Wilkinsburg School District and School District of Pittsburgh AMENDED LETTER of AGREEMENT
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Wilkinsburg School District and School District of Pittsburgh AMENDED LETTER OF AGREEMENT Following the decision of the Wilkinsburg School District to close and discontinue its middle / high school program at the conclusion of the 2015/16 school year, pursuant to Section 1607 of the Public School Code, 24 P.S. § 16-1607, Wilkinsburg School District assigned pupils in grades seven through twelve to attend the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ George Westinghouse Academy, also known as Westinghouse 6-12 School (hereinafter, “Westinghouse”), as to which Wilkinsburg School District and Pittsburgh Public Schools entered into a Letter of Agreement. The following terms serve as the parties’ amended agreement, to be further supplemented as necessary, for the assignment of Wilkinsburg School District students in grades seven through twelve to attend school in the Pittsburgh Public Schools pursuant to Section 1607 of the Public School Code: 1. Assignment of Pupils. In accordance with Section 1607 of the Public School Code, Wilkinsburg School District reaffirms that students in grades seven through twelve shall be assigned by Wilkinsburg School District to attend high school at Westinghouse. 2. Term. The term of this amended agreement shall commence with the 2021-22 school year. This agreement is cancellable by either party upon notice to the other party provided not later than less than eighteen months in advance, but not effective sooner than the conclusion of the 2026-27 school year, provided, that the termination of this agreement shall not impair any rights Wilkinsburg School District students otherwise have to attend Pittsburgh Public Schools as provided by law upon the discontinuance by Wilkinsburg School District of its middle / high school program. Unless terminated by either party as provided above, prior to the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year, the parties will meet and confer concerning the terms of an extension of the partnership and any revisions to this agreement. 3. Programs and Services. Wilkinsburg School District students will be fully eligible for all curriculum, instruction, career and technical education programs, alternative education services, and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities (including participation on interscholastic athletics teams) available to resident students of Pittsburgh Public Schools. 4. Magnet Schools. Students in grades seven through twelve from the Wilkinsburg School District shall be afforded the opportunity to enroll in the various Magnet School offerings in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as is afforded resident students of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Wilkinsburg School District’s sixth grade students will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the pre-registration process for entry into a magnet school for seventh grade. Applications for magnet admission for Wilkinsburg students assigned to Pittsburgh Public Schools shall be evaluated in the same manner as the applications of students residing in the School District of Pittsburgh. 5. Tuition. Subject to the conditions stated below, the Wilkinsburg School District will pay the School District of Pittsburgh the tuition rate of $10,317 for the 2021-22 school year. In subsequent years, the tuition rate will be adjusted by the Act 1 index as annually determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education or as otherwise agreed by the parties. For Page 1 of 6 Wilkinsburg School District and Pittsburgh Public Schools AMENDED LETTER OF AGREEMENT educational placements in Pittsburgh Public Schools’ center schools and programs, including, but not limited to, Oliver Citywide Academy, CITY Connections, Conroy Education Center and Pioneer Education Center, the Wilkinsburg School District will pay Pittsburgh Public Schools the tuition rate that is equal to the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ current fee-for-service tuition rate for students with exceptionalities. i. The tuition rates set forth herein are subject to approving opinion of the Pennsylvania Department of Education as to the appropriateness of the calculation under the provisions of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended. 6. Special Education Students. The foregoing tuition rates apply to all regular education students and those students with Individualized Education Plans or Section 504 agreements presently being served within Wilkinsburg School District. To the extent the cost of implementing an IEP or service agreement requires additional resources beyond those otherwise deployed for placements within Pittsburgh Public Schools, tuition rates will be negotiated for individual students: (a) who, prior to assignment to Pittsburgh Public Schools, have IEP’s or Section 504 agreements providing placements outside of Wilkinsburg High School that are rewritten to provide placements within Pittsburgh Public Schools, or (b) who are first identified to require an IEP or Section 504 agreement subsequent to their assignment to Pittsburgh Public Schools. For educational placements outside of Pittsburgh Public Schools, Wilkinsburg School District shall directly pay the approved private school or other educational entity at which Wilkinsburg School District resident students are placed. 7. Tuition Payments. Pittsburgh Public Schools will bill Wilkinsburg School District a prorated monthly tuition amount by November 15th, February 15th, April 15th and August 15th. The amount will be based upon the average daily membership of Wilkinsburg School District students in attendance and the number of instructional days in each month in proportion to the total number of instructional days in the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ school year. Payment shall be received within 30 days of the receipt of the invoice. On or before August 15th of each year, enrollments and tuition fees will be reconciled subject to audit. 8. Standardized Testing. Wilkinsburg School District students attending Pittsburgh Public Schools will receive preparation for and be administered all mandated and optional standardized tests. Subject to the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and applicable laws and regulations, scores of Wilkinsburg School District resident students on PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) assessments, Keystone Exams and any other standardized assessment mandated by state or federal authorities will be attributed to the School District of Pittsburgh. Scores of Wilkinsburg School District resident students on mandated and optional Page 2 of 6 Wilkinsburg School District and Pittsburgh Public Schools AMENDED LETTER OF AGREEMENT standardized tests will be provided to Wilkinsburg School District. The parties recognize that this provision is subject to review and approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 9. Grants. Pittsburgh Public Schools will be entitled to utilize Wilkinsburg School District students assigned to attend Pittsburgh Public Schools for purposes of state or federal monetary assistance for particular services to such students (such as free and reduced price meals, extraordinary special education subsidies, etc.) and applications for grants from public and/or private sources. 10. Calendar. Wilkinsburg School District students enrolled in the Pittsburgh Public Schools will attend school in accordance with the Pittsburgh Public Schools calendar. 11. Transportation. Wilkinsburg School District shall be responsible for providing transportation and shall provide transportation for all Wilkinsburg School District students enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools to any school attended by Wilkinsburg School District students under this agreement. 12. Liaison and Coordination. The parties will designate individual administrators and staff members as liaisons to coordinate matters related to student enrollment, transition, special education, transportation and other specific matters as may be determined necessary for the successful implementation of the parties’ agreement. A Transition Subcommittee will create a yearly Transition Plan with lead representatives (school counselors) from Westinghouse and Turner Intermediate. This plan will be presented to and approved by the school principals and the PPS-Wilkinsburg Liaison Coordinator for the following year, no later than June 30. This plan will include but not be limited to 6th-grade transition programs at Westinghouse and/or Magnet Schools for Turner students and parents. It will provide a seamless transition for the Turner students to attend Westinghouse and/or Magnet Schools to ensure Wilkinsburg students are provided the same academic, college, and career opportunities as their PPS peers. The transition plan will include activities that address student acclimatization, socialization, leadership, and a feeling of safety and belonging. This plan will also address activities outside the normal academic setting, including attending athletic and fine arts events to meet the coaches and advisors. This plan should also include an in-depth review and site visit of their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and staff. Lastly, the yearly plan should identify and provide opportunities for 6th-grade students not currently attending Turner Intermediate but living in the district to attend these same transition activities and events. On or before October 31st of each school year, the parties will confer to assess the transition plan and to identify any appropriate improvements to the student transition process. Page 3 of 6 Wilkinsburg School District and Pittsburgh Public Schools AMENDED LETTER