Cocalico School District

Governance

Cocalico School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve without compensation for a term of four years), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 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 Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board. The School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the Superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.

Academic achievement

In 2014, Cocalico School District ranked 134th out of 496 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school. Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.

District AYP status history

In 2012, Cocalico School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress status Adequate Yearly Progress, due to lagging stduent achievement in reading and mathematics in three out of five schools. From 2003 through 2011, Cocalico School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). 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 Pennsylvania public 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.

Graduation rate

In 2013, the Cocalico School District’s graduation rate was 95.7%. In 2012, the District’s graduation rate was 94%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 96.95%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Cocalico Senior High School's rate was 94% for 2010.

High school

Cocalico Senior High School is located at South 4th Street PO Box 800, Denver. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 1,018 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 24.9% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 13% of pupils received special education services, while 1.4% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 74 teachers. Per the PA Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, Cocalico Senior High School reported an enrollment of 1,030 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 195 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2011, Cocalico Senior High School employed 74 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

Attendance at Cocalico Senior High School in Denver, Pennsylvania during the 2005–2006 school year was 90.41%, somewhat lower than the 94.87% scored in the prior year. Students were 52.7% proficient in math, 64.5% proficient in reading.

Cocalico Senior High School achieved 90.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 80.7% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 69.6% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, just 60% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

In 2012, Cocalico Senior High School declined to Wanring AYP status due to missing all academic metrics measured by the PSSAs. In 2009 through 2011, the School achieved AYP status each school year. In 2008, Cocalico Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student academic achievement. In 2003 to 2007, the School achieved AYP status each year.

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.

11th Grade Reading:

11th Grade Math:

11th Grade Science:

Science in Motion Cocalico Senior High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. Elizabethtown College provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 42% of the Cocalico 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. 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. 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 history

In 2013, Cocalico School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 507. The Math average score was 523. The Writing average score was 496. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.

In 2012, Cocalico School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 496. The Math average score was 507. The Writing average score was 482. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

Middle School

Cocalico Middle School is located at South 6th Street PO Box 800, Denver. In 2013, enrollment was 778 pupils, in grades 6th through 8th, with 32% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 15% of pupils received special education services, while 2% of pupils were identified as gifted. According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, Cocalico Middle School reported an enrollment of 787 pupils, in grades 6th through 8th, with 200 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 57 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

Attendance at Cocalico Middle School in Denver, Pennsylvania during the 2005–2006 school year was 95.37%, essentially the same as the 95.50% scored in the prior year. Students were 80.4% proficient in math, 83.5% proficient in reading.

Cocalico Middle School achieved 88.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, 81% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 85% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 71% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 87% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.

In 2012, Cocalico Middle School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and math. In 2010 and 2011, Cocalico Middle School achieved AYP status.

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are NCLB related examination given in the Spring of each school year. Sixth and seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999, as a state initiative. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.

8th Grade Science:

Elementary schools

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.

Adamstown Elementary School

Adamstown Elementary School is located at 256 West Main Street PO Box 395, Adamstown. In 2013, the School's enrollment was 410 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 30% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 9.7% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The School opened in 1998.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 398 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 105 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 27 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provides half day kindergarten to all its pupils.

Adamstown Elementary School achieved a score of 90.1 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 79% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 82% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 86% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 90% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 82% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.

Attendance at Adamstown Elementary School in Adamstown, Pennsylvania during the 2005–2006 school year was 96.12%, essentially the same as the 96.15% scored in the prior year. Students were 85.0% proficient in math, 67.4% proficient in reading.

Denver Elementary School

Denver Elementary School is located at South 4th Street PO Box 800, Denver. In 2013, the School's enrollment was 520 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 34% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 14% of the pupils receive special education services, while 1.7% are identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The School opened in 1998.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 555 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 162 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 37 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provided half day kindergarten to all its pupils.

Denver Elementary School achieved a score of 89 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 82.9% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 88% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 90.7% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 93.9% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 83% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.

In 2012, Denver Elementary School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in both reading and mathematics. In 2011, the School achieved AYP status. Attendance at Denver Elementary School in Denver, Pennsylvania during the 2005–2006 school year was 96.36%, essentially the same as the 96.27% scored in the prior year. Students were 87.1% proficient in math, 70.9% proficient in reading.

Reamstown Elementary School

Reamstown Elementary School is located at 44 South Reamstown Road, Reamstown. In 2013, the School's enrollment was 448 pupils in grades Preschool, kindergarten through 5th, with 29% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 11% of the pupils receive special education services, while 2.9% are identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten and taxpayer funded half day preschool. The preschool program does not accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Thirty 4-year-old students who are determined to be the most "at-risk" based on poverty level are able to participate in the program. The school is a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 451 pupils in grades preschool through 5th, with 126 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 29 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provided half day kindergarten to all its pupils.

Reamstown Elementary School achieved a score of 93.6 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 80% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 82% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 82% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 90% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 85% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.

Attendance at Reamstown Elementary School in Reamstown, Pennsylvania during the 2005–2006 school year was 96.26%, essentially the same as the 95.97% scored in the prior year. Students were 81.0% proficient in math, 63.9% proficient in reading.

Schoeneck Elementary School

Attendance at Schoeneck Elementary School in Stevens, Pennsylvania during the 2005–2006 school year was 96.95%, essentially the same as the 97.12% scored in the prior year. Students were 94.6% proficient in math, 91.9% proficient in reading.

Schoeneck Elementary School was closed by the school board in June 2011. Enrollment was 100 pupils. Developer Moyer Ziegler Partnership, of Myerstown, purchased the 19,000 square-foot plus brick building from Cocalico School District for $201,000 in December 2011.

Special education

In December 2012, Cocalico School District administration reported that 457 pupils or 14% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 40.5% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the District administration reported that 493 pupils or 14.6% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 48.3% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. Special education services in the Commonwealth are provided to students from ages three years to 21 years old. In the 2010-2011 school year, the total student enrollment was more than 1.78 million students with approximately 275,000 students eligible for special education services. Among these students 18,959 were identified with mental retardation and 21,245 students with autism. The largest group of students are identified as Specific Learning Disabilities 126,026 students (46.9 percent) and Speech or Language Impairments with 43,542 students (16.2 percent).

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school 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 services, 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 Special Education administration. 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 Cocalico District or contact the district's Special Education Department. 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.

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. The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. 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. Over identification 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. The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.

Cocalico School District received a $1,597,519 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12, 2012–13 and 2013-14 school years, 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. For the 2014-2015 school year, Cocalico School District will receive an increase to $1,637,390 from the Commonwealth for special education funding. Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.

Gifted education

Cocalico District Administration reported that 43 or 1.29% of its students were gifted in 2009. The highest percentage of gifted students reported among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted. 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.

Budget

Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1.

Under Pennsylvania’s Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.

In 2013, the average teacher salary in Cocalico School District was $62,771 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $23,013 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $85,785. In 2011, the District employed 305 teachers and administrators, with an average salary of $64,646 and a top salary of $145,000.

Cocalico School District teacher and administrator retirement benefits are equal to at least 2.00% x Final Average Salary x Total Credited Service. (Some teachers benefits utilize a 2.50% benefit factor.) After 40 years of service, a teacher can retire with 100% of the average salary of their final 3 years of employment. 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.

In 2009, Cocalico School District reported employing 275 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $58,249 and a top salary of $128,850. The teacher’s work day is 7.5 hours, with 188 days (181 student days) in the contract year. Teachers get a daily planning period and a 30-minute duty-free lunch. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, paid bereavement days off, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. Upon retirement teachers also receive a bonus that is calculated based on years of service with bonuses exceeding $7000 each in 2009.

Cocalico School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $682.73 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union. According to PSBA, the median Superintendent salary rose to over $130,000 in 2011.

Per pupil spending In 2008, the Cocalico School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,894 which ranked 286th among Pennsylvania's then 501 public school districts. In 2010, the District’s per pupil spending had increased to $13,019.67. In 2013, the District's per pupil spending was reported as $14,295.09. In 2011, Pennsylvania’s per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759. Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. Pennsylvania’s total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.

Reserves In 2008, the Cocalico School District reported a balance of $100,000, in its unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,348,024. In 2010, Cocalico School District Administration reported an increase to $3,881,187 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The District also reported $3,700,000 in its unreserved-designated fund in 2010. In 2013, Cocalico School District reported it held $15,720,604 in its reserves. Pennsylvania public 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. In 2005, the total reserve funds held by Pennsylvania public school districts was $1.9 billion. By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.

Audit In June 2012, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the Cocalico School District. The findings were reported to the School Board and the District’s administration.

Tuition Students who live in the Cocalico School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Cocalico School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $8,728.80, High School - $10,988.27.

Cocalico School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 0.5%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a small amount, generally 10% of its budget from the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the District. 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 level of the individual’s personal wealth. The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds local public schools.

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Cocalico School District receives 27.8% of its annual revenue from the state.

For the 2014-15 school year, Cocalico School District will receive $6,871,179 in State Basic Education funding. The District will also receive $312,152 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State’s enacted Education Budget includes $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding. The Education budget also includes Accountability Block Grant funding at $100 million and $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success. The State is paying $500.8 million to Social Security on the school employees behalf and another $1.16 billion to the state teachers pension system (PSERS). In total, Pennsylvania’s Education budget for K-12 public schools is $10 billion. This was a $305 million increase over 2013-2014 state spending and the greatest amount ever allotted by the Commonwealth for its public schools.

In the 2013-2014 school year, Cocalico School District received a 2.5% increase or $6,871,179 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $164,294 more than its 2012-2013 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Cocalico School District received $103,120 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in County, School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 5.5%. The District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth’s budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding. The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland district, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent. As a part of the education budget, the state provided the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.

For the 2012-13 school year, Cocalico School District received $6,155,145. The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Cocalico School District received $103,120 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS. This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett’s first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

In 2011-12 school year, Cocalico School District received a $6,702,810 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the Cocalico School District received $148,747 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. In 2010, Cocalico School District reported that 743 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Some public school Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

In the 2010-11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided an 8.12% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,348,693 . Among the districts in Lancaster County, the highest increase went to Conestoga Valley School District which got an 18.51% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase statewide, in 2010-11, went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County, which received a 23.65% increase in state funding. Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when 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 public school districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.74% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,796,791. Among the districts in Lancaster County, the highest increase went to Columbia Borough School District which got an 8.61%. Ninety (90) Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. 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.

The state Basic Education Funding to the District in 2008-2009 was $6,427,891.19. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 556 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.

All Pennsylvania school districts also receive additional funding from the state through several other funding allocations, including Reimbursement of Charter School Expenditures; Special Education Funding; Secondary Career & Technical Education Subsidy; PA Accountability Grants; and low achieving schools were eligible for Educational Assistance Program Funding. Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including: Special Education funding and Title I funding for children from low income families. In 2010, Pennsylvania spent over $24 billion for public education - local, state and federal dollars combined.

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 skills training; All Day Kindergarten; lower class size in Kindergarten through 3rd grade; literacy and math coaching programs (provides teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction); before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11, the Cocalico School District applied for and received $403,738 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The District used the funding to provide Full Day kindergarten, teacher coaches to improve their instruction in reading and math and teacher training. In 2009, 100% of the kindergarteners in Area School District attended full-day kindergarten.

Ready to Learn grant

Beginning in the 2014-2015 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the Districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.

Cocalico School District will receive $227,314 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, Accountability Block Grant funding, PreK Counts funding, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

PreK Counts grant

Cocalico School District receives state funding to provide taxpayer funded preschool at the elementary schools. For the 2013-14 school year, Cocalico SD received a Pre K Counts grant of $117,300. For the 2011 school year, School District was a high priority for funding due to the 48% poverty level of children in the district's attendance area. Enrollment for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is targeted to children living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

In 2013, the state’s PreK Counts program received $87,284,000. In 2010, the PreK Counts program received $83.6 million statewide in Governor Corbett’s education budget. In 2007-08 the state funded Pre-K Counts at $75 million. School District received funding in 2007-08. For 2009-10, the District received $118,500 to provide preschool to 30 children. The District received $118,500 enrolling 31 students in preschool for 2011-2012

In addition to PreK Counts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional funding on an annual basis. The program is available to low income children residing within the District through private providers. In 2013, Pennsylvania contributed $39,178,000 to Head Start. In 2010, Head Start received $37.6 million in Pennsylvania state education dollars. Since 2003, Pennsylvania has more than doubled the number of preschoolers in publicly funded pre-kindergarten through a mulipronged system including: school-based pre-kindergarten, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts through private providers, Early Intervention, Head Start and Head Start Supplemental, and the school district’s use of Accountability Block Grants. Over 100,000 Pennsylvania preschoolers participate in state taxpayer funded pre-kindergarten programs. In 2013, the federal government spends $8 billion for preschool programs nationwide. In 2013, Pennsylvania was awarded a $51.7 million federal grant to fund early learning programs. The funding will be used to create 50 Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zones in areas where the lowest-performing public schools, including charter schools, exist. The federal dollars will not be used to provide seats for children in preschools. Instead the money will be used to build bureaucray and added training for teachers/providers.

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 to 2009. The School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07 or in 2007-08. The district received $174,072 in 2008-2009. Among the public school districts in Lancaster County the highest award was given to Lancaster School District which received $1,193,377. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-2010 state budget.

Other grants

Cocalico School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants; PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell); Education Assistance Grants; 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant; 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal Stimulus grant

Cocalico School District received an extra $1,638,269 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. The funding was limited to the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years. Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, the Governor and the Pennsylvania School Board Association, 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

Cocalico School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars, in additional federal funding, to improve 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. 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.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2014-2015 were set by the Cocalico School Board at 22.3200 mills for Lancaster County residents and 12.8500 mills for residents in Berks County. 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. 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 all government property (local, state and federal). 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. When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties. In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.

The average yearly property tax paid by Lancaster County residents amounts to about 401% of their yearly income. lancaster County ranked 231st out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income. According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011. 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%).