District FAQs

Q.) What does “educating the whole child” mean?
A) Educating the whole child is an educational approach that acknowledges the interconnections between children’s social, emotional, cognitive and academic development, as well as their physical and mental health. Whole-child-focused education prioritizes the full scope of a child’s developmental needs to ensure that every child reaches their full potential.

Q.) How does the school personalize learning for individual students?
A.) The Canon-McMillan School District is committed to providing a personalized and comprehensive educational experience that supports the academic, social, creative and career development of every student. Personalization begins with options like the Canon-McMillan Cyber Academy, which offers flexible online learning pathways tailored to individual student needs, including both asynchronous and synchronous instruction, as well as access to certified content teachers and tutoring.

At the elementary level, CMSD implements a Structured Literacy Program for grades K-6, delivering explicit, systematic instruction in foundational literacy skills. This ensures students receive targeted instruction based on their learning level. Additionally, Special Education Services and Gifted Support Programs provide individualized learning plans and enrichment or acceleration opportunities to meet the unique needs of every learner.

At the secondary level, CMSD offers a range of personalized academic and career-readiness pathways. Students have access to College in the High School (CHS) courses and dual enrollment opportunities through partnerships with local colleges and universities. These options allow students to earn college credit while still in high school, preparing them academically and financially for postsecondary success.
CMSD also partners with local Career and Technical Centers (CTCs) to provide hands-on, industry-aligned training in fields such as healthcare, trades, culinary arts and networking. These real-world learning experiences lead to certifications, work-based learning opportunities, and direct pathways to employment or continued education.

Beyond core academics, CMSD is dedicated to nurturing the whole child by offering rich arts and music programming. Students can participate in visual arts, band and choir, all of which encourage creativity, collaboration and confidence. These programs are embedded into the curriculum and supported by a wide array of elective offerings.

By integrating technology, structured supports, college and career readiness opportunities, a robust music and arts program and rigorous academic programming, Canon-McMillan School District ensures that every student is not only academically prepared but also personally empowered for success in college, career and life.

Q.) What are the school's policies on technology and its use in the classroom?
A.) Canon-McMillan has a 1:1 technology policy, which means the school district equips each student with a device to facilitate seamless online learning at school and home. Students are prohibited from using cellphones in the classroom, unless strictly authorized by their teacher and used as an educational tool. 
 

Q.) What are the District’s policies on discipline, and how are they enforced?
A.) Your child’s building principal has the authority to assign discipline to students, subject to the District's policies, rules and regulations. Discipline policies vary based on the student’s age and are implemented to maintain an orderly educational environment that allows every student the best opportunity to learn.

Please refer to your child’s school’s student handbook for specific details on discipline policies.
High School Handbook
Middle School Handbook
Intermediate School Handbook
Elementary School Handbook

Q.) What procedures are in place for addressing emergencies?
A.) Our district regularly conducts safety procedure training on various occasions.

Students are trained on safety procedures to follow in the event of an evacuation, as well as barricade and lockdown procedures. These skills are practiced through drills and scenarios. We encourage you to discuss with your child the importance of this training and the integral role that our students play in ensuring the safety of our school. 

While we understand that it can be challenging to talk about school violence with children of any age, it is essential to open and maintain a dialogue with your child about the importance of ALICE, (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) training. For some students, practicing this drill can initiate fear and worry. Both school personnel and parents can help alleviate anxiety around practicing this drill by listening to and discussing their concerns, thereby establishing a sense of safety and security. 

Q.) What background checks are required for the faculty and staff of the District?
A.) Pennsylvania School Law requires that all applicants for employment in public and private schools, as well as employees of independent contractors seeking business with public and private schools, and student-teacher candidates, undergo background checks if they will have direct contact with students.

The following three background checks are required:
Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance
Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)

Find information about obtaining clearances, associated laws and regulations, answers to frequently asked questions, and additional resources below. 
Act 34 - PA State Police Criminal Background Check
Act 114 - FBI Fingerprinting
Act 151 - Child Abuse History Clearance

Q.) What is the CENTEGIX CrisisAlert Button System?
A.) The CENTEGIX CrisisAlert is a wearable safety solution designed to empower staff and ensure rapid emergency response in schools. Each staff member at Canon-McMillan wears a discreet badge with a single-button alert system that can be used for everyday incidents or emergencies. A quick press activates a staff alert, instantly notifying law enforcement and initiating the lockdown protocols. The CENTEGIX helps administrators monitor safety procedures, giving staff, teachers and students a better peace of mind.
 

Q.) What support services are available for students with disabilities (IEPs, etc.)?
A) Canon-McMillan has an intervention process in place to address students' social and emotional needs during the pre-referral process. Canon-McMillan utilizes a Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) as a universal screener for all students. Intervention services are offered based on the screening results for internalizing and externalizing behaviors. We hope to meet student needs earlier and reduce the number of students needing to be evaluated for social or emotional services.

Q.) What is the intervention process at Canon-McMillan to help struggling learners? 
A.) Canon-McMillan utilizes rigorous intervention processes to help struggling learners before they are identified as needing special education support through RTII/Well Check at the elementary and intermediate levels and Pupil Focus at the middle and high school levels. During Pupil Focus/Well Check, school-based teams hold monthly meetings in each building to discuss any at-risk students who require a higher level of service than what is currently being provided. These students are offered additional intervention through classroom and school accommodations. They are tracked over time to see if the recommended accommodations benefit the student, helping them to achieve success within their current programming. 

Q.) What kind of behavioral support services are available?
A.) Regarding behavioral support, Canon-McMillan has fully implemented School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) in all our district-wide elementary schools. More specifically, two of our elementary schools have been honored for sustaining Tier I supports and implementing Tier II. A third elementary school has been honored for implementing Tier I at fidelity. 

New within the past few years, Canon-McMillan has created and implemented a Behavior Coaching process for all staff, focusing on kindergarten through sixth grade. When the staff believe that a student's behavior requires consultation or that they need to modify their current classroom behavior management plan, they will submit a referral for a behavioral coach to visit their building and work directly with the student. These services include observations, consultation meetings, formal recommendations, on-site coaching, informal recommendations and fidelity checks. This has been significant in helping our staff learn how to accommodate students within their classrooms better and has reduced the number of referrals for special education testing due to student behaviors. 

For more information on special education, see our special education page or contact Rachel Beppler, executive assistant, at beppler@cmsd.k12.pa.us.

Q.) What mental health resources are available for students?

A.)The Canon-McMillan School District highly regards student mental health. Counseling departments and school psychologists work together to provide specialized support to students. 

Chill Rooms are a key feature in several buildings that support student mental health by providing a safe and comfortable space in school for students to manage stress and anxiety. The rooms offer ambient lighting, relaxation exercises and a supportive environment. 

Furthermore, the District proudly displays mental health resources on its website, including the CMSD Virtual Wellness Center, a digital hub featuring creative mental health resources such as healthy lifestyle guides, guided meditations and relaxation exercises, coloring and creativity games, and apps, among others. Children, teenagers and adults can utilize these free resources with seamless access through the District website.

Q.) How can I get involved with my child’s school?
A) You can get involved by visiting each school’s website or emailing your building secretary for information on PTA involvement and meeting details. We encourage all parents to attend the monthly Parent Council meetings to stay informed and involved in the school’s activities.

Q.) How is teacher-parent communication structured?
A) Teacher-parent communication is structured to provide each student with individualized attention. We recently switched to MyPowerHub, a centralized communication platform for Canon-McMillan schools that simplifies access to grades, assignments, announcements, calendars, and more. Designed for parents, students, teachers and administrators, it eliminates the need to navigate multiple systems by consolidating key school tools into a single, easy-to-use hub. The platform supports secure messaging, two-way parent-teacher communication, and mobile access on both Android and iOS devices, providing real-time updates. MyPowerHub helps families stay informed and connected, while also giving district staff a streamlined way to share important information. 

Q.) How do I become a volunteer at my child’s school?
A.) There are many opportunities to become a volunteer at the Canon-McMillan School District. You can visit our Volunteers page to learn more about how to start volunteering and the clearances or background checks required.