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
Nation's largest urban school voucher program doesn't
produce better results than public schools, reviews find
Student graduation rates, test
scores analyzed
Great Lakes Center for Education Research, Casey Cobb casey.cobb@uconn.edu
EAST LANSING, Mich. (April 19, 2012) – A longitudinal study on students enrolled in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) found little differences between voucher students and those attending Milwaukee Public Schools overall, according to an academic review released today. Three recent reports of the MPCP, produced by the School Choice Demonstration Project (SCDP) at theUniversity of Arkansas
EAST LANSING, Mich. (April 19, 2012) – A longitudinal study on students enrolled in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) found little differences between voucher students and those attending Milwaukee Public Schools overall, according to an academic review released today. Three recent reports of the MPCP, produced by the School Choice Demonstration Project (SCDP) at the
KDKA
Report: Taxpayer Dollars & Cyber Schools
April
30, 2012 6:30
PM KDKA Reporting Andy Sheehan
Struggling
from cutbacks and tight budgets, school districts are laying off teachers and
cutting programs. At the same time, some
cyber charter schools are thriving, which are funded by your local tax dollars. Is this fair, or are your kids being
shortchanged? Watch video (3:50)
Here are a
few prior related posts on cyber school funding and performance:
PA Auditor General’s Office: Taxpayers and school districts could
have saved approximately $86 million in 2009-2010 if cybers received funding
based on what they spent per student.
On March 20, the PA
House Education Committee held an informational hearing with Pennsylvania
·
During the 2009-2010 school year, school districts paid nearly
$800 million to charter and cyber charter schools. Cyber charter schools
received over one-third of this money.
·
Cybers continue to receive the same funding as brick and mortar
charters even though they spend approximately $3,000 less per student.
·
Taxpayers and school districts could have saved approximately $86
million in 2009-2010 if cybers received funding based on what they spent per
student.
·
Cyber enrollment has more than doubled over the last five years,
which has resulted in school district tuition payments to cybers tripling from
$70 million in 2004-2005 to over $250 million in 2009-2010.
·
The amount of required tuition payments from school districts are
expected to climb even faster and higher due to the addition of two new cybers
over the past two years, and seven new cybers projected to open in September
2012.
In an interview,, K12’s Chief
Executive Officer Ronald J. Packard said, “For reasons I don’t fully
understand, there are a lot of people who don’t like for-profit companies in
education.”
It's all about the kids......K12 Inc. chief executive Ron Packard
paid $5 million compensation package in 2011
PA Cyber Charter PSSA AYP 2007 - 2011 from
PDE
Of 12 PA cyber
charters - only 2 made AYP for 2011, while 8 were
in corrective action status.
http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/11/pa-cyber-charter-pssa-ayp-2007-2011.html
Posted: Tue, May. 1,
2012, 3:00 AM
PA Senate passes bill limiting superintendent payout packages
By Kristen A. Graham INQUIRER
STAFF WRITER
Spurred in part by
former Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman’s $905,000 buyout
package, the Pennsylvania Senate on Monday approved a bill that would limit the
amount school systems could pay departing leaders.
The bill passed, 44-0,
in the state Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.
State Sen. Jeffrey
Piccola remains hopeful for significant education reform in Pennsylvania
Published:
Tuesday, May 01,
2012 , 12:00 AM
As his 36-year career in the
General Assembly winds down, state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola remains hopeful for
significant education reform in Pennsylvania
Parents
stand united in fight against Upper Darby
school cuts (With Video)
Published: Saturday, April 28, 2012
By LINDA REILLY Delco Times Correspondent, llreilly1@gmail.com
UPPER DARBY — Parents,
teachers and alumni rallied Friday night to reverse the Upper Darby School District
District-wide, parents are upset with the proposed academic realignment in elementary and middle schools and held a meeting at St. Mark Church,Oak Avenue Westbrook Park
Lawn signs with “Stop the Cuts — Go to Say No on May 1 and May 8” regarding the next school board meetings were distributed especially to persons living on main streets or near schools.
District-wide, parents are upset with the proposed academic realignment in elementary and middle schools and held a meeting at St. Mark Church,
Lawn signs with “Stop the Cuts — Go to Say No on May 1 and May 8” regarding the next school board meetings were distributed especially to persons living on main streets or near schools.
According to Caron, the
group met with State Rep. Nicholas Micozzie, R-163, of Upper
Darby , and made it clear their intention is to meet face to face
with Gov. Tom Corbett.
Posted: Mon, Apr. 30, 2012 , 3:00 AM
Closing of Pennsylvania
By Dan Hardy Inquirer
Staff Writer
Last year, the Pennsylvania
But one year in, that
has not happened.
Report:
Charter school would duplicate services in Chester
Published: Friday, April 27, 2012
By JOHN KOPP jkopp@delcotimes.com @DT_JohnKopp
The Chester Upland
School District
The document, titled “Findings of Fact and Conclusion of Law,” argues that a charter proposed by The Chester Fund would duplicate services the district already provides. The board unanimously voted to approve the report Thursday night.
The document, titled “Findings of Fact and Conclusion of Law,” argues that a charter proposed by The Chester Fund would duplicate services the district already provides. The board unanimously voted to approve the report Thursday night.
Educators: New teacher
evaluation system is a lot of talk -- but so far that's good
The first part of the system is being tested
now. Still to come is how student performance will affect a teacher's evaluation.
By ANGIE MASON York
Updated: 04/29/2012 09:08:16 AM EDT
In 2010-11, a handful of
school districts tried out a new observation system. For 2011-12, districts and
schools statewide were invited to pilot the new tool in the second phase of the
effort, and more than 100 volunteered.
In York
County , those participating in the
pilot are the Dover Area, Northeastern, Red Lion and York
City school districts and New Hope Academy Charter
School
Local control under siege
NSBA by Cathy Woodruff, April 21, 2012
The ability of local
boards to control the destiny of their own schools, rooted in the establishment
of one-room school houses in America’s rural farming communities, is under
siege on several fronts, a panel of experts warned in a presentation Saturday
titled School Boards’ Last Stand.
Threats to local control
often are characterized as educational reform, the panelists said, and they
include: charter schools, bids for mayoral control, voucher programs, virtual
charter schools, for-profit school operators, state and federal funding tied to
adoption of specific programs and approaches, and efforts to standardize
curriculum and textbooks.
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?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.