Daily
postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 1800
Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators,
legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, PTO/PTA officers, parent
advocates, teacher leaders, education professors, members of the press and a
broad array of P-16 education advocacy organizations via emails, website,
Facebook and Twitter.
These daily
emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us
on Twitter at @lfeinberg
“School Choice Week”, a
marketing/media campaign for privatization of a public good, is coming around
again at the end of January. Here are 2
pieces that provide some context for it….
Selling
Schools Out
The Nation by Lee
Fang, November 2011
Under the banner
of high-tech progress, corporate lobbyists have rammed through legislation
privatizing K-12 education across the country.
Education
reform as a business
Did you know that
the education sector now represents nearly 9 percent of the country’s gross
domestic product? That for-profit education is valued at $1.3 trillion, and is
one of the largest U.S.
Standardized
test backlash: Some Seattle
Resistance to standardized tests has been simmering for years, but now
a group of Seattle
Christian Science
Monitor By Dean Paton, Correspondent / January 11, 2013
Forty-five minutes after
school let out Thursday afternoon, 19 teachers here at Seattle's Garfield
High School worked their way to the front of an already-crowded
classroom, then turned, leaned their backs against the wall of whiteboards, and
fired the first salvo of open defiance against high-stakes standardized testing
in America's public schools.
Seattle
(Update: Second school joins protest, more
background)
Nearly
all of the teachers at a Seattle
Now
teachers at a second Seattle school, Ballard
High, said they were joining the boycott, according to the Seattle Education website.
25
teachers at nearby Ballard High School signed a letter today against continuing
to use the MAP test, and in
support of their Garfield colleagues.
Support
Seattle
Schools Matter Blog Monty
Neill at FairTest January
11, 2013
Delco Times Heron’s Nest
Blog by Editor Phil Heron Friday, January 11, 2013
A
visit to the Governor's Mansion & lowdown on Pa.
I spent yesterday at the
Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg and I can bring
back this report to the people of Delaware
County
Now for some serious
news. Brace yourself, folks. The governor is about to tackle the pension mess
this state finds itself in. It’s not going to be pretty.
“In a sit-down meeting with members of the media in the governor’s
mansion Thursday, Gov. Tom Corbett called the pension crisis “a tapeworm in the
budget” and laid the groundwork for the pension reform plan that he will
announce in his budget address on Feb. 5.”
Corbett
hosts pension crisis meeting for media
North Penn Reporter By
JENNIFER LAWSON jlawson@thereporteronline.com Posted: Thursday, 01/10/13 10:44 pm
HARRISBURG — North Penn
School District and Souderton Area School District are both trying to balance
their budgets for the next school year, but a big expense is their payments —
in the multimillions — into the Public School Employees’ Retirement System.
To continue funding
PSERS and avoid cutting programs, the districts are both considering applying
for exceptions that would allow them to raise property taxes beyond the 1.7
percent increase normally allowable by law.
It’s a problem across the state, and it’s been brewing for years.
What does the pension crisis mean to school district budgets and
taxpayers?
My district of 5700 students anticipates a PSERS increase of $2.28
million for the next school year. Upper Dublin has an enrollment of about 4200 students and
expects an increase of $1.9 million……
“In December, district Business Administrator Brenda Bray warned of a
“substantial increase,” from 12.36 percent to 16.93 percent, or about $1.9
million, in the district’s contribution to PSERS.”
Published: Thursday, January 10, 2013
Ambler Gazette By Linda Finarelli lfinarelli@montgomerynews.com
Dire warnings regarding
the 2013-14 budget for the Upper
Dublin School
District
A combination of an increase in the district’s contribution to PSERS, the teachers’ retirement trust fund; contractual salary increases for teachers, administrators and support staff; and depletion of the district’s fund balance to balance budgets the last two years are expected to create a sizeable budget gap for 2013-14.
She also noted the district might face settlement of a “significant” assessment appeal next year.
A combination of an increase in the district’s contribution to PSERS, the teachers’ retirement trust fund; contractual salary increases for teachers, administrators and support staff; and depletion of the district’s fund balance to balance budgets the last two years are expected to create a sizeable budget gap for 2013-14.
She also noted the district might face settlement of a “significant” assessment appeal next year.
Budget
Forecast
Yinzercation Blog January 11, 2013
On Wednesday, Governor
Corbett gave us a sneak peak at his proposed education budget for this year,
which he will formally announce in a few weeks. Speaking of the millions of
Pennsylvanians worried about further cuts to their public schools, he said, “I
think they’re going to be happy” with the budget. But then he immediately tempered
that with: “I think you know not everybody's going to be pleased with the
budget address, but I think a number of people are and will be at least
satisfied.” [Republican Herald, 1-10-13 ]
Retired state troopers hired to guard Butler
Post-Gazette By Eli Saslow / The Washington January 12, 2013
12:09 am
Four hundred miles from
Sandy Hook Elementary, a Pennsylvania Connecticut
For 20 years he had
specialized in school safety, filling three binders with security plans and
lockdown drills -- all of which felt suddenly inadequate. In the case of an
attack, would a "threat alert" do him any good?
The
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC):
Dedicated to Increasing Literary Programs for Young Students in Philadelphia
Senator Hughes website January 11, 2013
Volunteers needed to
continue to expand services and the number of participating schools.
The West Philadelphia
Alliance for Children (WePAC) is one of the premier nonprofits in Philadelphia
More than 80 percent of Philadelphia
It is clear that there
is a real need for literary programs in Philadelphia
Since 2009, WePAC has
opened 16 previously closed elementary school libraries, and is currently
running 12 libraries in West and Southwest Philadelphia ,
providing library services in schools with more than 5,000 students. WePAC and
its volunteers have also been donating thousands of books to schools and
circulating more than 2,500 books per month. Through these endeavors, WePAC is
bringing school libraries to life!
WePAC is the only
nonprofit in Philadelphia
Committee of Seventy
PA
2013 Election Calendar
IMPORTANT PENNSYLVANIA
SAVE THE DATE: 2013 Pennsylvania
Budget Summit
Many Pennsylvanians have
sent a clear message to Harrisburg Policy Center
for an in-depth look at the Governor's proposal and an update on the federal
budget -- and what they mean for communities and families across Pennsylvania
2013 Pennsylvania
Budget Summit
Thursday, February 21, 2013 ,
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HiltonHarrisburg , 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg , PA
Hilton
EPLC 2013 REGIONAL WORKSHOPS
FOR SCHOOL
The Education Policy and Leadership Center, with the Cooperation
of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) and Pennsylvania Association
of School Business Officials (PASBO), will conduct A Series of Regional Full-Day
Workshops for 2013
Pennsylvania School Board Candidates. Registration is $45 and includes
coffee/donuts, lunch, and materials.
Philadelphia Region Saturday, February 2, 2013
– 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, 1605 W. Main Street, Norristown, PA 19403
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, 1605 W. Main Street, Norristown, PA 19403
Harrisburg Region Saturday, February 9,
2013– 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania School Boards Association Headquarters, 400 Bent Creek Boulevard, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Pennsylvania School Boards Association Headquarters, 400 Bent Creek Boulevard, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Pittsburgh Region Saturday, February 23, 2013 – 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh/Monroeville, 101 Mall Blvd., Monroeville, PA 15146
Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh/Monroeville, 101 Mall Blvd., Monroeville, PA 15146
2013 PSBA Leadership Symposium on
Advocacy and Issues
April 6, 2013 The Penn Stater Convention Center Hotel; State College, PA
Strategic leadership, school budgeting and advocacy are key issues facing today's school district leaders. For your school district to truly thrive, leaders must maintain a solid understanding of these three functions. Attend the 2013 PSBA Leadership Symposium on Advocacy and Issues to ensure you have the skills you need to take your district to the next level.
April 6, 2013 The Penn Stater Convention Center Hotel; State College, PA
Strategic leadership, school budgeting and advocacy are key issues facing today's school district leaders. For your school district to truly thrive, leaders must maintain a solid understanding of these three functions. Attend the 2013 PSBA Leadership Symposium on Advocacy and Issues to ensure you have the skills you need to take your district to the next level.
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