Harrisburg Highlights: Celebrating Our Dedicated Parents and Caregivers
Thank You for Your Unwavering Support: Together, We Empower Our Children
In these stressful times, your engagement and partnership in your child's education mean the world to us.
Amid all the pressures and uncertainties, your dedication to supporting your children’s learning journey is a powerful reminder that they are truly our greatest treasure.
Thank you for standing with us, for investing your time, love, and energy—because together, we can help our children rise and thrive.
Your involvement is not only appreciated; it is essential to their success and well-being.
In Harrisburg
Senator Scott Hutchinson is circulating a memo to all Senate members regarding a resolution to raise awareness of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) in Pennsylvania. The resolution aims to support children living with Apraxia, offering them the best opportunities for speech development and success.
Opioid Antagonists in High Schools
Senators Tartaglione and Saval are circulating a co-sponsorship memo for legislation requiring schools serving grades 9-12 to maintain opioid antagonists like naloxone and implement overdose response procedures. This initiative responds to the rise in adolescent drug fatalities caused by potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl, often disguised in counterfeit pills.
Increasing Student Success with More School Counselor Support
Senator Lindsey Williams is introducing the School Counseling Services Act, legislation aimed at establishing standardized school counseling services across Pennsylvania. This bill seeks to ensure school counselors can focus on their core responsibilities like career development, school engagement, and truancy prevention, addressing the current lack of statewide requirements for counseling services.
Cyber charter school reform, transparency and accountability
Representative MaryLouise Isaacson is circulating a memo proposing legislation to reform Pennsylvania's cyber charter schools through funding changes, increased transparency, and ensuring parity with school districts.
Updating the Civics Education Graduation Requirement
Representative Louis Schmitt is proposing legislation to update the civics education assessment requirement for high school graduation, mandating the use of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Test with a pass threshold of 60%. The bill aims to allow students unlimited attempts to pass this test, aligning their proficiency level with the standard required for U.S. citizenship.
School District/Cyber Education Programs
Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El is preparing to introduce legislation that would require a student or their family to pay for cyber school if the student's school district offers a full-time cyber education program.
Updated Teacher Certification Levels
Representative Napoleon J. Nelson is circulating a memo regarding updated teacher certification levels to address critical teacher shortages in Pennsylvania. The proposed legislation aims to broaden the grade and age spans that certificates cover to more easily fill open teaching positions.
In The News
Hempfield adjusts school start times to consolidate bus runs, address driver shortage
Hempfield School District has adjusted its school start times to consolidate bus routes and address a shortage of bus drivers. The changes aim to optimize transportation efficiency and ensure students are transported safely despite staffing challenges.
Pennsylvania teacher climbs a tree atop a peak in all 67 counties
Van Wagner, a Pennsylvania teacher and forester, completed a unique challenge of climbing the highest tree atop the highest accessible point in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania. His goal was to highlight the ecological and economic importance of Pennsylvania’s forests and promote active forest management for their health and sustainability.
York County schools scramble to fill budget holes left by federal cuts
York County schools are facing significant budget shortfalls due to federal cuts, particularly the loss of COVID-19 relief funds initially intended to support educational programs. Districts like Dover Area are considering measures such as budget cuts, using reserve funds, or raising property taxes to cover deficits that have reached millions of dollars.
Central Bucks students abused in Jamison special ed class; admins misled police: report
An investigation found that students with autism in a special education classroom at Jamison Elementary in Central Bucks were subjected to abuse, neglect, illegal restraints, and discrimination by a teacher and aide.Central Bucks administrators, including Superintendent Steven Yanni, misled police and parents by providing incomplete and misleading information during the investigation, and failed to report suspected abuse promptly as required by law.
State College school district settles Title IX lawsuit with female hockey players
The State College Area School District settled a federal Title IX lawsuit filed by three middle school female students who alleged they were unfairly denied the opportunity to join the district’s ice hockey team. The settlement, reached in early 2025, follows court orders requiring the district to ensure the girls could participate in the hockey program, though the settlement terms remain confidential.
Issue over ex-students testifying in disciplinary hearing for Pa. teacher is resolved
The dispute over whether five female former students could have their attorney present while testifying in a private disciplinary hearing for a Pennsylvania teacher has been amicably resolved, though the specific details remain confidential.
Lawsuit: Eighth-grader collapsed from fumes at Westmoreland County school
An eighth-grade student at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in Hempfield was injured after exposure to toxic fumes, leading to a lawsuit against the school. The incident involved the student collapsing due to the fumes, which occurred late last year. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the school for failing to prevent the dangerous exposure.
The revocation of federal grants is threatening essential programs for homeless students in Pennsylvania, potentially causing significant budget shortfalls for school districts and intermediate units that serve these vulnerable populations. This funding cut jeopardizes services that provide critical support to homeless students, including educational stability and access to resources.