Vouchers, Prisons, Budgets

Voucher Quote of the Day:  We'll take the money but……….

 "Piccola said the law (SB 1 as amended) did not include the PSSA tests specifically because that would require regulating the curriculum of the non-public schools."

http://paindependent.com/2011/04/amended-school-choice-bill-heading-to-senate-floor/

We certainly wouldn't want to force voucher schools taking tax dollars to do anything that might inconvenience or embarrass them, like this article showing that Wisconsin voucher students perform worse than their public school counterparts on statewide tests

From Education Voters PA:

Keep up the contacts with State Senators

Because of your efforts, your Senators heard your concerns about SB 1 and halted its vote in the Senate this week.  This has been real progress but we cannot stop here....we need to make sure they know we support their decision to NOT vote for SB 1.  

Click here to send a message to your legislator urging them to continue to OPPOSE SB 1! When you click through, you'll see a phone number for your Senator.  CALL TODAY and send a written message!

After you call your Senator, please call the following key Senators and urge them to vote NO on SB 1!

Rich Alloway (R-Franklin, Adams):  717-787-4651

Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster):  717-787-4420

Jane Earll (R-Erie):  717-787-8927

Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery):  717-787-3110

Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia):  717-787-9608

LeAnna Washington (D-Montgomery):  717-787-1427

Mary Jo White (R-Venango):  717-787-9684

Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming):  717-787-3280

 

Posted on Thu, Apr. 14, 2011

NAACP blasts U.S. trend for spending more on incarceration than education

By Vernon Clark, Inquirer Staff Writer

In his 1984 presidential run, the Rev. Jesse Jackson took issue with the nation's priorities - spending ever more money on imprisoning people than on educating them.

But with little progress over the decades, the national office of the NAACP raised the issue again last week with a report, "Misplaced Priorities: Under Educate, Over Incarcerate."

To view the full NAACP report, go to http://naacp.3cdn.net/01d6f368edbe135234_bq0m68x5h.pdf  

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20110414_NAACP_blasts_U_S__trend_for_spending_more_on_incarceration_than_education.html

 

It's 'ugly and getting uglier' for public schools

News of Delaware County, Published: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

By Lois Puglionesi, CORRESPONDENT

HAVERFORD TWP. — It was a grim picture of public education in Pennsylvania, according to a legislative report presented last week by Haverford School Board Director Larry Feinberg.
Feinberg, who is also chairman of the Delaware County School Boards Legislative Council and co-chairman of the Keystone State Education Coalition called the situation "ugly and getting uglier."

http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2011/04/13/news_of_delaware_county/news/doc4da5e851002ee186016194.txt?viewmode=default

 

Easton board lists teacher cuts, opts for more talks

Directors say which 160 jobs that would be dropped unless a deal is reached with union.

By Samantha Marcus, OF THE MORNING CALL, 11:13 p.m. EDT, April 13, 2011

A generally congenial atmosphere punctuated by cheers of "Take our money!" turned decidedly tense Wednesday evening as the Easton Area School Board outlined $15 million worth of program cuts and identified 160 full-time teaching positions that would be dropped if the board and union don't reach a settlement.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-school-budget-vote-0413-20110413,0,6054405.story