William Penn School District
Encyclopedia
The William Penn School District is a regional public school district
located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
. It comprises eight elementary schools, one middle school, one alternative school, and one high school, based on two campuses. The district serves the boroughs of Aldan
, Colwyn
, Darby
, East Lansdowne
, Lansdowne
, and Yeadon
. The district is adjacent to the City of Philadelphia
. The total enrollment is about 5610. The district encompasses approximately 5 square miles. According to 2000 local census data, it serves a resident population of 42,457. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06 the WPSD provided basic educational services to 5,359 pupils through the employment of 375 teachers, 151 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 36 administrators. The district administration offices are located at 100 Green Avenue – Annex Lansdowne, PA 19050.
The district was created in 1972 from the consolidation of smaller, local districts by state mandate that they merge and desegregate
their schools.
Middle school
Primary schools
Alternative school
The William Penn School District was ranked 488th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2010, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on four years of PSSA
results in: reading, writing, mathematics and two years of science.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the William Penn School District, was in the 2nd percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
In 2010, the district is in Making Progress: in Corrective Action II AYP status. Students may transfer to other schools.
In 2009, Penn Wood Senior High School ranked 601st out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
College remediation:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 75% of William Penn Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
or community colleges. 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.
In 2010 the district received a state grant of $26,382 to aid students with costs.
When a student fails a class or needs to make-up additional classes in order to graduate on-time, a student can make-up courses through: the William Penn School District Summer School Program, the William Penn School District Cyber Academy Program, the Delaware Valley High School - Accredited High School Division or the Keystone Credit Recovery and Correspondence Program.
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. Students earn 1 credit when they have completed their project.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.
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.
William Penn School District received a $3,952,896 supplement for special education services in 2010.
The William Penn School Board adopted the district's antibully policy. 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.
, health insurance
, professional development reimbursement, compensation for voluntary extracurricular activities, paid personal days, and 10 sick days, life insurance and other benefits. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the district employed over 500 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $47,691 for 180 school days worked.
William Penn School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $929.86 per pupil. The district is ranked 87th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, William Penn School District reported spending $13,430 per pupil. This ranked 141st in the commonwealth.
Reserves
In 2009, the district reported a $2,016,912 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero. The Pennsylvania General Assembly sets a limit on how much money a district can have in its fund balance. The limit is based on the amount of the district's budget. As the total spending in the budget rises, the district is permitted to hold greater amounts in reserve.
In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board. Certification deficiencies were noted including that an administrator's certification had expired.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.
received a 10.34% increase which was the highest increase, in BEF, in Delaware County. Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.97% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $19,814,414. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $18,697,871. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. Ninety school district received the base 2% increase. Upper Darby School District
received the highest increase in Delaware County for the 2009-10 school year at 11.61%. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, 2,711 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
Schools eligible for School Improvement Grants included the lowest performing Title I schools whose Adequate Yearly Progress status is School Improvement or Corrective Action, and Title I-eligible schools that are the lowest achieving and have not made satisfactory progress on state assessments. Title I-eligible schools are those that have a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
- 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 the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
References
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
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....
. It comprises eight elementary schools, one middle school, one alternative school, and one high school, based on two campuses. The district serves the boroughs of Aldan
Aldan, Pennsylvania
Aldan is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,313 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, Colwyn
Colwyn, Pennsylvania
Colwyn is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,453 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Colwyn is located at , where Darby Creek and Cobb's Creek intersect....
, Darby
Darby, Pennsylvania
Darby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, along Darby Creek southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It has a public library founded in 1743 and a cemetery more than 300 years old. The Quakers lived there early in the colonial era. Darby was settled about 1660 and was...
, East Lansdowne
East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
East Lansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Lansdowne is located at ....
, Lansdowne
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
Lansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States located southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It was named for the Marquess of Lansdowne. The borough grew quickly in the early part of the twentieth century when a railroad stop was established near the intersection of...
, and Yeadon
Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Yeadon is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It borders the City of Philadelphia. The population was 11,762 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yeadon is located at ....
. The district is adjacent to the City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. The total enrollment is about 5610. The district encompasses approximately 5 square miles. According to 2000 local census data, it serves a resident population of 42,457. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06 the WPSD provided basic educational services to 5,359 pupils through the employment of 375 teachers, 151 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 36 administrators. The district administration offices are located at 100 Green Avenue – Annex Lansdowne, PA 19050.
The district was created in 1972 from the consolidation of smaller, local districts by state mandate that they merge and desegregate
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
their schools.
Schools
High schools- Penn Wood High SchoolPenn Wood High SchoolPenn Wood High School is a high school that occupies two campuses in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, USA.-Organisation:Penn Wood High is managed by the William Penn School District. D. Brandon Cooley is the principal and is a super big fan of the philadelphia phillies...
- occupies Cypress Street Campus (grades 9-10) (Yeadon and Darby) and Green Avenue Campus (grades 11-12) (Lansdowne). The William Penn School District also offers: the Twilight School which is a computer based credit recovery program; Customized, accelerated learning options through the Blended Schools program; and an alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar school setting through the William Penn School District Cyber Academy.
Middle school
- Penn Wood Middle School (grades 7-8) (Darby)
Primary schools
- Aldan Elementary School (K-6) (Aldan) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963635/William-Penn-SD-Aldan-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- Ardmore Avenue Elementary School (K-6) (Lansdowne) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963502/William-Penn-SD-Ardmore-Avenue-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- Bell Avenue Elementary School (K-6) (Yeadon) http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963423/William-Penn-SD-Bell-Ele-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- Colwyn Elementary School (K-6) (Colwyn) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963371/William-Penn-SD-Colwyn-Ele-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- East Lansdowne Elementary School (K-6) (East Lansdowne) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963305/William-Penn-SD-East-Lansdowne-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- Evans Elementary School (K-6) (Yeadon) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963161/William-Penn-SD-WB-Evans-Elementary-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- Park Lane Elementary School (K-6) (Darby) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963242/William-Penn-SD-Park-Lane-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
- Walnut Street Elementary School (K-6) (was K-8 in years 2006-08 but went back to K-6)(Darby) Report Card 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/48963117/William-Penn-SD-Walnut-Street-Elementary-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010
Alternative school
- Ombudsman
Academic Achievement
The William Penn School District has been identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as one of the lowest performing school district in the state. The student achievement has remained in the bottom 5% in the commonwealth for many years.The William Penn School District was ranked 488th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2010, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on four years of PSSA
Pennsylvania 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, mathematics and two years of science.
- 2009 - 489th
- 2008 - 491st
- 2007 - 488th of 501 school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the William Penn School District, was in the 2nd percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
In 2010, the district is in Making Progress: in Corrective Action II AYP status. Students may transfer to other schools.
Penn Wood High School Cypress Street Campus
In 2010 the school's attendance rate was 87%. The school is in School Improvement II AYP status.Penn Wood Senior High School Green Avenue Campus
In 2010, the senior high school is in Corrective Action II 4th Year AYP status. Students may transfer to another high school in the district.In 2009, Penn Wood Senior High School ranked 601st out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 32% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 31%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 22%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 27%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 31% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 29%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 23%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 26%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 8% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 2%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 5%, State - 39%
College remediation:
According to a 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...
study released in January 2009, 75% of William Penn Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
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.
AP Courses
The district offers the following Advanced Placement courses: AP English Literature and Composition, AP American History, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Spanish Language, AP French Language, AP Studio Art and Honors Physics. All students in AP courses are required to take the AP Exam in May.Dual enrollment
The high school offers the Pennsylvania 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. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.In 2010 the district received a state grant of $26,382 to aid students with costs.
Graduation Requirements
The William Penn School Board has determined that students must earn 24 credits to graduate including: 4 credits of English, 3 credits of Social Studies, 4 credits of Mathematics, 3 credits of Science, 1 credit Computer technology, 0.5 credits of Wellness/fitness, 0.5 credit Health, 0.5 credits Contemporary Living, 0.5 credits Art or Music and 6 credits in electives.When a student fails a class or needs to make-up additional classes in order to graduate on-time, a student can make-up courses through: the William Penn School District Summer School Program, the William Penn School District Cyber Academy Program, the Delaware Valley High School - Accredited High School Division or the Keystone Credit Recovery and Correspondence Program.
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. Students earn 1 credit when they have completed their project.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.
Penn Wood Middle School
The school reported the attendance rate was 92% in 2010.8th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 58% on grade level. State - 81%
- 2009 - 56%, State - 80%
- 2008 - 54%, State - 78%
- 2007 - 49%, State - 75%
8th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 44% on grade level. State - 75%
- 2009 - 37%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 37%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 33%, State - 67%
8th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 17% on grade level. State - 57%.
- 2009 - 16%, State: - 54%
- 2008 - 26%, State - 52%
7th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 53% on grade level. State - 73%
- 2009 - 43%, State - 71.7%
- 2008 - 59%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 44%, State - 66%
7th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 48% on grade level. State - 77%
- 2009 - 50%, State - 75%
- 2008 - 41%, State - 72%
- 2007 - 35%, State - 67%
Special Education
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 742 pupils or 14% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.
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.
William Penn School District received a $3,952,896 supplement for special education services in 2010.
Gifted Education
The District Administration reported that 159 or 2.94% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. 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.Bullying policy
The William Penn School District administration reported there were 2 incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.The William Penn School Board adopted the district's antibully policy. 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.
Budget
In 2009, the district reports employing over 450 teachers with a starting salary of $39,089 for 180 days work. The average teacher salary was $62,635 while the maximum salary is $154,882. In Pennsylvania, the average teacher salary for Pennsylvania's 124,100 public school teachers was $57,159 in 2008. 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, William Penn School District teachers receive a defined benefit pensionPension
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...
, professional development reimbursement, compensation for voluntary extracurricular activities, paid personal days, and 10 sick days, life insurance and other benefits. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the district employed over 500 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $47,691 for 180 school days worked.
William Penn School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $929.86 per pupil. The district is ranked 87th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, William Penn School District reported spending $13,430 per pupil. This ranked 141st in the commonwealth.
Reserves
In 2009, the district reported a $2,016,912 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero. The Pennsylvania General Assembly sets a limit on how much money a district can have in its fund balance. The limit is based on the amount of the district's budget. As the total spending in the budget rises, the district is permitted to hold greater amounts in reserve.
In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board. Certification deficiencies were noted including that an administrator's certification had expired.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.
State basic education funding
For 2010-11 the William Penn School District received a 7.83% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $21,363,732 payment. Southeast Delco School DistrictSoutheast Delco School District
Southeast Delco School District is a regional public school district located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It serves about 4200 students in Collingdale, Darby Township, Folcroft, Glenolden, and Sharon Hill. The district is adjacent to the City of Philadelphia...
received a 10.34% increase which was the highest increase, in BEF, in Delaware County. 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...
received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.97% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $19,814,414. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $18,697,871. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. Ninety school district received the base 2% increase. Upper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District is a school district of approximately 12,000 students in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.It consists of an area including Upper Darby Township, Clifton Heights borough, and Millbourne borough...
received the highest increase in Delaware County for the 2009-10 school year at 11.61%. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, 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...
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.
According to 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...
, 2,711 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
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 William Penn School District applied for and received $1,339,505 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide teacher training with teacher coaches and full day kindergarten for the 7th year.School Improvement Grant
Three schools in the district received a combined $3,285,600, three year federal/state grant for a Transformation reform program in 2010. According to the grant information, the Transformation model includes the use of rigorous, transparent, and equitable evaluation systems for teachers and principals, high-quality professional development and design and development of curriculum with teacher and principal involvement. The grant is to implement specific, aggressive reforms designed to substantially improve student performance in schools that have a high percentage of students performing below grade level, and where insufficient progress has been made over the past 5 years.Schools eligible for School Improvement Grants included the lowest performing Title I schools whose Adequate Yearly Progress status is School Improvement or Corrective Action, and Title I-eligible schools that are the lowest achieving and have not made satisfactory progress on state assessments. Title I-eligible schools are those that have a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
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. William Penn School District received $521,151 in funding in 2006-07 In 2007-08 it received $300,000. For the 2008-09, school district did not apply. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.Federal Stimulus Grant
The district received an extra $4,140,616 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 the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
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