[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6346834,"mediaKeyId","2246436-bdc695c09c3e8a82e1ac733ca265a124","parentId",2246436,"title","Board reviews multiple policy updates including Sept. 11 moment of silence and transportation for foster and homeless students","audioSeconds",326,"startMs",520000,"endMs",846000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246436-bdc695c09c3e8a82e1ac733ca265a124&start=520&end=846","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246436-bdc695c09c3e8a82e1ac733ca265a124/thumbnail_520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346834/Pennsylvania/Board-reviews-multiple-policy-updates-including-Sept-11-moment-of-silence-and-transportation-for-foster-and-homeless-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346834-9932fb5c77f11bbeb7b068d609fb1397/orig.mp4?Expires=1770935256&Signature=WJjoy7HwWNGG0I~SBCNACHVq2cdEpQoX4Egz9mHpbTvL6uyYj4vJJ86ySGA5cNg28jLa~~ZuQiFicB24jF-ctedyIjCX27KnjwUq3gxbEgOa12YNPXBUz8E6H5Botc5Xoqo-29LMcriQr~YEEBJRquFf~ORUR9pQmIvu3x-zWpkyj9pFHbdZOqvst0TpJ~jvhgavWQxR7mSmKMs1WHmXFOHKO~iBMH4V-SAFW31BgHfcvHe~VafJQUWuT0OI1M79shgkuQVzztmhbWjjnO-u16b7ssOgnP4ojYrgJ330C~-Y0r4LEAsHasTybOAWXXv3oIizD~gbi9c1N3zchv-dtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Littlestown Area School District","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Speaker 1, a staff member for the Littlestown Area School District, presented multiple policy updates and recommended that the board consider formatting and limited substantive changes.

“This policy doesn't change at all. It is just in the PSBA format,” Speaker 1 said when introducing Policy 205. For that item staff recommended retaining the policy’s purpose but updating language to reflect current practice on assignment requests: principals may consider, but are not required to honor, parent requests for assignment to specific classrooms or staff.

Speaker 1 said Policy 207 (confidential communication of students) would expand qualifying administrators who may receive confidential information to include “the superintendent or designated administrator,” not only a building principal. Policy 208 (withdrawal from school) contained no substantive changes and was updated only to PSBA formatting, staff said.

On opening exercises, Speaker 1 said a new Pennsylvania law enacted in June 2024 requires a moment of silence on Sept. 11; the proposed Policy 807 includes that requirement. “We have to have a moment of silence on September 11. So that is now included in this policy,” Speaker 1 said, and noted the district’s current practice has been to honor the date on a nearby school day when Sept. 11 falls on a weekend.

Staff recommended removing redundant employee-clearance language from the transportation policy (Policy 810) because such requirements are already covered in the district’s 300-series employee policies. The transportation policy also adds two required statements specifying the district must provide transportation for students in foster care and for students experiencing homelessness, Speaker 1 said.

On acceptable use and electronic devices (Policy 815), Speaker 1 said the PSBA version uses a much more concise definition but retains coverage of devices; staff recommended adding depictions or descriptions of school violence to the acceptable-use policy’s prohibited content section. The draft also contains wording on tracking systems, website maintenance and an accessibility section that staff described as new.

Nut graf: The items presented are largely formatting and alignment to PSBA model language, with a handful of substantive updates the board must consider—most notably the explicit Sept. 11 moment-of-silence language and transportation obligations for foster and homeless students.

Board action: Staff framed these as recommendations for board consideration; the transcript records discussion and explanation but no formal motions or votes on the policies during the excerpt provided.

Ending: Staff said the board or committee can accept PSBA language, reinstate redundant provisions if it prefers, or request edits; staff will return with revised drafts if directed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CC&P Meeting 1-07-2025 Part 2","oneSentenceSummary","Speaker 1, a staff member for the Littlestown Area School District, presented multiple policy updates and recommended that the board consider formatting and limited substantive changes.","taxTitle","Littlestown Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",78531,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6346838,"District staff: state science assessment still being finalized; Fireflies benchmark to be piloted for grades 5 and 8",95,1000,96000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246436-bdc695c09c3e8a82e1ac733ca265a124&start=1&end=96","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246436-bdc695c09c3e8a82e1ac733ca265a124/thumbnail_1000.jpg","/articles/6346838/Pennsylvania/District-staff-state-science-assessment-still-being-finalized-Fireflies-benchmark-to-be-piloted-for-grades-5-and-8","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346838-73306d4d6eabd8b8563e656b5c7ca9f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770935256&Signature=fTJ-4c3tyWTA9TdqcC71v3wdHZnWkh1KHtam~Bje36ueF~7gI6~A~W4TBMXm3O5y8I2xhIReltDt4M~4SB9SW5SSZDhsIVt87~7S6djRbMO0aEcCjQMBtuNwdALkeREYIXucUCrLFmNETEZh5usUFmBQ9Ub8brquJTdWo9DtnB-~oOFVc2bp2q~8AQhwxLPvrB4~uwzZRWthqUIqgP7SdgR-5-pWQanBKSl7JyNvDaniaoAzfRZeDY75F35ARg9h1aPffEbVKuWjcB7KFsaFU2HNOXgzdcrR9FP3Z19b5RgKPesRc0X6fZTuDoCPgX2aXdQszkt~RxtdbHZWbEnMrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speaker 1, a staff member for the Littlestown Area School District, told the school board that Pennsylvania’s new science assessment is not yet finished and that a district pilot will affect fifth- and eighth-grade students next year.

“The test isn't even fully developed yet,” Speaker 1 said, adding that state-released items typically appear after students take the PSSA in the spring and that those released items help teachers see how questions are structured and how constructive-response scenarios are written.

The district plans to use a PDE diagnostic benchmark called Fireflies as a beginning-of-year assessment to help teachers identify gaps in student learning, Speaker 1 said. “Firefly is a benchmark. So, grades 5 and 8 will take these next year. And it will help the teachers know how much of the science the kids already know,” Speaker 1 said.

Nut graf: The updates matter because the pilot and new benchmarks will guide instruction, teacher planning and ultimately how students’ science learning is measured. Staff said the pilot year means scores for fifth- and eighth-grade science will not be attributed to those students this year, but the state plans a fuller assessment that will count in a later year.

According to staff remarks, released PSSA items let teachers examine question types and constructive-response formats so they can prepare students. Speaker 1 said some districts will receive released items after spring PSSA administrations and that next year the state intends to administer a full assessment that will count for accountability; Staff said one PDE contact suggested readiness in 2026, though staff also referenced expectations that the state would be ready sooner.

Speaker 1 described implementation issues the district is addressing: scheduling, release time for teachers to develop curriculum and common assessments, and the multi-year nature of full implementation. “This was not a one-year implementation. This is gonna take some time to get all these units in and all the comp assessments and get our teachers where they need to be,” Speaker 1 said.

Board members and staff discussed possible inconsistency in how other grades and graduation cohorts will be treated; Speaker 1 noted the district will continue conversations with PDE about equitable treatment for students in other grades.

Ending: Staff said the district will share more information with building principals and keep the board updated as PDE releases pilot materials and benchmarks.","Staff told the Littlestown Area School District board that the state’s new science assessment is not fully developed, that released items will follow spring administrations, and that the PDE’s Fireflies benchmark will be used next year for grades 5 and 8 to guide instruction.","actionData","errors"]

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Board reviews multiple policy updates including Sept. 11 moment of silence and transportation for foster and homeless students

District staff: state science assessment still being finalized; Fireflies benchmark to be piloted for grades 5 and 8