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Freedom Area School District

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This article is about the school district in Freedom, Pennsylvania. For the high school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, see Freedom High School (Pennsylvania).
Freedom Area School District
Address
Map
1701 Eighth Avenue

Freedom
,
Beaver County
,
Pennsylvania
15042

United States
Information
TypePublic
School board9 locally elected members
SuperintendentDr. Jeffry Fuller (2012-Present)
Faculty1,588 in 2010
GradesK-12
Age5 years old to 21 years old
Number of pupils1543 in 2010
 • Kindergarten119
 • Grade 194
 • Grade 2101
 • Grade 3100
 • Grade 4122
 • Grade 5100
 • Grade 6123
 • Grade 7122
 • Grade 8134
 • Grade 9150
 • Grade 10128
 • Grade 11128
 • Grade 12122
 • OtherEnrollment projected to 1538[2]
Color(s)Red and White
AthleticsJohn Rosa
MascotBulldog
NewspaperFHS Press (High School) Bulldog Barker (Middle School)
YearbookShawnee
Budget$18,084,796.00 in 2011
Tuitionfor nonresident and charter school students ES - $7,633.66, HS - $7,861.69[1]
Per pupil spending 2011$10,450.58
Websitehttps://www.freedomareaschools.org/

The Freedom Area School District is a small, rural, public school district in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, USA. It serves the boroughs of Freedom, Conway, and the township of New Sewickley. Freedom Area School District encompasses approximately 35 square miles (91 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it has a resident population of 11,129 people. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $17,961, while the median family income was $46,125.[3] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[4] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[5] According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 Freedom Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,630 pupils through the employment of 119 teachers, 104 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 7 administrators. Freedom Area School District received more than $11.2 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

The district operates three schools: Freedom Area High School (9th-12th), Freedom Area Middle School (5th-8th), and Freedom Area Elementary School (K-4th).

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.[6] 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 Freedom Area School Board and Freedom Area School District administration an "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.[7]

Academic achievement

Freedom Area School District was ranked 140th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012.[8] The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science.[9]

  • 2011 - 122nd[10]
  • 2010 - 102nd[11]
  • 2009 - 96th
  • 2008 - 95th
  • 2007 - 195th out of 501 school districts.[12]

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Freedom Area School District ranked 42nd. In 2011, the district was 36th.[13] The editor 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-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[14]

Western Pennsylvania region ranking by PBT

(includes 104 districts in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County and Westmoreland County excludes Duquesne City SD & Midland Borough SD due to no high schools)

  • 2012 - 34th
  • 2011 - 32nd
  • 2010 - 28th
  • 2009 - 27th

In 2010 and 2011, Freedom Area School District achieved AYP status.[15] 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.

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Freedom Area School District was in the 82nd percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)[16]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 91%.[17] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. High School's rate was % for 2010.[18]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

High school

Main article: Freedom Area Senior High School

Freedom Area Senior High School is located at 1190 Bulldog Drive, Freedom. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 539 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 179 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 37 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 29:2.[23] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[24]

In 2012, Freedom Area Senior High School's 11th grade ranked 34th out of 105 high schools in the western Pennsylvania region. In 2011, Freedom Area High School's 11th grade ranked 32nd. In 2010, the High School ranked 28th. In 2009, the High School ranked 27th out of 105 western Pennsylvania high schools based on the last three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and science.[25]

In 2011 Freedom Area Senior High School achieved AYP status. In 2010 the school was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[26]

11th Grade Reading

  • 2011 - 70% on grade level, (7% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[27]
  • 2010 - 68% (11% below basic). State - 66%[28]
  • 2009 - 73% (9% below basic). State - 65%[29]
  • 2008 - 81% (7% below basic). State - 65%[30]
  • 2007 - 80% (10% below basic). State - 65%[31]

11th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 72% on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[32]
  • 2010 - 55% (24% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2009 - 76% (7% below basic). State - 56%.
  • 2008 - 62% (18% below basic). State - 56%
  • 2007 - 79% (9% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

  • 2011 - 38% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[33]
  • 2010 - 36% (16% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 41% (13% below basic). State - 40%[34]
  • 2008 - 30% (22% below basic). State - 39%[35]

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 33% of the Freedom 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.[36] 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.[37] 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.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 91 Freedom Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 475. The Math average score was 469. The Writing average score was 460.[38] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[39] 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.[40]

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. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[41] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[42] For the 2009-10 funding year, Freedom Area School District received a state grant of $4,796 for the program.[43] Dual enrollment grants were discontinued in 2011 due to the state's economic crisis, but the program continues to be available to students at their own expense.

Graduation requirements

Freedom Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28 credits to graduate, including: Mathematics 3 credits, Science 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Communications 1 credit, Health/career ed 1 credit, Senior seminar 1 credit, Computer technology 1 credit, Practical applications 1 credit, Physical Education 1 credit and electives 5.5 credits.[44]

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.[45] Completion of the Graduation Project earns 0.5 credit towards graduation.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 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.[46][47][48] 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.[49] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Laptop program

Using state funding dollars, the district implemented a One-to-One laptop program providing high school students a laptop computer after mandatory training for the student and the parent. Students must be enrolled in a course that requires a laptop. Students using laptops are bound by the Freedom Area School District’s Acceptable Use Policy which describes and limits how they may use the district's technology. The computer must be returned to the district at the end of the course.

Online Courses

Freedom Area High School offers on-line course options for credit recovery to remain on track to graduate. Credit Recovery courses yields a pass/fail final grade on the student's transcript. Students enrolled full-time in the Cyber Service program must be actively engaged in their on-line course work for a minimum of 2.5 hours daily in order to participate in extracurricular activities or practices. All Freedom Area School District cyber courses are considered in athletic eligibility standard.

Middle school

Freedom Area Middle School is located at 1701 8th Avenue, Freedom. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 253 pupils in grades 7th and 8th, with 89 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 16.8 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1.[50] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[51] In June 2011, the District closed Freedom Area Intermediate School due to sharply declining enrollment district wide. The Administration realigned the program bringing the 5th and 6th grade classes into the middle school.

In 2012, Freedom Area's eighth grade ranked 15th out of 105 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on the last three years of student academic achievement in Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: reading, math, writing and three years of science.[52] (The local region ranking includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County) In 2010, the eighth grade ranked 44th. In 2009, the 8th grade ranked 22nd out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, mathematics, writing and one year of science.[53]

In 2010 and 2011, Freedom Area Middle School achieved AYP status.[54]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

  • 2011 - 63% on grade level (13% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
  • 2010 - 74% (11% below basic). State – 57%[60]
  • 2009 - 75% (8% below basic). State - 55%[61]
  • 2008 - 63% (9 below basic). State - 52%[62]
  • 2007 - tested, but results not made public.
Seventh Grade

In 2012, Freedom Area's seventh grade ranked 25th out of 105 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on the last three years of student academic achievement in Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: reading, math, writing and three years of science.[63] In 2010, the seventh grade ranked 26th.[64]

PSSA Results

Intermediate School

In June 2011, the District closed Freedom Area Intermediate School due to sharply declining enrollment district wide. The Administration realigned the academic program moving the District's 5th and 6th grade classes into the middle school. In 2010, Freedom Area Intermediate School was located at 1701 Eighth Avenue, Freedom. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 233 pupils in grades 5th through 5th, with 106 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 16 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14.8:1.[65] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[66]

In 2010 and 2011, Freedom Area intermediate School achieved AYP even though the reading scores in 5th grade had declined below statewide reading achievement levels in 2011.[67]

Sixth Grade

In 2012, Freedom Area Intermediate School's sixth grade ranked 42nd out of 105 western Pennsylvania public schools based on the last three years of student academic achievement in Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: reading, math, writing and three years of science.[68] In 2010, the sixth grade ranked 23rd.[69]

Fifth Grade

In 2012, Freedom Area Intermediate School's fifth grade ranked 54th out of 105 western Pennsylvania public schools, in the Pittsburgh Business Times annual ranking, which is based on the last three years of student academic achievement in Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: reading, math, writing and three years of science.[72] In 2010, the fifth grade ranked 43rd.[73]

Elementary School

The ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Elementary School.

Freedom Area Elementary School is located at 1700 8th Avenue, Freedom. Construction had begun in 2014, and was finished in mid-August 2015. It was officially opened on September 1, 2015, and is a replacement for both Big Knob and Conway Elementary schools. Because the school was opened recently, test scores are not available at this time.

Special education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 234 pupils or 14% of the district's pupils received Special Education services with 55% having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 227 pupils or 14% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[74]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for 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.[75] The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs.[76] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[77] Overidentification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.[78]

Freedom Area School District received a $960,410 supplement for special education services in 2010.[79] For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.[80][81]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 59 or 3.55% of its students were gifted in 2009.[82] 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 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.[83][84]

Budget

In 2009, Freedom Area School District reported employing 162 teachers and administrators with an average teacher salary of $54,166 and a top salary of $117,300.[85] Teachers work 187 days (180 pupil instruction) with a seven-hour 20 minute work day. Teachers receive a 30-minute duty-free lunch and a daily preparation period. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, dental insurance, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, 3-5 paid bereavement days and other benefits.[86] Upon retirement, the District pays for 5 years of health insurance for the employee and their spouse until that employee reaches 65 or Medicare becomes available. The Board grants a total of ten full days of paid leave each school year to the President and/or other employee representatives of the Association for attendance at conferences or conventions of affiliated organizations.[87] In 2011, the average teacher salary in FASD was $52,262 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $15,046 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $67,308.28.[88] According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation, including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.[89]

In 2007, the district employed 105 teachers with the average teacher salary in the district at $51,751 for 180 days worked.[90] 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.[91]

In 2008, Freedom Area School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,035 which ranked 392nd among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending, at FASD, had decreased to $10,450.58[92] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[93] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[94]

The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $857.77 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[95]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported a balance of $1,495,612 in an unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $4,045,145.[96] In 2010, Freedom Area Administration reported $1,323,508 in the unreserved-undesignated fund and a balance of $5,321,260 in the District's unreserved-designated fund. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.[97]

In December 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the District. The findings were reported to the School Board and the District’s administration.[98]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the income level.[99]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $7,712,649 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[100][101] Additionally, the School District received $110,588 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 is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.[102] 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.[103] In 2010, the district reported that 625 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[104]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a  % increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,115,270. Among the districts in Beaver County, the highest increase went to Midland Borough School District which got a 7.57% 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.[105] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, 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 2.55% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,909,323. Among the districts in Beaver County, the highest increase went to Big Beaver Falls Area School District which got a 5.26%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,787,151.79. 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.[106] 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.[107] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 550 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[108]

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 district applied for and received $300,163 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide for the development of New Curriculum and Course Offerings, for teacher trainings, for Literacy and Math Coaching and reduced class size K-3rd grade.[109][110]

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. The School District received $226,723 in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $250,000. The district received no funding in 2008-09.[111] Freedom Area School District received the highest grant, among school districts in Beaver County. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Federal Stimulus grant

Freedom Area School District received an extra $2,529,843 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[112] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[113] 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.

Race to the Top grant

Freedom Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided hundreds of thousands in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[114] 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.[115] 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.[116][117][118]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011-12 were set by the Freedom Area School Board at 44.0000 mills. 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.[119] 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.[120] When the school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board (STEB) equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[121] In 2010, miscalculations by the STEB board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[122]

  • 2010-11 - 42.0000 mills[123]
  • 2009-10 - 41.2000 mills.[124]
  • 2008-09 - 39.0000 mills.[125]
  • 2007-08 - 39.0000 mills.[126]
  • 2006-07 - 39.0000 mills.[127]

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.[128] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[129] The following 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.[130][131]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Freedom Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[132]

  • 2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
  • 2007-08 - 4.8%, Base 3.4%
  • 2008-09 - 6.2%, Base 4.4%
  • 2009-10 - 5.7%, Base 4.1%
  • 2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%
  • 2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%
  • 2012-13 - 2.4%, Base 1.7%[133]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Freedom 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.[134]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Freedom Area School Board applied for three exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index:Special education costs, pension costs and Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue. Each year, Freedom 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.[135]

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.[136]

Freedom Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.[137] For 2009-10 school budget, the Board also did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[138] 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.[139]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Freedom Area School District was $156 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,214 property owners applied for the tax relief.[140] 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, 64% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[141] Among Beaver County public school districts, the highest amount of property tax relief goes to property owners in Aliquippa School District who received $357 in 2010. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.[142] Residents of Chester Upland School District have been the top recipients each year, since the program began.

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, individual with income much 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.[143]

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%).[144]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

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.[145]

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  145. ^ Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005

40°40′40″N 80°14′35″W / 40.67769°N 80.24293°W / 40.67769; -80.24293

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