DuBois Area School District

The DuBois Area School District is a large, rural/suburban public school district located in central Pennsylvania. The district spans portions of two counties. It encompasses an area of approximately 258 square miles (670 km²) with a population of 32,241 (as of 2000) In Clearfield County it covers the City of DuBois, the Boroughs of Falls Creek and Troutville and Bloom Township, Brady Township, Huston Township, Sandy Township and Union Township. In Jefferson County it covers the Boroughs of Falls Creek, Reynoldsville and Sykesville and Winslow Township. According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 32,200. By 2010, the district's population declined to 30,958 people.[9] The educational attainment levels for the School District population (25 years old and over) were 89.9% high school graduates and 17.6% college graduates.[10]

DuBois Area School District
Address
500 Liberty Boulevard DuBois , Clearfield County and Jefferson County , Pennsylvania 15801 United States
Information
Type	Public
Closed	Highland Street Elementary School June 2013
School board	9 locally elected members
Superintendent	Wendy Benton
Administrator	Mrs Jeanette D Buriak, Business Manager
Principal	Mr Brian Wieble, SHS
Principal	Mr Darren Hack, MS
Principal	Mr Edward Dombroski, JES
Principal	Mrs Cathy Ginther
Principal	Mrs Barbara J Smith, JES
Staff	285 non-teaching (2012)
Faculty	295 teachers (2012), 299 teachers (2011)[1]
Grades	K-12
Age	5 years old to 21 years old special education
Number of pupils	3,931 pupils (2013);[2] 4,058 pupils (2010);[3] 4,266 pupils (2006-2007)[4]
• Kindergarten	321 (2012),[5] 329 (2010)
• Grade 1	373 (2012), 308
• Grade 2	304 (2012), 311
• Grade 3	283 (2012), 286
• Grade 4	311 (2012), 329
• Grade 5	312 (2012), 304
• Grade 6	300 (2012), 332
• Grade 7	336 (2012), 313
• Grade 8	317 (2012), 346
• Grade 9	288 (2012), 309
• Grade 10	275 (2012), 301
• Grade 11	322 (2012), 326
• Grade 12	289 (2012), 309 (2010)
• Other	Enrollment projected by the PDE to be 4,050 pupils by 2020[6]
Language	English
Color(s)	Red, black, and white
Mascot	Beavers
Budget	$55,876,728 (2014-15);[7] $55,566,264 (2012), $54,377,801 (2011)[8]
Per pupil Spending	$11,111 (2008)
Per pupil Spending	$11,456.75 (2010)
Website	dasd.k12.pa.us

DuBois Area School District in Jefferson County

In 2009, DuBois Area School District residents’ per capita income was $17,66, while the median family income was $41,465.[11] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[12] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[13]

According to DuBois Area School District officials, in school year 2007-2008, the DASD provided basic educational services to 4,193 pupils through the employment of: 287 teachers, 253 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 27 administrators. DuBois Area School District received more than $22 million in state funding in school year 2007-2008. In the 2009-2010 school year, DuBois Area School District provided basic educational services to 4,120 pupils. It employed: 332 teachers, 275 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 28 administrators. DuBois Area School District received more than $24.2 million in state funding in school year 2009-2010. In the 2011-12 school year, DuBois Area School District provided basic educational services to 4,337 pupils. It employed: 335 teachers, 268 full-time and part-time support personnel, and sixteen (16) administrators during the 2011-12 school year. The district received $24,835,491 in state funding for the 2011-2012 school year.

Schools

The district operates six public schools.

• DuBois Area Senior High School (9-12)
• DuBois Area Middle School (5-8)
• C.G. Johnson Elementary School (K-4)
• Juniata Elementary School (K-4)
• Oklahoma Elementary School (K-4)
• Wasson Avenue Elementary School (K-4)

High school students may choose to attend Jefferson County Dubois Area Vocational-Technical School for training in the construction and mechanical trades, the culinary arts and allied health careers. The Riverview Intermediate Unit IU6 provides the district with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

Enrollment

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there were 3,931 pupils enrolled in K-12 in 2013. Enrollment in the Dubois Area School District was projected to decline by 150 students by 2016. The district had 4,058 students in 2010. The district had 4,266 pupils in the 2006-2007 school year.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In 2013 there were 500 public school districts. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.

Governance

Dubois 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.[14] 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.[15]

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "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.[16]

Academic achievement

Lowest achievement list

In July 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying a Dubois Area School District school as among the lowest-achieving schools for reading and mathematics in 2011. Wasson Avenue Elementary School was listed among the 15% lowest-achieving schools in the Commonwealth. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another public or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.[17] The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.[18] Two other public school districts in Clearfield County had schools listed among the lowest-achieving schools in 2011: Philipsburg-Osceola School District and West Branch Area School District. According to the report, parents in 414 public schools (74 school districts) are offered access to these scholarships. For the 2012-13 school year, seven public school districts in Pennsylvania had all of their schools placed on the list, including: Sto-Rox School District, Chester Upland School District, Clairton City School District, Duquesne City School District, Farrell Area School District, Wilkinsburg Borough School District and Steelton-Highspire School District.[19] Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state tax credit for donating. In 2013 and 2014 no district schools were included on the list.

Statewide ranking

Dubois Area School District was ranked 207th out of 498 Pennsylvania School Districts in 2014 by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[20] 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.[21] 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.

• 2013 - 248th
• 2012 - 234th
• 2011 - 233rd[22]
• 2010 - 224th[23]
• 2009 - 196th
• 2008 - 194th
• 2007 - 196th out of 501 school districts.[24]

Overachiever statewide ranking

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Dubois Area School District ranked 56th. 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."[25]

• 2011 - 68th
• 2010 - 53rd

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Dubois Area School District was in the 52nd percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)[26]

District Adequate Yearly Progress

In 2012, Dubois Area School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing multiple academic metrics.[27] In 2011 and 2010, Dubois Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[28] For 2004 through 2009 the district achieved AYP status each year. In 2003, Dubois Area School District was in Warning AYP status due to low reading skills.[29] 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 2013, Dubois Area Senior High School's graduation rate was 67%.[30] In 2012, Dubois Area Senior High School's graduation rate was 12%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 32%.[31] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Dubois Area Senior High School's rate was 78% for 2010.[32]

High school

Dubois Area Senior High School 425 Orient Avenue, Dubois, Pennsylvania. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 1,176 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 40% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 14.88% of pupils received special education services, while 5.36% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 88 teachers.[33] Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2010, the school reported 1,246 pupils in grades 9th through 12th with four hundred seventeen pupils qualified for a federal free lunch due to family poverty. The student body makeup is 48 percent male and 52 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 1 percent. There are 96 teachers.[34] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[35] In 2011 and 2010, Dubois Area Senior High School achieved AYP status.[36]

US News and World Report rating In 2014, Dubois Area Senior High School was recognized by US News and World Report as a Bronze level high school in a nationwide school ranking. Among Pennsylvania high schools (traditional, charter and private) 56 achieved gold or silver medals. Another 103 high schools achieved bronze rating out of 698 Pennsylvania high schools reviewed.[37] The ranking reflected student achievement and programs offered like AP courses. The study was conducted by American Institutes for Research which examined how many students attained performance levels that exceed statistical expectations given the school's relative level of student poverty, as measured by state accountability test scores for all the school's students in the core subjects of reading and math. The study also examined the success rate for the school's least advantaged student groups (e.g., black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students) that exceed state averages. The study included 752 high schools in Pennsylvania including traditional public schools, public charter schools and public magnet schools.[38]

2013 School Performance Profile

Dubois Area Senior High School achieved 65.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 79% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, just 75% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, only 50% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[39] 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.[40]

AYP History

In 2012, Dubois Area Senior High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to the students missing all the academic metrics measured.[41] In 2010 and 2011, Dubois Area Senior High School achieved AYP status.[42] Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders.

PSSA Results

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.[43]

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.[44]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 70% on grade level, (11% below basic). State - 68% of 11th graders are on grade level.[45]
• 2011 - 78%, (11% below basic). State - 69.1% [46]
• 2010 - 69% (14% below basic). State - 66%[47]
• 2009 - 63%. State - 65%[48]
• 2008 - 69%, State - 65%[49]
• 2007 - 75% (12% below basic). State - 65%[50]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 66% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[51]
• 2011 - 73%, (12% below basic). State - 60.3%
• 2010 - 66%, (17% below basic). State - 59%[52]
• 2009 - 58%, State - 56%[53]
• 2008 - 55%, State - 55%[54]
• 2007 - 64% (18% below basic), State - 53%[55]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 43% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[56]
• 2011 - 51%, (13% below basic). State - 40% [57]
• 2010 - 47% (10% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 40%, State - 40% %[58]
• 2008 - 38%, State - 39%

Science in Motion Dubois Area Senior High School took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.[59] Clarion University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 14% of the Dubois Area Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.[60] 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.[61] 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.

SAT scores

In 2013, Dubois Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 483. The Math average score was 496. The Writing average score was 454. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[62]

In 2012, 196 Dubois Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 498. The Math average score was 514. The Writing average score was 468. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the US, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 195 Dubois Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 483. The Math average score was 507. The Writing average score was 454.[63] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[64] 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.[65]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania's SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.[66]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 71 percent of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania chose to continue their education after high school in 2003, whereas 79 percent of urban high school graduates opted to continue their education.

Dual enrollment

Dubois Area Senior High School offers a dual enrollment program to its juniors and seniors.[67] This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[68] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[69] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $74,323 for the program.[70] DuBois Area School District has agreements with: Pennsylvania State University - DuBois; Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Lock Haven University; Clarion University of Pennsylvania; DuBois Business College and Triangle Tech to offer this program to its students.

AP Courses

In 2013, Dubois Area Senior High School offered 8 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The student pays the fee for the exam which was $89 per test per pupil in 2012. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Dubois Area Senior High School 23% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[71]

Middle school

Dubois Area Middle School is located at 404 Liberty Blvd, Dubois. In 2013, enrollment was 948 pupils, in grades 6th through 8th, with 48% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 14.8% of pupils received special education services, while 3.9% of pupils were identified as gifted.[72] According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[73]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 997 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 425 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 69 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1.[74] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[75]

2013 School Performance Profile

Dubois Area Middle School achieved 90.4 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 77% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 85% of the students showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Science, only 71% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding in science. In writing, 80% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[76]

AYP history

Dubois Area Middle School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to lagging reading achievement in 2012. Dubois Area Middle School achieved AYP status in both 2010 and 2011.[77]

PSSA Results

Sixth and 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.[78] 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.[79] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[80] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[81]

8th Grade Reading 2012 - 83% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 79% 2011 - 86% (4% below basic). State - 81.8% 2010 - 82% (10% below basic). State - 81%[82] 2009 - 85% (8% below basic), State - 80%[83] 2008 - 87% (5% below basic), State - 78%[84] 2007 - 78% (7% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math 2012 - 86% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 76%[85] 2011 - 84% (4% below basic). State - 76%[86] 2010 - 77% (12% below basic). State - 75%[87] 2009 - 77% (9% below basic). State - 71%[88] 2008 - 82% (7% below basic). State - 70% 2007 - 74% (8% below basic). State - 68%[89]

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 69% on grade level (16% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 64% (16% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 62% (22% below basic). State – 57%[90]
• 2009 - 63% (16% below basic). State - 55%[91]
• 2008 - 54% (9% below basic). State - 52%[92]

7th Grade Reading 2012 - 76% on grade level (9% below basic). State – 76% 2011 - 76% (7% below basic). State – 76% 2010 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 73% 2009 - 69% (10% below basic). State - 71% 2008 - 75% (9% below basic). State - 70% 2007 - 70% (13% below basic). State - 67%

7th Grade Math 2012 - 87% on grade level (3% below basic). State - 80% 2011 - 87% (3% below basic). State - 78.6% 2010 - 79% (10% below basic). State - 77% 2009 - 76% (12% below basic), State - 75% 2008 - 75% (10% below basic), State - 71% 2007 - 76% (10% below basic), State - 67%

6th Grade Reading 2012 - 70% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 68% 2011 - 76% (9% below basic). State - 69.9% 2010 - 78% (9% below basic). State - 68% 2009 - 78% (8% below basic), State - 67% 2008 - 72% (14% below basic), State - 67% 2007 - 69% (13% below basic), State - 63%

6th Grade Math 2012 - 83% on grade level (5% below basic). State - 77% 2011 - 93% (3% below basic). State - 78.8% 2010 - 92% (3% below basic). State - 78% 2009 - 87% (3% below basic). State - 75% 2008 - 78% (8% below basic). State - 72% 2007 - 76% (12% below basic). State - 69%

Elementary schools

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[93] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[94][95][96] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[97]

C.G. Johnson Elementary School

C.G. Johnson Elementary School is located at 923 Jackson Street, Reynoldsville. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 294 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 59% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 10.5% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted.[98] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides kindergarten.[99] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010 there were 347 pupils grades kindergarten through 5th grade. One hundred ninety six pupils qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch under federal poverty guidelines. The school had 25 teachers.[100]

2013 School Performance Profile

C.G. Johnson Elementary School achieved a score of 74.7 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 71% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 76.5% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 80% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 80% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 39% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[101]

AYP history

C.G. Johnson Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2010 through 2012.[102] In 2012, 85% of the pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were on grade level in mathematics. In 2012, 73% of pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were reading on grade level.[103] In 4th grade, 86% of students were on grade level in science.[104]

In 2011, 73% of the pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were on grade level in mathematics. In 2011, 67% of pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were reading on grade level.[105] In 4th grade, 88% of students were on grade level in science.[106]

Juniata Elementary School

Juniata Elementary School is located at 248 Juniata Street, Dubois. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 374 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 43% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 19.7% of the pupils receive special education services, while 1% are identified as gifted.[107] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten.[108] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010, there were 378 pupils grades kindergarten through 5th grade. One hundred forty six pupils qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch under federal poverty guidelines. The school had 25 teachers.[109]

2013 School Performance Profile

Juniata Elementary School achieved a score of 91.1 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 72% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 78.8% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 81% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 87.9% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 78% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[110]

AYP history

Juniata Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2010 through 2012.[111] In 2012, 79% of the pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were on grade level in mathematics. In 2012, 73% of pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were reading on grade level.[112] In 4th grade, 82% of students were on grade level in science.[113]

In 2011, 81% of the pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were on grade level in mathematics. In 2011, 73% of pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were reading on grade level.[114] In 4th grade, 89% of students were on grade level in science.[115]

Oklahoma Elementary School

Oklahoma Elementary School is located at 1032 Chestnut Ave, Dubois. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 404 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 40% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 11.8% of the pupils receive special education services, while % are identified as gifted.[116] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten.[117] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010, there were 372 pupils grades kindergarten through 5th grade. One hundred thirty seven pupils qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch under federal poverty guidelines. Oklahoma Elementary School had 25 teachers.[118]

2013 School Performance Profile

Oklahoma Elementary School achieved a score of 87.1 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 72.5% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 83% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 76.8% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 84% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 64.6% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[119]

AYP History

In 2012, Oklahoma Elementary School declined to Warning status.[120] In 2012, only 77% of the pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were on grade level in mathematics. In 2012, just 71% of pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were reading on grade level.[121] In 4th grade, 87% of students were on grade level in science.[122]

Oklahoma Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, 79% of the pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were on grade level in mathematics. In 2011, 74% of pupils in grades 3rd through 5th were reading on grade level.[123] In 4th grade, 97% of students were on grade level in science.[124]

Wasson Avenue Elementary School

Wasson Avenue Elementary School is located at 300 Wasson Ave. Dubois. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 291 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 67.7% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 16% of the pupils receive special education services, while none are identified as gifted.[125] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provides full-day kindergarten.[126] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010, there were 334 pupils grades kindergarten through 5th grade. Two hundred fourteen pupils qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch under federal poverty guidelines. The school had 25 teachers.[127]

2013 School Performance Profile

Wasson Avenue Elementary School achieved a score of 74.7 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 62% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 71% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 76% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 86% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 43% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[128]

AYP history

In 2012, Wasson Avenue Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status.[129][130] In 2012, Wasson Avenue Elementary School was on the Commonwealth's lowest academic achievement schools list. Wasson Avenue Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2011, even though the school was below state levels in all metrics.[131]

5th Grade Reading: 2012 - 46% on grade level (32% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 65% of 5th graders are on grade level. 2011 - 39%, (26% below basic). State - 67.3%[132] 2010 - 57% (24% below basic). State – 64%[133] 2009 - 63% (23% below basic), State - 64% [134]

5th Grade Math: 2012 - 63% (19% below basic). State - 73% [135] 2011 - 51% (19% below basic). State - 74% 2010 - 73% (8% below basic). State - 76.3% 2009 - 72% (6% below basic). State - 73%

4th Grade Reading 2012 - 51% (22% below basic). State - 72% 2011 - 53% (31% below basic). State – 73% 2010 - 56% (18% below basic). State - 73% 2009 - 63% (22% below basic). State - 72%

4th Grade Math 2012 - 71% (23% below basic). State - 82% 2011 - 67% (26% below basic). State – 85.3% 2010 - 67% (13% below basic). State - 84% 2009 - 77% (% below basic). State - 81%

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 80%, (3% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 75%, (9% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 73%, (11% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 79%, (6% below basic). State - 83%

3rd Grade Reading 2012 - 78%, (9% below basic). State - 74% 2011 - 59%, (29% below basic), State – 77% 2010 - 60%, (21% below basic), State - 75% 2009 - 79%, (7% below basic), State - 77%

3rd Grade Math 2012 - 84%, (2% below basic). State - 80% 2011 - 67%, (16% below basic), State – 83% 2010 - 78%, (9% below basic), State - 84% 2009 - 77%, (4% below basic), State - 81%

Special education

In December 2010, DuBois Area School District Administration reported that 660 pupils, or 15% of the district's pupils, received Special Education services.[136] In December 2009, the district's administration reported that 660 pupils, or 15.2% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 48% of identified students having a specific learning disability.

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school district engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress.[137] To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Special Education administration. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the district seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the district or contact the district's Special Education Department.[138][139]

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.[140] 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.[141] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[142] 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.[143]

The Dubois Area School District received a $2,787,184 supplement for special education services in 2010.[144] For the 2012-13 and 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.[145]

In 2009, Dubois Area School District was identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Least Restrictive Environment monitoring. One hundred ninety six schools districts were selected in 2008-09. The district received an alert letter from the PDE - Bureau of Special Education.[146] School districts were placed in one of three categories: Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3. The district was placed in Tier 3 due to students spending more than 60% of the school day, outside of regular education. The monitoring is a product of the PDE addressing its voluntary settlement in Gaskin V. Pennsylvania which ordered that special education students spend most of their school day (80%) in regular education classrooms with supplementary aids and services to assist.[147][148][149] In 2010, the district was assigned to the Tier 3 monitoring list, due to students spending less than 40% of their day in a regular education classroom. The district received a letter of “Warning” letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[150]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 149 or 3.49% of its students were gifted in 2009.[151] 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.[152][153]

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.[154]

In 2013, the average teacher salary in Dubois Area School District was $53,136 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $24,836 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $77,999.[155] The top salary was $147,628.[156]

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Dubois Area School District was $49,881 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $115,484 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $65,365.[157]

In 2009, DuBois Area School District reported employing 364 teachers with 12 administrators with a salary range of $31,000 to $134,122. The median teacher salary was $50,511[158] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days and other benefits.[159]

In 2007, DuBois Area School District employed 294 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $47,311 for 180 days worked.[160] 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.[161]

Dubois Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $715.06 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[162] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps 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.[163]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported zero in an unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $12,592,265.00.[164] In 2010, Dubois Area Administration reported an increase to $12,974,246.00 in its 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.[165]

Per-pupil spending

In 2008, the District Administration reported that per-pupil spending was $11,111 which ranked 388th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010 the per-pupil spending had increased to $11,456.75[166] Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[167] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[168]

Tuition

Students who live in the district's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Dubois Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the district's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $7,293.99, High School - $9,850.44.[169]

Audit

In October 2011, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.[170]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax - 1%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, Per Capita Tax 1%, Local Services Tax 1%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. 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.[171] The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds local public schools.[172]

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Dubois Area School District receives 50% of its annual revenue from the state.[173]

For the 2014-15 school year, Dubois Area School District will receive $14,859,114 in State Basic Education funding. The district will also receive $546,260 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.[174] 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.[175]

In the 2013-2014 school year, Dubois Area School District received a 2% increase or $14,858,759 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $289,549 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Dubois Area School District received $262,658 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Clearfield County, Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 6%. The district has 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.[176] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland district, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[177] 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.[178]

For the 2012-13 school year, Dubois Area School District received $14,831,176.[179] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 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 program. Dubois Area School District received $262,658 in 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.[180] 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 the 2011-12 school year, DuBois Area School District received a $14,567,016, allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[181][182] Additionally, the Dubois Area School District received $262,658 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.[183] 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.[184] In 2010, Dubois Area School District reported that 1,859 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[185]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.76% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $14,875,413.50 to Dubois Area School District. Among the districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Dubois Area School District. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 was awarded to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[186] 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 when 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.[187]

For the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.43% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $14,875,414. This was full percentage point higher increase, in Basic Education Funding, than most other school districts in Clearfield County received. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $14,108,839. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[188] The amount of increase each school district receives was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.[189] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,649 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[190]

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.[191][192]

All Pennsylvania school districts also receive additional funding from the state through several other funding allocations, including Reimbursement of Charter School Expenditures; Special Education Funding; Secondary Career & Technical Education Subsidy; PA Accountability Grants; and low achieving schools were eligible for Educational Assistance Program Funding. Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including: Special Education funding and Title I funding for children from low income families. In 2010, Pennsylvania spent over $24 billion for public education - local, state and federal dollars combined.[193]

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 $718,575 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten and reduced class size K-3rd grade.[194][195]

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 to 2009. Dubois Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $381,823. The district received $68,379 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $450,202.[196]

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.[197]

Dubois Area School District will receive $546,260 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, Accountability Block Grant funding, PreK Counts funding, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

Other grants

Dubois Area School District did not participate in: Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-2010 budget by Governor Edward g. Rendell);[198] Education Assistance Grants; 2012 and 2013 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grants;[199] DEP Environmental Education Grants, 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants[200] nor federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal Stimulus grant

Dubois Area School District received an extra $3,160,396 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[201] The funding was limited to the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years.[202] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, the Governor and the Pennsylvania School Board Association, 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.

Race to the Top grant

Dubois Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one and one half million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[203] 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.[204] 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.[205][206][207]

Common Cents state initiative

The Dubois Area School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars.[208] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2014-2015 were set by the school board at 91.0100 mills in Clearfield County and 29.5600 mills in Jefferson County. 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.[209] 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.[210] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.[211] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts.[212]

• 2013-14 - 84.7853 mills in Clearfield County and 28.6200 mills in Jefferson County[213]
• 2012-13 - 81.7500 mills in Clearfield County and 28.9200 mills in Jefferson County.[214]
• 2011-12 - 82.7500 mills in Clearfield County and 28.2500 mills in Jefferson County.[215]
• 2010-11 - 80.7300 mills in Clearfield County and 28.7500 mills in Jefferson County.[216]
• 2009-10 - 81.4500 mills in Clearfield County and 27.4900 mills in Jefferson County.[217]
• 2008-09 - 81.0800 mills in Clearfield County and 28.2000 mills in Jefferson County.[218]
• 2007-08 - 81.9300 mills in Clearfield County and 27.6600 mills in Jefferson County.[219]
• 2006-07 - 84.3300 mills in Clearfield County and 27.8000 mills in Jefferson County.[220]
• 2005-06 - 84.7200 mills in Clearfield County and 27.1000 mills in Jefferson County.[221]

According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[222] The average yearly property tax paid by Clearfield County residents amounts to about 2.83% of their yearly income. Clearfield County is ranked 707th of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income. Jefferson County residents amounts to about 2.52% of their yearly income. Jefferson County is ranked 949th of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[223]

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 0.75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.[224] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[225] The following 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.[226][227]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Dubois Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[228]

2006-07 - 5.4%, Base 3.9% 2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4% 2008-09 - 6.1%, Base 4.4% 2009-10 - 5.7%, Base 4.1% 2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%

2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4% 2012-13 - 2.4%, Base 1.7%[229] 2013-14 - 2.4%, Base - 1.7% [230] 2014-15 - 2.9%, Base 2.1% [231]

For the 2014-15 budget year, Dubois Area School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit: teach pension costs and special education 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).[232] 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.[233]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Dubois Area 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.[234]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Dubois Area School Board did not apply for exceptions 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.[235]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Dubois Area School Board did not apply for an exception 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.[236]

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.[237]

Dubois Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010-11.[238] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[239] 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.[240]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling provided to the Dubois Area School District was $1,864,527.32. The district was required to lower the tax bill of each approved homeowner. In the district, property owners applied for the tax relief.[241] 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. Clearfield County failed to report to the state its property tax relief in 2009.[242] The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.[243] This was the third year they were 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, individual with income much 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.[244]

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%).[245]

Extracurriculars

Dubois Area School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive and costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. In 2014-15, Dubois Area School District budgeted $764,526 for extracurriculars.

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.[246]

According to Pennsylvania's Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.[247][248]

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[249]

Sports

The district funds:

Varsity

Boys Baseball - AAAA Basketball - AAAA Cross Country - AAA Football - AAAA Golf - AAA Rifle - AA Soccer - AAA Swimming and Diving - AAA Tennis - AAA Track and Field - AAA Volleyball - AAA Wrestling - AAA

Girls Basketball - AAAA Cheer - AAAA Cross Country - AAA Golf - AAA Gymnastics - AAAA Rifle - AAAA Soccer (Fall) - AAA Softball - AAAA Swimming and Diving - AAA Girls' Tennis - AAA Track and Field - AAA Volleyball - AAA

Middle School Sports

Boys Basketball Cross Country Football Soccer Track and Field Wrestling

Girls Basketball Cross Country Soccer (fall) Softball Track and Field Volleyball

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [250]

References

1. NCES, Common Core of Data - DuBois Area School District, 2011
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