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
“Expanding the EITC now will drain more
state revenue away from public schools at a time when many are laying off
teachers, cutting kindergarten or prekindergarten, and eliminating courses.”
Analysis of HB 2468
Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center June 25, 2012
Individuals, Not Corporations, Pick Up
the Tax Tab for EITC Scholarships
Corporations get triple dip deduction for
contributions to private schools
Proponents
argue that expanding the EITC doesn’t affect the budget because companies pay
the bill; however, the opposite is true.
Individual taxpayers will pay at least $9 of $10 in EITC funding.
The
EITC program needs substantial program reform prior to any expansion. It is a costly program with little
accountability that allows businesses to direct other taxpayers’ money to
favored organizations.
http://pennbpc.org/sites/pennbpc.org/files/PBPC-EITC-Analysis-6-25-2012-Final.pdf
Posted: Tue, Jun. 26, 2012 , 3:00 AM
Big money behind push
for education tax credit program
Philadelphia Daily News by WILL BUNCH
A NEW, big-money political-action committee turned up on the Pennsylvania radar
screen this spring — at exactly the same time that the Philadelphia Archdiocese
launched a full-court press for legislation in Harrisburg that would pump
millions of dollars of scholarship money into its struggling schools.
The new Fighting Chance PA PAC shares a name with a
self-described grass-roots campaign launched in March by the Pennsylvania
Catholic Coalition, and it shares office space with wealthy King
of Prussia developer Brian O'Neill, who spearheaded a drive to
raise $12 million from 10 anonymous donors earlier this year to keep open four
endangered Catholic high schools.
In just a couple of months, the Fighting Chance PA
PAC already has doled out $225,000 to pro-voucher state lawmakers and other
political committees in Harrisburg
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20120626_Big_money_behind_push_for_education_tax_credit_program.html
In Philly, Martinez
faces public, explains his vision for improving the District
thenotebook on Jun 25 2012
by Dale Mezzacappa, Benjamin Herold and Katie McCabe
Pedro Martinez is on board with the need to
“increase quality seats” in Philadelphia schools, endorsing the primary
reform strategy of the School Reform Commission that is considering
whether to hire him as the next superintendent.
But while Martinez described himself as a strong
supporter of school choice, he emphasized that charter schools are “not a
magic bullet” and said that the cornerstone of lasting reform are strong
principals and well-supported teachers.
http://thenotebook.org/blog/124967/martinez-faces-public-explains-his-vision-improving-district
Corbett stands to win
some school-reform victories
The proposals would expand a tax-credit program that helps children from
low-income families.
PETER JACKSON, Associated Press Posted: 06/23/2012 05:28:33 PM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -
After more than a year of being demonized for his administration's deep cuts in
state spending for education, Gov. Tom Corbett may soon be able to claim some
victories in his school-reform agenda.
As part of this week's
handshake deal on a $27.7 billion spending blueprint, leaders of the Republican
majorities in the Legislature promised the GOP governor they would push for
passage of four bills he wants on his desk before lawmakers' scheduled summer
break begins a week from now.
Tax
credit touted as aid for Pa.
Published: Monday, June 25, 2012
By PETER JACKSON, Associated Press
Rep. Jim Christiana told House Education Committee members that, unlike conventional vouchers, his plan would be financed by businesses that contribute toward scholarships that help youngsters in the schools with the lowest academic performance to transfer to private schools or better public schools.
Tax money allotted for the students' education would not travel with the students to their new schools. Rather, tax money allotted for the students' education would remain at their former schools, increasing per-pupil spending and helping to reduce class sizes there, Christiana said.
"This will not take a single dime out of the operating budgets of school districts" or the state education budget, the Beaver County Republican said.
Rep. James Roebuck of
Philadelphia, the committee's ranking Democrat, argued that it makes no
difference whether the cost of the tax credits are subtracted in advance or
collected and then refunded to businesses. Christiana's bill would still reduce
the amount available to help the many Pennsylvania
Charter school funding should
be more equitable
Published:
Monday, June 25,
2012 , 12:28 AM
Patriot News Letters to the
Editor by PEDRO
RIVERA
Superintendent,
School District
of Lancaster
Charter
schools are part of today's public education landscape. High-quality charter
schools provide a valuable alternative to traditional public school programs,
and they are entitled to their fair share of public education funding on behalf
of their students. But not more than their fair share.
Pennsylvania
State Rep. Mike Fleck has introduced a bill with broad bipartisan support that would correct this and other funding problems in the rules governing charter school funding and would make the system more fair and equitable for all students. The House and Senate should pass this bill without delay.
State Rep. Mike Fleck has introduced a bill with broad bipartisan support that would correct this and other funding problems in the rules governing charter school funding and would make the system more fair and equitable for all students. The House and Senate should pass this bill without delay.
Bill exposes divide on reforming Pa.
Pottstown Mercury By Frank Otto fotto@pottsmerc.com
Posted: 06/25/12
12:01 am
HARRISBURG — A bill gaining traction in
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is serving as a polarizing force for
views on how Pennsylvania
House
Bill 2364, introduced by Mike Fleck, R-81st Dist., is set to reform the formula
used for charter school funding since the inception of Act 22 in 1997, known as
the Charter School Law. “It’s mainly (about) accountability and holding charter
schools to the same standards public schools have had,” Fleck said. Currently,
the formula for funding private schools takes into account the total
expenditures of a school district and the budget to determine what a district
must pay per student that lives within the district but chooses to go the
charter route. HB 2364 focuses on three areas: funding, special education
funding and transparency and accountability.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120625/NEWS01/120629697/bill-exposes-divide-on-reforming-pa-charter-schools&pager=full_story
Corbett wants teacher evaluations to include student scores
Pocono
Record By JARED SICHEL PA Independent June 25, 2012
HARRISBURG
Under
the state's current rating system, student performance is not considered.
Teachers receive either satisfactory or unsatisfactory scores.
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120625/NEWS90/206250324/-1/rss01
Judge denies Neshaminy teacher's union request
for court-supervised talks
Phillyburbs.com
By Christian Menno Staff writer Posted on June 26, 2012
DOYLESTOWN
— Bucks County Judge Robert Baldi denied a motion Monday from the Neshaminy
Federation of Teachers seeking court supervision of future negotiations with
the school board. However, Baldi left
open the possibility for either side to re-petition for court involvement in
the nearly four-year-long contract dispute by Aug. 3.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/judge-denies-neshaminy-teacher-s-union-request-for-court-supervised/article_4180bb03-f85d-5629-9957-a75ad524aa88.html
Is your State Rep. on the cosponsor list for HB
2364? If not, why not?
If they tell you that we should make it easier to
authorize charters or that they are already accountable enough have them read
this:
PA
Charter Schools: $4 billion taxpayer dollars with no real oversight
More details on HB
2364 from PSBA:
http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=3469
Education Voters PA @EdVotersPA
Please take 2 minutes to send an email to
your state reps; ask them to restore public ed funding:
STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT
BUDGETS
Here are more than 800 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:
June 29 is deadline to submit proposals for PSBA’s 2013
Legislative Platform
Your school board is invited to submit proposals for consideration for PSBA’s 2013 Legislative Platform. The association is accepting proposals now until Friday,June 29, 2012 . Guidelines for platform submissions are posted on
PSBA’s Web site. The PSBA Platform Committee will review proposals
and rationale submitted for the platform on Aug. 11. The
recommendations of the committee will be brought before the Legislative Policy
Council for a final vote on Oct. 18.
Your school board is invited to submit proposals for consideration for PSBA’s 2013 Legislative Platform. The association is accepting proposals now until Friday,
Absentee ballot procedures for election of PSBA officers
PSBA website 6/1/2012
All school directors
and school board secretaries who are eligible to vote and who do not plan to
attend the association's annual business meeting during the 2012 PASA-PSBA
School Leadership Conference in Hershey, Oct. 16-19, may request an absentee
ballot for election purposes.
The absentee ballot
must be requested from the PSBA executive director in accordance with the PSBA
Bylaws provisions (see PSBA Bylaws, Article IV, Section 4, J-Q.). Specify the
name and mailing address of each individual for whom a ballot is requested.
Requests must be in
writing, e-mailed or mailed first class and postmarked or marked received at
PSBA Headquarters no later than Aug. 15. Mail to Executive Director, P.O. Box 2042 , Mechanicsburg ,
PA 17055
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