Curriculum Updates

Requirements for online accessibility has been delayed. You can read more about it by clicking this article. For more information, visit ADA.gov.

We'd love to hear how your journey with MTSS is going. Do you need more support? Are you smooth sailing? It is quick and helps us plan for you!

Join us for a 2 part series as we wipe the dust off cursive and bring it back to life! Hands-on, kinesthetic, and exciting strategies to not only teach cursive handwriting, but to get teachers and students excited about it again! This is for K-12 and cross-curricular.

Day 1: Blue Spruce Park

Day 2: Outdoor Discovery Center @ Crooked Creek

For more information, visit our newsletter: Scribbles to Script

Email kmonsour@iu28.org to hold your spot! Click the button below to register!

Join us on September 11, 2026 for a hands-on introduction to ARIN’s STEAM Lending Library! Participants will explore low-tech, screen-free, and high-tech classroom resources—including maker tools, robotics, drones, circuits, Breakout EDU, and more—and leave with ideas for using these materials to support engaging, student-centered learning. This session is perfect for educators who want to try something new without having to purchase materials first.

Student-centered learning continues to grow across Pennsylvania, and there are several ways for educators to stay connected, learn from others, and bring new ideas back to their schools.

• Locally, ARIN is also rebranding our coaching network to include all teachers and with a stronger student-centered focus. The Student Centered Coaching Collective will support coaches, teacher leaders, and “go-to” educators in grades 3–12 who want to collaborate, share strategies, and strengthen student-centered practices across classrooms and districts.

• District teams can use the PA SCL Blueprint to reflect on current practices, set goals, and plan specific next steps for strengthening student-centered learning. It provides a shared framework for guiding conversations, professional development, and continuous improvement.

• Educators can join the PA Student-Centered Learning Community of Practice to receive invitations to 2026–27 virtual network meetings, learn about district site visits and regional events, and receive the PASCL digital newsletter. This statewide network is designed for PA educators interested in transforming learning through student voice, choice, agency, and future-ready practices.

We are excited to offer our 1st HYBRID Act 45 course using Alludo and one of our favorite books!

"AI can’t replace the human element of education. It can elevate it." (Tucker & Novak, 2024)

Registration: Registration Link (opens in new tab)

Cost: $350

Includes the book, Alludo for asynchronous component & light breakfast for 2 in-person dates

Date: In-person @ ARIN August 11 8:30a-10:30a & December 15 8:30a-10:30a (virtual office hours will be offered September 29, November 10 also from 8:30a-10:30a)

A free workshop June 18 8:30-3:00 @ IUP!

Please join us at IUP for "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". This training Empowers individuals to develop foundational skills and character attributes to work effectively - leading to greater success. This training is most useful for organization/individuals who want to increase emotional intelligence, proactive problem-solving, communication and collaboration, and self-leadership.

This session is FREE and will include lunch. Six (6) Act 48 hours will be awarded following the conclusion. 🚩 Update: Act 45 is APPROVED for ten (10) hours, after completion of a reflection activity.

Point Park University is the only higher education institution in Pennsylvania approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) alternative path to teacher certification. This program is virtual and available to teacher candidates throughout Pennsylvania.

There are 4 required phases to the program.

Phase 1: Testing – Pass the American Board certification exams (replaces the Praxis or PECT).

Phase 2: Enrollment – Apply to Point Park, complete two graduate courses, submit required paperwork, and secure a placement in a PDE-approved school.

Phase 3: Experience – Complete 60 consecutive days of teaching along with all required program assignments.

Phase 4: Certification – Apply for the Instructional I certificate through the PDE TIMS.

For more details, see this flyer and contact program director Denise Beverina-Moore (dmoore@pointpark.edu).

Unsure of how you will meet the new laws regarding accessibility? Our partners at IU7 created an accessibility training to educate districts/IUs on how to best approach these changes!

Timeline:

Law Passed: April 2024

Law Enforced: April 2026/2027*

*Based on size

State and local governments that contract with other entities to provide public services for them (like non-profit organizations that run drug treatment programs on behalf of a state agency) also have to make sure that their contractors follow Title II.

🍎Student Centered Learning June 17 @ IUP

🍏 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People June 18 @ IUP (open to anyone)

🍎Continuous School Improvement Conference July 28 & 29 @ PaTTAN Harrisburg (open to all LEAs)

🍏Summit 26 (PAEdge & PA Principals Association) Aug 2-4 @ Renaissance and Parkland HS, Allentown

🍎Data Literacy Action Summit: Weaving Data Fluency Across Disciplines for Civic Impact Oct 6 @ PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg

Date: June 17, 2026

Location: Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Event Registration: bit.ly/WPASCL2026

Want to present? Click here.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

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The Learning Landscape summit will bring together educators and environmental professionals from across western PA for a high-energy day of learning, collaboration and inspiration.

Date: June 11, 2026

Location: Grove City College

Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Event Registration: bit.ly/WPASummitReg

Want to present? Click here.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

This no-cost Act 45 program is a 40-hour leadership learning experience designed to strengthen instructional leadership and support practice-based instruction across content areas. Participants engage in asynchronous learning, in-person collaborative sessions, and job-embedded application to examine how leadership routines and professional learning support equitable, high-quality teaching and learning. The program includes two in-person learning days on June 24–25, 2026, held at Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, along with asynchronous pre-work and a culminating assignment. Learn more and register for the Act45 course.

Want a 1:1 Consult with the PVAAS Team? Click HERE to schedule!

Users can now select the focus for the consultation that best meets their goals or professional learning objectives.

Great Learning Opportunities Coming Up:

PVAAS Professional Learning Page

Digging Deeper Guides- these are a great resource for identifying root cause and diving deeper into your data! User friendly for all users!

Here are several links to resources to help build your understanding of this change:

• PVAAS Methodology Transition
• Changes in PA’s Assessment System: Impact on PVAAS
• PVAAS Methodologies (see pages 10-13 for predictive model information)
• eLearning – District/School Value-Added (view section on Predictive Methodology in menu)

Upcoming Webinars: Learn With Us

Summer is a great time to learn and reflect as you plan for the coming year. Consider engaging in these webinar options, both in the summer and during next school year, as you use data to inform your work. Visit our PDE PVAAS Professional Learning Webpage to register for these offerings and more:

Complete Your Act 13 Evaluations with PEERS: A Hands-On Tour

• June 17 – 1:00pm-2:00pm

Unlocking the Power of PVAAS Reports: A 101 Overview (Act 48 Eligible)

• June 25 – 10:00am-12:00pm
• June 29 – 12:30pm-2:30pm
• October 12 – 12:30pm-2:30pm

Using PVAAS Teacher & Student Data to Plan Instruction (Act 48 Eligible)

• October 12 – 9:00am-11:00am
• November 3 – 12:30-2:30pm

Connect With Us for a 1:1 Data Conversation

We offer (at no cost) 1:1 PVAAS data virtual sessions for PA public LEA/district and school leaders: Reserve a Time!

Administrators may invite additional administrators and/or teachers to a session. If you are a teacher, please include your administrator in the session with you.

FRCPP Support: Office Hours every 1st and 3rd Tuesday via TEAMS. CLICK HERE

Click here to access the most current Comprehensive Planning/FRCPP information.

Need to know what Phase your LEA is in? Check it here: Comprehensive Planning Phase Designation List.pdf

Susan Griffith

Director of Curriculum- School Improvement, AICPP/Careers, PVAAS, Act 89/NonPub

TaC Supervisor

sgriffith@iu28.org

Stacie Isenberg

Curriculum Specialist - STEM, STEELS, Instructional Coaches, Artificial Intelligence

sisenberg@iu28.org

Lacie Cook

Curriculum Specialist - Math, Gifted, Instructional Coaches, School Improvement, PVAAS, CDT, SEW, Induction

lcook@iu28.org

Katie Monsour

Curriculum Specialist- ELA, Counselors, AICPP/Careers

kmonsour@iu28.org