[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6496062,"mediaKeyId","5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa","parentId",5784606,"title","District to explore middle‑school youth aid panels after high‑school pilot","audioSeconds",260,"startMs",4026000,"endMs",4286000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa&start=4026&end=4286","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa/thumbnail_4026000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496062/Pennsylvania/District-to-explore-middleschool-youth-aid-panels-after-highschool-pilot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496062-f53477e9062c3215e42c72b0d55a9c7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392647&Signature=lf03zeTxM2HXsxSBmuEM-st7sxuC6rHKB9r5uJe9EeziKh3NE6sEQrGd2DPctESJ14EwWzuIk1lgG~KkV0vp389rn8DINryxLuBdU3EUl8GwVpMQdnaYJ5~8hJ2rR7bJB107L6VBsMsXLzsTJWLOgc6KE9KK66ti9py~lRH8KiTWTJf7Mn9RZt-XmP~qbuhQOURpSHg2LShnh8pTnxtLPtpSOkMu9jtQS6gM9e0Q0EvKaIAugSRDEoNfJK4G-cW-f6R94xW70ccPIOVgSzNMpoiNg5Y0fs8fz0Mc4G8-q574zNCu11wyfX3-uOer7l7DBDHFL3I~g~kao1GTzpdASA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Perkiomen Valley School District","date","2025-09-13T01:37:20Z","article","Perkiomen Valley SD administrators reported on Oct. 10 that they will pursue youth aid panels at the middle‑school level after a high‑school pilot.

Administrators said the high‑school youth aid panels drew interest from more than 20 staff and have formed multiple panels; the district will meet with Assistant District Attorney Angela Bell to learn how to implement a comparable program at both middle schools beginning second semester. \"We would like to do that and get serious about that and intervene sooner with our students in ways that we believe will modify their behaviors,\" an administrator said.

Administrators will report back to the board after the meeting with the assistant district attorney; no formal action was taken at the committee meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/10/2025 PVSD Education Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Perkiomen Valley SD administrators said they will meet with the assistant district attorney to explore implementing youth aid panels at the district’s middle schools, modeled after a high‑school program.","taxTitle","Perkiomen Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",78390,"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},6496069,"Board reviews equity action plan alignment and weighs lower maximum class sizes",972,3512000,4484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa&start=3512&end=4484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa/thumbnail_3512000.jpg","/articles/6496069/Pennsylvania/Board-reviews-equity-action-plan-alignment-and-weighs-lower-maximum-class-sizes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496069-b6a48b8ee6bb067c955f790f26c2f439/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392647&Signature=TcgMfEm~rYiYDoweMmuM3mAbxuNzn-4iN7YU1Nw1Km8RBZuaDV~E7cCpSzmZeQfT7WRA1ls4Y8cKXyMmqcHdoepNgTMeHMr04CKyWosz9D99AoDUI0TFE1w~Tsb65RrioS0wNBRByH2fEwHsrVFhLzbp4VlFYC9H1LWwo-8gt72aNHrymL8hI3ohZ3U2a4BZoze8VzWMT20lM-aXblHKYj2l110uc0VTxIa06TSOUAM9Sz-8-ZJDbGvahCeCgFctVaCiF4uPt6OdPf5E663OKd2u4Kjfo1a06~vfkae96it6tzkIuyQRWplDkHcYHUjzxiheque~OFBs0wG2HN0ZjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Perkiomen Valley SD administrators told the education committee on Oct. 10 that they plan to revise the district’s Equity Action Plan to better align targets with the comprehensive plan, and they urged board guidance on operational issues such as class composition and maximum class sizes.

An administrator presented data showing achievement gaps—special education cohorts lagging general education—and described the Equity Action Plan as a vehicle to identify barriers and allocate tailored resources. \"If you look at these two graphs, you see there's a gap between how the special education cohort is achieving versus gen ed students,\" an administrator said, urging targeted supports and different instructional modes.

Board members urged clearer operational implementation. Several members questioned wide ability spreads in co‑taught classrooms and asked whether the district can homogeneously or more narrowly group students for ELA and math at the middle level. Administrators said principals and the administrative team are promoting narrower ranges and that a forthcoming gifted services review from the MCIU may provide recommendations on grouping models.

Board members also discussed Policy 1 26, which sets class‑size ranges; administrators flagged a proposal to reconsider the maximum for Grades 5 and 6 (the current top range discussed at the meeting was 27 students and instances of 28 were cited). Board members said a maximum of 27 or 28 \"feels high\" and suggested lowering the top end by two or three students where practical. Administrators cautioned that lowering caps has operational impacts—classroom space, staffing and building assignments—and suggested policy revisions include implementation options such as co‑teaching assignments or other mitigations.

Administrators proposed board walk‑throughs this year to inspect physical classroom conditions and inform any policy changes. No formal changes to Policy 1 26 or to the Equity Action Plan were adopted at the meeting; administrators said they will return with recommendations to policy committee and provide options for how to operationalize lower class‑size targets.","Administrators proposed aligning the Equity Action Plan to the district comprehensive plan and asked board input; members pressed for narrower ability ranges in co‑taught and inclusion classrooms and asked the board to consider lowering maximum elementary class size limits.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6496074,"Board debates whether district should pay AP exam fees; administration favors targeted support and dual enrollment",797,1992000,2789000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa&start=1992&end=2789","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa/thumbnail_1992000.jpg","/articles/6496074/Pennsylvania/Board-debates-whether-district-should-pay-AP-exam-fees-administration-favors-targeted-support-and-dual-enrollment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496074-e98ce2bce566cfd044d913ceccdd8e02/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392647&Signature=Fw8faV8OX-qZ38I5mavM33mOeWydQ72qF4GVZLOJ3FeeUaUIDgdBkIQ3SHCJTlm0WA~IKSxqnFpVD0eyU6lnAtgFQ2fozjU0pO5Gs7IhdpzshOF0lPwg712dUd1P-hwAD1CI57GsMa~wgyuWZULSzpzqDx6DtHTIVunAlvL5vTJyun521IGWZpw57Z5OOCd5YXSdmpdQDAEY0rkUbZjbK1yj18zkbJrrzD94Dgh-jkPYdWIv1Bjn-KWI9htwwK9Ak-fR8U1BCIAt-th1FokbuUWK12eT~Ws8mbQd~OV6qyDjjRMlCM4Btp3rsebuA-UVXz78K75aBzKMGl3dOAOqwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Perkiomen Valley SD board members on Oct. 10 debated whether the district should pay Advanced Placement (AP) exam fees after administrators presented data on AP enrollment, exam uptake and alternatives including dual enrollment.

Administrators told the committee that if the district paid for every AP exam taken last year the total cost would have been about $133,000. Dr. Sachs, a high‑school administrator, said most students take exams and noted increases in participation and scores; the administration reported 27 opt‑outs reported in one dataset. \"Most of them take the exams,\" an administrator said of students enrolled in AP courses; \"if we paid for all the tests\" the cost would be about $133,000, the administration reported.

Board members split in opinion. Board member Mr. Saylor said, given budget constraints and the district being over Act 1, he opposed adding $133,000 to pay for select students’ exams. Other board members argued paying at least one test fee per student could promote access and encourage students to take AP coursework. An administrator clarified the district is not recommending paying for all AP tests at this time.

Administrators outlined measures already in place to reduce student costs: College Board fee reductions for qualifying students (which can reduce the per‑exam district cost to about $25 after support), payment plans, and occasional district subsidies for students who cannot pay. A staff member said the district has not historically turned away students who cannot pay; in some cases tests were subsidized.

The committee broadened the conversation to dual enrollment, which administrators described as a lower‑cost avenue for college credit. Administrators said credits earned through community college dual‑enrollment (for example, Montgomery County Community College or regionally approved providers) transfer as transcripted college credit and can reduce future tuition costs, in contrast with AP exam acceptance that varies by college. The district noted local partnerships (MCCC, Westchester, Ursinus and North Montco were discussed) and said advertising and clearer communication to students and families about dual‑enrollment and available subsidies needs improvement.

Administrators also flagged PSAT participation: the district is considering encouraging all 10th graders to take the PSAT (an $18 test per student) as a diagnostic and National Merit qualifier; the estimated cost for roughly 400 tenth‑grade students would be $7,000–$8,000.

No formal resolution was adopted; administration said it is not recommending district payment for all AP exams and suggested further board discussion if members want this as an agenda item.","Board members discussed whether Perkiomen Valley SD should assume the cost of Advanced Placement exams (estimated $133,000 if the district paid for all), with administration not recommending universal coverage and proposing targeted support, expanded dual‑enrollment and PSAT participation options.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6496079,"Perkiomen Valley forms AI work group, eyes academic‑integrity guidance and PD",415,1621000,2036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa&start=1621&end=2036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa/thumbnail_1621000.jpg","/articles/6496079/Pennsylvania/Perkiomen-Valley-forms-AI-work-group-eyes-academicintegrity-guidance-and-PD","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496079-0187572e9e390ae2fe8c5068af4af80f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392647&Signature=mKcxy~lC53iP6OvokAi25ALKBC0QzCZiogbnp6pDZX5TIEEszllo2TIBzoj63RwVI76ID4uwNXdIOHBwfW-QA~6e3p3NKcM~v5CO7clS9eFINAQcmM6agoVpgyYfsYEClD6H5IGbreGJu~S3ey~cWfqGZQPf9dqZGNkhyW23prgPVa9fRjiELQ5-1HQKnf4S1RDvqKeZ0mEMwD-ELJXF4U0DpS2H2bvsQ~U9YXNqXTZCDG9BOWnbOCAjvwRPF9uKRLzmmTZvO4hqWB~OOUMm7A-KeNciSs30je5u34O9yJRZdIjFpNGcFkH5-5m6~oot3zA49Js8VTQ8JZjmkWnGwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Perkiomen Valley SD administrators told the education committee on Oct. 10 that an internal AI work group has drafted guidance for staff, students and families and will expand professional development and tool curation this school year.

Dr. Parr, an administrator, said the district met four times in 2024–25 to create an AI guide that includes a position statement, academic‑integrity considerations, role‑based use examples and assignment guidance. \"One of the main goals of our AI work group is really to talk about how we can leverage this powerful tool for learning and flip the conversation so it's not always about how do we keep kids from cheating,\" Dr. Parr said.

Administrators said the guide has been shared with principals and posted on the district website; some high‑school teachers have placed guidance into course syllabi. The work group plans to reconvene for PD planning and to curate recommended tools (examples cited included ChatGPT, NotebookLM, MagicSchool and curriculum vendors such as HMH and Padlet that now embed AI features).

District leaders said they will evaluate whether to update existing academic‑integrity policy language rather than draft a separate AI policy. \"We moved away from an AI‑specific policy previously and would rather focus on academic integrity,\" an administrator said, noting administration will check current policy alignment and suggest revisions if needed.

Administrators described planned classroom instruction at multiple grade levels: targeted lessons at the high school, digital‑literacy activities at middle school, and staff PD. No formal policy changes were proposed at the meeting; administrators said the work group will return with recommendations and resources for the board and staff.","District administrators reported an internal AI work group developed a draft AI guide for staff and students, recommended training and curated tool lists, and proposed considering academic‑integrity language rather than a standalone AI policy.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6496083,"Perkiomen Valley administrators defend assessment calendar as board questions testing volume",597,41000,638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa&start=41&end=638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784606-992ae45a79f69d4a1c35d009ad45a0fa/thumbnail_41000.jpg","/articles/6496083/Pennsylvania/Perkiomen-Valley-administrators-defend-assessment-calendar-as-board-questions-testing-volume","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496083-f68ed2d76a3e84e254361a4296dc9aae/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392647&Signature=bF0nwWfvP1xfevd4jpNsLTxOgBpm9xrdRli1EYU-jiVZa-LRownC-eTv6RbfJTJh1KqL2Plh7Xe4G0EYWKXYjMWbEnDf6Vo36wBQxR1b8J3dNk-UoMJGvuJif0MT97xQ6a4A1-QanCzBYDujTYqOycueuyUQTdJ6xrS7r3xjo7U6UExANwTQa5RTkf5r6NQrovZyztXg-AJLvu-WF0yki7rwDuLL1laMoOfXBRaNIy~LbxvFDGDcq32AcfSVU9KN3kRbK4zmGOnlJPlpTZVcY6gTr4EOKplG0BMFNc8qWU~9c6bP0yI8-qcbjflV1xnrQO7mXHAVoNg59WOZaPeq~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Perkiomen Valley SD administrators on Oct. 10 presented an assessment schedule that combines diagnostic, benchmarking and summative measures intended to guide instruction, while several board members questioned the volume and practical use of repeated tests.

The presentation, led by Dr. Clune, an administrator, and introduced by Dr. Russell, an administrator, explained the district’s mix of assessments: computer‑based diagnostics (I‑Ready), universal screeners (DIBELS/Acadience), STAR reading/Math, course‑specific benchmarks (Algebra, Biology, Literature) and state summatives such as the PSSA and Keystone exams. \"Students should be just taking the assessments. It's not a preparation to take the assessment,\" Dr. Clune said, adding that teachers use assessment results to adjust instruction and interventions.

Board members and administrators debated tradeoffs between information value and testing load. Board member Ms. White asked why STAR reading would continue beyond ninth grade for students who are already at or above grade level; Dr. Clune replied the test gives a consistent snapshot from Grade 3 through Grade 12 and can show whether reading progress is maintained. Secondary administrators said STAR and STAR Math are sometimes discontinued midyear for students who test at or above grade level.

Administrators described two elementary benchmarking windows for ELA and a switch to I‑Ready standards mastery for math benchmarking; the district is introducing I‑Ready this year and plans to use its Standards Mastery tool to project PSSA performance. Acadience (DIBELS) remains a paper‑and‑pencil screener for early elementary so teachers can confer with students directly. Dr. Clune said I‑Ready's Standards Mastery is expected to take about 20 minutes per administration.

The board pressed how assessment data move from collection to classroom change. Administrators said data meetings occur at multiple levels: collaborative teacher teams use LinkIt (the district’s data analytics tool) to disaggregate results and plan small‑group instruction, while larger data team meetings examine trends and refine schoolwide responses. \"How do we help teachers adjust instruction in real time so that we're seeing an impact in student learning and we can actually map it?\" an administrator asked, describing that as the district goal.

Concerns raised included classroom composition and the spread of student ability in co‑taught or inclusion settings. Board members asked whether wide ability ranges in a single ELA classroom reduce the effectiveness of differentiation; administrators said narrowing ranges and better grouping at the middle level are priorities and that a forthcoming gifted services review with the MCIU may offer recommendations.

Administrators also noted a technical opportunity: the Pennsylvania Value‑Added System (PVAS) accepts certain local assessments and can incorporate up to three years of local assessment history, allowing the district to project student trajectories when I‑Ready and DIBELS data are submitted.

The board did not take any formal votes. Administrators said they would monitor the new schedule's implementation and revisit the balance of assessments after the year. The presentation closed with an invitation to continue working on teacher capacity for data use, including professional development and collaborative teams.","District administrators presented an annual assessment calendar that layers diagnostics, benchmarks and summative tests; board members pressed whether repeated testing (STAR, I‑Ready, benchmarks, PSSAs) produces useful instructional change or unnecessary burden.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District to explore middle‑school youth aid panels after high‑school pilot

Board reviews equity action plan alignment and weighs lower maximum class sizes

Board debates whether district should pay AP exam fees; administration favors targeted support and dual enrollment

Perkiomen Valley forms AI work group, eyes academic‑integrity guidance and PD

Perkiomen Valley administrators defend assessment calendar as board questions testing volume