Pennsylvania Department of Education: Investing in a Better Future

1. Pennsylvania Department of Education Edward G. Rendell Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak Secretary of Education

2. Pennsylvania’s Investments Yield Results $1.8 billion in new Pre-K – 12 funding in Governor Rendell’s first four years. Pennsylvania: One of only seven states to make progress on elementary school reading and math. Pennsylvania: two out of three students are on grade level in these core subjects.

3. 5th, 8th and 11th grade Math and Reading

4. DE's FIELD-BASED ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION (TOOLS)

5. PENNSYLVANIA TOOLS • Systemic school improvement planning process • Getting Results • Getting Ready • Anchors • Governor’s Aligned Initiatives • Partners

6. Strong Results for Students Standards-Aligned Instructional System QUALITY LEADERSHIP Fair Assessments Clear Standards ARTFUL USE OF INFRASTRUCTURE QUALITY TEACHING Interventions Curriculum Instruction Resources & Materials for Instruction CONTINUOUS LEARNING ETHIC

7. Preparing Pennsylvania Students for the Future 2007-2008 Budget: $527.8 Million increase for Pre-K-12 funding, bringing total new investment to $2.3 billion. • Ensuring that every child masters early literacy and math skills by attending high quality early childhood education. • Every high school student graduates prepared to succeed in a high tech high skills economy through a rigorous high school education. • Every high school graduate has access to quality affordable higher education programs that prepare them for the high skills workplace.

8. Governor Rendell’s 2007-08 Budget Continues to Invest in a Better Future Early Childhood Education - The 2007-08 Budget invests an additional $100 million focusing on providing high-quality pre-kindergarten and full-day Kindergarten opportunities to the youngest learners in every school district. ·Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts: $75 million will establish pre-kindergarten programs through competitive grants, benefiting up to 11,000 three and four year olds. ·Full-Day Kindergarten: $25 million will go to districts to establish or expand district full-day kindergarten programs. Science: It’s Elementary - $15 million – a 50% increase – adding up to 85 more schools, benefiting nearly 50,000 more students.   High School Reform –$82 million total increase in 2007-08. ·Classrooms for the Future- $90 million for laptop technology in all core classrooms, 250 more high schools ·Project 720: $3 million increase in funding for 2007-08, totaling $11 million, an additional 30 high schools ·Dual Enrollment- additional$2 million will give 3,000 more high school students – particularly low-income students - opportunities to take college-level courses before graduating.

9. Governor Rendell’s 2007-08 Budget Continues to Invest in a Better Future Enhancing Quality Teachers – $30.4 million in 2007-08 for professional development. National Board Certification – Up to 500 more teachers will be able to earn the profession’s “gold standard” at no personal cost through regional support centers, with $1.2 million. Healthy Schools –$6.5 million to help schools provide the most nutritious food choices inside and outside the cafeteria. Pennsylvania’s increased investment will produce an estimated $23.6 million additional federal funds. Technical Colleges - Governor Rendell proposes $2 million to establish two Technical College Programs beginning in 2007-08.   Community Colleges - Governor Rendell’s 2007-08 investment in Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges will increase by 3% to $229.4 million in addition to $2.5 million for capital investments in 2007-08. Since 2003, the Governor has increased community college funding by $63.7 million total.

10. What makes an effective workforce? High School Reform Classrooms for the Future Project 720 Dual Enrollment

11. Classrooms for the Future • Classrooms for the Future is changing the way teachers teach and students learn in Pennsylvania high schools by providing a laptop in every core academic subject classroom and using the power of the Internet to engage the technology Generation and make learning come alive. • In the first year of Classrooms for the Future: • 103 schools in 79 districts are participating. • 1,200 classrooms are fully equipped with over 16,000 laptops. • 1,900 teachers received professional development training. • 2007-08 Proposed Budget: • $90 million total investment will cover 357 schools, provide 83,000 laptops in 10,000 classrooms • $11 million in professional development will train 12,100 teachers.

12. Project 720 • Project 720 high schools are leading the way in transforming their academic programs to ensure that all students take a rigorous high school curriculum. • Since 2005-2006, Project 720 has impacted 115,000 students in 118 high schools in 95 school districts. Last year: • 2,800 more 9th grade students took Algebra. • 4,600 more 9th and 10th graders were offered tutoring. • 6,120 more students were given individual career counseling guidance. • 1,250 more students took college courses. • 2007-08 Proposed Budget • $3 million new funding • 42,600 more students • 17 more high schools

13. Dual Enrollment • Dual Enrollment offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school at a reduced cost. Since the inception of the program in 2005-06, the program has grown exponentially. • 2006-07 school year: •  12,000 students;18,000 post-secondary courses. • 306 districts/ CTCs are partnering with 112 postsecondary institutions • 2007-08 Proposed Budget • $10 million total investment, $2 million in new funding targeted to benefit 3,000 more students, particularly low-income students

14. -. Governor’s Commission on College and Career Success

15. 1950’s - 30% of jobs required skilled or professional labor • 2002 - 70% of jobs required skilled or professional labor • By 2010, two thirds of all new jobs will require at least some postsecondary education. • Approximately ¼ of our students do not graduate HS on time • Of those that graduate, less than ½ enroll in college • Only 37% make it to their sophomore year in college • Less than 1/3 graduate from college on time

16. Governor’s Commission on College and Career Success • Focus is on restoring meaning to the high school diploma • Two challenges • Need to increase the number of high school graduates • Need to ensure that every graduate leaves ready for college and career

17. Commission Recommendations • Graduation Competency Assessments • Elevation of standards to meet expectations of colleges and businesses • Model curriculum for school districts • A host of student supports including: • Dropout prevention • Improvements to college and career counseling • Re-engagement of former drop-outs • Creating equitable access to postsecondary training

18. The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Education is to lead and serve the educational community, to enable each individual to grow into an inspired, productive, fulfilled life-long learner.