Sayre Area School District

Sayre Area School District
Address
333 West Lockhart Street
Sayre, Pennsylvania, Bradford County, 18840
United States
Information
Type Public
Established February 28, 1882
School board 9 locally elected members
Superintendent Mr. Dean W Hostermen, M'Ed (salary $123,189 in 2009)
Faculty 71 in 2010
Grades K-12
Pupils 1105 pupils (2009-10)[1]
 • Kindergarten 77
 • Grade 1 95
 • Grade 2 75
 • Grade 3 92
 • Grade 4 89
 • Grade 5 73
 • Grade 6 74
 • Grade 7 87
 • Grade 8 92
 • Grade 9 101
 • Grade 10 77
 • Grade 11 77
 • Grade 12 96
 • Other Enrollment project to decline to 990 by 2020[2]
Color(s) Red and Blue
Fight song On The Warpath
Mascot Redskins Redskins
Newspaper Sayrenade
Budget $16,745,190 in 2012-13[3]
Tuition for nonresident and charter school students ES - $9,048.53, HS - $10,643.49[4]
Per pupil spending $11,603 in 2008
Per pupil spending $13,137.51 in 2010
Website http://www.sayresd.org/

The Sayre Area School District is a diminutive, rural public school district located in northcentral Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The district is composed of two noncontiguous fragments: the Boroughs of Sayre and South Waverly and Litchfield Township in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Sayre Area School District encompasses approximately 58 square miles (150 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 5,813. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $16,811, while the median family income was $40,063.[5] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[6] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[7]

Per District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Sayre Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,212 pupils. The district employed: of 86 teachers, 64 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators. Sayre Area School District received more than $7.4 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

The district operates Sayre Junior/Senior High School (7th-12th), H. Austin Snyder Elementary School (pre K-6th) and Litchfield Elementary School (K-4th).

Governance

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, Sayre Area School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four-year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[8] 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 Sayre Area School Board and district administration an "F" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.[9]

Academic achievement

Sayre Area School District was ranked 218th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012.[10] The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science.[11] The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Sayre Area School District ranked 107th. In 2011, the district was 21st.[15] The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[16]

In 2010 and 2011, Sayre Area School District achieved AYP status.[17] 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 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.

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 88%.[18] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Sayre Area High School's rate was 81% for 2010.[19]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

High school

Sayre Area High School is located at 331 W Lockhart Street, Sayre. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 525 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 222 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 30 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 18:1.[24] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[25]

In 2010 and 2011, Sayre Area High School achieved AYP status even though reading and math achievement was below statewide achievement levels.[26]

11th Grade Reading

11th Grade Math:

11th Grade Science:

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 11% of the 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.[40] 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.[41] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual enrollment

Sayre Area High School offers dual enrollment program, which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits through Corning Community College while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through many school districts.

Graduation requirements

The Sayre Area School Board has determined that a student must earn 24.25 credits to graduate, including: Math 3 credits, Science 4 credits, English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Health and Physical Ed 2.5 credits, Driver Ed .25 credits, Arts and Humanities 2 credits, and Microsoft office 0.5 credits.[42]

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.[43] At Sayre Area a complex project is required that has multiple components, including a project notebook, completion of community service hours, a written paper and an oral presentation with a visual component.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class 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.[44][45][46] 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.[47] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 74 Sayre Area students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 472. The Math average score was 487. The Writing average score was 428.[48] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[49] In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.[50]

Eighth grade

8th Grade Reading

  • 2011 - 78% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 81.8%
  • 2010 - 87% (8% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2009 - 80% (5% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2008 - 75% (13% below basic), State - 78%
  • 2007 - 77% (10% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 79% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 76.9%
  • 2010 - 66% (14% below basic). State - 75%
  • 2009 - 80% (8% below basic). State - 71%
  • 2008 - 74% (11% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 67% (18% below basic). State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

Seventh grade

7th Grade Reading

  • 2011 - 73% on grade level (13% below basic). State – 76%
  • 2010 - 73% (8% below basic). State - 73%
  • 2009 - % (% below basic). State - 71%
  • 2008 - 76% (9% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 73% (11% below basic). State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 78% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 78.6%
  • 2010 - 79% (9% below basic). State - 77%
  • 2009 - % (% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2008 - 66% (11% below basic), State - 71%
  • 2007 - 83% (8% below basic), State - 67%

Elementary schools

H. Austin Snyder Elementary School is located at 130 Warren Street, Sayre. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 526 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 275 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 35 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1.[54] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[55] In 2010 and 2011, H. Austin Snyder Elementary School achieved AYP status.[56] In 2011, only 75% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In math, 87% of the students in 3rd through 6th grades were on grade level and 58% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 95% of the pupils were on grade level.[57] The school also has a federal taxpayer funded preschool program called Ready 4 classroom for local, identified for assistance 4 year olds. The school was named after H. Austin Snyder, who served Sayre Area School District as superintendent of schools from 1946 to 1976.

6th Grade Reading:

  • 2011 - 82% (6% below basic). State - 69.9%
  • 2010 - 81% (6% below basic). State - 68%[58]
  • 2009 - 88% (2% below basic), State - 67%[59]
  • 2008 - 76% (7% below basic), State - 67%[60]
  • 2007 - 77% (1% below basic), State - 63%[61]

6th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 91% on grade level (1% below basic). State - 78.8%
  • 2010 - 95% (0% below basic). State - 78%
  • 2009 - 98% (0% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2008 - 93% (2% below basic), State - 72%
  • 2007 - 98% (0% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading:

  • 2011 - 73% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 67.3%
  • 2010 - 76% (6% below basic). State – 64%
  • 2009 - 64% (12% below basic), State - 64%
  • 2008 - 71% (9% below basic), State - 62%
  • 2007 - 62% (12% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 86% on grade level (1% below basic). State - 74%
  • 2010 - 91% (3% below basic). State - 76.3%
  • 2009 - 88% (3% below basic), State - 73%
  • 2008 - 88% (2% below basic), State - 73%
  • 2007 - 80% (5% below basic), State - 71%

4th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 77% (4% below basic), State – 73%
  • 2010 - 72% (8% below basic), State - 73%
  • 2009 - 74% (3% below basic), State - 72%
  • 2008 - 55% (18% below basic), State - 70%
  • 2007 - 85% (5% below basic), State - 60%
4th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 93% (6% below basic), State – 85.3%
  • 2010 - 96% (2% below basic), State - 84%
  • 2009 - 94% (2% below basic), State - 81%
  • 2008 - 78% (17% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2007 - 88% (5% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science

3rd Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 62%, (23% below basic), State – 77%
  • 2010 - 74%, (8% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2009 - 76%, (13% below basic), State - 77%
  • 2008 - 80%, (9% below basic), State - 70%
  • 2007 - 66%, (23% below basic), State - 72%
3rd Grade Math
  • 2011 - 76%, (4% below basic), State – 83%
  • 2010 - 92%, (0% below basic), State - 84%
  • 2009 - 69%, (5% below basic), State - 81%
  • 2008 - 84%, (0% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2007 - 62%, (6% below basic), State - 78%

Litchfield Township Elementary School is located at Intersection Of State Route 10, Sayre. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 92 pupils in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 49 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 5 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.[62] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[63] In 2010 and 2011, Litchfield Township Elementary School achieved AYP status.[64] Litchfield Elementary is currently inactive.

PSSA Results

4th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 88% (6% below basic), State – 73%[65]
  • 2010 - 82% (0% below basic), State - 73%[66]
  • 2009 - 81% (6% below basic), State - 72%[67]
  • 2008 - 85% (0% below basic), State - 70%[68]
  • 2007 - 52% (0% below basic), State - 60%
4th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 94%, 63% advanced. State – 85%
  • 2010 - 94%, 53% advanced. State - 84%
  • 2009 - 87%, 62% advanced. State - 81%
  • 2008 - 78%, 64% advanced. State - 80%
  • 2007 - 82% (12% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science

3rd Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 72%, (17% below basic), State – 77%
  • 2010 - 83%, (6% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2009 - 75%, (0% below basic), State - 77%
  • 2008 - 100%, (0% below basic), State - 70%
  • 2007 - 85%, (14% below basic), State - 72%
3rd Grade Math
  • 2011 - 78%, (6% below basic), State – 83%
  • 2010 - 100%, 56% advanced. State - 84%
  • 2009 - 83%, (0% below basic), State - 81%
  • 2008 - 86%, 46% advanced. State - 80%
  • 2007 - 71%, (0% below basic), State - 78%

Special education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 202 pupils or 17% of the district's pupils received Special Education services with 55% of identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 201 pupils or 17% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[69]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.[70] 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.[71] The state requires each district to have a three year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[72] Overidentification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.[73] In 2012, fudning for special education services was set at $1.02 billion in the enacted State budget.[74]

Sayre Area School District received a $724,380 supplement for special education services in 2010.[75] For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 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.[76][77]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 35 or 2.83% of its students were gifted in 2009.[78] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.[79][80]

Wellness policy

Sayre Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2012.[81] 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 District's policy includes an effort for students to accumulate at least sixty minutes of physical activity. That time will include physical activity outside the school environment, such as outdoor play at home and community sports.

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[82] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Enrollment

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there were 1115 students enrolled in K-12 in 2012–13 school year at Sayre Area School District. There were 68 students in the Class of 2013. The district's class of 2010 had 74 students. Enrollment is projected to decline to 900 students by 2017.[83] In 2008, the district administrative costs were $681.05 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[84] A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard and Poor's, examined the consolidation of Sayre Area School District and Northeast Bradford School District. The study found that consolidation of the administrations would achieve a savings of over $2000 per child.[85]

According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes.[86] Consolidation of two central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. The Governor's proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.[87]

Rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease by 8 percent through 2020.[88] As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools continue to rise. In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of millions of tax dollars, by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation, with no impact on programs offered to students.[89]

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.[90] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.[91]

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing 225 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $59,909 and a top salary of $123,189.[92] The teacher’s work a 7.5-hour day with a paid, duty-free lunch and a preparation period included. There are 187 days in the contract year. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance (employe contributes $60 a month), dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days which accumulate without limitations, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. Children of professional employees who are not residents of the District shall be permitted, on application, to attend school in the District, as assigned by the Administration, tuition free, provided space is available. Commencing 2011-2012, retiring teachers are paid the sum of the forty-five ($45.00) dollars per day for 1–150 days, the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) per day for 151–250 days and the sum of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) per day for 251 – 350 days, to be paid upon retirement.[93] In 2011, the average teacher salary in Sayre Area School District was $61,752.16 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $16,449.84 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $77,202.[94] 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.[95]

Sayre Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $681.05 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[96] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.[97]

In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,603 which ranked 326th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $13,137.51 ranking 254th.[98] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[99] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[100] The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.[101]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported a balance of zero in an unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $2,058,390.[102] In 2010, Sayre Area Administration reported an increase to $2,612,165.00 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.[103]

In August 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the District. The findings were reported to the Sayre Area School Board and the District’s administration.[104]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[105] Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the district. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of the individual’s personal wealth.[106]

State basic education funding

For the 2012-13 school year, Sayre Area School District will receive $5,742,728.[107] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 includes $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which is an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. The state also provides $100 million for the Accountability Block grant. The state will also provide $544.4 million for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[108] This amount is 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 2011-12, the district received a $5,665,637, allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[109][110] Additionally, Sayre Area School District received $77,091 in Accountability Block Grant funding and $357,940 for Social Security reimbursement. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $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.[111] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[112] In 2010, Sayre Area School District reported that 561 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[113]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,118,010 to Sayre Area School District. Among the public school districts in Bradford County, the highest increase went to [Towanda Area [School District]] which got a 6.36% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[114] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell’s policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.86% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $5,940,440. Among the districts in Bradford County, the highest increase went to Towanda Area School District which got an 8.43%. The state Basic Education Funding to Sayre Area School District in 2008-09 was $5,506,493.16. Ninety Pennsylvania public school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[115] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.[116] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.[117][118]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 415 Sayre Area district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[119]

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11, the district applied for and received $209,245 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten for 24 pupils and taxpayer funded preschool for 30 children ($90,576).[120][121]

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. The Sayre Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $160,063. The district received $45,413 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $205,476.[122] In Bradford County the highest award was given to Troy Area School District - $449,423. The highest funding state wide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Education Assistance grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11, Sayre Area School District did not apply for funding. Five Bradford County school district received sizable state grants under this program.[123]

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $1,952,097 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[124][125] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[126] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.[127]

Race to the Top grant

Sayre Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided nearly one half million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[128] 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.[129] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[130][131][132]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2012-13 were set by the school board at 44.39 mills.[133] 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.[134] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[135] When the school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[136] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[137]

Act 1 Adjusted Index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.[143] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[144] 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.[145][146]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Sayre Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[147]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Sayre Area School Board applied for a Special Education costs exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 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. 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.[149]

For the 2011-12 school year, Sayre Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[150]

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.[151]

Sayre Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.[152] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[153] 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.[154]

Property tax relief

In 2012, Sayre Area School District approved homestead residents received $337.[155] In 2010, property tax relief for 1,739 approved residents of Sayre Area School District was set at $337.[156] In the district, 1,691 property owners applied for the tax relief in 2009. In Bradford County, the highest tax relief went to Sayre Area School District which was set at $347.[157] The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.[158] The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m2) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General reviewed 49 counties finding that approximately 1 million of the 3 million residential properties in those 49 counties were not approved for property tax relief.[159]

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This tax rebate can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief. In 2012, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Treasury reported issuing more than half a million property tax rebates totaling $238 million.[160] The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Property tax rebates are increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the state, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more than 15% of their income in property taxes.[161]

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%).[162]

History

The present high school building was erected in 1928 and 1929 with additions and remodeling completed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The community gave its swimming pool to the Sayre Area School District in 1951. The first high school building was actually constructed in 1891 and 1892 and renovated with an annex in 1897. It was a recreation center and later became a 4-6 elementary school.

Alma mater

In the Susquehanna valley
land of rippling streams and rills
lays a busy little city
nestled mist the blue ridge hills
and tis there our Alma Mater
May her praises never die
lifts her stately tow'r towards heaven
dear beloved old Sayre High

For we're all staunch and loyal
and we are each other's friend
we will stick by our colors
until this life shall end
so while we're together
let us give a ringing cheer
for the praise of Alma Mater
and our Sayre High School so dear.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[163]

References

  1. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA, 2010
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Enrollment and Projections by school district".
  3. ↑ Renko, Amanda., Sayre school board approves 2012-13 budget, The Daily Review, June 26, 2012
  4. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tuition rates per LEA, 2011
  5. ↑ US Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, 2009
  6. ↑ US Census Bureau (2010). "American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts".
  7. ↑ US Census Bureau (September 2011). "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010" (PDF).
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
  9. ↑ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  10. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 6, 2012). "Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide ranking".
  11. ↑ "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2012". Pittsburgh Business Times. April 5, 2012.
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  14. ↑ "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County". Pittsburgh Business Times. May 23, 2007.
  15. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Overachivers Ranking Information, April 6, 2012
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  17. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Sayre Area School District AYP Overview 2011, September 29, 2011
  18. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Sayre Area School District Academic report card 2011" (PDF).
  19. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  20. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Sayre Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card Data table".
  21. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 27, 2010). "PA School District Statistical Snapshot Database 2008-09".
  22. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "County School Districts Graduation Rates 2008".
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (2008). "High School Graduation rate 2007" (PDF).
  24. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Sayre Area High School, 2010
  25. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers High School, September 29, 2011
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  40. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report,".
  41. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
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  43. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  44. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
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  48. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011".
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  55. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers H. Austin Snyder Elementary School, September 29, 2011
  56. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, H. Austin Snyder Elementary School AYP Overview, September 29, 2011
  57. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "H. Austin Snyder Elementary School Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  58. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Snyder Elementary School Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
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  61. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Snyder Elementary School Report Card 2007, 2007
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  63. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Litchfield Township Elementary School, September 29, 2011
  64. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Litchfield Township Elementary School AYP Overview, September 29, 2011
  65. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Litchfield Township Elementary School Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  66. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Litchfield Township Elementary School Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  67. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Litchfield Township Elementary School Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009
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  70. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Special Education Funding".
  71. ↑ Senator Patrick Browne (November 1, 2011). "Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Special Education Funding & Accountability".
  72. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary (November 11, 2011). "Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony".
  73. ↑ Baruch Kintisch Education Law Center (November 11, 2011). "Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony" (PDF).
  74. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Governor Corbett Enacts Landmark School Reforms, Increases Funding, June 30, 2012
  75. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2010). "Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011".
  76. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year".
  77. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Investing in PA kids, April 2012
  78. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (Revised December 1, 2009 Child Count (Collected July 2010)). "Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School" (PDF). Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  80. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 26, 2010). "Special Education for Gifted Students Notice of Parental rights" (PDF).
  81. ↑ Sayre Area School Board Policy Manual, Student Wellness Policy 246, February 13, 2012
  82. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education – Division of Food and Nutrition. (July 2008). "Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive".
  83. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2010). "School District Enrollment Data and Projections".
  84. ↑ Fenton, Jacob. (February 2009). "Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?". The Morning Call,.
  85. ↑ Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (2007). "Study of the Cost-Effectiveness of Consolidating Pennsylvania School Districts".
  86. ↑ Edward Rendell, Governor and Mary Soderberg, Secretary of the Budget. (February 2009). "2009–10 Executive Budget Facts Pennsylvania School District Consolidation,".
  87. ↑ Murphy, Jan, (February 4, 2009). "Rendell calls for consolidation of state school districts,". The Patriot News.
  88. ↑ The Center for Rural Pennsylvania. (October 2009). "Research Analyzes Rural School District Enrollment and Building Capacity" (PDF).
  89. ↑ Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (January 2011). "Report of the Fiscal Responsibility Task Force" (PDF).
  90. ↑ 2009–10 Executive Budget Fast Facts. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
  91. ↑ Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services (2007). "Study of the cost-effectiveness of consolidating Pennsylvania districts Part 1.".
  92. ↑ Asbury Park Press (2009). "PA. Public School Salaries".
  93. ↑ Sayre Area School Board (July 1, 2008). "Sayre Area School District Teacher Union Employment Contract 2008-2013".
  94. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2012). "Investing in Pennsylvania Students".
  95. ↑ American Enterprise Institute, (2011). "Assessing the Compensation of Public School Teachers".
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  97. ↑ Pennsylvania School Board Association (October 2009). "Public School Salaries 11th Annual".
  98. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-10 Selected Data - 2009-10 Total Expenditures per ADM".
  99. ↑ United States Census Bureau (2009). "States Ranked According to Per Pupil Elementary-Secondary Public School System Finance Amounts: 2008-09" (PDF).
  100. ↑ US Census Bureau (2009). "Total and current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary education, by function and state or jurisdiction: 2006-07".
  101. ↑ "Public Education Finances 2000-01 Annual Survey of Local Government Finances" (PDF). US Census Bureau. March 2003.
  102. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008".
  103. ↑ Murphy, Jan., Pennsylvania's public schools boost reserves, CentreDaily Times, September 22, 2010
  104. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (Augustr 2009). "School District Fayette County, Pennsylvania Performance Audit Report". Check date values in: |date= (help)
  105. ↑ Penn State Cooperative Extension (2010). "What are the Local Taxes in Pennsylvania?, Local Tax Reform Education Project,".
  106. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. "Personal Income Taxation Guidelines date=April 2010".
  107. ↑ Senator Jake Corman (June 28, 2012). "Pennsylvania Education funding by Local School District" (PDF).
  108. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly Sen Jake Corman (June 29, 2012). "SB1466 of 2012 General Fund Appropriation".
  109. ↑ PA Senate Appropriations Committee (June 28, 2011). "School District 2011-12 Funding Report".
  110. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2011). "Basic Education Funding".
  111. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding".
  112. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year".
  113. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, District Allocations Report 2009, 2009-10
  114. ↑ Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee Education Budget information (June 30, 2010). "PA Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010-2011" (PDF).
  115. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 2009). "Funding Allocations by district".
  116. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of Budget (February 2009). "Governor's Budget Proposal 2009 Pennsylvania Department of Education Budget Proposal 2009".
  117. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau., Annual Survey of Local Government Finances., 2000
  118. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau., 2008 Survey of Local Government Finances – School Systems, 2010
  119. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Funding Report by LEA, 2009
  120. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Accountability Block Grant report Grantee list 2010".
  121. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report".
  122. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  123. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Educational Assistance Program Funding 2010-2011 Fiscal Year".
  124. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2009). "County ARRA FUNDING Report".
  125. ↑ ProPublica (2009). "Recovery Tracker Eye on the stimulus".
  126. ↑ "School stimulus money". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 12, 2009.
  127. ↑ ProPublica Recovery Tracker (2010). "Bradford County, Pennsylvania funds by Education Department".
  128. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (December 9, 2009). "Race To The Top Webinar powerpoint for districts December 2009" (PDF).
  129. ↑ Governor's Press Office release (January 20, 2010). "Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support,".
  130. ↑ Race to the Top Fund, U.S. Department of Education, March 29, 2010.
  131. ↑ Dr. Gerald Zahorchak (December 2008). "Pennsylvania Race to the Top Letter to Superintendents" (PDF).
  132. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 19, 2009). "Pennsylvania Race to the Top -School Districts Title I Allocations 2009-10".
  133. ↑ Renko, Amanda (June 26, 2012). "Sayre school board approves 2012-13 budget".
  134. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2011-12 Real Estate Mills".
  135. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2004). "Act 511 Tax Report".
  136. ↑ State Tax Equalization Board (2011). "State Tax Equalization Board About US".
  137. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General office - Bureau of Audits (February 2011). "A Special Performance Audit of the Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization Boards" (PDF).
  138. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District,".
  139. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Financial Elements Reports".
  140. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Financial Elements Reports 2008-09 Real Estate Mills".
  141. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District,".
  142. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2006). "Real Estate Tax Millage by School District,".
  143. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010-11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines".
  144. ↑ Kaitlynn Riely (August 4, 2011). "Law could restrict school construction projects". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  145. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, (June 29, 2011). "SB330 of 2011".
  146. ↑ Eric Boehm (July 1, 2011). "Property tax reform final piece of state budget". PA Independent.
  147. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2010-2011".
  148. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2012-2013 School District Adjusted Index, May 2012
  149. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2012-2013, March 30, 2012
  150. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information".
  151. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 2011). "Report on Exceptions".
  152. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2010-2011".
  153. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2009). "Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2009-2010".
  154. ↑ Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia (May 25, 2010). "Local school tax assessments exceed state averages". The Daily Item.
  155. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 1, 2012). "2012-2013 Estimated State Property Tax Relief per Homestead".
  156. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tax Relief per Homestead, May 1, 2010
  157. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tax Relief per Homestead, May 1, 2009.
  158. ↑ Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report, May 1, 2009
  159. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, Special Report Pennsylvania Property Tax Relief, 2-23-2010.
  160. ↑ Elias, Joe., Pennsylvania Treasury Department to issue $238 million in property tax rebates, The Harrisburg Patriot-News, |June 30, 2012
  161. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (February 2010). "Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program" (PDF).
  162. ↑ New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, Tax Foundation, September 22, 2009.
  163. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".
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