1. Student achievement in the Hazleton Area SD has increased substantially since 2003. Celebrate Success! Hazleton Area SD

2. The percentage of students scoring on grade level has gone up:  33% in math (53.8% to 71.7%)  15% in reading (60.4% to 71.1%) The percentage of students scoring below basic has gone down :  43% in math (23.6% to 13.5%)  48% in reading (21.0% to 14.3%)

3. Increased student achievement has been made possible in part because of increased state education funding focused on targeted, proven programs that enhance the student’s classroom experience. State education funding to Hazleton Area SD has increased substantially since 2003.

4. The state’s Basic Education Subsidy has increased statewide by 41.3% since 2003. Since 2003-04, Hazleton Area SD has received an 84% increase in state funds for education in the total amount of $16, 942,357. This includes increases in the Basic Education Fund, Accountability Block Grant, the Education Assistance Program, Classrooms for the Future and Pre-K Counts funds. Without this increase in state funds, local property taxes would have had to go up in the amount of $16,942,357 to provide the same services to students. In 2010-11 Hazleton Area SD will receive an increase of 12.6% in Basic Education Subsidy from the state in the amount of $3,956,480. The state share of total education costs in Hazleton Area SD has increased by 58% from 2002-03 to 2008-09.* *This includes ALL state grants and subsidies.

5. For the last three years, the state has emphasized that school districts spend their increased state funds on programs proven to raise achievement in the classroom. Research shows a return on investment of $16 for every $1 invested in quality early childhood education. Last year alone, Hazleton Area SD spent its increased state investment in the following ways:  New Curriculum and course offerings for 13,700 students  Teacher training to support 7,000 struggling students  Teacher coaching in literacy and math for the benefit of 3,050 students  Reduced class sizes for 3,050 students  Full day kindergarten for 780 students  Pre-kindergarten for 147 students

6. An in-depth evaluation conducted by Penn State, indicates that CFF has a positive impact in the classroom, notably improved student engagement. The closer a district is to its funding adequacy target, the more students perform at or above grade level. But there is still work to be done. Despite this increased investment of state funds and substantial progress in student achievement, many districts still have large funding adequacy gaps and too many students still years behind. Since 2006-07 Hazleton Area SD has received $1,180,352 in state funds to implement Classrooms for the Future (CFF) for laptops for high school students in core curriculum classes and coaching for teachers in effective teaching strategies using new technology. Hazleton Area SD still has a funding gap of $66,283,002 or $6,342 per student and 13.5% of students scoring below basic in math and 14.3% of students scoring below basic in reading.