Guide to Abbreviations
As a newly elected school director, you have assumed membership in PSBA, an association created especially for school directors in Pennsylvania.
A Guide to Abbreviations and Acronyms |
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AASA – American Association of School Administrators Act 1 of Special Session 2006 – Imposes referendum requirements on all school districts. Repeals authority of Act 72 as well as Act 50. Limits tax increases along with limits on the implementation of new Act 511 taxes Act 24 of 2001 – Allows districts to repeal their occupation assessment tax and replace the lost revenue with an increase in the earned income tax Act 511 Taxes – Revenue received from the flat and proportional assessments made in accordance with Act 511 of 1965 (Local Tax Enabling Act). School districts of the first class or first-class A are not empowered to levy taxes under the provisions of Act 511 ACTE – Association for Career & Technical Education Actual Instructional Expense (AIE) – The net cost of instruction in a school district ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq ADEA – Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C.§ 621 et seq Aid Ratio – The result of the formula that reflects a district's wealth in relation to all other districts in the state Alternative Education – An educational placement outside of the regular classroom that is provided to a student who is expelled Appropriation – An authorization granted by the board of education or voters to make expenditures and to incur obligations for specific purposes. An appropriation usually is limited in amount for the time covered by the approved budget APS – Approved private school Arbitration – Method of settling employment disputes through recourse to an impartial third party, whose decision usually is final and binding ASBO – Association of School Business Officials ASCD – Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development Assessed Valuation – The official valuation of property for the purpose of taxation. The valuation is determined by the assessors of the district (see School Code) Audit – An examination of records and documents to determine whether 1) transactions that are contemplated or were completed were appropriate; or 2) all transactions were recorded properly, completely and accurately Average Daily Attendance (ADA) – The total days of pupil attendance of a given school district during a reporting period, divided by the number of days school is in session during this period Average Daily Membership (ADM) – Aggregate number of school days represented by all pupils on the active roll divided by the number of days school is in session AVTS – Area vocational-technical school AYP – Adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act Back-end Referendum – Under Act 72 of 2004, back-end referendum is a question that is placed on the ballot that allows voters to decide if the district will be permitted to increase property taxes above the state index subject to exceptions Bargaining Unit – A local union representing the employment interests of a specific group of school district employees Basic Instructional Subsidy (BIS) – A payment that includes payment on account of instruction, payment on account of low-income families and payment on account of poverty Basis Point – An investment term related to interest earnings equal to 0.01%. The equivalent of $1 earned on an investment of $1,000,000 when it is invested for one year BEC – Basic Education Circular (issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education) Bidding – A solicitation by an intending purchaser to invite binding offers to sell goods or services at a specified price or rate BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan Bond – A written instrument with sureties guaranteeing faithful performance of acts or duties contemplated. The term also refers to a written promise to pay a specified amount of money at a certain time in the future and carrying interest at a fixed rate Bridge Certificate – A program that permits states to establish a program to allow teachers to become highly qualified in the core academic subjects they teach as required by the No Child Left Behind Act Budget – A complete financial forecast for a given time (usually one year) including both expenditures and receipt, based on an educational plan
Budget Calendar – A guide for indicating budget preparation responsibilities and the dates for their accomplishment by individuals or groups Budgetary Transfers – Transfer of unencumbered funds or funds designated for one purpose to another part of the budget to be used for a different purpose, requiring approval by two-thirds of board members and allowed only during the last nine months of the fiscal year Capital Outlay – Expenditures for fixed assets or additions to fixed assets. They are expenditures for land, improvements to the grounds, construction of buildings, additions to or remodeling of existing buildings and initial or additional equipment Capital Reserve Fund – A special fund created for the purpose of constructing a school building project or projects under a long-term project program approved by the Department of Education Cash Flow – Matching of the receipt and disbursement of district funds. This is the basis of determining borrowing needs to meet operating expenditures. Also is the basis of determining the length of investment of excess cash CBA – Collective bargaining agreement CER – Comprehensive Evaluation Report Certification – A document issued by PDE signifying the subject matter or assignment areas an individual may work in at a public school Chart of Accounts – A list of all accounts used in an individual accounting system. An account is a descriptive heading under which are recorded similar financial transactions Charter School – Independent public school established and operated under a charter from one or more school districts Clean and Green Act – Legislative authorization to provide special real property tax treatment to properties of 10 acres or more with no improvements. (Applies to farmland) COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 Collective Bargaining – The negotiation of employment matters between employers and employees through the use of a bargaining agent designated by the majority of the employees within the bargaining unit Compensatory Education – A legal remedy providing for educational hours for special education students that may be awarded when the school district fails to carry out the student’s IEP Compulsory Attendance – Requirement that students between 8 and 17years of age attend school as permitted by the Public School Code Confidential Employee – Employee whose unrestricted access to confidential personnel information or knowledge of information pertinent to labor relations activity makes the individual inappropriate for membership in a labor organization Conflict of Interest – A situation where a regard for one duty leads to disregard of another duty, or might reasonably be expected to do so Corporal Punishment – Physically punishing a student for an infraction of the discipline policy CSPG – Certification and Staffing Policy Guidelines CTC – Career and Technology Center Current Expenditures (Current Expend) – Includes all general fund expenditures with reference to the functional classifications of: instruction (less tuition), support services and operation of non-instructional services Cyber-Charter School – Independent public school established and operated under a charter from the Department of Education in which the school uses technology to provide a significant portion of its curriculum and to deliver a significant portion of instruction by electronic means Debt Service – Expenditures for the retirement or paying off of the principal amount of a debt and the interest on the amount DECA – Distributive Education Clubs of America Demotion – The reduction in rank, salary or prestige of a professional employee requiring due process EI – Early Intervention Employee Benefits – A form of compensation in addition to salary for an employee. Such benefits include retirement benefits, Social Security, workers’ compensation, sick leave, life insurance, accident insurance, disability insurance, etc Employment Cost Index (ECI) – A measure of the change in the total cost of labor calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Encumbrances – Purchase orders, contracts and salary or other commitments that are chargeable to an appropriation and for which a part of the appropriation is reserved Equal Access – term commonly used to describe rights of student-oriented religious groups to use school facilities in the same manner as other student groups during free period immediately before, after or during the school day Equalized Mills (EM) – A measure of the local tax effort calculated by dividing the local taxes by the market value multiplied by 1,000 Equalized Subsidy for Basis Education (ESBE) – Eliminated in the early 1990s, this formula was used for many years to determine the basic instructional subsidy ERIP – Early Retirement Incentive Plan ESY – Extended School Year Executive Session – An agency meeting from which the public is excluded Expulsion – Exclusion of a student from school in excess of 10 school days Facsimile Signature – Reproduction by engraving, imprinting or stamping of manual signature of an authorized officer FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education Farmstead Exclusion – Originally defined in Act 50 of 1998 and incorporated into Act 72 of 2004 and by reference into Act 1 of 2006, the exclusion applies to the value of farm buildings used in commercial agricultural production FERPA – Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g et seq Fiscal Year – Period of 365 days commencing on July 1 of each year and ending on June 30 of the following year. School districts of the first, first class A and second class may establish a fiscal year to coincide with the calendar year by a majority vote of the board of school directors FMLA – Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. FRN – Federal Relations Network Fringe Benefits – See Employee Benefits Front-End Referendum – Under Act 72 of 2004, a front-end referendum is a question placed on the ballot that asks voters to approve an increase in the earned income tax rate or personal income tax rate. Revenue from these taxes must be used for property tax relief using the homestead/farmstead exclusion Full Valuation – The current market value appraisal or estimate of what a property would sell for in a transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller Function – Budgetary term used to describe the major purpose and the end an appropriation is to accomplish Functional Budget – A budget that uses the format of the line item or traditional budget to group proposed expenditures first according to general activities or actions performed. The major functional categories are: administration, instruction, pupil personnel services, pupil transportation services, health services, operation and maintenance of plant, etc. Within such functions, there are additional line items for various expenditures Fund – A fiscal and accounting entity for recording resources, liabilities and equity Fund Balance – Accounting term referring to the difference between assets and liabilities Furlough – Suspension or layoff from employment GED – General Equivalence Diploma General Fund – The principal fund of a school district; includes all operations not required to be recorded in other funds, such as school lunch, capital reserves, activity funds, etc. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – Accounting standards designed for use by local government units GIEP – Gifted Individualized Education Program Homestead Exclusion – Originally defined in Act 50 of 1998, now incorporated into Act 1 of 2006 by reference, the value of owner occupied residential property to be excluded from real property taxation. IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq IDEIA – Individual with Disabilities Education Improvements Act IEP – Individualized Educational Plan Immunity – Exemption from legal liability Index – A percentage calculated by the Pennsylvania Department of Edcuation that establishes a limit on the authority of Act 72 school districts to raise taxes Interest Earnings – The amount of money earned by investing excess cash Investment – The deposit of excess cash for the purpose of earning interest. Permitted types of investments are enumerated by the School Code In Loco Parentis – In the place of the parent IU – Intermediate Unit Joint Operating Committee – The governing body of a vocational school LEA – Local educational agency LERTA – Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement Letter of Eligibility – Document issued by PDE signifying an individual may work as an assistant superintendent or superintendent in Pennsylvania Line-Item or Traditional Budget – A budget that groups proposed expenditures according to certain categories known as the “object” of expenditure. On each line of the budget, the expenses are listed the way they are paid out: salaries on one line, supplies on another line, utilities on another line. Thus, salaries are one object, and supplies another Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement Act (LERTA) – A program based on local choice intended to promote economic growth in real property by excluding improvements from taxation for a period of not more than 10 years LRE – Least restrictive environment Market Value (MV) – The value of taxable real property within a school district as determined by the State Tax Equalization Board Market Value Aid Ratio (MVAR) – A fraction used to calculate the state’s share of instructional costs Market Value-Personal Income Aid Ratio (MV-PIAR) – A factor used to determine the state’s share of instructional costs MAWA – Mutually agreed upon written agreement MDT – Multidisciplinary team Millage – The rate of measurement by which school district real estate taxes are levied. One mill is the equivalent to $1 of tax for each $1,000 of value NAEOP – National Association of Educational Office Professionals NAESP – National Association of Elementary School Principals NASSP – National Association of Secondary School Principals NCLB – No Child Left Behind Act NORA – Notice of recommended assignment NSBA – National School Boards Association NSPRA – National School Public Relations Association Nuisance taxes – Nonproperty taxes levied pursuant to Act 511 of 1965 Object – The article to be purchased or the service to be obtained to carry out the function with which it is associated Operation of Plant – Expenditures necessary to keep the buildings and grounds and equipment open and ready for use – “housekeeping” costs PACTA – Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators PA-CTE - Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Education PAEOP – Pennsylvania Association of Educational Office Professionals PAESSP – Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals PARC Consent Decree – Landmark Pennsylvania court decision protecting the educational rights of mentally retarded and other disabled school-aged children PASA – Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators PASBO – Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials PASCD – Pennsylvania Association for Supervisions and Curriculum Development PASPA – Pennsylvania Association of School Personnel Administrators PDE – Pennsylvania Department of Education PERA – Public Employee Relations Act of 1970, 43 P.S. § 1101.101 et seq Per capita Tax – A flat rate tax levied upon each adult resident of the taxing school district Personal Income Aid Ratio – A fraction used to determine the market value personal income aid ratio PIAA – Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association PLANCON – The formal construction planning process used by PDE to review and approve school construction projects PLRB – Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board PMEA – Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Professional Education Plan – A plan approved by the local school board that is designed to meet the educational needs of a school entity and its employees; specifies approved courses, programs, activities, learning experiences and identifies approved providers Professional Employee – A certificated employee who has acquired tenure pursuant to the Public School Code Program Budget – A program is a plan of activities or procedures designed to accomplish a set of related objectives. A program budget groups all the proposed expenditures for each individual program; then within each program, expenditures are listed according to function and object. A program budget includes the delineation or definition of the purpose or objectives of a particular program – that is, what that program is expected to accomplish. The dollar amounts budgeted are considered in relation to achieving a desired and agreed-to purpose Program budgeting differs from line-item budgeting in that it focuses on the purposes of the district and the particular program and activity. It is a variation from the concept of functional budgeting because in the latter, the budget amounts requested are merely an itemization of the dollars required to continue a given activity or to install a new one. Moreover, a functional budget does not link program costs to program results Proposed Budget – A tentative budget subject to public hearings, examination, or comment. When the district is fiscally dependent on another municipal body, such as the town or city council, for its funds, the proposed budget sometimes is called the “budget request.” PSADA – Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association PSLA – Pennsylvania School Librarians Association PSSA – Pennsylvania System of School Assessment PSERS – Public School Employees’ Retirement System PTAP – Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania Public Record – A record that must be disclosed to the public under the conditions and requirements of the Right-To-Know law Public Utility Realty Tax Act (PURTA) – Any property subject to regulation by the Public Utility Commission pays an equivalent tax to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, which then is distributed to local taxing jurisdictions PURTA – Public Utility Realty Tax Act Quorum – The number of members of a body who must be present for the body to transact business Referendum – Vote taken by the electorate for approval or rejection of proposed or passed legislation Reserve Fund – An amount set aside to cover an obligation duly authorized and incurred Sabbatical Leave – A paid leave of absence for professional development or restoration of health School Term – Time elapsing between the opening of the public schools in the fall of one year and the closing of public schools in the spring of the following year Solicitor – Chief legal officer of a municipality, county or governmental department Special Education – Specialized instruction designed to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability Special Meeting – A meeting scheduled by an agency after the agency’s regular Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) – The average weekly wage established by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for calculating workers’ compensation payments Superintendent – Chief administrative officer of a school district Suspension – Temporary exclusion from attending school or work for disciplinary Tax Increment Financing (TIF) – An economic development program designed to promote economic growth by using the increased tax value of property improvement to pay for infrastructure improvements Tax Levy – The total dollar amount to be raised by tax Tax Rate/Mill – The tax levy divided by the total taxable assessed value of the district, usually stated as dollars per thousand or per hundred of assessed value Tenure – Status granted to a teacher after a trial period protecting against summary Title VII – Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq Title IX – Title IX of the Education Act of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq Total Expenditures (Total Expend) – Includes all general fund expenditures cited under current expenditures plus facilities acquisition and other financing uses (less prior years’ receipts and fund transfers) TPE – Temporary professional employee – an employee who has been employed to perform for a limited time the duties of a newly created position or of a regular professional employee whose services have been terminated by death, resignation, suspension or removal Truancy – Staying out of school without permission or excuse Veterans’ preference – preference given in hiring decisions to otherwise qualified individuals who have been honorably discharged from service in the U.S. armed forces Zero Base Budgeting – A method of budgeting, that requires each person requesting funds in a budget to develop “decision packages” and to rank them in priority order |