Wyalusing Area School District

In 2012, Wyasuling Area School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.[27] In both 2011 and 2010, Wyalusing Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[28] In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance. The District has achieved AYP status every year since 2003.[29]

In 2013, Wyalusing Area School District's graduation rate was 80.85%.[30] In 2012, Wyalusing Area School District's graduation rate was 82%.[31] In 2011, the graduation rate at Wyalusing Area School District was 91%.[32] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Wyalusing Junior Senior High School's rate was 84% for 2010.[33]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 87%[34]
• 2009 - 87%[35]
• 2008 - 92%[36]
• 2007 - 92%[37]

Wyalusing Valley Junior Senior High School is located at 11364 Wyalusing New Albany Road, Wyalusing. In 2013, enrollment was 636 reported as pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 34.75% of pupils eligible for free or reduced price lunch. Additionally, 16% receiving special education services, while 4.09% of pupils were identified as being gifted.[38] The school employed 48 teachers.[39] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the school's teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the School reported an enrollment of 686 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 251 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 47 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1.[40] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[41]

2013 School Performance Profile

Wyalusing Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 79.1 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 70.8% of pupils tested were on grade level. For Algebra 1/mathematics, 70% showed on grade level math skills. In Biology/science, just 52% showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, only 64.5% of 8th graders demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[42] 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.[43]

AYP history

In 2012, Wyalusing Valley Junior Senior High School declined to Warning AYP Status due to a low graduation rate and low student academic achievement in reading and mathematics.[44] In 2011, Wyalusing Junior Senior High School achieved AYP status.[45] In 2010, the School was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.[46]

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.[47]

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.[48]

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 65% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[49]
• 2011 - 68% (12% below basic). State - 69.1%[50]
• 2010 - 59% (22% below basic). State - 66%[51]
• 2009 - 59% (18% below basic). State - 65%[52]
• 2008 - 56% (23% below basic). State - 65%[53]
• 2007 - 61% (19% below basic). State - 65%[54]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 61% on grade level (22% below basic). State - 59%[55]
• 2011 - 69% (13% below basic). State - 60.3% [56]
• 2010 - 56% (29% below basic). State - 59%[57]
• 2009 - 58% (29% below basic). State - 56%.[58]
• 2008 - 54% (28% below basic). State - 56%[59]
• 2007 - 51% (27% below basic). State - 53%[60]

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 61% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[61]
• 2011 - 62% (7% below basic). State - 40%[62]
• 2010 - 45% (13% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 47% (10% below basic). State - 40%[63]
• 2008 - 39% (10% below basic). State - 39%[64]

Science in Motion Wyalusing Junior Senior High School does not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.[65] Wilkes University provides the enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 11% of the Wyalusing Junior Senior 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.[66] 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.[67] 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.

Wyalusing Junior Senior 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 at Keystone College. For several years, the state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[68] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[69] For the 2009-10 funding year, Wyalusing Area School District received a state grant of $8,3574 for the program.[70] 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.[71] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

The Wyalusing Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 24 credits to graduate, including: Mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 4 credits, Computer .33 credit, Physical Education, Health, Drivers ED 2.67 credits and electives 5 credits.[72]

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.[73] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.[74]

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.[75] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate.[76][77] 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.[78] 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.[79] 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, Wyalusing Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 509. The Writing average score was 464. 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.[80]

In 2012, 53 Wyalusing Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 471. The Math average score was 511. The Writing average score was 451. 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, 72 Wyalusing students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 487. The Math average score was 496. The Writing average score was 440.[81] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[82] 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.[83]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education 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.[84]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 71 percent of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania chose to continue their education after high school in 2003, whereas 79 percent of urban high school graduates opted to continue their education.

In 2013, Wyalusing Valley Junior Senior High School offered 8 Advanced Placement (AP) courses 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 Wyalusing Valley Junior Senior High School less than ten (10) of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[85]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 72% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 66% (20% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 69% (18% below basic). State – 57%[87]
• 2009 - 60% (20% below basic). State - 55%[88]
• 2008 - 64%, (12% below basic). State - 52%[89]
• 2007 - tested, but results not made public.

Wyalusing Valley Elementary School is located at 11450 Wyalusing-New Albany Road, Wyalusing. In 2013, the School's enrollment was 731 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 44% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 12.4% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted.[90] 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 in 2013.[91] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

Wyalusing Valley Elementary School was formed in 2012 from the consolidation of the District's four elementary schools. A faculty realignment was part of the process. The new school provides grades kindergarten through 6th grade. 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.[92] Wyalsuing Area School District has provided full-day kindergarten since 2003.

2013 School Performance Profile

Wyalusing Valley Elementary School achieved a score of 82.7 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 5th. In 3rd grade, 80% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, just 69% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 83% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing only 55% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[93]

AYP history

In 2012, Wyalusing Valley Elementary School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging achievement in reading and mathematics.[94]

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[95] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[96][97][98] 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.[99]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 86%, (0% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 95%, (0% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 83%, (7% below basic), State - 81%[104]
• 2009 - 88%, (2% below basic), State - 83% [105]

The Wyalusing Area School District Administration reported that 22 or 1.53% 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.[121] 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 the administration. 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. Once a students is designated as gifted in one school district, that must be honored by all Pennsylvania public school districts and charter schools should the student move.[122][123]

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Wyalusing Area School District receives 51.9% of its annual revenue from the state.[151]

For the 2013-14 school year, Wyalusing Area School District received a 1.5% increase or $6,616,463 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $95,712 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Wyalusing Area School District will receive $95,676 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Bradford County, Towanda Area School District received the highest percentage increase at 1.7%. 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.[152] 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.[153]

For the 2012-13 school year, Wyalusing Area School District received $6,616,427 in state basic education funding.[154] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 includes $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which is an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. The state also provides $100 million for the Accountability Block grant. The state will also provide $544.4 million for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[155] This amount is 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. Governor Corbett's first two budgets 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 Wyalusing Area School District received a $6,520,751 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[156][157] Additionally, Wyalusing Area School District received $95,676 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.[158] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[159]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.11% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,974,057. Among the districts in Bradford County, the highest increase went to Towanda Area School District which got a 6.36% 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.[160] 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 where 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 districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.72% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,763,554 to Wyalusing Area School District. Among the districts in Bradford County, the highest increase went to Towanda Area School District]which got an 8.43%. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[161] 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.[162] 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.[163][164]

The state Basic Education Funding to the District in 2008-09 was $4,787,151.79. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 514 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[165]

Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11, the district applied for and received $259,690 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten for over 100 pupils.[166][167]

In 2011-12 and 2012 13 the District received $95,676.[168]

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 2006-07 to 2008-09. The Wyalusing Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07, in 2007-08 nor in 2008-09.[169] Wyalusing Area School District was one of fifty (50) Pennsylvania public school districts that failed to apply to participate in the state grant. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.[170]

The District 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 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants [171] nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Wyalusing Area School District received an extra $2,263,612 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[172][173] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[174] 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.

Wyalusing Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided nearly $1 million in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[175][176] 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.[177] 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.[178][179][180]

Wyalusing Area School Board elected to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program.[181] 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.[182] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes. In April 2009, the Board approved all the recommendations received from the Common Cents Shared Services Initiative.[183]

Wyalusing Area School Board set the millage for real estate at 42.7659 mills for Bradford County property owners and 58.6634 mills for property owners in Wyoming County, for 2013-14 school year.[184]

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.[185] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. 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.[186] When the 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.[187] 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.[188]

• 2012-13 - 39.6533 mills Bradford County and 55.7552 mills Wyoming County.[189]
• 2011-12 - 38.8474 mills Bradford County and 54.4517 mills Wyoming County.
• 2010-11 - 38.0800 mills Bradford County and 53.4400 mills Wyoming County[190]
• 2009-10 - 38.0800 mills Bradford County and 53.4400 mills Wyoming County[191]
• 2008-09 - 34.7000 mills Bradford County and 49.4000 mills Wyoming County[192]
• 2007-08 - 32.4600 mills Bradford County and 49.2000 mills Wyoming County[193]
• 2006-07 - 30.1100 mills Bradford County and 46.8790 mills Wyoming County[194]

The average yearly property tax paid by Bradford County residents amounts to about 3.06% of their yearly income. Bradford County ranked 365th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[195] In Wyoming County, residents pay 3.73% of their income in property taxes ranking 304th in the USA. 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.[196] 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%).[197]

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 that Index unless they either: 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.[198] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[199] 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.[200][201] A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[202]

The School District Adjusted Index for the School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[203]

For the 2014-15 budget year, Wyalusing Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed their Act 1 Index limit due to rapidly increasing teacher pension payments to PSERS. The Board received a partial increase approval. 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.[207]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Wyalusing Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed their Act 1 Index limit due to School Construction Grandfathered Debt. The board was approved by the PDE to exceed the tax 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.[208]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Wyalusing Area School Board 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. 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.[209]

For the 2011-12 school year, Wyalusing Area School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, Wyalusing Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[210]

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.[211]

Wyalusing Area School Board applied for several exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010-2011, including rising teacher pension costs, School Construction Grandfathered Debt and School Construction Academic Project.[212] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[213] In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards sought to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.[214]

In 2012, Wyalusing Area School District approved homestead residents received $126.[215] In 2010, property tax relief for 2,357 approved residents of Wyalusing Area School District was set at $130.[216] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Wyalusing Area School District was also $127 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,330 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Bradford County, the highest tax relief went to Sayre Area School District which was set at $342.[217] The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.[218] The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Beaver County, 62% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[219]

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 may 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, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Treasury reported issuing more than half a million property tax rebates totaling $238 million.[220] The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Property tax rebates are 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.[221]

• Boys: Cross Country, Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field.
• Girls: Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Track and Field.

According to PIAA directory July 2012.[240]