William Penn School District celebrated as "District on the Rise" after national scorecard recognition

William Penn School District officials, teachers, a student and state lawmakers gathered at Evans Elementary to mark the district’s appearance on the 2026 Education Recovery School Card, a national research initiative led by Harvard and Stanford researchers measuring post‑pandemic student growth.

"The numbers in the study are important, but behind every statistic is a student who is growing," said Edward Dunn, the district’s supervisor of mathematics, crediting collaborative curriculum alignment, expanded intervention supports and data‑driven instruction for the gains.

A fourth‑grade teacher, Ms. Farrell, described classroom practices used across schools: small‑group instruction, targeted supports and teacher collaboration. Fifth‑grader Jacqueline Chang told the assembly, "I feel really proud of how much I have grown in school," and thanked teachers, family and friends.

Andrea Fink, president of the William Penn Education Association representing about 350 educators, said the recognition reflects ‘‘the dedication, professionalism, and care our educators bring to students every day.’’ She and other speakers emphasized that investments in public education and support for educators helped drive progress.

Several state lawmakers who attended framed the results as tied to recent state investment and ongoing advocacy. Representative Gina Curry thanked district staff and said the recognition provides a message to take back to Harrisburg during budget negotiations.

Senator Tim Kearney pointed to historic Commonwealth funding as a catalyst for improvement but warned the legal settlement’s 10‑year timeline for remedying funding inequities is too slow. "It's not enough," he said of the current pace. Senator Anthony Hardy Williams praised local leaders and urged other districts to model the district’s use of resources to advance equity.

Joanna McClinton, introduced at the event as speaker of the house and representative for the 191st legislative district, said the district has received historic investments over the last three years and that officials will continue to press for fair funding in upcoming budget decisions in Harrisburg.

Superintendent Eric B. Coates said the recognition belongs to teachers, staff and the Board of School Directors and described the achievement as a product of teamwork. He invited the media to ask questions after the program.

No formal votes or board actions were taken at the event; speakers described the award as validation of ongoing work and called for continued investment and focus on student growth.