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! TUESDAY, APRIL 24th
Tuesday,
April 24 is Primary Election Day
in Pennsylvania
Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Click here to find your polling place. During the Primary, registered members of the
Republican and Democrat parties are eligible to vote to nominate the candidates
that will represent their party on the ballot in the November General Election. ALL
voters will be required to show a photo ID before voting at a polling place in
the November 2012 Election. Click here for
more information on the new Voter ID law.
Teach the Books, Touch the Heart
New York Times Opinion
Published: April
20, 2012
By CLAIRE NEEDELL
HOLLANDER, An English teacher at a public middle school in Manhattan
FRANZ KAFKA wrote that
“a book must be the ax for the frozen sea inside us.” I once shared this
quotation with a class of seventh graders, and it didn’t seem to require any
explanation.
……Of course no teacher
disputes the necessity of being able to read for information. But if literature
has no place in these tests, and if preparation for the tests becomes the sole
goal of education, then the reading of literature will go out of fashion in our
schools.
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012
Democrat backed by
anti-abortion rich people sends pro-choice mailer decrying GOP “war on women”
Things are getting even weirder than normal in Philadelphia
This week things just took a turn for the straight-up outer-space bizarre: Dick and Betsy DeVos, the right-wing Amway heirs behind millions of dollars of pro-voucher campaign donations, are funding what appears to be a purpose-made front of a PAC, which in turn is behind a militantly pro-choice mailer sent out in support of Fatimah Muhammad's campaign against lead voucher opponent and state Rep. Jim Roebuck in West Philadelphia's 188th district.
This week things just took a turn for the straight-up outer-space bizarre: Dick and Betsy DeVos, the right-wing Amway heirs behind millions of dollars of pro-voucher campaign donations, are funding what appears to be a purpose-made front of a PAC, which in turn is behind a militantly pro-choice mailer sent out in support of Fatimah Muhammad's campaign against lead voucher opponent and state Rep. Jim Roebuck in West Philadelphia's 188th district.
The DeVos family, again,
is pretty right-wing―and they have also donated big-time to
anti-abortion organizations.
Education Voters PA Endorsements for the 2012 Pennsylvania
Education Voters
Pennsylvania is an independent public interest organization that advocates for
public education and pushes for action to improve all schools in Pennsylvania
Below is a list of
candidates for the 2012 primary race that Education Voters is endorsing. Education Voters did not make endorsements in
all races, choosing to focus on a small list of districts, targeting resources.
- Erin
Molchany (HD-22)
- Shauna
D’Alessandro (HD-39)
- State
Representative Duane Milne (HD-167)
- State
Representative Babette Josephs (HD-182)
- State
Representative Jim Roebuck (HD-188)
- State
Senate Pat Vance (SD-31)
"If your intent is to
financially starve school districts in order to force consolidations and reduce
the number of public educators, keep in mind, you are also risking an entire
generation of students."
Troy school board
president writes letter to governor
The Daily Review by Eric Hrin Published: April 20, 2012
Curren said the letter
was regarding remarks that he said Corbett made on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT on the
"Dom Giordano Program."
Budget secretary Charles
Zogby explains budget to mostly receptive West Shore
Published:
Friday, April 20,
2012 , 1:41 PM
But he still appreciates that Zogby “probably has one of the toughest jobs in the state.”
“I had no false expectations,” he said. “But I was glad to hear the depth of his perspective.”
Published Online: April 20, 2012
ALEC: Controversial Policy Group Casts Long K-12 Shadow
Education Week By
Andrew Ujifusa
In nearly 40 years of
legislative advocacy, the American Legislative Exchange Council—a free-market,
limited-government group now drawing intense scrutiny for its support of a
controversial self-defense law—has had a significant influence in K-12
education through its model legislation and work with state lawmakers to
promote such policies as private school vouchers and “parent trigger” laws.
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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