| Shippensburg Area School District | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 317 North Morris Street Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Cumberland, 17257 United States |
|
| Information | |
| School board | 9 elected members |
| Superintendent | Kristin Carroll |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Kindergarten | 240 |
| Grade 1 | 247 |
| Grade 2 | 257 |
| Grade 3 | 230 |
| Grade 4 | 271 |
| Grade 5 | 272 |
| Grade 6 | 284 |
| Grade 7 | 249 |
| Grade 8 | 266 |
| Grade 9 | 302 |
| Grade 10 | 274 |
| Grade 11 | 227 |
| Grade 12 | 228 |
| Mascot | Greyhound |
| Website | http://www.ship.k12.pa.us/web/ |
The Shippensburg Area School District is a public school district in Franklin County, Pennsylvania and Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Shippensburg and also serves Orrstown, Newburg, Hopewell Township, Shippensburg Township, and two interconnected Southampton Township, Cumberland County and Southampton Township, Franklin County. Shippensburg Area School District encompasses approximately 121 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data it serves a resident population of 23,714. In school year 2007-08, Shippensburg Area School District provided basic educational services to 3,464 pupils. The district employed: 235 teachers, 203 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 19 administrators. Shippensburg Area School District received more than $13.8 million in state funding in school year 2007-08. The district partners with Shippensburg University in developing its academic programs of study and education for teachers.
Contents |
The 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. 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 "D-" 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.[2]
The district is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 which offers a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.
Shippensburg Area School District was ranked 380th out of 498 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, in 2011. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSA results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science. [3]
In 2011, the graduation rate was 93%. [5] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Shippensburg Area School District's rate was 88% for 2010. [6]
In 2011, Shippensburg Area High School was in Warning status, due to lagging academic achievement, of low income students and special education students. In 2010, the school achieved AYP status. [11] In 2009, the high school was in Warning level due to chronically low academic achievement.[12]
College Remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 14% of Shippensburg Senior 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.[21] 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.[22] 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.
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.[23]
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 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. [24]
The school district offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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 at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[25] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[26] The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.[27]
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $8,621 for its Dual Enrollment program.
In 2011, the school is in Warning status due to lagging student academic achievement. In 2010 the school achieved AYP status. [28]
|
8th Grade Math:
|
|
|
|
6th Grade Reading
|
6th Grade Math:
|
In 2011, the school is in Making Progress: in School Improvement II status. In 2010 the school had declined to School Improvement II. [33] The school was in School Improvement I level due to chronically low academic achievement of special education students in reading.[34]
|
5th Grade Math:
|
|
4th Grade Reading
|
4th Grade Math:
|
4th Grade Science:
The schools is operated in cooperation with Shippensburg University and is located on the campus of the university. Children must apply to attend G B Luhrs which does accept special education children. The school offers Kindergarten through fifth grade to approximately 126 students. Transportation is the parent's responsibility.[35] In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was 96% in 2010. It declined to 93% in 2011. [36]
|
5th Grade Reading:
|
5th Grade Math:
|
|
|
|
|
In 2011, James Burd ES achieved AYP status. [37] The attendance rate was 96% in 2010 and declined to 94% in 2011. [38] The school changed to K-3rd grade in 2009 with the building of the intermediate school.
|
|
In 2011, Nancy Grayson Elementary School achieved AYP status. [39] The attendance rate was 95% in 2010 and declined to 93% in 2011. [40] The school changed to K-3rd grade in 2009 with the building of the intermediate school.
|
|
In December 2010, the district administration reported that 565 pupils or 16.4% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. [41] [42]
In order to comply with state and federal laws, 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. [43] To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. [44] 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 for services may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education. [45]
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 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. [46]
Shippensburg Area School District received a $1,691,189 supplement for special education services in 2010.[47]
For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. 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. [48]
In 2009, Shippensburg Area School District was identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Least Restrictive Environment monitoring. One hundred ninety six schools districts were selected in 2008-09. The district received an alert letter from the PDE - Bureau of Special Education. [49] School districts were placed in one of three categories: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. The district was placed in Tier Three with students spending more than 60% of the school day, outside of regular education. The monitoring is a product of the PDE addressing its voluntary settlement in Gaskin V. Pennsylvania which ordered that special education students spend most of their school day (80%) in regular education classrooms with supplementary aids and services to assist. [50] [51] [52] In 2010, the district was raised to the Tier 2 monitoring list due to students spending less than 40% of their day in a regular education classroom. The district received a letter of “Warning” letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. [53]
The District Administration reported that 83 or 2.43% of its students were gifted in 2009. [54] 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 must also be considered for eligibility.[55]
In 2007, the district employed 212 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $54,943 for 180 days worked. [56] 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.[57] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, life insurance, retirement bonus and other benefits. [58] </ref> According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year Pennsylvania public school educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.[59]
Shippensburg Area School District administrative costs per pupil was $605.42 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[60] Kris Carroll was hired by the board, in 2009, to serve as superintendent effective July 2009. In 2009, Superintendent Jacqueline J. Lesney had a salary of $126,980 along with an extensive benefits package.[61] [62] Lesney retired from the district in June 2009 with a pension in excess of $100,000 a year. The school board hired Beth E. Bender as assistant superintendent with a beginning salary of $103,000 plus an extensive benefits package in 2009.[63] The Pennsylvania School Board Association tracks salaries for Pennsylvania public school employees. It reports that in 2008 the average superintendent salary in Pennsylvania was $122,165.[64]
For the 2011-12 school year the school board approved a $40.13 million budget. In 2008, Shippensburg Area School District per pupil spending was $10,166. This ranked 466th in 500 Pennsylvania public school districts.[65]
Reserves - In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $1,050,000.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $4,469,703.00.[66]
In October 2011, the school board voted to lay off nine full-time classroom aides, one outside maintenance worker and two part-time custodians, effective Oct. 28. The board claimed it was following the suggestions in an arbitrator's report. [67] [68]
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax of 1.4%, a local real property tax, a real estate transfer tax - 0.5%, and a per capita tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[69] Grants provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. 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 income level.[70]
In 2011-12, the Shippensburg Area School District received $8,564,612 in state Basic Education Funding. [71] Additionally, the district received $217,903 in Accountability Block Grant funding. [72] The Pennsylvania Department of Education reports that 1,017 pupils received a federal free and reduced lunch, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.
In 2010-2011, Shippensburg Area School District received an 6.83% increase ($604,793) in Basic Education Funding for a total of $9,453,394. Four county school districts received increases of less than 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2010-11. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2010. In Cumberland County, Camp Hill School District received the highest - a 13.99% increase. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received the highest with a 23.65% increase in funding.[73] One hundred fifty school districts were alloted the base 2% state funding increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[74]
In 2009-2010, the district received an 8.43% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,848,949. Seven county school districts received increases of less than 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2009-10. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Shippensburg Area School District in 2008-09 was $8,160,614.58.[75] Ninety school districts were alloted the base 2% state funding increase in 2009-10.
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 - $565,362 to Shippensburg ASD in 2010; and Educational Assistance Program Funding (Shippensburg ASD applied for $0). Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including Special Education 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.
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 Shippensburg Area School District applied for and received $591,443 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the 4th year and to pay for professional development to improve instruction. [76][77]
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. Shippensburg Area School District received $302,173 funding in 2006-07. The following year the high school received an additional $300,000. In 2008-09, the district received $27,828 for a total funding of $630,001. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future state grant awards.[78]
The Shippensburg Area School Board chose to not permit the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program access to the district records. 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.[79] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.
The district received an extra $2,041,564 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. This was in addition to all regular state and federal funding.[80] This funding is for 2009-2011 school years.
In 2008, the district reported that 829 students received free or reduced price lunches due to low family income.[81]
Shippensburg Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district up to one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. [82] 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. [83] Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state Race to the Top application judging will occur in June 2010. [84]
Property tax rates in 2011 were set at 10.0100 mills for residents in Cumberland County and 95.2100 mills for residents in Franklin County. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. 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. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts. [85] School districts located in more than one county are required to apportion the tax levy based on the market value in each county as determined by the State Tax Equalization Board pursuant to section 672.1 of the School Code. As a result, the tax rate increases are not the same for each county in a multi-county school district. [86] 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. In 2010, Cumberland County engaged in a property value reassessment.
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 2010-2011 school year, was 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.[91]
The School District Adjusted Index for the Shippensburg Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012. [92]
For the 2011-12 school year, the Shippensburg Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year the Shippensburg Area 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 publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. [95]
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. [96]
Shippensburg Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010-11.[97]
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.[98]
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Shippensburg Area School District was set per approved permanent primary residence. In Cumberland County the highest amount of relief in 2009 went to Mechanicsburg Area School District at $140. 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.[99] 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals whose income is substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This rebate can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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%).[100]
Shippensburg Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.[101] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that 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.[102]
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
The Shippensburg Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sport. The school board determines eligibility for participation[103] in coordination with respective individual governing organizations. Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
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.[104]