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
Thursday, April 26, 2012
An open invitation to Gov.
Corbett
Delco Times Heron’s Nest
Blog by Editor Phil Heron
Last night we had a
chance to hash out some of the issues causing controversy in the Upper Darby School District
I am grateful to state
Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-163, who rushed over to our Primos offices after sitting
down at a meeting with a group of concerned parents.
Several of those Upper Darby moms joined us on the show. They made it
clear they believe the district is making a huge mistake by attempting to
balance the books by eliminating “special” classes in music, art, physical
education and library at the elementary and middle school levels.
Save Upper Darby Arts (www.saveudarts.org)
We are citizens of all
backgrounds, united in the ideal of a complete and public education
for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, within Upper Darby , PA. Upper Darby School District
More info and a petition at this
site:
Senator Daylin Leach and State Representative Bernie O’Neill
honored as outstanding champions for public education
More than 100
southeastern Pennsylvania school board
members, superintendents and administrators recognized the strong and consistent
efforts of both legislators on behalf of Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley
Author: Emily Thiel, WFMZ.com Reporter, news@wfmz.com
Published On: Apr
26 2012 01:20:37 AM EDT
East Penn housed a public forum
discussing education Wednesday night for parents and citizens who are concerned
with what is at stake for their children in public education.
The panel answered
questions that were focused on “What’s at stake?” within the public school
system in regards to the state budget and cuts.
Last year, Pennsylvania
Rally
in Support of Public Education on Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. on the steps of the
Chester County
Courthouse (corner of High and Market Streets) in West
Chester . The rally is rain or shine.
Email from Senator Andy Dinniman,April 25, 2012
Dear Friends,
A number of you have sent me letters and emails expressing your concerns regarding education fiunding and Governor Corbett’s proposed cuts to education in next year’s budget.
Email from Senator Andy Dinniman,
Dear Friends,
A number of you have sent me letters and emails expressing your concerns regarding education fiunding and Governor Corbett’s proposed cuts to education in next year’s budget.
First, let me emphasize that I share
your concerns and I stand strongly against such significant and widespread cuts
to education. Cutting support for early childhood and basic education and
slashing funds for higher education will be disastrous for students at all
levels and even more devastating in the years to come.
That is why I have worked with theChester
County Coalition for Public Education
to organize a Rally in Support of Public Education on Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m.
on the steps of the Chester County Courthouse (corner of High and Market Streets)
in West Chester . The rally is rain or
shine.
We know that cuts to basic and early education mean increased local property taxes, larger class sizes, teacher layoffs and less individualized attention and specialized programs. We know that cuts to higher education mean significantly increased tuition and fees, greater student borrowing and debt and more people on the unemployment rolls. Altogether these cuts will setPennsylvania
This is an issue that affects every Pennsylvanian – from current students and their families, to teachers and professors, to high school seniors and prospective college students. I urge you to come out on May 3 and make your voice heard! After all, this not just a rally for education, it’s a rally for our future.
In addition, please help me spread the word about the rally by circulating this e-mail to anyone who may be interested.
That is why I have worked with the
We know that cuts to basic and early education mean increased local property taxes, larger class sizes, teacher layoffs and less individualized attention and specialized programs. We know that cuts to higher education mean significantly increased tuition and fees, greater student borrowing and debt and more people on the unemployment rolls. Altogether these cuts will set
This is an issue that affects every Pennsylvanian – from current students and their families, to teachers and professors, to high school seniors and prospective college students. I urge you to come out on May 3 and make your voice heard! After all, this not just a rally for education, it’s a rally for our future.
In addition, please help me spread the word about the rally by circulating this e-mail to anyone who may be interested.
We must stand together to ensure
that our message is loud and clear!
In
Philly, New York
The Notebook by Dale Mezzacappa on Apr 25 2012
If Philadelphia
is looking to New York City
"New York City New York
In that year, the state's
Department of Education acknowledged that the cut scores had been dropping on
the standardized tests. "All the gains disappeared," she said.
Pittsburgh
By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Public
Schools board is asking the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers to do what no
teachers union in the state has done: Agree to furloughs not based on
seniority.
The board Wednesday
night approved a resolution directing school superintendent Linda Lane
Published
online April 24,
2012
Studies Test for Ways to Spot Good Teachers
Education Week By Sarah D. Sparks
The latest results of the massive Measures of Effective
Teaching Project may give pause to districts working to develop
teacher-effectiveness evaluations.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's MET
project, one of the largest instructional-observation studies in the country,
has found that teacher-effectiveness assessments similar to those used in some
district value-added systems aren't good at showing which differences are
important between the most- and least-effective educators, and often totally
misunderstand the "messy middle" that most teachers occupy.
“….But the state constitution applies to all children. So
what is the state supposed to do? What happens when the ultimate state-imposed
school reform— takeover—itself fails?
The answer is "Whatever it takes.’’ New Jersey Finland
N.J. school
privatization debate rages on, leaving parents in the dark
Published:
Thursday, April
26, 2012 , 6:45 AM
HIGHLAND PARK — Marilyn Valentine of
Valentine, who raised
two children into successful adulthood, said she understood the criticisms but
pointed out that many parents who looked like her despaired of traditional
public schools. "Where are the solutions?" she asked.
If charter and other
privatized schools aren’t the solution—and she didn’t say they were—then what
are parents to do? "You’re telling the people there is nothing for you.’’
As
of April 26, 2012 ,
412 districts representing more than 2 million students have adopted the
Resolution Concerning High Stakes, Standardized Testing of Texas Public School
National resolution
against high-stakes tests released
A national resolution protesting
high-stakes standardized testing was
released Tuesday by a coalition of national education, civil rights and parents
groups, as well as educators who are trying to build a broad-based movement
against the Obama administration’s test-centric school reform program.
This is the latest in a series of recent
initiatives taken around
the country by academics, educators, parents and others to protest the use of
student standardized test scores for high-stakes decisions, including teacher
and principal evaluation, student grade promotion and high school graduation.
The Keystone State
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.
Education Talk Radio: At the Chalkface
Listen
online; One hour talk show dedicated to education.
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9am
Hosts
Tim Slekar and Shaun Johnson cover the biggest issues in education, from standardized
testing to No Child Left Behind.
If
you want a text reminder
send "CHALK" TO THE NUMBER 60193."
Audio
clips of prior shows are available too.
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
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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