Latest news with #PennsylvaniaDepartmentofEducation
Time of India
16-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pennsylvania Education Department raises income limits for school meal programs: Here's what it means for students and families
Pennsylvania Education Department raises income limits for school meal programs More students across Pennsylvania will now have access to free or reduced-price school meals, as the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has raised income eligibility limits for the 2025–26 academic year. The update is part of the state's ongoing effort to ensure all students have access to nutritious meals during the school day, supporting both learning and overall well-being. The revised guidelines took effect on July 1, 2025, and aligned with annual federal updates issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). What's changed? The new income thresholds allow more families to qualify for meal benefits: A family of four earning $40,882 or less annually is now eligible for free meals. A family of four earning up to $58,016 qualifies for reduced-price meals. Eligibility depends on both household size and total income. Schools typically send out applications at the beginning of the academic year. In some cases, students are automatically eligible based on participation in other government assistance programs. Why it matters Expanding access to school meal programs helps address child hunger and reduces the financial burden on families. Nutritious meals at school contribute to better classroom behaviour, higher attendance rates, and improved academic performance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Birla Evara 3 and 4 BHK from ₹ 1.75 Crore* Birla Estates Learn More Undo These benefits are especially important for students from low- and middle-income households. In addition to supporting physical health, school meals also help reduce stress and promote a more equitable learning environment, ensuring all students have the fuel they need to focus and succeed. Programs impacted The updated income limits apply to several federally assisted programs, including: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) School Breakfast Program (SBP) Special Milk Program Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) These programs serve children during the school year and, in some cases, during summer and after-school hours as well. What about schools with free meals for all? Many schools in Pennsylvania participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal initiative that allows schools in high-poverty areas to serve free meals to all students, regardless of household income. Families whose children attend a CEP-participating school do not need to submit income applications. What families should do next Families are encouraged to: Check with their child's school or district office to see if it participates in the CEP. Review the new income guidelines to determine eligibility. Complete and return meal benefit applications if required by the school. Additional information and application instructions are typically included in back-to-school packets or available on school district websites. The bottom line With the cost of living continuing to rise, the updated income limits for school meal programs aim to provide much-needed support for Pennsylvania families. Ensuring students have consistent access to healthy meals is a critical step toward helping them thrive both in and out of the classroom. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed bill seeks more funding for Pennsylvania school transportation
(WHTM) — Legislation that aims to help get more funding for school transportation in Pennsylvania has advanced. House Bill 1326 would require districts to report the number of students who use transportation and the costs to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The bill would also let districts track mileage through GPS instead of tracking it manually. State Reps. Paul Friel and John Schlegel sponsored the bill. 'Over the past year, in a bipartisan manner, Representative Schlegel and I have spearheaded a work group with school transportation contractors, statewide associations representing school business, state department officials and school district transportation directors from across the commonwealth with the common goal to modernize Pennsylvania's school transportation laws,' Friel said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The data that the districts collect would then be posted online for the public to see. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Harrisburg City School District becomes first in Pa. history to emerge from receivership
Harrisburg High School (Cpaital-Star photo by Elizabeth Hardison) Nearly six years after a Dauphin County judge placed the Harrisburg schools under state control, the district has emerged from receivership, acting Education Secretary Carrie Rowe announced Tuesday. The Pennsylvania Department of Education petitioned the court for control of the district in June 2019, as it struggled with poor finances and substandard student performance. Former Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said in a court petition at the time the district failed to achieve the goals laid out in its long-term recovery plan, which was approved jointly by the school board and the Department of Education in 2013. Rowe said in a statement Tuesday the Harrisburg City School District was the first in Pennsylvania history to end receivership. State law requires the Education Department to apply for receivership when locally elected school officials are unable or unwilling to follow a financial recovery plan. 'This accomplishment is a testament to the dedicated school leaders who are committed to serving the learners in their community,' Rowe said. 'When the district entered financial recovery in 2012, it was a very different district than the one we see today.' Rowe credited Superintendent Benjamin Henry, the Harrisburg school board and the department's appointed chief recovery officer Yvonne Hollins with 'leadership, vision, and tenacity,' that led to the implementation of a financial model that is an example for other distressed districts. In its 2019 petition, the Education Department described patterns of financial mismanagement and poor personnel decisions including the failure to hire a full-time chief financial officer and a qualified business manager, neglecting to cancel health benefits for dozens of former employees at a cost of $700,000, and hiring 37 teachers at the wrong salary step, leading to costly labor grievances from its teachers union, Since the receivership was renewed in 2022, the superintendent and school board made significant progress in implementing its financial recovery plan. It updated school buildings and infrastructure through a capital improvement plan and maintained fund balances of at least 5% of annual spending for three consecutive years. It also passed three years of audits with no negative findings, the Education Department said. 'Their return to local control is an opportunity to put into practice everything they have learned about effective governance,' said Court-Appointed Receiver Dr. Lori Suski. Chester Upland School District in Delaware County was placed in receivership in 2012 and is continuing efforts to complete a financial recovery plan. An Allegheny County judge in March extended receivership for Duquesne City School District until at least 2028.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Shapiro visits Scranton school, touts education funding success
Students and teachers at Isaac Tripp Elementary School lined a hallway to welcome Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday. They shook pompoms, held signs and swayed miniature flags as the governor greeted and high-fived them. Shortly after, the lucky first-grade class of Julie Zaleski filed politely into the gymnasium and sat 'criss-cross applesauce' on the floor to one side of the room, beneficiaries of a historic $2 billion increase in K-12 public education funding by the Shapiro administration. Shapiro took to the podium, flanked by book shelves loaded with library books, a globe and a stuffed mouse. * Gov. Josh Shapiro jokes with students at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Gov. Josh Shapiro looks ahead as he visits with students through a hallway at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks in the gymnasium of Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Gov. Josh Shapiro greets students at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Students wait for Gov. Josh Shapiro to make his way through a hallway at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Gov. Josh Shapiro greets students at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * State Rep. Jim Haddock greets students in the gymnasium of Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton during a visit from Gov. Josh Shapiro Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 7 Gov. Josh Shapiro jokes with students at Isaac Tripp Elementary School in Scranton Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Shapiro touted a year of improved education and resources for students across the region, bolstered by the largest year-over-year increase to education funding in the commonwealth's history, and elaborated on the success of the funding. 'The reason why we are here today is because we've been able to come together, Democrat and Republican alike, and do something really, really historical, for public education here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,' Shapiro said. State Reps. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., Kyle Mullins, D-112, Blakely, and Jim Haddock, D-118, Pittston Twp., gathered to one side. Scranton School District Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D., Scranton School Board President Ty Holmes and acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Carrie Rowe stood on the other side. Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti sat among a group of local leaders and lookers on in a pattern of padded folding chairs. Shapiro described a scenario where, a decade ago, the state cut $1 billion in funding from the education system. 'We hit a speed bump and were forced to go back,' Shapiro said. He outlined how, though Gov. Tom Wolf's administration worked to do damage control, schools were still severely underfunded. 'We knew that the standard wasn't being met, across Northeastern Pennsylvania, or across this commonwealth,' Shapiro explained, adding that, when he served as the attorney general of Pennsylvania, he wrote a legal brief explaining the system needed to be corrected, because it was unconstitutional. Shortly after Shapiro took office, Pennsylvania courts ruled the school funding system at that time to be unconstitutional. 'Instead of pointing fingers at somebody else, we all agreed, Democrat and Republican, to get around the table and work to address this crisis in public education that we were facing,' Shapiro said. 'We didn't want to shortchange these students. We wanted to be able to invest in them again and make sure that every child has an opportunity for success in life. And so we worked together, and we made historic investments.' Shapiro pointed to Isaac Tripp Elementary School as an example of what is possible when bipartisan efforts maintain the constitutional obligation to children and schools. 'This wasn't just about writing a check to the school district,' Shapiro said, adding that as a result of the work, problems have been solved, highlighting the commonwealth's universal free breakfast provided in schools to all students, because, 'no child should have to learn on an empty belly.' He outlined other improvements, such as growth to the after-school program, access to pre-K, increased funding for special education, including more counselors and special education support in schools, upgrades and improvements, and an increase in the number of teachers hired, thanks in part to a $10,000 stipend reimbursement for educators' learning costs. 'For so many years, the number of teachers have been declining in Pennsylvania. We're reversing that trend,' Shapiro said. 'For the first time in years, it's growing.' Keating described Scranton as 'a city that is long steeped in a proud history and a promising future,' and highlighting the diversity of the student body of 9,300, accentuating how additional funding has improved the education of the students, 80% of whom 'qualify as economically disadvantaged.' She expressed excitement to be 'bringing back preschool,' addressing mental health needs, adding art, music, physical education, STEM opportunities, new fire alarm systems, upgrading all exterior doors, adding interior cameras, completion of construction to West Scranton Intermediate School, and more with the educational funding increase. 'They aren't just extras,' Keating said, addressing some of the benefits funding has provided for the district. 'They're vital components of well-rounded education that create those experiences and interests for kids to grow from high school and beyond.' Kosierowski thanked Shapiro for prioritizing education, citing how her experience as a nurse allows her the ability to see the benefits positive measures taken while children are young has on their overall and ongoing health and lives. 'I'm really proud of what we do here in the state and with funding that we have,' Kosierowski said, citing safe classrooms, nutritional provisions and mental health supports, and reiterated that $11 billion is aimed at K-12 education funding, with a $2 billion increase during the Shapiro administration, and $200 million more dollars to benefit mental health needs, among other improvements. 'This is what progress looks like,' Kosierowski added, 'and here in Scranton, we are seeing it firsthand.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Over $1M awarded to Central Pennsylvania career, technical schools
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Multiple career and technical education centers across Pennsylvania have received funding to expand access to computer science, science, technology, engineering, and math education for learners. Grants, which totaled $10.35 million, were awarded to 55 organizations in 29 counties to support STEM and computer science learning opportunities. The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the grants for PAsmart Advancing Grants for Career and Technical Education programs, including for some in our area. Centre and Elk County awarded over $5k for community projects Here are the Central Pennsylvania awardees (Grants total: $1,575,00): Blair County Appalachia Intermediate Unit was awarded $450,000 Bedford County Bedford County Technical Center was awarded $75,000 Cambria County Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School was awarded $450,000 Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center was awarded $75,000 Clearfield County DuBois Area School District was awarded $450,000 Somerset County Windber Area School District was awarded $75,000 Institutions that received $450,000 or $400,000 grants have planned innovative projects to expand access to computer science and STEM experiences for both students and adults. Grants of $75,000 will support collaboration between schools and a local or regional career and technical provider or will help communities design and plan local and/or regional approaches to expanding career and technical education in STEM and computer science. A full list of awardees can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
