Education News

PA Department of Education announces $5.7 million in STEM grants

State Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera Friday announced $5.7 million in grants that aim to expand computer science classes and teacher training at 163 school districts, charter schools and intermediate units, many in the Pittsburgh region. The PAsmart grants seek to grow computer and technology skills in students that can eventually lead to jobs… More

PA provides some of the worst opportunities for students of color, reports say

Students of color in Pennsylvania are far less likely than their white peers to have access to small classes, certified teachers and advanced coursework, according to a pair of new studies… More

Management companies don’t have the same rights as charter schools, appeals board rules

A powerful state board ruled on Tuesday that charter management companies, the private entities that primarily operate charter schools in southeastern Pennsylvania, don’t have the same rights as their charter school clients to challenge decisions by locally elected school boards… More

Preventing the next mass shooting: Secret Service is training hundreds of teachers, cops at Bucks high school

More than 200 representatives from schools and police departments across Pennsylvania met with the U.S. Secret Service at a Bucks County school Thursday to learn how to identify signs of a situation all hope they never confront — the next school shooting or other violence… More

Six area districts get $25,000 each in state teacher grants

Six area school districts were among 92 statewide recipients of grants designed to help teachers learn what skills local employers want students to have on graduation. The “Teacher in the Workplace” Grants totaled $2.2 million… More

Wolf’s mental health campaign would bring more counselors, social workers to schools

Wolf’s “Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters” campaign includes developing new state regulations on health insurance coverage, coordinating services for physical and behavioral health, analyzing pay and other factors for those who provide mental health services — and finding ways to get more social workers into schools… More

‘Cyber snow days:’ Why few school districts statewide opted in for the program

Fewer than 80 school districts, charter schools and others across the state have opted to use “cyber snow days” for the 2019-20 school year, according to the state Department of Education's website… More

PA Farm Bill Farm to School grant program accepting applications through January 15

The PA Farm to School grant program offered through the PA Department of Agriculture aims to enrich the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local producers by changing food purchasing behaviors and education practices at schools and early childhood education sites. NorthCentralPA… More

New case tests big question: Can Philly kids sue after getting sick in school buildings?

Dean Pagan became a poster child for Philadelphia’s school infrastructure woes when The Philadelphia Inquirer featured his case of lead poisoning in an investigative story last year… More

Charter funding: A closer look at special education tuition

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, a school district's special education funding is based on student need. However, that is not the case for public charter schools that receive special education tuition payments from school districts… More