Student Support

Pennsylvania has established many types of programs and support services for students. The following links will take you to some of the more important student support programs.

• Tutoring
• Academic Standards
  Pennsylvania is in the process of adopting rigorous academic standards to guide the education of children in the state.
• Charter Schools
  Charter Schools are self-managed public schools that are approved by local school districts. Cyber charter schools are approved by the PA Department of Education. They are created and controlled by parents, teachers, community leaders, and colleges or universities. Charter schools operate free from many educational mandates, except for those concerning nondiscrimination, health and safety, and accountability. Charter Schools offer alternatives in education using strategies that may save money and improve student performance.
• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  If you're a working family but don't have health insurance for your kids, now you can cover them free or at low cost with Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Knowledgeable, courteous counselors are available at 1-800-986-KIDS to assist you in the easy enrollment process. A brochure in PDF format is also available in both English and Spanish.
• College Profiles
  Each College and University Profile includes tuition, room and board charges, fall enrollments, residency of first-time freshmen, degrees conferred, and fall staff for all Pennsylvania colleges and universities. The data is gathered annually as part of the Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Additional data is available upon request by calling or e-mailing the address listed in the source.
• EdNA
  EdNA (Education Names and Addresses) can be used to find name, address, administrator, and related information about the educational entities that PDE serves. These entities include school districts and their schools, intermediate units, area vocational technical schools, charter schools, nonpublic and private schools, nursery schools, higher education institutions, and many more.
• Family Connections
  The Family Connections kit has been developed to increase parent knowledge and understanding of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and the Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment (PSSA). It offers an explanation of the Academic Standards through materials, resources and activities that parent trainers can use to provide information to families.
• Going Places on the Web: Places for Parents
  Links to some very useful sites for parents elsewhere on the Internet.
• Home Education and Private Tutoring
  In 1988, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 169. This law amended the Pennsylvania School Code to allow parents or guardians to home school their children as an option to compulsory school attendance. Private tutoring is another option for satisfying compulsory school attendance requirements.
• No Child Left Behind
  The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act signed into law by President Bush on January 8, 2002 not only reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but also required significant changes and sweeping reforms. The task before all of us is challenging, but holds great promise as we work together to implement effective practices so that all of our children have the skills necessary for success.
• School Choice
  This is a link to the U.S. Department of Education's web site with information about the Supreme Court's ruling on school choice.
• School Finance 101
  Learn how much we spend, where the money comes from, who controls school spending, and how you can participate.
• Statistical Reports
  Many reports summarizing data collected by the Department of Education are available on the PDE web site.
• Your Schools Your Money
  For many years now, school district financial information has been provided in a format to meet the needs of accountants and auditors. Shouldn't there be an easier way to understand where our schools spend public dollars? This site will help taxpayers understand information and make informed decisions that will help our children and the schools that educate them.