It’s PSSA season for our school districts, so students from third through eighth grade are currently taking English and math assessments. These assessments over the next two weeks offer the state and local school districts critical data to understand student proficiency and the overall performance of our 500 school districts.
I believe that knowledge is power. Data brings insight. As these tests are given, the insights that they offer will depict the mastery of content by our young people. Administrators will use this to build curriculum and to offer students support or accelerated instruction, and my colleagues and I will use this to support additional funding or other education-centered legislation.
While each year’s results are different, there are undoubtedly some trends that have persisted over the years. What we know, and have always known, really, is that while many of our students are doing well, and a few are doing really well, too many of our students are behind. When I say “behind,” I mean our education system has some holes that MUST be addressed. An alarming number of PA students graduate high school functionally illiterate; some 29% of the Commonwealth's working-age adults lack basic literacy and/or numeracy skills. Some of our students that are being tested right now will be years behind our stated academic standards, even if their class grades suggest satisfactory performance.
It is time to act. In the next few weeks, I will be introducing legislation to prevent school districts from promoting students to a grade that is more than 3 grade-years ahead of their own reading proficiency or 4 years ahead of their math proficiency. The practice of advancing students in school based on their age more than their mastery (commonly referred to as “social promotion”) has strong roots in healthy child development, but if we are being honest, it is frequently ignored when a student shows well-above-average gifting, and the students that are making up larger and larger percentages of the lower rung are students of color who are finding themselves unprepared for the world in front of them.
Yes, we will offer some exceptions for students with documented learning challenges or students with a history of having been held back a year. Yes, we have plenty of recommendations for additional programming supports, summer school, and evidence-based literacy curriculum. Yes, student proficiency is the responsibility of the school, the student, the parent/guardian, the community as a whole. Yes, success is more than a test score. Yes, social-emotional development is absolutely critical in these formative years for our young people. Yes, there is data that suggests that retaining students may lead to higher dropout rates. Yes, I have spoken with our local Superintendents and many teachers and community leaders and parents about this. Yes, our schools need more funding. Yes, I anticipate a healthy dose of pushback. Yes, I also suspect a healthy dose of support for this initiative.
YES, our students are worth taking the time to focus on mastery, even if it takes another year. You shouldn’t be in the eighth grade, with a history of passing grades in all your classes, and yet you are reading at a 3rd grade reading level. This is a reality for some of our students here at home, throughout this state, and across this nation. President George W. Bush spoke of the “soft bigotry of low expectations” 25 years ago when launching the No Child Left Behind Act. Much has changed and yet not enough. I demand more from all of us, myself included.
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Join my office for a bite to eat while taking advantage of services like the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program, SEPTA Senior Key Cards, and Unclaimed Property! We will be at Oreland Pizza on Thursday, May 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
For those interested in PTRR, you must be either 65 years old, a widow/widower 50 years old, OR 18 years old and disabled to qualify. The household income limit is $46,520 only counting half of any Social Security benefits.
Please come prepared with the following documents. For renters:
For most other services, an ID should suffice. Please contact my office if you have any questions by calling (215) 572-5210 or emailing RepNelson@pahouse.net.
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Spring cleaning season is never really over, is it? Join our office and the office of State Representative Ben Sanchez for a FREE paper shredding and electronics recycling event on Sunday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (8339 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027).
We kindly ask that you limit paper shredding to 2-3 bags or boxes per vehicle so that we can serve as many constituents as possible.
Anything with a plug can be recycled except for:
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Microwaves & large kitchen/household appliances
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Air conditioners, (de)humidifiers
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CRT monitors, freon-containing electronics, light bulbs
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Medical equipment
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TVs, computer monitors
Please contact my office if you have any questions by calling (215) 572-5210 or emailing RepNelson@pahouse.net.
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SEPTA Easton Road Bridge Work Update
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SEPTA crews will be performing maintenance track work on the Lansdale/Doylestown Line, Warminster Line, as well as platform construction at Glenside Station as part of the Easton Road Waterproofing Project from Friday, May 2 to Monday, May 18.
On the Easton Road bridge, SEPTA in-house forces will remove the inbound track and ballast starting Friday night, May 2, and SEPTA’s third-party contractor will perform the re-waterproofing work. SEPTA in-house forces will then re-install the ballast and track. This process will be repeated for the outbound track and ballast starting the following Friday night, May 9. All work will take place on the platform level; no street-level work.
The maintenance work will impact weekday schedules, May 5 to 9 only, on the following lines: Airport, Chestnut Hill West, Glenside Combined, Lansdale/Doylestown, Media/Wawa, Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton & Warminster, West Trenton, and Wilmington/Newark.
Additionally, riders can expect weekend opposite side boarding on the Lansdale/Doylestown and Warminster lines and delays of up to 10 minutes. Go to SEPTA’s webpage on the project for more details and full schedules.
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The Municipal Primary Election is coming up on May 20, so ensure you are registered to vote today before the deadline of May 5. PA holds closed primary elections, which means you must be a registered Republican or Democrat to vote for that party’s nominees. It takes only a few minutes to register to vote, update your registration, or check your voter registration status online.
If you plan on voting by mail, the deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on May 13. For information on how to apply, go to the Department of State’s website. When completing an application for a mail-in ballot, voters have the option to receive a mail-in ballot for the primary and general elections or apply for each election individually.
Montgomery County Voter Services announced that it opened a satellite office in Willow Grove (102 N York Rd, Willow Grove, PA 19090) on Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go here for assistance registering to vote, applying for a mail-in ballot, or to get your election-related questions answered.
A secure ballot drop box for mail-in ballots will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at the Cheltenham Township Tax Office (8230 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027).
Municipal elections are important! You have a chance to shape the future of your neighborhood, school district, and local government. Do not forget to vote on May 20, and make sure you are registered today.
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ICYMI: Highland Ave Reopening
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In case you missed it, Highland Ave between Mt. Carmel Ave and Wharton Rd will be reopening on Monday, April 28.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., you may encounter flaggers to allow the movement of materials from the SPS Technologies building across the road. Traffic is expected to move normally outside of those hours. Please drive safely and remain outside the fenced area surrounding the property.
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Click the image below for information on township events & updates
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Click on the image below for information on state government programs
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Drug Take Back Day Saturday
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If you have “A Few Good Meds,” get ready to drop them off for Montco DA’s & Montco Police Chiefs Association’s semi-annual Drug Take Back Day, happening Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 36 locations across the county!
Accepted items include prescription and over-the-counter tablets and capsules; inhalers and nasal sprays; creams and ointments; pet medicines; and vaping products with batteries removed. Items that cannot be accepted are needles; liquid meds; intravenous/injectable solutions; and marijuana and illegal drugs.
All three police departments in our district will be collection sites for Drug Take Back Day: the Cheltenham Township Police Department (8230 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027), the Springfield Township Police Department (1510 Paper Mill Rd, Wyndmoor, PA 19038), and the Jenkintown Police Department (700 Summit Ave, Jenkintown, PA 19046).
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Second Chance Resource Fair
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Come to learn about available reentry services, family resources, housing, education, employment, health & wellness resources, legal & court services, and hear from government offices. Go to the Clerk of Court’s website to learn more about the resources that will be offered.
This event takes place on Monday, April 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Community Center (249 E Jacoby St, Norristown, PA 19401) and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available. Free notary services will be available from 4 to 5 p.m. Please contact Mandy-Lee.Garofalo@montgomerycountypa.gov if you have any questions.
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DEI at Local Universities
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If you are interested in learning more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at local universities, join my colleagues from the PA House of Representatives, PA Senate, and the Philadelphia City Council and I for a hearing on Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at Philadelphia City Hall, Room 400 or online at www.phlcouncil.com/watch.
This hearing will focus on public resources allocated to local institutions by the state and city. By hearing from students, faculty, and administration – individuals with lived experience, we hope to garner a better understanding of how colleges and universities are responding the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI programs in higher education.
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Calling all book lovers, families, and young readers! Mark your calendars for Reading Knight and Day, brought to you by the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA) at Arcadia University, on Saturday, May 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the University Commons Great Room.
This brand-new community event is all about celebrating the joy of reading and will be packed with fun for the whole family. You can look forward to a live reading of Amari and the Night Brothers, free books to help build your personal library, engaging games and activities centered on literacy, free swag and refreshments, and the chance to connect with friends, neighbors, and educators.
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Extended REAL ID Hours Monday
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The REAL ID enforcement deadline of May 7 is approaching. By this date, you will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license/photo ID card OR another form of federally-acceptable ID (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation that requires ID.
This deadline only applies IF you plan on doing any of these things on May 7. If you are flying domestically in August, for example, you do NOT need your REAL ID by May 7, just before your flight. You can apply for a REAL ID at any time after enforcement begins on May 7. Additionally, if you have a passport, that grants you the same access as a REAL ID would.
PennDOT is offering special dedicated times at driver license & REAL ID centers to help PA residents get their REAL ID. On Monday, April 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., PennDOT will be offering REAL ID hours at a number of local driver license and REAL ID centers, including the West Oak Lane driver license center, Huntingdon Valley driver license center, Norristown driver license & REAL ID center, and King of Prussia driver license & REAL ID center.
Further REAL ID Days and locations can be found on PennDOT’s website, as can information about which documents are required to obtain a REAL ID. Please reach out to my office with any questions by calling (215) 572-5210 or emailing RepNelson@pahouse.net.
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The ninth annual Montco Trail Challenge is now open for registration! This family friendly program encourages participants to track their visits to select Montco trails from April 26 to Dec. 1 of this year. Awards can be earned for completing visits to five, ten, or fifteen participating trails.
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
325 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202154
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2154
(717) 783-1079
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District Office
115 East Glenside Avenue
Glenside, PA 19038
(215) 572-5210
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