Archived Updates
Below is a list of recent Education Updates (pdf). CLICK HERE for the current Update.
May 26
State lawmakers to begin consideration of partial, five-month state budget this week; PASA to participate this week in House Education Committee meeting on safely opening schools
May 18
PDE announces school districts now may apply for CARES funding; how to restart schools a major concern across the nation
May 11
Governor signs employee clearances bill into law; USDE guidelines directing CARES funds to nonpublic schools sparks controversy, action
May 4
House committee advances bills to freeze school property tax rates; PASBO analysis shows substantial local revenue losses for PA schools
April 27
Republican leaders continue effort to reopen various business sectors, freeze school taxes as Gov. Wolf outlines plan for statewide reopening; Congress passes another CARES Act
April 20
Lawmakers, governor offer differing views on how to ‘open’ Pennsylvania; schools continue to work through challenging closure issues
April 13
Gov. Wolf closes schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year; coronavirus update: continuing concerns, plans and questions
April 6
Coronavirus update: continuing concerns, plans and questions
March 30
Coronavirus update – state and federal action, coping with school closures
March 23
Coronavirus concerns, shutdowns and questions dominate the headlines
March 16
Gov. Wolf orders two-week school closures, state employee telecommuting as coronavirus concerns escalate; General Assembly schedule uncertain but action expected to address emergency plan, implications for schools
March 9
Coronavirus concerns continue to increase in PA, across the nation; survey finds high need for infrastructure repair in PA schools but a lack of fimnancial resources to address it
March 2
Coronavirus concerns increasing in PA and across the nation; appropriations hearings continue on the proposed state budget
February 24
Proposed federal budget would cut USDE funding by nearly 8 percent; Pennsylvania superintendents participate in public meeting on property tax reform
February 10
Gov. Wolf unveils 2020-21 budget plan that includes reliance on charter school reform plan to provide savings to school districts; PA Department of Health releases guidance to school districts on the coronavirus
February 3
Gov. Wolf set to unveil 2020-21 state budget plan, policy priorities tomorrow (Feb. 4); PASA/PASBO school district budget report finds increasing stress on local budgets from mandated expenses
January 27
Speaker of the House Turzai announces decision to retire form the House; Supreme Court considering case on public funds for private school education
January 21
Push is on to prepare for the 2020 census; House Education Committee to hold hearing on cyber education today
January 13
State and federal funding for special education remains a top issue; House Education Committee to hold meeting on special education certification, hearing on cyber education
January 6, 2020
PA School Safety & Security Committee posts series of informational updates online; final federal budget for FY20 provides increases for education