Monessen City School District

In 2012, the School District of the City of Monessen declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to missing all the academic metrics measured in reading and mathematics.[27] In 2010 and 2011, School District of the City of Monessen 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.[28]

• 2007–08 and 2008–09 – Warning status[29]
• 2003 through 2006–07 – achieved AYP status

The School District of the City of Monessen's Monessen Elementary Center was cited in a state report regarding irregularities in the PSSA testing.[30] After an investigation, the District was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop a plan to remediate the issues involved.[31] Statewide 48 school districts or charter programs had suspicious results in the exams administered in 2009, 2010, or 2011.[32][33] The scandal calls into question much of the student academic growth touted by the Rendell Administration which conspicuously ignored the Data Recognition Corporation forensic erasure analysis.[34][35]

In 2014, Monessen City School District's graduation rate was 83%.[36]

• 2013 – 91%.
• 2012 – 81%.[37]
• 2011 – 73%.[38]
• 2010 – the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Monessen City High School's rate was 69% for 2010.[39]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 – 81%[40]
• 2009 – 78%[41]
• 2008 – 86%[42]
• 2007 – 86%[43]

Monessen Senior High School is located at 1245 State Road, Monessen. Per the PDE, the enrollment was 258 pupils in 2013, with 69% coming from low income homes. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 276 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 151 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 26 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 11:1.[44] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[45]

2013 School Performance Profile

Monessen Senior High School achieved 50.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature – 60.78% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 52% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 14.5% showed on grade level science understanding.[46] 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, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

AYP History

In 2012, Monessen High School declined to Warning AYP status. In 2010 and 2011, Monessen High School achieved AYP status.[47] Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders. In 2008 and 2009, Monnessen High School declined to Warning AYP status.

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 – 40% on grade level, (35% below basic). State – 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[48]
• 2011 – 62% (9% below basic). State – 69.1%[49]
• 2010 – 72% (16% below basic). State – 66%[50]
• 2009 – 59% (22% below basic). State – 65%[51]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 – 39% on grade level (44% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[52]
• 2011 – 59% (9% below basic). State – 60.3%[53]
• 2010 – 80% (13% below basic). State – 59%[54]
• 2009 – 67% (25% below basic). State – 56%[55]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 – 12% on grade level (42% below basic). State – 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[56]
• 2011 – 19% (23% below basic). State – 40%[57]
• 2010 – 33% (21% below basic). State – 39%
• 2009 – 22% (34% below basic). State – 40%[58]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 28% of the Monessen 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.[59] 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.[60] 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 Monessen 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. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[61] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[62] Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.[63] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $740 for the program.[64]

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The School District of the City of Monessen School Board has determined that a pupil must take 33 courses to graduate, including: math 3 courses, English 4 courses, social studies courses, science 3 courses, Physical Education 4 courses, (Music, Art, Family & Consumer Sciences, Career and Technical Education – 4 courses) and electives 8 courses.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.[65] 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.[66]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[67] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[68]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project to graduate.[69][70] 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.[71] 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.[72] 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.

In 2013, School District of the City of Monessen School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 419. The Math average score was 448. The Writing average score was 417. 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.[73]

In 2012, 48 School District of the City of Monessen School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 411. The Math average score was 438. The Writing average score was 411. 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, 43 School District of the City of Monessen School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 416. The Math average score was 451. The Writing average score was 375.[74] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal – 493, Math – 501, Writing – 479.[75] 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.[76]

In 2013, Monessen High School offered 1 Advanced Placement (AP) course at a higher cost than regular courses. 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 Monessen High School 25% of students who took its AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[77]

The Challenge Program, Inc. offers twelve $200.00 cash incentives to Monessen Senior High School students who excel in the categories of: Academic Improvement, Attendance, Community Service and Academic Excellence. The program partners with businesses to motivate students both in and out of the classroom by encouraging good habits in students that will last throughout their education and into their future careers. For the 2010–2011 school year, the top 10% of students in each of the categories will be eligible to win $250.00.[78] Monessen High School's financial partner is the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Monessen Middle School is located at 1245 State Road, Monessen. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 199 pupils, with 69% of students from low income homes. The school is a federally designated Title I school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the Monessen Middle School reported an enrollment of 199 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 125 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 18 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 11:1.[79] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[80]

2013 School Performance Profile

Monessen Middle School achieved 65.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, 54% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics, 53% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, 60% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 53% of the 8th grade students were on grade level.[81]

AYP History

In 2012, Monessen Middle School declined to Warning AYP history status, by missing all but 1 academic metric measured.[82] In 2010 and 2011, Monessen Middle School achieved AYP status.[83]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 – 47% on grade level (35% below basic). State – 59%
• 2011 – 68% (20% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 – 47% (29% below basic). State – 57% [90]
• 2009 – 42% (33% below basic). State – 55%[91]

Monessen Elementary Center is located at 1275 Rostraver Street, Monessen. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 418 pupils with 72% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. 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.[92]

Monessen Elementary Center is a federally designated Title I school. In 2011, Monessen Elementary Center had 438 pupils. The school employed 37 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.[93] 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.[94] The school provided full day kindergarten to all its pupils.[95]

Since 2008 school year, the District has operated a full-day kindergarten.[96] While proponents of full day kindergarten claim it will reduce special education numbers and it will raise primary student academic achievement especially in reading and math, those outcomes have not been realized in the School District of the City of Monessen. Reading achievement in particular has significantly declined.[97]

2013 School Performance Profile

Monessen Elementary Center achieved a score of 60.2 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012–13, only 52.9% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 62% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 60% were on grade level (3rd–5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 67% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing only 36% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[98]

AYP History

In 2012, Monessen Elementary Center declined to School Improvement status due to missing all academic metrics measured in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Monessen Elementary Center declined to Warning AYP status due to missing 6 out of 10 academic metrics measured.[99]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 – 70%, (11% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 – 69%, (10% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 62%, (16% below basic). State – 81%
• 2009 – 85%, (3% below basic). State – 83%

The School District of the City of Monessen Administration reported that 18 or 1.9% of its students were gifted in 2009. The highest percentage of gifted students reported among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted.[131] 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.[132][133]

For the 2013–14 school year, the School District of the City of Monessen received a 1.4% increase or $5,933,123 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $80,441 more than its 2012–13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, the School District of the City of Monessen received $88,891 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Westmoreland County, Franklin Regional School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 2.6%. 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.[166] The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[167]

For the 2012–13 school year, the School District of the City of Monessen received $5,852,682.[168] 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. The School District of the City of Monessen received $88,891 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[169] 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 2011–12, the School District of the City of Monessen received a 6.66% increase for a $5,852,682 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[170][171] Additionally, the School District of the City of Monessen received $88,891 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.[172] 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.[173] In 2010, the district reported that 694 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[174]

In the 2010–11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.38% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,189,796. Among the districts in Westmoreland County, the highest increase went to Yough School District which got a 7.40% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. 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] 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.[176]

In the 2009–10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.3% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,046,014. Among the districts in Westmoreland County, the highest increase went to Southmoreland School District which got a 6.44%. Ninety (90) Pennsylvania public 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.[177] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.[178]

The state Basic Education Funding to the District in 2008–09 was $5,852,681.61. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 659 district students received free or reduced- price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[179] 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.[180][181]

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 School District of the City of Monessen applied for and received $241,272 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The District used the funding to provide Full Day kindergarten, to increase instructional time and to reduce class size K-3rd grade.[182][183] In 2009, 100% of the kindergarteners in the School District attended full-day kindergarten.[184]

The School District of the City of Monesses receives state funding to provide taxpayer funded preschool at the elementary school. For 2013–14, the District received $314,400 for PreK Counts classrooms. For the 2011–12 school year, Monessen received a Pre K Counts grant of $316,000.[185] For the 2011 school year, Monessen City School District was a high priority for funding due to the 63% poverty level of children in the district's attendance area.[186][187][188] Enrollment for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is targeted to children living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. In 2009–10, the District received $294,400 in PreK Counts funding for a preschool class of 49 children.

Pennsylvania's Pre-K Counts is designed to offer a high quality pre-kindergarten learning experience to more 3 and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania. According to advocates, the purpose of PA Pre-K Counts, enacted into law by Act 45 of 2007 amending the Public School Code of 1949, was to expand the number of children who have the opportunity to experience a pre-K program of high quality. The high standards for the program are intended to ensure a high return on the investment made in preparing young children for school and to help close the achievement gap between groups of students in the K-12 educational system. In 2013, the state's PreK Counts program received $87,284,000. In 2010, the PreK Counts program received $83.6 million statewide in Governor Corbett's education budget. In 2007–08 the state funded Pre-K Counts at $75 million. In addition to PreK Counts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional funding on an annual basis. The program is available to low income children residing within the District through private providers. In 2013, Pennsylvania contributed $39,178,000 to Head Start. In 2010, Head Start received $37.6 million in Pennsylvania state education dollars. Since 2003, Pennsylvania has more than doubled the number of preschoolers in publicly funded pre-kindergarten through a multipronged system including: school-based pre-kindergarten, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts through private providers, Early Intervention, Head Start and Head Start Supplemental, and the school district's use of Accountability Block Grants. Over 100,000 Pennsylvania preschoolers participate in state taxpayer funded pre-kindergarten programs, annually.

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 to 2009. The School District of the City of Monessen applied, but was denied funding by the Rendell administration, in 2006–07. In 2007–08, the District received $136,328. The District received $45,413 in 2008–09 for a total funding of $181,741.[189] Among the public school districts in County the highest award was given to Franklin Regional School District which received $449,073. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County – $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009–10 state budget.

The School District of the City of Monessen did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009–10 budget by Governor Rendell), Education Assistance Grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, 2012 and 2013 nor Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants,[190] nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

The School District of the City of Monessen received an extra $2,181,073 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[191][192] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010–2011 school years.[193] 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.

The School District of the City of Monessen officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided up to $600,000 in additional federal funding, to improve student academic achievement.[194] 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.[195] 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.[196][197][198]

In 2013, School District of the City of Monessen did not apply for a grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum and Grable Foundations. The STEAM funds are to be used to support science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics programs. The curriculum is to involve students in kindergarten through fifth grade.[199] School administration were required to apply for the grants. Recipients include 24 schools located in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Greene County, Lawrence County, Mercer County, Washington County and Westmoreland County.[200]

The School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program.[201] 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.[202] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Property tax rates in 2013–14 were set by the school board at 68.0000 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.[203] 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. 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.[204] When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[205] 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.[206]

The average yearly property tax paid by Westmoreland County residents amounts to about 3.31% of their yearly income. Westmoreland County ranked 451st out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[215] 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.[216] 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%).[217]

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise property taxes above their annual Act 1 Index unless they either: allow Districts voters to approve the increase through a vote by referendum or they receive an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The base index for the school year is published by the PDE in the fall of each year. Each individual school district's Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values and the personal income of district residents. Originally, Act 1 of 2006 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.[218]

In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation eliminating six of the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[219] Several 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.[220][221] The legislature also froze the payroll amount public school districts use to calculate the pension-plan exception at the 2012 payroll levels. Further increases in payroll cannot be used to raise the district's exception for pension payments.

A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[222]

The School District Adjusted Index history for the School District of the City of Monessen:

For the 2013–14 budget year, the School Board of the City of Monessen did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. 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 exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[227]

For the 2012–13 budget year, the School Board of the City of Monessen did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012–2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 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.[228]

For the 2011–12 school year, the School Board of the City of Monessen 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.

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.[229]

The School Board also did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010–11.[230]

In 2013, the School District of the City of Monessen approved 2,306 homestead properties received $229.[231] 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 (4.0 ha) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The amount of property tax relief each Pennsylvania public school district receives is announced by the PDE in May of each year. The amount of tax relief is dependent on the total tax revenue collected on the casino slots in the previous year. Thirty five percent of the slots tax revenues are used for property tax relief. In Westmoreland County, the highest tax relief went to New Kensington-Arnold School District which was set at $305.[232] The highest property tax relief provided, among Pennsylvania public school districts, goes to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District in Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.[233] In Westmoreland County, 62% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[234]

In Pennsylvania, the homestead exclusion reduces the assessed values of homestead properties, reducing the property tax on these homes. The homestead exclusion allows homeowners real property tax relief of up to one half of the median assessed value of homesteads in the taxing jurisdiction (county, school district, city, borough, or township).[235]

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 people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This tax rebate can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief. In 2012, the Pennsylvania Secretary of the Treasury reported issuing more than half a million property tax rebates totaling $238 million.[236] The Property tax/rent rebate program is funded by revenues from the Pennsylvania Lottery. In 2012, these property tax rebates were increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the state, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more than 15% of their income in property taxes.[237]

The District funds:

Varsity

Middle School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [240]