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'{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox School | name = Shamokin Area School District | image = Map of Northumberland County Pennsylvania School Districts.png | imagesize = 250 px | caption = | streetaddress = 2000 West State Street | city = Coal Township | state = [[Pennsylvania]] | county = Northumberland County | zipcode = 17866-2807 | country = [[United States]] | coordinates = | schoolboard = 9 locally elected members | superintendent = Mr. James Zack (2010-2015)<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Names and Addresses - Shamokin Area School District, 2013</ref> salary $120,719 (2013)<ref>Openpagov.org, Shamokin Area School District Payroll 2013, 2014</ref> Contract renewed 2015 to December 12, 2018<ref>PDE, EDNames and Addresses, 2017</ref> | principal = Chris Venna, HS & MS salary $95,593 (2013)<br> William Callahan, Vice Principal HS salary $86,169 (2013)<br> Anthony Carnuccio, Vice Principal HS, salary $69,384 (2013) | principal1 = Mary Teresa Komara, ES salary $94,247 (2013)<br> Karen Colangelo, Vice Principal ES/Federal Programs Coordinator salary $75,011 (2013) | administrator = Sherry Glosek, Special Ed Supervisor, salary $69,930 (2013)<br> Mr Stephen C Curran, Business Manager, salary $94,247 (2013)<br> Ruby Michetti, director of Curriculum and Instruction, salary $84,442 (2013)<br> Diane C Serafin, Guidance salary $67,609 (2013)<br> Donna L Talisesky, Coordinator $67,209 (2013) | director = | staff =89 non teaching staff 2014)<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Shamokin Area School District, 2014</ref> | faculty =180 teachers (2014)<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Shamokin Area School District, 2015</ref><br> 161 teachers (2013),<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Shamokin Area School District, 2014</ref><br> 167 teachers (2011)<ref>NCES, Common Core of Data - Shamokin Area School District, 2012</ref> | lower_age =4 years old preschool | upper_age =21 years old special education students | type = Public | system = | fees = | tuition = | budget =$31,606,300 (2017-18)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indians.k12.pa.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=2890&dataid=4111&FileName=Proposed%202017-18%20General%20Fund%20Budget.pdf |title=Final General Fund Budget Report 2017-18 |author=Shamokin Area School District Administration |date=June 2017}}</ref><br> $30,943,006 (2016-17)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indians.k12.pa.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=2890&dataid=3466&FileName=General%20Fund%20Budget%20Final%202016%202017.pdf |title=Final General Fund Budget Report 2016-17 |author=Shamokin Area School District Administration |date=June 2016}}</ref><br> $32,314,272 (2015-16)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indians.k12.pa.us/Page/2795 |title=Final General Fund Budget Report 2015-16 |author=Shamokin Area School District Administration |date=June 15, 2015}}</ref><br> $32,465,169 (2014-15)<ref>Shamokin Area School District Business Manager, Shamokin Area School District General Fund Budget report to PDE 2014-2015, June 17, 2014</ref><br> $28,812,428 (2012-13)<ref>Eric Scicchitano., 12 to return at Shamokin Area as board OKs $28M budget, The News Item, June 20, 2012</ref><br> $31,836,636 (2011-12)<ref>Shamokin Area School District Administration, Shamokin Area School District 2012-13 Budget Book Final, June 19, 2012</ref> | grades = Preschool-12th grade | medium =English | mascot =Indians | colors =Purple | closed = | pupils =2,375 pupils (2016),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/ |title=Shamokin Area School District Fast Facts 2016 |author=PDE |date=October 4, 2016}}</ref><br> 2,514 pupils (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/408 |title=Shamokin Area School District Fast Facts 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=December 4, 2015}}</ref><br> 2,522 pupils (2014),<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA, July 2014</ref><br> 2,344 pupils (2013),<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area School District Fast Facts 2013, October 4, 2013</ref><br> 2,344 pupils (2012)<br> 2,356 (2010-11)<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA, July 2010</ref><br> 2,443 pupils (2005-06) | gradeK =177 (2012),<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA 2012-2013, 2013</ref> 287 (2010) | grade1 =189 (2012), 162 | grade2 =170 (2012), 183 | grade3 =180 (2012), 162 | grade4 =167 (2012), 152 | grade5 =194 (2012), 171 | grade6 =178 (2012), 178 | grade7 =178 (2012), 212 | grade8 =186 (2012), 142 | grade9 =202 (2012), 179 | grade10 =183 (2012), 189 | grade11 =149 (2012), 169 | grade12 = 154 (2012), 170 (2010) | grade13 = | other_grade_label = | other = Enrollment projected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to be 2,400 pupils by 2020. | communities = | feeders = | free_label =Per-pupil spending | free_text =$10,475 (2008)<ref>PDE, Finance - Selected Data by LEA, 2009</ref><br> $11,782.84 (2010)<br> $10,818.49 (2014)<ref>PDE, Finance - Selected Data by LEA, 2015</ref> | free_label1 = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | free_label4 = | free_text4 = | free_label5 = | free_text5 = | footnotes = | picture = | homepage = http://www.indians.k12.pa.us/ }} '''Shamokin Area School District''' is a small, rural public [[school district]] located in [[Coal Township, Pennsylvania]], US. The Shamokin Area School District community consists of the city of [[Shamokin, Pennsylvania|Shamokin]] and the townships of [[Coal Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Coal]], [[East Cameron Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|East Cameron]] and [[Shamokin Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Shamokin]]. It is located at the southern end of the anthracite coal region in [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]] in central Pennsylvania with a population of approximately 21,000. According to the [[US Census Bureau]], by 2010, the district's population declined to 20,876 people.<ref>US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Educational Agency, 2011</ref> The educational attainment levels for the Shamokin Area School District population (25 years old and over) were 82.4% high school graduates and 9.3% college graduates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://proximityone.com/sddep.htm#pa |title=School District Comparative Analysis Profiles |author=proximityone |year=2014}}</ref> The district is one of the 500 [[List of school districts in Pennsylvania|public school districts of Pennsylvania]]. According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 59.5% of the district's pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.<ref>Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Education Facts Student Poverty Concentration by LEA, 2012</ref> In 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 11 students in the Shamokin Area School District were homeless.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/Homeless%20Education/2013-14%20ECYEH%20Counts%20by%20Reporting%20Entity.pdf |title=How many children are homeless in your school district? |author=Collin Deppen |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=January 2015}}</ref> In 2009, the district residents' [[per capita income]] was $14,514, while the [[median family income]] was $34,189 a year.<ref>American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010</ref> In the Commonwealth, the median family income declined to $49,501 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42000.html |author=US Census Bureau |title=American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts |year=2010}}</ref> and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf |author=US Census Bureau |title=Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010 |date=September 2011}}</ref> In Northumberland County, the median household income was $41,208.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/pennsylvania/median-household-income#map |title=Pennsylvania Median household income, 2006-2010 by County |author=US Census Bureau |year=2014}}</ref> By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/08/31/most-popular-six-figure-jobs/2749981/ |title=America's most popular six-figure jobs |author1=Michael Sauter |author2=Alexander E.M. Hess, |lastauthoramp=yes |website=USA Today |date=August 31, 2013}}</ref> According to Shamokin Area School District administrative officials, during the 2005-06 school year, the district provided basic educational services to 2,443 pupils. It employed: 10 administrators, 167 teachers, and 103 full-time and part-time support personnel. In 2010, Shamokin Area School District reported an enrollment of 2,759 pupils. The district employed: 166 teachers, 126 full-time and part-time support personnel, and increased to 12 administrators during the 2009-10 school year. Shamokin Area School District received $15.7 million in state funding in the 2009-10 school year. In 2013, Shamokin Area School District reported an enrollment of 2,507 pupils. The district employed: 193 teachers, 53 full-time and part-time support personnel, and increased to 11 administrators during the 2013-14 school year. Shamokin Area School District received $16,927,439 in state funding in the 2013-14 school year which was 61% of the district's budget. The Shamokin Area School District operates four schools: [[Shamokin Area High School]], Shamokin Area Middle School, Shamokin Area Intermediate School and Shamokin Area Elementary School and Annex. The high school and middle school share a single building. The intermediate school and elementary school also occupy a single building. In 2015, more than 165 Shamokin Area pupils attend full-time cyber school.<ref>Justin Strawser, Six offer their own online classes, The Daily item, January 31, 2016</ref> The district does not offer its own cyber school program. The pupils may attend any of the 13 cyber schools operating in Pennsylvania in 2015, including locally operated [[SusQ Cyber Charter School]].<ref>PDE, Charter Schools and Cyber Charter schools 2015-16, 2015</ref> Shamokin Area High School students may choose to attend [[Northumberland County Career Technology Center]] for training in the trades. Special education services are provided by the district personnel and the [[Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit]] CSIU16, which provides the district with a wide variety of services like: specialized education for disabled students and hearing; state mandated recognizing and reporting child abuse training; speech and visual disability services; criminal background checks processing for prospective employees and professional development for staff and faculty.<ref>CSIU Administration, About Our Services, 2015</ref> ==Governance== Shamokin Area School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four-year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]] and the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]].<ref>Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010</ref> 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]], (renamed [[Every Student Succeeds Act]] (ESSA) in December 2015) which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ed.gov/essa |title=Every Student Succeeds Act |author=US Department of Education |year=2015}}</ref> The school board is required by state law to post a financial report on the district in its website by March of each school year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2012/0/0141..HTM |title=Act of Jul. 12, 2012, P.L. 1142, No. 141 Section 921-A |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |year=2012}}</ref> The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board. Shamokin Area School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the Superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.<ref>Pennsylvania General Assembly, Pennsylvania School Code, 2013</ref> Pursuant to Act 141 of 2012 which amended the Pennsylvania School Code, all school districts that have hired superintendents on/after the fall of 2012 are required to develop objective performance standards and post them on the district's website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2012/0/0141..HTM |title=Act of Jul. 12, 2012, P.L. 1142, No. 141 |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |year=2012}}</ref> These objectives are not posted in the website in March 2016.<ref>Shamokin Area School District Administration, Shamokin Area School District website, March 2016</ref> In September 2017, the Shamokin Area School Board announced hiring Chris Venna as Superintendent effective July 2018. Salary to be $127,500 each year for five years. The retiring Superintendent will receive $68,000 over six months after his retirement.<ref>The Daily Item, Principal picked to become new superintendent, September 21, 2017</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts |title=The Pennsylvania Project |author=The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives |accessdate=May 20, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716131940/http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts |archivedate=July 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ==Academic achievement== Shamokin Area School District academic ranking declined further to 445th out of the 493 ranked Pennsylvania school districts, in 2016, by the [[Pittsburgh Business Times]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2016/04/11/chester-county-district-leads-statewide-honor-roll.html |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |title=Chester County district leads statewide Honor Roll 2016 |date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> The district is the lowest ranked school district in the CSIU16 region. The ranking was based on student academic performance as demonstrated in the last 3 years of [[Pennsylvania System of School Assessment|PSSA]] results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, [[Algebra]] 1, [[Biology]] I) in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2014/04/11/school-guide-offers-vital-insights.html |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |title=Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide School District Ranking 2014 |date=April 11, 2014}}</ref> Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools ([[Saint Clair Area School District]], [[Midland Borough School District]], [[Duquesne City School District]]). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades. * 2015 - 428th<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2015/04/10/chester-county-district-ranks-no-1-in-pennsylvania.html |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |title=Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide School District Ranking 2015 |date=April 10, 2015}}</ref> * 2014 - 407th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Guide to Pennsylvania Schools - Statewide District ranking 2014, April 11, 2014</ref> * 2013 - 381st * 2012 - 375th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Guide to Pennsylvania Schools - Statewide District ranking 2012, April 5, 2012</ref> * 2011 - 383rd<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/pennsylvania_schools/statewiderank.html |title=Statewide Honor Roll Ranking Information |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=April 4, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723231609/http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/pennsylvania_schools/statewiderank.html |archivedate=July 23, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * 2010 - 396th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Honor Roll Ranking 2010, May 6, 2010</ref> * 2009 - 401st * 2008 - 381st<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/05/21/daily24.html |title=Pennsylvania Public School Rankings |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=May 23, 2008}}</ref> * 2007 - 416th<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/05/21/daily24.html |title=Top three schools in Allegheny County |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=July 3, 2007}}</ref> ;Overachiever statewide ranking: In 2013, the ''Pittsburgh Business Times'' also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. '''Shamokin Area School District ranked 30th.'''<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Overachivers Ranking Information 2013, April 4, 2013</ref> The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/feature/schools/overachiever_statewide_rank.html |title=Overachiever statewide ranking |publisher=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=May 6, 2010}}</ref> * 2012 - 53rd<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Overachivers Ranking Information, April 6, 2012</ref> * 2011 - 116th ;Opportunity Scholarship - lowest achieving schools In 2016, Shamokin Area High School remained on the state's lowest academic achievement list.<ref>PDE, Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program 2016, 2016</ref> In May 2015, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying one Shamokin Area School District school was among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_services_office/9153/p/1202312 |title=Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 11, 2015}}</ref> Included on the list was Shamokin Area High School. One hundred four (104) Pennsylvania public school districts had one or more schools on the list. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another public or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newpa.com/find-incentives-apply-for-funding/ostc-faq |title=Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program FAQ |author=Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development |date=April 2014}}</ref> The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=509670&mode=2 |title=Tuition rate Fiscal Year 2011-2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2012}}</ref> Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state business tax credit for donating. In October 2015, Pennsylvania Auditor General DiPasquale reported that three schools in the Shamokin Area School District are among the 561 academically challenged schools that have been overlooked by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Shamokin Area High School, Shamokin Area Intermediate School and Shamokin Area MIddle School were all on the list of 561 poor performing schools in the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paauditor.gov/Media/Default/Print/PDE_Map_School_List_By_County_100515_FINAL.pdf |title=561 Academically Challenged Schools Overlooked by the Department of Education |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General Office |date=October 6, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118221637/http://www.paauditor.gov/Media/Default/Print/PDE_Map_School_List_By_County_100515_FINAL.pdf |archivedate=November 18, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He reported the Pennsylvania Department of Education failed to take any action to remediate the schools to raise student academic achievement or provide them with targeted professional assistance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paauditor.gov/Media/Default/Reports/Performance%20Audit%20of%20the%20Pennsylvania%20Department%20of%20Education%2010-5-15.pdf |title=Special Performance Audit Report - Pennsylvania Department of Education |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General Office |date=October 2015}}</ref> ===District AYP status history=== In 2011 and 2012, Shamokin Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).<ref>PDE, Shamokin Area School District AYP history 2011-2012, 2012</ref> In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Public School District AYP History, 2011</ref> Shamokin Area School District achieved AYP status each school year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the district was in '''Warning''' status due to low student achievement.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania District AYP History 2003-2010, 2011</ref> ===Graduation rate=== In 2016, the district's graduation rate declined further to 81.82%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/408 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Shamokin Area School District District Fast Facts 2015, |year=2015}}</ref> * 2015 - 82.04%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/408 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Shamokin Area School District District Fast Facts 2015, |year=2015}}</ref> The nationwide graduation rate was 83%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/cnhi_network/nation-s-high-school-graduation-rate-reaches-new-record-high/article_8987f0fb-8c80-5870-9d81-b7f8e5600395.html |title=Nation's high school graduation rate reaches new record high |author=Emma Brown |website=The Washington Post |date=October 16, 2016}}</ref> * 2014 - 82.84% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/408 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education, |title=Shamokin Area School District District Fast Facts 2014, |year=2014}}</ref> * 2013 - 86.7%.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area School District District Fast Facts 2013, 2013</ref> * 2012 - 74.88%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c49/116496503 |title=Shamokin Area School District AYP data table 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426232343/http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c49/116496503 |archivedate=April 26, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * 2011 - 86%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c49/116496503 |title=Shamokin Area School District - AYP Data Table |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426232343/http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c49/116496503 |archivedate=April 26, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * 2010 - 75%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/Pages/Cohort-Graduation-Rate-.aspx#.VjdAEih1PzI |title=New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=March 15, 2011}}</ref> ;Former calculation graduation rate: * 2010 - 82%<ref>PDE, Shamokin Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 data table, October 10, 2010</ref> * 2009 - 83%<ref>Shamokin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education, September 14, 2009</ref> * 2008 - 86%<ref>PDE, Shamokin Area School District Report Card 2008, 2008</ref> * 2007 - 92%<ref>PDE, Shamokin Area School District Academic Report Card 2007, 2007</ref> * 2006 - 93% ===High school=== Shamokin Area High School is located at 2000 West State Street, Shamokin. In 2016, enrollment was reported as 674 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 66% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal [[Poverty in the United States|federal poverty level]]. Additionally, 15% of pupils received special education services, while none of the pupils were identified as [[Intellectual giftedness|gifted]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5750 |title=Shamokin Area High School Fast Facts 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> The school employed 41 teachers.<ref>US News and World Report, Best High Schools, 2016</ref> Per the PA Department of Education, 5% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal [[No Child Left Behind]] Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Teacher%20Quality/Pages/Highly-Qualified-Teacher-Guidelines.aspx#.VsRL1ih1PzI |title=Highly Qualified Teacher Guidelines |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624184014/http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Teacher%20Quality/Pages/Highly-Qualified-Teacher-Guidelines.aspx#.VsRL1ih1PzI |archivedate=June 24, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2013, enrollment was reported as 687 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 53% of pupils qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 14% of pupils received special education services, while 1% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 40 teachers.<ref>US News and World Report, Best High Schools, 2014</ref> Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 4% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school is a federally designated Title I school. According to the [[National Center for Education Statistics]], in 2010 the school had 748 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 356 pupils qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 42 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Shamokin Area High School, 2010</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 4 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers High School 2012, September 21, 2012</ref> In 2015 and 2016, Shamkoin Area High School was unrecognized by US News and World report's nationwide high school ranking.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/pennsylvania/districts/shamokin-area-sd/shamokin-area-high-school-17322 |title=2017 Rankings |author=US World and News Report |date=2017}}</ref> In 2014, Shamokin Area High School was recognized by [[US News and World Report]] as a Bronze level high school in a nationwide school ranking. Among Pennsylvania high schools (traditional, charter and private) 56 achieved gold or silver medals. Another 103 high schools achieved bronze rating out of 698 Pennsylvania high schools reviewed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools |title=High School Overview 2014 |author=US News and World Report |date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> The school was also ranked Bronze level in 2012 and 2013. ;2016 School Performance Profile SPP was 71.8 out of 100 points. Shamokin Area High School Keystone Exams mandated testing results were: 76% of students were on grade level in reading.literature and just 62% of students demonstrated on grade level in Algebra I. In Biology I, only 54% of pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the Biology course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx |title=2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> The requirement that pupils pass the Keystone Exams in reading, algebra I and bIology I in order to graduate was postponed until 2019 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly because less than 60% of 12 grade pupils statewide would have been eligible for graduation from high school due to failing one or more Keystone Exams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/PDE%20Act%201%20Report.pdf |title=Findings and Recommendations Pursuant to Act 1 of 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=August 2016}}</ref> Fifty-four percent of the 2,676 public schools in Pennsylvania achieved a passing score of 70 or better.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/10/seven_interesting_observations.html#6 |title=How District schools fared overall |author=Jan Murphy |date=October 16, 2016}}</ref> ;2015 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area High School declined further to 51.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 63.33% of the High School's students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, just 61.8% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, only 38% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5750 |title=Shamokin Area High School School Performance Profile 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/11/report_card_for_states_high_sc.html#incart_river_home |title=Report card for state's high schools show overall decline |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Downloads |title=2015 Keystone Exam School Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> ;2014 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area High School declined to 55 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - only 53% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, just 62% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 42.7% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5750 |title=Shamokin Area High School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/half-of-valley-districts-see-state-test-scores-decline/article_7f17c13a-663a-11e4-98fa-03b167fc2eff.html |title=Half of Valley districts see state test scores decline |author=Evamarie Socha |publisher=The Daily Item |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> Shamokin Area High School's score ranked last among 18 Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit high schools.<ref>PDE, School Performance Profiles 2014, November 6, 2014</ref> According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.<ref>Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq, Acting Secretary of Education Announces Results of 2013-14 School Performance Profile; Strong Performance in 72 Percent of Schools, November 6, 2014</ref> Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20141107_Pa__school_rankings__Downington_STEM_No__1__Phila__falters.html#wQjuYT6tV3OS13rv.99 |title=Pa. school rankings: Downingtown STEM No. 1; Phila. falters |author1=Kathy Boccella |author2=Dylan Purcell |author3=Kristen A. Graham |last-author-amp=yes |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/11/more_pennsylvania_school_score.html#incart_m-rpt-2 |title=More Pa. school scores decline than improve, state report card shows |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> Compared with last year, the percentage of schools that earned below 60 declined by nearly 1 percent per Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq. She reported that this is an indication that student achievement is improving as school resources are being used better.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/half-of-valley-districts-see-state-test-scores-decline/article_7f17c13a-663a-11e4-98fa-03b167fc2eff.html |title=Half of Valley districts see state test scores decline |author=Evamarie Socha |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> ;2013 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area High School achieved 58.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 64.23% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 65% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 41% showed on grade level science understanding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org |title=Shamokin Area High School Academic Performance Data 2013 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2013/12/11/Pennsylvania-updates-PSSA-and-Keystone-scores-for-schools-statewide/stories/201312110135 |title=New assessment shows fuller picture of Pa. schools |author1=Eleanor Chute |author2=Mary Niederberger |lastauthoramp=yes |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> ====AYP status==== In 2012, Shamokin Area High School declined further to '''School Improvement I''' Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing all of the eight academic metrics in reading and mathematics.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area High School AYP Overview, September 21, 2012</ref> The school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/choice/index.html |title=NCLB Parental Notices |author=US Department of Education |year=2003}}</ref> The High School was eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20Programs/Pages/School-Improvement-Grants-(SIG).aspx#.Vtq1USh1PzI |title=School Improvement Grant |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012}}</ref> * 2011 - declined to '''Warning''' status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area High School AYP Overview 2011, September 29, 2011</ref> * 2008-2010 - achieved '''AYP''' status each school year.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area High School AYP Overview 2010, October 20, 2010</ref> * 2007 - '''Warning''' AYP status due to lagging math achievement<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area High School AYP Overview 2007, 2007</ref> ;PSSA History [[Pennsylvania System of School Assessment]]s, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_assessment_system/20965 |title=State Assessment System |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref> In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the applicable course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx#.VyhrRSh1PzI |title=State Assessment System |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref> The state announced the change in 2010 and made it in order to comply with Governor Edward G. Rendell's agreement to change to the national Common Core standards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.mcall.com/2013-05-14/news/mc-pa-education-common-core-keystones-20130513_1_common-core-senate-democrats-standards |title=Pennsylvania getting swept into national 'Common Core' education debate |author=Steve Esack, |publisher=MCALL news |date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> ;'''11th Grade Mathematics''' * 2012 - 60%, on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level. * 2011 - 66%, (15% below basic). State - 60.3% * 2010 - 68% (14% below basic). State - 59%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 10, 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/11th%20grade%20Reading%202010%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20Ranking.pdf |title=11th Grade Mathematics Achievement in CSIU16 region high schools |year=2010}}</ref> * 2009 - 59%, State - 56%<ref>Central Pennsylvania High Schools CSIU16 Math Ranking 2009</ref> * 2008 - 45%, State - 56%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area School District Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008</ref> * 2007 - 36%, State - 55%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, PSSA Math and Reading results 2007 by School and Grade, 2007</ref> * 2006 - 35%, State - 53%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2006, 2006</ref> ;'''11th grade Reading:''' * 2012 - 64% on grade level, Boys 59% | Girls 66% (9% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx#.VsQ7nyh1PzI |title=2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> * 2011 - 60%, Boys 55% | Girls 67% (20% below basic). State - 69.1% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx#.VsQ7nyh1PzI |title=2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> * 2010 - 67.8%, (14% below basic) State - 67%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx#.VsQ7nyh1PzI |title=Shamokin Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref> Ranks 13th out of 18 high schools in the CSIU region<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/11th%20grade%20Reading%202010%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20Ranking.pdf |title=11th grade PSSA Reading Ranking 2010 |date=November 2010}}</ref> * 2009 - 71% (17% below basic). State - 65% * 2008 - 58%, State - 65%<ref>11th Grade Reading PSSA 2008 Central Susquehanna Valley IU16 Region ranking, 2008</ref> * 2007 - 72%, State - 65.4%<ref>11th Grade Reading PSSA 2007 Central Pennsylvania, 2007</ref> * 2006 - 68%, State - 65% ;'''11th grade Science''' * 2012 - 29% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx#.VsQ7nyh1PzI |title=2011-2012 PSSA results in Science |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012}}</ref> * 2011 - 32% (12% below basic). State - 40% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx#.VsQ7nyh1PzI |title=2010-2011 PSSA results in Science |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> * 2010 - 33% (20% below basic). State - 39%. Ranked 17th out of 18 local 11th grades.<ref>Central Pennsylvania Public High School Science Ranking 2010</ref> * 2009 - 27% (18% below basic). State - 40%<ref>Central Pennsylvania Public High School Science Ranking 2009</ref> * 2008 - 24%, State - 39%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, PSSA Science results 2008 by School and Grade, August 15, 2008</ref> '''Science in Motion''' Shamokin Area High School took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.<ref>The Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnership, Science in Motion annual report, 2012</ref> [[Susquehanna University]] provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region. ====College Remediation==== In January 2009, research was presented to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The research examined course enrollment trends at the state's 14 community colleges and the 14 institutions in the [[Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education]]. The data, provided by PASSHE and the community colleges, showed that during the 2007–08 school year '''19% of Shamokin Area High School graduates required costly remediation in math and/or reading''' before they could take regular college courses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/18999134/College-Remediation-Report |title=Pennsylvania College Remediation Report |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=January 20, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211094208/http://www.scribd.com/doc/18999134/College-Remediation-Report |archivedate=December 11, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> This was the average remediation rate among the IU16 region's high schools.<ref>Thousands of Pennsylvania high school graduates head to college unprepared. http://www.pdenewsroom.state.pa.us/newsroom/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=148018{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 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.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.achieve.org/files/PAGradReqFactSheetFINAL.pdf |title=THE VALUE OF THE COLLEGE- AND CAREER-READY AGENDA IN PENNSYLVANIA |author=Achieve.org |year=2014}}</ref> ====SAT scores==== In 2016, 71 Shamokin Area School District students took the [[SAT]] exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 457. The Math average score was 513. The Writing average score was 448.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Pages/SAT-and-ACT.aspx |title=SAT and AP Scores 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2016}}</ref> The [[College Board]] also reported that statewide 92,569 pupils took the exams with average scores declining again in all three measurers to: 494 in reading, 508 in math and 482 in writing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results/class-of-2016-results/state-reports |author=College Board, |title=SAT 2016 Total Group report Pennsylvania |year=2017 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802124358/https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results/class-of-2016-results/state-reports |archivedate=August 2, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Among the 12 high schools in the CSIU16 region, Shamokin Area High School ranked last which was also below the state average.<ref>Scicchitano, Eric., SAT Split in Valley, The Daily Item, April 17, 2017</ref> Nationally, 1,681,134 students took the SATs.<ref>College Board, Class of 2016 SAT Participation and Performance Data, 2017</ref> In 2015, 79 Shamokin Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 485. The Math average score was 481. The Writing average score was 439.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Pages/SAT-and-ACT.aspx |title=SAT and AP Scores 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2015}}</ref> The [[College Board]] also reported that statewide 96,826 pupils took the exams with average scores declining in all three measurers to: 495 in reading, 511 in math and 484 in writing.<ref>College Board, SAT 2015 Total Group report Pennsylvania, 2016</ref> In 2014, 92 Shamokin Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 466. The Math average score was 480. The Writing average score was 426.<ref>PDE, Shamokin Area High School Performance profile, November 6, 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Pages/SAT-and-ACT.aspx |title=SAT and ACT Scores |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref> Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/sat/PA_14_03_03_01.pdf |title=2014 College-Bound Seniors State Profile Report |author=College Board |year=2014}}</ref> In 2013, 78 Shamokin Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 451. The Math average score was 481. The Writing average score was 431. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://research.collegeboard.org/programs/sat/data/cb-seniors-2013 |title=The 2013 SAT Report on College & Career Readiness |author=College Board |year=2013}}</ref> In 2012, 103 Shamokin Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 463. The Math average score was 483. The Writing average score was 436. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the US, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400. In 2011, 99 Shamokin Area School District students took the [[SAT]] exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 456. The Math average score was 488. The Writing average score was 432.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Pages/SAT-and-ACT.aspx |title=Public School SAT Scores 2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/sat-scores-by-state-2011 |title=SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania |author=College Board |date=September 2011}}</ref> In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/while_us_sat_scores_dip_across.html |title=While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady |work=NJ.com |date=September 2011}}</ref> The Pennsylvania Department of Education compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania's SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rural.palegislature.us/news0706.html#8 |title=SAT Scores and Other School Data |author=The Center for Rural Pennsylvania |date=August 2006}}</ref> The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 71 percent of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania chose to continue their education after high school in 2003, whereas 79 percent of urban high school graduates opted to continue their education. ====Dual enrollment==== Shamokin Area High School offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Dual Enrollment Guidelines |year=2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017221943/https://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011 |archivedate=October 17, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patrac.org/ |title=Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement |date=March 2010}}</ref> For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $30,670 for the program. In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis. ;Penn College NOW In 2015, Shamokin Area School District did not offer dual enrollment courses in conjunction with [[Pennsylvania College of Technology]]. Penn College NOW classes are taught by approved local high school teachers, at the high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pct.edu/k12/penncollegenow/ |title=Penn College NOW Dual Enrollment |author=Pennsylvania College of Technology administration |year=2014}}</ref> Penn College NOW is partially funded by the [[Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act|Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act]] of 2006 (Public Law 109-270) through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, by the support of Pennsylvania companies through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program managed by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development]] and by Pennsylvania College of Technology. ====Graduation requirements==== Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 24 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, plus social studies 3 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, health 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, and electives.<ref>Shamokin Area School Administration, Program of Studies 2013, 2013</ref> By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school from 1998 to 2016. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html |title=Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education |date=October 25, 2002}}</ref> Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.<ref>Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012</ref> By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/wolf_signs_bill_to_suspend_use.html |title=Wolf signs bill to suspend use of Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement |author=Jan Murphey |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in [[Algebra]] I, [[Biology]], and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Keystone_Exam_Program_Overview.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Keystone Exam Overview |year=2010}}</ref> The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4695967-74/board-students-education#axzz2fcd9tUjG |title=Pennsylvania changing high school graduation requirements |author=Megan Harris |publisher=Tribune Live |date=September 12, 2013}}</ref> Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Those who do not pass after several attempts may perform a project in order to graduate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/Keystone.aspx |title=Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317221759/http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/Keystone.aspx |archivedate=March 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-2/56.html |title=Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4 |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education |year=2010}}</ref> Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP. School district superintendents have the discretion to graduate up to 10% of pupils who do not pass the exams or project. For the class of 2019, a Composition exam was to be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam was to be added to the graduation requirements.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013</ref> In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/keystone_exams/20436 |title=Keystone Exams |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2017, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed House Bill 202,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2017&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=202 |title=House Bill 202 of 2017 |author=Representative Mike Turzai |year=2017}}</ref> which makes modifications of the Keystone Exam mandates for students who attend VoTech and Career Tech schools. These pupils will be allowed to use alternate assessments or industry-based certifications.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/local/allegheny/12403157-74/wolf-to-sign-law-granting-career-track-students-alternatives-to-keystone-exit-exams |title=Wolf to sign law granting career-track students alternatives to Keystone exit exams |author=Natosha Lindstrom |publisher=TribLive |date=June 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2017/06/22/keystone-exams-pennsylvania-standardized-testing-students-career-technical-education/stories/201706210192 |title=New law would allow some Pennsylvania students to finish high school without Keystone exams |author=Karen Langley |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date= June 22, 2017}}</ref> ====AP Courses==== In 2013, Shamokin Area High School offered 7 [[Advanced Placement]] (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Students have the option of taking [[College Board]] approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Shamokin Area High School just 10% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.<ref>PDE, School Performance Profile - Academic Performance Data - Shamokin Area High School, December 2013</ref> In 2014, Shamokin Area High School offered 7 AP courses. Just 17% of SAHS students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.<ref>PDE, School Academic Performance Data - Shamokin Area High School, December 2014</ref> In 2015, Shamokin Area High School continued to offer 7 AP courses. Just 24.67% of SAHS students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Academic Performance Data - Shamokin Area High School, December 2015</ref> ===Middle school=== Shamokin Area Middle School is located at 2000 West State Street, Shamokin. In 2016, enrollment was 377 pupils, in grades 7th and 8th, with 72.9% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 16.7% of pupils received special education services, while none of the pupils were identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5751 |title=Shamokin Area Middle School Fast Facts 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> According to a 2015 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 98% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Shamokin Area Middle School, November 5, 2015</ref> In 2013, enrollment was 365 pupils in grades 7th and 8th, with 65% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 15% of pupils received special education services, while less than 1% of pupils were identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5751 |title=Shamokin Area Middle School School Fast Facts |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers New Oxford Middle School, October 4, 2013</ref> In 2010, Shamokin Area Middle School had 342 pupils in grades 7th and 8th, with 178 pupils receiving the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 29 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Shamokin Area Middle School, 2010</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2 of its teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Shamokin Area Middle School, September 21, 2012</ref> ;2016 School Performance Profile: SPP 54 out of 100 points. Shamokin Area Middle School PSSA mandated testing results were: 41% of students in 8th grade were on grade level in reading, while 19% of students demonstrated on grade level in mathematics. In science, just 43% of eighth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx |title=2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> In 7th grade, 54% of pupils were on grade level in reading, while just 27% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Statewide just 31% of eighth graders demonstrated on grade level in math and 58% of eighth graders were on grade level in reading. In science, 57.7% of eighth graders showed on grade level proficiency. Among 7th graders, just 37% of students demonstrated on grade evel skills in mathematics. In seventh grade reading, 58% were on grade level. Sixth graders had 61.5% showing on grade level math skills. In reading, 61.5% of sixth graders were on grade level.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/department-of-education-releases-statewide-results-on-the-2016-pennsylvania-system-of-school-assessment-pssa-300316585.html |title=Department of Education Releases Statewide Results on the 2016 Pennsylvania System Of School Assessment (PSSA) |author=PR Newswire |year=2016}}</ref> ;2015 School Performance Profile: SPP withheld by PDE. The PDE reported that 47% of 8th grade students at Shamokin Area Middle School students were on grade level in reading. In math/Algebra 1, 17% of 8th grade students showed on grade level skills (37% below basic). In science, 54% of the school's 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding (22% below basic). No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, 64% were on grade level in reading, while just 16% showed on grade level math skills (38% below basic). Statewide 58% of eighth (8th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 29% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 7th graders were58% on grade level in reading and 33% demonstrated on grade level math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA State Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> ;2014 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area Middle School achieved an SPP of 65.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 73.8% of pupils were on grade level. In Algebra 1/Math, just 72.7% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Science, only 37% of 8th graders showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, 72% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/ |title= Middle School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> ;2013 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area Middle School achieved 62 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 62% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 71% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 44% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 73% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5751 |title=Shamokin Area Middle School Academic Performance Data 2013 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> ====AYP History==== Shamokin Area Middle School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status in 2010 through 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c49/116496503/7892 |title=Shamokin Area Middle School - School AYP Overview |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815095129/http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c49/116496503/7892 |archivedate=August 15, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2007 and 2008, Shamokin Area Middle School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student academic achievement in reading and mathematics. ;PSSA Results PSSAs are NCLB related examination given in the Spring of each school year. Sixth and seventh grades are tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_academic_standards/19721 |title=State Academic Standards |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref> ;'''8th Grade Reading:''' * 2012 - 71% on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.<ref>PDE, Shamokin Area School District Academic Report Card 2012, September 21, 2012</ref> * 2011 - 72% (15% below basic). State - 81.8% * 2010 – 78%, State – 81%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/8th%20Grade%20PSSA%20Reading%202010%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20Region%20IU16.pdf |title=Eighth grade reading achievement in CSIU16 region 2010, |year=2010}}</ref> * 2009 – 73%, State – 80.9%<ref>Pennsylvania Reading, Math, Science and Writing PSSA Results 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education, August 2009.</ref> * 2008 – 77%, State – 78% * 2007 – 76%, State – 75%<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx# |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Math and Reading PSSA Results by School 2007 |year=2007}}</ref> ;'''8th Grade Math:''' * 2012 - 77% on grade level (9% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76% of 8th graders are on grade level. * 2011 - 81% (8% below basic). State - 76.9% * 2010 – 80.7%, State – 75%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/8th%20Grade%20Math%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20IU16%20region%202010.pdf |title=Eighth grade achievement 2010 in CSIU region |year=2010}}</ref> * 2009 – 67%, State – 71% * 2008 – 72%, State – 70% * 2007 – 72%, State – 67% ;'''8th Grade Science:''' * 2011 - 51% on grade level, (29% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level. * 2011 - 45% (29% below basic). State – 58.3% * 2010 – 52%, State – 47%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/8th%20Grade%20PSSA%20Science%202010%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20RegionIU16.pdf |title=8th Grade Science PSSA 2010 Ranking Central Susquehanna IU16 Region |year=2010}}</ref> * 2009 – 42%, State −55% * 2008 – 53%, State – 50% ;'''7th Grade Reading''' * 2011 - 70% on grade level (15% below basic). State – 76% * 2011 - 67% (14% below basic). State – 76% * 2010 - 57% (20% below basic). State - 73% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/7th%20Grade%20Reading%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20IU16%202010.pdf |title=7th Grade Reading PSSA Results 2010 Central Susquehanna IU16 Region |year=2009}}</ref> * 2009 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 71% * 2008 - 56% (22% below basic). State - 70% * 2007 - 62% (13% below basic). State - 67% ;'''7th Grade Math:''' * 2012 - 82% on grade level (9% below basic). State - 80% * 2011 - 72% (13% below basic). State - 78.6% * 2010 - 80% (10% below basic). State - 77%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/7th%20Grade%20Math%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20IU16%202010.pdf |title=7th Grade Math PSSA Results 2010 Central Susquehanna IU16 Region |year=2009}}</ref> * 2009 - 69% (14% below basic), State - 75% * 2008 - 56% (25% below basic), State - 71% * 2007 - 69% (13% below basic), State - 67% ===Intermediate School=== Shamokin Area Intermediate School is located at 3000 West State Street, Shamokin. In 2016, the school's enrollment was 356 pupils in grades 5th and 6th, with 74% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 20% of the pupils receive special education services, while none are identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/27897 |title=Shamokin Area Intermediate School Fast Facts 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. In July 2013, Shamokin Area School Board reorganized the elementary school making 5th and 6th grade into a separate school in the same building - Shamokin Area Intermediate School. In 2014, Shamokin Area Intermediate School's enrollment was 362 pupils in grades 5th and 6th, with 64% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 21.8% of pupils received special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 87% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/27897 |title=Shamokin Area Intermediate School Fast Facts 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> ;2016 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area Intermediate School PSSA mandated testing results were: just 47% of students in 6th grade were on grade level in reading, while only 23% of students demonstrated on grade level mathematics skills. In 5th grade, just 63% were on grade level in reading, while 36% demonstrated on grade level math skills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results, September 29, 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/09/state_test_scores_are_trending.html#incart_most-commented_news_article |title=Standardized test scores show Pa. schools have more work to do |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> ;2015 School Performance Profile: According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 53% of 5th grade students (18% below basic) at Intermediate School were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In mathematics, 30% of 5th grade students showed on grade level skills (30% below basic). No fifth grade writing scores were reported. Among 6th graders, 48% were on grade level in reading (8% below basic) and 24% were on grade level in mathematics (25% below basic).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA School Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> Statewide 61.9% of fifth (5th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 42.8% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Among sixth (6th) graders statewide, 60.7% were reading on grade level, while 39.7% demonstrated on grade level math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA State Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> ;2014 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area Intermediate School achieved a score of 66 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013-14, only 56.5% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 5th through 6th. In math, 70.9% were on grade level (5th and 6th grades). In writing, 66% of 5th grade pupils writing on grade level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/27897 |title=Shamokin Area Intermediate School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> ===Elementary School=== Shamokin Area Elementary School is located at 3000 West State Street, Shamokin. In 2016, the school's enrollment declined further to 888 pupils in grades preschool through 4th, with 77% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 19% of the pupils receive special education services, while none are identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5749 |title=Shamokin Area Elementary School Fast Facts 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten and taxpayer paid preschool.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, Shamokin Area Elementary School Fast Facts, 2016</ref> The school is a federally designated [[Title I]] school. In 2014, Shamokin Area Elementary School's enrollment was 923 pupils in grades preschool though 4th, with 66% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 16.7% of pupils received special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten and a half day preschool for 4 year olds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5749 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=School Performance Profile, Shamokin Area Elementary School Fast Facts 2014 |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> The school has provided full-day kindergarten since 2008. In 2013, Shamokin Area Elementary School's enrollment was 1,262 pupils in grades preschool though 6th, with 61.9% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 17.7% of pupils received special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten and a half day preschool for 4 year olds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5749 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=School Performance Profile, Shamokin Area Elementary School Fast Facts |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> The school has provided full-day kindergarten since 2008. In 2010, Shamokin Area Elementary School had 1,355 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 736 pupils qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 93 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common core of Data - Shamokin Area Elementary School, 2010</ref> One teacher was designated as a Non‐Highly Qualified Teacher under No Child Left Behind in 2012.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Report Card 2012, 2012</ref> ; 2016 School Performance Profile: SPP 77.8 out of 100 points. Shamokin Area Elementary School PSSA mandated testing results were: 4th grade, 59% were on grade level in reading, while just 47% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 80% of fourth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding of science concepts in the state standards. Among the school's third graders, just 53% were on grade level in reading and only 44% showed on grade level mathematics skills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results, September 29, 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/09/state_test_scores_are_trending.html#incart_most-commented_news_article |title=Standardized test scores show Pa. schools have more work to do |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> ;2015 School Performance Profile: SPP withheld by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in Shamokin Area 4th grade, 55% were on grade level in reading (10% below basic), while just 34% showed on grade level math skills (27% below basic). In science, 79% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among third (3rd) graders, 48% were on grade level in reading (17% below basic) and just 41% were on grade level in mathematics (32% below basic).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA School Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> Statewide Pennsylvania 4th graders were 58.6% on grade level in reading and 44.4% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 77.3% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among Pennsylvania third (3rd) graders, 62% were reading on grade level, while 48.5% demonstrated on grade level math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA State Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> ;2014 School Performance Profile: Shamokin Area Elementary School achieved a score of 76.5 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013-14, only 65% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd and 4th. In 3rd grade, 69% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 76% were on grade level (3rd and 4th grades). In 4th grade science, just 76% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/ |title= Elementary School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> ;2013 School Performance Profile Shamokin Area Elementary School achieved a score of 66.3 out of 100. The score reflects student on grade level achievement in: reading, science, writing and mathematics. In 2012-13, only 63.23% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In 3rd grade, just 62% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 75% were on grade level (3rd-6th grades). In 4th grade science, 84% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing only 53.7% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5749 |title=Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Performance Data 2013, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> ;AYP History In 2012, Shamokin Area Elementary School (SAES) achieved AYP status. The school was in '''Warning''' status in 2011. In 2010, SAES achieved '''AYP''' status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c49/116496503/7009 |title=SHAMOKIN AREA Elementary School AYP Overview |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717014052/http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c49/116496503/7009 |archivedate=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The attendance rate was 92% in 2010 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c49/116496503/7009 |title=SHAMOKIN AREA Elementary School AYP Data Table 2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717014052/http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c49/116496503/7009 |archivedate=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ;PSSA Results Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. The sixth grade is tested in reading and mathematics. The first cohort of children who attended Accountability Block Grant funded full-day kindergarten reached third grade and took the PSSAs in the spring of 2008. {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} '''6th Grade Reading:''' * 2012 - 62% (51% below basic). State - 68% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Achievement report Card 2012, September 21, 2012</ref> * 2011 - 72% (11% below basic). State - 69.9%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011</ref> * 2010 - 64% (14% below basic). State - 68%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010</ref> * 2009 - 69% (9% below basic), State - 67% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009</ref> * 2008 - 61% (18% below basic), State - 67% * 2007 - 63% (19% below basic), State - 63% {{col-2-of-2}} '''6th Grade Math:''' * 2012 - 74% (8% below basic). State - 77% * 2011 - 74% (10% below basic). State - 78.8% * 2010 - 71% (6% below basic). State - 78% * 2009 - 72% (9% below basic). State - 75% * 2008 - 66% (20% below basic). State - 72% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008</ref> * 2007 - 59% (20% below basic). State - 69%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shamokin Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2007, 2007</ref> {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} '''5th Grade Reading:''' * 2012 - 65% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 67.3% * 2011 - 56% (20% below basic). State - 67.3% * 2010 - 55% (21% below basic). State – 64% * 2009 - 62% (18% below basic), State - 64% * 2008 - 59% (22% below basic). State - 62% * 2007 - 57% (22% below basic). State - 60% {{col-2-of-2}} '''5th Grade Math:''' * 2012 - 83% on grade level (5% below basic). State - 73% * 2011 - 75% (6% below basic). State - 76% * 2010 - 75% (9% below basic). State - 76.3% * 2009 - 78% (7% below basic), State - 73% * 2008 - 74% (11% below basic). State - 73% * 2007 - 74% (16% below basic). State - 71% {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} ;4th Grade Reading: * 2012 - 75% (12% below basic). State – 72% * 2011 - 81% (7% below basic). State – 73.3% * 2010 - 70% (9% below basic). State - 73% * 2009 - 70% (11% below basic), State - 72% * 2008 - 63% (14% below basic). State - 70% * 2007 - 69% (16% below basic). State - 60% {{col-2-of-2}} ;4th Grade Math: * 2012 - 93%, 65% advanced. State – 82% * 2011 - 93%, 69% advanced. State – 85% * 2010 - 94%, 54% advanced. State - 84% * 2009 - 83%, 52% advanced. State - 81% * 2008 - 80% (10% below basic). State - 80% * 2007 - 79% (11% below basic). State - 78% {{col-end}} ;4th Grade Science: * 2012 - 81%, (4% below basic), State – 82% * 2011 - 86%, (5% below basic), State – 82.9% * 2010 - 80%, (8% below basic), State - 81% * 2009 - 82%, (5% below basic), State - 83% * 2008 - 80%, (5% below basic). State - 81% {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} ;3rd Grade Reading: * 2012 - 74%, (11% below basic), State – 74% * 2011 - 76%, (15% below basic), State – 77% * 2010 - 76%, (8% below basic), State - 75% * 2009 - 76%, (12% below basic). State - 77% * 2008 - 69%, (14% below basic). State - 70% * 2007 - 69%, (14% below basic). State - 72% {{col-2-of-2}} ;3rd Grade Math: * 2012 - 85%, (2% below basic), State – 80% * 2011 - 78%, (5% below basic), State – 83% * 2010 - 83%, (4% below basic), State - 84% * 2009 - 82%, (3% below basic), State - 81% * 2008 - 74%, (7% below basic). State - 80% * 2007 - 72%, (3% below basic). State - 78% {{col-end}} ==Special education== In December 2015, Shamokin Area School District administration reported that 422 pupils or 17.7% of the district's pupils received [[Special Education]] services, with 40.5% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/penndata/documents/BSEReports/Data%20Preview/2015_2016/PDF_Documents/Speced_Quick_Report_SD316_Final.pdf |title=Shamokin Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education Services |year=2015}}</ref> In 2013, Shamokin Area School District administration reported that 407 pupils or 16% of the district's pupils received [[Special Education]] services, with 36.9% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/PublicReporting/DataataGlance/tabid/2523/Default.aspx |title=Shamokin Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education Services |year=2013}}</ref> In 2012, Shamokin Area School District administration reported that 414 pupils or 17.5% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 36% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/PublicReporting/DataataGlance/tabid/2523/Default.aspx |title=Shamokin Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education Services |date=2012–2013}}</ref> In December 2010, the district administration reported that 471 pupils or 18% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 32% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 375 pupils or 15.2% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/PublicReporting/DataataGlance/tabid/2523/Default.aspx |title=Shamokin Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets School Year 2008-2009 |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education |date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> In 2007, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education [[Gerald Zahorchak]] testified before the Pennsylvania House Education Committee regarding full-day kindergarten. He claimed that districts which offered the program would see a significant decrease in special education students due to early identification and early intervention. He asserted the high cost of full-day kindergarten would be recouped by districts in lower special education costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pakeys.org/docs/Zahorchak_testimony_5-30-07.pdf |author=Gerald L. Zahorchak, D. Ed. |title=House Education Committee Hearing on Governor’s Proposed Increase for Accountability Block Grants Testimony for Gerald L. Zahorchak, D. Ed. Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 30, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626123444/https://www.pakeys.org/docs/Zahorchak_testimony_5-30-07.pdf |archivedate=June 26, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> School District has provided full-day kindergarten since 2008. The district has seen a slight decrease in the percentage of special education students it serves, yielding no savings. 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 Special Education Department.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shamokin.schoolwires.net/cms/lib2/PA01001568/Centricity/Domain/49/childfindpolicy.pdf |title=Special Education Child Find Policy |author=Shamokin Area School District Administration |date=November 3, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/proposed_special_education_funding_-/539261 |title=Pennsylvania Special Education Funding |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education}}</ref> The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district's students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student's needs accrue the same level of costs.<ref>Browne, Patrick., Senate Education Committee Hearing on Special Education Funding & Accountability testimony, November 1, 2011</ref> Over identification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.<ref>Kintisch, Baruch., Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, Education Law Center, November 11, 2011</ref> The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.<ref>Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary, Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, Pennsylvania Department of Education, November 11, 2011</ref> In 2012, the Obama Administration's [[US Department of Education]] issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.<ref>US Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education Clarifies Schools' Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics, January 25, 2013</ref> Shamokin Area School District received a $1,564,575 supplement for special education services in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AvscmN--D7LbdEhsSW1pY3lxZnBfSWZEdnU2WE5hUWc&hl=en#gid=0 |title=Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=July 2010}}</ref> For the 2011-12, 2012–13, 2013-14 school years, all Pennsylvania public school districts, including Shamokin Area School District received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding was provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/proposed_special_education_funding_-/539261 |title=Special Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> In 2014, Shamokin Area School District received an increase to $1,590,485 from the Commonwealth for special education services.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Special Education funding report by LEA, July 2014</ref> Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The district must apply for this added funding each school year. * 2015-16 - $1,640,683 * 2016-17 - $1,671,656 * 2017-18 - $1,697,024<ref>PA House Democrats, Budget Report 2017-18, 2017</ref> ===Gifted education=== The District Administration reported that 15 or 0.58% of its students were gifted in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf |title=Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=July 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193200/http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter16/chap16toc.html |title=CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board |date=February 4, 2011}}</ref> Through the strategic planning process, the Superintendent must ensure that Shamokin Area School District provides a continuum of program and service options to meet the needs of all mentally gifted students for enrichment, acceleration, or both. The Shamokin Area School District gifted curriculum focuses on complex and in-depth study of major ideas, key concepts and themes that integrate knowledge within and across disciplines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indians.k12.pa.us/Page/151 |title=Shamokin Area School District Strategic Plan Academic Standards and Assessment Report |author=Shamokin Area School Administration |date=January 24, 2008}}</ref> ==Bullying Policy and safety== Shamokin Area School District administration reported there was one incident of bullying in the district in 2013. Additionally, there were three assaults on pupils and two sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement were involved in 18 incidents at the schools, with 9 arrests.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.safeschoolsreports.state.pa.us/historic/historic/2014/9269d8d6-a16a-48ef-87d2-08160a121a68.pdf |title=School Safety Report 2013 |author=Center for Safe Schools |year=2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033212/https://www.safeschoolsreports.state.pa.us/historic/historic/2014/9269d8d6-a16a-48ef-87d2-08160a121a68.pdf |archivedate=November 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Administration reported four incidents of bullying occurring in the schools in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.safeschoolsreports.state.pa.us/historic/historic/2009/ffde6593-15cf-4eba-a82a-0fd3e9042fb3.pdf |title=Shamokin Area School District Safety Reports 2009 |author=Pennsylvania Center for Safe Schools |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501024959/https://www.safeschoolsreports.state.pa.us/historic/historic/2009/ffde6593-15cf-4eba-a82a-0fd3e9042fb3.pdf |archivedate=May 1, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.safeschools.state.pa.us/Main.aspx?App=6a935f44-7cbf-45e1-850b-e29b2f1ff17f&Menu=dbd39a1f-3319-4a75-8f69-d1166dba5d70&res= |title=Pennsylvania Safe Schools Online Reports |author=Pennsylvania Center for Safe Schools}}</ref> The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. 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.<ref>[http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=2007&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1067 Regular Session 2007-2008 House Bill 1067, Act 61 Section 6 page 8]</ref> District administration are required to annually provide the following information with the district's Safe School Report: the board's bullying policy, a report of bullying incidents in the school district, and information on the development and implementation of any bullying prevention, intervention or education programs. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.center-school.org/bullyingprevention/about.php |author=Center for Safe Schools of Pennsylvania, |title=Bullying Prevention advisory}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/chap4toc.html |title=Pennsylvania Academic Standards |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education}}</ref> ==Wellness policy== Shamokin Area School Board was mandated by the state and federal government to establish a district wellness policy in 2006. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=18755322 |title=Statewide assessment of local wellness policies in Pennsylvania public school districts. |author1=Probart C |author2=McDonnell E |author3=Weirich JE |author4=Schilling L |author5=Fekete V. |date=September 2008 |doi=10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.429 |volume=108 |issue=9 |journal=J Am Diet Assoc |pages=1497–502}}</ref> The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_nutrition_incentive_program/7489 |title=Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education – Division of Food and Nutrition |date=July 2008}}</ref> The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval. The district offers a free school breakfast and free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.<ref>USDA, Child Nutrition Programs - Eligibility Manual for School Meals, 2012</ref> The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the [[United States Department of Agriculture]].<ref>Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, 2009</ref> In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and [[Vitamin D]].<ref>USDA, Child Nutrition Programs, June 27, 2013</ref> In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of the lunch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/legislation/Pricing_Equity_Facts.pdf |title=Food and Nutrition Service Equity in School Lunch Pricing Fact Sheet |author=United States Department of Agriculture |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922174202/http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/legislation/Pricing_Equity_Facts.pdf |archivedate=September 22, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Shamokin Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they fully comply with all the State Department of Health's extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-22/984.html |title=Pennsylvania Bulletin Doc. No. 10-984 School Immunizations; Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases |author=Pennsylvania State Department of Health |year=2010}}</ref> Nurses also monitor each child's weight. In 2016, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Health]] distributed to each Pennsylvania high school the overdose antidote drug [[naloxone]] in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the [[National Association of School Nurses]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/education/2016/02/04/all-pa-high-schools-receive-donated-naloxone-kits/79834614/ |title=All PA high schools to receive donated naloxone kits |author=York Dispatch |date=February 4, 2016}}</ref> The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.witf.org/news/2016/02/pa-to-put-drug-that-reverses-overdoses-in-schools-for-free.php |title=Pa. to put drug that reverses overdoses in schools for free |author=Ben Allen |publisher=WITF |date=February 2, 2016}}</ref> ;Health eTools program: The district participated in Highmark Foundation's Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools grant which enabled mobile data collection of pertinent health and physical fitness screening data on students K-12 in a database held by InnerLink, Inc. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Highmark+Foundation+Provides+Subsidy+for+Online+Student+Wellness...-a0159243214 |title=Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools Available Free Through 2009 |author1=Kristin Ioannou |author2=Highmark. Inc. |year=2007}}</ref> Health eTools for Schools also provided interdisciplinary research-based curriculum in nutrition, physical education and physical activity to participating districts. The program was discontinued by the company in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://highmark.theinnerlink.com/pdf/eTools090208.pdf |title=Highmark Foundation Extends Subsidy for Health eTools for Schools through 2013 |author=Cathy Hoffman, Interlink |date=September 2, 2008}}</ref> ===Highmark Healthy High 5 grant=== In 2008 and 2011, the Shamokin Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Shamokin Area Elementary School received $6,545 which was used to implement the Weller Health Education Center's nutrition education programming.<ref>Highmark Foundation, 2011 School Challenge Grants, 2011</ref> In 2008, Shamokin Area High School received a grant. Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools. ==Budget== Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1. Under Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.<ref>Pennsylvania General Assembly, Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, June 27, 2006</ref> ;Teacher union contracts: In March 2016, the Board and Teachers union announced a five-year contract settlement, which was retroactive to 2013. For the 2015-16 school year, the teachers received a $3000 across the board raise. In 2016-17, the teachers received a $2500 across the board raise. The raise in 2017-18, was based on a salary schedule, with an average raise of another $2500. The teachers will be contributing to the cost of their health insurance.<ref>Rick Dandes., District ratifies 5-year contract with teachers, The Daily Item, March 16, 2016</ref> '''Teacher union strike''' In April 2014, the Shamokin Area Education Association (teachers' union) voted to authorize a strike.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsitem.com/news/sasd-teachers-ok-use-of-strike-1.1676600 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20140429113653/http://newsitem.com/news/sasd-teachers-ok-use-of-strike-1.1676600 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |title=Shamokin Area teachers OK use of strike |author=Eric Scicchitano |date=April 29, 2014 }}</ref> The date of the labor action was not set. The Union and School Board are engaged in contract negotiations. Shamokin Area School Board members indicate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will cause an anticipated 12 to 15 percent increase to health insurance costs for teachers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsitem.com/news/contract-talks-at-sca-move-forward-1.1655665 |title=Contract talks at SCA move forward |author=Justin Strawser |date=March 24, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429183919/http://newsitem.com/news/contract-talks-at-sca-move-forward-1.1655665 |archivedate=April 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Under the current costs of the teacher benefits, the district will be hit by the PPACA's 40% excise tax due to the high cost of the teachers' health insurance plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uhc.com/united_for_reform_resource_center/health_reform_provisions/excise_tax_on_high_cost_coverage.htm |title=Excise Tax on High-Cost Coverage (Cadillac Tax) |author=United Health Care |year=2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429184423/http://www.uhc.com/united_for_reform_resource_center/health_reform_provisions/excise_tax_on_high_cost_coverage.htm |archivedate=April 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Of nearly 140 teacher strikes that occurred nationally between 2000 and 2007, 60 percent took place in Pennsylvania, according to a report released in August 2012, by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://alleghenyinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=4&Itemid=15 |title=Teacher Strikes |author=Allegheny Institute for Public Policy |date=May 2012}}</ref> Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in which teacher strikes are legal. Pennsylvania has the highest rate of teacher strikes in the United States. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there were three teacher union strikes in 2010; one teacher union strike in 2011, one teacher union strike in 2012 and three teacher union strikes in 2013.<ref>Mary Niederberger., Laws, tax limits hinder negotiations, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', September 5, 2013</ref> [[Wyoming Area School District]] and [[Danville Area School District]] both went on strike in the spring of 2014. State law gives the Pennsylvania Department of Education the power to order the teachers to return so that students will complete 180 days of school by June 15. On September 8, 2015, 193 teachers walked off the job in the Shamonkin Area School District.<ref>Justin Strawser., 193 educators picket in Shamokin, The Daily Item, September 9, 2015</ref> The length of the strike was not announced. The Shamokin Area School Board has made multiple offers to the union which have all been rejected by the union negotiating team. Teachers were ordered back to work after 12 days of striking by Northumberland County President Judge William Harvey Wiest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/judge-to-teachers-get-back-to-class/article_d49b1100-623f-11e5-aed9-a3873111d452.html |title=Judge to teachers: Get back to class |author=The Daily Item |date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> State law mandates a 180-day school year be completed by June 30, limiting the number of days a teachers union can strike. In accordance with state law, the school board and teachers union must submit to mandatory non-binding final best offer arbitration which could months to be completed. In September 2015, Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor ordered teachers back to work effective September 24, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wnep.com/2015/09/23/teachers-ordered-back-to-school-in-shamokin-area-school-district/ |title=Teachers Ordered Back To School In Shamokin Area School District |author=WNEPTV |date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> In January 2016, the teachers went on strike again and were ordered back to work effective February 5, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/education/article/Striking-Shamokin-area-teachers-ordered-back-to-6806203.php |title=Striking Shamokin area teachers ordered back to work |author=NewsTimes |date=February 4, 2016 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2013, the average teacher salary in Shamokin Area School District was $44,518 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $28,619 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $73,138.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265 |title=Investing in Pennsylvania Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2012}}</ref> In 2012, the average teacher salary in Shamokin Area School District was $44,287 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $24,228 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $68,515.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Investing in Pennsylvania Students2012 May 2012</ref> In 2011, the district employed 184 teachers with an average salary of $46,482 and a top salary of $114,971.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Shamokin Area School District Payroll report 2011 |publisher=OpenPA Gov.org |year=2013}}</ref> In April 2012, Shamokin Area School Board voted to eliminate 21 positions due to revising instructional programs and addressing chronic declining enrollment. The staffing cuts saved the District $1.3 million. Art, music and physical education lessons will be taught by classroom teachers in kindergarten through 8th grade, instead of hiring extra teachers to teach them. Nine elementary teacher positions were cut, as were two art teachers, two gym teachers, four music teachers, a library teacher, computer teacher as well as a school counselor and school nurse. One Board member called for cuts in administration. The curriculum coordinator position was eliminated.<ref>Scicchitano, Eric., Shamokin Area School District furloughs 21 staff members, Republican Herald, April 13, 2012</ref> The majority of the positions were restored when the final budget was passed in June.<ref>The News Item, 12 to return at Shamokin Area as board OKs $28M budget, June 20, 2012</ref> In 2009, Shamokin Area School District reported employing over 200 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $32,000 to $106,400. The median teacher salary was $43,431.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://php.app.com/PAteachers09/search.php |title=PA. Public School Salaries |website=Asbury Park Press |year=2009}}</ref> Teachers have a 7 hours and 35 minutes work day. The school year is 180 days with teachers scheduled for 183 days. All teachers have a duty-free lunch period of a minimum of thirty minutes as scheduled. Teachers are scheduled one preparation period per day to plan lessons and perform grading. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. Designees of the local teacher's union are granted leave for an aggregate total of ten cumulative school days per school year without loss of pay or benefits for the purpose of attending PSEA or NEA conferences, conventions or other PSEA or NEA meetings directly related to the welfare of the Association.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Shamokin Area School District Teacher Union Employment Contract 2010 |author=Shamokin Area School Board}}</ref> In 2007, the Shamokin Area School District employed 158 teachers with the average teacher salary in the district at $36,450 for 180 days worked.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/teacher_pay/county/NORTHUMBERLAND/ave_salary/1/ |author=Fenton, Jacob, |title=Average classroom teacher salaries in Northumberland County, 2006-07 |publisher=''The Morning Call |accessdate=November 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008114804/http://projects.mcall.com/teacher_pay/county/NORTHUMBERLAND/ave_salary/1/ |archivedate=October 8, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> '''Per-pupil spending''' In 2008, the per-pupil spending at Shamokin Area School District was $10,475 for each child. This ranked 494th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/38541513/Per-Pupil-Spending-in-Pennsylvania-Public-Schools-in-2008-Sort-Spending |title=Per Pupil Spending in Pennsylvania Public Schools in 2008 Sort by Administrative Spending |year=2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007155058/https://www.scribd.com/doc/38541513/Per-Pupil-Spending-in-Pennsylvania-Public-Schools-in-2008-Sort-Spending |archivedate=October 7, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2010, the per-pupil spending in Shamokin Area School District had increased to $11,782.84 which ranked 397th.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=2009-10 Selected Data - 2009-10 Total Expenditures per ADM |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref> Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb11-94_table_11.pdf |title=States Ranked According to Per Pupil Elementary-Secondary Public School System Finance Amounts: 2008-09 |author=United States Census Bureau |year=2009}}</ref> In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_183.asp |title=Total and current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary education, by function and state or jurisdiction: 2006-07 |author=US Census Bureau |year=2009}}</ref> The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.census.gov/govs/school/01fullreport.pdf |title=Public Education Finances 2000-01 Annual Survey of Local Government Finances |author=US Census Bureau |date=March 2003}}</ref> In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_183.asp |title=Total and current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary education, by function and state or jurisdiction: 2006-07 |author=US Census Bureau |year=2009}}</ref> Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb11-94_table_11.pdf |title=States Ranked According to Per Pupil Elementary-Secondary Public School System Finance Amounts: 2008-09 |author=United States Census Bureau |year=2009}}</ref> Pennsylvania's total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.census.gov/govs/school/11f33pub.pdf |title=States Ranked According to Per Pupil Public Elementary-Secondary School System Finance Amounts: Fiscal Year 2011 |author=US Census Bureau |date=May 2013}}</ref> '''Administrative costs''' Shamokin Area School District administrative costs in 2008 were $489.30 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/school_consolidation/state/lea/0/6/ |author=Fenton, Jacob. |title=Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money? |website=The Morning Call |date=Feb 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723150859/http://projects.mcall.com/school_consolidation/state/lea/0/6/ |archivedate=July 23, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Pennsylvania School Board Association tracks salaries for Pennsylvania public school employees. It reports that the average superintendent salary in Pennsylvania was $122,165, in 2008.<ref>Public School Salaries 11th edition, Pennsylvania School Board Association. October 2009</ref> '''Reserves''' In 2010, the Shamokin Area School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $1,800,000 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $7,067,872.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/summaries_of_annual_financial_report_data/7673/other_financial_information/509049 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008}}</ref> In 2013, the district's reserves was $6,085,510. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.<ref>Murphy, Jan., Pennsylvania's public schools boost reserves, CentreDaily Times, September 22, 2010</ref> By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paindependent.com/2013/06/pa-school-districts-look-to-cash-stash-to-balance-budgets/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826154026/http://paindependent.com/2013/06/pa-school-districts-look-to-cash-stash-to-balance-budgets/ |dead-url=yes |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |title=PA school districts look to cash stash to balance budgets |author=Melissa Daniels |work=PA Independent |date=June 1, 2013 }}</ref> '''Audit''' In June 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit on the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration. The auditors noted that Board members had failed to file Statements of Financial Interests in violation of the Pennsylvania Public Official and Ethics Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/archives/archivesSchool.html |title=Shamokin Area School District Northumberland COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General |date=June 2010}}</ref> In July 2013, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted another performance audit on the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Reports/School.html |title=Shamokin Area School District Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Performance Audit Report |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General |date=July 2013}}</ref> '''Tuition''' Students who live in the Shamokin Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Shamokin Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the district's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $7,180.20, High School - $7,050.50.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Office%20of%20Comptroller%20Operations/Pages/School-District-Tuition-Rates.aspx |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates |date=May 2012}}</ref> In 2015-16, Shamokin Area tuition rates were ES - $7,086 and HS - $7,718.<ref>PDE, Tuition rates by LEA, 2015</ref> Shamokin Area School District is funded by a combination of: a local Earned Income tax - 1%,<ref>Berkheimer Associates, Earned income Tax Political subdivision code, 2014</ref> a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, per capita taxes $5, Occupation Privilege tax $10, and a Public Utility Realty 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 of the income level.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Finance Income Taxation Guidelines. Accessed April 2010</ref> In 2011, the average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension exceeded $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both of which are exempted from both Pennsylvania state income tax and the local school income tax which funds local public schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x2094920476/Pa-teachers-may-take-big-pension-hit |title=PA teachers pensions |author=John Finnerty |work=CNHI Harrisburg Bureau |year=2013}}</ref> Effective 2016, active duty military are also exempted from paying the local earned income tax in Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/pennsylvania/kauffman-law-exempts-military-pay-from-pa-earned-income-tax/article_4b5f95d6-2b20-5aed-bf0c-0a237b0b866b.html |title=Kauffman law exempts military pay from Pa. earned-income tax |author=Herald-Mail Media |date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://abc27.com/2016/02/23/gov-wolf-signs-bill-to-exempt-active-duty-military-pay-from-local-tax/ |title=Gov. Wolf signs bill to exempt active duty military pay from local tax |author=Myle Snyder |publisher=ABC27 News |date=February 23, 2016}}</ref> ===State basic education funding=== According to a report from Representative [[Todd Stephens (politician)|Todd Stephens]] office, Shamokin Area School District receives 56.6% of its annual district revenue from the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reptoddstephens.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=19643 |author=Pennsylvania Representative Todd Stephens |title=LEEF Funding Chart 2014 |date=January 23, 2014}}</ref> This exceeds some education advocates goal of the state providing 50% of district funding.<ref>JANICE BISSETT., ARNOLD HILLMAN., A Summary of the History and Financing of Education in Pennsylvania 1682- 2013, PA Association of Rural and Small Schools, 2006</ref> In December 2014, the Pennsylvania Education Funding Reform Commission conducted a hearing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://basiceducationfundingcommission.pasenategop.com/ |title=Basic Education Funding Commission Public Hearing Funding Issues related to Enrollment and Growth |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly - Education Reform Commission |date=December 2014}}</ref> The commission developed a new basic education funding formula which sets a new way to distribute state basic education dollars. It abolished the practice of "hold harmless" funding, which gave districts at least the same as they got the previous school year regardless of declining enrollment. The plan became law in June 2016 (House Bill 1552).<ref>Basic Education Funding Commission, Commission minutes, 2016</ref><ref>York Dispatch, Governor Wolf Signs Fair Funding Formula, June 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1552 |title=House Bill 1552, Act 35 of 2016 |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |date=June 2016}}</ref> '''For the 2017-18 school year''', Shamokin Area School District received an increase to $12,442,125 in Basic Education Funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/local_news/spending-plan-heads-to-governor-but-fight-over-funding-remains/article_84576f80-81c7-577b-8d1d-e89380ac3087.html |author=Finnerty, John |title=Spending plan heads to Wolf, but fight over funding remains |publisher=The Daily Item |date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> Pennsylvania again increased its public education spending to a record high of $5.995 billion. It was a $100 million increase, 1.7% increase over the 2016-17 state education appropriation.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Budget 2017-18, July 2017</ref> Additionally, the state continued to fund its Ready to Learn grants at $250 million and Special Education funding received a $25 million increase to $1.121 billion.<ref>PDE, Special Education Funding fiscal year 2017-18, July 2017</ref> The state also paid $529,5 million to the school employee social security fund and another $2.304 billion to the teacher's pension fund, an increase of 7.6% over the state's 2016-17 payment. The state maintained its $100 million reimbursement to school districts for transportation costs. Governor Wolf had proposed cutting the funding by 50% shifting the costs to local taxpayers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.budget.pa.gov/PublicationsAndReports/CommonwealthBudget/Documents/2017-18%20Proposed%20Budget/2017-18%20Web%20Tracking%20Run.pdf |author=PA Office of Budget |title=Commonwealth 2016-17 Enacted Budget Line-Item Appropriations |date=July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/06/pennsylvania_senate_passes_32.html |title=Pennsylvania state lawmakers start chewing into $32 billion, agreed-to budget proposal |author=Charles Thompson |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> '''For the 2016-17 school year''', Shamokin Area School District received $12,343,184 in Basic Education Funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This was a 2.2% increase over 2015-16 funding to the district. The highest percentage of BEF increase in Northumberland County was 3.3% awarded to [[Shikellamy School District]] under the state's Basic Education Funding formula. For the 2016-17 school year, Pennsylvania increased its public education spending to a record high of $5,895 billion. It was a $200 million increase, 3.51% increase over the 2015-16 appropriation.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Budget 2016-17, July 2016</ref> The state also funded Ready to Learn grants at $250 million and Special Education funding received a $20 million increase.<ref>PDE, Special Education Funding fiscal year 2016-17, July 2017</ref> The state also paid $492 million to the school employee social security fund and another $2.064 billion to the teacher's pension fund.<ref>PA Office of Budget, Commonwealth 2016-17 Enacted Budget Line-Item Appropriations, July 2016</ref> Statewide Conestoga Valley School District received a 13.3% increase in state BEF funding. Five PA public school districts received an increase of 10% or greater in Basic Education funding over their 2015-16 funding. '''For the 2015-16 school year''', Governor [[Tom Wolf (politician)|Tom Wolf]] released a partial Basic Education Funding of $5,828,186 to Shamokin Area School District, in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/heres_the_payout_your_school_d.html |title=Here's the payout your school district gets from the partial 2015-16 state budget |author=Jan Murphey |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=January 4, 2016}}</ref> This was part of $10.3 billion in school funding withheld from the public school, by the Governor since the summer of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wkok.com/harrisburg-releases-3-3-billion-in-delayed-funds/#more-339501 |title=Harrisburg releases $3.3 billion in delayed funds |author=Jennifer Wakeman |date=January 4, 2016}}</ref> The dispersment did not follow the new Basic Education Funding formula which had been established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://basiceducationfundingcommission.pasenategop.com/ |title=Basic Education Funding Commission |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> The district also received $440,583 in Ready To Learn funds from the Commonwealth. In compliance with a legislative mandate that was passed with veto proof majorities in the PA House and Senate,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/04/house_senate_cast_veto-proof_m.html |title=House, Senate cast veto-proof majority votes on school funding bill |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> the final BEF funding was determined for 2015-16, in April 2016. Shamokin Area School District received $12,492,412 in Basic Education Funds for the 2015-16 school year. This was a 1.81% increase yielding a $222,584 increase over the previous school year funding. The district also received $440,583 in Ready to Learn funding from the state.<ref>PDE, Ed Budget 2015-16, May 2016</ref> '''For the 2014-15 school year''', Shamokin Area School District received $11,864,558 in State Basic Education funding. The district also received $203,878 in Accountability Block Grant funding and $201,338 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State's enacted Education Budget included $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_and_media/7234/p/1174642 |title=Enacted Education Budget 2014-2015 |author=PDE |date=July 7, 2014}}</ref> The Education budget also included Accountability Block Grant funding at $100 million and $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success. The State paid $500.8 million to Social Security on the school employees behalf and another $1.16 billion to the state teachers pension system (PSERS). In total, Pennsylvania's Education budget for K-12 public schools is $10 billion. This was a $305 million increase over 2013-2014 state spending and the greatest amount ever allotted by the Commonwealth for its public schools.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-15 Enacted Education Budget Fast Facts, July 14, 2014</ref> '''For the 2013-14 school year''', Shamokin Area School District received a 1.8% increase or $$11,867,345 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $207,019 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Shamokin Area School District received $203,878 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Northumberland County, [[Shikellamy School District]] received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 1.9%. The district has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth's budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to [[Austin Area School District]] which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding.<ref>Democrat Appropriations Committee, Report on Education funding by LEA, July 2, 2013</ref> The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.<ref>Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, 2013-14 State Budget Highlights, 2013</ref> '''For the 2012-13 school year''', Shamokin Area School District received $11,660,329.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jakecorman.com/PDF/2012/Basic-Education-Funding.pdf |title=Pennsylvania Education funding by Local School District |author=Senator Jake Corman |date=June 28, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730203420/http://www.jakecorman.com/PDF/2012/Basic-Education-Funding.pdf |archivedate=July 30, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 includes $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which is an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. The state also provides $100 million for the Accountability Block grant. Shamokin Area School District received $203,878 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement. The state also provided $544.4 million for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=1466&pn=2335 |title=SB1466 of 2012 General Fund Appropriation |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly Sen Jake Corman |date=June 29, 2012}}</ref> This amount is a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett's first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year. '''In 2011-12 school year''', Shamokin Area School District received $11,660,326 in state Basic Education Funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |title=Pennsylvania 2011-2012 Estimated Basic Education Funding |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/58929810/PA-Senate-Appropriations-Committee-Report-School-District-2011-12 |author=PA Senate Appropriations Committee |title=School District 2011-12 funding Report |date=June 28, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008043302/https://www.scribd.com/doc/58929810/PA-Senate-Appropriations-Committee-Report-School-District-2011-12 |archivedate=October 8, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Additionally, the Shamokin Area School District received $203,878 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 [[Duquesne City School District]], which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |title=Basic Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=June 30, 2011}}</ref> Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011. In 2010, the district reported that 1,679 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the [[Poverty in the United States|federal poverty level]]. '''In the 2010-11 budget year''', Shamokin Area School District received a 3.29% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $12,281,937. The highest increase in state funding, among Northumberland County school districts, was awarded to [[Milton Area School District]] at 6.46% increase. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received the 2% base increase for budget year 2010-11. The highest increase in the state was given to [[Kennett Consolidated School District]] of [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] which was awarded a 23.65% increase, in state basic education funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/pdf/201006/20100701pabudget_education.pdf |title=PA Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee |date=June 30, 2010}}</ref> Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor [[Edward Rendell]] and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell's policy to fund some public school districts at a far greater rate than others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/past_budgets/4571 |title=Pennsylvania Budget Proposal 2010 |author=Office of the Budget |date=February 2010}}</ref> '''In the 2009–2010 budget year''', the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.33% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $12,281,938. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gave 15 school districts an increase of Basic Education Funding of over 10% in the 2009 – 10 budget.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Basic Education Funding report, October 2009</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/past_budgets/4571 |title=Governor's Budget Proposal 2010, |author=Office of Budget, |date=February 2010}}</ref> The state Basic Education Funding to the Shamokin Area School District in 2008–09 was $11,660,325.71. The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 403 students received a free or reduced-price lunch, in 2007, due to low family income. Many state and federal programs use the threshold to calculate benefits. All Pennsylvania school districts also receive additional funding from the state through several other funding allocations, including Reimbursement of Charter School Expenditures; Special Education Funding; Secondary Career & Technical Education Subsidy; PA Accountability Grants; and Educational Assistance Program Funding. Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including Special Education and Title I funding for children from low income families. In 2010, Pennsylvania spent over $24 billion for public education - local, state and federal dollars combined. ====Accountability Block Grant==== The state provides additional education funding to schools in the form of Accountability Block Grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses designed to improve student academic achievement. Shamokin Area School District uses its $553,376 to fund all day [[kindergarten]] for the sixth year. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding and all federal funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/23322599/ACCOUNTABILITY-BLOCK-GRANT-Awards |title=ACCOUNTABILITY BLOCK GRANT Awards |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015180928/http://www.scribd.com/doc/23322599/ACCOUNTABILITY-BLOCK-GRANT-Awards |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> School Districts apply each year for Accountability Block Grants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grants_and_subsidies/7207/pa-pact_information/507147 |title=PA-PACT Information |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref> In 2009-10, the state provided $271.4 million in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all-day kindergartens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_50617_7207_507147_43/http;/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/pde_community_content/dsf_migration/k12/pre_k_12_schools/content/public_schools/public_schools/abg2009_2010_execsum.pdf |title=2009–2010 Accountability Block Grant Mid-year Report |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918222700/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_50617_7207_507147_43/http;/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/pde_community_content/dsf_migration/k12/pre_k_12_schools/content/public_schools/public_schools/abg2009_2010_execsum.pdf |archivedate=September 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ====Ready to Learn grant==== Beginning in the 2014-2015 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/2014-15_passport_for_learning_block_grant/1427535 |title=Passport for Learning Block Grant |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Pages/Ready-to-Learn%20Block%20Grant.aspx |title=Ready to Learn Block Grant |author=PDE |year=2016}}</ref> Shamokin Area School District received $201,338 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, Accountability Block Grant funding, PreK Counts funding, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive. * 2015-16 - $440,583 * 2016-17 - $514,641 * 2017-18 - $514,641<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/page/how_much_money_will_your_schoo.html?appSession=98269260240050666704016411294925182852977638831535012227385431067202461763938346476171122940599321299015612935563119741186411845 |title=How much money will your school district get in Pa.'s 2017-18 budget? |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=July 2017}}</ref> ====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, Mathematics) and paid for mandatory teacher training to optimize the computers' use in the classroom for improving instruction. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Shamokin Area School District administration did not apply for the grant in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $211,342 in funding. For the 2008-09, school year the district received a final $45,413 for a total funding of $256,755 Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/specff122208.pdf |title=Special Performance Audit Classrooms For the Future grants |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General |date=2008-12-22}}</ref> ====Education Assistance grant==== The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the Shamokin Area School District did not apply for funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/educational_assistance_program_funding/604415 |title=Educational Assistance Program Funding 2010-2011 Fiscal Year |publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Education |accessdate=January 2011}}</ref> ====Science It’s Elementary grant==== Shamokin Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It's Elementary grant in 2008-09. For the 2008-09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 2,847 teachers and 66,973 students across Pennsylvania.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Science: It’s Elementary Grantees Students in 143 Schools Benefit from Intensive Science Curriculum, July 22, 2008</ref> In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth's public elementary schools. Called Science: It's Elementary, the program is a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills.<ref>Patricia Vathis Pennsylvania Department of Education, Grants and Subsidies Science: It’s Elementary, 2006</ref> To encourage schools to adopt the program's standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2010 – 2011 Science: It’s Elementary Application Guidelines, July 2010</ref> The district was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. They had to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated. The 2006-07 State Education Budget provided $635 million in new spending for pre-K through 12th grades for the 2006-07 school year. This was an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 public school funding.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Governor Rendell Commends Teachers for Enhancing Science Education in Pennsylvania, August 10, 2006</ref> The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget. ====Project 720==== Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth's high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caiu.org/services/curriculum/state-programs/project-720.aspx |title=Project 720 |author=CAIU 15 |year=2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132218/http://www.caiu.org/services/curriculum/state-programs/project-720.aspx |archivedate=June 26, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.psea.org/uploadedFiles/Publications/Professional_Publications/Advisories/Project720.pdf |title=Project 720 PDE Education Improvement Initiative Series |author=PSEA |year=2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052707/https://www.psea.org/uploadedFiles/Publications/Professional_Publications/Advisories/Project720.pdf |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> High schools applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007-08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Shamokin Area School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $160,358 funding over three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sharon.k12.pa.us/Page/871 |title=Transforming Pennsylvania High Schools |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2007}}</ref><ref>Robert Hayes Postupac, PROJECT 720: A CASE STUDY OF HIGH SCHOOL REFORM, University of Pittsburgh, 2011</ref> For 2010-11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011-12 state budget.<ref>PA Office of the Budget, 2011-12 Budget General Fund - State Appropriations, June 28, 2011</ref> ====Other grants==== The Shamokin Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/environmental_education/13903/grants/588549 |title=Environmental Education Grants |author=Department of Environmental Protection |date=2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=19936&typeid=1 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection |title=Governor Corbett Awards 92 Grants for Environmental Education and Stewardship |date=April 22, 2013}}</ref> 2012 and 2013 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7234&PageID=1005857&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/no_workflow_requried/news_and_media/articles/pennsylvania_awards__36_1_million_to_strengthen_literacy_programs.html |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Pennsylvania Awards $36.1 Million to Strengthen Literacy Programs |date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> 2012 and 2013 [[Blended learning|Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning]] Grants,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7234&PageID=1005857&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/no_workflow_requried/news_and_media/articles/acting_secretary_of_education_says_hybrid_learning_benefits_students__highlights_success_of_first_year_pilot_program.html#sthash.xlozupOE.dpuf |title=Acting Secretary of Education Says Hybrid Learning Benefits Students; Highlights Success of First-Year Pilot Program |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Office |date=October 17, 2013}}</ref> nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants. ===Federal funding=== Shamokin Area School District received $2,357,830 in [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|ARRA]] – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recovery.pa.gov/ |title=Northumberland County ARRA FUNDING Report |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |year=2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307134051/http://www.recovery.pa.gov/ |archivedate=March 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09071/954967-298.stm |title=School stimulus money |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one time expenditures like: acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software. ====Race to the Top==== Shamokin Area School District officials did not apply for the [[Race to the Top]] federal grant which would have brought the district a million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/pennsylvania_s__race_to_the_top__fueled_by_effective_reforms__strong_local_support.html |title=Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support |author=Governor's Press Office |date=January 19, 2009}}</ref> To participate the administration, school board and teachers' union were required to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/25365273/Pennsylvania-Race-to-the-Top-Letter-to-Superintendents |title=Pennsylvania Race to the Top Letter to Superintendents |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchek |date=December 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015172337/http://www.scribd.com/doc/25365273/Pennsylvania-Race-to-the-Top-Letter-to-Superintendents |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/pennsylvania_s__race_to_the_top__fueled_by_effective_reforms__strong_local_support.html |title=Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support, |author=Governor's Press Office. |date=January 20, 2010}}</ref> Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. According to then Governor Rendell, failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html |title=Race to the Top Fund |author=U.S. Department of Education |date=March 29, 2010}}</ref> ====Title II grants==== The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to be used to improve the quality of teacher instructions to pupils. The goal is provide each child in public schools with “Highly Quality” teachers and principals as defined by the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20Programs/Pages/Title%20Information/Title-II.aspx#.VmqPLyh1PzI |title=TITLE II, PART A - TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL TRAINING & RECRUITING |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref> The funds are sent to the state Department of Education which distributes them to each school district and charter school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20Programs/Pages/Allocations/2014-2015.aspx#.VmqQoCh1PzJ |title=Federal Programs |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref> Beginning in 2002, the federal funding committed to Title II was $3,175,000,000. Public school district administrations must apply to the state annually for the Title II funds. In 2012-13, Shamokin Area School District received $$176,616 in federal Title II funding.<ref>PDE, Title IIA egrants 2012-13, 2012</ref> In 2014-15, Shamokin Area School District applied for and received $169,114.<ref>PDE, Title IIA egrants 2014-15, 2014</ref> ====English language learners grant==== The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to assist in educating immigrant children and children who are identified as limited English proficient.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg39.html |title=Title III — Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students |author=US Department of Education |date=September 15, 2004}}</ref> Upon registering for school a language survey is done for all new enrollment pupils, typically in kindergarten or preschool. They identify the primary language spoken at home. This data is collected and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which in turn notifies the federal government.<ref>PDE, English As A Second Language (ESL), 2015</ref> In 2012-13, Shamokin Area School District received $2,444 in [[Title III]] funding for English language learners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Curriculum/English%20As%20A%20Second%20Language/Pages/Title-III-Supplemental-Program.aspx#.VjXbWCh1PzI |title=Title III Supplemental Program |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref> For 2014-15, Shamokin Area School District received $2,851 in Title III funding.<ref>PDE, Title III Grant Allocations 2014-15, 2014</ref> ===Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant=== In Spring 2014, Shamokin Area School District was awarded a $537,167 federal [[US Department of Education]] grant for physical fitness.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsitem.com/news/shamokin-area-school-district-to-get-fit-with-1-1-million-grant-1.1669219 |title=Shamokin Area School District to get fit with $1.1 million grant |author=Eric Scicchitano |publisher=News Item |date=April 16, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429190814/http://newsitem.com/news/shamokin-area-school-district-to-get-fit-with-1-1-million-grant-1.1669219 |archivedate=April 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The funds will come to the district over three years. It will be used to purchase: rock climbing walls, treadmills and elliptical machines, new strength training machines, outdoor adventure equipment like intricate rope climbs and zip lines and a large video screen for interactive dance exercise program. A full-time project director to oversee the program will be paid using the grant funds. The Carol M. White Physical Education Program provides taxpayer funded grants to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to initiate, expand, or enhance physical education programs, including after-school programs, for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.<ref>US Department of Education, Carol M. White Physical Education Program, April 2, 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/2014awards.html |title=2014 Awards |author=Office of Elementary and Secondary Education |date=April 21, 2014}}</ref> ===Common Cents state initiative=== The Shamokin Area School District School Board chose 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pahomepage.com/story/common-cents-making-every-dollar-count/d/story/bSXKNrvRfUacGf-Bd6688w |title=Common Cents program - Making Every Dollar Count |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |accessdate=November 11, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506144810/http://www.pahomepage.com/story/common-cents-making-every-dollar-count/d/story/bSXKNrvRfUacGf-Bd6688w |archivedate=May 6, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes. ==Real estate taxes== The Shamokin Area School Board set the property taxes rate at 30.9500 mills for the 2017-18 school year.<ref>Shamokin Area School Board, Shamokin Area School District Budget Report 2017-18, June 2017</ref> 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 tax]] is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and # Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/summaries_of_annual_financial_report_data/7673/afr_excel_data_files/509047 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Act 511 Tax Report |year=2004}}</ref> Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the Commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Unlike other states, under Pennsylvania state tax policy, natural gas and oil pipelines are exempted from local property taxes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/11/new-pipeline-could-mean-tax-bonanza-for-nj-towns-but-for-pa-not-so-much/ |title=New pipeline could mean tax bonanza for NJ towns, but for Pa.? Not so much |author=Katie Colaneri |publisher=State Impact NPR.org |date= June 11, 2015}}</ref> There is a major gas pipeline being built in the district due to [[marcellus shale]] gas development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/tag/atlantic-sunrise-pipeline/ |title=Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline |author=StateImpact Pennsylvania |year=2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ee0019 |title=Marcellus Shale Gas Development: What Does It Mean for Pennsylvania Schools? |author=Penn State Extension |year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/453_Technical-Appendix-Lycoming_Gas_24Jan2013.pdf |title=Natural Gas Pipelines in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania |author=Schmid & Company, Inc. |date=January 23, 2013}}</ref> Pipeline companies prohibit development within the 100 foot wide right-of-way, there by limiting future development options for the landowner. This limits future potential property tax revenues for the school district, by constraining future land development. Located in the marcellus shale region, Shamokin Area School District is adversely impacted this way by the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project.<ref>The Nature Conservancy – Pennsylvania Chapter, Natural Gas Pipelines Pennsylvania Energy Impacts Assessment, December 16, 2011</ref><ref>The Nature Conservancy, Marcellus Shale Gas Development in Bradford County, December 16, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_771463.html |title=Shale gas pipelines pose challenges to state's forests, wildlife |author=TIMOTHY PUKO |publisher=TribLive.com |date=December 11, 2011}}</ref> The Atlantic Sunrise Gas Pipeline passes through Mount Pleasant Township.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gis.columbiapa.org/mapgallery/generalpurpose/default.aspx |title=Columbia County Geographic Information Systems Atlantic Sunrise Gas Pipeline Map |author=Columbia County GIS |year=2016}}</ref> {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} * 2016-17 - 29.8200 mills<ref>Shamokin Area School Board, Shamokin Area School District Budget Report 2016-17, June 2016</ref> * 2015-16 - 28.7600 mills<ref>Shamokin Area School Board, Shamokin Area School District Budget Report 2015-16, June 17, 2015</ref> * 2014-15 - 27.95 mills<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsitem.com/news/shamokin-area-taxes-to-increase-8436-mills-1.1691047 |title=Shamokin Area taxes to increase .8436 mills |author=ROB WHEARY |publisher=The News Item |date=May 23, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728011334/http://newsitem.com/news/shamokin-area-taxes-to-increase-8436-mills-1.1691047 |archivedate=July 28, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * 2013-14 - 27.1000 mills<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_documents/7676 |title=Pennsylvania School District Real Estate Tax Rates 2013-2014 by County and District |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2013}}</ref> * 2012-13 - 26.4195 mills<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_documents/7676 |title=Pennsylvania School District Real Estate Tax Rates 2012-2013 by County and District |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2012}}</ref> * 2011-12 - 25.7500 mills <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> {{col-2-of-2}} * 2010-11 - 25.7500 mills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref> * 2009-10 - 25.7500 mills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Financial Elements Reports, 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional-local/14645983-1.html |title=SASB says no to tax increase, passes other budgets |author=AllBusiness.com |date=Jun 17, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * 2008-09 - 25.7500 mills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Financial Elements Reports 2008-09 Real Estate Mills, 2009</ref> * 2007-08 - 25.7500 mills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2008}}</ref> * 2006-07 - 25.7500 mills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2007}}</ref> * 2005-06 - 25.7500 mills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, 2005</ref> {{col-end}} The average yearly property tax paid by Northumberland County residents amounts to about 2.23% of their yearly income. Northumberland County ranked 1219th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.<ref>Tax-rates.org., The 2013 Tax Resource County Property Taxes 2012, 2013</ref> According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania School Finances - Summaries of Annual Financial Report Data 2010-11, 2011</ref> 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%).<ref>Tax Foundation, New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, September 22, 2009</ref> ===Property tax relief=== In 2016, Shamokin Area School District approved 4,928 homestead properties to receive $71.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/Pages/Property-Tax-Reduction-Allocations.aspx#.VkIPdih1PzI |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=2016-17 Estimated State Property Tax Relief per Homestead |date=May 1, 2016}}</ref> The increase in the amount was related to a decline in the residents who applied for tax relief. The amount received by the district must be divided equally among all approved residences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=52 |title=Gaming Benefits for Pennsylvanians |author=Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |year=2014}}</ref> 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 2013, Shamokin Area School District approved 5,025 homestead properties to receive $70 in property tax relief.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/property_tax_reduction_allocations/510335 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=2013-2014 Estimated State Property Tax Relief per Homestead |date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> The decline in amount was related to more residents applying for tax relief and a decline in table games tax revenues. The amount received by the district must be divided equally among all approved residences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=52 |title=Gaming Benefits for Pennsylvanians |author=Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |year=2014}}</ref> In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Shamokin Area School District was $83 per approved permanent primary residence. This was among the lowest amounts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the district, 4,230 property owners applied for the tax relief. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for Shamokin Area School District residents who are: 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, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. ===Act 1 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 it 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: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increasing rising health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or declining local tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry]], for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] in the [[U.S. Department of Labor]], for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2010–11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines, 2010.</ref> With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly voted to end most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11209/1163275-56-0.stm |title=Law could restrict school construction projects |author=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=July 28, 2011 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref> The School District Adjusted Index for the Shamokin Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AqCAjQ6eteArdFFCaWRjMUhzSkl5RTYxMjNJN1RQemc&hl=en#gid=0 |title=Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2011-2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2011}}</ref> {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} * 2006–07 - 5.7%, Base 3.9% * 2007–08 - 5.0%, Base 3.4% * 2008–09 - 6.5%, Base 4.4% * 2009–10 - 6.1%, Base 4.1% * 2010–11 - 4.3%, Base 2.9% * 2011–12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-38/1760.html |title=Index Calculation Required by the Taxpayer Relief Act |date=Sep 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/comunity/financial_data_elements/7672 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Financial Data Elements |year=2010 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * 2012-13 - 2.6%, Base 1.7% <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/act_1_index/510332 |title=2012-2013 School District Adjusted Index Listing |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2011}}</ref> {{col-2-of-2}} * 2013-14 - 2.6%, Base 1.7% * 2014-15 - 3.2%, Base 2.1% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-2015 School District Adjusted Index, September 2013</ref> * 2015-16 - 2.9%, Base 1.9%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2015-2016 School District Adjusted Index, September 2014</ref> * 2016-17 - 3.7%, Base 2.4%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol45/45-36/1619.html |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=2016-2017 School District Adjusted Index, September 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/Pages/default.aspx#.ViS0tih1PzI |title=Property Tax Relief |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=205}}</ref> * 2017-18 - 3.8%, Base - 2.5%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-37/1557.html |title=Index Calculation Required by Special Session Act 1 of 2006 |author=PA Department of Education |date=September 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/teachers%20-%20administrators/property%20tax%20relief/pages/default.aspx |title=2017-18 School District Adjusted Index Listing |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2016}}</ref> {{col-end}} '''For the 2017-18 budget year''', Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the district's Act 1 Index limit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/Pages/Referendum-Exceptions.aspx |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2016-2017 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2016}}</ref> Statewide 356 school districts adopted a resolution to not exceed their Act I index in 2017-18. In 2017-18, all Pennsylvania public school districts were required to make a 32.85% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psers.state.pa.us/content/pfr/resources/FY%202016-2017%20ECR%20fact%20sheet%20FINAL%2012082015.pdf |title=Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Employer Contribution Rate |author=PSERS |date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> This was in addition to the 6.2% social security employer match payment and the Medicare match of 1.45%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-employment-taxes |title=Understanding Employment Taxes |author=USA IRS |date=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psers.pa.gov/About/Documents/News/2017%2002%2022/PSERS%20-%20Final%20House%20with%20Cover.pdf |title=PSERS Budget Report 2017-18 |author=Pennsylvania School Employee Retirement System |year=2017}}</ref> '''For the 2015-16 budget year''', Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget 2015-16, 310 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 187 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/2015-16%20Report%20on%20Referendum%20Exceptions.pdf |title=Taxpayer Relief Act Special Session Act 1 of 2006 Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2015-2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191523/http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/2015-16%20Report%20on%20Referendum%20Exceptions.pdf |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> '''For the 2014-15 budget year''', Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget 2014-15, 316 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 181 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Districts may apply for multiple exceptions each year. For the pension costs exception, 163 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 104 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Seven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2014-2015 |date=April 30, 2014}}</ref> '''For the 2013-14 budget year''', Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget year 2013-14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2013-2014, April 2013</ref> '''For the 2012-13 budget year''', Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2012-2013, April 2012</ref> For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. '''For the 2011-12 school year''', the Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/58284792/SS-Act1-Report-on-Exceptions-requested-awarded-2011-2012-April-2011-Pennsylvania |title=SS Act1 Report on Exceptions requested awarded 2011-2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504165121/http://www.scribd.com/doc/58284792/SS-Act1-Report-on-Exceptions-requested-awarded-2011-2012-April-2011-Pennsylvania |archivedate=May 4, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Each year the Shamokin Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452 |title=Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |title=Report on Exceptions |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2011}}</ref> Shamokin Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009-10, nor in 2010-11.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/40402981/Pennsylvania-SSAct1-Act1-Exceptions-Report-2010-2011-April-2010 |title=Pennsylvania SSAct1_Act1 Exceptions Report 2010-2011 April 2010 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008043153/https://www.scribd.com/doc/40402981/Pennsylvania-SSAct1-Act1-Exceptions-Report-2010-2011-April-2010 |archivedate=October 8, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/44453061/Pennsylvania-SSAct1-Exception-requests-Report-2009-2010-May-2009 |title=Pennsylvania SSAct1 Exception requests Report_2009-2010_May 2009 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015024206/http://www.scribd.com/doc/44453061/Pennsylvania-SSAct1-Exception-requests-Report-2009-2010-May-2009 |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref>Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia, Local school tax assessments exceed state averages. ''The Daily Item'', May 25, 2010</ref> ==Facilities== The middle/high school, housing grades 7 through 12, was constructed in 1973–1975. The multi-floor building houses a 1280-seat auditorium, a 3000-seat gymnasium, and a regulation pool with spectator seating. This building was renovated in 1995–1996 to provide additional classroom space to accommodate grades 7 and 8. The building's HVAC system was renovated in this project, and modifications were made to meet ADA regulations. The former middle school building was sold to a county agency at the conclusion of the renovation project in 1996. It is currently being used by the county as a career development and arts center. The elementary school was constructed in 1980, and houses grades 1 through 6. It is also the home of several special needs classes administered by the local intermediate unit (IU16). The building's HVAC system was renovated in 1990. The elementary houses a large combination auditorium/gymnasium, a tiered-seating vocal music classroom, a band and orchestra suite, and a library. The elementary annex building was constructed 1959 as a vocational education facility for the district. This building was recently renovated to meet ADA regulations and houses grades K4 (kindergarten for four-year-olds), K5 kindergarten, and first grade. The building also houses administrative offices and a large gymnasium to provide accommodations for additional athletic activities. Both the secondary and elementary schools have extensive libraries, and participate in the Access Pennsylvania system. A mini-library is available at the annex building with holdings from the elementary library that are age appropriate for students located in the building. Library automation and circulation software is used in both libraries, with networked computers and printers for use by students and faculty. A large LAN on the main campus of the district serves the district administrative offices, the elementary school, and the middle/high school. A LAN is also present in the elementary annex building. A WAN/VPN connection links the remote elementary annex building to the main campus LAN to better utilize district resources and avoid duplication of services. The district aggressively pursues federal and state grant monies to fund its technology initiatives. A closed-circuit television distribution system is also provided for the elementary and secondary buildings, with access points in every classroom. All television programming originates from a sophisticated television studio in the middle/high school, and includes digital video production equipment. ==Extracurriculars== Shamokin Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_services_office/9153/disclosure_of_interscholastic_athletic_opportunities/1419362 |title=Disclosure of Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2013}}</ref> In 2014, the district reported spending over $580,000 for student activities (excluding transportation and facility costs).<ref>Shamokin Area School District administration, Shamokin Area School District Activities Budget 2013-2014, 2014</ref> In 2016-17, spending on extracurriculars had grown to $687,813.<ref>Shamokin Area Business Office, 2016-17 General Fund Final Budget Report, June 2016</ref> Eligibility for participation in extracurricular activities is determined by the school board and the [[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. The Shamokin Area School District is a Division I member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jsasd.k12.pa.us/540812510918396/lib/540812510918396/Const___Update_PHAC.pdf |title=Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference handbook 2010–11 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304031950/http://www.jsasd.k12.pa.us/540812510918396/lib/540812510918396/Const___Update_PHAC.pdf |archivedate=March 4, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> According to Pennsylvania's Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2011/0/0101..HTM |author1=PA General Assembly |title=Senate Bill 200 of Session 2011 Safety in Youth Sports Act |date= July 1, 2012}}</ref> By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 aged 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 district's extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=667364&mode=2 |title=Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities |author=Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release |date=November 10, 2005}}</ref> The district maintains an extensive outdoor athletic complex. Kemp Memorial Stadium is a large football and track complex with a seating capacity of 6000, with artificial turf and lighting for night games. The outdoor athletic complex also features practice fields, a lighted soccer stadium, and a baseball field dedicated to Douglas Dobson. The athletic facilities of the district are utilized heavily not only by the home teams, but also by various league organizations for hosting playoff games and events. A well-equipped weight room and athletic training facilities are located in the middle/high school. The plastic turf field was installed in 2005 at a cost of $648,991.23 to the taxpayers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/x433573615/Football-practice-field-is-a-go/print |author=Gina Morton |publisher=The Daily Item |title=Football practice field is a go |date=May 26, 2010}}</ref> ===Sports=== The sports programs participate in the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference and the [[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phacathletics.org/ |title=Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference School list |year=2012}}</ref> The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region. Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.<ref>Shamokin Area School Board, Shamokin Area School District Teacher Union Contract, 2012</ref> Coaching compensation increases the employee's state pension benefits. According to Pennsylvania's Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2011/0/0101..HTM |author1=PA General Assembly |title=Senate Bill 200 of Session 2011 Safety in Youth Sports Act |date= July 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upmc.com/services/sports-medicine/services/concussion/resources/pages/safety-in-youth-sports-act.aspx |title=Managing Concussions in Student Athletes: The Safety in Youth Sports Act |author=UMPC Sports Medicine |year=2014}}</ref> The district funds: {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} ;Boys: * [[Baseball]] - AAA * [[Basketball]] - AAA * [[Cross country running|Cross Country]] - AA * [[American Football|Football]] - AAA * [[Association football|Soccer]] - AA * [[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]] and [[Diving (sport)|Diving]] - AA * [[Track and Field]] - AA * [[Wrestling]] - AA {{col-2-of-2}} ;Girls: * Basketball - AAA * Cheer - AAAA *new 2014 * Cross Country - AA * Soccer (Fall) - AA * [[Softball]] - AAA * Swimming and Diving - AA * Track and Field - AAA * [[Volleyball]] - AA {{col-end}} ;Middle School Sports: {{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}} ;Boys: * Baseball * Basketball * Cross Country * Football * Track and Field * Wrestling {{col-2-of-2}} ;Girls: * Basketball * Cross Country * Soccer (Fall) * Softball * Track and Field {{col-end}} According to PIAA School Directory July 2015 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/default.aspx |title=PIAA School Directory |author=Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association |year=2015}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== * [http://www.indians.k12.pa.us/ Shamokin High School Website] * [http://www.shamokin57.com Historical pictures of Shamokin schools] * [http://www.ncavts.org Northumberland County Career and Technology Center] {{Northumberland County, Pennsylvania School Districts}} [[Category:Susquehanna Valley]] [[Category:School districts in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania]]'