HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House Education Committee on Monday took a deep dive into the latest statewide school performance data, as lawmakers and education leaders examined early signs of academic recovery and lingering challenges reflected in the Future Ready PA Index.
The informational hearing brought together officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, school administrators, and education advocates to review how students are progressing academically, how schools are performing, and whether current accountability measures are keeping pace with classroom realities.
“Today, we got to take a closer look at the system which assesses the academic performance of Pennsylvania schools and the latest results on how our children are progressing throughout their education,” said Peter Schweyer, the committee’s majority chair. He thanked presenters for offering insight into both student outcomes and the obstacles schools continue to face.
State education officials reported modest but steady gains since the disruptions of the pandemic years. Amy Lena, deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, said math and science proficiency rates have increased year over year since the 2020–21 school year, though they remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Graduation rates, she said, have climbed consistently and now exceed pre-pandemic levels. English language growth and attainment rose for a second consecutive year, while career readiness remained strong at more than 91%. Regular attendance has also improved for two straight years in Pennsylvania, even as attendance has declined nationally since 2023.
Not all testimony was celebratory. Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators Executive Director Sherri Smith said schools are increasingly adopting innovative instructional approaches that are not fully reflected in the state’s current assessment and accountability framework.
“Too often, the current state accountability measures misrepresent the work being done in our schools – the quality, the complexity, and the outcomes that matter most to families, communities and state leaders,” Smith told lawmakers.
Schweyer said the latest Future Ready PA Index results are the first released since the state began implementing a major overhaul of education funding in the 2024 budget. While he cautioned that it is too early to see the full impact of the multi-year plan, he said early indicators suggest progress.
“We are starting to see positive trends moving in the right direction,” Schweyer said.
The Future Ready PA Index has been used since 2018 to evaluate student success across three broad categories: academic performance, student progress, and college and career readiness.
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