West Branch Area School District

West Branch Area School District
Address
516 Allport Cutoff
Morrisdale, Pennsylvania, Clearfield County and Clinton County 16858-9312
United States
Information
Type Public
School board 9 locally elected members
Superintendent

Mrs Michelle Dutrow (Contract May 28, 2013 to June 30, 2016) Salary $105,000[1]

former Superintendent Michael Panek, $109,272 (2012-13)
Administrator

Mr. Jason S McMillen, Business Manager
Holly Walker, Administration

Joanna Santilli, Supervisor
Principal Mr. Joseph R Holenchik, JSHS
Principal Mr. Mark Mitchell, ES
Staff 85 non teaching staff members
Faculty 86.6 teachers (2012);[2] 82 (2010)
Grades K-12
Age 5 years old to 21 years old for special education
Enrollment 1,147 pupils (2012-201); 1,245 students (2009-2010)[3] 1,308 pupils (2006-2007)[4]
 • Kindergarten 65 (2012), 72 (2010)
 • Grade 1 90 (2012), 89
 • Grade 2 72 (2012), 63
 • Grade 3 93 (2012), 65
 • Grade 4 60 (2012), 104
 • Grade 5 70 (2012), 97
 • Grade 6 102 (2012), 99
 • Grade 7 89 (2012), 103
 • Grade 8 98 (2012), 100
 • Grade 9 95 (2012), 106
 • Grade 10 84 (2012), 103
 • Grade 11 95 (2012), 114
 • Grade 12 88 (2012), 91 (2010)
 • Other Enrollment projected to be 798 pupils in 2020[5]
Language English
Color(s) Red, White, and Royal Blue               
Mascot Warrior
Budget

$15,950,183 (2014-2015)[6]

$15,916,033 (2012-2013[7]
Per pupil spending $11,867 (2008)
Per pupil spending $20,932.70 (2012)
Website http://www.westbranch.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1
portion of West Branch Area School District region in Clinton County

West Branch Area School District is a small, rural, public school district located in Morrisdale, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The District is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania. West Branch Area School District was created in 1958 by the joining of Cooper Township High School and Morris Township High School. The District also includes Karthaus Township and Graham Township. The District extends across the Clearfield County's eastern border to include West Keating Township in Clinton County. West Branch Area School District encompasses approximately 165 square miles (430 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 7,833. By 2010, the District's population was 7,857 people.[8] The educational attainment levels for the School District population (25 years old and over) were 85% high school graduates and 9.3% college graduates.[9] In 2009, West Branch Area School District residents’ per capita income was $15,055, while the median family income was $37,054 a year.[10] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[11] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[12]

Per District officials, in school year 2009-2010, the West Branch Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,192 pupils through the employment of 93 teachers, 54 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 9 administrators. West Branch Area School District received more than $9.3 million in state funding in school year 2009-2010. In school year 2007-2008, West Branch Area School District reported an enrollment of 1,236 pupils. The District employed: 93 teachers, 81 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators. WBASD received more than $9.5 million in state funding in school year 2007-2008.

West Branch Area School District operates two schools: West Branch Area Elementary School and West Branch Area Junior/Senior High School. Both of the schools reside in a conjoined building. The current school building was completed in 1964, with an addition to the high school that was finished in 2005. High school students may choose to attend Clearfield County Career and Technology Center for training in the construction and mechanical trades; Architectural Drafting & Design Technology; Allied Health Services; Cosmetology; and Culinary Arts & Food Management. The Central Intermediate Unit IU10 provides the District with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

Governance

West Branch 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.[13] 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.[14]

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration an "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.[15] In October 2014, the School District's policies are posted online.

School Board Members

Academic achievement

West Branch Area School District was ranked 440th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2014, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[16] 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.[17] 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.

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. West Branch Area School District ranked 384th. In 2010, the district was 382nd. The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[21]

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of West Branch Area School District was in the bottom 6th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)[22]

District AYP status history

In 2012, West Branch Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[23] In 2011, West Branch 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 Pennsylvania public 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.[24][25] West Branch Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the District was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[26]

Graduation rate

In 2013, West Branch Area School District graduation rate was 83%.[27] In 2012, West Branch Area School District graduation rate was 80%.[28] In 2011, West Branch Area School District graduation rate was 74%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. High School's rate was % for 2010.[29]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

Lowest achieving schools list

In April 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying one West Branch Area School District school as among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in the state.[34] West Branch Area Junior Senior High Schools students were among the bottom 15% of achievement. West .Branch Area Elementary School had improved enough to be removed from the lowest achievement list

In 2011, West Branch Area Elementary School was identified as a low achieving school. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another public or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.[35] The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.[36] Fifty-three public schools in Allegheny County are among the lowest-achieving schools in 2011. According to the report, parents in 414 public schools (74 school districts) were offered access to these scholarships. For the 2012-13 school year, eight public school districts in Pennsylvania had all of their schools placed on the list including: Sto-Rox School District, Chester Upland School District, Clairton City School District, Duquesne City School District, Farrell Area School District, Wilkinsburg Borough School District, William Penn School District and Steelton-Highspire School District.[37] In 2014, Monessen City School District had all three of its schools added to the list. Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state tax credit for donating.

High school

West Branch Area Junior Senior High School is located at 444 Allport Cutoff, Morrisdale. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 549 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 49% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 16% of pupils received special education services, while 2% of pupils were identified as gifted. The School employed 42 teachers.[38] Per the PA Department of Education, 2% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, there were 630 students grades 7th through12th with: 103 in 12th grade, 92 in 11th, 119 in 10th grade and 101 in ninth grade. The school had 47 teachers. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 4 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[39]

2013 School Performance Profile

West Branch Area Junior Senior High School achieved 62.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - just 62% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 58% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, just 46% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[40] 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.[41]

AYP History

In 2012, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School declined to Corrective Action II 1st Year AYP status due to missing 6 of 8 metrics in reading and mathematics.[42] In 2011, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School Making Progress: in Corrective Action I status due to low student academic achievement.[43] Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District.

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.[48]

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.[49]

11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Science

Science in Motion West Branch Junior Senior 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.[61] Clarion University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 11% of West Branch 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.[62] 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.[63] 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, West Branch Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 455. The Math average score was 459. The Writing average score was 452. 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.[64]

In 2012, 67 students at West Branch Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 451. The Math average score was 455. The Writing average score was 434. 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, 45 West Branch students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 463. The Math average score was 474. The Writing average score was 416.[65] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[66] 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.[67]

Dual enrollment

West Branch Area Junior Senior 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 and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books[68] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[69] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,515 for the program.[70]

Graduation requirements

West Branch Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 25 credits to graduate, including: mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 3.5 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Humanities and Arts - 2 credits, Health 0.5 credits, Safety Ed 0.5 credits, Family and Consumer Science 0.5 credits, Computer Technology 0.5 credits and electives 3.5 credits.[71]

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.[72] Students must complete 21 hours of community service to be eligible for graduation.

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.[73] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[74]

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.[75][76] 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.[77] 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.[78] 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.

Junior high school

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.[79] 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.[80] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[81] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[82]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Reading

  • 2012 - 76% on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[83]
  • 2011 - 68% (18% below basic). State - 81.8%
  • 2010 - 81% (13% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2009 - 76% (16% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2008 - 74% (15% below basic), State - 78%[84]
  • 2007 - 61% (20% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

  • 2012 - 73% (6% below basic). State - 76%[85]
  • 2011 - 68% (18% below basic). State - 76.9%
  • 2010 - 73% (15% below basic). State - 75%[86]
  • 2009 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 71%[87]
  • 2008 - 61% (16% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 51% (26% below basic). State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

7th Grade Reading
  • 2012 - 67% (12% below basic). State – 76%
  • 2011 - 68% (14% below basic). State – 76%
  • 2010 - 65% (21% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2009 - 67% (15% below basic). State - 71%
  • 2008 - 65% (21% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 61% (22% below basic). State - 67%
7th Grade Math
  • 2012 - 80% (5% below basic). State - 80%
  • 2011 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 78.6%
  • 2010 - 55% (29% below basic). State - 77%
  • 2009 - 63% (12% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2008 - 56% (23% below basic), State - 71%
  • 2007 - 49% (28% below basic), State - 67%

Elementary school

West Branch Area Elementary School is located at 356 Allport Cutoff, Morrisdale. The School reported an enrollment of 552 pupils in grades kindergarten through sixth, with 44.9% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 25.9% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted.[92] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 96% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full day kindergarten.[93] The School is a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 561 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 238 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 45 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.[94] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[95] The School provided full day kindergarten to all its pupils.[96]

In 2010, West Branch Area Elementary School reported 615 students with 291 qualifying for a free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school had 35 teachers.[97]

2013 School Performance Profile

West Branch Area Elementary School achieved a score of 78.5 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 59% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 67% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 68.7% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 85% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 50% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[98]

AYP history

In 2012, West Branch Area Elementary School improved to achieving AYP status.[99] In 2011, West Branch Area Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status. In 2010 the school achieved AYP status.[100] In 2011 the attendance rate was 96%, while in 2010 it was 95%.[101] The School has Title I School-Wide Program.

PSSA History

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[102] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[103][104][105] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[106]

6th Grade Reading:

  • 2012 - 58% (15% below basic). State - 68%[107]
  • 2011 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 69.9%[108]
  • 2010 - 70% (14% below basic). State - 68%[109]
  • 2009 - 51% (26% below basic), State - 67%[110]
  • 2008 - 67% (16% below basic), State - 67%[111]
  • 2007 - 54% (28% below basic), State - 63%[112]

6th Grade Math:

  • 2012 - 59% (18% below basic). State - 77%
  • 2011 - 72% (13% below basic). State - 78.8%
  • 2010 - 72% (10% below basic). State - 78%
  • 2009 - 63% (25% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2008 - 70% (16% below basic), State - 72%
  • 2007 - 52% (28% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading:

  • 2012 - 56% (23% below basic). State - 65%
  • 2011 - 48% (27% below basic). State - 67.3%
  • 2010 - 56% (23% below basic). State – 64%
  • 2009 - 58% (18% below basic). State - 64%
  • 2008 - 53% (24% below basic). State - 62%
  • 2007 - 58% (19% below basic). State - 60%

5th Grade Math:

  • 2012 - 63% (9% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2011 - 49% (22% below basic). State - 74%
  • 2010 - 64% (16% below basic). State - 76.3%
  • 2009 - 65% (11% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2008 - 69% (11% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2007 - 68% (7% below basic). State - 71%

4th Grade Reading
  • 2012 - 65% (19% below basic). State - 72%
  • 2011 - 51% (28% below basic). State – 73.3%
  • 2010 - 64% (23% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2009 - 66% (16% below basic). State - 72%
  • 2008 - 72% (13% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 60%
4th Grade Math
  • 2012 - 76% (14% below basic). State - 82%
  • 2011 - 53% (28% below basic). State – 85.3%
  • 2010 - 71% (14% below basic). State - 84%
  • 2009 - 67% (19% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2008 - 72% (15% below basic). State - 80%
  • 2007 - 71% (18% below basic). State - 78%

4th Grade Science

3rd Grade Reading
  • 2012 - 69%, (18% below basic). State - 74% [113]
  • 2011 - 61%, (23% below basic). State – 77%
  • 2010 - 64%, (21% below basic). State - 75%
  • 2009 - 64%, (23% below basic). State - 77%
  • 2008 - 72%, (10% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 72%, (12% below basic). State - 72%
3rd Grade Math
  • 2012 - 78%, (7% below basic). State - 80%
  • 2011 - 81%, (11% below basic). State – 83%
  • 2010 - 87%, (3% below basic). State - 84%
  • 2009 - 75%, (8% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2008 - 82%, (3% below basic). State - 80%
  • 2007 - 81%, (5% below basic). State - 78%

Special education

In December 2012, the district administration reported that 244 pupils or 21.9% of the District's pupils received Special Education services, with 44.3% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.[114] In December 2010, the District administration reported that 262 pupils or 21% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[115] Of these students, 51% had a specific learning disability.

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school 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.[116] To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, 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 Special Education administration. 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 district's Special Education Department.[117][118]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for 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.[119] 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.[120] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[121] Overidentification 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.[122] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.[123]

The West Branch Area School District received a $707,881 supplement for special education services in 2010.[124] For the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-2011. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.[125]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 17 or 1.30% of its students were gifted in 2009.[126] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. 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.[127][128]

Teacher evaluation study

In 2011, West Branch Area School District agreed to participate in a pilot program to develop a new way to evaluate public school teachers and principals that, in part, takes into account student achievement. Several York County school districts are participating.[129] The pilot program had 104 K-12 entities, including: nine career and technical centers, nine charter schools and nine intermediate units. Beginning in January 2012, participating school districts will use the new evaluation method and provide feedback to the Department of Education. This new evaluation was not used to determine an educator’s official 2011-12 assessment. Under the new evaluation system, 50% of the evaluation of a teacher will be based on an observation divided into four categories: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities. The other half will be based on student achievement (15 percent will be building-level data, 15 percent will be teacher-specific data, and 20 percent will be elective). The new evaluation system has both announced and unannounced observations. There are meetings between the teacher and evaluator before and after the direct observation of a lesson.[130]

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.[131]

In 2013, the average teacher salary in West Branch Area School District was $54,828 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $26,010.56 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $82,839.38.[132] IN 2012, the District employed 89 teachers and administrators with an average salary of $56,083 and a top salary of $109,272.[133][134]

In 2009, West Branch Area School District reported employing over 92 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $39,000 to $100,000.[135] The median salary was $50,129. In 2009 the beginning salary was set at $40,000 in the teachers' contract.

In 2007, West Branch Area School District employed 84 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $46,444 for 180 days worked.[136] 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.[137] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance (single teacher pays $25 per month), $40,000 life insurance, dental insurance, long term disability program, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, 5 paid bereavement days, and other benefits, including payment for unused sick days up to 150 days. Teachers are paid an additional $200 for each 5 years of continuous service. If a teacher is asked to work beyond the regular day they receive an additional hourly rate of $23, per hour.[138]

Administrative costs

West Branch Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $659.09 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[139] 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.[140]

Reserves In 2008, West Branch Area School District reported no funds in an unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,383,053.00.[141] In 2010, West Branch Area School District reported $5,080,418.00 in an Unreserved - Undesignated Fund. In 2013, the Board reported there is $4,755,835 in reserves. PA 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. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.[142]

Per pupil spending

In 2008, West Branch Area School District Administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,867 which ranked 289th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending declined to $10,894.77[143] By 2012 the spending was reported to have risen to $20,932.70 per pupil. In 2013, the per pupil spending was reported as $13,802.17.[144] In 2011, Pennsylvania’s per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States.[145] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[146] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[147]

Audit

In January 2012, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the School District. The findings were reported to the school board and administration. The report found that the District had dealt with a series of recommendations given in a prior audit of child accounting data which found that not all source documentation was retained for audit purposes, resulting in an inability to verify the West Branch Area School District’s entitlement to subsidies and reimbursements totaling $14,646,740.[148]

Tuition Students who live in the 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 West Branch 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 District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $10,209.96, High School - $9,758.78.[149]

West Branch Area School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 0.5%; $5 Per Capita (Section 679 School Code); a $5.00 Per Capita (Act 511); $10.00 Occupation Tax (Act 511); $10.00 Local Service/Occupational Privilege Tax; a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[150] Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the District. 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 level of the individual’s personal wealth.[151] The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds local public schools.[152]

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, School District receives 66.9% of its annual revenue from the state.[153]

For the 2014-15 school year, West Branch Area School District will receive $7,075,493 in State Basic Education funding. The District will also receive $190,199 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.[154] 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.[155]

In the 2013-2014 school year, West Branch Area School District received a 1.3% increase or $7,075,493 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $92,728 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, West Branch Area School District received $102,285 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Clearfield County, Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 6.1%. West Branch Area School 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.[156] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland district, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[157] As a part of the education budget, the state provided the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[158]

For the 2012-13 school year, West Branch Area School District received $6,984,372.[159] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. West Branch Area School District received $102,285 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[160] This amount was 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 the 2011-12 school year, West Branch Area School District received a $6,984,019 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[161][162] Additionally, West Branch Area School District received $102,285 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.[163] 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.[164] In 2010, the district reported that 550 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[165]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.54% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,346,518 to West Branch Area School District. Among the districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Dubois Area School District which got a 7.76% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[166]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.23% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,346,519. Among the public school districts in Clearfield County, this was the highest increase awarded. Ninety Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[167] The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.[168]

The state Basic Education Funding to the District, in 2008-2009, was $6,759,597.84. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 560 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[169]

All Pennsylvania school districts also receive additional funding from the state through several other funding allocations, including Reimbursement of Charter School Expenditures; Special Education Funding; Secondary Career & Technical Education Subsidy; PA Accountability Grants; and low achieving schools were eligible for Educational Assistance Program Funding. Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including: Special Education funding and Title I funding for children from low income families. In 2010, Pennsylvania spent over $24 billion for public education - local, state and federal dollars combined.[170]

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 district applied for and received $277,626 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten for the second year.[171][172]

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. The School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $144,596. The district received $45,413 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $190,009.[173]

Education Assistance grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the West Branch Area School District did not apply for funding.[174]

Safe School grant

In 2013, West Branch Area School District was awarded $23,500 in a state Safe Schools Targeted Grant. The maximum of $25,000 grants were awarded through a competitive application process.[175] The funds must be used for research based interventions, like: peer mediation, staff training in managing behavioral issues and creating a positive school climate.

Other grants

West Branch Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants;[176][177] PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell);[178] Education Assistance Grants; 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;[179] 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants[180] nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal Stimulus grant

West Branch Area School District received an extra $2,369,309 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[181] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[182] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly warned 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

West Branch Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[183] 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.[184] 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.[185][186][187]

Common Cents state initiative

West Branch Area School Board elected 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.[188] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2014-15 were set by the West Branch Area School Board at: 97.00 mills for district residents in Clearfield County and 10.90 mills for district residents in Clinton County.[189] 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. Clinton County conducted a reassessment in 2008. 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. 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.[190] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.[191] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts.[192]

The average yearly property tax paid by Clearfield County residents amounts to about 2.83% of their yearly income. Clearfield County ranked 707th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[200] 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 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[201] 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%).[202]

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 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.[203] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[204] 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.[205][206] A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[207]

The School District Adjusted Index for the West Branch Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[208]

  • 2006-07 - 5.8%, Base 3.9% [209]
  • 2007-08 - 5.1%, Base 3.4%
  • 2008-09 - 6.6%, Base 4.4%
  • 2009-10 - 6.2%, Base 4.1%
  • 2010-11 - 4.4%, Base 2.9%
  • 2011-12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%
  • 2012-13 - 2.6%, Base 1.7%[210]
  • 2013-14 - 2.6%, Base 1.7% [211]
  • 2014-15 - 3.1%, Base 2.1% [212]

For the 2014-2015 budget year, West Branch Area School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit: teacher pension costs and special education costs. In 2014-15, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 21.4% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (PSERS).[213] 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 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.[214]

For the 2013-2014 budget year, West Branch Area School Board applied for three exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit: teacher pension costs, special education costs and School Construction Grandfathered Debt. In 2013-14, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 16.93% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (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 pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[215]

For the 2012-13 budget year, West Branch Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. In 2012-13, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 12.36% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (PSERS). For 2012-2013 budget year, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; while 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.[216]

For the 2011-2012 school year, West Branch Area School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the 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.[217]

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.[218]

The West Branch Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.[219] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[220] 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.[221]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the West Branch Area School District was not reported to the Commonwealth. The gaming fund provided the district with $282,652.85 for property tax relief.[222] 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.[223] The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.[224] Chester Upland has been the top recipient every year of the program.

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, individual with income much 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.[225]

Wellness policy

West Branch Area School Board established a district-wide Student Wellness Policy in October 2011.[226] 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." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[227]

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.[228] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

West Branch Area School District offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. 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.[229] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[230]

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.[231] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[232] The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that Districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93.

In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[233] The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.[234][235]

West Branch Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[236][237] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.[238]

Highmark Healthy Grant

In 2009, the West Branch Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. West Branch Area Elementary School received $8,689 which was used to purchase DDR system, climbing wall and nutrition curriculum for students in grades 1-6.[239] In 2014, West Branch Area School District received $5000 to fund the SPARK Physical education curriculum.[240] Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

Enrollment

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there were 1,245 students enrolled in K-12 in 2009–2010 school year at West Branch Area School District. There were 106 students in the Class of 2009. The district's class of 2010 had 90 students. Enrollment is projected to decline to 796 students by 2020.[241] A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard and Poor's, examined the consolidation of small public school districts in Pennsylvania in 2007. The study found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings which varied by district.[242]

According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes.[243] Consolidation of two central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. The Governor's proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.[244] In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Fiscal Responsibility Task Force released a report which found that consolidating school district administrations with one neighboring district would save the Commonwealth $1.2 billion without forcing the consolidation of any schools.[245]

From 2000 through 2010, rural Pennsylvania public school district enrollment has decreased by 8 percent.[246] In 2010, there were 726,417 children in rural Pennsylvania, or 21 percent of the total rural population. From 2000 to 2010, the number of children in rural counties decreased 7 percent. The decline in the number of children impacted most rural counties with 42 of Pennsylvania’s 48 rural counties experiencing a decline. Cameron County, Elk County and Sullivan County experienced the greatest declines, with a decrease of more than 21 percent in all three counties. Clearfield County's live birth rate was 944 births in 1990. Clearfield County's live birth rate in 2000 declined to 819 births, while in 2011 it had declined further to 749 babies.[247] Over the past 50 years (1960 to 2010), rural Pennsylvania saw a steady decline in both the number and proportion of residents under 18 years old. In 1960, 1.06 million rural residents, or 35 percent of the rural population, were children.

Pennsylvania’s birth rate has been declining for two decades. According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, in 1990, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s birth rate was 171,053.[248] In 2000, Pennsylvania’s birth rate was 145,874.[249] Finally in 2011, the State’s birth rate declined further to 142,021.[250] From 2000 to 2009, the number of babies born in rural counties declined 5 percent.[251] Urban counties have also experienced a decline in the number of school aged children. From 2000-2010 urban Pennsylvania counties had a 3 percent decline in the number of residents under 18 years old. In 2010, there were 2.07 million residents, or 22 percent of the urban population, who were under age 18.[252]

Extracurriculars

West Branch Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The District is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. In 2014-15, the District reported spending $450,666 for extracurriculars.[253]

A new baseball field was built, but leased to a local little league team for 25 years which expires in 2036.

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.[254]

Marching band

The West Branch band also has a shining history, as they've played in such cities as Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Harrisburg. Most recently, the band goes to Disney World bi-yearly to play in the Fourth of July parade. The band wins many awards and helps to uphold the proud traditions and history of West Branch High School. In 2008, the former band director and creator of many of the school's traditions, Mr. William Gabel, retired. He was replaced by former elementary music teacher and West Branch alumna, Mrs. Jennifer Ennis Sproull.

Athletics

West Branch's mascot is the Warrior. Their team motos are "Warrior Power" and "Warrior Pride". They participate in the PIAA District 6 with Single-A classification in all but wrestling and baseball, where they compete in Double-A. Noteworthy athletic achievements include four PIAA individual state champions in wrestling (Jerry White, Robert English, Justin Owens, & Jared Ricotta), winning a district championship in football in 1988, a district championship in baseball, a team district duals championship in wrestling, and other various conference championships. Former Warrior baseball players Ed Veres and John Prestash were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft straight out of high school. Larry Beightol, a former football player at West Branch, is an offensive line coach in the NFL, most recently working with the Detroit Lions. Wrestling State Champion Jared Ricotta, after starting four years for the Duquesne Dukes Division I Wrestling Team and capturing three Northeast Regional Titles was recruited by NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports as a professional tire changer.

Starting in Fall 2010, West Branch and local school Philipsburg-Osceola School District agreed to a co-op boys soccer program. Any 9-12th grade boy wishing to play soccer now plays with the Philipsburg Soccer team.

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.[255][256]

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[257]

The District funds
Varsity

Boys
Girls
  • Basketball - A
  • Cross Country - A
  • Soccer (Fall) - A
  • Softball - A
  • Track and Field - AA
  • Volleyball - A

Junior High Middle School Sports

Boys
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Wrestling

Girls
  • Basketball
  • Softball

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [258]

References

  1. ↑ Tyler Kolesar (March 26, 2013). "West Branch hires new superintendent". Progress News.
  2. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - West Branch Area School District, 2014
  3. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA, 2010
  4. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA 2006-2020, July 2011
  5. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2011). "Enrollment and Projections by school district".
  6. ↑ West Branch Area School District Administration, West Branch Area School District Budget report, 2014
  7. ↑ Tyler Kolesar (May 22, 2012). "Programs off the chopping block as WB OKs budget". Progress News.
  8. ↑ US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Education Agency, 2011
  9. ↑ proximityone (2014). "School District Comparative Analysis Profiles".
  10. ↑ US Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, 2009
  11. ↑ US Census Bureau, (2010). "American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts".
  12. ↑ US Census Bureau (September 2011). "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010" (PDF).
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Pennsylvania School Code, 2013
  15. ↑ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  16. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 11, 2014). "Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide School District Ranking 2014".
  17. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 11, 2014). "What makes up a district's School Performance Profile score?".
  18. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 4, 2011). "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings information 2011".
  19. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 30, 2010). "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2010".
  20. ↑ "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County". Pittsburgh Business Times. May 23, 2007.
  21. ↑ "Overachiever statewide ranking". Pittsburgh Business Times. May 6, 2010.
  22. ↑ "2009 PSSA RESULTS School District The Morning Call". 2009.
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "West Branch Area School District AYP Overview 2012".
  24. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "About Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in Pennsylvania".
  25. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Public School District AYP History, 2011
  26. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania District AYP History 2003-2010, 2011
  27. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "West Branch Area School District Fast Facts 2013".
  28. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "West Branch Area School District AYP Data Table 2012".
  29. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  30. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "West Branch Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card Data table".
  31. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 27, 2010). "PA School District Statistical Snapshot Database 2008-09".
  32. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "County School Districts Graduation Rates 2008".
  33. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (2008). "High School Graduation rate 2007" (PDF).
  34. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 21, 2014). "Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program".
  35. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (April 2014). "Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program FAQ".
  36. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2012). "Tuition rate Fiscal Year 2011-2012".
  37. ↑ Olsen, Laura, State list of failing schools has 53 in county, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 26, 2012
  38. ↑ US News and World Report, Best High Schools, 2013
  39. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers West Branch Junior Senior High School 2012, September 21, 2012
  40. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "West Branch Area Junior Senior High School Academic Performance Data 2013".
  41. ↑ Eleanor Chute & Mary Niederberger (December 11, 2013). "New assessment shows fuller picture of Pa. schools". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  42. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "West Branch Area Junior Senior High School AYP Overview 2012".
  43. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School AYP Overview 2011, September 29, 2011
  44. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School AYP Overview 2010, 2010
  45. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School AYP Overview 2009, September 14, 2009
  46. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School AYP Overview 2008, August 14, 2008
  47. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School AYP Overview 2007, 2007
  48. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Academic Standards".
  49. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Assessment System".
  50. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2012). "2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results".
  51. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  52. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  53. ↑ The Times-Tribune. (September 14, 2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results,".
  54. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results".
  55. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results".
  56. ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette (October 15, 2012). "How is your school doing?".
  57. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "WEST BRANCH AREA Junior Senior High School" (PDF).
  58. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "West Branch Junior Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF).
  59. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  60. ↑ The Times-Tribune. (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results,".
  61. ↑ The Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnership, Science in Motion annual report, 2012
  62. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report,".
  63. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
  64. ↑ College Board (2013). "The 2013 SAT Report on College & Career Readiness".
  65. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011".
  66. ↑ College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania".
  67. ↑ "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  68. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
  69. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (March 2010). "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement".
  70. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Dual Enrollment Grants 2009 10 Fall Grants by School District".
  71. ↑ West Branch Area School District School Board and Administration, Student Handbook 2010-11, 2010
  72. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  73. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
  74. ↑ Megan Harris (September 12, 2013). "Pennsylvania changing high school graduation requirements". Tribune Live.
  75. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview".
  76. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  77. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013
  78. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
  79. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "IU16-PSSA 95-96 Results by School". Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  80. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "Standards Aligned Systems".
  81. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Academic Standards".
  82. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Academic Standards Mathematics".
  83. ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette (October 15, 2012). "How is your school doing?".
  84. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "Reading and Math PSSA 2008 by Schools".
  85. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012 |author=September 21, 2012
  86. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (September 14, 2010). "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing Results".
  87. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  88. ↑ The Times-Tribune (2012). "Grading Our Schools database, 2011-12 Science PSSA results".
  89. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (August 2010). "Science PSSA 2010 by Schools".
  90. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (August 2009). "Science PSSA 2009 by Schools".
  91. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (August 15, 2008). "Science PSSA 2008 by Schools".
  92. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "West Branch Area Elementary School Fast Facts 2013".
  93. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, West Branch Area Elementary School Fast Facts 2013, October 4, 2013
  94. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data – West Branch Area Elementary School, 2011
  95. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers West Branch Area Elementary School, September 21, 2012
  96. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnership for Children, Full-Day Kindergarten Enrollment, 2010
  97. ↑ National Center or Education Statistics, Common Core Data West Branch Area Elementary School, 2010
  98. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Performance Data 2013".
  99. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "West Branch Area Elementary School AYP Overview 2012".
  100. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Elementary School AYP Overview 2010, October 20, 2010
  101. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "West Branch Area Elementary School AYP Data Table".
  102. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2003). "PSSA results 2003".
  103. ↑ New America Foundation (2003). "No Child Left Behind Overview".
  104. ↑ The Goals of No Child Left Behind (Jul 20, 2010). "The Goals of No Child Left Behind".
  105. ↑ Learning Point Associates (220). "Understanding the No Child Left Behind Act" (PDF).
  106. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (January 11, 2003). "Pennsylvania Academic Standards Science and Technology, Ecology and Environment".
  107. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF).
  108. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011
  109. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  110. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009
  111. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008
  112. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, West Branch Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2007, 2007
  113. ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette (October 15, 2012). "How is your school doing?".
  114. ↑ Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education Services (2009–2010). "West Branch Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets".
  115. ↑ Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education Services (2009–2010). "West Branch Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets".
  116. ↑ Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education (2008). "Pennsylvania Parent Guide to Special Education Services".
  117. ↑ Central Intermediate Unit # 10 (2011). "Procedural Safeguards Notice".
  118. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education (September 2005). "Gaskin Settlement Agreement Overview Facts Sheet" (PDF).
  119. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Special Education Funding".
  120. ↑ Senator Patrick Browne (November 1, 2011). "Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Special Education Funding & Accountability".
  121. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary (November 11, 2011). "Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony".
  122. ↑ Baruch Kintisch Education Law Center (November 11, 2011). "Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony" (PDF).
  123. ↑ US Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education Clarifies Schools' Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics, January 25, 2013
  124. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2010). "Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011".
  125. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year".
  126. ↑ 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)
  127. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board. "CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students". Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  128. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 26, 2010). "Special Education for Gifted Students Notice of Parental rights" (PDF).
  129. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2011). "More Than 100 Entities Sign Up to Participate in Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot Program".
  130. ↑ Mason, Angie., Educators: New teacher evaluation system is a lot of talk -- but so far that's good, "The York Daily Record, April 29, 2012
  131. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, June 27, 2006
  132. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "Investing in Pennsylvania Students".
  133. ↑ "West Branch Area School District Payroll report 2012". OpenPA Gov.org. 2013.
  134. ↑ Times Tribune (June 16, 2013). "PA Teacher Profile Database 2011-12".
  135. ↑ Asbury Park Press (2009). "PA. Public School Salaries".
  136. ↑ Fenton, Jacob, (March 2009). "Average classroom teacher salary in Clearfield County, 2006-07.". The Morning Call.
  137. ↑ PA Delaware County Times, Teachers need to know enough is enough, April 20, 2010.
  138. ↑ West Branch Area School Board (2009). "West Branch Area School District Teacher Union Employment Contract July 2009-July 2013".
  139. ↑ Fenton, Jacob. (February 2009). "Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?,". The Morning Call.
  140. ↑ Pennsylvania School Board Association (October 2009). "Public School Salaries 11th Annual".
  141. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008".
  142. ↑ Jan Murphy (September 22, 2010). "Pennsylvania's public schools boost reserves".
  143. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-10 Selected Data - 2009-10 Total Expenditures per ADM".
  144. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "2012-13 Selected Data - 2012-13 Total Expenditures per ADM".
  145. ↑ US Census Bureau, States Ranked According to Per Pupil Public Elementary-Secondary School System Finance Amounts: Fiscal Year 2011, May 2013
  146. ↑ United States Census Bureau (2009). "States Ranked According to Per Pupil Elementary-Secondary Public School System Finance Amounts: 2008-09" (PDF).
  147. ↑ US Census Bureau (2009). [.http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_183.asp "Total and current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary education, by function and state or jurisdiction: 2006-07"] Check |url= value (help).
  148. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (January 2012). "West Branch Area School District Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Performance Audit Report".
  149. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2013). "Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates 2013-14".
  150. ↑ Penn State Cooperative Extension (2010). "What are the Local Taxes in Pennsylvania?, Local Tax Reform Education Project" (PDF).
  151. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (April 2010). "Personal Income Taxation Guidelines".
  152. ↑ John Finnerty (2013). "PA teachers pensions". CNHI Harrisburg Bureau.
  153. ↑ Pennsylvania Representative Todd Stephens (January 23, 2014). "LEEF Funding Chart 2014".
  154. ↑ PDE (July 7, 2014). "Enacted Education Budget 2014-2015".
  155. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-15 Enacted Education Budget Fast Facts, July 14, 2014
  156. ↑ Democrat Appropriations Committee, Report on Education funding by LEA, July 2, 2013
  157. ↑ Sam Wood & Brian X. McCrone (January 29, 2014). "Montgomery County lawmaker proposes using Pa. horse racing funds for education". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  158. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, 2013-14 State Budget Highlights, 2013
  159. ↑ Senator Jake Corman (June 28, 2012). "Pennsylvania Education funding by Local School District" (PDF).
  160. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly Sen Jake Corman (June 29, 2012). "SB1466 of 2012 General Fund Appropriation".
  161. ↑ PA Senate Appropriations Committee (June 28, 2011). "School District 2011-12 Funding Report".
  162. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2011). "Basic Education Funding".
  163. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding".
  164. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year".
  165. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, District Allocations Report 2009, 2009-10
  166. ↑ Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee Education Budget information (June 30, 2010). "PA Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010-2011" (PDF).
  167. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 2009). "Funding Allocations by district".
  168. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of Budget (February 2009). "Governor's Budget Proposal 2009 Pennsylvania Department of Education Budget Proposal 2009,".
  169. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Funding Report by LEA 2009
  170. ↑ Governor's Budget Office (2014). "Past Budgets 2013-14 to 2006-07".
  171. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Accountability Block Grant report Grantee list 2010".
  172. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report".
  173. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  174. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Educational Assistance Program Funding 2010-2011 Fiscal Year".
  175. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (February 21, 2014). "Acting Secretary of Education Announces $2.6 Million in Safe Schools Targeted Grants".
  176. ↑ Department of Environmental Protection (2014). "Environmental Education Grants".
  177. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (April 22, 2013). "Governor Corbett Awards 92 Grants for Environmental Education and Stewardship".
  178. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Science: It’s Elementary Grantees Students in 143 Schools Benefit from Intensive Science Curriculum, July 22, 2008
  179. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 23, 2012). "Pennsylvania Awards $36.1 Million to Strengthen Literacy Programs".
  180. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Office (October 17, 2013). "Acting Secretary of Education Says Hybrid Learning Benefits Students; Highlights Success of First-Year Pilot Program".
  181. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2009). "Clearfield County ARRA FUNDING Report".
  182. ↑ "School stimulus money". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 12, 2009.
  183. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (December 9, 2009). "RTTT_Webinar_for_districts_December_2009.pdf".
  184. ↑ Governor's Press Office release (January 20, 2010). "Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support,".
  185. ↑ Race to the Top Fund, U.S. Department of Education, March 29, 2010.
  186. ↑ Gerald Zahorchak (December 2008). "Pennsylvania Race to the Top Letter to Superintendents" (PDF).
  187. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 19, 2009). "Pennsylvania Race to the Top -School Districts Title I Allocations 2009-10".
  188. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "Common Cents program - Making Every Dollar Count".
  189. ↑ West Branch Area School Board Secretary, Meeting Minutes May 2014, May 19, 2014
  190. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2004). "Act 511 Tax Report".
  191. ↑ State Tax Equalization Board (2011). "State Tax Equalization Board About US".
  192. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General office - Bureau of Audits (February 2011). "A Special Performance Audit of the Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization Boards" (PDF).
  193. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2013-14 Real Estate Mills".
  194. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Finances_Real Estate Tax Rates 2012-13, 2012
  195. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2011-12 Real Estate Mills".
  196. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District,".
  197. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Financial Elements Reports".
  198. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Financial Elements Reports 2008-09 Real Estate Mills".
  199. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District".
  200. ↑ Tax-rates.org., The 2013 Tax Resource County Property Taxes 2012, 2012
  201. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania School Finances - Summaries of Annual Financial Report Data 2010-11, 2011
  202. ↑ New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, Tax Foundation, September 22, 2009.
  203. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010-11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines".
  204. ↑ Kaitlynn Riely (August 4, 2011). "Law could restrict school construction projects". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  205. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly (June 29, 2011). "SB330 of 2011".
  206. ↑ Eric Boehm (July 1, 2011). "Property tax reform final piece of state budget". PA Independent.
  207. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information".
  208. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2010-2011".
  209. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2011-2012".
  210. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2011). "2012-2013 School District Adjusted Index Listing".
  211. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2013-2014 School District Adjusted Index, September 2012
  212. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-2015 School District Adjusted Index, September 2013
  213. ↑ Pennsylvania School Employees, Retirement System, PSERS Chart showing payment mandates 2007-2020, 2014
  214. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 30, 2014). "Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2014-2015".
  215. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2013-2014, April 2013
  216. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2012-2013, March 30, 2012
  217. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information".
  218. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 2011). "Report on Exceptions".
  219. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2010-2011".
  220. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2009). "Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2009-2010".
  221. ↑ Scarcella, Frank & Pursell, Tricia (May 25, 2010). "Local school tax assessments exceed state averages". The Daily Item.
  222. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 1, 2010). "SSAct1_Property Tax Relief Per HomeStead 2010".
  223. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, (February 23, 2010). "Special Report Pennsylvania Property Tax Relief,".
  224. ↑ Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report May 1, 2010
  225. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education (2006). "Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program".
  226. ↑ West Branch Area School Board (October 24, 2011). "Policy Manual Student Wellness Policy 246".
  227. ↑ Probart C, McDonnell E, Weirich JE, Schilling L, Fekete V (September 2008). "Statewide assessment of local wellness policies in Pennsylvania public school districts.". J Am Diet Assoc. 108 (9): 1497–502. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.429. PMID 18755322.
  228. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education – Division of Food and Nutrition (July 2008). "Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive".
  229. ↑ USDA, Child Nutrition Programs - Eligibility Manual for School Meals, 2012
  230. ↑ Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, 2009
  231. ↑ USDA, Child Nutrition Programs, June 27, 2013
  232. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture (2011). "Food and Nutrition Service Equity in School Lunch Pricing Fact Sheet" (PDF).
  233. ↑ Denver Nicks (February 25, 2014). "White House Sets New Limits on Junk Food Ads in Schools". Time Magazine.
  234. ↑ USDA Food and Nutrition Service (2014). "School Meals FAQ".
  235. ↑ Monica Eng (November 26, 2012). "Lactose intolerance: When drinking school milk makes students feel sick". Chicago Tribune.
  236. ↑ Pennsylvania State Department of Health (2010). "Pennsylvania Bulletin Doc. No. 10-984 School Immunizations; Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases".
  237. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health (2014). "School Immunization Requirements".
  238. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health (2014). "MANDATED SCHOOL HEALTH SCREENINGS".
  239. ↑ Highmark Foundation, 2009 School Challenge Grants, 2009
  240. ↑ Highmark Foundation, 2014 Highmark Foundation grants report, 2014
  241. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2011). "School District Enrollment Data and Projections".
  242. ↑ Pennsylvania Legislative Budget & Finance Committee (2007). "Study of the Cost-Effectiveness of Consolidating Pennsylvania School Districts".
  243. ↑ Edward Rendell; Governor and Mary Soderberg; Secretary of the Budget. (February 2009). "2009–2010 Executive Budget Facts Pennsylvania School District Consolidation".
  244. ↑ Murphy, Jan, (February 4, 2009). "Rendell calls for consolidation of state school districts". The Patriot News.
  245. ↑ "Report of the Fiscal Responsibility Task Force" (PDF). Retrieved April 2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  246. ↑ The Center for Rural Pennsylvania. (October 2009). "Research Analyzes Rural School District Enrollment and Building Capacity" (PDF).
  247. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 1990 and 2011, 2011
  248. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health, Health Statistics - Resident Live Birth rate by county, 1990
  249. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health, Health Statistics - Resident Live Birth rate by county, 2000
  250. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health, Health Statistics - Resident Live Birth rate by county, 2013
  251. ↑ Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Number of Children Decreasing, Number of Seniors Increasing in Rural Pennsylvania, July 2011
  252. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Statistics, 2013
  253. ↑ Jason McMillian West Branch Area School District Administration, West Branch Area School District Budget report 2014-2015, January 2014
  254. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".
  255. ↑ PA General Assembly (July 1, 2012). "Senate Bill 200 of Session 2011 Safety in Youth Sports Act".
  256. ↑ UMPC Sports Medicine (2014). "Managing Concussions in Student Athletes: The Safety in Youth Sports Act".
  257. ↑ West Branch Area School Board, West Branch Area School District Teacher Union Contract, 2014
  258. ↑ Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (2014). "PIAA School Directory".

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