Representatives from River Rock Academy and Nittany Learning Services briefed the Keystone Central School District Board of Directors on July 10 about staffing changes, intake and review processes, student outcomes and how each provider coordinates with districts on academic and behavioral measures.

River Rock regional operations director John said the Williamsport campus has new leadership and expanded staff entering 2025–26, and described the provider’s aim to return students to their home schools within a 45-day placement whenever possible. “I have all the faith in the world in Ken,” John said about Ken Talman, who the provider identified as the incoming campus director.

Nittany Learning Services co-owner John Paul Petrosini and co-owner Terry Baumgartner described Nittany’s 10-year history of operating PDE-approved AEDY (Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth) programs across Central Pennsylvania and outlined intake, orientation and assessment procedures. Petrosini read an email from a former student as an example of the provider’s reported student engagement: “You have helped me a lot,” the student wrote, and said the curriculum and staff had helped with reentry to the home school.

Both providers described efforts to coordinate with districts. River Rock said it reviews district grade scales when determining transitions and that AEDY placements are structured around 45-day formal periodic reviews (FPRs). Nittany described a similar intake and orientation process, weekly academic and behavioral reporting to families and districts, and use of Exact Path and other assessment tools to place students in appropriate course sections.

Board members asked about apples-to-apples comparability of assessments and how student returns are managed. Petrosini said Nittany assesses reading, language arts and math at intake and at discharge and that the provider is working toward a common regional report for districts. He told the board his first milestone for a common regional report is October. River Rock explained AEDY placement rules that require reoffense to reenter AEDY if a student’s educational placement is changed.

The board discussed prepaid “slots” (reserved seats) with both providers for the coming year. Administration said prepaid arrangements have varied: when the district had only one external provider it purchased more seats; with River Rock’s midyear start last school year, prepaid seats were adjusted. The two providers’ per‑student costs differ; board members asked administration to track outcomes and cost-effectiveness and to consider seat distributions next year based on comparative results.

Both providers described behavioral and career components of their programs. Nittany noted PACT (Pennsylvania Academic and Career Technical) affiliation at one site and use of career planning and micro-credentialing (Smart Futures) and said counseling is provided in individual, group and career sessions. Nittany reported serving 21 Keystone Central students in the 2024–25 school year: 18 met academic goals and 18 successfully transitioned back to their home schools, the provider said.

No formal motions or votes were recorded on provider contracts during the presentation. Board members asked administration to continue working with both providers and report back with coordinated assessment formats and year-end comparative outcomes.