Hazleton Area School District

In 2012, Hazleton Area School District remained in Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[26] 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 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.[27][28]

• 2011 - declined to Warning status due to chronic low student achievement.
• 2010 - achieved AYP status.[29]
• 2009 - Making Progress: in Corrective Action II for chronically low student achievement.[30]
• 2008 - Making Progress: in Corrective Action II for chronically low student achievement.[31]
• 2007 - declined to Corrective Action 1 AYP status. School administrators were required to notify parents of the poor academic achievement.
• 2006 - Making Progress - School Improvement 2 AYP status.
• 2005 - declined to School Improvement 2 AYP status. The PDE required the school administrators to provide tutoring at no cost to the parents.
• 2004 - declined to School Improvement I AYP status due to chronic low achievement
• 2003 - Warning' AYP status due to lagging student achievement

Locally, in 2007 Hazleton Area School District had the lowest mathematics achievement and ranked 10th of 11 school districts for reading in Luzerne County. Additionally, SAT scores from 2006-2008 remained among the lowest in the county.[32]

In 2015, Hazleton Area School District graduation rate was 82.8%.[52]

• 2014 - 80.8%[53]
• 2013 - 80.8%[54]
• 2012 - 81%.[55]
• 2011 - 81%.[56]
• 2010 - 71%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[57]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 82%[58]
• 2009 - 88%
• 2008 - 88%[59]
• 2007 - 88%[60]

Hazleton Area High School is located at 1601 West 23rd Street, Hazleton. In 2015, enrollment was reported as 3,318 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 64% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 11.7% of pupils received special education services, while 3% of pupils were identified as gifted.[61] The school employed 192 teachers.[62] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 5% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[63]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010 the school had 3,442 students enrolled in grades 9th through 12th, with 1,911 students qualified for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 170 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 20:1.[64] In 2012, 100% of the teachers were considered highly qualified under the No Child Left Behind Act.[65]

2015 School Performance Profile

Hazleton Area High School achieved 54.7 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 56% of the High School's students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, just 42% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, only 39.7% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[66] Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.[67][68]

2014 School Performance Profile

Hazleton Area High School achieved a score of 56.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 65% of pupils were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 48% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, just 40% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[69][70] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.[71]

Compared with 2013, the percentage of schools that earned below 60 declined by nearly 1 percent per Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq. She reported that this is an indication that student achievement is improving as school resources are being used better.[72]

2013 School Performance Profile

Hazleton Area High School achieved 58.2 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 65.8% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, just 46% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, only 28% showed on grade level science understanding.[73] 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.[74]

In 2012, Hazleton Area High School declined further to Corrective Action II 6th Year Adequate Yearly Progress status (AYP) due to chronic low achievement of the students.[75]

• 2011 - Corrective Action II 5th Year due to chronic, low achievement of the students.[76]
• 2010 - declined to Corrective Action II 4th Year due to continuing, low achievement of the students.[77]
• 2009 - Corrective Action II 3rd Year AYP status.[78] The school was mandated by No Child Left Behind law, to notify parents of the low achievement and to offer a transfer to a successful school in the district. It was also mandated to provide tutoring at no charge to the parents.
• 2008 - declined further to Corrective Action II 2nd Year due to chronic, low academic achievement of the students.[79]
• 2007 - declined further to Corrective Action II 1st Year.
• 2006 - declined to Corrective Action 1 AYP status AYP status.[80]
• 2005 - declined to School Improvement 2 AYP status
• 2004 - declined to School Improvement I AYP status. The school administration was required to develop a School Improvement Plan to address low student achievement. The plan was submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval. The school was eligible for added funding for which it had to apply.[81]
• 2003 - Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and math

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.[82]

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 applicable course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.[83] The state announced the change in 2010 and made it in order to comply with Governor Edward G. Rendell's agreement to change to the national Common Core standards.[84]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 56% on grade level, (27% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[85]
• 2011 - 60%, (25% below basic). State - 69.1%[86]
• 2010 - 53%, (26% below basic). State - 66%[87]
• 2009 - 52%, State - 65%.[88]
• 2008 - 54%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 60%, State - 65%[89]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 41% on grade level (38% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2011 - 42%, (37% below basic). State - 60.3%[90]
• 2010 - 42% (39% below basic). State - 59%[91]
• 2009 - 42%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 48%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 49%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 30% on grade level (26% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 25%, (33% below basic). State - 40%[92]
• 2010 - 22%, (33% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 30%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 20%, State - 39%

Science in Motion state program

Hazleton Area High School took 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.[93] Wilkes University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 21% of Hazleton Area School District 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.[94][95] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduates in three years.[96] 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.[97][98]

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, including the graduation ceremony. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[99] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[100] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $14,678 for the program.[101]

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.[102]

From January to June 2011, 426 Hazleton Area students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 449. The Math average score was 458. The Writing average score was 425.[103] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[104] 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.[105]

Heights Terrace Elementary/Middle School is located at 275 Mill Street, Hazleton. In 2010, the school enrolled 1,027 pupils in grades kindergarten through 8th. The school employed 65 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1. Six hundred five students were Hispanic, 360 were caucasian and 33 were black.[106]

In 2012, Heights Terrace Elementary/Middle School declined to Corrective Action II 2nd Year AYP status due to chronic, low student achievement. In 2011, Heights Terrace Elementary/Middle School declined to Corrective Action II 1st Year AYP status due to continuing low student achievement. In 2010, the school was in Making Progress: in Corrective Action I.[107] In 2009 the school was in Corrective Action I due to chronic low performance of its students.[108] The school was mandated by No Child Left Behind, to notify parents of the poor achievement and to offer the opportunity to transfer to a successful school in the district. Additionally, the school administration was required to develop a School Improvement Plan which it had to submit the plan to the PDE for approval.

8th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 65% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[109]
• 2011 - 78%, (8% below basic). State - 81.8%[110]
• 2010 - 81%, (9% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 62%, State - 80.9%[111]
• 2008 - 73%, State - 78%
• 2007 - 70%, State - 75%[112]

8th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 70% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 76%
• 2011 - 76% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 76% (12% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 68%, State - 71%[108]
• 2008 - 66%, State - 70%
• 2007 - 66%, State - 67%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 42% on grade level (33% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 49%, (25% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 49%, (27% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 - 43%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 46%, State - 50%

4th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 57%, (16% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 - 80%, (2% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 88%, (3% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 80%. State - 83%
• 2008 - 74%, State - 81%

West Hazleton Elementary/Middle School is located at 325 North Street, West Hazleton. In 2010, the school enrolled 1,000 pupils, in grades kindergarten through 8th grade. The school employed 64 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1. Five hundred twenty-seven students were Hispanic, 421 were caucasian and 34 were black.[113]

In 2012, West Hazleton Elementary/Middle School declined to Corrective Action I AYP status due to low student achievement.[114] In 2011, the school is in Making Progress: in School Improvement II AYP status. In 2010, the school declined to School Improvement II AYP status.[115] Under No Child Left Behind, the school was mandated to inform parents of the low achievement and to offer students the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the district. The school administration was mandated to develop a school Improvement Plan to address the low student achievement. West Hazleton Elementary/Middle School was in School Improvement I due to chronic low performance of its students.[116]

8th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 68% on grade level (16% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[117]
• 2011 - 63% (21% below basic). State - 81.8%[118]
• 2010 - 68% (19% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 69%. State: 80.9%[119]
• 2008 - 66%, State - 78%[120]

In 2009, 57% of males (2008–69%) and 77% (2008 - 64%) of females are on grade level for reading in eighth grade.

8th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 67% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 76%
• 2011 - 65% on grade level (20% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 60% (18% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 73%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 50%, State - 70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 34% on grade level (33% below basic). State – 59%
• 2011 - 31% on grade level (41% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 24% (53% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 - 32%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 40%, State - 50%

4th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 64%, (13% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2011 - 89%, (4% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 87%, (5% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 93%. State - 83%
• 2008 - 90%, State - 81%

Drums Elementary Middle School is located at 82 South Old Turnpike Road, Drums. In 2010, the school enrolled 814 pupils, in kindergarten through 8th grade. The school employed 45 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1. Forty-four students were Hispanic, 746 were Caucasian, 11 were Asian Pacific Islander and 7 were black.[121] In 2011, the school is in Warning status due to lagging student achievement in mathematics. In 2010, the school was in AYP.[122]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 80%, (10% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 76%, (8% below basic). State – 57%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 93%, 66% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 92%, 57% advanced. State - 81%

Hazleton Elementary Middle School is located at 700 North Wyoming Street, Hazleton. In 2010, the school enrolled 1,028 pupils, (3rd-8th grade). The school employed 78 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1. Six hundred seven students were Hispanic, 382 were Caucasian, 6 were Asian Pacific Islander and 29 were black.[125] In 2011, the school is in Warning status due to lagging student achievement in reading. In 2010, the school was in AYP.[126]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 26% on grade level (53% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 36%, (42% below basic). State – 57%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 68%, (11% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 74%, (11% below basic), State - 81%

Freeland Elementary Middle School is located at 400 Alvin Street, Freeland. In 2010, the school enrolled 895 pupils ( kindergarten through 8th grade). The school employed 55 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1. Seventy-eight students were Hispanic, 784 were Caucasian and 21 were black.[129] In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[130]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 44% on grade level (32% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 39%, (33% below basic). State – 57%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 93%, 59% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 87%, 49% advanced. State - 81%

Valley Elementary Middle School is located at 100 Rock Glen Road, Sugarloaf. In 2010, the school enrolled 1,143 pupils, in kindergarten through 8th grade. The school employed 69 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1. Forty-six students were Hispanic, 1,062 were Caucasian, 10 were Pacific Islanders/Asian and 13 were black.[133] In 2011 the school declined to Warning status due to lagging achievement in mathematics. In 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[134]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 82% on grade level (9% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 69% (15% below basic). State – 57%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 90%, 55% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 93%, 56% advanced. State - 81%

McAdoo-Kelayres Elementary School is located at 15 Kelayres Road, Mcadoo. The school enrolled 467 students grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Sixty-eight students were Hispanic, 385 were Caucasian and 9 students were black. The school employed 31 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1.[137] In 2011 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status.[138]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 86%, 55% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 84%, 52% advanced. State - 81%

Arthur Street Elementary School is located at 424 East 9th Street, Hazleton, PA 18201. The school enrolled 453 students grades kindergarten through second grade for the 2013-2014 school year. The average years of educational experience is about 12.86. All classes are taught by highly qualified teachers. The student demographics are 0.22% Asian, 2.43% Black or African American, 1.77% Multi-Racial (not Hispanic), 70.2% Hispanic ethnicity, and 25.39% White. Percent enrolled by gender is Female 51.66% and Male 48.34%.[141]

Hazle Township Early Learning Center is located at 1400 West 23rd Street, Hazle Township, PA 18202. The school covers students from preschool through second grade. The school employs about 30 teachers. The school recently opened up for the 2014-2015 school year. More information regarding demographics, student population and school specifics will be forthcoming.

*Hybrid Learning* Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, Arthur Street Elementary and Hazle Township Early Learning Center, both under the direction of Principal Philip Latella, piloted a new teaching strategy entitled the "Hybrid Model". The hybrid model is a center based style of teaching where students rotate through three learning groups, Direct Instruction, Independent, and Collaborative. Each group can be homogeneous or heterogeneously mixed and should consist of no more than 10 students per group. These rotations last anywhere from twenty to twenty-five minutes and are used for teaching both Reading and Mathematics. In the Direct Instruction group the teacher should teach the lesson of the day as normal, but now with a smaller number of students, allowing for a more differentiated learning experience. The Collaborative group contains activities ranging from games or team work worksheets/materials that the students use as a supplemental activity to the lesson that was taught in the Direct Instruction group. The Independent group allows students to work on the computers or iPads on a program entitled IReady which individually benchmarks and targets the students individual needs in both Reading and Mathematics. As of February 2016 the Hybrid Teaching Model has proven to be successful in both primary schools showing major gains in Reading and Math skills among K-2 students. Upon board approval, the Hybrid Learning Model will spread to other schools within the district in upcoming years.

In 2011-12, the district received a $32,277,232 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[170][171] Additionally, the Hazleton Area School District received $498,262 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.[172] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[173] In 2010, the district reported that 6,119 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[174]

For the 2010-11 school year, the state basic education funding to Hazelton Area School District was increased 12.61% for a total of $35,336,465. This was the highest increase in Luzerne County. Sixteen Pennsylvania school districts received an increase over 10%. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. Among all Pennsylvania school districts, the highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[175] The amount of increase each school district receives was determined by then Governor Edward G Rendell and the Secretary of Education, Gerald Zahorchak through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February 2010.[176] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of the Governors policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 13.36% increase, in Basic Education Funding for Hazleton Area School District for a total of $31,381,865. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $27,682,357.04. Hazleton Area received the highest percentage of state funding increase in Luzerne County and among the highest among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Sixteen school districts received an increase in funding of over 10 percent in 2009. Ninety school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District of Berks County received an increase of 22.31% which was the highest in the Commonwealth.[177] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by Governor Edward G Rendell and Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak through the allocation set in the budget proposal made in February each year.[178]

Beginning in 2004-2005, 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 $1,352,408 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten for the 7th year; to provide a variety of teacher trainings and teacher coaches to improve instruction and for paying teacher to write new courses.[179][180]

This statewide initiative provided high schools with computers and other technology equipment like whiteboards with the intent to improve student achievement in core courses like math and science. Training for teachers getting the equipment was required by the state. Districts had to apply for funding. In 2006-2007 Hazleton Area School District did not apply for the grant. In 2007-2008 it received $998,439. In 2008-09, Hazleton Area received an additional $168,344 for a total funding of $1,100,352.[181] The grant was terminated in 2009 due to a state economic crisis.[182]

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 the Hazelton Area School District received $242,256.[183]

Hazleton Area School District receives state funding to provide preschool its elementary school. For the 2011 school year, Pre-K Counts was funded at the 2010 levels of $83.6 million statewide in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget,. The state also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional $37.6 million. Pre-K Counts funding was initiated during the Rendell administration. In 2007-08, the state funded Pre-K Counts at $75 million. Hazleton Area School District received funding in 2007-08 through 2011-12.[184] For 2010-11 the district received $1,082,300.

The Hazleton Area School District received an extra $7,291,203 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[185] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[186] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised 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. In 2009, the district reported that 5.284 students received a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to low family income.[187]

School district officials applied for the Race to the Top federal grant. The district is identified as a turnaround district due to the chronically low academic achievement of its students. When approved for the grant, the district will receive hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Turnaround status also brings an extra $700 per student, in supplemental funding above the basic grant amount.[188] 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.[189] Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state RTTT application judging will occur in June 2010.[190]

The school board levied a real estate tax of 29.3187 mills for residents in Carbon County, 9.0446 mills for residents in Luzerne County and 30.7130 mills for residents in Schuylkill County, in 2011-12.[191] A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. School districts located in more than one county are required to apportion the tax levy based on the market value in each county as determined by the State Tax Equalization Board pursuant to section 672.1 of the School Code. As a result, the tax rate increases are not the same for each county in a multi-county school district.[192] 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. On the local level, Pennsylvania 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.[193]

• 2010-11 - 29.2753 mills in Carbon County, 8.8627 mills in Luzerne County and 39.6520 mills in Schuylkill County.[194]
• 2009-10 - 30.1430 mills in Carbon County, 8.6980 mills in Luzerne County and 38.0040 mills in Schuylkill County.[195]
• 2008-09 - 29.5620 mills in Carbon County, 187.3920 mills in Luzerne County and 36.5880 mills in Schuylkill County.[196]
• 2007-08 - 28.8060 mills in Carbon County, 174.3920 mills in Luzerne County and 35.6380 mills in Schuylkill County.[197]
• 2006-07 - 28.9010 mills in Carbon County, 170.3920 mills in Luzerne County and 33.9010 mills in Schuylkill County.[198]

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 2010-2011 school year is 2.9 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.[199]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Hazleton Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.[200]

• 2006-07 - 5.3%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 6.1%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.8%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 4.1%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.4%, Base 1.7%[201]

For the 2011-12 school year, Hazleton Area School Board applied for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue, Pension costs, School Construction Grandfathered Debt and Special Education Costs. Each year, Hazleton Area 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.[202]

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 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.[203]

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.[204]

In 2009, the Hazleton Area School District's property tax relief amount was set at $136 to 19,924 approved homestead owners. In 2010 within Luzerne County, the highest amount went to Wilkes-Barre Area School District set at $210 per approved homestead. Dallas School District received $53 per homestead. The property tax 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. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $641 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.[205] CUSD was given $632 in 2009. This was the second year they were the top recipient. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General released a report finding that 35% of Pennsylvania property owners did not get property tax relief in 2009. One issue identified was the failure of the property owner to apply for tax relief.[206]

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 who have income substantially greater than $35,000, may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.

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%).[207]