Peters Township School District

Peters Township School District
Address
631 East McMurray Road McMurray, Pennsylvania, Washington County, 15317 United States
Information
Type	Public
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	Dr Jeannine L French (July 2013 to June 30, 2018)[1] Dr. Joseph C. Dimperio former superintendent (2012-13) Dr. Nina Zetty former superintendent, salary $142,870 (2012) (served 2008-2012)[2]
Principal	Kelly Gustafson, BHES
Principal	Toni Sulkowski, EGES
Principal	Blair Stoehr, MES Michael Fisher, PVES Toni Sulkowski, VES
Principal	Adam Sikorski PTMS
Principal	Lori Pavlik, PTHS
Vice principal	Christopher Shute, BHES
Vice principal	Gregory Marquis, MES
Vice principal	Michael Henaghan, PTMS
Asst. Principal	Christian Lesnett and Emily Sanders, PTHS
Staff	237 non teaching staff (2013)
Faculty	270 teachers (2013)[3]
Grades	K-12
Age	5 years old to 21 years old special education
Pupils	4,299 pupils (2013-14)[4] 4,299 pupils (2012-13) 4,449 pupils (2009–10) 4,336 pupils (2006-07)
• Kindergarten	260 (2013), 293 (2010)
• Grade 1	285 (2013), 332
• Grade 2	279 (2013), 312
• Grade 3	287 (2013), 352
• Grade 4	336 (2013), 331
• Grade 5	349 (2013), 328
• Grade 6	321 (2013), 355
• Grade 7	381 (2013), 343
• Grade 8	328 (2013), 353
• Grade 9	355 (2013), 380
• Grade 10	377 (2013), 367
• Grade 11	368 (2013), 340
• Grade 12	373 (2013), 363 (2010)
• Other	Enrollment declining to under 4300 by 2020[5]
Language	English
Color(s)	Red&White
Mascot	Indian
Yearbook	Ember
Budget	$59.391 million (2015-16)[6] $56,506,881 (2014-15) $53,262,952 (2013-14) $50,872,603 (2012-13) $49,583,988 (2011-12) $48,828,593 (2010-11) $40,947,284 (2005-06) $32,400,936 (2001-02) $24,985,170 (1997-98) $20,393,151 (1993-94) $10,874,464 (1985-86)
per pupil spending	$7,860 (2000)
per pupil spending	$9,974 (2007)
per pupil spending	$13,298 (2014)
Website	http://www.ptsd.k12.pa.us/

Peters Township School District is a large, suburban, public school district located in Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania and encompasses an area of 19.5 square miles (51 km²). Peters Township School District had a population of 17,566, according to the 2000 federal census. By 2010, the District's population increased to 21,219 people.^[7] The educational attainment levels for the School District population (25 years old and over) were 95.9% high school graduates and 56.1% college graduates.^[8] The District is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania.

According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 3.2% of the District’s pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty Level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.^[9] In 2009, the per capita income was $36,159, while the median family income was $86,661.^[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] In Washington County, the median household income was $53,693.^[13] By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.^[14] In 2014, the median household income in the USA was $53,700.^[15]

In school year 2003–04, the Peters Township School District provided basic educational services to 3,917 pupils through the employment of 21 administrators, 224 teachers, and 185 full-time and part-time support personnel. The District provided basic educational services to 4,440 pupils in 2009-10. The District employed: 283 teachers, 219 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 23 administrators during the 2009-10 school year. Peters Township School District received $10,439,801 in state funding in the 2009-10 school year.

Peters Township School District operates five schools:

• Bower Hill Elementary School Kindergarten through Grade 3
• Pleasant Valley Elementary School Kindergarten through Grade 3
• McMurray Elementary School Grades 4 – 6
• Peters Township Middle School Grades 7 – 8
• Peters Township High School Grades 9 - 12

High school students may choose to attend the Western Area Career Technology Center (WACTC) for training in the construction and mechanical trades. The Intermediate Unit IU1 provides the District with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, background checks for employees, state mandated recognizing and reporting child abuse training, speech and visual disability services and criminal background screenings and professional development for staff and faculty.

Governance

The Peters Township School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve without compensation for a term of four years), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[16] 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.^[17]

District AYP status history

In 2012, Peters Township School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.^[18] In 2011, Peters Township 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.^[19][20] Peters Township 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.^[21]

In 2005, all five schools met the federal No Child Left Behind Act requirements.

Academic achievement

In 2015, Peters Township School District ranked 15th out of 493 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.^[22] 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.^[23] 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.

2014 - 15th[24] 2013 - 14th[25] 2012 - 11th [26] 2011 - 10th[27]

2010 - 13th[28] 2009 - 12th 2008 - 9th 2007 - 12th of 501 school districts.[29]

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Peters Township School District, was in the 97th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0–99; 100 is state best).^[30]

In 2007, Peters Township School District was noted as an academically high performing school district in a state school report called Costing out the Resources need to meet Pennsylvania's Public Education Goals. It was one of 67 Pennsylvania public school districts who were recognized.^[31]

Graduation rate

In 2014, the District’s graduation rate was 97%.^[32]

• 2013 - 97.30%^[33]
• 2012 - 99.39%
• 2011 - 99%.^[34]
• 2010 - 98%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.^[35]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 99%^[36]
• 2009 - 98%
• 2008 - 98%^[37]
• 2007 - 98%^[38]

High school

Peters Township High School is located at 264 E McMurray Road, McMurray. In 2014, enrollment was reported as 1460 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 4.52% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 8.42% of pupils received special education services, while 4.66% of pupils were identified as gifted.^[39] The school employed 91 teachers.^[40] Per the PA Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, the school reported an enrollment of 1,460 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 65 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2012, the School employed 92 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.^[41] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the School's teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[42]

Local schools academic ranking

In 2015, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Peters Township High School’s eleventh grade 10th out of 105 western Pennsylvania high schools, based on the last three years of student academic achievement in Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: reading, math, writing and science.^[43] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County) In 2014, the Peters Township High School ranked 6th among western Pennsylvania high schools for academic achievement.

2014 School Performance Profile

Peters Township High School achieved 99.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 98.57% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 93% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 85% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[44][45] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.^[46]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.^[47] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.^[48][49]

2013 School Performance Profile

Peters Township High School achieved 90.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 95% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 86.39% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 73% showed on grade level science understanding.^[50] 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.^[51]

AYP history

In 2012, Peters Township High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.^[52] From 2003 to 2011, Peters Township High School achieved AYP Status each school year.^[53]

PSSA history

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.^[54]

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.^[55]

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 88% on grade level, (2% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[56]
• 2011 - 92% (2% below basic). State - 69%^[57]
• 2010 - 90% (4% below basic). State - 66%^[58]
• 2009 - 86% (5% below basic). State - 65%^[59]
• 2008 - 84% (7% below basic). State - 65%^[60]
• 2007 - 92% (1% below basic). State - 65%^[61]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 81% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[62]
• 2011 - 83% (4% below basic). State - 60.3%
• 2010 - 81% (7% below basic). State - 59%^[63]
• 2009 - 79% (8% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 77% (9% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 87% (3% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 70% on grade level (1% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[64]
• 2011 - 70% (3% below basic). State - 40%^[65]
• 2010 – 75% (4% below basic). State – 39%.
• 2009 – 64% (5% below basic). State – 40%^[66]
• 2008 – 58%, State – 39%

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009,27% of Peters Township 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.^[67][68] 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.^[69][70] 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.

Graduation requirements

The Peters Township School Board has determined that students must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Drivers theory/speech 1 credit, Health 0.5 credit, Physical Education 1 credit, Arts/Humanities 1 credits and Electives 6 credits.^[71] Beginning with the Graduating Class of 2013, at least 0.5 of these credits must be from an online course.^[72]

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.^[73] At Peters Township High School, students focus on career exploration and present their culminating project in an interview.^[72] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.^[74]

By Pennsylvania State 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 respective Keystone Exams for each course.^[75] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.^[76]

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.^[77][78] 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.^[79] 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.^[80] 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.

Curriculum

In addition to a wide variety of regular high school courses, the school offers 9 AP Courses which permit students to earn college credits.^[81]

Middle school

Peters Township Middle School is located at 625 East McMurray Road, McMurray. In 2014, enrollment was 706 pupils, in grades 7th and 8th, with 5.67% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 10% of pupils received special education services, while 6.52% of pupils were identified as gifted.^[82] According to a 2014 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of Peters Township Middle School teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[83]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, Peters Township Middle School reported an enrollment of 706 pupils, in grades 7th and 8th, with 40 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 46.5 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.^[84] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[85]

Western PA school ranking

In 2015, Peters Township Middle School eighth grade ranked 2nd within a seven-county Western Pennsylvania region. In 2014, the 8th grade ranked 6th among local schools.^[86] In 2011, the Peters Township Middle School eighth grade ranked 5th within a seven-county Western Pennsylvania region. It was the highest-scoring middle school in Washington County.^[87] In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 5th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.^[88] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County and Washington County). The seventh grade ranked 4th in 2015 and 3rd in 2014.^[89]

2015 School Performance Profile

The PDE reported that 96% of 8th grade students at Peters Township Middle School students were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In math/Algebra 1, 64% of 8th grade students showed on grade level skills. In science, 87% of the school’s 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding. No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, 92% were on grade level in reading, while 65% showed on grade level math skills.^[90] Statewide 58% of eighth (8th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 29% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 7th graders were 58% on grade level in reading and 33% demonstrated on grade level math skills.^[91]

2014 School Performance Profile

Peters Township Middle School achieved 96.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement for all pupils. In reading/literature - 96% were on grade level. In Algebra 1/Math, 96.7% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Science, 87% of 8th graders showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, 94% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.^[92]

2013 School Performance Profile

Peters Township Middle School achieved 98 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, 95.9% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 95% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, 86.8% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 97.8% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.^[93] 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.

AYP History

In 2012, Peters Township Middle School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.^[94] From 2003 through 2011, Peters Township Middle School achieved AYP status each school year. The attendance rate was 97% in 2010 and 96% in 2011.^[95]

PSSA Results:

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.^[96] 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.^[97] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[54] In 2014, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.^[98]

8th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 97% on grade level (0% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.^[62]
• 2011 - 98% (1% below basic). State - 81.8%^[99]
• 2010 - 97% (1% below basic). State - 81%^[100]
• 2009 - 98% (1% below basic), State - 80%^[101]
• 2008 - 96% (2% below basic), State - 78%^[102]
• 2007 - 94% (1% below basic), State - 75%^[103]

8th Grade Math

• 2012 - 96% on grade level (1% below basic). State - 76%^[104]
• 2011 - 93% (1% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 90% (1% below basic). State - 75%^[105]
• 2009 – 92% (2% below basic), State – 71%^[106]
• 2008 – 91% (3% below basic), State – 70%
• 2007 – 90% (1% below basic), State – 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 83% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 59%^[107]
• 2011 - 83% (4% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 – 84% (6% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 – 83% (4% below basic). State – 55%^[108]
• 2008 – 82%, State – 52%.^[109]

7th Grade Reading: 2012 - 96% (0% below basic). State - 76% 2011 - 98% (1% below basic). State – 76% 2010 – 95% (1% below basic). State - 73% 2009 – 94% (2% below basic), State – 71% 2008 – 92% (1% below basic), State – 70% 2007 – 96% (1% below basic), State – 67%

7th Grade Math: 2012 - 97% (0% below basic). State - 80% 2011 - 96% (1% below basic). State - 78.6% 2010 – 97% (1% below basic). State - 77%. 2009 – 93% (3% below basic), State – 75% 2008 – 93% (1% below basic), State – 71% 2007 – 92% (2% below basic), State – 67%

McMurray Elementary School

McMurray Elementary School is located at. In 2014, the School's enrollment was 1004 pupils in grades 4th through 6th, with 3.7% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 13% of the pupils receive special education services, while 6.27% are identified as gifted.^[110] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind.^[111] The school is not a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, enrollment was 1004 pupils in grades 4th through 6th, with 37 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 66.5 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.^[112] 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.^[113]

2015 School Performance Profile

Among 6th graders at McMurray Elementary School, 91% were on grade level in reading and 74% were on grade level in mathematics. Among 5th graders, 93% of 5th grade were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In mathematics, 80% of 5th grade students showed on grade level skills. No fifth grade writing scores were reported. In 4th grade, 84% were on grade level in reading, while 62% showed on grade level math skills. In science, 95% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding.^[114] Statewide 61.9% of fifth (5th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 42.8% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 4th graders were 58.6% on grade level in reading and 44.4% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 77.3% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among sixth (6th) graders, 60.7% were reading on grade level, while 39.7% demonstrated on grade level math skills.^[115]

2014 School Performance Profile

McMurray Elementary School achieved a score of 83.5 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013-14, 89% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 4th through 6th. In math, 90.8% were on grade level (4th-6th grades). In 4th grade science, 95.5% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 85% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.^[116]

2013 School Performance Profile

McMurray Elementary School achieved a score of 89.5 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013, 85.8% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 4th through 6th. In math, 89% were on grade level (4th-6th grades). In 4th grade science, just 94% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 91.7% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.^[117]

AYP history

McMurray Elementary School achieved AYP status 2003 through 2012.^[118] The attendance rate was 96% for 2009 - 2011.^[119]

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 88% on grade level (3% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level.^[120]
• 2010 – 87% (3% below basic). State - 68%
• 2009 – 87% (3% below basic). State – 67%
• 2008 – 88% (7% below basic). State – 67%
• 2007 – 91% (1% below basic). State – 63%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 92% on grade level (1% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 – 96% (1% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 – 89% (2% below basic). State – 75%
• 2008 – 88% (2% below basic). State – 72%
• 2007 – 89% (2% below basic). State – 69%

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 81% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 85% (5% below basic). State - 64%
• 2009 – 80% (5% below basic). State – 64%
• 2008 – 81% (6% below basic). State – 62%
• 2007 – 80% (5% below basic). State – 60%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 89% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 – 90% (0% below basic). State - 74%
• 2009 – 89% (1% below basic), State – 73%
• 2008 – 87% (2% below basic), State – 73%
• 2007 – 87% (3% below basic), State – 71%

4th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 88% (2% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 – 88% (2% below basic), State – 73%
• 2009 – 90% (3% below basic), State – 72%
• 2008 – 86% (2% below basic), State – 70%
• 2007 – 87% (4% below basic), State – 60%

4th Grade Math

• 2011 - 92% (3% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 – 95% (1% below basic), State – 84%
• 2009 – 93% (2% below basic), State – 81%
• 2008 – 89% (5% below basic), State – 80%
• 2007 – 90% (3% below basic), State – 78%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 96%, (1% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 96%, (1% below basic), State – 81%
• 2009 – 96%, (1% below basic), State – 83%
• 2008 – 94%, State – 81%

Special education

In December 2013, Peters Township School District administration reported that 478 pupils or 11% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 37.9% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.^[121] In December 2009, the district administration reported that 272 pupils or 6% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.^[122]

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. If the 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 Student Services Department.^[123]

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.^[124] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. 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.^[125] Over identification 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.^[126] The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.^[127] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.^[128]

Peters Township School District received a $1,520,799 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[129] For the 2011-12 school yea For the 2011-12, 2012–13 and 2013–14 school years, 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.^[130] For the 2014-2015 school year, PTSD received an increase to $1,544,697 from the Commonwealth for special education funding.^[131] Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.

In 2013, the state's Special Education Funding Reform Commission provided a report on the state of funding for special education in the Commonwealth.^[132] Funding for special education programs is borne largely on a local basis at 60%, with the state contributing $1 billion or 30% and the federal government providing 10% of the funding.

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 156 or 3.60% of the district's students were identified as gifted in 2009.^[133] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. Services designed to meet the needs of gifted students include the annual development of a Gifted Individual Education Plan, support services and specially-designed instruction designed to challenge the student.^[134][135] The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal, requesting an evaluation. All requests should be made in writing which commences a 60-day evaluation deadline. 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.^[136]

Bullying policy

The Peters Township School District administration reported there were three incidents of bullying in the district in 2009. There were 2 incidents of harassment and 19 reports of fighting. Four students were placed in alternative education^[137][138]

The Peters Township School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.^[139] 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.^[140] 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.^[141]

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.^[142]

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.^[143]

Teacher union strike

In August 2015, the teacher union contract expired. In October, the union issued a strike notice to the school board.^[144]

Of the nearly 140 teacher strikes that occurred nationally between 2000 and 2007, 60 percent took place in Pennsylvania, according to a report released in August 2012, by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.^[145] Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in which teacher strikes are legal. Pennsylvania has the highest rate of teacher strikes in the United States.^[146] In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there were three teacher union strikes in 2010; one teacher union strike in 2011, one teacher union strike in 2012 and three teacher union strikes in 2013.^[147] Crestwood School District in Luzerne County went on strike in 2009. Neshaminy School District teachers union went on strike twice in 2012.^[148][149] Wyoming Area School District, Old Forge School District and Shaler Area School District went on strike in the fall of 2013.^[150] Wyoming Area School District and Danville Area School District teachers went on strike in the spring of 2014.^[151] In the fall of 2014, three Pennsylvania public school district teachers unions went on strike including: Millville Area SD, East Allegheny School District and Old Forge School District.^[152] In 2015, there were multiple strikes in Pennsylvania including: Line Mountain School District, Shamokin Area School District, Old Forge School District, Scranton School District.

In 2013, the average teacher salary in Peters Township School District was $69,668 a year.^[153] The District employed 386 teachers with a top salary of $160,000. Ninety-three employees including more than 80 teachers were paid over $100,000 a year^[154][155] Pennsylvania teacher salaries (2013–14) are searchable in a statewide database provided by TribLive News.^[156] Peters Township School District teacher and administrator retirement benefits are equal to at least 2.00% x Final Average Salary x Total Credited Service. (Some teachers benefits utilize a 2.50% benefit factor.)^[157] After 40 years of service, a teacher can retire with 100% of the average salary of their final 3 years of employment. According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.^[158]

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Peters Township School District was $66,565 a year. The District reported employing 304 teachers and administrators with a top salary of $139,570.^[159]

In 2009, the District reported employing over 305 teachers with a starting salary of $39,900 for 193 days work with 180 for pupil instruction.^[160] The average teacher salary was $61,638 while the maximum salary is $130,000.^[161] 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.^[162] Teachers work 7 hour and 30 minutes per day, including a paid 30-minute lunch period and daily prep time. Additionally, Peters Township School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 5 paid bereavement days and 10 paid sick days (which accumulate), life insurance and other benefits. Teachers may take a one semester sabbatical with full pay. The teachers can qualify for a substantial bonus upon retirement. Teacher are paid extra if they cover a class during their paid prep time.^[163] 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.^[164]

In 2007, the district employed 242 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $56,841 for 180 school days worked. This was the highest teacher compensation among Washington County school districts.^[165]

Peters Township School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $681.21 per pupil. The district is ranked 340th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[166]

In 2008, Peters Township School District reported spending $9,999 per pupil. This ranked 480th in the commonwealth.^[167]

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported a $761,811 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero.^[168]

In October 2006, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board. The district was cited for repeated violations of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act by school board members.^[169]

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 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.^[170]

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Peters Township School District receives 23.5% of its annual revenue from the state.^[171] This exceeds some education advocates goal of the state providing 50% of district funding.^[172]

For the 2014-15 school year, Peters Township School District received $5,165,846 in State Basic Education funding. The District received $ 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.^[173] 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.^[174]

In the 2013-2014 school year, Peters Township School District received a 3.6% increase or $5,166,937 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $177,612 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Peters Township School District received $86,100 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Washington County, Peters Township School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF. The District had 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.^[175] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland School District, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.^[176] 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.^[177]

For the 2012-13 school year, Peters Township District received $4,989,325.^[178] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-13 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. Peters Township School District received $86,100 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.^[179] 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, Peters Township School District received $4,987,704 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the Peters Township School District additionally received $86,100 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. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District which received an over 49% increase.^[180][181] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 122 students in the Peters Township School District received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2009–2010 school year.^[182]

For the 2010–11 school year, Peters Township School District received a 7.97% increase in state Basic Education Funding (BEF) resulting in a $5,439,344 payment.^[183] Charleroi School District received 9.90% which was the highest increase in BEF in Washington County. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received the highest increase in the state – a 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010–11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% 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.^[184]

In the 2009–2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.73% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $5,037,750 to Peters Township School District. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008–09 was $4,810,108.28. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low-income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more.^[185] Burgettstown Area School District received a 6.45% increase, the highest increase in Washington County for the 2009–10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.^[186]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 110 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[187]

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 Peters Township School District applied for and received $233,697 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to reduce class size K-3rd grade, and to improve science instruction.^[188][189]

Ready to Learn grant

Beginning in the 2014-2015 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the Districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.^[190]

Peters Township School District received $161,785 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, PreK Counts funding, transportation reimbursement, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

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. Peters Township School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07, nor did it apply in 2007–08. For the 2008–09, school year the District received $188,223. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.^[191]

Environmental Education Grant

The Environmental Education Grant Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates that 5 percent of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department of Environmental Protection be set aside for environmental education. In 2011, Peters Township School District was awarded $2,995 for students to investigate alternative energy sources and technologies.^[192]

Other grants

The Peters Township School District did not participate in: PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell);^[193] Education Assistance Grants; 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;^[194] 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants;^[195] nor Project 720 High School Reform grants^[196] (discontinued effective with 2011-12 budget).

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $1,578,433 in ARRA – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.^[197] The funding is for the 2009–10 and 2010–11 school years.

Race to the Top grant

Peters Township School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.^[198] 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.^[199] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of public school districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.^[200]

Common Cents state initiative

The Peters Township School Board did not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars.^[201] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

The school board set property tax rates in 2015–16 at 110.75 mills.^[202] A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Pennsylvania school district local 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.^[203]

2014-15 - 107.1420 mills[204] 2013-14 - 103.0000 mills 2012-13 - 102.0000 mills [205] 2011-12 - 96.5100 mills.[206] 2010-11 - 95.1800 mills.[207] 2009-10 - 92.5000 mills.[208] 2008-09 - 89.5000 mills.[209]

2007-08 - 89.5000 mills.[210] 2006-07 - 89.5000 mills.[211] 2005-06 - 87.0000 mills.[212] 2004-05 - 80.0000 mills. 1999 to 2003-04 - 75.0000 mills.[213] 1995 to 1997-98 - 72.0000 mills.

Act 1 Adjusted index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not authorized to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the Pennsylvania 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.^[214]

In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation eliminating six of the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.^[215] Several 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.^[216][217] The legislature also froze the payroll amount public school districts use to calculate the pension-plan exception at the 2012 payroll levels. Further increases in payroll cannot be used to raise the district’s exception for pension payments. A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.^[218]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Peters Township School District 2006–2007 through 2010–2011.^[219]

2006–07 - 3.9%, Base 3.9% 2007–08 - 3.4%, Base 3.4% 2008–09 - 4.4%, Base 4.4% 2009–10 - 4.1%, Base 4.1% 2010–11 - 2.9%, Base 2.9% 2011–12 - 1.4%, Base 1.4%

2012–13 - 1.7%, Base 1.7% 2013-14 - 1.7%, Base 1.7% [220] 2014-15 - 2.1%, Base 2.1% [221] 2015-16 - 1.9%, Base 1.9%[222] 2016-17 - 2.4%, Base 2.4%[223][224]

For the 2014-15 budget year, Peters Township School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit: rising special education costs and rapidly increasing teacher pension 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).^[225] 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.^[226]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Peters Township School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. 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.^[227]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Peters Township School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index, due to increasing special education costs and rising teacher pension costs. 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.^[228]

For the 2011–12 school year, Peters Township School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Peters Township 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.^[229]

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.^[230]

Peters Township School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009–10 or in 2010–11.^[231] 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.^[232]

Property tax relief

In 2011, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Peters Township School District was $120 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 6,063 property owners applied for the tax relief.^[233]

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Peters Township School District was $123 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 5,925 property owners applied for the tax relief. Washington School District received $407 which was the highest property tax relief allotted in Washington County for 2009.^[234] The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The Pennsylvania Auditor General found that 73% of property owners applied for tax relief in Washington County.^[235] Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.^[236] This was the second year the Chester-Upland School District was the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals who have income substantially more than $35,000, may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.^[237]

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%).^[238]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and over 16 sports. The board stipulates eligibility to participate in district policy. The Student Help and Remediation Program monitors the weekly academic progress of students who participate in activities, determine their eligibility to participate. Where needed, the teachers provide a program of support.^[239]

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.^[240]

References

Coordinates: 40°16′58″N 80°04′48″W / 40.28289°N 80.08009°W / 40.28289; -80.08009

External links

• Official website