Number: 101
Section: Programs
Title: Philosophy of Education
Date Adopted: June 12, 1978
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003

Public education helps prepare students for adult life by attending to their intellectual and developmental needs and challenging them to achieve at their highest level possible.  In conjunction with families and other community institutions, public education provides opportunities for students to become self-directed, lifelong learners and responsible, involved citizens.  The Board is committed to providing a system of education that will offer equitable educational opportunities in accordance with students’ needs, abilities, and interests consistent with available resources. 

Together with parents, families and community institutions, the Board directs the development of a planned and balanced program of learning which meets the needs of all students by providing opportunities for students to:

  1. Acquire knowledge and skills.
  2. Develop integrity.
  3. Process information.
  4. Think critically.
  5. Work independently.
  6. Collaborate with others.
  7. Adapt to change. 
District K-12 planned programs shall encourage each student to make the fullest possible progress in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards.  The district’s planned programs shall encompass the Pennsylvania Academic Standards identified below: 

  • Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening
  • Math
  • Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology
  • Civics and Government, Economics, Geography and History
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Health, Safety and Physical Education 
In addition, the district’s planned programs shall encompass the following Pennsylvania Academic Standards as they exist in current draft form. 

  • Career Education and Work
  • World Languages 
As draft form standards in any subject area become final, the district’s planned programs shall encompass the final form academic standards.  In the absence of Pennsylvania Academic Standards in final or draft form, appropriate National standards shall be utilized. 

In addition to assuring the teaching of the specific content knowledge and skills identified in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards, locally planned programs will supplement the Pennsylvania Academic Standards to encourage the fullest possible development of each student to: 

  • Understand and apply the content relationships and connectedness among all disciplines that are part of the district planned program of learning
  • Become proficient in thinking, understanding, interpreting, analyzing, synthesizing, and applying information
Current planned programs which do not accurately reflect Pennsylvania’s academic standards shall be revised in accordance with the procedures identified in the district Framework for Continuous Improvement of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Professional Development. 

Each teacher shall be responsible for implementing the district K-12 planned programs which pertain to their instructional assignment(s).