Curriculum Updates

Introducing the 2-Score Keystone Composite:

To be eligible for a 2-score Composite under subsection (B), the student must have earned a non-numeric Proficient during the 19-20 SY per Act 136 of 2020 (now subsection (A) of §121.1). A student who did not earn a non-numeric Proficient during the 19-20 SY per Act 136 of 2020, or who took all three Keystones without an exemption is not eligible to utilize a two-score Composite.

If the student who earned a non-numeric Proficient per Act 136 later opted to participate in the Keystone Exam for the academic content area which they were exempted, the student may not use the associated numeric score to calculate the two-score Keystone Composite. The two-score composite must be calculated using the highest numeric scores in the other two Keystone Exams not associated with the academic content for which the student earned a non-numeric Proficient.

In an effort to continue assisting our school leaders with the implementation of Act 158 and the State graduation requirements, the Department would like to announce the following opportunities.

Webinar: Updates for the State Graduation Requirement in 2023

Will cover recent amendments through Act 55 and action by the State Board of Education, including the two-score composite, as well as PDE tools and resources for implementing Act 158 this school year.

In attempt to accommodate the schedules of our school leaders, this session will be offered on two different occasions:

• Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 11:00 AM
• Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 11:00 AM

Open Office Hours: The Act 158 Graduation Requirement

Opportunity for educators to ask questions or receive technical assistance from the PDE team. Two separate sessions will be made available:

• Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 11:00 AM
• Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 11:00 AM

Each of the sessions can be accessed using the following log-in:

https://zoom.us/j/8291903138

Meeting ID: 829 190 3138

Or Dial: +1 929 205 6099

Any questions about these upcoming trainings may be submitted to ra-edgradrequirement@pa.gov.

Click here for a copy of the PennLink distributed on July 18, 2022.

Although PDE had insisted all year that schools could not use an SLO template moving into the 2022-2023 school year, at our most recent meeting, it was communicated that moving to the Student Performance Measure is highly recommended but that also if a district wishes to continue to use the SLO template they may. The requirement is that schools have to have an LEA Selected Measure, and what template they use to derive this component of evaluation could be either the SPM or SLO templates.

Click here to see the updated information, which reflects the allowance of SLOs through the heading of "SLO/SPM". Please let me know if you have any questions. You will also see on the attached document that Amy Lena is offering office hours on August 4th and August 11th to answer any questions to Act 13 that you may have.

Comprehensive Plans (*Extension includes all State Required Reports*)

• Phase 1 - Due March 30, 2023
• Phase 2 - Due August 30, 2022 (Extension granted by PDE)

• Phase 3 - Due August 30, 2022 (Extension granted by PDE)

Special Education Plans:

• Phase 1 - Due July 30, 2022 *UPDATED*
• Phase 2 - Due May 1, 2023 (Now available in the FRCPP)
• Phase 3 - Due July 30, 2022 *UPDATED*

K-12 Guidance Plan (339) - UPDATED as of 3/11/22

• Phase 1 – March 31, 2024

• Phase 2 – March 31, 2025

• Phase 3 – March 31, 2023

Click here to access the July edition of the Comprehensive Planning Tip Jar.

PDE is excited to announce Office Hours for FRCPP support!

• These open office hours will begin on August 2, 2022, from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
• They will be held every other week via Teams.
• No registration is required.
• To join a session, click here.
• Sessions will have a brief announcement section followed by an open Q&A.

IUs will deliver training to the schools in three key areas of concentration (CRSE, Professional Ethics, Structured Literacy)

• Fall 2024-2025 new induction programs must be approved and will begin (two year requirement now instead of one year requirement)
• Need to have induction plan updated by this time (must resubmit if working under a previous plan) even if falls outside of your comp planning cycle

If you are in a comprehensive planning cycle now--submit the induction plan as you currently have it. PDE will release an update that will have to be completed when it's time. From Michele Buck:

"At this point, LEAs should not worry about Ch 49 until further instructions come from PDE. They will have all information forthcoming, but for this submission, everyone should follow the previous regulations."

The SI Team has released the Pennsylvania Continuous Improvement Resource Site

• This website serves as a resource for school and district leaders, as well as school improvement facilitators and consultants, as part of Pennsylvania’s System for LEA and School Improvement.

School Improvement Plans (CSI and A-TSI)

• Due August 31, 2022

• For detailed information on this change, please click here.

We believe that all learners deserve:

• To have meaningful experiences

• To feel like they belong

• To feel challenged, motivated, engaged, excited, and successful

• To be given opportunities to work independently as well as collaboratively

• To use their interests and strengths to create their own learning journey

• To use technology flexibly to obtain information, interact with information, and share new learning

• To have supportive relationships with teachers who believe in them and guide them

Our Accelerated Learning trainings are underway! The overarching themes of this training include looking at how you adapt curriculum and instruction to address learning loss and support mental health needs in your schools.

It is two day training for admin teams of 5-8 individuals. We will dig into your district data and help you to determine your areas of need and create an Accelerated Learning plan for implementation. We aim to focus your school improvement efforts as a result of the pandemic and collaborate to develop 2-3 realistic, measurable goals that can be implemented to close learning gaps. We can still book district teams if you are interested in participating.

Agenda for Day 1

Agenda for Day 2

See our PD catalog for this upcoming school year sorted through the Accelerated Learning lens.

Stacie Isenberg joined our curriculum department in June with a focus on helping to strengthen the career pathways systems in our district and communities. Some resources and supports to look for in the coming months include:

• An invitation to a leadership kickoff meeting for Building a Career Pathway System for Armstrong & Indiana Counties (Aug. 9, 2022, 8:30-11:30 am at ARIN)

• Registration information for the Counselor Collaboration Group which will include career readiness resources and updates for guidance counselors

• Navigating the process of offering non-CTE, local industry recognized credentials using free platforms and other strategies to support the evidence based Act 158 Pathway

• Workshops offered to schools and businesses in applied digital skills as part of ARIN’s new designation as a Grow with Google community partner

Stacie has been reaching out to districts and community partners to learn about existing programs and areas of need surrounding career readiness; please reach out if you haven’t connected with her yet: sisenberg@iu28.org | 724.463.5300 x1216