Top Education Stories of 2025: From Test Scores to Board Controversy

As educational challenges persist in Pennsylvania, schools grapple with a complex landscape of funding, policy changes, and post-pandemic recovery efforts. Key stories from the past year highlight significant developments across the state’s educational system.

From funding reforms to policy debates, these are the pivotal education stories of 2025.

Pennsylvania School Report Card

Sarah Hofius Hall

WVIA News

Students listen in Annamae Martinelli’s classroom at Frances Willard Elementary Schoool.

Even five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania are still striving to match pre-pandemic test performance levels. A WVIA News special report highlighted that most districts have yet to achieve those benchmarks, based on an examination of 500 districts statewide.

Rural School Leaders Demand Equal Funding

Students work in the library at Montrose Junior-Senior High School. The superintendent of the Montrose Area School District is advocating for fair, adequate funding for small, rural districts.

Small, rural school districts are calling for a reassessment of Pennsylvania’s education funding formula. They argue that despite the new state education funding largely benefiting historically underfunded districts, their needs remain unmet. Leaders are also advocating for cyber charter school reforms to ensure equitable distribution of resources. The 2025-26 budget approved in November introduces modifications to cyber charter funding.

Union Leader’s Departure Marks End of an Era

Rosemary Boland retired as president of the Scranton Federation of Teachers on July 1, after serving as president for 20 years.

After a prominent career that began in 1969, Rosemary Boland stepped down as the president of the Scranton Federation of Teachers. Known for her advocacy for children and educators alike, Boland retired on July 1, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and dedication.

Transgender Student Policies Ignite Debate

Jill Freeman urges the Berwick Area School Board to reject policies that she said would harm LGBTQ+ students.

Debate erupted in Columbia County as the Berwick Area School Board approved policies affecting transgender students. Contentious meetings in August and September saw community members express concerns that these policies could endanger student lives. The policies dictate how staff should address students by their chosen names and pronouns and specify bathroom and locker room usage. Advocates argue that these measures, along with a previous ban on the Pride flag, are harmful to LGBTQ+ students.

Scam Victim Shares Her Story

Vanessa White Fernandes received a phone call in August, from a person claiming to be with the Lackawanna County sheriff's office. Over the course of three weeks, she sent $50,000 to the scammers. — Vanessa White Fernandes received a phone call in August, from a person claiming to be with the Lackawanna County sheriff’s office. Over the course of three weeks, she sent $50,000 to the scammers.

Vanessa White Fernandes was deceived by scammers who claimed affiliation with the Lackawanna County sheriff’s office, demanding fines for a missed court date. Over three weeks, she lost over $50,000. Hoping to alert others, she shared her experience publicly, although police informed her there was little they could do.

Additional Highlights

Penn State’s decision to potentially close regional campuses, including Hazleton, Schuylkill, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre, sparked anxiety. The Board of Trustees resolved to close Wilkes-Barre after the 2027 semester.

James Scholten Jr. of the Wyoming Valley Challenger team had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch of the Caribbean vs. Asia Pacific game.

WVIA introduced the Beyond the Scoreboard feature, sharing stories like the retirement of Lackawanna College football Coach Mark Duda, a 58-year-old freshman on the Lycoming College football team, and the Wyoming Valley Challenger baseball team’s journey to the Little League World Series.

The Wilkes-Barre Area’s Learning Academy at G.A.R. Memorial Middle School provides targeted support starting at 7:15 a.m., contributing to increased student achievement. With additional state funding, this program could expand its impact.

Tune in daily at WVIA.org for “Year in Review 2025,” a week-long series recounting the year’s top stories through New Year’s Day.

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