SCASD Vision

Director's Statement

In March 2020 our lives took a dramatic turn and the State College Area School District quickly launched an emergency remote plan to continue student learning through the pandemic school closures. There were, and still are, many unknowns but the health and safety of our students is the top priority. Since that time, we have learned a lot about your experiences, and we have prepared a thoughtful plan to respond to the new reality facing our schools this year. Our plan is structured to enable schools to continue to provide high quality learning experiences should we be faced with another school closure.

I believe most students learn best in a face-to-face social environment and we are excited to be back in school with our students. If circumstances dictate that we need to change our model to remote learning, we'll be ready. We also recognize that there may be reasons some students can not return in-person in the fall and we are here to serve those students through the SCASD Virtual Academy. We have amazing facilities, amazing staff, and amazing students and families, and we are ready to face the challenges ahead, together.

Christine Merritt, Director of Secondary Curriculum, Grades 6-12

Equity

At State College Area Schools, we are working to cultivate a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging across the district and create equitable educational access and opportunity across race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and language. In building our educational model for the upcoming school year, we recognize that a shift to remote learning has the potential to amplify educational inequities. As part of our educational model, we are working to develop systems within our remote learning plan to ensure that all students are able to engage in learning.

We are dedicated to identifying and addressing any barriers that might hinder student access to learning opportunities and are working to ensure that all students have the support they need to achieve success regardless of individual or experiential differences. In order to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities, we will:

  • Provide the opportunity for families to choose the educational option that is most appropriate for their family.

  • Ensure that students have a safe and inclusive environment.

  • Provide opportunities in various formats for students to demonstrate learning.

  • Provide all students with consistent technology tools that allow students to be creators, collaborators, and problem solvers.

  • Provide information regarding resources that are available to assist students with academic work, social supports and mental health services.

  • Establish open communication between students, parents, and instructors and ensure that individual and group communications are inclusive and equitable.

SCASD Vision

Our daily work centers around the core values articulated in the Strategic Plan and a commitment to "every student, every day":

  • Engagement and Support for the Whole Student

  • Continuous Growth for Every Student

  • Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Problem Solving

  • Closing Individual Achievement and Opportunity Gaps

  • Successful Transitions and Readiness for a Purposeful Life

Our programs strive to offer diverse learning options to provide students with engaging and authentic learning experiences. We understand the pandemic created economic, emotional, and medical hardships for many families and we are committed to doing everything we can to assist with the transition back to school this fall. Our faculty will be receiving professional development to ready them for this process. We are excited to meet your child and to help them reach their goals!