| Keystone Central School District | |
|---|---|
| Type and location | |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Lock Haven, Pennsylvania |
| District Info | |
| Superintendent | Kelly Hastings |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | approximately 5,000 |
| Other information | |
| Website | Keystone Central School District |
The Keystone Central School District (KCSD) is a school district based in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania that includes public schools in Clinton County, and that serves students in Clinton County, Centre County, and Potter County. This district operates 8 elementary schools, three secondary schools (one middle school, one high school), and one combined middle and high school), and one alternative education program. Geographically, the Keystone Central School District is the biggest school district in Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 1,048 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 36,950. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the KCSD provided basic educational services to 4,447 pupils through the employment of 408 teachers, 198 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 43 administrators.
Contents |
Keystone Central School District was ranked 407th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the PSSA results on: reading, writing, math and three years of science.[1]
In 2009 the academic achievement of the students of the Keystone Central School District fell in the 23rd percentile in the state's 500 school districts. (0-99; 100 is state best) [4]
District Graduation Rate In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Keystone Central School District's rate was 93% for 2010.[5]
In 2010 the school is in School Improvement I status due to chronically low student achievement.[9]
Graduation Rate
PSSA Results: 11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Science:
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
Serves students grades 7 through 12.
For 2010 the school is in Warning Status due to chronic low student achievement.[18]
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Science:
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
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.[22]
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.[23]
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 7% of Keystone Central School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.[24] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years.[25] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 764 pupils or 20.8% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[26]
The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.[27]
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.[28]
Keystone Central School District received a $3,102,551 supplement for special education services in 2010.[29]
The District Administration reported that 41 or 3.62% of its students were gifted in 2009.[30] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.[31]
Keystone Central School Board established a district wellness policy in June 2006 - Student Wellness Policy 246.[32] The policy deals with nutrition of meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity hat are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, 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.[33]
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for its approval.
The Keystone Central school administration reported no incidents of bullying occurring in the schools in 2009.[34][35]
The Keystone Central School Board prohibits bullying by district students. A policy approved in July 2009 defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying.[36] The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.[37] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.[38]
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[39]
The 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.[40] 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 Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "C-" 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.[41]
In 2009 salaries of KCSD teachers range from $40,038 to $123,500.[42]
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $54,535 for 182 school days worked. This was the highest average teacher salary in Clinton County in 2007.[43] 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.[44] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.[45] According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.[46]
Keystone Central School District had administrative costs per pupil in 2008 of $788 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[47]
In 2008 Keystone Central reported per pupil spending was $12,411.[48]
In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the school district. Findings were reported to the school board.[49]
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In Pennsylvania, both pension income and social security income are exempted from local earned income tax and state personal income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.[50]
For the 2010-11 school year the Commonwealth provided the Keystone Central School District with a 3.42% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $20,492,086.[51] One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received a base 2% increase in funding. Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County received the largest a 23.65% increase for 2010-11. Fifteen school district received an increase greater than 10%.[52] The amount of funding each district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education in the annual budget proposal.[53]
In 2009-10 the state provided a 4.02% increase in state basic education funding. Ninety school district received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District of Berks County received the highest increase a 22.31% increase in basic education funding.[54]
The Department of Education reported that, in the 2007-08 school year, 1,890 students received a free or reduced price lunch due to low family income.
The district received $3,190,972 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[55]
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.[56] The program was funded from 2006 through 2009. Keystone Central School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $444,264 and in 2008-09 $90,826 for a total of $535,090.[57] In 2009 the district received $48,973.[58]
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[59] 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.[60] 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.[61]
The 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.[62] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.
For the 2010-11 school year, the Keystone Central School Board set property taxes at 40.2400 mills for Centre County residents, for residents in Clinton County 11.23 mills, and residents of Potter County at 36.2800 mills.[63] The school district crosses three counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. 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.
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 it 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, increasing rising health care 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.[66]
The School District Adjusted Index for the Keystone Central School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[67]
2006-07 - 5.4%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 6.0%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 5.7%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%
For the 2010-2011 school budget the school board did not apply for an exception to exceed the index.[68] 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.[69] In 2007, the Keystone School Board adopted a resolution to stay within the Act 1 Index limit for the 2007-08 school budget.[70]
In 2010, the Keystone Central School District property tax relief was set at $224 for approved 9638 homesteads.[71] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Keystone Central School District was $228 per approved homestead, for the 9460 property owners who applied for the tax relief in 2009.[72] 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. In Clinton County, 54% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. In Center County, 72% property owners applied. Potter County had a 79% participate.[73] The highest property tax relief was given to Chester Upland School District at $632 in 2010 and in 2009.[74]
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, people with income substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.
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%).[75]
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs.[76]
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.[77]