Upcoming Meeting Agenda

THE 393rd MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

September 10, 2026

Meeting Location
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
1st Floor | Valley Forge B & C
2 West Lafayette Street
Norristown, PA 19401

Zoom Webinar Information
Zoom Webinar Link for September 10, 2026
Meeting ID: 986 9340 6760
Telephone: 301-715-8592 (Toll Free)
Passcode: 037763

Thursday, September 10, 2026

9:30 a.m.

I. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Call to Order  Mr. Ernest Hadrick, Chair

Discussion Item  Committee Members

• Public Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Metrics

Public Comment

Action Items: NONE

Adjournment

10:00 a.m.

II. COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Call to Order  Hon. Pedro Rivera, Chair

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes: May 7, 2026 meeting

Report of the Deputy Secretary and Commissioner for Postsecondary and Higher Education  Dr. Lynette Kuhn

Public Comment

Action Items: NONE

Announcements

Adjournment

Immediately following

III. COUNCIL OF BASIC EDUCATION

Call to Order  Dr. Lee Williams, Chair

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes: May 7, 2026 meeting

Report of the Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education  Amy Lena

Presentation:  Dr. Carole Clancy, PDE

• Annual Reports on Special Education Due Process Hearings and Gifted Education Complaints and Compliance Monitoring

Public Comment

Action Items: NONE

Announcements

Adjournment

Immediately following

IV. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Call to Order  Karen Farmer White, Chair

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes: July 9, 2026 meeting

Report of the Secretary of Education  Dr. Carrie Rowe

Discussion Items:  

• Recommended Cut Scores and  Performance Level Descriptors for State Science Assessments   Brian Campbell, Rich Maraschiello & Brian Truesdale, PDE
• Sullivan County School District Request for Waiver of the Suspension of  Administrative Staff   Dr. Carrie Rowe & Mark Zaccarelli, PDE

Public Comment

Action Items:

• Pennsylvania Policy Performance Level Descriptors
• Performance Level Descriptors for the Biology Keystone Exam and the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment for Science in Grade 5 and Grade 8
• Cut Scores for the Biology Keystone Exam and the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment for Science in Grade 5 and Grade 8
• Secretary of Education’s Determination on the Request of the Sullivan County School District for Waiver of the Suspension of Administrative Staff

Announcements

Adjournment

Immediately Following

V. STATE BOARD OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Call to Order  Karen Farmer White, Chair

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes: July 9, 2026 meeting

Committee Report:

• Career and Technical Education  Mr. Ernest Hadrick
• Report of the Director of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education   Mr. Judd Pittman, PDE

Public Comment

Action Items: NONE

Announcements

Adjournment

Next Meeting: November 18-19, 2026

UPDATED NOTICE: THIRD PUBLIC HEARING SITE ADDED AND WRITTEN COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED

Addition of Third Public Hearing

The State Board of Education (Board) previously announced public hearings to receive stakeholder input on the state’s Academic Standards for the Arts, Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, and other draft amendments to 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4 (Academic Standards and Assessment).

By way of this updated notice, the Board is announcing the addition of a third public hearing site. An additional hearing will be held on October 20, 2026, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Details on how to register to testify are included in this notice.

The Board also is accepting written comments from members of the public in lieu of testimony. The deadline for the submission of written comments is being extended to October 20, 2026. Details on how to submit written comments also are included in this notice.

Updated Hearing Details

Notice is hereby given that the Board’s Committee on Academic Standards/Chapter 4 (Committee) will conduct public hearings to receive testimony from interested parties on recommendations for updating the state’s Academic Standards for the Arts and the Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education. At the same time, the Committee also will seek input on other unrelated draft amendments to 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4. Copies of recommended updates to these academic standards and draft amendments to Chapter 4 that will be the subject of these hearings are posted on the Board’s website.

A public hearing was held on August 4, 2026, at Penn State Greater Allegheny (4000 University Dr., McKeesport, PA 15132).

Two additional public hearings will be held on September 10, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and on October 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The proceedings for both hearings also will be accessible through a virtual Zoom meeting location.

Public Hearing Registration

Individuals must register in advance to present testimony to the Committee. Testimony will be accepted both in person and virtually. Testimony is limited to no more than 5 minutes per person, and participants will be assigned a time slot on a first come, first served basis when they register. If a hearing reaches capacity, interested participants will be placed on a waiting list. Individuals on the waiting list will be notified if space becomes available. Each hearing will conclude after the last scheduled participant testifies. In order to accommodate as many perspectives as possible, organizations are limited to registering one individual to testify as a representative of the organization.

Persons interested in presenting testimony must register with the Board office at ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov or (717) 787-3787 Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Registrations deadlines for each public hearing site are listed below. Registrations submitted via email must include your name, affiliation, phone number, email address, and information about whether you intend to testify in person or virtually.

Those registered to testify either must provide a copy of your testimony electronically or bring 5 hard copies of written testimony to the hearing.

Individuals with disabilities who wish to attend a hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to participate should contact Stephanie Jones, Administrative Assistant to the Board, at ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov or (717) 787-3787, to discuss how the Board may best accommodate their needs. Persons with disabilities are invited to submit public comments in alternative formats such as Braille or taped testimony and by means of the telephone. Written and alternative formats of public comment will be afforded the same thoughtful consideration as oral remarks.

Public Hearing Locations

Written Comments

Individuals unable to attend a public hearing may submit written comments directly to the Board no later than October 20, 2026. Written comments may be sent electronically or in hard copy to: ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov or State Board of Education, 607 South Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17120.