Monroe Elementary School (Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania)

2014 School Performance Profile

Monroe Elementary School achieved a score of 84.5 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013-14, only 76% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 77.7% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 85.7% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 91% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 84.8% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[14]

2013 School Performance Profile

Monroe Elementary School achieved a score of 78.4 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 76% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 77.9% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 86.9% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 85% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 80% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[15] 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.

Cumberland Valley School Board established a district-wide Student Wellness Policy in 2006 - Policy 246.[30] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[31] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Monroe Elementary School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to low-income children. The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[32] Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[33] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[32]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[34] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of the lunch.[35]

Cumberland Valley School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[36] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.