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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-2082

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION

Annual Certification Under Section 7201-B(e) of the Tax Reform Code

[47 Pa.B. 7588]
[Saturday, December 16, 2017]

November 29, 2017

William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
School District of Philadelphia
440 North Broad Street, Suite 301
Philadelphia, PA 19130

 I am writing pursuant to Section 7201-B(e) of the Tax Reform Code, Act 52 of 2013, 72 P.S. § 7201-B(e), which provides that a city of the first class may impose a one percent sales and use tax that may be used by a school district of the first class in an amount up to $120,000,000. Effective July 1, 2014, the City of Philadelphia imposed this additional sales and use tax. However, the use of these funds by the School District of Philadelphia (''District'') must be authorized by the Secretary of Education.

 Pursuant to Section 7201-B(e)(1), as Secretary of Education, I must consider whether ''the school district. . .began implementation of reforms that provide for [the District's] fiscal stability, educational improvement and operational control.''

 According to the District, it is implementing the following new programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the range and quality of educational options available to students:

 • Improving literacy, which includes remodeling pre-kindergarten through second grade classrooms in eight of the schools with the lowest literacy rates; utilizing early literacy coaches who will work with all kindergarten through third grade teachers; leveling libraries in all kindergarten through third grade classrooms so students gain literacy skills for lifetime learning; and distributing free books to approximately 37,000 pre-kindergarten through second grade students across the District to encourage summer reading.

 • Focusing on career and college readiness, which includes ninth grade academies focused on college and career readiness; the third annual college signing day celebration; 22,000 ninth through twelfth grade students took the PSAT/SAT for free; and 2,742 students earned career and technical credentials.

 • Improving school climate, which includes increased district schools' climate scores, reduced out-of-school suspensions, and decreased suspensions in early grades, resulting in increased instruction time, increased early childhood literacy, and increased graduation rates.

 • Boosting transparency/improving school communities, which includes partnering with the Penn Graduate School of Education to complete the 2015-16 District-wide survey, receiving approximately 105,000 responses.

 • Investing in green buildings/classrooms, which includes being named a 2017 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardee, installing new hydration stations at each school to provide access to safe, appealing water; and investing in capital relighting projects to save energy.

 The District has also reported that additional steps have been taken to improve operational controls and to maintain fiscal stability, including:

 • Projecting a $108 million positive fund balance for the end of 2017-2018, which is the third consecutive year with a year-end positive fund balance.

 • Executing new labor contracts with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators.

 • Extending the Cigarette Tax so it will no longer sunset in 2019.

 • Implementing a new ridesharing program, in which the District will receive a portion of the revenues.

 As a result of the foregoing reforms documented by the District, I hereby certify that the requisites of Section 7201-B(e) of the Tax Reform Code have been satisfied. I authorize the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to disburse to the District, on or before the tenth day of every month, the total amount of money contained in the Local Sales and Use Tax Fund as of the last day of the previous month up to a maximum of $120,000,000 pursuant to section 7201-B(e)(2) of the Tax Reform Code.

PEDRO A. RIVERA, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-2082. Filed for public inspection December 15, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]


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