Phone and Text Alerts for Parents
Penn Manor School District uses the Sapphire phone and text communications service for rapid notification in the event of early school closings and other emergencies. Sapphire is occasionally used for non-emergency communications and school building updates.
The notification system shares contact information with the Sapphire student information system. You may submit your updated phone numbers and email addresses via your Sapphire Community Portal account. It’s important to update your phone numbers and email addresses in the Community Portal so that you receive emergency calls, automated attendance alerts, and building announcements. For instructions, please see the alerts guide
Note: the system is unable to call office phone numbers that include an extension.
Early morning delays and school closings are also posted to the PM mobile app. Download the app for Android or iPhone/iPad.
Media Notices
The district posts weather related closing notices to local TV stations, LNP and Twitter @pennmanor.net.
Parent Title I Right-to-Know Information
As Required by The Elementary and Secondary Education Assistance (ESEA) [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)] and the Every Student Succeeds Act [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)]
August 30, 2021
Dear Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s):
Your child attends a Penn Manor school that receives Federal Title I funds to assist students in meeting state achievement standards. Throughout the school year, we will be providing you with important information about this law and your child’s education. This letter lets you know about your right to request information about the qualifications of the classroom staff working with your child.
At Penn Manor, we are very proud of our teachers and feel they are ready for the coming school year, and are prepared to give your child a high-quality education. As a Title I School, we must meet federal regulations related to teacher qualifications as defined in ESEA. These regulations allow you to learn more about your child’s teachers’ training and credentials. We are happy to provide this information to you. At any time you may ask:
- Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching,
- Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and
- What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher hold, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.
You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA), includes additional right-to- know requests. At any time parents and family members can request:
- Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, and
- Information on required assessments that includes the followin:
- subject matter tested,
- purpose of the test,
- source of the requirement (if applicable),
- amount of time it takes students to complete the test, and
- time and format of disseminating results.
Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all of our teachers and paraprofessionals meet applicable Pennsylvania state requirements.
If you have any questions about your child’s assignment to a teacher or paraprofessional, please contact your building’s principal or email me at carly.mcpherson@pennmanor.net.
Sincerely,
Carly V. McPherson
Federal Programs Coordinator