Susq Poll: Education tops list of voters' concerns/ Ed bills head to Senate/ Charter Schools have a friend/Charters denounce grad rate calcs

SUSQUEHANNA POLL

Education tops list of voters' concerns

By Mike Wereschagin
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

For the first time in three years, economic worries aren't the top concern among people in Pennsylvania, a poll finds.

A month after Gov. Tom Corbett proposed cutting state spending for public education by $1 billion, education rose to the top of voters' list of concerns, according to a Susquehanna Polling & Research survey. Twenty-three percent of people said education is their top concern, compared with 19 percent who cited the economy or jobs.

Read more: Education tops list of voters' concerns - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_730877.html#ixzz1IjrvqPx4


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Education bills head to Pa. Senate

By Amy Crawford
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A package of bills designed to free school districts from certain state mandates moved one step closer to becoming law on Tuesday, when the Senate Education Committee recommended 17 of the 18 bills for a full Senate vote.

The batch of bills, sponsored by the committee's Republican and Democratic chairs and several other Republicans, includes legislation that would permit school districts to furlough teachers for economic reasons. Other bills concern requirements for certain employee certifications, reports by districts to the state, and continuing education for teachers.

Read more: Education bills head to Pa. Senate - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_730867.html#ixzz1IjtAtQAW


Charter schools have a friend in the governor's office

Corbett wants to expand the role of charter schools in the state, but public schools say it's at their expense.

By Devon Lash, OF THE MORNING CALL

11:01 p.m. EDT, April 5, 2011

Under the governor's plan to expand charter schools inPennsylvania, taxpayers could lose their ability to say no to new charters while still having to foot the bill.

Rather than having home districts approve new charter schools, Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal — fleshed out last week when Senate Bill 904 was introduced — would create an independent state agency to consider applications for new charter schools and charter renewals. Cyber schools would also move under its purview.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-education-charter-schools-corbett-20110404,0,5065879.story

 

New Pa. graduation rate calculation denounced

By Jodi Weigand
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Charter and cyber school officials say a revised state formula to calculate graduation rates is unfair because it assumes students earn diplomas in four years, and students who struggle academically or socially might need more time to complete their education.

Read more: New Pa. graduation rate calculation denounced - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_730856.html#ixzz1IjtdbZ3s


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