This May, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is excited to present the Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge as part of Remake Learning Days. This initiative offers K-12 students across Pennsylvania the opportunity to enhance their career readiness portfolios by participating in hands-on learning events. From exploring robotics and cartoon drawing to learning from NASA scientists, these events are designed to foster employability skills and expose students to diverse career paths. By attending these innovative experiences and completing a digital artifact survey, students can earn badges for their career portfolios. Schools that achieve 100 badges or more will be awarded a Career Ready PA banner. Join us in celebrating and preparing our future leaders for success!

Learn more about the challenge and registering your school to participate by attending an informational webinar on Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Register for the Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge Webinar to get the link to join.

If you have any questions, reach out to your Region 8 Career Ready PA Liaison, Eric Lech at leche@cliu.org.

Distracted driving has received a great deal of attention over the last decade. Although much of the attention and research has concentrated on cell phones and texting, that is just one of many potential distractions behind the wheel.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as Any activity that diverts attention from driving:

• Including talking or texting on your phone,
• Eating and drinking,
• Talking to people in your vehicle,
• Fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system.
• Anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving”

Distractions can take many forms. Some activities may take a driver’s eyes off the road (visual distraction), the driver’s mind off the task of driving (cognitive distraction), or the driver’s hands off the wheel (manual distraction). Some behaviors, including texting, combine all three categories of distraction.

NHTSA estimates that distracted driving contributed to 3,522 fatalities during 2021, or 8% of all traffic fatalities.

This link, Understanding the Problem, will take you to information and resources that you can use in your classes to emphasize the dangers of driving distracted.

Pennsylvania Parent Webinar Recording

We recently held a parent webinar where we discussed how the SAT helps students prepare for their future. We chatted with PA students and a parent about the benefits of the SAT, including connecting with colleges, majors, career opportunities, and accessing over $300M in scholarships. Please share this recording with your families to help them understand the importance of the SAT!

Recording Here

Connect with Education Professionals at the AP Annual Conference!

The AP Annual Conference brings together thousands of education professionals from the AP and Pre-AP communities. The conference features workshops, content-driven sessions, and networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with new and experienced teachers of all 40 AP courses, AP chief readers, AP coordinators, counselors, superintendents, and principals.

Location: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Dates: July 16–18, 2025
Register here: Register

Inside AP: Exclusive Insights with Trevor Packer

AP coordinators and all educators, this episode is for you! Listen in as Karli Tsuge sits down for an exclusive, one-on-one conversation with Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement Program. Together, they dive deep into innovative changes, impactful decisions, and what lies ahead for students and educators alike.

Watch/Listen Here

Preparing for Digital AP Exams: Key Resources and Tools

Share the site below with students to help them prepare for digital testing, try a test preview in the Bluebook testing app, and understand accommodations for digital AP Exams.

Readiness Link Here

PDE Assessment & Accountability Webpage

Reimagining Test Prep: Shifting to Student-Led Review Strategies

For Parents & Families: Help Your Child Prepare for Standardized Tests

Registrations are now open for the following Student Competitions:

• Reading Olympics Registration

• STEM K'nex Design Competition Registration