Keystone State Education Coalition

Established in 2006, the Keystone State Education Coalition is a growing grass roots, non-partisan public education advocacy group of several hundred locally elected, volunteer school board members and administrators from school districts throughout Pennsylvania. Our mission is to evaluate, discuss and inform our boards, district constituents and legislators on legislative issues of common interest and to facilitate active engagement in public education advocacy.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 28, 2013: Ravitch on Philly: “the most insulting, most demeaning contract ever offered in any school district to my knowledge.”

Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 1850 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 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook and Twitter.

These daily emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org

Visit us on Facebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

Keystone State Education Coalition:

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup

For February 28, 2013: Ravitch on Philly: “the most insulting, most demeaning contract ever offered in any school district to my knowledge.”

Roebuck Seeking Co-sponsors for Comprehensive Charter and Cyber Charter School Reform Legislation

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=11852

Lehigh Valley superintendents implore lawmakers for charter, special education funding reforms

By Sara K. Satullo | The Express-Times on February 27, 2013 at 8:44 PM

A group of Lehigh Valley superintendents today detailed the impact of state budget cuts on their districts and implored Democratic legislators to reform Pennsylvania's charter school laws.

Newly elected state Rep. Dan McNeill, D-Lehigh/Northampton, requested the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing to discuss how schools have managed budget cuts under Gov. Tom Corbett and what his latest budget proposal means for students.

Parkland School District Superintendent Richard Sniscak spoke on behalf of the five districts attending the hearing in Bethlehem's town hall. Superintendents asked legislators to reform the state's cyber and charter school laws and increase special education funding.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2013/02/lehigh_valley_superintendents.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Exeter Twp. school director calls for adequate, equitable, predictable state funding for public ed

PSBA by Steve Robinson, director of Publications & PR 2/27/2013

Russell Diesinger, a school director with Exeter Township School District and an assistant regional director for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), told members of the House Democratic Policy Committee that the 2012-13 state budget plan recently offered by Gov. Corbett does not go far enough to properly fund public education or minimize the need for districts to cut valuable programs for students.

http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=4590

East Penn school director calls for state to increase funding to public education

PSBA N E W S R E L E A S E 2/27/2013 Steve Robinson, Director of Publications & PR

Charles Ballard, school board president with East Penn School District and an assistant regional director for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), told members of the House Democratic Policy Committee that adequate basic and special education funding must be a priority in the 2013-14 state budget and unfunded mandates must be reduced or eliminated.

In his testimony, Ballard demonstrated how Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed increase of $90 million to basic education funding does not go far in his home district. If the increase is approved, that would likely mean East Penn would receive $306,000 more than last year, a 3.0% increase. However, East Penn is anticipating an increase of $2.1 million in pension payments -- only half of which are reimbursed by the state. This leaves his district nearly $1 million short.

In addition, his district must keep up with the cost of funding charter schools. This year, East Penn has had to contribute $3.5 million to fund charter schools, an increase of $500,000 from last year. This unfair funding formula includes the district paying pension costs to the charter schools even though the state reimburses charters for these costs. This "double dipping" results in charters being paid twice -- once from the district and once from the state.

http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=4610

Editorial: Corbett pension plan is the path back to fiscal stability

By Patriot-News Editorial Board on February 27, 2013 at 10:41 AM

Forty-one billion dollars: It is a number that boggles the mind.

Yet that is the gap separating the value of the assets held by Pennsylvania’s two public pension systems and the benefits it will eventually have to pay out to current and future retirees. And unless something is done right now, that amount and the crushing burden it will place on taxpayers and local school districts is going to grow. This pension crisis is now the biggest, single threat to the state’s long-term fiscal stability and potential economic growth.

http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/02/editorial_corbett_pension_plan_is_the_path_back_to_fiscal_stability.html

Among Philly teachers, anger and dismay at contract offer

Kristen A. Graham, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER February 27, 2013, 9:26 PM

Patrick Naughton is an enthusiastic social studies teacher and the dean of students at Robeson High School in West Philadelphia, but the first thing he did Wednesday morning was look for a new job. Naughton had read about the Philadelphia School District's initial contract offer to its teachers union - a 13 percent pay cut for those making over $55,000, an end to seniority-based positions, and smaller provisos such as an end to a guaranteed adequate supply of textbooks - and felt a great sense of urgency.

http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130227_Among_Philly_teachers__anger_and_dismay_at_contract_offer.html

District seeking to slash, restructure teacher compensation

The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa on Feb 26 2013

The School District wants teachers and other Philadelphia Federation of Teachers members to take pay cuts as high as 13 percent, work a day that is an hour longer, and then get no raises until 2017, according to documents that union officials have circulated to members and were obtained by the Notebook. The documents are presented as summaries of the initial proposal the District has put on the table in contract negotiations, which began last week. The teachers’ contract expires this summer.

http://thenotebook.org/blog/135690/union-official-war-has-begun

No seniority? No water fountains? More on the contract

Inquirer Philly School Files Blog by Kristen Graham February 27, 2013, 10:12 AM

I’ve read the Philadelphia School District’s full list of demands from teachers, and it’s a doozy. (That’s on top of details reported last night and in this morning’s Inquirer.)

Some bullet points:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/school_files/No-seniority--No-water-fountains--More-on-the-contract-proposal.html

So you want to be a teacher? Welcome to urban public education 2013.

More charters, diverted tax dollars to private and religious schools with no accountability, closing schools that are the fabric of their communities and a contact proposal like this.

School District Proposals to the PFT Professional Teachers’ Contract

http://thenotebook.org/sites/default/files/teacher%20contract%20summary.pdf

If this is the deal, Philly teachers should strike

Daily News by Will Bunch POSTED: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 8:12 PM

Apparently the old saying is wrong: You can get blood from a stone after all. In a world where "the American Dream" has become a year in which your salary stays the same, the so-called City of Brotherly Love is on the brink of setting a new standard in squeezing middle-class workers to death. It's not like we haven't seen this story before: Working men and women asked to take a sizable pay cut...and work longer hours...and pay more for shrinking benefits. Usually such reports alternate with the news that the CEO of that same outfit is leaving with a golden parachute worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe millions.

But just when you think it can't get any worse, here come the contract demands that the Philadelphia School District would like to cram down the throat of the city's unionized school teachers. The news -- first reported by Kristen Graham of the Inquirer -- is a jaw-dropper:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/If-this-is-the-deal-Philly-teachers-should-strike.html

Philadelphia Insults Its Teachers and Other Employees

Diane Ravitch’s Blog By dianerav February 28, 2013 //

Philadelphia’s Broad-trained Superintendent William Hite offered the district’s employees an insulting contract: pay cuts up to 13%, benefit cuts, longer school days, and no pay increases until 2017. After 2017, any increases would be “performance-based,” dependent on the principal’s recommendation. Seniority would be abolished, as well as any payment for advanced degrees. See here and here. In addition, schools with more than 1,000 students would not be required to have libraries or librarians. No more counselors. No limits on class size. The district would no longer be required to provide teachers lounges, water fountains, etc.

This is the most insulting, most demeaning contract ever offered in any school district to my knowledge.

http://dianeravitch.net/2013/02/28/philadelphia-insults-its-teachers-and-other-employees/

PA Students First PAC, major pro-voucher group might have broken PA election law

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013, 11:42 PM

Citypaper Posted by Daniel Denvir Follow on Twitter @DanielDenvir

Political operative John D. McDaniel's ongoing Philadelphia Board of Ethics saga has centered on Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown's troubling campaign finance practices and wasteful political patronage in the Nutter administration. McDaniel had been Brown's campaign manager, held apparently sole control over a political action committee and held a well-paying job at the airport provided by the mayor himself. Now there's a new twist: McDaniel's Progressive Agenda PAC also funneled $5,900 from Students First PAC, a Pennsylvania group backed by Bala Cynwyd hedge fund managers and wealthy national school voucher advocates, to state House candidate Fatimah Muhammad's 2012 campaign, which was heavily supported by voucher proponents.

http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Major-pro-voucher-group-might-have-broken-PA-election-law.html

Pittsburgh Public Schools board rejects two charter school proposals, tables third

By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette February 27, 2013 7:58 pm

The Pittsburgh Public Schools board tonight rejected two applications to open charter schools this fall and tabled a third, effectively denying it because of requirements to act within a certain time window.

Parkland School Director Honored With Advocacy Award

Parkland School Board Vice President Roberta Marcus was honored Tuesday night by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association with the second annual Timothy Allwein Advocacy Award. Marcus, a Parkland school board member since 1995, was selected to receive the award as a result of her many volunteer hours devoted to raising awareness of key legislative issues on the local, state and federal level.

http://uppermacungie.patch.com/articles/roberta-marcus-honored-with-advocacy-award

Education leaders discuss sequestration’s impact to public education

NSBA School Board News by Joetta Sack-Min February 27, 2013

National School Boards Association (NSBA) President C. Ed Massey participated in a Feb. 27 press conference call to rally against the scheduled federal budget cuts, known as the sequester, that are schedule to take place on Friday. The call was organized by the Committee for Education Funding, a coalition of 100 national education organizations including NSBA, to highlight the planned program cuts and teacher layoffs that will occur if Congress does not intervene.

http://schoolboardnews.nsba.org/2013/02/sequestration-impact/

“To determine whether all those students were really so unprepared for college-level work, Ms. Scott-Clayton examined the students' actual high school and college credits earned and grades received. She found that 20 percent of students placed in remedial math and 25 percent of those placed in remedial reading were "severely misidentified," meaning that not only could they have passed the entry college course in that subject, but they could have done so with a grade of B or better.”

Many Students Don't Need Remediation, Studies Say

Education Week By Sarah D. Sparks Published Online: February 19, 2013

At a time when more high schools are looking to their graduates' college-remediation rates as a clue to how well they prepare students for college and careers, new research findings suggest a significant portion of students who test into remedial classes don't actually need them.

Separate studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education come to the same conclusion: The way colleges are using standardized placement tests such as the College Board's Accuplacer, ACT's Compass, and others can misidentify students, and secondary schools and universities should work to develop a more comprehensive profile of students' strengths and weaknesses in performing college-level work.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/02/20/21remediation_ep.h32.html?cmp=SOC-SHR-TW

PhilaSoup March 2013 - Sunday Get together

Sunday, March 3, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EST) Philadelphia, PA

Teachers Institute of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Houston Hall (2nd Floor)
3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Philasoup is a monthly microgrant dinner meant to bring innovative and dynamic Philadelphia-area educators together, highlight the great work they are doing and fund some terrific projects. The vision for PhilaSoup is to be a monthly microgrant dinner that starts and ends with educators but is an access point to education for the whole city.

For more info and RSVP: http://philasoupmarch2013.eventbrite.com/

PSBA officer applications due April 30

PSBA’s website 2/15/2013

Candidates seeking election to PSBA officer posts in 2014 must file an expression of interest for the office desired to be interviewed by the PSBA Leadership Development Committee.

This new committee replaces the former Nominations Committee. Deadline for filing is April 30. The application shall be marked received at PSBA headquarters or mailed first class and postmarked by the deadline to be considered timely filed. Expression of interest forms can be found online at www.psba.org/about/psba/board-of-directors/officers/electing-officers.asp.

Edcamp Philly 2013 at UPENN May 18^th, 2013

For those of you who have never gone to an Edcamp before, please make a note of the unusual part of the morning where we will build the schedule. Edcamp doesn’t believe in paying fancy people to come and talk at you about teaching! At an Edcamp, the people attending – the participants - facilitate sessions on teaching and learning! So Edcamp won’t succeed without a whole bunch of you wanting to run a session of some kind! What kinds of sessions might you run?

What: Edcamp Philly is an"unconference" devoted to K-12 Education issues and ideas.
Where: University of Pennsylvania When: May 18, 2013 Cost: FREE!

http://www.edcampphilly.org/

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.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 27, 2013: As sequestration looms, leaders in Washington are intently focused on……

These daily emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org

Visit us on Facebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

Keystone State Education Coalition:

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup

For February 27, 2013: As sequestration looms, leaders in Washington are intently focused on……

Roebuck Seeking Co-sponsors for Comprehensive Charter and Cyber Charter SchoolReform Legislation

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=11852

As sequestration looms, leaders in Washington are intently focused on not taking the blame…..

Obama, Boehner still talking but not to each other

By JAKE SHERMAN | 2/26/13 7:29 PM EST

It’s seems like we’ve been here before.

It’s midweek in Washington, a budget deadline looms on Friday that’s sure to cause some measure of havoc around the country and both sides are busy posturing in front of inanimate or human props. But this fight is different from other fights: There is no urgency to solve it.

No all-night bargaining sessions that have leaders whipping votes over boxes of freshly delivered pizza. No eleventh-hour breakthrough in closed rooms in the Capitol basement.

President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner haven’t spoken since Thursday. Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid haven’t met since Jan. 21.

School boards prepare for layoffs, program cuts as federal deadline looms

NSBA School Board News Today by Joetta Sack-Min February 26th, 2013

School boards across the country will be forced to lay off thousands of teachers and teacher aides in coming weeks as they create their budgets for the 2013-14 academic year because of the federal budget cuts scheduled to take place March 1. The sequester, which will require across the board budget cuts for all federal programs on March 1, will eliminate about 5 percent of funding for K-12 programs and Head Start. However, representatives from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) pointed out in a press conference call this week that those cuts disproportionately affect school districts that are educating large populations of disadvantaged students

http://schoolboardnews.nsba.org/2013/02/school-boards-prepare-for-layoffs-program-cuts-as-federal-deadline-looms/

Public Education Could Take Big Hit From Sequestration

February 25, 2013 5:32 PM

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Sequestration is a fancy name for across-the-board federal budget cuts — and just about everything is affected. “Police and firefighters that get money from the federal government

, infrastructure, health care programs, environmental programs, anything that receives federal money will be impacted by sequestration, including defense programs,” said Jamie Baxter, Director of legislative policy and advocacy for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, which represents school districts in Allegheny County.

Among the hardest hit will be public education, Baxter told KDKA money editor Jon Delano.

“With sequestration, there are no winners or losers, only losers and bigger losers,” she said.

Every local school district will lose tens of thousands of dollars, but the biggest losers will be:

Pittsburgh, $3.4 million in cuts
McKeesport Area, $400,000
Butler Area, $368,000
Woodland Hills, $363,000
Uniontown, $319,000
Penn Hills, $229,000
Hempfield Area, $228,000
North Allegheny, $201,000
Wilkinsburg, $186,000
and Aliquippa, $172,000

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/02/25/public-education-could-take-big-hit-from-sequestration/

“And, finally, if our elected leaders - who got us to this point - impose cuts and furloughs harmful to even some citizens, don't forget that salaries of the president and all members of Congress are exempt from sequestration.”

John Baer: Congress' $85 billion cut won't crush us

John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 3:01 AM

SEQUESTRATION is coming! Sequestration is coming!

The government, assuming Congress remains true to its moribund self through Friday, won't be able to spend in its usual thoughtful, responsible way.

And this is bad?

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130227_John_Baer__BAER_HEAD_LINE_GOES_HE.html

Corbett plan would cut Pa. pensions by $12 billion

WPXI.com Pittsburgh By PETER JACKSON The Associated Press 7:45 p.m. Feb. 26, 2013

HARRISBURG, Pa. — State and school employees would be forced to forgo nearly $12 billion worth in pension benefits over the next 30 years if Gov. Tom Corbett's pension reform plan is approved, according to an administration analysis released Tuesday.

The itemized summary marked the first time the administration has publicly disclosed estimates of the savings and costs associated with the multifaceted pension reform plan Corbett unveiled in his budget address this month.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/ap/education/mccord-steps-up-criticism-of-corbett-pension-plan/nWZy3/

McCord Blasts Corbett Pension Plan

PoliticsPA Written by Connor Kurtz, Contributing Writer February 26, 2013

Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord continued his criticism Tuesday of Governor Tom Corbett’s proposal to reform the commonwealth’s pension system. The plan is a key part of Corbett’s budget plan. McCord hosted a conference call with leaders of the Keystone Research Center, a left-leaning think tank based in Harrisburg. Many of its donors and supporters are affiliated with labor unions that represent state employees.

http://www.politicspa.com/mccord-blasts-corbett-pension-plan/46270/

Governor’s Pension Plan Will Cost the State and Taxpayers More

Keystone Research Center releases first in a series of pension primers

HARRISBURG, PA (February 26, 2013) – Key components of Governor Tom Corbett’s massive pension restructuring plan would actually increase costs for the state, school districts, and ultimately taxpayers, according to the Keystone Research Center, which released the first two in a series of “pension primers” today.

http://keystoneresearch.org/issues-guides/pensions

In Philly, District wants up to 13% salary cut, other big changes

Inquirer Philly School Files Blog by Kristen Graham Tuesday, February 26, 2013,

It's going to be a long summer.

The Philadelphia School District wants its teachers to lengthen their workdays, give back up to 13 perent of their salaries, and forego pay raises at least until 2017. It wants to reduce the money paid out to departing employees, weaken seniority and give principals full authority over hiring and firing teachers. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers officials on Tuesday confirmed some details of the district’s initial contract proposal, which the Inquirer has obtained. School officials have been saying for months that they need up to $180 million in labor givebacks annually to avert a five-year deficit of more than $1 billion.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/school_files/District-wants-13-salary-cuts-other-big-changes.html

“McDaniel said that he also used the Progressive Agenda PAC to disguise the source of a $5,900 contribution to Fatimah Muhammad for her Democratic primary-election challenge to state Rep. James Roebuck. The money originated from the Students First PAC, a pro-school-voucher group.”

A little city ethics cleansing

Brown aide admits to campaign-finance fibs

CHRIS BRENNAN, Daily News Staff Writer brennac@phillynews.com

POSTED: Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 3:01 AM

JOHN McDANIEL, the former campaign manager for City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, has admitted he violated the city's campaign-finance law.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20130226_A_little_ethic_cleansing.html

“Here’s where Students First may have violated the law: A woman named Fatimah Loren Muhammad ran for Pennsylvania’s 188th state congressional district last spring, representing West Philadelphia (she lost the Democratic primary to Jim Roebuck). Students First PAC gave her $25,000 directly. But according to McDaniel, they also gave her at least $5,900, using Progressive Agenda PAC as a conduit. That would appear to be a violation of Section 1634 (25 P.S. § 3254) of the state campaign finance reporting law, which bars people from using middlemen to make contributions.”…… “The McDaniel donation might not be the only potential violation here. According to information compiled by City Paper and West Philly Local last spring, no fewer than four other groups appear to have made similar conduit donations to Friends of Fatimah on behalf of Students First PAC.”

Students First PAC, Powerful School Privatization Group May Have Violated State Law in Connection to John McDaniel Affair [Updated]

Phillymag The Scoop by Simon van Zuylen-Wood 2/26/2013

Students First PAC, a moneyed pro-school privatization group, may have violated state election law. Backed by Bala Cynwyd hedge fund managers and national pro-voucher advocate American Federation for Children, it donated close to $5 million to State Senator Anthony Williams around the time of his 2010 gubernatorial bid, and has contributed to several smaller state and city races since. Its main goal is to promote publicly-funded private school vouchers.

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/02/26/powerful-state-education-reform-group-broken-state-law-connection-john-mcdaniel-affair/

“In the meantime, though, the governor's current budget proposal exacerbates the inequities of the broken system. His proposal would cut special education funding for all 43 of Allegheny County's school districts by taking money from the existing special education budget -- which has been flat-funded for five years, despite inflating service costs -- and put it into the Contingency Fund.”

Gov. Corbett's special education proposal exploits a broken system

Post gazette Opinion by Sandy Zelno February 26, 2013 12:06 am

For more than two decades the state has distributed special education funding based on an outdated calculation that 16 percent of the students in each school district receives special education services. In reality, some districts serve nearly twice that percentage and some serve half. Calculating a more accurate number of special education students in each district and then directing funding based on those calculations is a basic, commonly accepted budgeting concept. Yet the Corbett administration and the General Assembly have now twice failed to pass recent legislation that would implement such a system, fixing the current broken system and providing accuracy and accountability for special education funding.

“The Duquesne school board voted that plan down Thursday, an action that requires Mr. Tomalis to petition the court to appoint a receiver under the guidelines of new state legislation created to deal with the academic and financial problems of the state's poorest school districts.”

Pa. education secretary petitions Court of Common Pleas to appoint Duquesne schools receiver

By Mary Niederberger / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette February 26, 2013 11:23 am

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis has petitioned the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to appoint Paul B. Long as the receiver for the Duquesne City School District.

Mr. Long already serves as chief recovery officer for the district and as such drafted a financial recovery plan that calls for asking 11 surrounding school districts to voluntarily take Duquesne students in grades K-6 on a tuition basis. If appointed receiver he and not the elected school board will operate the district and move forward with his recovery plan.

KIPP students show major improvement, study finds

Martha Woodall, Inquirer Staff Writer Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 3:01 AM

A Princeton-based research firm's analysis of the KIPP national network of charter schools found KIPP middle-school students made substantial gains in core subjects over a three-year span.

Mathematica Policy Research was scheduled to release a report Wednesday based on what it called its "most rigorous large-scale evaluation of KIPP charter schools."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20130227_KIPP_students_show_major_improvement__study_finds.html

“The Common Core standards have been adopted in 46 states and the District of Columbia without any field test. They are being imposed on the children of this nation despite the fact that no one has any idea how they will affect students, teachers, or schools. We are a nation of guinea pigs, almost all trying an unknown new program at the same time.”

Why I Cannot Support the Common Core Standards

Diane Ravitch’s Blog By dianerav February 26, 2013 //

I have thought long and hard about the Common Core standards. I have decided that I cannot support them. In this post, I will explain why.

http://dianeravitch.net/2013/02/26/why-i-cannot-support-the-common-core-standards/

Resistance to Common Core standards growing

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog by Valerie Strauss on February 26, 2013 at 5:00 am

Nearly all of the states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math and are in the process of getting ready to implement them by 2014. In a number of states, however, the standards are meeting with growing resistance for reasons including questions about who was behind the initiative and whether they are better than previous standards. Alabama, for example recently said it was pulling out of the two consortia that are working on creating standardized tests aligned with the standards. In this and the next two blog posts, we explore some of the issues surrounding the standards. (And you can see more here and here and here and here.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/26/resistance-to-common-core-standards-growing/

N.M. Bill Seeks to Curb Private Companies' Role in Schools

Education Week Marketplace K-12 Blog By Sean Cavanagh on February 25, 2013 9:36 AM

Legislation has emerged in New Mexico that would bar the state, individual charter schools, and traditional public schools and districts from contracting with private entities to manage or oversee a school's operations. The measure, introduced by state Rep. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat, comes in the wake of state secretary-designate of education Hanna Skandera's decision to overrule a state panel and allow a for-profit online provider, Connections Academy, to open a virtual school in the state.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2013/02/nm_bill_seeks_to_curb_private_companies_role_in_schools.html

PhilaSoup March 2013 - Sunday Get together

Sunday, March 3, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EST) Philadelphia, PA

Teachers Institute of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Houston Hall (2nd Floor)
3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

For more info and RSVP: http://philasoupmarch2013.eventbrite.com/

PSBA officer applications due April 30

PSBA’s website 2/15/2013

Candidates seeking election to PSBA officer posts in 2014 must file an expression of interest for the office desired to be interviewed by the PSBA Leadership Development Committee.

Edcamp Philly 2013 at UPENN May 18^th, 2013

What: Edcamp Philly is an"unconference" devoted to K-12 Education issues and ideas.
Where: University of Pennsylvania When: May 18, 2013 Cost: FREE!

http://www.edcampphilly.org/

Education Policy and Leadership Center

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM (Philadelphia February 27)

SUBJECT: Governor Corbett's Proposed Education Budget for 2013-2014

"Southeastern Region Breakfast Series" Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Continental Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. Program - 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel - 201 North 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

SPEAKERS: An Overview of the Proposed 2013-2014 State Budget and Education Issues Will Be Provided By:

Sharon Ward, The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center

Ron Cowell, The Education Policy and Leadership Center
State and Regional Perspectives Will Be Provided By:
Mark B. Miller, School Director, Centennial School District

Joe Otto, Chief Operations Officer, William Penn School District

Michael Churchill, Of Counsel, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
Dr. Stephen D. Butz, Superintendent, Southeast Delco School District

While there is no registration fee, seating is limited and an RSVP is required.

RSVP on-line at http://www.eplc.org/events-calendar/southeastern-pennsylvania-breakfast-series

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 26, 2013: Roebuck Seeking Co-sponsors for Comprehensive Charter and Cyber Charter School Reform Legislation

These daily emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org

Visit us on Facebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

Keystone State Education Coalition:

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup

For February 26, 2013: Roebuck Seeking Co-sponsors for Comprehensive Charter and Cyber Charter School Reform Legislation

Pennsylvanians for Charter School Reform

Reform PA Charter Schools: Pennsylvanians could save $365 million THIS YEAR if Harrisburg fixes its broken charter school funding formula.

“Of the five states with the largest student enrollment in independently operated charter and cyber charter schools, Pennsylvania spends the most per student:

PA: $12,657

Ohio: $10,652

Michigan: $9,480

Texas: $8,954

Arizona: $7,671”

June 2012 Report: Auditor General Jack Wagner Says Fixing PA’s Charter School Formula Could Save $365 Million a Year in Taxpayer Money

Says Department of Education and General Assembly must take leadership role

HARRISBURG, June 20, 2012 – Auditor General Jack Wagner said today that Pennsylvania could save $365 million a year in taxpayer money by adopting separate charter and cyber charter school funding formulas similar to those used in other states, and by closing an administrative loophole that permits double-dipping in pension payments through the calculation of tuition rates.

A study by the Department of the Auditor General shows that Pennsylvania has overpaid charter schools because its formula is pegged to educational costs in the sending school district rather than on the actual educational cost to the charter or cyber charter school.

http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/department/press/wagnersaysfixingpa%E2%80%99scharterschoolformula.html

PA House Co-sponsorship Memorandum Posted: February 25, 2013 10:47 AM

From: Representative James Roebuck To: All House members

Subject: Comprehensive Charter and Cyber Charter School Reform Legislation

In the near future I intend to introduce legislation that will make comprehensive amendments to the Charter and Cyber Charter School Law. While I do support charter schools, I believe major revisions are needed regarding the governance, financing and accountability of charter and cyber charter schools. I believe these revisions will result in significant savings to our school districts of at least $365 million a year. The legislation addresses what’s needed in reforming the Charter and Cyber Charter School law:

Strengthening local school board and taxpayer ability to approve and have authority over charter schools;

A Charter School Funding Advisory Commission to determine the actual costs of charter and cyber charter schools as part of developing a new equitable funding formula that is fair to both charter schools and school districts and most importantly taxpayers AND changes in the charter school law to address immediate specific financial concerns about the funding of charter and cyber charter schools including special education overpayments, pension “double-dipping” and limiting surplus fund balances;

Providing better fiscal and academic accountability for charter and cyber charter schools including greater transparency and financial accountability of for-profit management companies contracted to run charter and cyber charter schools.

A detailed summary of the major revisions is below.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=11852

Cybers continue to blur the line between brick and mortar charters (that require local school board authorization) and cyber charters (authorized by PDE). This article reports that Commonwealth Connections Academy already operates several “teaching centers” in Pennsylvania. K-12, Inc. also has a “flex” initiative where students come to school buildings but take online classes.

Cyber school plans teaching center in Dickson City

Scranton Times-Tribune BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL (STAFF WRITER) February 25, 2013

Commonwealth Connections Academy, which has 245 students in Lackawanna County, has purchased the former Petco building on Business Route 6 in Dickson City for $1.3 million.

Officials from the school, which is funded with taxpayer money, plan a major overhaul of the building and to increase the number of local employees from about a dozen to as many as 100 people. "When we saw that site, we thought it was perfect," said Reese Flurie, Ed.D., the school's CEO. "I think it's going to be really nice." The plan, which includes a full cyber curriculum as well as a physical location for students to interact with peers and teachers, is the first of its kind for a cyber charter school in Northeast Pennsylvania.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/cyber-school-plans-teaching-center-in-dickson-city-1.1449598?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=manual&utm_campaign=hofiushalltt

Pittsburgh charter and city schools to meet

Superintendent wants to iron out differences

By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette February 26, 2013 12:17 am

Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent Linda Lane is trying to thaw the deep freeze in relations between the school district and charter schools. Ms. Lane invited leaders of charter schools located in the district to meet with her today. She also has visited some of the charter schools.

"We're going to have to think through our charter school relationship here," Ms. Lane said. She said it is "certainly not a happy, collaborative one." Ms. Lane said, "The goal of charters in the first place was to have places where you could try some things out we could all learn from.

Pa. lags behind nation in graduation rate improvement

The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa on Feb 25 2013 Posted in Latest news

A new Graduation Nation report shows that the country is on track to reach a 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020. Pennsylvania, however, is one of 23 states not on track to reach that milestone -- largely due to lagging progress in graduating Black and Latino students.

http://thenotebook.org/blog/135685/graduation-rate-improvement-pa-lags-behind-nation

Op-ed: Quality early childhood education is a no-brainer

By Patriot-News Op-Ed By Cynthia Tucker on February 26, 2013 at 12:00 AM,

Decades of research have proved that high-quality pre-kindergarten classes work. Programs, such as Head Start, that haven't stood up as well to long-term studies are inconsistent in quality. By contrast, those programs that hire well-educated teachers and put them in well-equipped classrooms with small groups of children show excellent results.

http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/02/op-ed_quality_early_childhood_education_is_a_no-brainer.html#incart_river

New York Times Room for Debate FEBRUARY 25, 2013 9:27 PM

Is Public Preschool a Smart Investment?

In his State of the Union address this month, President Obama said he wanted to “make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America.” His plan specifically calls for federally financed preschool for all 4-year-olds from low- and moderate-income families.

Is public preschool really what the children of low-income parents need? Would quality child care that included a preschool curriculum be a better national goal?

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/02/25/is-public-preschool-a-smart-investment

Critics say Corbett's pension reform would increase costs

Gov. Tom Corbett wants to ease taxpayers' burden, but skeptics say legal and financial risks loom.

By Steve Esack, Morning Call Harrisburg Bureau 11:40 p.m. EST, February 23, 2013

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett has described the growing $41 billion deficit afflicting the state's two pension systems as Pac-Man because it keeps eating more and more revenue.

Corbett has proposed a three-pronged attack to tame Pac-Man's hunger as part of his $28.4 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year. He claims his proposals, which need legislative approval, would reduce taxpayers' costs to fund the Public School Employees' Retirement and the Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement systems.

But a growing number of skeptics — from unions to the state treasurer to the independent state pension commission — say the governor's plan is fraught with legal and financial risks, and would increase costs over time.

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-corbett-pension-reform-021-20130223,0,411170.story

“The agency is buying licenses for the online Framework for Teaching Proficiency System to train 5,330 administrators…. The TeachScape system includes 35 hours of training for evaluators and culminates in a test, said Scott Noon, vice president of business development at TeachScape.”

Pennsylvania invests in training school administrators

By Tory N. Parrish Pittsburgh Tribune-Review February 23, 2013, 8:34 p.m.
A new state law requires that public school teachers be evaluated based on uniform standards, so the Department of Education is spending about $2 million to use an online system to train and assess administrators who would do so. Teacher evaluations will be linked to student achievement as the department implements the Teacher Evaluation Effectiveness System. It must be in all Pennsylvania school districts by next school year.

PA eSTARS to let educators electronically exchange student records

Tribune-Review By Liz Zemba Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8:36 p.m.
A $1.4 million federal grant will help Pennsylvania schools begin exchanging student transcripts electronically. The state Department of Education in 2012 awarded the grant to Parchment Inc. of Arizona to implement Pennsylvania Electronic Student Transcripts And Records System, or PA eSTARS. The statewide network will enable schools to exchange student records and transcripts, according to a report by the Governor's Advisory Commission.

Announcing New School Turnaround Americorps Program

U.S. Department of Education sent this bulletin at 02/25/2013 01:35 PM EST

Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service Announce New School Turnaround Americorps Program

Today, as education leaders from across the country gather at the Grad Nation Summit in Washington, D.C., we are pleased to announce a new collaboration between our agencies: School Turnaround AmeriCorps. This competitive, three-year grant program is designed to strengthen and accelerate interventions in our nation’s lowest-performing schools. The new initiative will engage hundreds of AmeriCorps members in turnaround schools across the country. AmeriCorps members will help students, teachers, and principals to transform struggling schools by providing opportunities for academic enrichment, extended learning time, and individual supports for students. These interventions will lead to increased academic achievement and improved high school graduation rates and college readiness among our most disadvantaged students.

http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USED-6dfa4e

RPT-U.S. high school graduation rate up sharply, but red flags abound

Chicago Tribune Reuters By Stephanie Simon 6:02 a.m. CST, February 25, 2013

* States including Texas, California, New York see big gains

* Nation on pace for first time to hit 90 percent rate
* Black, Hispanic and disabled students lag well behind
Feb 25 (Reuters) - For the first time in decades, the United States is making steady gains in the number of high school students earning diplomas, putting it on pace to reach a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020, according to a new analysis released Monday. But the good news comes with a big asterisk: students with learning disabilities and limited fluency in English face long odds to finish high school, with graduation rates for those groups as low as 25 percent in some states, the analysis found. Minority students also continue to fall well behind their white peers, with about one-third of African-American students and 29 percent of Hispanic students dropping out before graduation.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-usa-educationdiplomas-repeatl1n0bm7s5-20130225,0,6045416,full.story

Watchdog Gnaws On Foundation With Jeb Bush Ties

Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa Published Online: February 19, 2013

Correspondence between former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's K-12 advocacy organization and state education leaders—obtained and publicized by a privatization-watchdog group—has renewed debate over the extent to which the private sector can benefit by gaining access to government officials, and markets, through nonprofit advocacy groups.

The emails between Mr. Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education and officials in Maine, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and other states show the group discussing model bills with state officials and promoting specific policy initiatives, such as online education and retaining 3rd graders not reading at grade level.

The nonprofit group In the Public Interest, which is based in Washington and published the emails last month, is critical of many privatization initiatives. It says it doesn't have a problem with businesses seeking new markets, but contends the foundation is being used as cover for companies seeking public money without lobbying in an upfront way.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/02/20/21lobbying.h32.html?tkn=OXYFee8i6OZSybf%2BRhXmDBQ8Jj0vsBFEtZGg&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1

PhilaSoup March 2013 - Sunday Get together

Sunday, March 3, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EST) Philadelphia, PA

Teachers Institute of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Houston Hall (2nd Floor)
3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

For more info and RSVP: http://philasoupmarch2013.eventbrite.com/

PSBA officer applications due April 30

PSBA’s website 2/15/2013

Candidates seeking election to PSBA officer posts in 2014 must file an expression of interest for the office desired to be interviewed by the PSBA Leadership Development Committee.

Edcamp Philly 2013 at UPENN May 18^th, 2013

What: Edcamp Philly is an"unconference" devoted to K-12 Education issues and ideas.
Where: University of Pennsylvania When: May 18, 2013 Cost: FREE!

http://www.edcampphilly.org/

Education Policy and Leadership Center

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM (Philadelphia February 27)

SUBJECT: Governor Corbett's Proposed Education Budget for 2013-2014

"Southeastern Region Breakfast Series" Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Continental Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. Program - 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel - 201 North 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

SPEAKERS: An Overview of the Proposed 2013-2014 State Budget and Education Issues Will Be Provided By:

Sharon Ward, The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center

Ron Cowell, The Education Policy and Leadership Center
State and Regional Perspectives Will Be Provided By:
Mark B. Miller, School Director, Centennial School District

Joe Otto, Chief Operations Officer, William Penn School District

Michael Churchill, Of Counsel, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
Dr. Stephen D. Butz, Superintendent, Southeast Delco School District

While there is no registration fee, seating is limited and an RSVP is required.

RSVP on-line at http://www.eplc.org/events-calendar/southeastern-pennsylvania-breakfast-series

Pages

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 28, 2013: Ravitch on Philly: “the most insulting, most demeaning contract ever offered in any school district to my knowledge.”

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 27, 2013: As sequestration looms, leaders in Washington are intently focused on……

In Philly, District wants up to 13% salary cut, other big changes

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 26, 2013: Roebuck Seeking Co-sponsors for Comprehensive Charter and Cyber Charter School Reform Legislation