Mahanoy Area School District

Mahanoy Area School District
Address
1 Golden Bear Dr. Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill, 17948 United States
Information
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	Mrs. Joie Green[1]
Principal	Mr. Tom Smith
Principal	Mr. Mike Heater
Principal	Mrs. Susan Scheeler
Grades	K-12
Kindergarten	92
Grade 1	67
Grade 2	72
Grade 3	76
Grade 4	97
Grade 5	94
Grade 6	79
Grade 7	85
Grade 8	103
Grade 9	87
Grade 10	82
Grade 11	84
Grade 12	64
Other	a decline in enrollment is projected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Mascot	Golden bear
Rival	Shenandoah Valley
Website	http://www.mabears.net/

The Mahanoy Area School District is a public school district in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It serves the municipalties of Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Delano Township, Ryan Township, and Gilberton. Mahanoy Area School District encompasses approximately 53 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, the district serves a resident population of 8,939. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Mahanoy Area School Distirct provided basic educational services to 1,122 pupils through the employment of 105 teachers, 72 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators.

The district features one elementary, one middle, and one high school.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[3] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "F" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.^[4]

Academic achievement

Mahanoy Area School District was ranked 376th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2010, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on four years of student academic achievement on the PSSA in: reading, writing, math and two years of science.^[5]

2009 - 379th
2008 - 419th
2007 - 398th of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania.^[6]

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Mahanoy Area ranked 9th. In 2009 the district was 23rd. The paper describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."^[7]

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Mahanoy Area School District, was in the 28th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best) ^[8]

Graduation Rate
2010 - 88% ^[9]
2009 - 90% ^[10]
2008 - 94% ^[11]
2007 - 94% ^[12]

High school

PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading
2010 - 57% on grade level, In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.^[13]
2009 - 60%, State - 65%
2008 - 58%, State - 65% ^[14]

11th Grade Math
2010 - 52%, In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 58%, State - 56%
2008 - 34%, State - 55% ^[15]

11th Grade Science:
2010 - 30% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 30%, State - 40%
2008 - 23%, State - 39%

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 23% of Mahanoy 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.^[16] 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.^[17] 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.

Dual enrollment

The high school offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[18] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[19]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,139 for the program.^[20]

Graduation requirements

The Mahanoy Area School Board has determined that students must earn 26 credits for graduation, including: English 4 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical Ed/health 1.5 credits, Technology/Business 2.5 credits, Arts Humanities 2 credits, and Electives 6 credits.^[21] A score of proficient or advanced on the 11th Grade Mathematics PSSA will meet the criterion standards to fulfill a fourth year mathematics credit.

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.^[22]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.^[23]

Middle school

In 2010, the attendance rate was 94%.^[24]

8th Grade Reading:
2010 - 94% on grade level. State: 81% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 91%, State: 80.9% ^[25]
2008 - 89%, State - 78%
2007 - 84%, State - 75%

8th Grade Math:
2010 - 90% on grade level. State: 75% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 81%, State - 71%
2008 - 85%, State - 70%
2007 - 70%, State - 67%

8th Grade Science:
2010 - 59% on grade level. State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 52%, State - 55%
2008 - 76%, State - 52% ^[26]

7th Grade Reading:
2010 - 66% on grade level. State - 73% of 7th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 74%, State - 71%
2008 - 67%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math:
2010 - 76% on grade level. State - 78% of 7th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 74%, State - 75%
2008 - 75%, State - 70%

6th Grade Reading:
2010 - 41% on grade level. State - 68% of 6th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 56%, State - 67%
2008 - 63%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math:
2010 - 78% on grade level. State - 78% of 6th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 81%, State - 75%
2008 - 82%, State - 72%

5th Grade Reading:
2010 - 64% on grade level. State - 64% of 5th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 61%, State - 64%
2008 - 55%, State - 62%

5th Grade Math:
2010 - 77% on grade level. State - 74% of 5th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 76%, State - 73%
2008 - 79%, State - 73%

Elementary School

In 2010, the attendance rate was 94%.^[27]

4th Grade Reading:
2010 - 71% on grade level. State - 73%
2009 - 68%, State - 72%
2008 - 67%, State - 70%

4th Grade Math:
2010 - 83% on grade level. State - 84%
2009 - 84%, State - 81%
2008 - 84%, State - 79%

4th Grade Science:
2010 - 90% on grade level. State - 81%
2009 - 93%, State - 83%
2008 - %, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading:
2010 - 80% on grade level. State - 75%
2009 - 69%, State - 77%^[28]
2008 - 71%, State - 77%

3rd Grade Math:
2009 - 94% on grade level. State - 84%
2009 - 88%, State - 81%
2008 - 82%, State - 80% ^[29]

Special education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 237 pupils or 22% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.^[30]

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.^[31]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.^[32]

Mahanoy Area School District received a $796,349 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[33]

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 16 or 1.52% of its students were gifted in 2009.^[34] 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.^[35]

Bullying policy

The Mahanoy Area School District administration reported there were 2 incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.^[36][37]

The Mahanoy Area School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.^[38] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.^[39] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.^[40]

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.^[41]

Budget

In 2009, the school administration reports employing over 100 teachers with a beginning salary of $34,000.^[42] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, and other benefits. Teacher receive additional payment for work beyond the classroom and the regular work day.^[43] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.^[44]

In 2007, Mahanoy Area School District employed 97 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $43,882 for 180 days worked.^[45] As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.^[46]

Mahanoy Area School District administrative costs was $816.96 per pupil in 2008. This was in the top 20% of administrative spending in the commonwealth. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[47]

In 2008, Mahanoy Area School District reported spending $13,105 per pupil. This ranked 170th among the 500 school districts in the commonwealth.^[48]

Reserves - In 2008, the district reported a $1,068,138 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero.^[49]

In October 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.^[50]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 0.5%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax of 1%, an occupation tax of $130, an occupational tax of $5 and an amusement tax of five percent coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's level of wealth.^[51]

State basic education funding

For 2010-11 the Mahanoy Area School District received a 2.02% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $7,650,469 payment.^[52] One hundred and fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in state basic education funding. The highest increase in BEF in Schuylkill County went to Minersville Area School District which received 9.96%. 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. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.^[53]

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6.43% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $7,498,923. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $7,131,143. 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.^[54] Shenandoah Valley School District was 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.^[55] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.^[56]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 660 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.^[57]

Accountability Block Grants

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 $247,421 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the sixth year.^[58][59]

Education Assistance Grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the Mahanoy Area School District received $24,864.^[60]

Classrooms for the Future grant

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 was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $144,611. For the 2008-09, school year the district received $45,413 for a total of $190,024 in state funding. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.^[61]

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $2,009,967 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.^[62] The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply 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.^[63] 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.^[64] 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.^[65]

Common Cents state initiative

The Mahanoy Area School Board did not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. 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.^[66] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

The school board set property tax rates in 2010-2011 at 44.8000 mills.^[67] 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. 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 (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.^[68] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.

• 2009-10 - 43.0000 mills^[69]
• 2008-09 - 43.0000 mills.^[70]

Act 1 Adjusted index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not authorized 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.^[71]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Mahanoy Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.^[72]
2006-07 - 5.8%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 5.0%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 6.6%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 6.1%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 4.3%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%

The Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2010-11.^[73] 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.^[74]

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Mahanoy Area School District was $180 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,560 property owners applied for the tax relief.^[75] In Schuylkill County, the highest amount went to Schuylkill Haven Area School District set at $195. 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.^[76] 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.^[77] This was the second year they were the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals who have income substantially 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.^[78]

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%).^[79]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies. If a student is failing two or more courses they are ineligible to participate/compete and must attend remediation. Attending practice is at the discretion of the coach or advisor. This applies for Monday through the following Sunday.^[80]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[81]

References:

1. ^ http://www.mabears.net/superintendentprincipals.html
2. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and Projections by School District January 2009
3. ^ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
4. ^ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
5. ^ Pittsburgh Business Times (May 6, 2010). "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings". http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/feature/schools/statewide_rankings.html. 
6. ^ Pittsburgh Business Times (May 23, 2007). "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County,". http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/05/21/daily24.html. 
7. ^ "Overachiever statewide ranking,". Pittsburgh Business Times. May 6, 2010. http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/feature/schools/overachiever_statewide_rank.html. 
8. ^ "2009 PSSA RESULTS Mahanoy Area School District,". The Morning Call. http://projects.mcall.com/PSSA-results/district/129544503/MAHANOY%20AREA%20SD/. Retrieved February 6, 2011. 
9. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2011). "Mahanoy Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10D129544503.PDF. 
10. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (january 2011). "Mahanoy Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 data table". http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c54/129544503?schoolID=. 
11. ^ The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "2008 Pennsylvania Graduation Rates". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/2008-graduation-rates-1.85916#axzz1D5KcjUpN. 
12. ^ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. "High School Graduation Rate 2007". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23571629/PA-High-School-Graduation-Info-by-School-District-2007. Retrieved January 31, 2011. 
13. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (February 2011). "Mahanoy Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S129544503000007012.PDF. 
14. ^ "2008 Reading PSSA Mahanoy ASD". The Times-Tribune. June 25, 2009. http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/reading-pssa-scores-by-district-2007-08-1.85946?appSession=076200163295434#axzz1D5KcjUpN. 
15. ^ "2008 Math PSSA Mahanoy AHS". The Times-Tribune. June 25, 2009. http://www.timesshamrockcommunications.com/datacenter/gradingourschools/tt_schools.htm?appSession=131200163360848&RecordID=1255&PageID=3&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType=&CPIorderBy=. 
16. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report. Retrieved February 2011. 
17. ^ National Center for Education Statistics -. "IPEDS 2008". http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/. 
18. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.". http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011. 
19. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/newsroom_press_releases/news_releases/report__pa_college_credit_transfer_system_makes_higher_education_more_affordable__accessible.html. 
20. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2009). "Dual Enrollment Fall Grants 2009-10.". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/dual_enrollment/18126. 
21. ^ Mahanoy Area High School administration (2010-11). "Mahanoy Area High School Course of Study". http://www.mabears.net/resources/1011CourseSelectionFinal.pdf. 
22. ^ "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements". http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html. 
23. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". http://www.scribd.com/doc/47925315/Pennsylvania-Keystone-Exams-Overview-Sept-2010. 
24. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2011). "Mahanoy Area Middle School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S129544503000003902.PDF. 
25. ^ Pennsylvania Reading, Math, Science and Writing PSSA Results 2009 as reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, August 2009.
26. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Science results 2008-09". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442. 
27. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2011). "Mahanoy Area Elementary School Academic achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S129544503000007223.PDF. 
28. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Math and Reading Results 2009". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2008-2009_pssa_and_ayp_results/600286. 
29. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Results Math and Reading School 2008". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2007-2008_pssa_and_ayp_results/507514. 
30. ^ Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education (February 5, 2011). "Mahanoy Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets School Year 2008-2009". http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2008_2009/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD618_491_Final.pdf. 
31. ^ Mahanoy Area School District (2011). "Special Education Department - Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services". http://www.mabears.net/specialedu.html. 
32. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Special Education Funding". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/proposed_special_education_funding_-/539261. 
33. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2010). "Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011". https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AvscmN--D7LbdEhsSW1pY3lxZnBfSWZEdnU2WE5hUWc&hl=en#gid=0. 
34. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (Revised December 1, 2009 Child Count (Collected July 2010)). "Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School". http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf. 
35. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board. "CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students". http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter16/chap16toc.html. Retrieved February 4, 2011. 
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