Coudersport Area School District

Coudersport Area School District
Address
698 Dwight Street Coudersport, Pennsylvania, Potter, 16915 United States
Information
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	position open
Principal	Stephen Mongillo, HS
Principal	Sherry Cowburn
Vice principal	Sean Reams
Grades	K-12
Kindergarten	53
Grade 1	95
Grade 2	59
Grade 3	69
Grade 4	65
Grade 5	73
Grade 6	60
Grade 7	45
Grade 8	65
Grade 9	62
Grade 10	60
Grade 11	75
Grade 12	73
Other	Enrollment projected to decline to 620 by 2020 [1]
Mascot	Falcons
Rival	Cameron County
Website	http://coudersport.schoolwires.com/

The Coudersport Area School District is a small rural, public school district which covers the Borough of Coudersport and the southern and western portions of Allegany Township, Eulalia Township, Hebron Township, Homer Township, Summit Township and Sweden Township in Potter County, Pennsylvania. Coudersport Area School District encompasses approximately 214 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 5,892. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $20,176 while, their median family income was $47,180. ^[2] Per school district officials, in school year 2007-08 the Coudersport Area School District provided basic educational services to just 892 pupils through the employment of 69 teachers, 35 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators.

The district operates two schools: Coudersport Jr/Sr High School (7th-12th) and Coudersport Elementary School (K-6th).

Governance

The district is governed by a 9 member school board that is elected to serve four year terms, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[3] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act which mandates that the district focus its federal funding resources on student reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D" 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.^[4]

Academic Achievement

The district ranked 277th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2011. The ranking was based on five years of student performance on the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and three years of science. ^[5]

• 2010 - 301st ^[6]
• 2009 - 318th
• 2008 - 291st
• 2007 - 295th of 501 school districts. ^[7]

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Coudersport Area School District, was in the 43rd percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best) ^[8]

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Coudersport Area High School's rate was 83% for 2010.^[9]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 89%^[10]
• 2009 - 95%^[11]
• 2008 - 95%
• 2007 - 95% ^[12]

High School

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 68% on grade level. State - 67% on grade level (74 pupils) ^[13]
• 2009 - 76%, State - 65%^[14]
• 2008 - 69%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 79%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 42% on grade level, State - 67% on grade level
• 2009 - 58%, State - 56%^[15]
• 2008 - 55%, State - 55%
• 2007 - 66%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 45% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[16]
• 2009 - 48%, State - 40% ^[17]
• 2008 - 45%, State - 39%

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 25% of the Coudersport Area Junior-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. ^[18] 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.^[19] 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.

Dual Enrollment - The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits Pennsylvania students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program.^[20][21]

Graduation Requirements

The Coudersport Area School Board has determined that in order to graduate students must earn 26.5 credits including: English 4 credits, Social Studies/Government 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Health 1 credit, Physical Education 2 credits, Independent Living 0.5 credit and Electives 7 credits. ^[22]

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.^[23]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating classes 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.^[24]

Eighth Grade

8th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 95% on grade level. State: 81% of 8th graders were on grade level. (61 pupils)
• 2009 - 82%, State: 80.9% ^[25]
• 2008 - 78%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 72% on grade level. State - 75% of 8th graders were on grade level
• 2009 - 54%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 54%, State -70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 73% on grade level. State: 55% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 53%, State: 57%
• 2008 - 55%, State - 50%

Seventh Grade

7th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 70% on grade level. State: 73% of 7th graders were on grade level. (54 pupils)
• 2009 - 76%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 60%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 71% on grade level. State - 77% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 73%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 52%, State - 70%

Elementary School

The school achieved AYP in 2010 and 2009. The attendance rate was 95% for both years. ^[26]

• Coudersport Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 [1]
• Coudersport Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009 [2]

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 102 pupils or 11.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.^[27]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving 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.^[28]

Coudersport Area School District received a $515,086 supplement for special education services in 2010. ^[29]

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 52 or 5.92% of its students were gifted in 2009.^[30] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.^[31]

Bullying policy

The school district administration reported there were no incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.^[32][33]

All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. Coudersport ASD has posted the policy online. ^[34] All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.^[35] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.^[36]

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.^[37]

Enrollment

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there are 854 students enrolled in K-12. There were 72 students in the Class of 2009. The senior class of 2010 has 73 students. Enrollment in Coudersport Area School District is projected to continue to sharply decline for the foreseeable future.^[38]

The district administrative costs per pupil were $1,069 in 2008. The district ranks 48th of Pennsylvania's 500 school district for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. ^[39] In a Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study on school consolidation, 63% of the superintendents that responded expressed agreement that consolidation with another district could help them provide additional academic enrichment opportunities for their students.^[40] In 2009, Governor Edward Rendell proposed consolidating to 100 public school districts. Consolidation of the administrations with adjacent school districts would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in both communities. These excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to substantially reduce property taxes.^[41] Consolidation of multiple central administrations into one would not necessitate the closing of any schools. Neighboring Port Allegany School District has an enrollment of less than 950 with declining enrollment projected through 2015.

Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).^[42]

Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.^[43] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools. ^[44]

Budget

Reserves - In 2009, the district reported $1,551,667 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $191,359.^[45]

In 2007, the district employed over 70 teachers and the average teacher salary in the district was $51,723 for 180 instructional days worked. ^[46] The beginning salary was $37,077 and the top salary was reported as $80,420 ^[47] 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.^[48] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. Teachers work a 7 hour thirty minute day that includes a 30 minute duty free lunch. Teachers receive daily prep time for grading and curriculum work. The union heads receive 2 paid days per year to conduct union business. ^[49] According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary. ^{[50] [51]}

In 2007, the district employed 63 teachers and the average teacher salary in the district was $45,647 for 180 days worked. ^[52]

In 2008 the district reported spending $13,538 per pupil which ranked 133rd in the state.^[53]

In February 2010, Superintendent Rick Toner resigned amidst contentious issues with the school board.^[54]

In September 2010, Coudersport Area School District was audited by the Pennsylvania Auditor General. Several findings were cited including issues about professional credentials.^[55] In a 2009 performance audit, several findings were noted.^[56]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, 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 income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the individual's wealth. ^[57]

State Basic Education Funding

For 2010-11 the Coudersport Area School District received a 5.50% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $4,363,178 payment.^[58] It was the highest percentage increase in BEF in Lycoming County for 2010-11. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.^[59]

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.6% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,135,656. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,030,845.47. In Potter County, the majority of school districts received a 2% increase in funding in 2009. Oswayo Valley School District received the highest state education funding increase in Potter County at 3.01%. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gave 15 school districts an increase of Basic Education Funding of over 10% in 2009 - 2010. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in 2009. ^[60] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.^[61]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 321 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.^[62]

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 Montgomery Area School District applied for and received $134,957 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the second year.^[63][64]

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. Coudersport Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. The district received $103,860 in 2007-08 and $45,413 in 2008-09 for a total of $149,273 in state funding. ^[65]

Environmental Education Grant

The district is participating in a collaborative environmental education program called "Project Wet". Funding is from a federal grant. It will fund teacher preparation and be used to purchase water montoring equipment for the students to use in a hands on science curriculum^[66]

Supplemental Educational Services Funding

Supplemental Educational Services is a federal initiative for free tutoring and part of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In 2010 the district received $121,085 for 94 pupils.^[67] Academic instruction in reading, math or science is provided before or after the normal school hours. Such instruction is designed to increase the academic achievement of students in Title I schools that have not met state targets for student progress for three or more years. Services may be offered to low- income students through public schools, districts, charter schools, higher education agencies, for-profit, non-profit or faith-based agencies that are state approved providers.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received $702,785 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.^[68]

Race to the Top Grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. ^[69] 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.^[70] 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.^[71]

Common Cents state initiative

The school board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. ^[72] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real Estate Taxes

Property tax rates in 2010-11 were set at 41.7570 mills. The board increased taxes by 1.53 mills in a split 5-3 vote.^{[73] [74]} 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.

• 2009-10 - 40.1900 mills ^[75]
• 2008-09 - 40.1900 mills ^[76]

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 2010-2011 school year is 1.4 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local 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, increasing rising health care 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.^[77]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Coudersport Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.^[78]
2006-07 - 5.0%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 4.5%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 5.8%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 5.3%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 3.9%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%^{[79] [80]}

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.^[81] For the 2010-11 school year budget the Coudersport School Board did not seek any Act 1 exceptions.^[82]

Property Tax Relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Coudersport Area School District was $188 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 1,339 property owners applied for the tax relief.^[83] In 2010 within Potter County, the highest reported amount went to Austin Area School District set at $324 per approved homestead for 409 recipients. The property tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office.

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Coudersport Area School District was $217 per approved permanent primary residence. This was among the lowest amounts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the district, 1159 property owners applied for the tax relief. 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.

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, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. ^[84]

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%).^[85]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The eligibility to participate 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. ^[86]

References:

1. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and Projections by LEA. July 20,2010
2. ^ American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010
3. ^ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
4. ^ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts. Retrieved October 29, 2010. 
5. ^ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 2011). "Statewide Honor Roll Information.". http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/pennsylvania_schools/statewiderank.html. 
6. ^ Pittsburgh Business Times (May 1, 2010). "Statewide Honor Roll.". http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/feature/schools/statewide_rankings.html. 
7. ^ "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County,". Pittsburgh Business Times,. May 23, 2007. http://www.wtae.com/education/13346734/detail.html. 
8. ^ "2009 PSSA RESULTS Coudersport Area School District,". The Morning Call. http://projects.mcall.com/PSSA-results/district/109531304/COUDERSPORT%20AREA%20SD/. Retrieved March 2011. 
9. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_education/7237/info/757639. 
10. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Coudersport Area School District Report Card 2010 data table". http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c53/109531304. 
11. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Coudersport Area School District Report Card 2009". http://www.scribd.com/doc/35768139/Coudersport-Area-School-District-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2009. 
12. ^ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. "High School Graduation rate 2007". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23571629/PA-High-School-Graduation-Info-by-School-District-2007. Retrieved January 31, 2011. 
13. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Pennsylvania 2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2009_-2010_pssa_and_ayp_results/770183. 
14. ^ "2009 PSSA RESULTS Coudersport Area SD,". The Morning Call. May 2010. http://projects.mcall.com/PSSA-results/district/109531304/COUDERSPORT%20AREA%20SD/. 
15. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Coudersport Area Junior Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009". http://www.scribd.com/doc/35768088/Coudersport-Area-Junior-Senior-High-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2009. 
16. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Pennsylvania PSSA Science Results 2010". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442. 
17. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Pennsylvania PSSA Science Results 2009". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2008-2009_pssa_and_ayp_results/600286. 
18. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report. 
19. ^ National Center for Education Statistics
20. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Dual Enrollment Guidlelines 2010-2011". http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011. 
21. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Enrollment Grants 2009-10
22. ^ Coudersport Area School Bard and Administration (2010). "Graduation requirements". http://coudersport.schoolwires.com/7523100525142319/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=55409. 
23. ^ Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements
24. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". http://www.scribd.com/doc/47925315/Pennsylvania-Keystone-Exams-Overview-Sept-2010. 
25. ^ Pennsylvania department of Education (2009). "Pennsylvania Reading, Math, and Writing PSSA Results 2009". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442. 
26. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "COUDERSPORT AREA EL School AYP Overview". http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c53/109531304/3868. 
27. ^ Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education (January 31, 2011). "Coudersport Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets School Year 2008-2009". http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2008_2009/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD206_192_Final.pdf. 
28. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Special Education Funding". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/proposed_special_education_funding_-/539261. 
29. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2010). "Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011". https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AvscmN--D7LbdEhsSW1pY3lxZnBfSWZEdnU2WE5hUWc&hl=en#gid=0. 
30. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (Revised December 1, 2009 Child Count (Collected July 2010)). "Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School". http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf. 
31. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board. "CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students". http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter16/chap16toc.html. Retrieved February 4, 2011. 
32. ^ "Coudersport Area School District School Safety Annual Report 2008 - 2009". 2009. https://www.safeschoolsreports.state.pa.us/historic/historic/2009/5bfd73f5-5482-4079-a238-80230ace73e8.pdf. 
33. ^ "Pennsylvania Safe Schools Online Reports". https://www.safeschools.state.pa.us/Main.aspx?App=6a935f44-7cbf-45e1-850b-e29b2f1ff17f&Menu=dbd39a1f-3319-4a75-8f69-d1166dba5d70&res=. 
34. ^ Coudersport Area School District Administration and School Board (July 2009). "BUllying Policy". http://coudersport.schoolwires.com/75231072314273780/site/default.asp. 
35. ^ Pennsylvania General Assembly (2008). "Regular Session 2007-2008 House Bill 1067, Act 61 Section 6 page 8". http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=2007&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1067. 
36. ^ Center for Safe Schools of Pennsylvania, Bullying Prevention advisory
37. ^ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (January 11, 2003). "Pennsylvania Academic Standards". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_academic_standards/19721. 
38. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and Projections for Coudersport Area School District,". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_710810_0_0_18/Enrollments_Projected_by_LEA_A-F_2008-09.pdf. 
39. ^ Fenton, Jacob. (Feb 2009). "Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?". The Morning Call,. http://projects.mcall.com/school_consolidation/state/lea/0/6/. 
40. ^ Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (June 1, 2007). "Public School Consolidation Study.". http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/reports.cfm. 
41. ^ Edward Rendell, Governor and Mary Soderberg, Secretary of the Budget. (February 2009). "2009-10 Executive Budget Facts Pennsylvania School District Consolidation,". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4571&mode=2#2009-10. 
42. ^ The Center for Rural Pennsylvania (October 2009). "Research Analyzes Rural School District Enrollment and Building Capacity". http://www.rural.palegislature.us/school_enrollment_build_cap.pdf. 
43. ^ Rendell, E. & Soderberg, M. (2009). (2010). "Pennsylvania school district consolidation. 2009-10 Executive Budget Fast Facts. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor". http://www.scribd.com/doc/32762048/School-District-Consolidation-Fact-Sheet. 
44. ^ Study of the cost-effectiveness of consolidating Pennsylvania districts. New York: Standard & Poor’s School Evaluation Services. 2007, p. 6.
45. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008". http://www.scribd.com/doc/48409780/PA-School-District-Finances-AFR-General-Fund-Balance-9697-0809. 
46. ^ Asbury Park Press (2009). "Coundersport ASD Salaries 2009, Pa. Public School Salaries, 2009". http://php.app.com/PAteachers09/results.php?county=Potter&LEAname=Coudersport+Area+SD&school=%25&lname=&fname=&assignment=%25&Submit=Search. 
47. ^ Openpagov.org - Commonwealth Foundation (2010). [k12_payroll.asp "Coudersport Area School District Salaries and Payroll"]. k12_payroll.asp. 
48. ^ Teachers need to know enough is enough, PaDelcoTimes, April 20, 2010.
49. ^ Coudersport Area Professional Education Association Employment Contract 2009
50. ^ Legislature must act on educators' pension hole. The Patriot News. February 21, 2010
51. ^ Pa. Public School Salaries, 2009
52. ^ Fenton, Jacob,. "Average classroom teacher salary in Potter County, 2006-07". The Morning Call. http://projects.mcall.com/school_consolidation/state/county/0/21/. Retrieved March 2010. 
53. ^ "Per Pupil Spending in Pennsylvania Public Schools in 2008 Sort Spending". 2010. http://www.scribd.com/doc/38541513/Per-Pupil-Spending-in-Pennsylvania-Public-Schools-in-2008-Sort-Spending. 
54. ^ Endeavor News. (Feb 13, 2010). "Coudersport School District brings on interim superintendent,". http://www.endeavornews.com/news/2010-02-13/News/Coudersport_School_District_brings_on_interim_supe.html. 
55. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General, (SEPTEMBER 2010). "COUDERSPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT POTTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT". http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Reports/School/schCoudersportAreaSD092010.pdf. 
56. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General, (April 2009). "COUDERSPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT POTTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT,". http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Archives/School/schCoudersportAreaSD042309.pdf. 
57. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, (April 2010). "Personal Income Taxation Guidelines.". http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/personal_income_tax/11409. 
58. ^ Pennsylvania house Appropriations Committee. "PA House Appropriations Committee Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010-2011". http://www.scribd.com/doc/40153192/PA-Basic-Education-Funding-Printout2-2010-2011. 
59. ^ Office of Budget, (February 2010.). "Pennsylvania Budget Proposal,". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4571&mode=2. 
60. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Basic Education Funding Report. Released October 2009
61. ^ Governor's Budget Proposal 2009-10, February 2009
62. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Funding Report by LEA 2009.
63. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Accountability Block Grant report 2010, Grantee list 2010". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/pa_accountability_grants/604468. 
64. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23322599/ACCOUNTABILITY-BLOCK-GRANT-Awards. 
65. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General (12/22/08). "Classrooms For the Future Grant audit". http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/specff122208.pdf. 
66. ^ Endeavor News. (October 9, 2010). "Schools receive $120,000 for environmental studies,". http://www.endeavornews.com/news/2010-10-09/Front_Page/GRANT_FOR_EDUCATION.html. 
67. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Supplemental Educational Services,". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/supplemental_education_services/7416. 
68. ^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2010). "Potter County ARRA FUNDING Report". http://www.recovery.pa.gov/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=519121&mode=2&countyname=Potter&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/marketingsites/recovery_pa_gov/content/impact/county_map/counties/potter/potter.html. 
69. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Release (January 2009). "Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/pennsylvania_s__race_to_the_top__fueled_by_effective_reforms__strong_local_support.html. 
70. ^ Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support
71. ^ U.S. Department of Education (March 29, 2010). "Race to the Top Fund,". http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html. 
72. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Common Cents program - Making Every Dollar Count". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/common_cents/8781. 
73. ^ Coudersport Board hires principal, adopts budget, Cameron County Endeavor News, July 7, 2010.
74. ^ Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, Pennsylvania Department of Education. 2009
75. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Pennsylvania School District Finances_Real Estate Tax Rates_0910". http://www.scribd.com/doc/40403084/Pennsylvania-School-District-Finances-Real-Estate-Tax-Rates-0910. 
76. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Pennsylvania School District Real Estate Tax Rates 2008-09". http://www.scribd.com/doc/25369575/Pennsylvania-School-District-Real-Estate-Tax-Rates-2008-09. 
77. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education 2010-11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines.
78. ^ Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2010-2011, Report prepared by Pennsylvania Department of Education, May 2010.
79. ^ Index Calculation Required by the Taxpayer Relief Act Sept 18, 2010
80. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Financial Data Elements
81. ^ Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia, Local school tax assessments exceed state averages. The Daily Item, May 25, 2010
82. ^ Pennsylvania SSAct1_Act1 Exceptions Report 2010-2011 April 2010
83. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (May 1, 2010). "Tax Relief per Homestead 2010,". http://www.scribd.com/doc/41505536/SSAct1-Property-Tax-Relief-Per-HomeStead-5-1-10-Pennsylvania. 
84. ^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Guidelines". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_rent_rebate/11410. 
85. ^ Tax Foundation (September 22, 2009). "New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners,". http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/26742.html. 
86. ^ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,". https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6CAjQ6eteArZDE2YzgyYzctMDA1Yy00MWE1LTk3OTAtN2ZiM2ZkMmJlMWUx&hl=en.