PA Launches Legal Hotline for Grandparents Raising Grandkids 

Pennsylvania has launched a free statewide legal hotline for residents aged 60 and older who are raising grandchildren.

The service offers custody resources, legal advice, and refers residents to social services.

The service is provided by attorneys from the SeniorLAW Center. 

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Two Scranton Nonprofits Combine to Better Serve People in Need in NEPA 

Friends of the Poor and the Catherine McAuley Center, two Scranton-based nonprofits, are merging to better consolidate resources and serve vulnerable communities in NEPA.

Friends of the Poor has previously focused on addressing food insecurity while the Catherine McAuley Center provided housing for women experiencing homelessness and have collaborated in the past.

Under the new merged organization, goals will also include local support services.

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September 2025 Housing Legislative Update

The state housing budget remains unfinished in Pennsylvania but has several housing initiatives.

Every month, local advocates connect to share stories, information, and goals.

This article details legislative updates from the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.  



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Blending Public, Private Data Offers Many Benefits but Requires Mitigating Risks

As federal public data sources become less certain and more integrated with private datasets, policymaking faces the opportunity to explore collaborative benefits.

However, blending private and public datasets can carry significant disclosure and privacy risks.

The Urban Institute explores a six-step framework to responsibly combine data. 

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A State-Level Perspective on School Spending and Educational Outcomes

Although school spending varies greatly between states, there is not a significant correlation between high spending and better averages on test scores and graduation rates.

Additionally, economically disadvantaged students do not necessarily benefit spending-related outcomes between high and low spending states.

Brookings Research explains that funding alone is not a driver for outcomes and must also be adjusted with structural and institutional constraints in mind.  



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Here’s How Professors are Using AI Chatbots in the Classroom

New data is showing how many college professors are using generative AI for classroom tasks like curriculum development, lesson planning, and grading.

AI can save time and increase productivity for operations but still requires human oversight for tools regarding grading and curriculum content.

NPR discusses how professors are increasingly using AI tools, weighing benefits and risks for academic materials and students. 



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