State
Follow the latest K-12 education developments across Pennsylvania, including news from school districts, the state education agency, associations and education organizations.
Last updated: October 5, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 7 Pennsylvania stories in total, from 1 organization. The most frequent themes are Funding, Grants and Student Wellbeing.
Gettysburg Area School District has received more than $490,000 in state safety and mental health grants since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office, using some funds to hire social workers.
Federal grants will help 249 schools in 29 Pennsylvania counties provide fresh produce during the school day. The program aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and improve students’ diets.
Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received International Dyslexia Association accreditation following reviews of coursework, clinical practice and alignment with structured literacy standards.
Pennsylvania’s program has placed 42 school psychology interns in 22 schools this year. Eligible interns in high-need districts may receive stipends, Praxis fee waivers and additional training.
Pennsylvania announced $3.5 million in PAsmart grants to 17 organizations to broaden career pathways in advanced manufacturing, construction, digital technology and energy for learners statewide.
Teachers with eligible licenses in compact member states can more efficiently obtain equivalent Pennsylvania certification, reducing administrative barriers and expanding schools’ applicant pool.
Pennsylvania education officials announced USDA income thresholds for meal assistance and free milk, effective July 2026 through June 2027. Schools use them to determine program eligibility.
Governor
States are expanding career pathways and hands-on learning through grants, new facilities and work placements, including apprenticeships and work-based learning in Florida, paid AI internships in Massachusetts and a manufacturing lab at Mililani High School in Hawaii. Pennsylvania awarded $3.5 million to broaden career pathways, while Mississippi launched a statewide initiative connecting classroom lessons with college and careers for the 2026–27 school year. Rhode Island and Maryland are working with Advance CTE to expand pathway access with student participation in program and policy design. At the federal level, a stopgap spending measure maintained Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
States are funding educator recruitment and preparation and changing certification pathways: Kansas received an $8.4 million federal educator-pipeline grant, while Illinois allocated $15 million for recruitment and retention in 100 districts accounting for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies. Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to reduce certification barriers for eligible out-of-state teachers, and Connecticut opened registration for a free six-week paraeducator preparation academy. Teacher recognition programs also progressed from regional selections to finalists and statewide winners in Missouri and Iowa, while Colorado announced finalists and Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, New York and Florida named 2027 Teachers of the Year.
Recent grant announcements in Kansas, Florida, Connecticut and Colorado fund educator recruitment pathways, career training, early literacy and school meals. Kansas received $8.4 million in federal funding to strengthen its educator pipeline, while Florida announced the start of Workforce Pell Grant funding for short-term, career-focused training. Connecticut’s five-year, $10 million federal grant will expand small-group reading interventions and educator coaching across 75 elementary schools serving K–3 students with significant reading difficulties. Colorado announced $23.8 million in two noncompetitive grants to expand local food purchasing and scratch cooking in schools and raise nutrition workers’ pay.
Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are taking steps to expand school mental health screening and support staffing. Illinois has issued guidance to help districts prepare for annual mental health screenings in grades 3–12 starting in 2027–28, with parents able to opt their children out. Pennsylvania’s $8 million program has placed 42 school psychology interns in 22 schools this year and offers eligible interns support in high-need districts. Massachusetts has increased school funding to help retain teachers, paraprofessionals and mental health counselors.
Federal education officials proposed changes to grant rules that would revise competition criteria, allow unspent funds to affect multiyear awards and favor applicants with lower indirect cost rates. Kansas received federal approval to pilot student assessments administered throughout the school year. In Pennsylvania, an $8 million school psychology program has placed 42 interns in 22 schools this year, with eligible interns in high-need districts able to receive stipends, Praxis fee waivers and additional training.
Connecticut is expanding K–3 reading interventions and educator coaching through a five-year, $10 million grant covering 75 elementary schools, while Massachusetts is continuing early literacy tutoring funding for 338 schools and awarded nearly $25 million for literacy instruction. Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received accreditation aligned with structured literacy standards, and Mississippi designated science-of-reading schools and is implementing a statewide adolescent literacy initiative for 2026–27. Indiana reported its fifth consecutive year of rising literacy rates, while Colorado reported elementary literacy gains alongside persistent achievement gaps and declining middle school English language arts scores. In Maine, the number of students earning biliteracy recognition rose 18 percent, and the number of high schools offering it grew 11.5 percent.
Based on: With Shapiro Administration Investments in Student Mental Health, Highly Qualified Social Workers Are Supporting Gettysburg Area School District Students
Based on: Shapiro Administration: $7.3 Million Awarded to Schools to Purchase Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Based on: Pennsylvania Has Most Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the International Dyslexia Association in the Nation
Based on: Shapiro Administration Provides $8 Million to Increase the Number of School Psychologists in High-Need Areas
Based on: Shapiro Administration Invests $3.5 Million to Expand Access to Career and Technical Education, Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Workforce and Helping More Students Chart Their Own Course to Success
Based on: Pennsylvania Joins Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to Make it Easier for Out-of-State Educators to Teach in the Commonwealth, Strengthen Teacher Pipeline
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 7, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Maine Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
