Statewide examples of impact of funding cuts

Appendix A: Statewide examples of impact of funding cuts Appendix A is a 2013 statewide sample of some of the ways budget cuts have affected student programs. This list is not a census of all cuts; it is a mix of proposed cuts and final decisions. As a result of legislation passed in June 2012 (Act 105 of 2012), districts are no longer required to submit curtailment requests to the Department of Education, so in order to chronicle program cuts, we must rely on news reports and conversations with people in districts. 26

Eastern Pennsylvania Allentown School District: For 2013-14, the District is maintaining minimal elementary art and music classes and eliminating elementary library and physical education. Middle school arts classes will be drastically cut. The high school schedule will be cut from eight to seven class periods, shortening learning time for students. High school students will attend only seven class periods per day in a staggered schedule of eight periods. Class sizes will increase with the elimination of core subject electives. There are proposed cuts to special education services. There are also proposed cuts to programs for people who speak other languages. Elimination of effective programs such as Reading Recovery. Bristol Township School District: For the 2012-13 school year, the District altered or curtailed a number of educational programs. Changes were made to English, physical education, library, math, biology, business education, social studies, elementary education, and special education. As a result, class sizes have increased, and in some areas there are fewer sections available for students who wish to enroll in those classes. For 2013-14, the Board has stated that it plans to consider cuts to family and consumer science as well as other elective programs. Bristol Borough School District: The District eliminated the elementary art, music, and physical education programs in 2011-12. These programs have not been restored. Daniel Boone School District: Elimination of instructional aide positions at the elementary level has resulted in less assistance to students who are struggling with reading and math. The District s middle school foreign language program was cut back in 2012-13. In 2013-14, all foreign language instruction (Spanish and German) at the middle school will be eliminated. Computer, art, and music programs were eliminated for kindergarten students. For 2013-14, the district proposes to cut high school business electives. Elementary math basic skills programs will be reduced. Libraries in the secondary buildings are now only open every other day. High school science is reduced. Computer electives including web design, keyboarding, and advanced Microsoft Office will be eliminated. 27

Mid-Valley School District: In 2012-2013, the District eliminated some class sections which resulted in larger class sizes. The District also implemented cuts to honors and advanced placement classes, and some electives such as engineering were eliminated. Special education services were reduced. The District laid off classroom aides and hall monitors, detrimental to the quality of education and students safety. For 2013-2014, the District is considering cuts to art and music, larger class sizes, and either cuts to athletic programs and/or pay-to-play. Morrisville School District: During the 2012-2013 school year, the District decreased its electives, reducing business education, physical education, technology, and music education. For the 2013-2014 school year, the District will cut full-day kindergarten to half day. The District is also considering cuts to the number of technology education electives offered and the elimination of the District s only librarian. Pocono Mountain School District: In 2012-2013, the District reduced math instruction in grades 6-8 by 50 percent. The alternative education program for grades 6-8 was eliminated. A community-based elementary school was closed, and students were sent to another larger building. For 2013-2014, the District is considering a reduction in the number of credits needed to graduate. The District also proposes to eliminate the required physical education courses in grades 10 and 11, and decrease the number of electives available to students each year. The District plans to eliminate academic teams in grades 7 and 8. Two more community-based elementary schools are being closed, and students will be sent to larger buildings. The District also plans to reduce reading programs in grades 7 and 8 by combining classes and reducing instructional time. Reading School District: The District administration has presented (but the school board has not yet approved) some changes, including: o eliminating pre-kindergarten; o eliminating full-day kindergarten and moving to a half-day kindergarten program. 28

Schuylkill Haven School District: For 2013-14, the District is proposing elimination of a high school computer program. The budget for teaching supplies and materials that help students learn is being cut by 20 percent. The District is proposing to eliminate instruction coaches who currently assist teachers in creating lessons that prepare students for PSSA testing. The middle school DARE program, which is a program designed to prevent drug use, is being eliminated. The elementary SAP (Student Assistance Program) will be cut. Class sizes in at least second grade will increase. Title I teaching positions will be cut, resulting in less remedial services to students struggling in reading and math. Technology education and family consumer science will be eliminated from the middle school. Shenandoah Valley School District: Elementary students no longer have certified teachers teaching gym, music, and art. Now classroom teachers have to teach these classes. Instructional time has been reduced for core subjects. The District has eliminated shop, industrial arts, driver education, and family and consumer science classes. Art and physical education classes are reduced, as is the business education program. Two teachers are responsible for helping as many as 180 students with homework during an advisory period. Stroudsburg School District: In the 2012-2013 school year, the District eliminated driver education, reduced social studies programs, eliminated many electives at the junior high and high school level (resulting in some students having more study halls than actual classes), and increased class sizes at all levels (elementary average class sizes are in the upper 20s). Upper Darby School District: In 2012-13, the elementary library program was reduced. The middle school family and consumer sciences courses were eliminated. High school guidance counseling services were reduced. The Board s proposed budget for 2013-14 calls for reducing the elementary teaching staff by seven positions and four at the high school. Elimination of teaching positions through attrition has resulted in larger class sizes. Transportation will be rerouted, and late bus pick-up will be discontinued. William Penn School District: The District has reduced guidance services to students through elimination of elementary guidance counselor positions. The District has also cut special education facilitators and math and reading coaches. After-school busing was cut for activities at all levels. The elimination of teaching positions through attrition has resulted in larger class sizes. Elective classes were cut at all levels. Graduation requirements were reduced so classes could be cut. 29

Central Pennsylvania Lancaster School District: The District significantly reduced the K-8 Spanish program. The elementary schools now may only have a librarian one day a week; one librarian services a middle school and all the feeder elementary schools. Midd-West School District: The School Board has voted to close two elementary schools. The loss of teachers and support staff through retirements has resulted in larger class sizes and longer bus rides for students. Some classes at the middle and high schools have been eliminated. Health services to students have been decreased by eliminating a certified nurse position. Field trips and other extra supplies for students have been cut. For 2013-14, a work study program and guidance programs are expected to be decreased. Spring Cove School District: For the 2013-2014 school year, the District is considering the elimination of industrial arts at the middle school. Steelton-Highspire School District: For the 2013-2014 school year, the District is considering complete elimination of the pre-kindergarten program (K-4) and a change in K-5 from full-day to half-day kindergarten. The District is also eliminating drug testing district-wide. West Branch School District: The district is also considering elimination of family consumer science. Elimination of teaching staff through attrition has caused an increase in class sizes. York City School District: For 2012-13, eliminated or cut all extracurricular programs. Clubs, cheerleading, swimming, and performance arts are gone. The District altered the instruction program so that two middle schools were closed, and the remaining elementary schools teach grades K-8. There is a reduced schedule for art and physical education in the elementary levels. There are now only two guidance counselors to meet the needs of students in five elementary schools. Students see specials teachers (providing additional learning and assistance) on an increasingly reduced schedule. The District has reduced staff at every level and in almost every subject, resulting in fewer learning opportunities. Reading and math coaches are gone, along with intervention specialists. 30

Western Pennsylvania Aliquippa School District: In the 2012-2013 school year, the District dropped full-day kindergarten to half-day. ARIN Intermediate Unit #28: In 2012-13, member districts responded to the funding crisis by taking back or eliminating programs previously provided by the IU. Programs such as adapted physical education, adapted art, and adapted music have been eliminated by districts that previously offered them. Member districts are also opting to eliminate many of the special education aides who provided assistance to the classroom teachers, so the only remaining aides are one-onone aides. In the past, students who needed occasional support were able to access it. Now they are doing without it. The IU has also cut back on the parent/child home visiting program. Bentworth School District: The District eliminated its middle school librarian, technology teacher, and family and consumer science program. Clairton School District: The District lost an after-school tutoring program to budget cuts. Gov. Tom Corbett toured Clairton in 2011 and urged the state s ailing school districts to consider mergers. Clairton officials sent out letters of inquiry to four nearby districts, but none showed interest in consolidation. Crawford County Career and Technical Center The Tech Center cut its math program. East Allegheny School District: The 2012-2013 cuts included elimination of full-day kindergarten, and it is not likely to be restored in 2013-14. The District also cut library services and art in K-3; a math coach and a reading coach in middle school; and a media teacher. The District has reduced guidance services. Fort LeBoeuf School District: The District reduced the number of teachers providing elementary gifted, enrichment, and math reteaching. The District went from one person per-building (3 total) to one who travels to the three buildings. Math teachers are now do their own reteaching. 31

Homer-Center School District: For 2012-13, the District eliminated the elementary level life skills support class, as well as the adapted art, adapted music, and adapted physical education classes that were previously provided for students in life skills support classrooms. Students previously identified as in need of life skills support and related services no longer have a life skills support classroom or a dedicated life skills support teaching staff. Woodshop and driver education have been completely eliminated. The elementary school students have not had their own librarian for the last two years. Iroquois School District: The District cut the pre-kindergarten program. Jeannette School District: Multiple levels of French are now being taught by one teacher in one class. Milcreek Township School District: The District is closing two elementary schools. Elementary class sizes will increase. Eliminated Mandarin instruction and driver s education. Eliminated two teachers who provided reading and math support to disadvantaged kids. The music program was cut back at middle school. Reduced the number of instructional support advisors who worked with at-risk kids. The District is considering reductions to elective programs, classes such as music, art, gym and Family and Consumer Science. Monessen School District: The District since 2012 has eliminated after-school tutoring at the high school, and eliminated after-school detention at the middle and high schools. The District also reduced its performing arts/music programs by consolidating two teaching positions into one. The district eliminated busing for after-school activities. Northern Cambria School District: Elementary music and art classes are now being taught by classroom teachers. The District replaced its full-time teacher aides with part-time aides, reducing the time available to help students. Plum Borough School District: The Board has recommended a budget for 2013-14 which includes cutting ROTC, television production, family consumer science and business education at the high school; and computer instruction and French and Spanish at the junior high. Technology education at both schools would be eliminated. 32

Seneca Valley School District: In 2013-2014, the District will eliminate physics and speech as required graduation courses. English class sizes have increased. In 2012-2013, the elementary schedule was switched from a six-day rotation to a fiveday rotation with specials (art, music, physical education) being offered once a rotation instead of twice a rotation. German language classes were reduced. The District previously increased elementary classes from an average of 22 students per class to 27 students per class. Pay-to-play has been instituted for all athletics. The District s business program was eliminated. Sharon School District: For 2013-14, the District is considering cuts to high school art, English and social studies teaching staff, which would result in larger classes. The District is also considering cuts to its high school family/consumer science program and elementary physical education. Warren County School District: Class sizes have increased. Washington School District: In 2012-13, the District cut all after-school tutoring and the junior high computer/technology programs, and has eliminated various student clubs. 33