Harmony Area School District

In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Harmony Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[21][22] 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 Pennsylvania public 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.[23][24] Harmony Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003, Harmony Area School District was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[25]

In 2013, Harmony Area School District's graduation rate was 97%.[26] In 2012, the graduation rate was 96%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 90%.[27] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Harmony High School's rate was 80% for 2010.[28]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 100%[29]
• 2009 - 100%[30]
• 2008 - 80%[31]
• 2007 - 80%[32]

In 2014, Harmony Area School Board voted to consolidate the middle school and high school administrations. The school is now a middle school/high school. It remains in a single building. Harmony Middle School High School serves 7th through 12th grade in the fall of 2014.

Harmony Area High School is located at 5239 Ridge Road, Westover. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 81 pupils in 10th through 12th grades, with 55.5% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 22% of pupils received special education services, while none of the pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 6 teachers.[33] Per the PA Department of Education 1 of the teachers was rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2010, the High School had 101 students with 55 males and 45 females students. There were 5 teachers. Fifty four students qualified for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program due to family poverty.[34]

2013 School Performance Profile

Harmony Area High School achieved 66 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 56% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 47% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 56.5% showed on grade level science understanding.[35] 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.[36]

AYP history

In 2010 and 2011, Harmony Area High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[37] In 2009, Harmony Area High School declined to Warning AYP status due to low student academic achievement. The school was also in Warning AYP status in 2003.

PSSA results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[38]

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.[39]

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 61% on grade level, (23% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[40]
• 2010 - 63% (13% below basic). State - 66%[41]
• 2009 - 36% (33% below basic). State - 65%[42]
• 2008 - 56% (23% below basic). State - 65%[43]
• 2007 - 53% (30% below basic). State - 65%[44]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 57% on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 70%, (23% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 43%, (26% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 43%, (33% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 49%, (30% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 39% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[45]
• 2010 - 23% (13% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 14% (22% below basic). State - 40%[46]
• 2008 - 13% (23% below basic)s. State - 39%

Science in Motion Harmony Area High School did not take 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.[47] Clarion University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

In 2013, Harmony Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 538. The Math average score was 530. The Writing average score was 490. 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.[48]

In 2012, Harmony Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 432. The Math average score was 457. The Writing average score was 419. 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, 16 students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 437. The Math average score was 456. The Writing average score was 398.[49] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[50] 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.[51]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 27% of the Harmony Area High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.[52] 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.[53] 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.

The 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. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. For several years, the state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books[54] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[55] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,513 for the program.[56]

Harmony Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: math 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 3 or 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education, health and Drivers Ed 2.6 credits, foreign language 1 credit, and electives. Only two credits from an approved summer school program or credit recovery program can be used to count towards graduation.[57]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.[58] One graduation credit was awarded upon completion of the project.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.[59][60][61]

Harmony Area Middle School is located at 5239 Ridge Road, Westover. In 2013, enrollment was 76 pupils, in grades 7th through 9th, with 53.9% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 22% of pupils received special education services, while 2.6% of pupils were identified as gifted.[62] According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[63] In 2014, the school entity was dissolved and combined with the high school for administrative purposes.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 80 pupils, in grades 7th through 9th, with 46 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 5 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1.[64] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[65]

2013 School Performance Profile

Harmony Area Middle School achieved 64.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 65% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 65% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 60% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 50% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[66]

AYP history

In 2010 and 2011, Harmony Area Middle School achieved AYP status.[67] The attendance rate was 94% in both 2010 and 2011.[68]

PSSA Results

Seventh grades have been 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, as a state initiative.[69] 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.[70] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[71] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[72]

8th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 67% on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[73]
• 2011 - 71% (21% below basic). State - 81.8%[74]
• 2010 - 78% (17% below basic). State - 81%[75]
• 2009 - 74% (14% below basic), State - 80%[76]
• 2008 - 67% (12% below basic). State - 78%[77]
• 2007 - 82% (3% below basic). State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 78 on grade level (11% below basic). State - 76%[78]
• 2011 - 71% (17% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 86% (5% below basic). State - 75%[79]
• 2009 - 62% (18% below basic). State - 71%[80]
• 2008 - 67% (19% below basic). State - 70%
• 2007 - 72% (6% below basic). State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 59% on grade level (22% below basic). State - 59%[81]
• 2011 - 35% (22% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 35% (26% below basic). State – 57%[82]
• 2009 - 59% (22% below basic). State - 55%[83]
• 2008 - 41% (16% below basic), State - 52%[84]

Harmony Area Elementary School is located at 5239 Ridge Road, Westover. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 185 pupils in grades preschool through 6th, with 56% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 16.7% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted.[85] 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.[86] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 193 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 107 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 14.5 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1.[87] Per a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[88] The school provides full-day kindergarten to all its pupils.[89]

2013 School Performance Profile

Harmony Area Elementary School achieved a score of 70.8 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 70% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 81.8% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 83.7% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 76% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing only 47.8% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[90]

AYP History

In 2012, Harmony Area Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status.[91] In 2010 and 2011, Harmony Area Elementary School achieved AYP status.[92] In 2011, the attendance rate was 93%, while the rate in 2010 was 92%.[93]

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. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[94] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[95][96][97] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[98]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 81%, (12% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 100%, 60% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 77%, (5% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 78%, (4% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 95%, (0% below basic), State - 81%

Harmony Area School District Administration reported that less than 10 of its students were gifted in 2009.[111] 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.[112][113]

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, School District receives 68% of its annual revenue from the state.[136]

For the 2014-15 school year, Harmony Area School District will receive $2,652,720 in State Basic Education funding. The district will also receive $58,493 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State's enacted Education Budget includes $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding.[137] The Education budget also includes 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 is paying $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.[138]

In the 2013-2014 school year, the Harmony Area School District received a 1.1% increase or $2,654,320 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $29,367 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Harmony Area School District received $31,154 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in ClearfieldCounty, Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 6.1%. 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.[139] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland district, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[140] As a part of the education budget, the state provided the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[141]

For the 2012-13 school year, the Harmony Area School District received $2,656,107.[142] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Harmony Area School District received $31,154 in Accountability Block Grant. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[143] This amount was 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 the 2011–12 school year, Harmony Area School District received a $2,624,953 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[144][145] Additionally, Harmony Area School District received $31,154 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.[146] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011–2012.[147] In 2010, the district reported that 219 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[148]

In the 2010–11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $2,697,662. Among the districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Dubois Area School District which got a 7.76% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in the Commonwealth went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding in 2010.[149]

In the 2009–10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.77% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $2,378,035 to Harmony Area School District. Among the eight public school districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District which got a 5.57% increase in BEF. The state Basic Education Funding to Harmony Area School District in 2008-2009 was $2,624,952.66. Ninety school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[150] The amount of increase each school district receives is set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak as a part of their state budget proposal.[151] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 193 Harmony Area School District students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[152]

Beginning in 2004–05, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010–11, the district applied for and received $84,560 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to reduce class sizes K-3rd grade.[153][154]

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, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Harmony Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006–07. In 2007–2008, the district received $58,583. The district received $35,173 in 2008-2009.[155]

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, Harmony Area School District received $10,032.[156]

Harmony Area School District was awarded a $119,018 competitive literacy grant. It is to be used to improve reading skills birth through 12th grade. The district was required to develop a lengthy literacy plan, which included outreach into the community. The funds come from a Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, also referred to as the Keystones to Opportunity grant It is a five-year, competitive federal grant program designed to assist local education agencies in developing and implementing local comprehensive literacy plans. Of the 329 pre-applications by school districts reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, School District was one of only 148 entities that were invited to submit a full application. In Clearfield County 5 school districts were awarded funding for one year.[157] The funds must be used for teacher training, student screening and assessment, targeted interventions for students reading below grade level and research-based methods of improving classroom instruction and practice. Districts must hire literacy coaches. The coaches work with classroom teachers to enhance their literacy teaching skills. Pennsylvania was among six other states, out of the 35 that applied, to be awarded funding. Pennsylvania received $38 million through the federal program. The Department of Education reserved 5% of the grant for administration costs at the state level. The top Pennsylvania grant recipient was Pittsburgh School District which was awarded $1,9983,014.

Harmony Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants;[158][159] PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell);[160] 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants[161] nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Harmony Area School District received an extra $918,791 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[162] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[163] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly warned 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.

Harmony Area School District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one half million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[164] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.[165] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[166][167][168]

The Harmony Area School Board elected 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.[169] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Property tax rates in 2014–15 were set by the school board at 85.0500 mills for Clearfield County residents and 73.5400 mills for Indiana County residents. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. 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.[170] 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. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes on their residence. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[171] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.[172] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts.[173]

• 2013–14 - 83.0800 mills for Clearfield County residents and 62.9600 mills for Indiana County residents
• 2012–13 - 85.6300 mills for Clearfield County residents and 62.9600 mills for Indiana County residents
• 2011–12 - 85.6300 mills for Clearfield County residents and 61.9000 mills for Indiana County residents
• 2010–11 - 85.4600 mills for Clearfield County residents and 60.2800 mills for Indiana County residents[174]
• 2009–10 - 87.1400 mills for Clearfield County residents and 60.2100 mills for Indiana County residents.[175]
• 2008–09 - 87.2500 mills for Clearfield County residents and 60.0500 mills for Indiana County residents.[176]
• 2007–08 - 86.6500 mills for Clearfield County residents and 63.9900 mills for Indiana County residents.[177]

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 2011–12 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index 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, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA 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.[178] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[179] The following exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school's share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.[180][181]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Harmony Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[182]

For the 2014-15 budget year, Harmony Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. In 2014-15, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 21.4% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS).[187] 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.[188]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Harmony Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. In 2013-14, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 16.93% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS). 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 pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[189]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Harmony Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. In 2012-13, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 12.36% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS). For 2012-2013 budget year, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; while 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.[190]

For the 2011-12 school year, Harmony Area School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the 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 published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[191]

According to a state report, for the 2011–12 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.[192]

Harmony Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.[193] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[194] 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.[195]

In 2014, the Board approved property owners to receive a calculated tax relief of $120.26 for Clearfield County property owners and $120.31 for Indiana County property owners. In 2011, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for Harmony Area School District was not reported to the state. The district received $80,709.91 for property tax relief.[196] 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 (40,000 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Clearfield County, 70.82% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[197] The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $631 per approved homestead.[198] This was the fifth year they were the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for 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, consequently, individuals with income much more than $35,000 still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This rebate can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.[199]

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%).[200]