Headline Harrisburg

Congratulations to the Allentown City School District for receiving a Safe Schools Targeted Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The $25,000 grant is to be used to establish and implement programs to prevent and reduce incidents of violence. The department awarded $2.6 million to 110 public schools statewide. Learn more. 
 
As part of the ongoing effort to further protect Pennsylvania’s children, legislation has been introduced to require public and private schools and their independent contractors to conduct a thorough background check before hiring someone for a position that has direct contact with students.House Bill 2063 would require previous employers to provide all requested information regarding a former employee. When a school employee engages in misconduct involving a student, current law is insufficient to prevent that employee from quietly resigning and moving on to another school, where the abusive conduct may continue. 
  
Are you or someone you know shopping for a college? What major are you considering and what are the career opportunities in that field? The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has created a great tool for exploring the right school at the right price for any career. Learn more.