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America First Policy Institute
Local Policy Brief
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| 📅 Thursday, November 12, 2026 to Calendar |
| 📄 View Official Agenda |
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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for Pennsbury SD and found 4 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 9) |
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District to Vote on ‘Wellness Check’ Policy for Virtual Students
The Board will hold a second reading and final vote on Policy 204.1, which establishes mandatory ‘wellness checks’ for students in the full-time virtual program. The policy requires district staff to ‘visibly see and communicate with’ each student weekly and authorizes an ‘in-person wellness check’ at the student’s home within 24 hours if other contact methods fail.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Item 5.A is a final vote on a policy authorizing in-home wellness checks for virtual students. The provided policy text represents a significant expansion of school authority into the home. Flag for state team as a key example of local overreach regarding student privacy and parental rights.
Policy Lever: Student Privacy
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Contract for Student Psychiatric Evaluations and Consultations
The Board is scheduled to approve a contract renewal with Dr. Shawna Brent to provide psychiatric consultations for staff and evaluations for students at a cost of up to $500 per evaluation. The agreement covers support for IEP teams and ‘psychiatric fitness-for-duty evaluations,’ but the agenda does not specify parental notification or consent requirements for student services.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: For Item 7.C, retrieve the referenced contract attachment ‘Dr. Brent 2026-2027 SY Contract.pdf.pdf’ from the official agenda link. Review the document for parental notification and consent provisions before the vote.
Policy Lever: Parental Notification
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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District to Discuss ‘Bell-to-Bell’ Cell Phone Ban Policy
The district will hold an informational session on PA Act 117 of 2026, a new state law requiring a ‘Bell-to-Bell’ cell phone ban. The committee will discuss how this state mandate will impact the district’s existing student cell phone policy, including required exceptions for medical needs, IEPs, and English learners.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 4.A is a discussion on implementing a state-mandated cell phone policy. Monitor how the district drafts its local policy to ensure it aligns with the intent of the law without creating unnecessary loopholes. Re-evaluate when operative language appears.
Policy Lever: State Law Implementation
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✅ Models to Replicate
Local actions worth capturing as model policy.
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| Aligned (LEVEL 6) |
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District to Approve Parent Transportation Flat Rate Program
The Board will vote to approve Policy 810.4, creating a ‘Parent Flat Rate Program’ that offers parents $300 per month to transport their own child in special circumstances. While participation is voluntary, eligibility is determined solely by the district when it is ‘unable to provide transportation’ through its existing services.
How to Capture It
CAPTURE THE MODEL: Item 5.B creates a limited but direct parent-funded transportation option. Secure the final adopted text of Policy 810.4 and add it to the state model policy file as an example of a district-initiated choice program.
✅ Why It Matters: Parent-Directed Funding
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District Leadership
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134 Yardley Ave, Fallsington, PA 19058 |
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America First Policy Institute |