Pennsylvania Department of Education

The Board meeting included updates from various committees, including the Academic Standards/Chapter 4 Committee regarding standards for Arts and Health, Safety and Physical Education, and the School and University Safety Committee concerning the transition of Safe Schools regulations. An Ad Hoc Committee presented recommendations for guaranteeing daily recess in elementary schools, which the Board formally approved along with additional provisions for secondary school breaks and the creation of a best practices repository. The Secretary of Education provided updates on various state grant programs and student transition initiatives. The Board also passed resolutions honoring outgoing student members and memorializing a late member, and announced appointments for Vice Chairs of the Council of Higher Education and the Council of Basic Education.

The board discussed committee recommendations regarding metrics for measuring program goals and the potential transition of Accreditation Guidelines into official regulations. A public hearing was scheduled for stakeholder testimony regarding these proposed regulations. Additionally, the committee reviewed and recommended approval of a petition to the U.S. Department of Education to renew the board's authority as an accreditor for public postsecondary CTE programs, which was subsequently approved by a unanimous vote. The Director of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education also provided reports on recent departmental personnel changes and various programmatic updates, including training workshops and competitions.

The Council received updates on the Workforce Pell initiative, PA EmpowerU, FAFSA completion, pilot programs for educational specialists, and efforts to identify transferable credits within the PA College Transfer portal. Additionally, the Council reviewed updated processing times for teacher certifications and emergency permits. Dr. Kate Shaw presented the State Board of Higher Education's strategic plan, which focuses on six goals including postsecondary credential attainment, affordable pathways, economic and workforce development, accountability, and fiscal health. The Council also formally decided to serve as the liaison for ongoing communication and collaboration between the State Board of Education and the State Board of Higher Education.

The meeting included a report from the Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education regarding upcoming listening sessions for English Language Arts and Mathematics standards and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, student members provided an update on outreach efforts through Students for Education in Pennsylvania, specifically highlighting discussions and student perspectives regarding proposed legislation to ban cell phones in schools.

The Board meeting focused on committee reports concerning academic standards for Arts, Health, Safety, and Physical Education, as well as draft amendments to Chapter 4 regarding assessment and testing. The Secretary of Education provided an overview of key investments in the Governor's proposed budget and discussed the importance of student recess. The Board held a discussion on ensuring student access to recess in grades K-5, resulting in the appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee on Recess to develop evidence-based guidance and policy recommendations for the Governor's office.