Mahanoy Area School District

The Mahanoy Area School District is a small, rural public school district in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It serves the municipalities of Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Delano Township, Ryan Township, and Gilberton. Mahanoy Area School District encompasses approximately 53 square miles (140 km²). According to 2000 federal census data, the district served a resident population of 8,939 people. By 2010, the district's population increased to 11,472 people.[13] The educational attainment levels for the Mahanoy Area School District population (25 years old and over) were 80.9% high school graduates and 9.2% college graduates.[14]

Mahanoy Area School District
Address
1 Golden Bear Drive Mahanoy City , Schuylkill County , Pennsylvania 17948 United States of America
Information
Type	Public
Established	1959
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	Joie Green[1] (2016–2021)[2][3]
Administrator	John J Hurst, Business manager
Principal	Michael Heater, ES, Stanley Sabol, Jr./Sr. HS
Staff	93 non-teaching staff member (2013) 95 non-teaching staff members (2010)
Faculty	93 teachers (2013)[4] 98 teachers (2011)[5]
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	1,004 pupils (2015)[6] 1,022 pupils (2013–14)[7] 1,051 pupils (2012–13) 1,098 pupils (2010–11) 1,082 pupils (2009–10)[8] 1,123 pupils (2005–06)[9]
• Kindergarten	85 (2014),[10] 82 (2010)
• Grade 1	75 (2014), 84
• Grade 2	86 (2014), 88
• Grade 3	77 (2014), 81
• Grade 4	80 (2014), 88
• Grade 5	70 (2014), 92
• Grade 6	81 (2014), 70
• Grade 7	86 (2014), 88
• Grade 8	78 (2014), 88
• Grade 9	93 (2014), 88
• Grade 10	58 (2014), 84
• Grade 11	57 (2014), 78
• Grade 12	78 (2014), 68 (2010)
Color(s)	Black, and gold
Mascot	Golden bear
Rival	Shenandoah Valley
Budget	$17,569,465 (2016-17)[11] $16,603,208 (2013-14)[12] $14,727,319 (2011-12) $15,762,527 (2010-11) $15,217,131 (2009-10) $13,995,477 (2008-09)
Assistant Principals	Lisa Broomel, ES, David Holman, Jr./Sr. HS
Website	www.mabears.net

According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 64.6% of the district's pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty Level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.[15] In 2013 the Pennsylvania Department of Education, reported that 20 students in the Mahanoy Area School District were homeless.[16] In 2009, the Mahanoy Area School District residents’ per capita income was $15,472, while the median family income was $35,759.[17] In Schuylkill County, the median household income was $45,012.[18] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[19] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[20]

In the 2007–08 school year, Mahanoy Area School District served 1,122 pupils and employed 105 teachers, 72 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators. MASD received more than $9.2 million in state funding in school year 2007–08.[21] In school year 2009–10, Mahanoy Area had 1,008 pupils. It employed: 105 teachers, 74 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators during the 2009–10 school year. The district received $9.6 million in state funding in the 2009–10 school year. In 2011–12, Mahanoy Area School District's enrollment was 1,038 pupils. It employed: 97 teachers, 81 full-time and part-time support personnel, and eleven (11) administrators during the 2011–12 school year. The district received $10.2 million in state funding in the 2011–12 school year.

The Mahanoy Area School District closed its middle school at the end of the 2016–17 school year. Since then, the Mahanoy Area School District has operated: one elementary school (K-6), and one Jr./Sr. High school (7–12). The district is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania. High school students may choose to attend the Schuylkill Technology Centers for training in the construction and mechanical trades. The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit IU29 provides the district with a wide variety of services like: specialized education for disabled students; state mandated training on recognizing and reporting child abuse; speech and visual disability services; criminal background check processing for prospective employees and professional development for staff and faculty.

Governance

Mahanoy Area School District is governed by nine elected board members who each serve four-year terms, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[22] The federal government controls programs it funds, such as Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act (renamed Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015) which mandates the district focus its resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.[23] The school board is required by state law to post a financial report on the district in its website by March of each school year.[24]

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. These contracts must be in writing and are subject to public disclosure under the state's Right to Know Act. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the superintendent and business manager regarding renewal of their employment contracts.[25] Pursuant to Act 141 of 2012 which amended the Pennsylvania School Code, all school districts that have hired superintendents on/after the fall of 2012 are required to develop objective performance standards and post them on the district's website.[26]

In 2010, 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.[27]

Academic achievement

Opportunity Scholarship – lowest achieving schools

In May 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying one school in Mahanoy Area School District school as among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in the state. Mahanoy Area High School was on the list of lowest achieving schools in the state.[28] One hundred four (104) public school districts in Pennsylvania had one or more schools on the list. In 2015 the high school remained on the lowest achievement list. 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.[29] 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.[30] In July 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying a Mahanoy Area School District school as among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in 2012. Mahanoy Area High School was among the 15% lowest achieving schools in the Commonwealth. Parents and students were potentially eligible for scholarships to transfer to another local public school district, charter school or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed by the General Assembly in June 2012.[31]

In October 2015, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale reported that one school in the district was among the 561 academically challenged schools that have been overlooked by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[32][33] He also reported the Pennsylvania Department of Education failed to take any action to remediate the poorly performing schools to raise student academic achievement or to provide them with targeted professional assistance.[34]

Statewide ranking

Mahanoy Area School District was ranked 433rd out of 493 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2015, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[35] The ranking was based on the previous three years of student academic achievement on the PSSA in reading, writing, math, science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school.[36] 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.[37]

2014 – 434th 2013 – 444th 2012 – 412th 2011 – 390th

2010 – 376th[38] 2009 – 379th 2008 – 419th 2007 – 398th of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania.[39]

Overachievers ranking

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Mahanoy Area ranked 34th. The newspaper says the 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."[40]

In 2009 the academic achievement of the students in the Mahanoy Area School District was in the 28th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale.[41]

District AYP status history

In 2012, Mahanoy Area School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to a low graduation rate and lagging student academic achievement.[42] In 2011, Mahanoy Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.[43] Mahanoy Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the district was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.[44]

Graduation rate

In 2015, Mahanoy Area High School graduation rate was 91.14%.[45]

• 2014 – 90.70%[46]
• 2013 – 81.25%[47]
• 2012 – declined to 76%.
• 2011 – 89%.[48]
• 2010 – 81%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[49]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 – 88%[50]
• 2009 – 90%[51]
• 2008 – 94%[52]
• 2007 – 94%[53]

High school

Mahanoy Area High School is located at 1 Golden Bear Drive, Mahanoy City. In 2015, enrollment was reported as 286 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 47.9% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 23% of pupils received special education services, while 1% of pupils were identified as gifted.[54] The school employed 30 teachers.[55] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[56]

In 2011, Mahanoy Area High School enrolled 299 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 148 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 32 teachers with a student to teacher ratio of 9:1.[57] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1 teacher was rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[58]

2015 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area High School achieved a score of just 56.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 60% of the high school's students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 56% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, just 45.6% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[59][60] Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.[61][62]

2014 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area High School achieved a score of 61.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 68% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 53.5% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, just 46% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[63][64] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.[65]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.[66] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[67][68]

2013 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area High School achieved 58.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature just 66% of pupils tested were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 57% students showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 24% showed on grade level science understanding.[69] 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.[70]

AYP history

In 2012, Mahanoy Area High School declined further to School Improvement level I, due to a declining graduation rate and chronic, low student academic achievement in reading and mathematics. The school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[71] According to No Child Left Behind Title I schools that are identified for school improvement are required to offer parents of children attending the school the option to transfer to any other public school within the school district that is NOT identified for school improvement. Mahanoy Area High School missed every academic metric in 2012. In 2011, the school declined to Warning status due to chronic low student achievement in mathematics. In 2010, the school achieved Adequate Yearly Progress status.[72] From 2004 to 2010, Mahanoy Area High School achieved AYP status each year typically under special modification.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 – 51% on grade level, (25% below basic). State – 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[73]
• 2011 – 73% (14% below basic). State – 69.1%[74]
• 2010 – 57% (27% below basic). State – 66%[75]
• 2009 – 60%. State – 65%[76]
• 2008 – 58%. State – 65%[77]

To advance reading achievement Mahanoy Area High School requires all high school students to read two novels during the summer months. The specific books are mandated. An assessment is done at the beginning of the school year that is based on the books.[78]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 – 29% on grade level (44% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[79]
• 2011 – 46% (27% below basic). State – 60.3%[80]
• 2010 – 47% (29% below basic). State – 59%[81]
• 2009 – 58%. State – 56%[82]
• 2008 – 34%. State – 56%[83]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 – 30% (16% below basic). State – 42%[84]
• 2011 – 30% (14% below basic). State – 40%[85]
• 2010 – 32% (27% below basic). State – 39%
• 2009 – 30%, State – 40%
• 2008 – 23%, State – 39%

Science in Motion Mahanoy Area High School did not take 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.[86] Susquehanna University provided the enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 23% of Mahanoy Area 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.[87][88] 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. 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.[89][90]

Dual enrollment

Mahanoy Area High School offers a dual enrollment program. 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. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. Mahanoy Area School District works with Lehigh Carbon Community College to provide the course opportunities. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[91] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[92] Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.[93] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

For the 2009–10 funding year, the Mahanory Area School District received a state grant of $4,139 for the program.[94]

SAT scores

In 2015, 55 Mahanoy Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 451. The Math average score was 444. The Writing average score was 421.[95] The College Board also reported that statewide 96,826 pupils took the exams with average scores declining in all three measurers to: 495 in reading, 511 in math and 484 in writing.[96]

In 2014, just 45 Mahanoy Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 454. The Math average score was 463. The Writing average score was 437.[97][98] Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.[99] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 51 Mahanoy Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 442. The Math average score was 450. The Writing average score was 422. 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.[100]

In 2012, 56 Mahanoy Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 447. The Math average score was 451. The Writing average score was 436. 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, 51 Mahanoy Area High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 435. The Math average score was 457. The Writing average score was 425.[101]

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Mahanoy Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education/health 1.5 credits, Technology/Business 2.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and electives 6 credits.[102] Effective with the class of 2015 graduation requires earning 28 credits. All students are required to take a personal finance course in 11th grade.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.[103] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project to graduate.[104]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2019,[105] public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[106] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project to graduate.[107][108][109] 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.[110] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

AP Courses

In 2015, Mahanoy Area High School offered 7 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[111] The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. 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 Mahanoy Area High School 6% of the students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[112]

Middle school

Mahanoy Area Middle School is located at 1 Golden Bear Drive, Mahanoy City. In 2015, enrollment was 315 pupils, in grades 5th through 8th, with 58% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 13.6% of pupils received special education services, while less than 1% of pupils were identified as gifted.[113] The school employed 28 teachers in 2013.[114] According to a 2014 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[115] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010, Mahanoy Area Middle School had 336 students in grades 5th through 8th, with 201 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school was a federally designated Title I school. Mahanoy Area Middle School employed 31 teachers yielding a student to teacher ratio of 11:1.[116] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[117]

2015 School Performance Profile

The PDE withheld SPP scores. It was reported that 46% of 8th grade students at Mahanoy Area Middle School students were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In math/Algebra 1, just 25% of 8th grade students showed on grade level skills. In science, 73% of the school's 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding. No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, 49% were on grade level in reading, while 22% showed on grade level math skills. Among 6th graders, 49% were on grade level in reading and 18% were on grade level in mathematics. Among fifth graders, 37% of 5th grade students were on grade level in reading. In mathematics, 17% of 5th grade students showed on grade level skills. No fifth grade writing scores were reported.[118] Statewide 58% of eighth (8th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 29% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 7th graders were 58% on grade level in reading and 33% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Among sixth (6th) graders, 60.7% were reading on grade level, while 39.7% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Statewide 61.9% of fifth (5th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 42.8% demonstrated on grade level math skills.[119]

2014 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area Middle School achieved 70.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 61.6% were on grade level. In Algebra 1/Math, 73.7% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Science, just 51% of 8th graders showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, 73% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[120]

2013 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area Middle School achieved out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 63% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 76% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 57% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 61% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[121] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

AYP history

In 2012, Mahanoy Area Middle School achieved AYP status even though it missed all the metrics measured in both reading and math. In 2011, the school declined to Warning status due to lagging student achievement in reading and math.[122] In 2010, the school achieved AYP, while in 2009 it was in Warning status.

PSSA Results

The fifth grade has been evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing for over a decade. 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.[123] 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.[124] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[125] In 2014, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards – Mathematics.[126]

8th Grade Reading: 2012 – 67% (10% below basic). State – 79%[127] 2011 – 74% (12% below basic). State – 81.8%[128] 2010 – 94% (3% below basic) State – 81%[129] 2009 – 90% (4% below basic). State – 80% 2008 – 89%, State – 78%[130] 2007 – 84%, State – 75%[131]

8th Grade Math: 2012 – 67% (15% below basic). State – 76%[132] 2011 – 76% (12% below basic). State – 76.9% 2010 – 90% (5% below basic). State – 75% 2009 – 81% (8% below basic). State – 71% 2008 – 85%, State – 70% 2007 – 70%, State – 67%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 – 56% (22% below basic). State – 59%
• 2011 – 55% (23% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 – 59% (16% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 – 52%, State – 55%
• 2008 – 76%, State – 52%[133]

7th Grade Reading: 2012 – 69% (14% below basic). State – 76% 2011 – 49% (16% below basic). State – 76% 2010 – 66% (16% below basic). State – 73% 2009 – 74%, State – 71% 2008 – 67%, State – 70%

7th Grade Math: 2012 – 79% (10% below basic). State – 80% 2011 – 68% (20% below basic). State – 78.6% 2010 – 76% (13% below basic) State – 78% 2009 – 74%, State – 75% 2008 – 75%, State – 70%

6th Grade Reading: 2012 – 57% (23% below basic). State – 68% 2011 – 55% (25% below basic). State – 69.9% 2010 – 41% (32% below basic). State – 68% 2009 – 56%, State – 67% 2008 – 63%, State – 67%

6th Grade Math: 2012 – 71% (10% below basic). State – 77% 2011 – 75% (13% below basic). State – 78.8% 2010 – 78%, (11% below basic). State – 78% 2009 – 81%, State – 75% 2008 – 82%, State – 72%

5th Grade Reading: 2012 – 60% (16% below basic). State – 65% 2011 – 57% (22% below basic). State – 67.3% 2010 – 64%, (18% below basic). State – 64% 2009 – 61%, State – 64% 2008 – 55%, State – 62%

5th Grade Math: 2012 – 79% (5% below basic). State – 73% 2011 – 69% (6% below basic). State – 74% 2010 – 77% (1% below basic). State – 74% 2009 – 76%, State – 73% 2008 – 79%, State – 73%

Dropout Early Warning System

In 2013, Mahanoy Area School District did not implement a no cost dropout prevention Early Warning System and Interventions Catalog at the middle school.[134] The process identifies students at risk for dropping out by examining the pupil's: attendance, behavior and course grades. Interventions are implemented to assist at-risk pupils to remain in school. The program is funded by federal and private dollars.[135]

Elementary School

Mahanoy Area Elementary School is located at 1 Golden Bear Drive, Mahanoy City. In 2015, the school's enrollment was 403 pupils in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 64% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 17.6% of the pupils receive special education services, while 1.7% are identified as gifted.[136] In 2013, the school employed 35 teachers. 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 has provided full day kindergarten since 2004.[137] Mahanoy Area Elementary School is a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010, Mahanoy Area Elementary School had 418 students in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 271 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. Mahanoy Area Elementary School was a Title I school. The school employed 34 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12:1.[138] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind.[139] The school provided full day kindergarten to all of its pupils.

Proponents of full day kindergarten claim it will reduce special education numbers and it will raise primary student academic achievement in reading.[140] Those outcomes have not been realized in the Mahanoy Area School District despite providing all day kindergarten for more than a decade. Reading achievement in particular has not substantially improved.[141]

2015 School Performance Profile

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, just 41% of 4th graders were on grade level in reading, while 20% showed on grade level math skills. In science, 88% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among third (3rd) graders, only 60% were on grade level in reading and just 41% were on grade level in mathematics.[142] Pennsylvania 4th graders were 58.6% on grade level in reading and 44.4% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 77.3% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among Pennsylvania third (3rd) graders, 62% were reading on grade level, while 48.5% demonstrated on grade level math skills.[143]

2014 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area Elementary School achieved a score of 74.2 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science and mathematics achievement. In 2013–14, only 62% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd and 4th. In 3rd grade, 72% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 75.6% were on grade level (3rd-4th grades). In 4th grade science, 80% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding.[144]

2013 School Performance Profile

Mahanoy Area Elementary School achieved a score of 74.4 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science and mathematics achievement. In 2012–13, 59.7% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd and 4th. In 3rd grade, 66% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 75.8% were on grade level (3rd-4th grades). In 4th grade science, 91.7% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding.[145] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

AYP history

In 2012, Mahanoy Area Elementary School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing all metrics in reading. In 2011, the school achieved "AYP" status.[146]

• 2008–2010 – Mahanoy Area Elementary School achieved AYP status each school year.[147]
• 2008 – Warning AYP status due to lagging academic achievement in reading[148]
• 2004–07 – Mahanoy Area Elementary School achieved AYP status each school year.[149]

PSSA history

Each year, in the Spring, to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Law, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science.[150] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[151][152][153] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[154] The first cohort of children who attended Accountability Block Grant funded full-day kindergarten reached third grade and took the PSSAs in the spring of 2008.

4th Grade Reading: 2012 – 61% (20% below basic). State – 72%[155] 2011 – 74% (11% below basic). State – 73.3% 2010 – 71% (12% below basic). State – 73%[156] 2009 – 68%, State – 72%[157] 2008 – 67%, State – 70%[158]

4th Grade Math: 2012 – 79% (9% below basic). State – 82% 2011 – 88% (6% below basic). State – 85.3%[159] 2010 – 83%, (8% below basic). State – 84% 2009 – 84%, State – 81% 2008 – 84%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2012 – 85% (2% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 – 92% (2% below basic). State – 82.9
• 2010 – 90% (4% below basic). State – 81%
• 2009 – 93%, State – 83%
• 2008 – 89%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading: 2012 – 69% (16% below basic). State – 74% [160] 2011 – 71% (17% below basic). State – 77% 2010 – 80% (12% below basic). State – 75% 2009 – 69%, State – 77%[161] 2008 – 71%, State – 77%

3rd Grade Math: 2012 – 80% (5% below basic). State – 80% 2011 – 88% (3% below basic), State – 83% 2010 – 94%, (1% below basic). State – 84% 2009 – 88%, State – 81% 2008 – 82%, State – 80%[162]

Special education

In December 2015, the district administration reported that 219 pupils or 21.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 49.8% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.[163] In 2013, the district reported 22.5% of pupils received special education services with 46% having a specific learning disability.[164] In December 2012, Mahanoy Area School District reported that 228 pupils or 22% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with just 45% of identified students having a specific learning disability. In 2009, the Administration reported that 237 pupils or 22% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[165] Special education services in the Commonwealth are provided to students from ages three years to 21 years old. In the 2010–2011 school year, the total student enrollment was more than 1.78 million students with approximately 275,000 students eligible for special education services. Among these students 18,959 were identified with mental retardation and 21,245 students with autism.[166] The largest group of students are identified as Specific Learning Disabilities 126,026 students (46.9 percent) and Speech or Language Impairments with 43,542 students (16.2 percent).[167]

In 2007, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak testified before the Pennsylvania House Education Committee regarding full day kindergarten. He claimed that districts which offered the program would see a significant decrease in special education students due to early identification and early intervention. He asserted the high cost of full day kindergarten would be recouped by Districts in lower special education costs.[168] Mahanoy Area School District has provided full day kindergarten since 2004. The district has seen a negligible decrease in the percentage of special education students it serves, yielding no savings.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.[169] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district's students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student's needs accrue the same level of costs.[170] Over identification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts reported that more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.[171] The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[172] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that public schools, including Mahanoy Area School District, must include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.[173]

Mahanoy Area School District received a $796,349 supplement for special education services in 2010.[174] For the 2011–12, 2012–13 and 2013–14 school years, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010–11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.[175][176]

• 2014–2015 school year, MASD received an increase to $822,364 from the Commonwealth for special education funding.[177]
• 2016–17 school year, Mahaony Area School District received a 3.1% increase in state special education funding to $889,295.[178]

Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The district must apply for this added funding.

Gifted education

Mahanoy Area School District Administration reported that 16 (1.52%) of its students were identified as gifted in 2009.[179] The highest percentage of gifted students reported, among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania, was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted.[180] Mahanoy Area School District must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels in compliance with Pennsylvania School Code. 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.[181][182]

Wellness policy

Mahanoy Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.[183] 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." Most Pennsylvania school districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[184]

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.[185] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Mahanoy Area School District offers a universal free school breakfast and free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[186] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[187] Mahanoy Area School District also provides a summer meal program to needy children in the district. The lunch meals are served at the middle school, elementary schools and six local parks. In 2007, the district was recognized by the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center as a Star Performer for its aggressive efforts to combat student hunger and efforts to control the foods children consume.[188]

In May 2013, Mahanoy Area School Board raised student lunch and a la carte prices by 25 cents per meal, of which 10 cents is required by the federal Healthy-Hunger Free Kids Act. Breakfasts will remain free to all children regardless of eligibility to pay while adults are charged $1.75.

In 2010, Mahanoy Area School District set limits on the nature and size of snacks provided to students, by parents and groups during the school day.[189]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[190]

Mahanoy Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health's extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[191]

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health distributed to each Pennsylvania high school the overdose antidote drug naloxone in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the National Association of School Nurses.[192] The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.[193]

Highmark Healthy High 5 grant

In 2011, the Mahanoy Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Mahanoy Area Middle School received $3,500 which was used to implement SPARK into the 5th-8th grade curriculum.[194] Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

Mahanoy Area School District participated in Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools which enabled mobile data collection of health and physical fitness screening data on students K-12 in a database held by InnerLink, Inc. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Health eTools for Schools also provided interdisciplinary research-based curriculum in nutrition, physical education and physical activity to participating districts. The program was discontinued in 2013.[195]

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.[196]

In 2013, the average teacher salary in Mahanoy Area School District was $48,567 a year.[197] The district employed 167 teachers with a top salary of $119,480.[198][199] Pennsylvania teacher salaries (2013–14) are searchable in a statewide database provided by TribLive News.[200]

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Mahanoy Area School District was $45,629 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $16,112 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $60,328.[201] The district reported employing 108 teachers and administrators with the top salary of $100,000.

In 2009, Mahanoy Area School Administration reported employing over 100 teachers with a beginning salary of $34,000.[202] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.[203]

Administrative costs Mahanoy Area School District administrative costs was $816.96 per pupil in 2008. This was in the top 20% of administrative spending among the 500 public school districts in the Commonwealth.[204]

Per pupil spending In 2008, Mahanoy Area School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $13,105 which ranked 170th among Pennsylvania's then 501 public school districts. In 2010, the Mahanoy Area School District's per pupil spending had increased to $17,527.71 which was 48th in the Commonwealth.[205] In 2011, on the whole, Pennsylvania's per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th among the 50 states in the United States of America and the District of Columbia.[206] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.[207] The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000–01.[208]

Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008–09.[209] Pennsylvania's total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.[210]

Tuition Students who live in the Mahanoy Area 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 Mahanoy 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 Mahanoy Area District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are elementary school – $9,274.32, high school – $9,757.33.[211]

Reserves In 2008, the Mahanoy Area School District reported a balance of $1,812,800 in its unreserved-undesignated fund. The unreserved-designated fund balance was reported as zero. [212] In 2010, Mahanoy Area School District Administration reported an increase to $3,177,895 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The district also reported zero in its unreserved-designated fund in 2010. By 2012, Mahanoy Area School District held $4,198,342 in reserves. Pennsylvania public 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.[213] By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.[214]

Audits In June 2013, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the Mahanoy Area School District. The Findings were reported to the Mahanoy Area School Board and district administration.[215]

Mahanoy Area District is funded by a combination of local earned income tax 0.5%, property tax, real estate transfer tax 0.5%, occupation tax $130, Occupational privilege tax $5, and an Amusement tax of 5 percent, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[216] Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. 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.[217] 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.[218] Effective 2016, active duty military are also exempted from paying the local earned income tax in Pennsylvania.[219][220]

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Mahanoy Area School District receives 64% of its annual revenue from the state.[221] This greatly exceeds education advocates goal of the state providing 50% of district funding.[222]

In December 2014, the Pennsylvania Education Funding Reform Commission conducted a hearing.[223][224] The commission developed a new basic education funding formula which sets a new way to distribute state basic education dollars. It abolished the practice of "hold harmless" funding, which gave districts at least the same as they got the previous school year regardless of declining enrollment. The plan became law in June 2016 (House Bill 1552).[225][226][227]

For the 2016–17 school year, Mahanoy Area School District received $7,600,021 in Basic Education Funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a 2.9% increase over 2015–16 funding to the district. The highest percentage of BEF increase in Schuylkill County was 4.8% awarded to Shenandoah Valley School District under the state's Basic Education Funding formula. For the 2016–17 school year, Pennsylvania increased its public education spending to a record high of $5,895 billion. It was a $200 million increase, 3.51% increase over the 2015–16 appropriation.[228] The state also funded Ready to Learn grants at $250 million and Special Education funding received a $20 million increase.[229] Mahanoy Area School District received $228,249 in RTL funds. MASD also received from the state special education funds and transportation funds. The state also paid $492 million to the school employee social security fund and another $2.064 billion to the teacher's pension fund.[230]

For the 2015–16 school year, Governor Tom Wolf released a partial Basic Education Funding of $3,486,236 to Mahanoy Area School District, in January 2016.[231] This was part of $10.3 billion in school funding withheld from the public schools, by the governor since the summer of 2015.[232] The dispersement did not follow the new Basic Education Fair Funding formula which had been established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in June 2015.[233] Ten (10) Pennsylvania school districts received no increase in Basic Education funding under Governor Wolf.[234][235]

In April 2016, Governor Wolf announced his finalized dispersement of 2015–16 state Basic Education Funding. Mahanoy Area School District received a -0.6% increase for a total funding of $7,341,040.[236] This was over $100,000 less than the district was to receive by law under the state's Fair Funding Formula approved in 2015 (BEF and RTL funds combined).[237][238] Four hundred and twenty-eight (428) Pennsylvania public school districts received less money under Governor Wolf's plan.[239] Wolf also altered the Ready to Learn Grant distribution.

In compliance with a legislative mandate that was passed with veto proof majorities in the PA House and Senate,[240] the final BEF funding was determined for 2015–16, in April 2016. Mahanoy Area School District received $7,385,058 in Basic Education Funds for the 2015–16 school year. This was a 2.9% increase yielding a $214,963 increase over the previous school year funding. The district also received $228,249 in Ready to Learn funding from the state.[241]

For the 2014–15 school year, Mahanoy Area School District received $7,221,663.55 in State Basic Education funding. The district also received $179,976 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State's enacted Education Budget included $5,526,129,000 for the 2014–2015 Basic Education Funding.[242] The Education budget also included 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 paid $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.[243]

For the 2013–14 school year, Mahanoy Area School District received a 1.3% increase or $7,225,490 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $94,347 more than its 2012–13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Mahanoy Area School District received $91,156 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County, both Blue Mountain School District and Saint Clair Area School District received the highest percentage increase at 2.2%. 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.[244] The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[245]

For the 2012–13 school year, Mahanoy Area School District received $7,131,143.[246] 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 (ABG) program. Mahanoy Area School District received $91,157 in ABG funds. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[247] This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011–2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett's first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010–11 school year.

In the 2011–12 school year, Mahanoy Area School District received a $7,131,143 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[248][249] Additionally, the Mahanoy Area School District received $91,157 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011–2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010–2011.[250] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011–12.[251] In 2010, Mahanoy Area School District reported that 675 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[252]

For the 2010–11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided Mahanoy Area School District with a 2.02% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,650,469. Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County, the highest increase went to Minersville Area School District which got a 9.69% 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.[253] Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. 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 public school districts at a far greater rate than others.[254]

In the 2009–10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.16% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,498,923 to Mahanoy Area School District. Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County, the highest increase went to Shenandoah Valley School District which got a 14.50%. Ninety (90) Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[255] 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.[256]

The state Basic Education Funding to the Mahanoy Area School District in 2008–09 was $7,131,143.35. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 660 District students received free or reduced- price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[257] 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.[258][259]

All Pennsylvania school districts also receive additional funding from the state through several 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.[260] By 2015, Pennsylvania was spending over $27 billion on public education (local, state and federal resources combined).[261]

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 Mahaony Area School District applied for and received $247,421 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide Full-Day Kindergarten beginning in 2004 and to provide health services to the students.[262][263] In 2009, 100% of the kindergarteners in Mahanoy Area School District attended full-day kindergarten.

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.[264]

Mahanoy Area School District received $201,878 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, transportation reimbursement, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Mahanoy Area School District applied but was denied funding in 2006–07. In 2007–08, Mahaony Area School District applied again receiving $144,611. The district received $45,413 in 2008–09.[265] Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County the highest award was given to North Schuylkill School District which received $245,673. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County – $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009–10 state budget.

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 the Mahanoy Area School District received $24,864.[266]

Project 720

Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth's high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners.[267] The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades.[268] High schools applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007–08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Mahanoy Area School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $222,000 funding over three years.[269][270] For 2010–11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011–12 state budget.[271]

Other grants

Mahanoy Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants;[272][273] PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009–10 budget by Governor Rendell);[274] 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;[275] 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants;[276] nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal grants

Mahanoy Area School District received an extra $2,531,639 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[277][278] On the whole the public schools in Schuylkill County received $26,249,374 from the Stimulus funds. The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010–2011 school years.[279] 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.

Race to the Top grant

Mahanoy Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars, in additional federal funding, to improve student academic achievement.[280] 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.[281] 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.[282][283][284]

School Improvement Grant

In the summer of 2011, the district administration did not apply for School Improvement Grant funding, from the federal government (over $9.9 million available). The high school was eligible for funding due to chronic low academic achievement. The grant stipulates the funds be used for improving student achievement using one of four federally dictated strategies. The strategies are: transformation, turnaround, restart with new faculty and administration or closure of failing schools.[285] The Pennsylvania Education Secretary awarded $66 million to reform Pennsylvania's lowest achieving schools in August 2011. The funding is for three years.[286]

In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal –US Department of Education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were disbursed via a competitive grant program.[287] The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest achieving," making them eligible for this special funding.[288] Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart – close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve firing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day.[289]

Title II grants

The federal government provides annual grants to schools to be used to improve the quality of teacher instructions to pupils. The goal is to provide each child in public schools with "High Quality" teachers and principals as defined by the state.[290] The funds are sent to the state Department of Education which distributes them to each school district and charter school.[291] Beginning in 2002, the federal funding committed to Title II was $3,175,000,000.

Public school district administrations must apply to the state annually for the Title II funds. In 2012–13, Mahanoy Area School District received $81,320 in federal Title II funding.[292] In 2014–15, Mahanoy Area School District applied for and received $77,635.[293]

English language learners grant

The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to assist in educating immigrant children and children who are identified as limited English proficient.[294] Upon registering for school a language survey is done for all new enrollment pupils, typically in kindergarten or preschool. They identify the primary language spoken at home. This data is collected and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which in turn notifies the federal government.[295]

In 2012–13, Mahanoy Area School District received $1,630 in Title III funding for English language learners.[296] For 2014–15, Mahanoy Area School District received $1,711 in Title III funding.[297]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2016–17 were raised by the Mahanoy Area School Board to 47.9000 mills.[298] 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.[299] 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 all government property (local, state and federal). 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 and 85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[300] When a Pennsylvania public 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.[301] 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.[302]

2015–16 – 46.2000 mills[303] 2014–15 – 46.2000 mills[304] 2013–14 – 44.8000 mills.[305] 2012–13 – 44.8000 mills.[306] 2011–12 – 44.8000 mills.[307] 2010–11 – 44.8000 mills.[308]

2009–10 – 43.0000 mills.[309] 2008–09 – 43.0000 mills.[310] 2007–08 – 43.0000 mills.[311] 2006–07 – 43.0000 mills.[312] 2005–06 – 41.0000 mills.[313]

The average yearly property tax paid by Schuylkill County residents amounts to about 2.84% of their yearly income. Schuylkill County ranked 700th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[314] 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 1999–2000 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008–09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[315] 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%).[316]

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 permitted to raise property taxes above their annual Act 1 Index unless they either: allow Districts voters to approve the increase through a vote by referendum or they receive an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The base index for the school year is published by the PDE in the fall of each year. Each individual school district's Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values and the personal income of district residents. Originally, Act 1 of 2006 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.[317]

In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation eliminating six of the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[318] 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.[319][320] The legislature also froze the payroll amount public school districts use to calculate the pension-plan exception at the 2012 payroll levels. Further increases in payroll cannot be used to raise the district's exception for pension payments.

A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[321]

The School District Adjusted Index history for the Mahanoy Area School District:

2006–07 – 5.8%, Base 3.9%[322] 2007–08 – 5.0%, Base 3.4% 2008–09 – 6.6%, Base 4.4% 2009–10 – 6.1%, Base 4.1% 2010–11 – 4.3%, Base 2.9% 2011–12 – 2.1%, Base 1.4%

2012–13 – 2.6%, Base 1.7%[323] 2013–14 – 2.6%, Base 1.7%[324] 2014–15 – 3.2%, Base 2.1%[325] 2015–16 – 2.9%, Base 1.9%[326] 2016–17 – 3.7%, Base 2.4%[327][328]

For the 2016–17 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the district's Act 1 Index limit.[329] Statewide 299 school districts adopted a resolution to not exceed their Act I index in 2016–17.

For the 2015–16 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget 2015–16, 310 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 187 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Regarding the pension costs exception, 172 school districts received approval to exceed the Index limit in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 119 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. No Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.[330]

For the 2014–15 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. In 2014–15, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 21.4% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS).[331] 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.[332]

For the 2013–14 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. 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 exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[333]

For the 2012–13 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index for rising teacher pension costs. 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.[334]

For the 2011–12 school year, Mahanoy Area School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: special education costs and escalating teacher pension costs. Each year, the Mahanoy Area School Board has the option of adopting either: 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index.

According to a state report, for the 2011–12 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.[335]

For the 2010–11 school year, Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for its general fund budget.[336]

For the 2009–10 school budget, the Mahanoy Area School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Index: Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue and Maintenance of Selected Revenue Sources.[337] 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.[338]

Property tax relief

In 2009, Mahanoy Area School District approved homestead properties received $180. Within the district 2,560 homesteads and farmsteads participated.[339] 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 (4.0 ha) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The amount of property tax relief each Pennsylvania public school district receives is announced by the PDE in May of each year. The amount of tax relief is dependent on the total tax revenue collected on the casino slots in the previous year. Thirty five percent of the slots tax revenues are used for property tax relief. In Schuylkill County, the highest tax relief went to Schuylkill Haven School District which was set at $195.[340] The highest property tax relief provided, among Pennsylvania school districts, goes to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District in Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.[341] Within Schuylkill County 39,553 properties sought property tax relief through this program.[342]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program.[343] Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The PIAA mandates that student athletes must be passing at least four full-credit subjects to participate in sports.[344] Mahanoy Area School District is within PIAA District 11.

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.[345]

According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities at Mahanoy Area School District, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district full and part-time employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.[346][347][348]

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[349]

The district is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. Article XVI-C of the Public School Code requires the disclosure of interscholastic athletic opportunities for all public secondary school entities in Pennsylvania. All school entities with grades 7–12 are required to annually collect data concerning team and financial information for all male and female athletes beginning with the 2012–13 school year and submit the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Beginning with the 2013–14 school year, all non-school (booster club and alumni) contributions and purchases must also be reported to PDE.[350]

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.[351][352]

The district operates an indoor swimming pool.

The district funds:

Boys Baseball – AA Basketball – AA Cross Country – A Football – A Golf – AA Swimming and Diving – AA Track and Field – AA Wrestling – AA

Girls Basketball – AA Cross Country – A Golf _ AA Softball – A Swimming and Diving – AA Track and Field – AA Volleyball – A

Middle School Sports

Boys Basketball Cross Country Football Track and Field Wrestling

Girls Basketball Cross Country Track and Field

According to PIAA directory July 2016[353]

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