Daily postings
from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 1500
Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators,
legislators, members of the press and a broad array of education advocacy
organizations via emails, website, Facebook and Twitter.
These daily
emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us
on Twitter at @lfeinberg
REMEMBER TO VOTE! TODAY TUESDAY, APRIL 24th
WIKIPEDIA: “Astroturfing is a form of advocacy in support of a political, organizational, or corporate agenda, designed to
give the appearance of a "grassroots"
movement. The goal of such campaigns is to disguise the efforts of a political
or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to another
political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or event. The
term is a derivation of AstroTurf, a
brand of synthetic carpeting designed to look like natural grass.”
Here’s a
classic example; make sure to check out the chart in the link below……
Right-Wing,
Anti-Public Education Group Funds Gay, Muslim Democrat as Stealth Candidate in
PA House District
How far is the school privatization juggernaut willing to go
to disguise and promote their agenda? The Betsy DeVos-led American
Federation for Children, through its PA affiliate Students First and its
funding recipients, is financing the campaign of Fatimah Muhammad. She is an
openly gay, African American, Muslim candidate for State Representative in Pennsylvania
Campaign finance
reports show that Students First and its grantees and employees have provided
$62,639 dollars of Fatimah Muhammad’s total receipts of $76,030 dollars.
See the chart in the link below.
Posted: Tue, Apr. 24, 2012 , 5:12 AM
Phila. School District plan
includes restructuring and school closings
By Kristen A. Graham
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Philadelphia School
District
Archdiocese joins Great Schools Compact
The Archdiocese of
Philadelphia has officially joined the Great Schools Compact, with Mayor Nutter
calling it a "historic" move toward cooperation by two once-rival
systems – both of which face shrinking enrollment, excess buildings, dwindling
resources, and questions of quality.
Instead of considering
themselves competitors, the two systems will cooperate in an effort to increase
the number of “high quality” seats in neighborhood schools, Nutter said, and
give parents more choices.
National Resolution on High-Stakes Testing
This resolution is modeled on the resolution passed by more than 360 Texas
school boards as of April 23, 2012 . It was written by Advancement Project; Asian
American Legal Defense and Education Fund; FairTest; Forum for Education and Democracy;
MecklenburgACTS; Deborah Meier; NAACP
Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.;National
Education Association; New
York Performance Standards Consortium; Tracy Novick; Parents Across America; Parents
United for Responsible Education - Chicago;Diane Ravitch; Race to Nowhere; Time Out From Testing; and United Church of Christ
Justice and Witness Ministries.
Organizations and individuals are encouraged to publicly endorse it
(see link below). Organizations should modify it as needed for their local
circumstances while also endorsing this national version.
School daze: Cuts to basic
educational programs leave state with less hope for future
Published:
Monday, April 23,
2012 , 6:01 AM
No one has looked to Harrisburg
It turns out, however, that school
districts and taxpayers throughout central Pennsylvania
would do well to study what has gone on with Harrisburg School District
For city schools, there are only bad
choices available. The elimination of kindergarten, because it is not mandated,
is now on the table. So are the arts and music programs. Pay to play for
district sports is being considered. Bigger class sizes already are happening.
Core programs are on the chopping block. Even if the district raised property
taxes to the maximum amount allowed, it would barely pay for the increased
pension costs.
Right-Wing Campaign to Privatize Public Ed Takes Hold in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania
Alternet by Daniel
Denvir April 23,
2012
A nationwide movement
to promote school vouchers, funded by a coterie of wealthy corporate and Wall
Street donors, has once again made Pennsylvania
It’s All About the Money,
Money, Money
Yinzercation blog— APRIL 23, 2012
With Election Day
tomorrow and politics on our minds, we might be reminded of the advice from
Deep Throat, the secret informant in the Watergate scandal, who famously said,
“Follow the money.” At least he did in the movie version. Right now with
corporate money bankrolling our elections and paying for specific legislation,
we would be wise to follow the money trail in education policy. It turns out
that the facts are stranger than any movie fiction when it comes to politics
and public education.
There are two groups
you should know about, both pouring gobs of money into Pennsylvania
Changing the Classroom | Putting a number on teachers' value not
an easy task
By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh
This is one in an
occasional series on teaching in Pittsburgh
It's a vexing and
critical question for teachers, parents and students: How much does a teacher
contribute to a student's success? For
more than two decades, educators and researchers have been trying to answer
that question with a variety of "value-added" methods.
Charter
schools should be viewed as public education allies
Post-Gazette Letter to the Editor April 24, 2012 12:00 am
By BOB FAYFICH, Executive Director, Pennsylvania
I find the initiatives and
perceptions of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the district representatives
quoted in Eleanor Chute's article ("School boards group offers aid to charters"
April 16) ironic, misinformed and unfortunate for the children of Pennsylvania.
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012
Radnor Middle
School named a 2012 Green Ribbon School Award winner
SAVE THE DATE May 14, 2012 3:30 - 4:30
PM
WEBINAR
UPDATE ON PENNSYLVANIA
Please join Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
and the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units for an update on
statewide efforts to ensure every student in our public schools benefits from
an effective teacher in the classroom. We'll follow up on the well-received
"Making the Grade" town hall we hosted last November by providing the
latest news on:
- The Pennsylvania Department of Education's
ongoing teacher evaluation pilot program, including plans for
the next phase of the pilot
- Use of federal "Race to the Top"
funds and School Improvement Grants to improve teacher evaluations
The hour-long webinar will feature updates from PPC President and CEO
Joan Benso and Carolyn Dumaresq, deputy secretary for PDE's Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education
Mark the date now and we'll send you information
soon on how to register for this important webinar.
Posted: Mon, Apr. 23, 2012 , 3:01 AM
At high-poverty schools, lack of stability starts at the top
By Kristen A. Graham Inquirer
Staff Writer
L.P. Hill Elementary
in Strawberry Mansion
Parent Dawn Hawkins
says that has led to real turmoil at Hill, where virtually all students live
below the poverty line and stable leadership is crucial.
New
battle brewing on property taxes
By Laura Olson / Post-Gazette Harrisburg
STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETS
Here are more than 400 articles since
January 23rd detailing budget cuts, program cuts, staffing cuts and
tax increases being discussed by local school districts
The PA House Democratic Caucus has been tracking daily press coverage on
school district budgets statewide:
http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education
Stand Up for Public Education!
East Penn Education Forum on April 25th
7:00 – 9:00 pm
What’s at Stake? Discover how high-stakes testing and funding
cuts are impacting our kids and schools.
Hosted by: East Penn Invested Citizens (EPIC), Salisbury Parent Advisory,
Allentown Parent Groups and a coalition of Lehigh Valley Parents
Where: East Penn Administration Building School Board Meeting Room, 800 Pine Street
Details and Registration: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3372006763/efbnen
Has your board considered this draft resolution yet?
PSBA Sample Board
Resolution regarding the budget
Please consider bringing this sample resolution to
the members of your board.
http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc
PA Partnerships for
Children – Take action on the Governor’s Budget
The governor’s budget plan cuts funding for proven
programs like Child Care Works, Keystone STARS and the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship
program, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance
Program. These are among the most cost-effective
investments we can make in education. Gov. Corbett’s budget plan also runs counter
to a pledge he made when he ran for governor in 2010. He acknowledged the
benefits of early childhood education and promised to increase funding to
double the number of children who would benefit from early learning
opportunities.
We need your help to tell lawmakers: if you cut
these programs – you close the door to early learning! Click here to tell your state legislators to fund early childhood education programs
at the same level they approved for this year’s budget.
Education Voters PA –
Take action on the Governor’s Budget
The Governor’s proposal starts the process,
but it isn’t all decided: our legislators can play an important role in
standing up for our priorities. Last year, public outcry helped prevent
nearly $300 million in additional cuts. We heard from the Governor, and
we know where he stands. Now,
we need to ask our legislators: what is your position on supporting our
schools?
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