Schuylkill Haven Area School District

Schuylkill Haven Area School District
Address
501 East Main Street
Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill, 17972
United States
Information
Type Public
School board 9 elected members
Superintendent Mrs. Lorraine M. Felker
Grades K-12
Enrollment 1343 (2009-2010)[1]
 • Kindergarten 107
 • Grade 1 109
 • Grade 2 109
 • Grade 3 101
 • Grade 4 112
 • Grade 5 94
 • Grade 6 112
 • Grade 7 93
 • Grade 8 98
 • Grade 9 101
 • Grade 10 102
 • Grade 11 111
 • Grade 12 93
 • Other Enrollment projected to decline to 1190 in 2019
Mascot Hurricanes
Website Website

The Schuylkill Haven Area School District is a small public school district in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It serves the municipalities of Port Clinton, Landingville, Schuylkill Haven, and South Manheim Township. Schuylkill Haven Area encompasses approximately 55 square miles (140 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 8,202. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06, the Schuylkill Haven Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,461 pupils through the employment of 96 teachers, 48 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 5 administrators. By school year 2007-08 enrollment was 1,443 pupils. The district employed 106 teachers, 55 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 6 administrators. Schuylkill Haven Area School District received more than $8.1 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

The district operates one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school.

Governance

The district is governed by a 9-member board that is elected to serve four-year terms, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[2] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "F" 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.[3]

Academic achievement

The Schuylkill Haven Area School District was ranked 262nd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2010, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSA results in: reading, writing, mathematics and four years of science.[4]

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Schuylkill Haven Area School District, was in the 50th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best) [7]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 93%.[8] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. The High School's rate was 80% for 2010.[9]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

High school

In Schuylkill Haven High School is located at 120 Haven Street, Schuylkill Haven. In 2010, the school enrolled 523 students in grades 8th through 12th, with 172 students qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 40 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.[14] In 2011, the school declined to Warning status due to low student achievement in reading and math. In 2010, Schuylkill Haven High School achieved AYP.[15] In 2010, the attendance rate was reported at 95%.

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Science
College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 75% of Schuylkill Haven Area High School 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.[24] 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.[25] 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.

Dual enrollment

The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania 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 and programs 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.[26] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[27] The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.[28]

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 74 Schuylkill Haven students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 472. The Math average score was 487. The Writing average score was 428.[29] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[30] 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.[31]

Graduation requirements

The Schuylkill Haven Area School Board has determined that a total of 24.50 credits are required for graduation, including English 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.40 credits, Art/Music 0.5 credits and more. Students must also complete a community service requirement (minimum 48 hours) [32]

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.[33]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.[34]

Eighth grade

8th Grade Reading
8th Grade Math
8th Grade Science

Middle school

Schuylkill Haven Middle School is located at 120 Haven Street, Schuylkill Haven. In 2010, the school enrolled 310 students in grades 5th through 7th, with 105 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employs 22 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.[40] In 2010 and 2011 the school achieved AYP status.[41] The attendance rate in 2010 was 95%.

7th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 81% on grade level (7% below basic). State – 76% [42]
  • 2010 - 73%, (11% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2009 - 78%, State - 71.7%
  • 2008 - 80%, State - 70%
7th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 86% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 78.6%
  • 2010 - 79%, (11% below basic). State - 77%
  • 2009 - 70%, State - 75%
  • 2008 - 72%, State - 72%

6th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 78% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 69.9%
  • 2010 - 70%, (9% below basic). State - 68%
  • 2009 - 71%, State - 67%
  • 2008 - 70%, State - 67%
6th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 83%, (6% below basic). State - 78.8%
  • 2010 - 86%, (8% below basic). State - 78%
  • 2009 - 86%, State - 75.9%
  • 2008 - 76%, State - 72%

5th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 68%, (11% below basic). State - 67.3%
  • 2010 - 70%, (12% below basic). State - 64%
  • 2009 - 65%, State - 64%
  • 2008 - 84%, State - 62%
5th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 77% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 74%
  • 2010 - 77%, (10% below basic). State - 74%
  • 2009 - 76%, State - 73%
  • 2008 - 81%, State - 73%

Elementary School

Schuylkill Haven Elementary Center is located at 701 East Main Street, Schuylkill Haven. In 2010 the school enrolled 510 pupils kindergarten through 4th grade, with 216 students receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 44 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.[43] In 2010 and 2011, Schuylkill Haven Elementary Center achieved AYP status.[44]

4th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 67% (11% below basic), State – 73.3% [45]
  • 2010 - 57%, (19% below basic). State - 72% [46]
  • 2009 - 76%, State - 72%
  • 2008 - 66%, State - 70%
4th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 77%, (9% below basic). State – 85.3%
  • 2010 - 81%, (9% below basic). State - 84%
  • 2009 - 84%, State - 82%
  • 2008 - 85%, State - 80%

4th Grade Science

3rd Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 84%, (9% below basic), State – 77%
  • 2010 - 80%, (10% below basic). State - 75%
  • 2009 - 67%, State - 72%
  • 2008 - 77%, State - 70%
3rd Grade Math
  • 2011 - 94%, (0% below basic). State – 83%
  • 2010 - 95%, (1% below basic). State - 84%
  • 2009 - 87%, State - 82%
  • 2008 - 90%, State - 80%

Special education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 268 pupils or 19.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[48]

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.[49]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815 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 is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.[50]

Schuylkill Haven Area School District received a $683,995 supplement for special education services in 2010.[51]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 39 or 2.90% of its students were gifted in 2009.[52] 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 through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.[53]

Bullying policy

The Schuylkill Haven Area School District administration reported there were no incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.[54][55]

The Schuylkill Haven Area School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online. In addition a Bully Tip Line has been established for anonymous reporting.[56] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.[57] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.[58]

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[59]

Wellness policy

The School Board established a district wellness policy in July 2006.[60] 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, physical activity, 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.[61]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval. A study was conducted of the submitted policies (n=499). It found that the majority of districts complied with the mandates of the law. Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[62]

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing over 96 teachers with a starting salary of $31,000.[63][64] The average teacher salary was $50,487.[65] In Pennsylvania, the average teacher salary for Pennsylvania's 124,100 public school teachers was $54,977 in 2008.[66] 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.[67] Additionally, Schuylkill Haven Area School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, professional development reimbursement, income protection insurance, several paid personal days, and 10 sick days, life insurance and other benefits.[68] According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.[69]

Schuylkill Haven Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $692.66 per pupil. The district is ranked 324th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[70]

In 2008, Schuylkill Haven Area School District reported spending $10,990 per pupil. This ranked 397th in the commonwealth.[71]

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported a $1,312,012.00 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $1,980,772.00.[72]

In June 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.[73]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.[74]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $5,985,327 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[75][76] Additionally, the School District received $82,324 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.[77] 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.[78] In 2010, the district reported that 510 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[79]

For 2010-11 the Schuylkill Haven Area School District received a 3.27% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $6,635,438 payment.[80] The highest increase in BEF in Schuylkill County went to Minersville Area School District which received 9.96%. 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. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[81]

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.41% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $6,425,504. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $5,982,311. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low-income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more.[82] Shenandoah Valley School District was the highest increase in Schuylkill County with a 14.50% increase in basic education funding, for the 2009-10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.[83] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 458 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.[84]

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 Schuylkill Haven Area School District applied for and received $223,447 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full-day kindergarten for the seventh year.[85][86]

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 2006-2009. Schuylkill Haven Area School District was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $96,619. For the 2008-09, school year the district received $45,413 for a total of $142,032 in state funding. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.[87]

Science It’s Elementary grant

Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It’s Elemenetary 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.[88] 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.[89] 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.[90] 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.[91] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget.

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $1,612,879 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[92] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[93] 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

School district officials applied for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[94] 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.[95] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[96]

Common Cents state initiative

The Schuylkill Haven Area School Board did 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.[97] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

The school board set property tax rates in 2010-2011 at 38.3500 mills.[98] A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. 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. 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 (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[99] 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. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes.

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 authorized 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 PA 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.[105] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[106] The following exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school’s share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.[107][108]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Schuylkill Haven Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.[109]

For the 2011-12 school year, Schuylkill Haven School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, Schuylkill Haven 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 published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[111]

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.[112]

The Schuylkill Haven Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2010-11.[113] 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.[114]

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Schuylkill Haven Area School District was $195 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,410 property owners applied for the tax relief. This was the highest proeerty tax relief allotted in Schuylkill County for 2009.[115] The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.[116] Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.[117] This was the second year they were the top recipient.

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, consequently individuals who have income 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.[118]

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%).[119]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies.[120][121]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are 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.[122]

References

  1. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Schuylkill Haven Area School District Enrollment and Projections".
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
  3. ↑ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  4. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 4, 2011). "Statewide Honor Roll Ranking 2011".
  5. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (May 6, 2010). "Statewide Honor Roll Ranking 2010".
  6. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (May 23, 2007). "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County,".
  7. ↑ "2009 PSSA RESULTS Schuylkill Haven Area School District,". The Morning Call. Retrieved February 2011.
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven Area School District AYP Data Table".
  9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  10. ↑ "Schulykill Haven Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF). Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  11. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2010). "Schuylkill Haven Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009".
  12. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "Schuylkill County Graduation Rates 2008".
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. "High School Graduation rate 2007". Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  14. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2010
  15. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011".
  16. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  17. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 20, 2010). "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  18. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2010). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  19. ↑ "The 2008 PSSA Mathematics and Reading School Level Proficiency Results (by Grade and School Total)". August 2008.
  20. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Math and Reading results by School and Grade 2007".
  21. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  22. ↑ "Math PSSA Scores by District 2007-08 Schuylkill Haven Area School District Results". June 25, 2009.
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  24. ↑ Pennsylvania College Remediation Report http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report
  25. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics
  26. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.".
  27. ↑ "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement.". March 2010.
  28. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible".
  29. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011".
  30. ↑ College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania".
  31. ↑ "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". September 2011.
  32. ↑ Schuylkill Haven School Administration (February 2011). "Schuylkill Haven High School Graduation Requirements" (PDF).
  33. ↑ "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  34. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview".
  35. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2010). "Schuylkill Haven High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF).
  36. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Math and Reading Results 2007". Retrieved February 2011.
  37. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Results Math and Reading School 2008". Retrieved February 2011.
  38. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Science results 2008-09". Retrieved February 2011.
  39. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Science Results by School and Grade 2008". Retrieved February 2011.
  40. ↑ Natioinal Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Schuylkill Haven Middle School, 2010
  41. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven Middle School AYP Overview".
  42. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven Middle School academic achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  43. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Schuylkill Haven Elementary Center, 2010
  44. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven Elementary Center AYP Overview".
  45. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven Elementary Center Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  46. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Schuylkill Haven Elementary Center Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  47. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2009). "PSSA Results Science by School 2009".
  48. ↑ Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education (January 31, 2011). "Schuylkill Haven Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets School Year 2008-2009" (PDF).
  49. ↑ Schuylkill Haven Area School District (2011). "Special Education Department - Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services" (PDF).
  50. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Special Education Funding".
  51. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2010). "Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011".
  52. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (Revised December 1, 2009 Child Count (Collected July 2010)). "Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School" (PDF). Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board. "CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students". Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  54. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of Safe Schools. "Schuylkill Haven Area School District School Safety Annual Report 2008 - 2009" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  55. ↑ "Pennsylvania Safe Schools Online Reports". February 2011.
  56. ↑ Schuylkill Haven Area School Board (October 15, 2009). "Bullying Policy Policy 249".
  57. ↑ "Regular Session 2007-2008 House Bill 1067, Act 61 Section 6 page 8".
  58. ↑ "Center for Safe Schools of Pennsylvania, Bullying Prevention advisory". Retrieved January 2011.
  59. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Academic Standards".
  60. ↑ Schuylkill Haven Area School Board (May 18, 2006). "Schuylkill Haven School Board Policy Manual Student Wellness" (PDF).
  61. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education — Division of Food and Nutrition. (July 2008). "Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive,".
  62. ↑ Probart, C.; McDonnell, E.; Weirich, J. E.; Schilling, L.; Fekete, V. (September 2008). "Statewide Assessment of Local Wellness Policies in Pennsylvania Public School Districts". Journal of the American Dietetic Association 108 (9): 1497–1502. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.429. PMID 18755322.
  63. ↑ "Pa. Public School Salaries, 2009". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved February 2011.
  64. ↑ Schuylkill Haven District Administration and School Board (May 22, 2008). "Schuylkill Haven Strategic plan 2008" (PDF).
  65. ↑ "Schuylkill Haven Area School Payroll report". openpagov. Retrieved February 5, 201. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  66. ↑ Fenton, Jacob,. "Average classroom teacher salary in Schuylkill Haven County, 2006-07.". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 2009.
  67. ↑ Teachers need to know enough is enough, PaDelcoTimes, April 20, 2010.
  68. ↑ "Schuylkill Haven Area School District Teachers Union Employment Contract 2011".
  69. ↑ "Legislature must act on educators' pension hole.". The Patriot News. February 21, 2010.
  70. ↑ Fenton, Jacob. (Feb 2009). "Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, '". The Morning Call.
  71. ↑ "Per Pupil Spending in Pennsylvania Public Schools in 2008 Sort by Administrative Spending".
  72. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008".
  73. ↑ "SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT". June 2010.
  74. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (October 2010). "Personal Income Tax Information".
  75. ↑ PA Senate Appropriations Committee (June 28, 2011). "School District 2011-12 Funding Report".
  76. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2011). "Basic Education Funding".
  77. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding".
  78. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year".
  79. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, District Allocations Report 2009, 2009-10
  80. ↑ Pennsylvania house Appropriations Committee (August 2010). "PA House Appropriations Committee Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010-2011".
  81. ↑ Office of Budget, (February 2010). "Pennsylvania Budget Proposal,".
  82. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 2009). "Basic Education Funding by School District 2009-10".
  83. ↑ "Pennsylvania Department of Education Report on Funding by school district". October 2009.
  84. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Funding Report by LEA 2009.
  85. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Accountability Block Grant report 2010, Grantee list 2010".
  86. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report".
  87. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (2008-12-22). "Special Performance Audit Classrooms For the Future grants" (PDF).
  88. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Science: It’s Elementary Grantees Students in 143 Schools Benefit from Intensive Science Curriculum, July 22, 2008
  89. ↑ Patricia Vathis Pennsylvania Department of Education, Grants and Subsidies Science: It’s Elementary, 2006
  90. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2010 – 2011 Science: It’s Elementary Application Guidelines, July 2010
  91. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Governor Rendell Commends Teachers for Enhancing Science Education in Pennsylvania, August 10, 2006
  92. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Schuylkill County ARRA FUNDING Report". Retrieved February 2011.
  93. ↑ "School stimulus money". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 12, 2009.
  94. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Release (January 2009). "Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support".
  95. ↑ Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support
  96. ↑ U.S. Department of Education (March 29, 2010). "Race to the Top Fund,".
  97. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Common Cents program - Making Every Dollar Count". Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  98. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2011-12 Real Estate Mills".
  99. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education,. "Act 511 Tax Report, 2004".
  100. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Finances_Real Estate Tax Rates 2010-11".
  101. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Pennsylvania School District Finances_Real Estate Tax Rates_0910".
  102. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Pennsylvania School District Real Estate Tax Rates 2008-09".
  103. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District,".
  104. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2006). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District,".
  105. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010-11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines".
  106. ↑ Kaitlynn Riely (August 4, 2011). "Law could restrict school construction projects". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  107. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, (June 29, 2011). "SB330 of 2011".
  108. ↑ Eric Boehm (July 1, 2011). "Property tax reform final piece of state budget". PA Independent.
  109. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2011-2012".
  110. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2011). "2012-2013 School District Adjusted Index Listing".
  111. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information".
  112. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 2011). "Report on Exceptions".
  113. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 2010). "Pennsylvania SSAct1_Act1 Exceptions Report 2010-2011 April 2010".
  114. ↑ Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia (May 25, 2010). "Local school tax assessments exceed state averages". The Daily Item.
  115. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2009). "Estimated Tax Relief Per Homestead and Farmstead May 1, 2009" (PDF).
  116. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, (2010-02-23). "Special Report Pennsylvania Property Tax Relief,".
  117. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, (May 2010). "Tax Relief per Homestead 5-1-10. Report".
  118. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program".
  119. ↑ Tax Foundation, (September 22, 2009). "New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners,".
  120. ↑ Schuylkill Haven Area School Board. "Schuylkill Haven Area School District Policies".
  121. ↑ "Schuylkill Haven Student Athlete Code of Conduct" (PDF).
  122. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,".
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