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Dear Neighbor,
It was wonderful to see so many neighbors at the polls on Tuesday as voters across Chester County carried out their civic duty. Our community is stronger when people show up, make their voices heard, and take part in the democratic process. I’m grateful to the county election officials, poll workers, and the many volunteers in every precinct whose hard work helped ensure a smooth and orderly Election Day. Their commitment makes it possible for all of us to participate with confidence and trust in the process.
For election information, including the certified results from Tuesday’s primary, please visit the Chester County Voter Services website.
Coatesville Schools are “on the rise”
A new study from researchers at Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth highlights several Philly-area school districts that are making real progress in recovering from the academic setbacks caused by the pandemic. While Pennsylvania has its work cut out, ranking 21st in math recovery among 38 states studied and 27th in reading recovery among 35 states studied, two of our local districts were singled out as examples of schools on the rise. Students in the Coatesville Area School District are ahead of the nationwide curve, showing meaningful improvements in reading, while the Downingtown Area School District is outperforming similar districts in its post-pandemic math scores.
According to the report, which was led by the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, Coatesville students are learning 1.09 grade levels per year, which places the district in the 78th percentile nationwide for learning growth. That means Coatesville students are gaining more ground each year than students in comparable districts across the country. The report also shows that this growth is consistent across income levels within the district, with both low-income and non-low-income students learning at rates above the national benchmark. And while chronic absenteeism has risen sharply across Pennsylvania, Coatesville is one of the few districts where absenteeism has improved, dropping by 4.8 percentage points even as statewide rates increased.
Coatesville’s successes underscore the importance of targeted, intentional, student-centered funding and the ability for funding to drive meaningful, measurable improvements in student outcomes.
Coming out of the pandemic, Coatesville was able to strengthen its reading instruction by leveraging federal ESSER relief funds, as well as targeted literacy grants spearheaded by Senator Katie Muth and funded through Pennsylvania’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Importantly, the district has been able to continue and expand these programs thanks to state funding increases over the last two budget cycles, in the form of adequacy payments and Ready to Learn Block Grants. These budget line items translate directly to classrooms staffed with reading specialists, teachers equipped with better tools, and children who got the help they needed before falling behind.
This is exactly what was at stake in the landmark Pennsylvania school funding lawsuit decided in 2023, when the Commonwealth Court found our state's school funding system to be unconstitutional and discriminatory. Coatesville's progress shows what becomes possible when we stop underfunding our kids.
If this is what Coatesville can accomplish in just a few short years after decades of underfunding, imagine what becomes possible as Pennsylvania continues making historic investments in our public schools. Continued support will allow Coatesville, Downingtown, and school districts around the state to maintain this momentum, strengthen academic outcomes, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive.
There is much work to be done, but this is a moment to celebrate and a call to keep fighting for the resources every student deserves.
PUC Alerts Consumers of Changes to Summer Electric Prices
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has announced that electric generation prices for all PUC‑regulated utilities will change on June 1. These updates occur twice a year and affect the “Price to Compare,” which is the default supply rate for customers who do not shop for a competitive supplier.
Many households have seen higher utility bills over the past year, and families across our region are watching their energy costs closely as we head into the summer months. During periods of extreme heat, electric bills can rise quickly because air conditioners and cooling systems run longer and more frequently. Understanding how both price changes and increased usage affect your bill can help you plan ahead.
What This Means for Consumers: Beginning June 1, utilities will update their “Price to Compare,” which is the default supply rate for customers who do not shop for a competitive supplier. Even small adjustments can have an impact during hot weather.
At the same time, summer usage typically increases as cooling systems work harder. For many households, higher usage is the biggest driver of summer bills, even more than the rate change itself.
How You Can Prepare Now:
Consumers who cannot resolve billing or service issues directly with their utility or electric generation supplier may contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380 for assistance, consumer education, and additional information about available utility programs. Learn more about these summer rate increases here. |
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Memorial Day Weekend: A Kickoff to America250
On Memorial Day, we pause to honor the service members who gave their lives in defense of our country. We remember their courage, we honor the families who carry their memory, and we reflect on the cost of the freedoms we enjoy. May their sacrifice guide us in how we serve our communities and care for one another.
As this weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer, it also begins the celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial. Our veterans’ sacrifice has made it possible for us to commemorate 250 years of our nation’s story, and as your Representative, I am honored to help write the next chapters of progress. I encourage you to thank the veterans in your lives, honor those who have passed, and reflect on how each of us can continue to strengthen the promise of America.
This spring and summer, our region will welcome some of the countries and the world’s most significant athletic events, including the PGA Championship, the MLB All-Star Game, and the FIFA World Cup. While these events will bring visitors from across the globe, they also highlight something we already know well: Southeastern Pennsylvania has so much more to offer. From historic landscapes to vibrant communities, this is a place where the nation’s past and present meet.
We are fortunate to live in a region with deep connection to the American Revolution. We are steps from the site of the Battle of the Brandywine, a short drive from Valley Forge, and just outside Philadelphia, where our nation’s founding document was written. Southeastern Pennsylvania is where so much of our shared history began, and this anniversary offers an opportunity to revisit and celebrate that legacy.
There is so much to discover and explore, so start planning your adventure today. Visit America250PA and America250Chesco for events and sites near you! |
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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. |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. Rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025 will be distributed beginning 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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My district office will be closed on Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen at 9 AM on Tuesday, May 26 to assist you with any state-related services.
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! |
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District Office 631 North Pottstown Pike |
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Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing PO Box 202155 (717) 783-5009 |
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