnovation #StudentPrivacy #PennsylvaniaEducation

🗓️ Mark Your Calendars! - PEDC April Meetings

Our April 2026 Statewide & Regional Meetings are coming up, and we hope you’ll join us.

All Meeting Registration Links - qr1.be/LLH2B4

#EducatorDiversity #PennsylvaniaEducation #TeacherPipeline #EquityInSchools #EducationCommunity #TeachersMatter

CCIU budget: core contributions flat, CTE and marketplace fees rise modestly; Downingtown faces higher CTE share Chester County Intermediate Unit leaders told the Downingtown Area SD board the IU is keeping core contributions flat, proposing a 2% rise for occupational (CTE) programs and 1.82% for marketplace services; officials said the district's CTE contribution would rise to about $3.97 million next year.

Chester County Intermediate Unit's budget plan keeps core contributions flat while pushing for a modest rise in occupational education fees—what does this mean for Downingtown?

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#PA #CitizenPortal #CostSavings #PennsylvaniaEducation #WorkforceDevelopment

Committee orders independent study on whether Smarter Balanced can replace Keystone exams An amendment (A02316) requiring an independent study to evaluate whether Smarter Balanced Assessments can serve as an alternative to Keystone exams was adopted unanimously and House Bill 17 52 passed the committee 26–0; members debated replacing versus studying assessments.

A unanimous committee vote could pave the way for Smarter Balanced Assessments to replace Keystone exams, sparking a debate on the future of student evaluation in Pennsylvania.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #CollegeReadiness #StakeholderEngagement #PennsylvaniaEducation #AssessmentReform

Instructional coach reports measurable gains after one year of math coaching District math instructional coach Danielle Robson told the board she has worked directly with 50 of 68 math teachers and reported an association of higher growth in classrooms with consistent coaching (about 8%) versus those with occasional or no coaching (about 3%).

District math coach Danielle Robson reveals a remarkable 8% growth in student outcomes linked to consistent coaching, showcasing the power of targeted support in education.

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#PA #MathInstruction #CitizenPortal #StudentGrowth #TeacherSupport #PennsylvaniaEducation

🗓️ Mark Your Calendars! - PEDC March Meetings

Our March Statewide & Regional Meetings are coming up, and we hope you’ll join us.

All Meeting Registration Links - shorturl.at/91a4o

#EducatorDiversity #PennsylvaniaEducation #TeacherPipeline #EquityInSchools #EducationCommunity #TeachersMatter

Upper Dublin outlines AI 'cardinal flight plan' and next steps for policy work The district reported formation of an AI Think Tank, a four‑phase 'cardinal flight plan' for policy and professional learning, a teacher survey on AI needs, and plans to return to the committee in May with policy language and next steps.

Upper Dublin's education leaders have launched an innovative AI Think Tank, unveiling a four-phase "cardinal flight plan" to reshape teaching practices and policies.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #DigitalPrivacy #TeacherDevelopment #AIInnovation #PennsylvaniaEducation

Upper Dublin committee hears data showing weaker Algebra I outcomes and previews May recommendations District staff told the education committee that changes since 2019 to middle‑school math pathways coincide with falling Algebra I Keystone proficiency and fewer students progressing to calculus; the committee received a curriculum audit, a root‑cause analysis and a May timeline for recommendations.

Upper Dublin SD reveals alarming trends in Algebra I proficiency, sparking a critical reevaluation of middle-school math pathways that could impact future calculus success.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #MathEquity #StudentSuccess #CurriculumReform #PennsylvaniaEducation

District sets guardrails for generative AI use: students in grades 6–12 may access vetted tools, elementary focus on literacy Staff presented revisions to the technology administrative regulation to clarify AI definitions, privacy ownership of student‑generated material and a companion set of implementation guidelines; recommended generative AI access limited to grades 6–12 with teacher oversight and parent resources provided.

The district is taking bold steps to ensure safe and equitable use of generative AI, limiting access to grades 6-12 while focusing on literacy for younger students.

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#PA #TeacherTraining #CitizenPortal #AIAccessibility #StudentPrivacy #PennsylvaniaEducation

Board debates ACTI/CCTC land, timing and withdrawal risks tied to budget talks Board members discussed the regional ACTI/CCTC project, including a potential land purchase, a $75 million facility vision, the consortium's multi-district voting requirements and the financial risks of withdrawing (multi-year notice and shared cost responsibilities).

Board members are wrestling with the financial implications of a $75 million expansion at the Colonial Career and Technology Center, facing tough choices about affordability and the risks of withdrawal.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #PennsylvaniaEducation #CareerEducation

District outlines staffing additions and a projected $3.7–4.0M starting deficit for 2026–27 Administrators presented staffing proposals—including additional special‑education staff, deans of students, nurses, paraprofessionals and an athletic coordinator—while Mrs. Robbins said preliminary revenue assumptions leave a multi‑million dollar gap before one‑time fund balance uses.

The district faces a daunting $3.7 million deficit while proposing crucial staff additions to support students, including special education and academic intervention specialists.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #SpecialEducation #StaffingAdditions #PennsylvaniaEducation

Board hires 1 Plus Strategies for legislative work and ends Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney contract At the Feb. 25 meeting the board approved a legislative consulting agreement with 1 Plus Strategies (recorded 8–1) and voted to terminate the district's consulting agreement with Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney (approved 7–2). Two board members voted against the termination.

The Pittsburgh Board of Public Education shakes things up by hiring 1 Plus Strategies for legislative consulting while parting ways with Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #LegislativeConsulting #PennsylvaniaEducation #PublicAccountability

Parents tell East Stroudsburg board to pause redistricting plans; district says it will investigate options Public commenters from Resica Elementary urged the board not to redistrict students to North, citing transportation delays, loss of extracurricular opportunities and lack of notification about a feasibility survey; district leaders said boundary investigations will proceed as data-gathering, not as immediate changes.

Resica parents are rallying against proposed redistricting plans, fearing long bus rides and lost extracurricular opportunities for their children.

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#PA #CommunityEngagement #ExtracurricularAccess #CitizenPortal #TransportationIssues #PennsylvaniaEducation

Radnor Middle School principal named Pennsylvania 2026 Secondary Principal of the Year Dr. David Widlick, principal of Radnor Middle School, received the Pennsylvania Secondary Principal of the Year award and is a candidate for the national award; the district and visiting principals praised his leadership, school culture and student engagement during the Feb. 24 board meeting.

Dr. David Widlick of Radnor Middle School has been named Pennsylvania's 2026 Secondary Principal of the Year, highlighting his exceptional leadership and the vibrant school culture he fosters.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #StudentEngagement #EducationalLeader #PennsylvaniaEducation

Resident tells board equity work has fallen short; district says discipline data were miscoded A Lansdale resident criticized district equity efforts and cited large drops in Keystone proficiency and high middle-school violence rates; district official Dr. Bauer responded that a state-dashboard mapping error misclassified discipline incidents and said the mapping has been corrected.

A Lansdale resident claims the district's equity efforts are failing, highlighting alarming drops in Keystone proficiency and rising violence rates, while officials reveal a mapping error behind the troubling data.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EquityInEducation #PennsylvaniaEducation

Eastern York sees ELA proficiency drop; trustees push targeted interventions and early-childhood expansion District ELA proficiency fell from 56% to 48% with the largest drops in grades 4 and 8 and pronounced declines in certain cohorts; administrators proposed evidence-based programs, tiered interventions (READ 180), professional development and consideration of expanded pre-K as long-term strategy.

Eastern York's English proficiency has plunged 8 points, sparking urgent calls for targeted interventions and a push for expanded early childhood education.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #StudentIntervention #PennsylvaniaEducation #EarlyChildhood

Committee reviews acceptable-use AI attachment and weighs 'Welcoming Schools' policy Committee members said policy 815’s AI attachment is a useful starting point but urged addressing gaps for personal devices; members broadly supported researching a 'Welcoming Schools' policy though some favored a resolution instead and asked for draft language and examples.

Radnor's policy committee is tackling the future of tech use in schools, debating critical gaps in acceptable use and the potential for a groundbreaking 'Welcoming Schools' policy.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #TechnologyPolicy #PennsylvaniaEducation #InclusiveEducation #StudentSafety

Board hears state guidance coming on attendance and limits on cyber‑school transfers Board members reported the Pennsylvania Department of Education will issue guidance and FAQs related to Act 47 (2025) on attendance and that recent legislative changes aim to limit rapid transfers to cyber schools for students with chronic absences.

Exciting changes are coming from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to tackle chronic attendance issues and limit quick transfers to cyber schools!

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#PA #LegislativeChanges #CitizenPortal #StudentAttendance #PennsylvaniaEducation #CyberSchoolIssues

Methacton administration proposes early-retirement incentive to reduce near-term budget pressure Administration proposed a voluntary early-retirement incentive offering a $10,000 annual stipend for three years (total $30,000) with a participation threshold of 20 and cap of 30 to create savings and spread an anticipated retirement wave; board members asked detailed questions about attrition, replacements and timing.

Methacton district leaders are proposing a $30,000 early-retirement incentive to tackle budget challenges and prepare for an upcoming wave of retirements among veteran staff.

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#PA #BudgetSavings #RetirementIncentives #CitizenPortal #AttritionManagement #PennsylvaniaEducation

Chambersburg schools roll out AIM training, AI tutor and expanded interventions to boost third‑grade reading District officials told the board that 49% of recent third graders failed the district’s two‑of‑three reading metric and proposed AIM Institute professional development, a lead literacy specialist, expanded 'Walk to Read' interventions and an 'Amira' AI tutor pilot. Budget planning anticipates recurring costs between about $802,000 and $2 million depending on scale.

Chambersburg schools are taking bold steps to address a staggering 49% of third graders falling behind in reading, with a comprehensive plan that includes AI tutors and extensive teacher training.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #LiteracyInnovation #PennsylvaniaEducation #AIInEducation

Harrisburg administrators recommend McGraw Hill’s Reveal Math for K–8, board to consider Feb. 24 Supervisors recommended adopting McGraw Hill Reveal Math for K–8 after a district committee review; McGraw Hill offered roughly $396,000 in teacher materials and six years of teacher digital access at no cost. The board moved the adoption to the Feb. 24 consent agenda for a vote.

Harrisburg's education leaders are poised to adopt the innovative Reveal Math program, promising enhanced resources and support for K–8 students—will the board give it the green light on February 24?

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#PA #CitizenPortal #MathAdoption #DiverseLearners #PennsylvaniaEducation

William Penn SD outlines ELA curriculum pilot results, opens community feedback through Feb. 23 District leaders presented MAP growth and teacher/principal feedback from elementary and secondary ELA pilots, released a self-guided package on Feb. 17, and will take community recommendations through Feb. 23 to inform a 2026–27 curriculum choice.

The William Penn School District is seeking your input on the future of its English/language arts curriculum after revealing promising growth results from various pilot programs.

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#PA #CurriculumPilot #CitizenPortal #LiteracyGrowth #CommunityFeedback #PennsylvaniaEducation

Analysis: William Penn SD shows about half-year relative learning recovery, district staff say Using the Education Recovery School Scorecard, district staff reported William Penn made relative gains in math and ELA after COVID-19, narrowing pre-pandemic gaps and outperforming similar districts in recovery; staff recommended restoring some roles to sustain gains.

William Penn School District is making impressive strides in narrowing its achievement gap, showing about a half-year of recovery in learning since the pandemic!

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EducationSupports #PennsylvaniaEducation #LearningRecovery #AchievementGap

Northampton Community College asks Easton Area SD for $1.684 million as enrollment and budget rise Northampton Community College presented a proposed $85.5 million 2026–27 operating budget and asked Easton Area School District for $1,684,000 in combined operating and capital support, a $92,000 increase from the prior year, while reporting multi-year enrollment gains and a small remaining budget gap.

Northampton Community College is on the rise, with a proposed $85.5 million budget and a remarkable 20,000 students served annually, but they need Easton Area School District's support to close a gap!

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#PA #CitizenPortal #EnrollmentGrowth #CommunitySupport #PennsylvaniaEducation