The start of a new school year is also a great opportunity to highlight the work we have done together to strengthen education in Pennsylvania. Several initiatives I championed were signed into law as part of the 2026-27 state budget, including my recess bill, my BMI screenings bill, and the now fully funded Student Teacher Stipend Program. These new laws will ensure that students have time for play and movement, protect student privacy, and help build a stronger and more diverse pipeline of future educators. 

We are also highlighting the positive impact Pennsylvania’s adequacy funding has had for school districts across the commonwealth, including right here in our own backyard, where increased funding is producing real, measurable progress in the Coatesville Area School District. After decades of chronic underfunding by the state, Coatesville enters this school year with real momentum, and the district’s success shows what becomes possible when we fund our schools fairly and give every child the resources they deserve. 

Otten Initiatives Passed Alongside 2026-27 State Budget 

The 2026-27 budget and the Education Code bill that passed alongside the budget included my recess bill, BMI screenings bill, and full funding for the Student Teacher Stipend program, marking important progress for students and schools across Pennsylvania. 

• School Free-Play Recess Periods: One of the first bills I ever introduced, and one I have brought back every session since 2019, has finally become law. Pennsylvania will now guarantee daily recess for all K–5 students. Recess plays an essential role in children’s social development, physical and mental health, and ability to focus and learn in the classroom. Yet until now, schools in Pennsylvania were not required to provide recess, and we’ve seen recess periods reduced to make room for more instructional time. I am excited to know that every child will have time protected each day to move, play, and recharge with friends. 

• Eliminating School BMI Screenings: This year’s education code includes the children’s privacy legislation I introduced this session to address long‑standing concerns with school BMI practices. Too often, students were weighed in public settings, creating uncomfortable situations and exposing private health information. The new law requires height and weight measurements to be taken confidentially, and schools will no longer calculate or report BMI. This change ensures that student health information is handled with care and protects children from unnecessary stigma. 

• Student Teacher Stipends: The Student Teacher Stipend program, which I first proposed in 2023, was hugely popular when it launched in April 2024, with demand far exceeding the program’s initial funding allocation. In this year’s budget, the Student Teacher Stipend program is fully funded at $40 million for the fiscal year, ensuring that every prospective new teacher will receive financial support during their student teaching placement. This investment strengthens the teacher pipeline and expands access to the profession by helping future educators afford their required training semester. 

School Adequacy Funding brings increased investments; measurable results 

After the past four years of historic state investments in public education, and three years into funding based on targeted adequacy formulas, school districts across the commonwealth are seeing measurable results.  

A report from PA Schools Work shows that across Pennsylvania, increased state funding is giving school districts the resources they need to help students learn, grow, and thrive. From reopening elementary school libraries to reducing class sizes to strengthening early childhood and STEM programs, adequacy funding is making a real difference in classrooms and communities. These improvements reflect what becomes possible when we fund our schools fairly and give every child the resources they deserve. 

We recently had a chance to speak with Dr. Anthony Rybarczyk, superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District, to talk about what these investments mean for Coatesville’s students and families. 

A recent webinar hosted by PA Schools Work, the Public Interest Law Center, and Children First PA explained that three years in, roughly $1.5 billion has been delivered through the adequacy formula. But we're only about one-third of the way through, as more than $3 billion in adequacy gaps remain. Inflation is eating into progress, and the formula does not address funding for school facilities, where students and teachers across the state still contend with aging buildings, leaking roofs, and overcrowded classrooms. 

We have more work to do, but this is a moment of real progress, and these successes are a reminder of what becomes possible when we continue investing in every student’s success. 

Click here to watch our discussion with the Coatesville Area School District. 

PennDOT Update: Boot Road over Amtrak Bridge Replacement Project 

Earlier this week, my team attended a PennDOT briefing convened by Senator Carolyn Comitta to provide an update on the Boot Road bridge over the Amtrak line. While the project itself is in East Caln Township, I know that the extended closure and detour affect residents of Downingtown Borough and surrounding communities as well.  

Please visit the Boot Road project page on the PennDOT website to learn more about the reason for the extended closure and to check for updates. PennDOT will continue to work with local borough and township officials to make every attempt to minimize the impact of the closure and detour on local residents.       

PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES: 

PA DEP Public Comment on PFAS 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is accepting public comments on revised draft permits for biosolids producers to prevent PFOS and PFOA from ending up on farm fields. 

The proposed new safeguards are designed to prevent PFAS “forever chemicals” from polluting farm fields and groundwater. The changes would require wastewater treatment facilities to monitor PFOS and PFOA in biosolids for the first time and take steps to reduce contamination when levels exceed certain thresholds. 

PFAS chemicals have been linked to numerous health issues, and these changes are intended to give farmers confidence that the biosolids they use are safe and to protect soil and water resources across Pennsylvania. 

You can submit a comment through the DEP eComment platform or email: ecomment@pa.gov (Be sure to include your name and address). The permits open for comment are PAG-07 (General Permit for Beneficial Use of Exceptional Quality Biosolids) and PAG-08 (General Permit for Beneficial Use of Biosolids).  

•  Comments must be submitted by September 2, 2026, at 11:59 PM. 

For more information, see the public comment announcement on the DEP website. 

 
Uwchlan Township Public Comment Deadline Extended for Lionville Station Road 

The Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors will continue its hearing on Lionville Station Road on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Building.  

The deadline for written public comment has again been extended to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Comments should be submitted to: LSR@uwchlan.com. 

For more information, please visit the township’s Lionville Station Road landing page.  

Please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue. 

Upcoming Events 

FREE Paper-Only Shred Event

Join Team Otten for a FREE Paper-Only Shred Event! 

Bring your confidential documents to be destroyed! Each car will be limited to 4 file-size boxes. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, or cardboard (plan to take your boxes home with you).

The shredding event will take place in the parking lot of the North Brandywine Middle School, 256 Reeceville Rd, Coatesville, PA.

This event is first-come, first served. When the truck is full, the event will end. All shredded paper will be recycled!

If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s district office at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net .

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended 

The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. The Department of Revenue began sending rebates on July 1, so submit your application now to get your rebate as soon as possible!

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. 

Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!  

For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office. 

SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals 

If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment. 

My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.  

2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services 

211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations. 

2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible. 

Visit 211sepa.org for more information. 

Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8 

Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional. 

Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges. 

Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515. 

Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources. 

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help. 

My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help! 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Danielle Friel Otten 
State Representative, 
155th Legislative District 

District Office

631 North Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259

Pennsylvania State Capitol

34 East Wing

PO Box 202155
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2155

(717) 783-5009