Pennsylvania
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Pennsylvania
Federal
Thousands ‘Party’ Down to Promote Public Schools
At some 3,800 near-simultaneous "house parties" across the country last week, guests called on their federal lawmakers to put more money into education.
Families & the Community
Party of Two Forced Into Consolidation
Originally, teacher Jane Dugdale thought there would be for two “house parties” under the wing of the National Education Association here in her Radnor Township School District.
Assessment
User-Friendly Reports On Student Test Scores Help Guide Instruction
Pennsylvania officials were expected this week to unveil the designs for new reports on student and school test performance that are customized to meet the needs of parents, teachers, and school leaders, as well as provide a direct link to instruction.
Special Education
Private Schools in Pa. Lobby State to Pay Up Old Debts
Pennsylvania’s system for subsidizing private schools that are eligible to receive public money for serving children with severe disabilities has broken down—and state leaders are struggling to come up with solutions to fix it.
School & District Management
Phila. Middle School Teachers Fail ‘Highly Qualified’ Tests
Half the Philadelphia middle school teachers who took tests to meet the federal "highly qualified" standard fell short.
Teaching Profession
Alternative Teacher-Licensing Exam Has Setback in Pa.
One of the two states that had agreed to accept a series of national tests as the sole basis for teacher licensing appears to have reversed itself on the issue.
Education Funding
School Aid Remains Rendell's Big Challenge
Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell spent his first year in office in an uphill battle for the education agenda that defined his candidacy. And if it's true that politics is the art of half a loaf, it's possible he's still feeling pretty hungry.
Education
Pennsylvania District Says Ratings Unfair In Suit Against State
A Pennsylvania school district is suing the state for failing to provide the money and the tools it needs to ensure its schools will make academic progress under federal law.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Mold Fears
One Pennsylvania school building illustrates a national debate about how to confront the perceived health hazards of mold in schools. Includes: "Increasing Numbers of Schools Are Grappling With Mold Problems."
Reading & Literacy
Soaring Passion
The centennial of the Wright brothers' historic flight is bringing educators and flight enthusiasts together to provide lofty learning experiences for students.
Standards & Accountability
Pa. Adapts to New Federal Education Law
Nearly half of Pennsylvania's public schools fell short of targets for improvement made as part of the state's inaugural experience with the "adequate yearly progress" provision of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Includes a chart, "Tracking Progress."
Education Funding
Pennsylvania Schools Wait, Worry as Budget War Continues
Pennsylvania's governor and legislature cannot come to an agreement on a fiscal 2004 education budget, making the state the only one in the country with no school spending plan, and forcing scores of school districts to borrow to stay afloat.
Social Studies
High-Tech Tools Help StudentsPut Veterans in Limelight
With the help of technology, students document the oral biographies of war veterans through a national oral-history project.