Newsroom

PA grants to fund programs that educate on environmental issues

A one-acre pollinator garden. Climate change workshops. Riparian buffer planting. Field trips for fourth- and sixth-graders. Those are some of the programs being funded by the latest round of Environmental Education Grants announced Friday by the state Department of Environmental Protection… More

Making the grade: The pitfalls of over-reliance on standardized tests

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has 500 school districts to manage, each with its own blend of geography and demographics. But every district has to be held accountable to the same standards. The problem has been an overemphasis on test results… More

After historic term on Philly Board of Education, what did two students learn?

The first student representatives to the Philadelphia School District’s governing body in a generation have wrapped up their term speaking for 200,000 students, and it’s been an eye-opening year, say Julia Frank and Alfredo Praticò… More

SCOTUS decision doesn’t impact PA’s redistricted Congressional map

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that federal courts can not decide whether gerrymandering violates the U.S. Constitution, and that solutions must come from Congress or the states. The decision does not impact Pennsylvania’s recently redistricted map, because the case was based on the state constitution… More

PA budget deal still in limbo amid last-minute brinksmanship

Amid the deadline brinksmanship, measures approved by lawmakers Thursday included a $34 billion budget package and changes to laws that govern elections, public schools and human services. A key budget-related bill that guides education policy hit opposition Thursday night in the House of Representatives, and remained in limbo. The 2019-20 fiscal year begins Monday… More

PSBA pleased that education, school safety remains a priority in state budget

Contact: Annette Stevenson Chief Communications Officer annette.stevenson@psba.org o (717) 506-2450 x 3315 c (646) 872-8415   PSBA pleased that education, school safety remains a priority in state budget The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) is pleased that the 2019-20 state budget contains increases for basic education, special education, career and technical education and school safety… More

PSBA applauds legislation to modernize school construction reimbursement process

Contact: Annette Stevenson Chief Communications Officer annette.stevenson@psba.org o (717) 506-2450 x 3315 c (646) 872-8415 PSBA applauds legislation to modernize school construction reimbursement process The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) applauds the passage of Senate Bill 700, legislation to update and improve the process for state reimbursement of public school construction projects, and urges Gov… More

The PA budget deal explained in five maps and charts

The state House on Tuesday moved forward with a $34 billion general spending plan for the state. The House passed a general appropriations bill with a 140-62 vote, sending it to the state Senate. Here are five maps and charts to explain the budget deal — and the debate around it… More

Pennsylvania to OK $60M school security program for second year

Pennsylvania lawmakers say they'll authorize a second year of school and community security grants, a $60 million program… More

House OKs budget bill after stiff criticism by Democrats

Pennsylvania's House of Representatives passed the main bill in a just-unveiled $34 billion compromise budget plan on Tuesday, despite hard criticism by rank-and-file Democrats that included a floor fight over whether they could criticize the package for lacking a minimum wage increase… More