Minersville Area School District

In 2012, Minersville Area School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[42] In 2011, Minersville Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). 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.[43][44] Minersville Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the Minersville Area School District was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[45]

Minersville Area School District's school was cited in a state report regarding irregularities in the PSSA testing at Minersville Area Elementary Center.[46][47] After an investigation, Minersville Area School District was notified that their investigation was closed with no further action.[48][49] The scandal called into question much of the student academic growth touted by the Rendell Administration which conspicuously ignored the Data Recognition Corp. forensic erasure analysis.[50][51]

In 2015, Minersville Area School District's graduation rate was 89%.[52]

• 2014 - 93.9%[53]
• 2013 - 84.6%[54]
• 2012 - 88.7%[55]
• 2011 - 84.8%[56]
• 2010 - 88.7%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[57]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 84%[58]
• 2009 - 86%[59]
• 2008 - 91%[60]
• 2007 - 91%[61]

Minersville Area Junior Senior High School is located at Battlin Miner Drive. In 2015, enrollment was reported as 537 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 40% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 17.5% of pupils received special education services, while 0.5% of pupils were identified as gifted.[62] The school employed 39 teachers.[63] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[64]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2013, the school reported an enrollment of 547 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 241 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2013, the school employed 39 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1.[65] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, multiple teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[66]

2015 School Performance Profile

Minersville Area Junior Senior High School achieved a score of 56.4 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that just 61% of the High School's students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 55.8% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 53% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[67] 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.[68][69]

2014 School Performance Profile

Minersville Area Junior Senior High School achieved 64.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 73% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 62% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, just 38% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[70][71] 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%.[72]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.[73] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[74][75]

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.[76]

2013 School Performance Profile

Minersville Area Junior Senior High School achieved 68.4 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 68.8% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 66.9% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 60.99% showed on grade level science understanding.[77] 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.[78]

AYP History

In 2012, Minersville Area junior Senior High School declined further to School Improvement I Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing all academic metrics measured and a low grad rate. The administration was required to develop a plan to raise student achievement and to submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval.[79] Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders. AYP status was no longer reported.

• 2011 - declined to 'Warning AYP status due to lagging academic achievement.[80]
• 2006 - 2010 - achieved AYP status.[81]
• 2005 - Making Progress School Improvement level I AYP status[82]
• 2004 - declined to School Improvement level I AYP status[83]
• 2003 - Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement[84]

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.[85]

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.[86] The state announced the change in 2010 and made it to comply with Governor Edward G. Rendell's agreement to change to the national Common Core standards.[87]

11th Grade Reading

2010 - 63% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.[88] (101 pupils)
2009 - 52%, State - 65%[89](70 pupils)
2008 - 52%, State - 65% (78 pupils)[90]
2007 - 62%, State - 65% (94 pupils)

11th Grade Math:
2010 - 52% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 44%, State - 56%[91]
2008 - 39%, State - 56%
2007 - 53%, State - 53%[92]

11th Grade Science:
2010 - 30% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.[93]
2009 - 33%, State - 40%
2008 - 30%, State - 39%[94]

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 33% of Minersville 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.[95] 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.[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.

Minersville Area School District requires students to complete 24 credits in grades 9 through 12, 6.0 credits in Grade 12, and 20 hours of community service by the end of Grade 11. English 4 credits, History 4 credits, Math 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical education 1 credits, Health 0.5 credits, 8.5 credits. All students must take English, Math, Science, History, and Physical Education every year.[97]

Graduation project - 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.[98] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project to graduate.[99]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2019,[100] students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology I, English Composition, and Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[101][102][103] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams have replaced the PSSAs for 11th grade.[104]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project to graduate.[105][106] For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements.[107] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.[108] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania dual enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits with the assistance of a state grant.[109] Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer their high school juniors and seniors the dual enrollment program.[110]

In 2015, 59 Minersville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 461. The Math average score was 471. The Writing average score was 447.[111] The College Board also reported that statewide 96,826 pupils took the exams with average scores declining in all three measurers to: 495 in reading, 511 in math and 484 in writing.[112]

In 2014, 51 Minersville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 450. The Math average score was 476. The Writing average score was 433.[113][114] Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.[115] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 56 Minersville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 470. The Math average score was 485. The Writing average score was 439. 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.[116]

In 2012, 55 Minersville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 478. The Math average score was 499. The Writing average score was 462. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 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, 61 Minersville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 465. The Math average score was 470. The Writing average score was 420.[117] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[118] 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.[119]

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a research arm of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania's SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.[120]

In 2015, Minersville Area Senior High School offered 3 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[121] The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Minersville Area Senior High School just 12% of the students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[122]

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.[123] 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.[124] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[125] In 2014, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[126]

2015 School Performance Profile

The PDE withheld SPP scores. It was reported that 57% of 8th grade students at the Junior High School students were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In math/Algebra 1, just 11% of 8th grade students showed on grade level skills. In science, 56% of the school's 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding. No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, 51% were on grade level in reading, while just 36% showed on grade level math skills.[127] Statewide 58% of eighth (8th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 29% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 7th graders were 58% on grade level in reading and 33% demonstrated on grade level math skills.[128]

8th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 74% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[129]
• 2011 - 87% (9% below basic) State - 81.8%[130]
• 2010 - 84%, State - 81%[131]
• 2009 - 76%, State - 80% (92 pupils)
• 2008 - 75%, State - 78%
• 2007 - 74%, State - 75% (95 pupils)[132]

8th Grade Math

• 2012 - 62%% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 76% [133]
• 2011 - 66% (11% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 65%, State - 75%
• 2009 - 48%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 69%, State - 70%[134]
• 2007 - 70%, State - 67%

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 57% on grade level (29% below basic). State - 59%[135]
• 2011 - 57% (21% below basic). State - 58.3%
• 2010 - 66%, State - 57%
• 2009 - 51%, State: - 54%
• 2008 - 50%, State - 52%[136]

7th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 73% (12% below basic). State - 76%
• 2011 - 79% (8% below basic). State - 76%
• 2010 - 74%. State - 73% (91 pupils)
• 2009 - 70%. State - 71.7% (86 pupils)

7th Grade Math

• 2012 - 84% (6% below basic). State - 80%
• 2011 - 81% (9% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 80%. State - 77%
• 2009 - 75%. State - 75%

Dropout Early Warning System

In 2013, Minersville Area School District implemented a no local cost dropout prevention Early Warning System and Interventions Catalog at the junior high school.[137] The process identifies students at risk for dropping out by examining the pupil's: attendance, behavior and course grades. Interventions are implemented to assist at-risk pupils to remain in school. The program is funded by federal and private dollars.[138]

Minersville Area Elementary Center is located at 300 North Fifth Street, Minersville. In 2015, the school's enrollment was 542 pupils in grades 1st through 6th, with 51.6% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 20.5% of the pupils receive special education services, while 0.1% are identified as gifted.[139] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind.[140] The school was a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, enrollment was 542 pupils in grades 1st through 6th, with 294 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 37 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1.[141] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[142]

2015 School Performance Profile

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), 45% of 5th grade students at Minersville Area Elementary Center were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In mathematics, 25% of 5th grade students showed on grade level skills. No fifth grade writing scores were reported by the PDE. In 4th grade, 68% were on grade level in reading, while 26% showed on grade level math skills. In science, 75% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among third (3rd) graders, just 64% were on grade level in reading and 28% were on grade level in mathematics. Among 6th graders, 73% were on grade level in reading and just 28% were on grade level in mathematics.[143] Statewide 61.9% of fifth (5th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 42.8% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 4th graders were 58.6% on grade level in reading and 44.4% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 77.3% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among Pennsylvania third (3rd) graders, 62% were reading on grade level, while 48.5% demonstrated on grade level math skills.[144]

2014 School Performance Profile

Minersville Area Elementary Center achieved a score of 63.8 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013-14, only 64% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In 3rd grade, 75.6% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 63% were on grade level (3rd-6th grades). In 4th grade science, just 63% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 50% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[145]

2013 School Performance Profile

Minersville Area Elementary Center achieved a score of 74 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 65% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In 3rd grade, 68% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 71% were on grade level (3rd-6th grades). In 4th grade science, 81% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 47.6% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[146] 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.

AYP status history

In 2012, Minersville Area Elementary Center declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to lagging academic achievement in reading and mathematics.[147][148]

• 2009-2011 - achieved AYP status each school year.
• 2008 - declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and math[149]
• 2003-2007 - achieved AYP status each school year.

PSSA History

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. Sixth grade has been tested in reading and math since 2006. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSAs) are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[150] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[151][152][153] 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.[154] The first cohort of children who attended Accountability Block Grant funded full-day kindergarten reached third grade and took the PSSAs in the spring of 2008.

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 85%, (5% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 92%, (1% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 75%. State - 81%
• 2009 - 90%. State - 83%
• 2008 - 80%. State - 81%

The district provides both all-day kindergarten and a taxpayer-funded preschool for four-year-olds at a school called the Early Childhood Education Center.[160] The Center is located at 24 Llewellyn Road, Pottsville. In 2015 the school had 139 pupils in preschool and full-day kindergarten,[161] with 40% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 11.5% of the pupils receive special education services, while none are identified as gifted. 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 is a federally designated Title I school. The district has had a full-day kindergarten program in place since 1985 and added the Four-K program in 1990. Minersville Area School District does not use state PreK Counts funding to operate the preschool, relying on local taxes instead.[162][163]

In 2013, the school had 165 pupils with 60 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch due to poverty. The school employed 8 teachers.[164] The school was a Title I school. The school was opened in 1996.[165]

Minersville Area School District has provided full-day kindergarten for more than a decade.[166] and preschool.[167] Proponents of full-day kindergarten claim it will reduce special education numbers and it will raise primary student academic achievement in reading.[168] Those outcomes have not been realized in the Minersville Area School District. Reading achievement in particular has actually declined.[169]

The District Administration reported that less than 10 its students were identified as gifted in 2009.[195] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.[196]

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Minersville Area School District receives 51.5% of its annual revenue from the state.[254] This exceeds some education advocates goal of the state providing 50% of district funding.[255]

In December 2014, the Pennsylvania Education Funding Reform Commission conducted a hearing. Testimony was given regarding state funding at the fastest growing districts and those with the greatest decline in enrollment since 1996.[256][257] The commission developed a new basic education funding formula which sets a new way to distribute state basic education dollars. It abolished the practice of "hold harmless" funding, which gave districts at least the same as they got the previous school year regardless of declining enrollment. The plan became law in June 2016 (House Bill 1552).[258][259][260]

For the 2016-17 school year, Minersville Area School District received $5,685,548 in Basic Education Funding (BEF) from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a 2.7% increase over 2015-16 funding to the district. The highest percentage of BEF increase in Schuylkill County was 4.8% awarded to Shenandoah Valley School District under the state's Basic Education Funding formula. For the 2016-17 school year, Pennsylvania increased its public education spending to a record high of $5,895 billion. It was a $200 million increase, 3.51% increase over the 2015-16 appropriation.[261] The state also funded Ready to Learn grants at $250 million and Special Education funding received a $20 million increase.[262] The state also paid $492 million to the school employee social security fund and another $2.064 billion to the teacher's pension fund.[263]

For the 2015-16 school year, Governor Tom Wolf released a partial Basic Education Funding of $2,664,877 to Minersville Area School District, in January 2016.[264] This was part of $10.3 billion in school funding withheld from the public schools, by the Governor since the summer of 2015.[265] The dispersement did not follow the new Basic Education Fair Funding formula which had been established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in June 2015.[266]

In compliance with a legislative mandate that was passed with veto proof majorities in the Pennsylvania House and Senate,[267] the final BEF funding was determined for 2015-16, in April 2016. Minersville Area School District received $5,536,555 in Basic Education Funds for the 2015-16 school year. This was a 2.14% increase yielding a $115,795 increase over the previous school year funding. The district also received $228,637 in Ready to Learn funding from the state.[268]

For the 2014-15 school year, Minersville Area School District received $5,420,760 in State Basic Education funding. The district received $228,637 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State's enacted Education Budget included $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding.[269] The Education budget also included 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 paid $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.[270]

In the 2013-2014 school year’’’, Minersville Area School District received a 1.8% increase or $5,420,760 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $97,685 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Minersville Area School District received $79,859 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Schulykill County, Saint Clair Area School District and Blue Mountain School District both received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 2.2%. The district had 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.[271] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland School District, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[272] 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.[273]

For the 2012-13 school year, Minersville Area School District received $5,323,820 in state Basic Ed Funding.[274] 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. Minersville Area School District received $79,859. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[275] 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, Minersville Area School District received $5,324,992 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[276][277] Additionally, Minersville Area School District received $79,859 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.[278] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[279] In 2010, the district reported that 882 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[280] Some Pennsylvania public school districts experienced a reduction of total funding due to the termination of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

For the 2010-11 budget year, the state gave Minersville Area a 9.69% increase in basic education funding for a total of $5,891,437. This was the highest basic education increase in Schuylkill County. The district also received additional funding for special education services and from the accountability Block Grant Program.[281] Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward 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 Governor Rendell's policy to fund some public school districts at a far greater rate than others.[282]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided an 8.17% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $5,370,996. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,965,147.49. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 442 students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.[283] The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low-income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the Commonwealth and more.[284] Shenandoah Valley School District received the highest increase in Schuylkill County with a 14.50% increase in basic education funding, for the 2009-10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.[285] The amount of funding each school district received was determined by the Governor Edward Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[286]

The MASD received more than $6.7 million in state funding for school year 2007-08.[287] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.[288][289]

All Pennsylvania school districts also receive additional funding from the state through several funding allocations, including: Reimbursement of Charter School Expenditures; Special Education Funding; Secondary Career & Technical Education Subsidy; PA Accountability Grants; and low achieving schools were eligible for Educational Assistance Program Funding. Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including: Special Education funding and Title I funding for children from low income families. In 2010, Pennsylvania spent over $24 billion for public education - local, state and federal dollars combined.[290] By 2015, Pennsylvania was spending over $27 billion on public education (local, state and federal resources combined).[291]

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 Mahanoy Area School District applied for and received $216,756 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full-day kindergarten for the seventh year.[292][293]

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. Mahanoy Area School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07 nor in 2007-08. For the 2008–09, school year the district received $74,691 in state funding. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.[294]

Beginning in the 2014-2015 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.[295]

Minersville Area School District received $176,250 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, transportation reimbursement, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth's high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners.[296] The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades.[297] High schools applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007-08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Minersville Area School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $192,000 funding over three years.[298][299] For 2010-11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011-12 state budget.[300]

Minersville Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants;[301][302] PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell);[303] Education Assistance Grants; 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;[304] nor the 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants;[305]

The Minersville Area School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program.[306] 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.[307][308] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Minersville Area School District received an extra $1,095,404 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[309][310] The funding was limited to the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years.[311] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, the Governor and the Pennsylvania School Board Association, 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.

Minersville Area School District officials applied for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[312] 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.[313] 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.[314]

The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to be used to improve the quality of teacher instructions to pupils. The goal is to provide each child in public schools with "High Quality" teachers and principals as defined by the state.[315] The funds are sent to the state Department of Education which distributes them to each school district and charter school.[316] Beginning in 2002, the federal funding committed to Title II was $3,175,000,000.

Public school district administrations must apply to the state annually for the Title II funds. In 2012-13, Minersville Area School District received $55,069 in federal Title II funding.[317] In 2014-15, Minersville Area School District applied for and received $51,200.[318]

The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to assist in educating immigrant children and children who are identified as limited English proficient.[319] Upon registering for school a language survey is done for all new enrollment pupils, typically in kindergarten or preschool. They identify the primary language spoken at home. This data is collected and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which in turn notifies the federal government.[320]

In 2012-13, Minersville Area School District received $2,173 in Title III funding for English language learners.[321] For 2014-15, Minersville Area School District received $1,141 in Title III funding.[322]

All local taxing authorities are required by the Local Tax Enabling Act to exempt disabled veterans and members of the armed forces reserve who are called to active duty at any time during the tax year from any local services tax and to exempt from any local services tax levied at a rate in excess of $10 those persons whose total income and net profits from all sources within the political subdivision is less than $12,000 for the tax year. The Local Tax Enabling Act also authorizes, but does not require, taxing authorities to exempt from per capita, occupation, and earned income taxes and any local services tax levied at a rate of $10 or less per year, any person whose total income from all sources is less than $12,000 per year.

Minersville Area School Board set property tax rates in 2015-16 at 38.6700 mills. 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.[323] 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 all government property (local, state and federal). Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Unlike other states, under Pennsylvania state tax policy, natural gas and oil pipelines are exempted from property taxes.[324]

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.[325] When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two or more counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[326] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[327]

The average yearly property tax paid by Schuylkill County residents amounts to about 2.84% of their yearly income. Schuylkill County ranked 700th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[339] According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[340] 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%).[341] Pennsylvania's 2011 tax burden of 10.35% ranked 10th highest out of 50 states. The tax burden was above the national average of 9.8%. Pennsylvania's taxpayers paid $4,374 per capita in state and local taxes, including school taxes.[342]

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 2011-2012 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.[343]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Minersville School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[344]

For the 2016-17 budget year, Minersville ARea School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the district's Act 1 Index limit.[351] Statewide 299 school districts adopted a resolution to not exceed their Act I index in 2016-17.

For the 2015-16 budget year, Minersville Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget 2015-16, 310 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 187 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Regarding the pension costs exception, 172 school districts received approval to exceed the Index limit in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 119 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. No Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.[352]

For the 2014-15 budget year, Minersville 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).[353] 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.[354]

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.[355]

In 2013, Minersville Area School District approved 2,705 homestead properties to receive $131.[356] The amount received by the district must be divided equally among all approved residences.[357]

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Minersville Area School District was $131 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,722 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Schuylkill County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2009, went to Schuylkill Haven Area School District at $195.[358] The 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. A special report released in 2009 by the Auditor General's office reported many difficulties for applicants for tax relief.[359] Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.[360] This was the second year they were the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Minersville Area residents 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 more 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.[361]

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[373] The district is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Title IV Disclosure Form on its website. Article XVI-C of the Public School Code requires the disclosure of interscholastic athletic opportunities for all public secondary school entities in Pennsylvania. All school entities with grades 7-12 are required to annually collect data concerning team and financial information for all male and female athletes beginning with the 2012-13 school year and submit the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, all non-school (booster club and alumni) contributions and purchases must also be reported to PDE.[374]

According to Pennsylvania's Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.[375][376]

The district funds three teams in many of its sports:

Varsity

Junior High School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2016[377]