August 6, 7 & 13, 2024 Policy Hearing Takeaways

Back to School August 6th, Bethlehem – Rep. Milou Mackenzie August 7th, Mechanicsburg – Rep. Sheryl Delozier August 13th, Jamison – Rep. Kristen Marcell

As summer winds down and Pennsylvania’s families begin preparing for the coming school year the Policy Committee traversed the state to hear from school administrators, parents, and students. Topics covered included special education, school funding, career & technical education, performance metrics, and more. The legislature has been tasked with providing equal opportunity for all students, regardless of region or individual abilities, and the Republican Caucus works diligently to listen and respond to the needs of the Commonwealth.

~ Agenda, Bios, & Testimony ~ August 6th, Bethlehem August 7th, Mechanicsburg August 13th, Jamison

Key Takeaways:

August 6th - Bethlehem

Special Education Insights Panel The Centennial School & Lehigh University

	•	19.3% of PA students received special education programing during the 2023-24 school year. Both the number and overall percentage of special education students in PA is growing with each year.
	•	Modern special education methods for students with emotional or behavioral disabilities does not require physical restraints, time-outs, or suspensions.
	•	Positive behavioral intervention is now the predominant method to improving student behaviors. The focus is now on replacement behaviors, and not punishments.
	•	Special education, and really all education, requires a strong partnership between schools, teachers, and families.
	•	Addressing the teacher shortage is especially difficult within special education. Schools partner with universities, as well as offer new teachers the ability to receive trainings, mentors, and pursue a Master’s degree as they work towards a permanent position.
	•	Modern technology has been a boon for special education. Interactive whiteboards, iPads, and immersive learning tools provide new opportunities to special education students and teachers, but the funding for these tools is always an obstacle.

Special Education: Parental Perspectives Panel Parents of Students Attending The Centennial School

	•	Parents benefit from access to “educational advocates”. These advocates meet with the child and their family to find the best educational institution to meet their needs.
	•	Parents want POSITIVE communication with their child’s school. Not every phone call from the school should strike fear in a parent.
	•	Positive reinforcement is always preferable for children and parents. Both in schools and in the home.
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	•	Covid, and the reaction to stay-at-home orders by our public schools, was a common impetus for parents to pursue alternative special education opportunities for their children.

August 7th - Mechanicsburg

K-12 Education Insights Panel PA Association of Intermediate Units, Mechanicsburg Area S.D., Cedar Cliffs H.S., Cumberland Valley S.D.

	•	School infrastructure improvements are a major financial obstacle to overcome.   o   PlanCon, a state program to reimburse schools for major construction projects, should be simplified and continued.   o   The “Separations Act” of 1913 requires schools to receive bids from at least four prime contractors. The intent was to avoid taxpayers’ overpaying for construction, but it now causes increased cost due to delays, project changes, and management needs.
	•	ESL students compose a rapidly growing demographic within PA schools. To accommodate these students ESL teachers and classes must be offered, which is an added expense for school districts.
	•	ESL students cannot be expected to perform at their level when completing standardized tests in English. Standardized testing should accommodate the diverse language needs of PA students.
	•	Dual enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) opportunities should be available to all PA students. To do so, staff must be AP certified and schools must form cooperative agreements with colleges and universities.
	•	Early intervention is key to reducing the number of students requiring special education.
	•	Cell phones should not be used in classrooms. They are a major distraction, liability, and disruption.
	•	The biggest anticipated challenges for K-12 districts throughout the state are staffing shortages, budgeting, and student mental health.   o   Staffing: Lack of substitute teachers, instructional aides, special education staff, transportation personnel, and full-time teachers.   o   Budgeting: Mandated costs such as pensions, special education payments, and charter school tuition cause public K-12 schools to have difficulty accurately setting a yearly budget. State mandates should be accompanied by state funding.   o   Mental Health: Nearly half of K-12 students express some degree of mental health need. The scarcity of local providers and the lack of funding cause schools to struggle to meet the needs of their students.

August 13th - Jamison

CTE Education Insights Panel Council Rock S.D., Middle Bucks Inst. Of Technology, Home Builders Assoc. of Bucks & Montgomery Counties

	•	Like all schools, those in Council Rock School District experienced setbacks and learning loss during the pandemic.
	•	This has forced schools to get creative and implement tutoring programs to help students rebound.
	•	Council Rock is in their second year of providing their own property tax & rent rebate program, mirroring what occurs on the state level.
	•	Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are exploding in popularity! Enrollment and interest exceed the available classroom space and equipment.
	•	The stigma CTE schools once held is fading rapidly. Especially with colleges becoming increasingly expensive and degrees less valuable.
	•	Cooperation between local industries and CTE schools is key to developing cutting-edge educational programs.
	•	CTE opportunities are now being offered at the elementary level. The earlier the better!
	•	When determining the success of an education, students should be assessed at graduation AND five-to-ten years afterwards.
	•	Ranking high schools based on the percentage of students attending college is a faulty metric. College is not the only means of success, and this metric disincentivizes CTE investments.
	•	It is far too difficult to receive teacher certifications for CTE programs. It can take up to 8 years!   o   Prospective CTE teachers often pay out of pocket for their education.   o   Prospective CTE teachers should have an option to receive their certification through occupational testing, professional certifications, or work experience.

In Case You Missed It:

“There is nothing better, as a parent, than knowing that your child is happy at school.” — Rep. Milou Mackenzie —

“Education has always been a three-pronged stool. You need a student that wants to learn, a teacher that wants to teach, and a family to support them.” — Rep. Sharyl Delozier —

“Investing in CTE is not just an investment in our students and workers, but in the future economic vitality of Pennsylvania as a whole.” — Rep. Kristen Marcell —

“Supportive partnerships with our students’ parents are essential to achieving success in school.” — Dr. Julie Fogt — Director, The Centennial School

“Schools are the backbone of our communities, providing not only education but also a sense of belonging and a foundation for future success.” — Dr. Mark K. Leidy — Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units

“Every single student deserves the dignity of walking into our schools each day with the opportunity to access our amazing programs and feel like they belong.” — Dr. Andrew Bitz — Superintendent, Mechanicsburg Area School District

“Family, trust, community. That’s all I can say.” — Kristi Sadow — Parent, The Centennial School

“We’re preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s emerging technologies.” — Dr. Mark Covelle — Director, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology

In The News:


 
Watch the Testimony:


8/6 Full Hearing: Back to School - Bethlehem

Opening Remarks from Joseph J. Helble - President, Lehigh University

Educator Insights Panel:

Dr. Robin Hojnoski - Dean, College of Education, Lehigh University

Dr. Julie Fogt - Director, The Centennial School

Heather Caricari - Lead Teacher, The Centennial School

Dr. Sara Heintzelman - Technology Integration Specialist, The Centennial School

Questions for the Educator Insights Panel

Parental Perspectives Panel:

Jim Shields - Parent of a Student at The Centennial School

Melissa Howard Heptner - Parent of a Student at The Centennial School

Kristi Sadow - Parent of a Student at The Centennial School

Student Testimony

Questions for the Parental Perspectives Panel



8/7 Full Hearing: Back to School – Mechanicsburg

Dr. Mark K. Leidy, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units

Dr. Andrew Bitz, Superintendent, Mechanicsburg Area School District

Danielle Eisner, Science Teacher, Cedar Cliff High School

Mike Gossert, Member, Cumberland Valley School Board and President, Pennsylvania School Board Association

8/7 Questions for the Testifiers



8/13 Full Hearing: Back to School - Jamison

Council Rock School District Panel

Michael Roosevelt, Member, Council Rock School Board

Dr. Andrew J. Sanko, Superintendent, Council Rock School District

Questions for the Council Rock School District Panel

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Panel

Dr. Mark Covelle, Director, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology

Bob Hickey, President, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Executive Council

Thomas McCullough, MBIT Graduate & Local Business Owner

Carla Zapotek, Executive Vice President, The Home Builders Assoc. of Bucks &
Montgomery Counties

Questions for the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Panel