East Pennsboro Area School District

East Pennsboro Area School District
Address
890 Valley Street Enola, Pennsylvania, Cumberland County 17025-1541 United States
Information
Funding type	Public
School board	9 locally elected members
Superintendent	Dr. Jay H Burkhart salary $138,000. (contract July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2019)[1][2] former - Bruce Deveney (salary $141,465 in 2012) [3][4]
Administrator	Betsy Holley, Business Manager Kathy Kramer, Director of Special Education Gregory J. Milbrand, Asst Superintendent[5] Mr. Corey Groff, Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Preston Brandt, Director of Safety, Security and Facilities Steve Vogelsong, Technology Coordinator Kirlin, Linda, supervisor salary $82,847 Jim Hudson, Director of Athletics & Activities
Principal	Craig Robbins HS Principal (salary $107,757 in 2012)
Principal	Michael Sim MS Prinsipal
Principal	Richard Tysarczyk EPES
Principal	Corey Groff WCHES
Supervisor	Kathleen Kramer ($86,018 in 2012)
Staff	153 staff members
Faculty	213 teachers[6]
Grades	K-12
Age	5 years old to 21 years old special education
Pupils	2,764 pupils (2013),[7] 2,785 pupils (2011), 2783 pupils (2010) [8]
• Kindergarten	222 (2012),[9] 217 (2010)
• Grade 1	210 (2012), 227
• Grade 2	188 (2012), 198
• Grade 3	202 (2012), 236
• Grade 4	227 (2012), 234
• Grade 5	198 (2012), 219
• Grade 6	235 (2012), 216
• Grade 7	222 (2012), 190
• Grade 8	221 (2012), 200
• Grade 9	229 (2012), 185
• Grade 10	209 (2012), 211
• Grade 11	200 (2012), 227
• Grade 12	201 (2012), 223 (2010)
Language	English
Mascot	Panthers
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Budget	$38.4 million (2015-16)[10] $37.8 million (2014-15)[11] $35.9 million (2013–14)[12] $34,488,025 (2012–13)[13] $34,216,821 (2011–12) $37,197,538 (2010–11) $34.9 million (2009–10)
Per pupil spending	$11,000 (2008)
Per pupil spending	$12,353.07 (2012)
Website	East Pennsboro Area School District Homepage

The East Pennsboro Area School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district located in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, U.S. The District is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania. East Pennsboro Area School District serves: East Pennsboro Township and the Villages of Enola, Summerdale, West Fairview and parts of the Borough of Camp Hill. According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 18,254 people. By 2010, the District's population increased to 20,267 people.^[14] In 2009, the East Pennsboro Area School District residents' per capita income was $22,517, while the median family income was $54,142. The educational attainment levels for the School District population (25 years old and over) were 92.2% high school graduates and 29.5% college graduates.^[15]

Per District officials, in school year 2007-2008, the East Pennsboro Area School District provided basic educational services to 2,901 pupils. It employed 217 teachers, 129 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 15 administrators. The East Pennsboro Area School District received more than $8.6 million in state funding in school year 2007-2008. The District provided basic educational services to 2,830 pupils in 2019-2010. It employed: 233 teachers, 122 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 14 administrators during the 2009-2010 school year. East Pennsboro Area School District received $9 million in state funding in the 2009-2010 school year.

East Pennsboro Area School District operates four schools: East Pennsboro Elementary School, West Creek Hills Elementary School, East Pennsboro Area Middle School, and East Pennsboro High School.^[16] East Pennsboro Area School District is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 which offers a variety of services, including a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services. High school students may choose to attend Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School for training in the construction and mechanical trades.

Governance

East Pennsboro Area School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four-year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills. The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board. The School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the Superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.^[17]

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "B-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.^[18]

Academic achievement

In 2014, East Pennsboro Area School District ranked 157th out of 496 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.^[19] The ranking is based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school.^[20] Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.

• 2013 - 157th^[21]
• 2012 - 181st
• 2011 - 187th ^[22]
• 2010 - 179th ^[23]
• 2009 - 187th
• 2008 - 210th
• 2007 - 275th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.^[24]

Graduation rate

In 2013, the graduation rate at East Pennsboro Area School District declined to 90%.^[25] In 2012, the graduation rate at East Pennsboro Area School District was 91%.^[26] In 2011, the district's graduation rate rose to 95%.^[27] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. East Pennsboro Area School District's rate was 92% for 2010.^[28]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 94% ^[29]
• 2009 - 91% ^[30]
• 2008 - 96%
• 2007 - 96% ^[31]
• 2006 - 93% ^[32]

In 2006, 34% of the graduates from East Pennsboro High School did not achieved proficient or better on the PSSA's for Mathematics and Reading.^[33]

District AYP status history

In 2012, East Pennsboro Area School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, when 3 schools did not achieve Adequate Yearly Progress.^[34] In 2011, East Pennsboro Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.^[35] East Pennsboro Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2006 to 2009. In 2004, East Pennsboro Area School District was in School Improvement I status due to lagging student achievement. In 2003, the District was in Warning status.^[36]

High school

East Pennsboro Area High School is located at 425 West Shady Lane, Enola. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 839 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 23.8% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 16.5% of pupils received special education services, while 3.6% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 67 teachers.^[37] Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, East Pennsboro Area High School had 882 pupils enrolled in grades 9th through 12th, with 192 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 70 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12:1.^[38]

2013 School Performance Profile

East Pennsboro Area High School achieved 77.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - only 67% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 70% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, just 58% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[39] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.^[40]

AYP history

In 2012, East Pennsboro Area Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status when it missed 4 academic metrics. In 2011, East Pennsboro Area Senior High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress status.^[41] East Pennsboro Area High School District achieved AYP status under No Child Left Behind each school year 2003-2010.^[42]

PSSA Results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[43]

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.^[44]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 72% on grade level, (14% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[45]
• 2011 - 72%, (12% below basic). State - 69.1% ^[46]
• 2010 - 67% (15% below basic). State - 66% ^[47]
• 2009 - 65%, State - 65% ^[48]
• 2008 - 67%, State - 65% ^[49]
• 2007 - 66%, State - 65% ^[50]
• 2006 - 70%, State - 65% ^[51]
• 2005 - 71%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 59% on grade level (24% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[52]
• 2011 - 65%, (17% below basic). State - 60.3%
• 2010 - 62% (23% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 63%, State - 56% ^[53]
• 2008 - 59%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 58%, State - 53%
• 2006 - 65%, State - 52%^[51]
• 2005 - 57%, State - 51%

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 54% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[54]
• 2011 - 38%, (16% below basic). State - 40%
• 2010 - 47% (12% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 29%, State - 40% ^[55]
• 2008 - 32%, State - 39% ^[56]

Science in Motion East Pennsboro Area High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.^[57] Gettysburg College provides the experiences to schools in the region.

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 36% of East Pennsboro Area School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.^[58] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years.^[59] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

SAT scores

In 2013, East Pennsboro Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 505. The Math average score was 510. The Writing average score was 496. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.^[60]

In 2012, 126 East Pennsboro Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 494. The Math average score was 499. The Writing average score was 486. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 138 East Pennsboro students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 490. The Math average score was 505. The Writing average score was 480.^[61] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[62] In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.^[63]

Graduation requirements

The East Pennsboro Area School Board has determined that a student must earn 27 credits to graduate, including: English 5 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Safety/Computers - 0.5 credits, Family Consumer Science/Industrial Technology 0.5 credit, Careers 0.5 credits and Electives 7.5 credits.^[64]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.^[65] At East Pennsboro Area High School the it has been dubbed Project Independence. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.^[66]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.^[67] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.^[68]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.^[69][70] For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements.^[71] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.^[72] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

Dual enrollment

East Pennsboro Area High School offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[73] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[74] For the 2009-10 funding year, the East Pennsboro Area School District received a state grant of $8,581 for the program.^[75] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

Other students that reside in the district, who attend a private nonpublic school, charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.^[76]

Middle school

East Pennsboro Area Middle School is located at 529 North Enola Drive, Enola. In 2013, enrollment was 876 pupils, in grades 5th through 8th, with 28.7% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 14.7% of pupils received special education services, while 2% of pupils were identified as gifted.^[77] According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[78]

In 2010, East Pennsboro Area Middle School had 844 pupils enrolled in grades 5th through 8th, with 211 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 62 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.^[79] The school is not a federally designated Title I school. The School employed 63 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.^[80] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 5 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[81]

In April 2015, the middle school was awarded a CSIU15 blended learning implementation grant of $400,000.^[82]

2013 School Performance Profile

East Pennsboro Area Middle School achieved 86.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 76% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 84% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 69% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 82% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.^[83]

AYP history

In 2012, the East Pennsboro Area Middle School declined to Warning AYP status due to missing multiple academic metrics. In 2011, the East Pennsboro Area Middle School achieved AYP status.^[84] The school achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2009.^[85] The attendance rate was 95% in the 2011, 2010 and 2009 school years.^[86]

PSSA Results

Fifth graders were tested in reading, writing, mathematics since 2003. Sixth and seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999, as a state initiative.^[87] Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science.^[88] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[43] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.^[89]

8th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 86% on grade level (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.^[52]
• 2011 - 92%, (2% below basic). State - 81.8% ^[90]
• 2010 - 83% (6% below basic). State - 82% ^[91]
• 2009 - 87%, State - 80.9% ^[92]
• 2008 - 87%, State - 78% ^[93]

8th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 87% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 76% ^[94]
• 2011 - 88%, (4% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 87% (5% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 82%, State - 71% ^[95]
• 2008 - 87%, State - 70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 78% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 83% (3% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 67% (16% below basic). State - 57%
• 2009 - 68%, (12% below basic). State - 55%
• 2008 - 66%, (15% below basic). State - 50%

East Pennsboro Elementary School

East Pennsboro Elementary School is located at 840 Panther Parkway, Enola. In 2013, East Pennsboro Elementary School's enrollment was 532 pupils, in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 28% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten.^[96] Additionally, 9.5% of the pupils received special education services, while less than 1% of pupils identified as gifted.

In 2010, East Pennsboro Elementary School had 577 pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 145 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 41 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1. All of the teachers are considered Highly Qualified under No Child Left Behind.^[97]

AYP History;

In 2010 through 2012 East Pennsboro Elementary School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.^[98][99]

2013 School Performance Profile

East Pennsboro Elementary School achieved a score of 87.6 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 81% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd and 4th. In 3rd grade, 88.5% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 88.8% were on grade level (3rd-4th grades). In 4th grade science, 85% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding.^[100] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 88%, 51% advanced. State - 82%
• 2011 - 91%, 48% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 91%, 48% advanced. State - 81%
• 2009 - 85% State - 83%

West Creek Hills Elementary School

West Creek Hills Elementary School is located at 400 Erford Road, Camp Hill. In 2013, West Creek Hills Elementary School's enrollment was 517 pupils with 32% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten.^[103] The school is a Title I school.

In 2010, West Creek Hills Elementary School had 533 pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 149 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school is a federally designated Title I school. In 2011, West Creek Hills Elementary School employed 39 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.^[104] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[105]

2013 School Performance Profile

West Creek Hills Elementary School achieved a score of 78.6 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 78% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd and 4th. In 3rd grade, 87% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 87% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 83% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding.^[106]

AYP History

In 2012, West Creek Hills Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status, due to lagging student achievement in reading.^[107] In both 2010 and 2011, West Creek Hills Elementary School achieved AYP status.^[108]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 94%, 71% advanced. State - 82%
• 2011 - 93%, 67% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 93%, 66% advanced. State - 81%
• 2009 - 94%, 55% advanced. State - 83%

Special education

In December 2010, East Pennsboro Area School District reported that 419 students or 15% were identified as needing special education services, with 39.6% of identified students had a specific learning disabilities. In December 2010, the school district reported that 449 students or 16% were identified as needing special education services, with 43% of identified students had a specific learning disabilities. In December 2009 the school district reported that 439 students or 15.4% were identified as needing special education services. Forty three percent of the special education students had specific learning disabilities. In December 2008, the district reported that 15.4% of students or 439 children received special education services.^[111] East Pennsboro Area School District provides a variety of opportunities for the screening and evaluation of students thought to have disabilities. In kindergarten, all students receive a variety of screenings.^[112]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for special education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding was in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, many other state and federal public education funding.^[113] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the District’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs.^[114] Over identification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.^[115] The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.^[116] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.^[117]

East Pennsboro Area School District received a $1,246,794 supplement for special education services in 2009-10.^[118] For the 2011-12, 2012–13 and 2013–14 school years, the District received the same level of state funding for special education services.^[119] Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding. In 2014-15, East Pennsboro Area School District will receive $1,271,719.

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that or 2.62% of 77 of its students were gifted in 2009.^[120] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to a variety of AP courses. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.^[121]

Budget

Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1.

Under Pennsylvania’s Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.^[122]

In 2013, the average teacher salary in East Pennsboro Area School District was $51,645 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $20,349 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $71,995.^[123]

In 2011, the average teacher salary in East Pennsboro Area School District was $49,979 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $13,520 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $63,499.^[124] According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation, including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.^[125]

In August 2010, the East Pennsboro Area School Board and local teachers' union agreed to a new contract which included annual raises 3.37% (2010–2011), 3.27% (2011–2012) and 0% in 2012-2013). The teachers will pay 6.5% in 2010-11 school year towards the cost of their health insurance. Their contribution will go up yearly to 9.5 percent in the 2012-13 school year. The beginning teacher's salary will rise to than $40,000 per year The contract expires in August 2013.

In 2009, East Pennsboro Area School District employed over 240 teachers and administrators with a starting salary of $40,583 and a top salary of $145,114 for 189 days. The average teacher salary was $52,812.^[126] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, 5 paid days bereavement leave, 2 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, life insurance and other benefits.^[127] East Pennsboro teachers' contribution to their health insurance is among the lowest in the midstate, with family plan deductions about $23 every two weeks, with no deductibles and a $20 office co-pay.^[128] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.^[129]

In 2007, East Pennsboro Area School District employed 206 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,857 for 181 days worked. The school day is 6.16 hours in length.^[130] As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.^[131]

In 2010, the costs of the PSERS employee pensions payment was $942,331. This cost rose to $1,867,685 for 2012-13. The cost was $2,136,000 for 2013-14. In 2014, the payment will be $1,249,712 for PSERS and $539,375 to social security.

The East Pennsboro Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $665.67 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[132] In 2011, the administration agreed to a one-year pay freeze. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.^[133]

Reserves In 2008, East Pennsboro Area School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $1,026,680.^[134] In 2010, East Pennsboro Area Administration reported an increase to $4,739,716 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. Unreserved designated fund had $424,476. In 2012, the Administration reported that the District had $6,947,414 in total in reserves, with $2,717,826 held in an unreserved account. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. By law the state limits the total unreserved-undesignated fund balance at 8% of the annual budget for school districts that have budgets over $19 million a year. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.^[135] By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.^[136] In 2013, East Pennsboro Area School District had $7,483,561 in its reserves funds.^[137]

Per pupil spending In 2008, East Pennsboro Area School District reported spending $11,000 per pupil. This ranked 396th in the commonwealth.^[138] In 2010 the district reported spending $11,221.22 per pupil which ranked 446th among Pennsylvania school districts.^[139] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.^[140] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.^[141]

Realignment of program In May 2011, the East Pennsboro Area School Board voted to eliminate several programs, including fourth grade band, middle school Spanish instruction and an elementary school computer program. The cuts eliminated four teacher positions. The cuts were necessitated by a $1.2 million budget deficit for 2011-12. The board had approached the teachers union seeking a one-year salary freeze in order to save $450,000. The request was rejected in a union vote.^[142] In 2013, the Board decided to return to half-day kindergarten when the full-day program did not yield the academic achievement outcomes it had anticipated. In 2014, the Board reinstated full day kindergarten due to pressure from families who wanted all day child care. The cost was over $300,000 a year and forced a substantial property tax increase.^[143]

Audit In June 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the East Pennsboro Area School District. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.^[144]

Tuition Students who live in the East Pennsboro Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to East Pennsboro Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the East Pennsboro Area School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $8,359, High School - $9,226.^[145]

East Pennsboro Area School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1.6%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax - 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the income level.^[146]

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, School District receives 29.3% of its annual revenue from the state.^[147]

For the 2014-15 school year, East Pennsboro Area School District will receive $5,684,815 in State Basic Education funding. The District will also receive $251,978 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State’s enacted Education Budget includes $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding.^[148] The Education budget also includes Accountability Block Grant funding at $100 million and $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success. The State is paying $500.8 million to Social Security on the school employees behalf and another $1.16 billion to the state teachers pension system (PSERS). In total, Pennsylvania’s Education budget for K-12 public schools is $10 billion. This was a $305 million increase over 2013-2014 state spending and the greatest amount ever allotted by the Commonwealth for its public schools.^[149]

For the 2013-14 school year, the East Pennsboro Area School District will receive a 2.7% increase or $5,685,304 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding and level funding for special education costs. This is $147,669 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, East Pennsboro Area School District will receive $113,503 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Cumberland County, Camp Hill School District received the highest percentage increase at 4.7%. The District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth’s budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding.^[150] The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.^[151]

For the 2012-13 school year, East Pennsboro Area School District received $5,651,076 in Basic Education Funding.^[152] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012–2013 includes $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which is an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. The state also provides $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant. East Pennsboro Area School district received $113,503 in ABG funding. The state also provided $544.4 million for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.^[153] This amount is a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011–2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett’s first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

In 2011-12 school year, East Pennsboro Area School District received $5,536,245 in state Basic Education Funding.^[154][155] Additionally, the district received $113,503 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011–2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010–2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.^[156] Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011. In 2010, the East Pennsboro Area School District reported that 689 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For 2010-11 school year, East Pennsboro Area School District received a 12.45% increase in state Basic Education Funding (BEF) resulting in a $6,119,976 payment.^[157] This was the highest increase in BEF award to public school districts in Cumberland County. Fifteen school district received increased above 10%. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding, for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell’s policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.^[158] In 2010, the East Pennsboro Area School Board set the real estate tax rate at 13,2080 mills. The expenditures were set at $37,617,234 for 2010–2011 school year.^[159]

For the 2009–2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided an 8.35% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $5,442,452. Seven county school districts received increases of less than 6.1% in Basic Education Funding in 2009-10. Shippensburg Area School District received an 8.43% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the East Pennsboro Area School District in 2008-09 was $5,023,009.62.^[160] The amount of increase each school district received was determined by then Governor Rendell and the Secretary of Education Zahorchak through the allocation made in the budget proposal made in February each year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.^[161][162]

The state Basic Education Funding to the District in 2008-2009 was $5,023,009.62. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 589 students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[163]

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004–2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010-11 the East Pennsboro Area School District applied for and received $308,076 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The District used the funding to fund all-day kindergarten for the 7th year.^[164][165]

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The East Pennsboro Area School District did not apply for funding in 2006–07. In 2007–08, it received a $320,803 grant. The district received $58,545 in 2008–09 for a total funding of $379,348.^[166] In Cumberland County the highest award was given to Big Spring School District at $695,531. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009–10 state budget.

Environmental Education Grant

The Environmental Education Grant Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates that 5 percent of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department of Environmental Protection be set aside for environmental education. In 2010, East Pennsboro Area School district did not seek funding.^[167]

Science It’s Elementary grant

West Creek Hills Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It’s Elementary grant in 2008-09. For the 2008-09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 2,847 teachers and 66,973 students across Pennsylvania.^[168] In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth’s public elementary schools. Called Science: It’s Elementary, the program is a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills.^[169] To encourage schools to adopt the program’s standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training.^[170] The district was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. They had to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated. The 2006-07 State Education Budget provided $635 million in new spending for pre-K through 12th grades for the 2006-07 school year. This marks an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 public school funding.^[171] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget.

Other state grants

The District did not participate in the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant.^[172] The funds come from a Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, also referred to as the Keystones to Opportunity grant It is a five-year, competitive federal grant program designed to assist local education agencies in developing and implementing local comprehensive literacy plans. East Pennsboro also did not pursue 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants^[173]

Common Cents state initiative

The East Pennsboro Area School District School Board chose to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars.^[174] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Federal Stimulus funding

East Pennsboro Area School District received an extra $1,346,099 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.^[175][176] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010–2011 school years.^[177] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.

Race to the Top grant

East Pennsboro Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district millions of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.^[178] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.^[179] In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.^[180] Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state RTTT application judging will occur in June 2010.^[181]

Real estate taxes

The East Pennsboro Area School Board raised property tax rates to 11.5749 mills in 2015-2016. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.^[182] Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the Commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. The District went through a county-wide reassessment of property values in 2012. Under the old assessment, the tax rate in 2012 would have been 16.21 mills.

According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09.^[192] The average yearly property tax paid by Cumberland County residents amounts to about 2.8% of their yearly income. Cumberland County is ranked 724th of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.^[193]

Act 1 Adjusted index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.^[194] With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly voted to end most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.^[195]

The School District Adjusted Index for the East Pennsboro Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.^[196]

For the 2014-15 budget year, East Pennsboro Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed their Act 1 Index limit due to the rapidly increasing cots of the teacher's pension payment to PSERS. For the school budget 2014-15, 316 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 181 public school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Districts may apply for multiple exceptions each year. For the pension costs exception, 163 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 104 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Seven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.^[200]

For the 2013-14 budget year, East Pennsboro Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed their Act 1 Index limit due to the increase in costs of teachers' pension (PSERS). For the school budget year 2013-14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.^[201]

For the 2012-13 budget year, East Pennsboro Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012–2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.^[202]

For the 2011–12 school year, the East Pennsboro Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year the East Pennsboro Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.^[203]

According to a state report, for the 2011–2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.^[204]

In 2010-11 East Pennsboro Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index for the budget year.^[205] In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.^[206]

Property tax relief

In 2013, East Pennsboro Area School District approved 5,359 homestead properties to receive $125 each.^[207] The decline in amount was related to more residents applying for tax relief and a decline in table games tax revenues to the Commonwealth. The amount received by the District must be divided equally among all approved residences.^[208]

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the East Pennsboro Area School District was $126 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 5,292 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Cumberland County the highest amount of tax relief in 2009, went to Mechanicsburg Area School District at $140. The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.^[209] The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Cumberland County, 75.93% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.^[210]

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).^[211]

Wellness policy

East Pennsboro Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.^[212] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.^[213] The policy requires that the Superintendent or designee shall report to the Board on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

East Pennsboro Area School District provides both a federal free or reduced price breakfast program and a federal school lunch program. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.^[214] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[215]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.^[216]

Extracurriculars

The East Pennsboro Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program.^[217] Eligibility for participation in extracurriculars and athletcis is determined through school board policy and communicated to students in the student handbook.^[218] In July 2012, the School Board enacted a $25 per sport fee to participate in sports. The maximum fee per year is capped at $100 per student, with a family maximum of $200. The District is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the District, including those who attend a private schools, a public cyber charter school, a public charter school and those who are homeschooled, are all eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[219]

According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.^[220][221] In March 2013, the Board adopted a Concussion Management policy.^[222]

Sports

The District funds:

Middle School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2012 ^[223]

References

External links

• East Pennsboro Area School District Homepage