Penns Valley Area School District
Encyclopedia
The Penns Valley Area School District is a public school district serving the eastern portions of Centre County, Pennsylvania
. It encompasses the boroughs of Centre Hall
and Millheim, Pennsylvania
, as well as the townships of Potter
, Gregg
, Penn
, Miles, and Haines. It encompasses an area of 254.4 square miles. The school district has a population of 11,380, according to the 2000 federal census. According to school district administrative officials, during the 2005-06 school year, the district provided basic educational services to 1,573 pupils through the employment of 9 administrators, 125 teachers, and 81 full-time and part-time support personnel. Special education was provided by the district and the Central Intermediate Unit #10. Occupational training and adult education in various vocational and technical fields were provided by the district and the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
and the No Child Left Behind Act
which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D" 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.
results in: reading, writing, math, and three years of science.
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students in the Penns Valley Area School District was in the 75th percentile among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
Former calculation graduation rate:
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must 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.
Beginning with the class of 2015, students must take the Keystone Exams in Literature and Algebra 1.
study released in January 2009, 16% of Penns Valley Area School District 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. 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. 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.
The Penns Valley Area School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
(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."
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 and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, 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. The policy requires that the Superintendent or designee shall report to the Board on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
In 2007, the district employed 106 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $50,786 for 189 days (182 days of instruction) worked. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension
, health insurance
, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days - 3, sick days, bereavement days 2, income protection insurance, and other benefits.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $749.23 per pupil. This ranked 259th out of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
Penns Valley Area School District reports spending $13,330 per pupil which ranked 148th among Pennsylvania school districts.
In July 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and school administration.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported a $2,387,182 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The undesignated fund balance was repoted as zero.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of the level wealth.
In 2010, the district reported that 453 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level
.
For the 2010-11 budget year, the Penns Valley Area School District was allotted a 5.17% increase in state Basic Education Funding for a total of $4,710,394. This was the highest increase among Centre County public school districts. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. For 2010-11, highest increase in Pennsylvania went to Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
which received a 23.65% increase in state funding. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.89% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,300,326. The state Basic Education funding to the Penns Valley Area School District in 2008-09 was $4,478,635. This was the highest increase in Centre County. Muhlenberg School District
of Berks County received an increase of 22.31 percent. Sixteen school districts received an increase in funding of over 10 percent in 2009.
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding is for 2009-10- and 2010-2011. The district reported that 413 students qualified for the Federal free or reduced lunch program due to a low family income.
federal grant which would have brought the district nearly one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. 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. 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.
is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community, school district and across a region. On the local level, Pennsylvania district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.
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.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Penns Valley Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
For the 2011-12 school year, the Penns Valley School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index due to anticipated pension costs. Each year the Penns Valley School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
.
According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.
The Penns Valley Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index for the budget year 2010-2011. They cited future pension costs as the rational. The PDE gave them approval. 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.
at $196 in 2009. The greatest tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the Chester Upland School District
of Delaware County
set at $632 in 2009 and $641 in 2010. 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Centre County, 72% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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%).
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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%).
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
References:
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
. It encompasses the boroughs of Centre Hall
Centre Hall, Pennsylvania
Centre Hall is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Penns Valley and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Millheim, Pennsylvania
Millheim, Pennsylvania
Millheim is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, as well as the townships of Potter
Potter Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Potter Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,339 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Gregg
Gregg Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Gregg Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Penn
Penn Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Penn Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,044 at the 2000 census...
, Miles, and Haines. It encompasses an area of 254.4 square miles. The school district has a population of 11,380, according to the 2000 federal census. According to school district administrative officials, during the 2005-06 school year, the district provided basic educational services to 1,573 pupils through the employment of 9 administrators, 125 teachers, and 81 full-time and part-time support personnel. Special education was provided by the district and the Central Intermediate Unit #10. Occupational training and adult education in various vocational and technical fields were provided by the district and the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.
Schools
- Centre Hall-Potter Elementary School
211 N. Hoffer Av.
Centre Hall, Pennsylvania 16828 - Miles Township Elementary School
80 Town Lane Rd.
Rebersburg, Pennsylvania 16872 - Penns Valley Elementary School
4528 Penns Valley Rd.
Spring Mills, Pennsylvania 16875 - Penns Valley Intermediate School
4528 Penns Valley Rd.
Spring Mills, Pennsylvania 16875 - Penns Valley Area High School
4545 Penns Valley Rd.
Spring Mills, Pennsylvania 16875
Governance
The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act , is a United States federal statute enacted April 11, 1965. It was passed as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and has been the most far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by Congress...
and the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D" 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.
Academic achievement
Penns Valley School District was ranked 114th out of the 498 ranked Pennsylvania school districts, in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated by 5 years of PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
results in: reading, writing, math, and three years of science.
- 2010 - 180th
- 2009 - 227th
- 2008 - 208th out of 501 school districts
- 2007 - 252nd
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students in the Penns Valley Area School District was in the 75th percentile among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
Graduation Rate
In 2011, the graduation rate was 94%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Penns Valley School District's rate was 91% for 2010.Former calculation graduation rate:
- 2010 - 95%
- 2009 - 95%
- 2008 - 95%
- 2007 - 95%
Junior Senior High School
The Penns Valley Junior Senior High School achieved AYP status in 2011 and 2010. The school was in Making Progress: in School Improvement I for low student achievement of special education students in 2009.PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
- 2011 - 81% on grade level, (6% below basic). (97 pupils enrolled) State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 80%, State - 67% (110 pupils enrolled)
- 2009 - 71%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 66%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 77%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 60%, on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 75%, State - 59%
- 2009 - 66%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 60%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 64%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 49% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 61%, State - 40%
- 2009 - 46%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 48%
8th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 86% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 89%, State - 81%
- 2009 - 83%, State - 80%
- 2008 - 78%, State - 78%
8th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 87% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
- 2010 - 82%, State - 75%
- 2009 - 78%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 64%, State - 70%
8th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 67% on grade level (12% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 72%, State - 57%
- 2009 - 57%, State - 55%
- 2008 - 48%, State - 52%
7th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 80% on grade level (2% below basic). State – 76%
- 2010 - 80%, State - 73%
- 2009 - 73%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 68%, State - 70%
7th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 90% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 78.6%
- 2010 - 85%, State - 77%
- 2009 - 81%, State - 75%
- 2008 - 77%, State - 70%
Graduation requirements
The Penns Valley Area School Board has determined that 28 credits are required for graduation including: English 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credits, Driver Education 0.5 credit, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Computer Literacy I 0.5 credits and Electives 6.5 credits. Graduation from the Penns Valley Area High School requires a student to achieve 54 student learning outcomes. The 54 Learning Outcomes were approved by the Penns Valley Area School Board in August, 1996.By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must 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.
Beginning with the class of 2015, students must take the Keystone Exams in Literature and Algebra 1.
College Remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
study released in January 2009, 16% of Penns Valley Area School District 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
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large public university system in the United States. It is the tenth-largest university system in the United States and 43rd largest in the world...
or community colleges. 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. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, 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.
Bullying policy
In 2009, the administrative reported there were 50 incidents of bullying in the district.The Penns Valley Area School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
Wellness policy
Penns Valley Area School Board established a district wellness policy in June 2006 - Policy 246. 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 ActNational School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...
(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."
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 and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, 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. The policy requires that the Superintendent or designee shall report to the Board on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
PreSchool
Penns Valley Area School District provides a taxpayer funded preschool at Rebersburg Elementary School.Budget
In 2009, the school administration reports employing over 130 teachers with a salary range of $37,000 to $89,000. The average teacher's salary is $55,020.In 2007, the district employed 106 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $50,786 for 189 days (182 days of instruction) worked. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days - 3, sick days, bereavement days 2, income protection insurance, and other benefits.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $749.23 per pupil. This ranked 259th out of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
Penns Valley Area School District reports spending $13,330 per pupil which ranked 148th among Pennsylvania school districts.
In July 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and school administration.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported a $2,387,182 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The undesignated fund balance was repoted as zero.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of the level wealth.
State basic education funding
In 2011-12, the district will receive $4,311,085 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $80,445 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to uquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.In 2010, the district reported that 453 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level
Poverty in the United States
Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday September 13th, 2011, the nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010, up from 14.3% in 2009 and to its highest level...
.
For the 2010-11 budget year, the Penns Valley Area School District was allotted a 5.17% increase in state Basic Education Funding for a total of $4,710,394. This was the highest increase among Centre County public school districts. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. For 2010-11, highest increase in Pennsylvania went to Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
which received a 23.65% increase in state funding. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.89% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,300,326. The state Basic Education funding to the Penns Valley Area School District in 2008-09 was $4,478,635. This was the highest increase in Centre County. Muhlenberg School District
Muhlenberg School District
The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...
of Berks County received an increase of 22.31 percent. Sixteen school districts received an increase in funding of over 10 percent in 2009.
Accountability Block Grants
Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math Coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010-11 the district applied for and received $218,348 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The Penns Valley Area School District uses the funding to provide Full Day Kindergarten for the fifth year.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 2006-2009. Penns Valley Area School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 it received $188,432. In 2008-09, the district received $45,413 for a total funding of $233,845.Federal Stimulus Funding
The district received $1,097,354 in ARRAArra
Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding is for 2009-10- and 2010-2011. The district reported that 413 students qualified for the Federal free or reduced lunch program due to a low family income.
Race to the Top
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the TopRace to the Top
Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...
federal grant which would have brought the district nearly one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. 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. 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.
Common Cents state initiative
The Penns Valley Area School Board decided to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.Real estate taxes
Penns Valley Area School Board set property tax rates for the 2011-12 school year at 41.7130 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property taxProperty tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community, school district and across a region. On the local level, Pennsylvania district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.
- 2010 - 40.4557 mills.
- 2009 - 38.3300 mills.
- 2008 - 37.87 mills.
Act 1 Adjusted index
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor StatisticsBureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...
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.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Penns Valley Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
- 2006-07 - 5.0%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 4.3%, Base 3.4%
- 2008-09 - 5.6%, Base 4.4%
- 2009-10 - 5.2%, Base 4.1%
- 2010-11 - 3.7%, Base 2.9%
- 2011-12 - 1.8%, Base 1.4%
- 2012-13 - 2.2%, Base 1.7%
For the 2011-12 school year, the Penns Valley School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index due to anticipated pension costs. Each year the Penns Valley School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
.
According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.
The Penns Valley Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index for the budget year 2010-2011. They cited future pension costs as the rational. The PDE gave them approval. 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.
Property tax relief
In 2010, property tax relief for 2,428 approved residents of Avella Area School District was set at $155 for 3614 approved homesteads. In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Penns Valley Area School District was $157 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,577 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Centre County the highest tax relief went to Bellefonte Area School DistrictBellefonte Area School District
The Bellefonte Area School District is a midsized, rural, public school district which covers the Borough of Bellefonte and Benner Township, Marion Township, Spring Township and Walker Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Bellefonte Area School District encompasses approximately 115 square...
at $196 in 2009. The greatest tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the Chester Upland School District
Chester Upland School District
The Chester Upland School District is a public school district serving the City of Chester, the Borough of Upland and Chester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...
of Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
set at $632 in 2009 and $641 in 2010. 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Centre County, 72% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation
Tax Foundation
The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank founded in 1937 that collects data and publishes research studies on tax policies at the federal and state levels. The organization is broken into three primary areas of research which are the Center for Federal Fiscal Policy, The and the...
, 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%).
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation
Tax Foundation
The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank founded in 1937 that collects data and publishes research studies on tax policies at the federal and state levels. The organization is broken into three primary areas of research which are the Center for Federal Fiscal Policy, The and the...
, 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%).
Extracurriculars
The school offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports.By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
Athletics
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- Class AA - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- Class AA - Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- Class AA - FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- Class AA - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- Class AAAA - Soccer - Class AA
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- Class AA - Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- Class AA - VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- Class AA - WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
- Class AA
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