Dallastown Area School District

Dallastown Area School District
Address
700 New School Lane Dallastown, Pennsylvania, York, 17313 United States
Information
Superintendent	Dr. Stewart Weinberg, PhD
Grades	K-12
Kindergarten	443
Grade 1	441
Grade 2	435
Grade 3	489
Grade 4	484
Grade 5	476
Grade 6	439
Grade 7	459
Grade 8	504
Grade 9	536
Grade 10	508
Grade 11	441
Grade 12	451
Mascot	Wildcats
Website	Dallastown Area School District website

The Dallastown Area School District is a school district covering the Boroughs of Dallastown, Jacobus, Loganville, and Yoe and Springfield Township and York Township in York County, Pennsylvania. The district covers 52.5-square-mile (136 km²). There are approximately 35,000 residents in 2009^[2] The district operates five Elementary Schools K-5, one middle school 6–8 and one 9–12 High School. Due to over-crowding concerns, an intermediate school was built last year.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members elected from 3 regions^[3] (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[4] 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 its 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 "B-" 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.^[5]

Schools

Elementary schools

The district operates Dallastown Elementary School, Leader's Heights Elementary School, Loganville-Springfield Elementary School, Ore Valley Elementary School and York Township Elementary School, all of which now host students in grades K-3, since the intermediate school was built.

Intermediate School

Currently, the Intermediate School is holding grades 4–6. It consists of three wings,a yellow wing,a blue wing, and a red wing, each with two floors. The Dallastown Intermediate School was completed in the fall of 2010.^[6]

Middle school

Dallastown Area Middle School has a variety of clubs outside of the classroom including the following: Red Cross club, a chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, a school newspaper, student council, community clubs, homework clubs, a drama club, a musical, many music and art programs, and dozens of sports for both male and female students.

High school

In 2010, Dallastown Area High School is participating in the Accreditation for Growth (AFG) protocol through the Commission on Secondary Schools Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools which encourages and facilitates school improvement.

Academic achievement

Dallastown Area School District was ranked 96th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic achievement on the PSSA results on: reading, writing, math and three years of science.^[7]

• 2010 – 81st^[8]
• 2009 – 93rd
• 2008 – 93rd
• 2007 – 105th of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania.^[9]

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Dallastown Area ranked 236th. In 2009, the district was 318th. 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."^[10]

Graduation Rate

• 2010 – 96%^[11]
• 2009 – 97%^[12]
• 2008 – 93%
• 2007 – 93%^[13]
• 2006 – 94%^[14]

Dallastown Area Senior High School Student are required to earn 26 credits for graduation, 4 of which must be earned in the senior year in addition to the Culminating Project. The project must have a passable grade (60% or higher) in order to graduate.^[15][16]

High school

In 2009 the high school is in Warning level for lagging IEP (Special Education) student achievement.^[17]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 – 74% on grade level, In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade^[18]
• 2009 – 77%, State – 65%
• 2008 – 74%, State – 65%^[19]
• 2007 – 75%, State – 65%
• 2006 – 75%, State – 65%^[20]
• 2005 – 80%, State – 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2010 – 59%, In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[21]
• 2009 – 59%, State – 56%
• 2008 – 52%, State – 55%
• 2007 – 62%, State – 53%
• 2006 – 54%, State – 52%
• 2005 – 63%, State – 51%

11th Grade Science

• 2010 – 55% on grade level. State – 57%^[22]
• 2009 – 58%, State – 40%
• 2008 – 39%, State – 39%^[23]

College remediation – According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 26% of Dallastown Area 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.^[24] 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.^[25] 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.

ROTC

Dallastown Area High School offers a Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCROTC) program.

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.^[26] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[27]

For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $33,637 for the program.^[28]

Graduation Culminating Project

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.^[29] Students earn 1.0 credit towards graduation upon completion of the project.^[30]

Middle school

In 2010 and 2009, the middle school reported a 95% attendance rate.^[31]

Eight Grade

Reading :

• 2010 – 91% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level.^[32]
• 2009 – 91%, State – 80%
• 2008 – 89%, State – 78%^[33]

Math:

• 2010 – 90% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 75% of 8th graders are on grade level.
  
• 2009 – 86%, State – 71%^[34]
  
• 2008 – 88%, State – 70%^[35]

Science:

• 2010 – 68% on grade level. State – 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 – 76%, State – 55%.^[36]
• 2008 – 69%, State – 52%

Seventh Grade

Reading :

• 2010 – 86% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 – 81%, State – 71%
• 2008 – 83%, State – 70%

Math:

• 2010 – 88% on grade level. State – 77%
• 2009 – 85%, State – 75%
• 2008 – 82%, State – 70%

6th Grade

Reading:

• 2010 – 74% on grade level. State: 68% of 6th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 – 78%, State – 67%
• 2008 – 77%, State – 67%

6th Grade

Math:

• 2010 – 84% on grade level. State – 78% of 6th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 – 82%, State – 75%
• 2008 – 81%, State −72%

Special education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 773 pupils or 13% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.^[37]

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 believe their child is eligible for services may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Director of Special Education.^[38]

The IDEA 2004 requires each school entity to publish a notice to parents, in newspapers or other media, including the student handbook and website regarding the availability of screening and intervention services and how to access them.

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 228 students (3.83% of students) were gifted in 2009.^[39] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to a dual enrollment program 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 120 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.^[40] At the high school the students work on Independent Study Projects.^[41]

Wellness policy

The Dallastown Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 – Policy 246.^[42] 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, physical activity, 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.^[43]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Budget

The district employs 30 administrators, 437 instructional staff and 281 support staff.^[44]

In 2007, Dallastown Area School District employed 385 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $65,647 for 180 days worked.^[45] The average teacher salary in York County was $53,918. In 2007, the district's starting salary was $40,800 and the top teacher salary was $81,962 which was the highest in York County.^[46] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, a retirement severance, and other benefits.^[47]

Dallastown Area School District administrative costs was $601 per pupil in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 in 2008.^[48] In 2004, the Dallastown School Board awarded a four year contract to Stewart Weinberg as superintendent with an initial salary of $130,000 and an extensive benefits package including: a defined benefits pension, health insurance, life insurance, and much more.^[49] The Pennsylvania School Board Association tracks salaries for Pennsylvania public school employees. It reports that in 2008 the average superintendent salary in Pennsylvania was $122,165.^[50] In 2007, the Average District Administrator salary in Dallastown School District was $98,274 which ranked fourth in York County. The Average School Administrator salary in Dallastown School District was $84,105 which ranked second in York County.^[51] In January 2008, the school board voted 5–4 to approve a new employment contract for Superintendent Weinberg. The basic package includes a base salary of $139,000 with a potential good will incentive of $19,000. The incentive includes a quarterly evaluation process which is a fairly innovative concept in the state. The three year contract begins July 1, 2008.^[52]

Reserves – In 2008, the district reported a $8,797,476.00 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $3,371,834.00.^[53] In 2010, the school board voted to use $1 million of the undesignated fund balance to balance a $90.9 million 2010 final budget. Additionally, the board designated $500,000 be reserved to cover future pension costs and $800,000 be reserved for increasing energy costs.^[54] In 2009 the district reported it had accumulated over $14 million in reserves.^[55]

The district administration reported that per pupil spending in 2008 was $12,645 which ranked 206th in the state' 501 school districts.^[56]

In April 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor Genearl conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the school board and administration.^[57]

According to an extensive study of York County school districts conducted by APA Associates in 2008, Dallastown Area School District achieved a −1 rating based on Performance and Relative Efficiency. Central York School District and Northeastern York School District ranked +10 and 11 of 16 York County district achieved a positive rating.^[46]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.50%, 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.^[58]

State basic education funding

In 2011–12, the district will receive $7,887,577 in state Basic Education Funding.^[59][60] Additionally, the district will receive $183,342 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011–2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010–2011. 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.^[61] Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

In 2010, the district reported that 1,133 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For the 2010–11 budget year, the Dallastown Area School District received a 3.96% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,206,469. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in York County was awarded to Hanover Public School District at 8.39%. Among Pennsylvania school districts, the highest increase in 2010–11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.^[62] 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.^[63]

In the 2009–2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,042,956. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008–09 was $7,717,639.96.^[64] 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.^[65] Dallastown Area School District was allotted the lowest Basic Education Funding increase in York County for the 2009–10 school year. In York County, 12 school districts received less than 6% increase in state basic education funding in 2010 and three districts received the base 2% increase. Ninety school districts in the commonwealth were given the base 2% increase. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.^[66]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 886 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[67]

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 Dallastown Area School District applied for and received $497,637 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten (seventh year) and teacher training through coaching.^[68][69]

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. Dallastown Area School District was denied funding 2006–07. In 2007–08, the district received $315,540 and $54,026 in 2008–09 for a total funding of $369,566.^[70]

Federal Funding

According to the Pennsylvania Economy League, in 2005 Pennsylvania schools received, on average, only about 4% of their revenues from the federal government. The remaining 96% is split between local and state revenue sources.^[71]

Federal Stimulus Grant – The district received an extra $2,260,593 in ARRA – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.^[72] The funding is for the 2009–10 and 2010–11 school years and is a significant increase in federal funding.

Race to the Top grant

Dallastown Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district up to one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. 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. Central York was one of six York County school districts that applied to participate.^[73] 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.^[74]

Common Cents state initiative

The Dallastown 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.^[75] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

In 2010, the board approved a real estate tax rate of 22.2600 mills. The school board levied a real estate tax of 16.81 mills in 2008–09.^[76] 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. On the local level, Pennsylvania 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.^[77]

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 allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.^[78]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Dallastown Area School District 2006–2007 through 2010–2011.^[79]

• 2006–07 – 4.5%, Base 3.9%
• 2007–08 – 3.9%, Base 3.4%
• 2008–09 – 5.2%, Base 4.4%
• 2009–10 – 4.8%, Base 4.1%
• 2010–11 – 3.4%, Base 2.9%
• 2011–12 – 1.6%, Base 1.4%

For the 2011–12 school year, the Dallastown Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year the Dallastown 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 publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.^[80]

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.^[81] With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly repealed most of the Act 1 tax increase exceptions leaving only special education costs, pension costs and prior voter approved (ballot referendum) debt for construction. The cost of construction projects in the future will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum. Districts can no longer raise property taxes to cover increasing health insurance costs for employees.^[82]

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.^[83]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Dallastown Area School District was $127 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 10,819 property owners applied for the tax relief.^[84] In 2009, the district's property tax relief amount was set at $128 to 10,750 approved homestead owners. In 2010 within York County, the highest amount went to York City School District set at $495 per approved homestead.^[85] The property 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. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $641 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the third year they were the top recipient. CUSD was given $632 in 2009.

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 greater 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.

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%).^[86]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board.^[87] In 2007–08 the district spent $910,900 on athletics. In 2009–10 it spent $1,220464 on school athletics and in 2011–12 it has budgeted $1,060,450 for athletics.^[88] The district does not charge an activity in 2011–12. In 2012–13 the school plans to institute a $15 activity fee to participate in sports.

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.^[89]

Sports

Dallastown Area High School boasts one of the best wrestling, swimming, tennis, field hockey, ice hockey, and golf teams in York County.^{[citation needed]} Their team is part of the PIAA triple or quad A, District 3, and York/Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I. In 2007, all of Dallastown Area High School's fall sports teams went on to compete in District III post-season play.

Charity

Not only does the district take pride in its students' academic achievements but also takes pride in its large and supporting community, which host many organizations such as the Dallastown Dollars For Scholars, the Dallastown Educational Foundation, Gift of Time Auction, Communities that Care and the Middle School Guidance Clothing Closet.

Motto

"Dedication to Excellence"

Alma mater

"Upon a pleasant hillside stands one we love so true,
Our loyalty o'high school to thee we pledge anew.
We're our paths may lead us to thee our praise will sound.
Forever we'll be faithful.
We love thee dear Dallastown,
We love thee our Dallastown." etc., etc.

Mission statement

The mission of the board of school directors and the staff of the Dallastown Area School District, in partnership with family and community, is to provide a safe, innovative, and challenging student-centered learning environment that will prepare each student to become a successful, ethical, responsible, and contributing citizen of this changing world.

References:

1. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and Projections for Dallastown Area School District, January 2009
2. ^ 2009 Dallastown Area School District annual Report.
3. ^ "Dallastown Area School – Board of School Directors". February 2011. http://www.dallastown.net/29051018114121187/site/default.asp. 
4. ^ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
5. ^ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
6. ^ Shaw, Andrew (Jan 13, 2011). "Dallastown community irate over potential cuts, budget deficit". The York Dispatch. http://www.yorkdispatch.com/school/ci_17087546. 
7. ^ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 2011). "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings Information". http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/pennsylvania_schools/statewiderank.html. 
8. ^ Pittsburgh Business Times (May 6, 2010). "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings". http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/feature/schools/statewide_rankings.html. 
9. ^ "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County,". Pittsburgh Business Times,. May 23, 2007. http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/05/21/daily24.html. 
10. ^ Overachiever statewide ranking, Pittsburgh Business Times. May 6, 2010
11. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (February 2011). "Dallastown Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 data table". http://paayp.emetric.net/School/DataTable/c67/112671603/4553. 
12. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dallastown Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009". http://www.scribd.com/doc/32079286/Dallastown-Area-School-District-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2009. 
13. ^ Dallastown Area School District Annual Report 2008
14. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2006). "Dallastown High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2006". http://www.scribd.com/doc/32079228/Dallastown-Senior-High-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2006. 
15. ^ Dallastown Area School District Student Handbook 2009–2010
16. ^ Pennsylvania School Code – 4.24. High school graduation requirements.
17. ^ "Dallastown Area School District Academic Achievement Report 2008-2009". http://www.scribd.com/doc/32079286/Dallastown-Area-School-District-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2009. 
18. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (February 2011). "Dallastown Area Senior HIgh School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S112671603000004553.PDF. 
19. ^ Dallastown Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008
20. ^ Dallastown Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2006
21. ^ Dallastown Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 Performance Level
22. ^ PSSA Science Results Report 2010
23. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Department of Education Report on PSSA Math and Reading 2007 results by school and grade". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2007-2008_pssa_and_ayp_results/507514. 
24. ^ "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". January 2009. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report. 
25. ^ National Center for Education Statistics – IPEDS 2008
26. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines 2010–11". http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011. 
27. ^ Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. site accessed March 2010. http://www.patrac.org/
28. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Enrollment Fall Grants 2009–10. August 2009
29. ^ Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements
30. ^ Dallastown High School Student Handbook 2009–2010
31. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "DALLASTOWN AREA MS School AYP Data Table". http://paayp.emetric.net/School/DataTable/c67/112671603/6598. 
32. ^ The Times-Tribune. (Sept 14, 2010). "2010 Math and Reading PSSA Scores Database,". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/2010-math-and-reading-pssa-scores-database-1.1011563?parentPage=2.1252&appSession=542194486521818#axzz1AcY6oDnJ. 
33. ^ The Times Tribune (2009). "Reading results PSSA 2008 Dallastown Area School District". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/reading-pssa-scores-by-district-2007-08-1.85946?appSession=377194306515907#axzz1AQrcmSp7. 
34. ^ 2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results Pennsylvania Department of Education Report
35. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Math results PSSA 2008 Dallastown Area SD". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/math-pssa-scores-by-district-2007-08-1.85944?appSession=111943063611027#axzz1AQrcmSp7. 
36. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2009). "Report on Science PSSA 2009 by Schools". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2008-2009_pssa_and_ayp_results/600286. 
37. ^ Dallastown Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets School Year 2008–2009
38. ^ Dallastown Area School District – Special Education Department – Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services
39. ^ 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. 
40. ^ 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. 
41. ^ "High School Gifted program". http://www.dallastown.net/32832092383915393/site/default.asp. 
42. ^ Dallastown Area School Board Policy Manual
43. ^ Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive, Pennsylvania Department of Education – Division of Food and Nutrition. July 2008
44. ^ "2009 Dallastown Area School District Annual Report". http://www.dallastown.net/2905108712237937/lib/2905108712237937/NewsDigest_AR09_FinalWeb-Revised.pdf. 
45. ^ Fenton, Jacob, Average classroom teacher salary in York County, 2006–07. The Morning Call. Retrieved March 2009.
46. ^ ^{a b} DeCesare, Dale, Augenblick, John and Myers, John, Examining Resource Use and Areas for Enhanced Cooperation in York County’s School Districts, January 2008
47. ^ "Dallastown Area Professional Education Association Employment Contract 2002–2010". http://extras.altoonamirror.com/ForTheRecord/Documents/dallasarea.pdf. Retrieved June 8, 2010. 
48. ^ Fenton, Jacob. Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, The Morning Call, Feb 2009.
49. ^ The Altoona Mirror (August 2007). "Benefits of Learning,". http://extras.altoonamirror.com/schools/. 
50. ^ Public School Salaries 11th edition, Pennsylvania School Board Association. October 2009
51. ^ DeCesare, Dale, Augenblick, John and Myers, John, Examining Resource Use and Areas for Enhanced Cooperation in York County’s School Districts, January 2008
52. ^ "Dallastown Area School Board Meeting Minutes". January 23, 2008. http://www.dallastown.net/2905101612167420/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=49261&2905101612167420Nav=. 
53. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education report on Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008
54. ^ Shaw, Andrew, Dallastown schools: Taxes to go up 3.4 percent, The York Dispatch, May 21, 2010.
55. ^ Shaw, Andrew, (June 28, 2010). "Special report: School districts increase surplus funds annually.". The York Dispatch. http://www.yorkdispatch.com/specialreports/ci_15276758. 
56. ^ "Per Pupil Spending in Pennsylvania Public Schools in 2008 Sort Spending". http://www.scribd.com/doc/38541513/Per-Pupil-Spending-in-Pennsylvania-Public-Schools-in-2008-Sort-Spending. 
57. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General (APRIL 2009). "DALLASTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT". http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Reports/School/schDallastownAreaSD042409.pdf. 
58. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. "Personal Income Tax Information 2009". http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/personal_income_tax/11409. 
59. ^ Pennsylvania Department ofEducation (July 2011). "Pennsylvania 2011–2012 Estimated Basic Education Funding". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259. 
60. ^ PA Senate Appropriations Committee (June 28, 2011). "School District 2011–12 funding Report". http://www.scribd.com/doc/58929810/PA-Senate-Appropriations-Committee-Report-School-District-2011-12. 
61. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 30, 2011). "Basic Education Funding 2011–2012 Fiscal Year". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259. 
62. ^ PA Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010–2011 Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee Education Budget information.
63. ^ Office of the Budget, (February 2010.). "Pennsylvania Budget Proposal 2010,". http://www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/past_budgets/4571. 
64. ^ "Pennsylvania Department of Education Grants and Subsidies.". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grants_and_subsidies/7207. Retrieved May 21, 2010. 
65. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education – Basic Education Funding by School District 2009–10. October 2009
66. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report on Funding by school district October 2009
67. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Basic Education Funding Report by LEA 2009.
68. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education – Accountability Block Grant report 2010, Grantee list 2010
69. ^ {{cite web ]url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/23322599/ACCOUNTABILITY-BLOCK-GRANT-Awards |title=Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |Date=2010}}
70. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit". http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/specff122208.pdf. 
71. ^ The Pennsylvania Economy League, An Analysis of Demographic, Socio-Economic, Financial and Related Data of the Allentown School District and Surrounding Lehigh County School Districts, 2005.
72. ^ York County ARRA FUNDING Report
73. ^ Governor's Press Office, (January 20, 2010). "Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support,". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/pennsylvania_s__race_to_the_top__fueled_by_effective_reforms__strong_local_support.html. 
74. ^ U.S. Department of Education, (March 29, 2010). "Race to the Top Fund,". http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html. 
75. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Common Cents program – Making Every Dollar Count". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/common_cents/8781. Retrieved February 1, 2011. 
76. ^ Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, Pennsylvania Department of Finance. 2009
77. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Act 511 Tax Report, 2004
78. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education 2010–11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines.
79. ^ Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006–2007 through 2010–2011, Report prepared by Pennsylvania Department of Education, May 2010.
80. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452. 
81. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 2011). "Report on Exceptions". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336. 
82. ^ Pittsburgh Post Gazette (July 28, 2011). "Law could restrict school construction projects". http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11209/1163275-56-0.stm. 
83. ^ Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia, (May 25, 2010). "Local school tax assessments exceed state averages.". The Daily Item. http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x1174308659/Local-school-tax-assessments-exceed-state-averages. 
84. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (May 1, 2010). "Tax Relief per Homestead 2010,". http://www.scribd.com/doc/41505536/SSAct1-Property-Tax-Relief-Per-HomeStead-5-1-10-Pennsylvania. 
85. ^ Pennsylvania Tax Relief Per HomeStead May 2009
86. ^ New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, Tax Foundation, September 22, 2009.
87. ^ Dallastown Area School District Policy Manual – 123 Extracurricular Activities and Interscholastic Athletics Policy.
88. ^ SPECIAL REPORT: Pay-to-play a growing trend in area school districts, Dick VanOlinda, The York Dispatch, September 15, 2011
89. ^ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,". http://www.scribd.com/doc/35742869/Governor-Rendell-Says-Home-Schooled-Children-Can-Participate-in-School-District-Extracurricular-Activities. 

External links

• Dallastown Area School District website