Survey of 940 PA School Districts on Impacts of Marcellus

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Penn State Cooperative Extension recently published a new fact sheet with results and conclusions from a survey of 940 school districts about Marcellus Shale gas development and what it means for Pennsylvania’s schools (a copy is embedded below). So far, in areas with a lot of drilling, there’s been little in the way of new revenue for local schools, although those areas have benefited economically in general. Some respondents expressed concern about drop-out rates increasing as students leave to take advantage of high-paying jobs. Road damage and traffic congestion are also problems in some areas affecting school buses. But it’s not all bad news for schools.

The opening paragraph of the report:

This research brief discusses findings from a survey of 940 school district superintendents, high school principals, high school directors of curriculum and instruction, and directors of Career and Technology Centers (CTCs) across the 17 intermediate units located within Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale region. The survey data are supplemented by data from interviews and focus groups with 50 educational and community leaders across Pennsylvania’s northern tier in areas of intensive gas drilling. The purpose of the research was to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with Marcellus shale gas development as perceived by educational leaders.

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