Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For February 13, 2013: "Selling liquor is not a core function of government," Corbett said. "Education is."

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Keystone State Education Coalition:

Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup

For February 13, 2013: "Selling liquor is not a core function of government," Corbett said. "Education is."

SPECIAL EDITION EPLC Education Notebook Monday, February 11, 2013

EPLC: Summary of Governor Corbett's Proposed 2013-2014 Education Budget

http://www.eplc.org/notebook2013/EducationNotebook%2013-05-21113.pdf

Several years of schoolboarding have taught me that everyone is entitled to their own stupid opinion – here’s mine:

Public education is a “core function of government” and should be funded accordingly, at an appropriate level, in a predictable and sustainable manner, and not dependent upon whether a privatization plan or pension reform deal can be achieved…..

PDE PRESS RELEASE: February 12, 2013
Governor Corbett, along with Legislators and Education and Business Leaders, Discuss Passport for Learning Block Grant Program
Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett, joined by members of the General Assembly, along with education and business leaders, talked today about reinvesting proceeds from the sale of the state liquor store system into an educational block grant for Pennsylvania’s schools. 

This Passport for Learning Block Grant is in addition to Corbett’s proposed $90 million increase in the upcoming budget’s Basic Education Funding line item. This year’s proposed $5.5 billion state investment is the highest in state history.

“Let’s get Pennsylvania out of this outdated system of selling alcohol once and for all, and reinvest the proceeds into Pennsylvania’s future - our children,’’ Corbett said. “Selling liquor is not a core function of government; education is.”

Read more here

PDE List of anticipated block grant by county and school district

PDE PRESS RELEASE: February 12, 2013
Passport for Learning Block Grant Distribution (PDF)

Corbett shifts stance on cuts to school funds

Angela Couloumbis, INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU

POSTED: Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 9:04 PM

HARRISBURG - The budget ax might not land on public schools after all.

For weeks, Gov. Corbett and members of his administration have sent strong signals that they would likely look to education funding for budget cuts if the legislature did not act to rein in the state's skyrocketing public-employee pension costs.  But on Tuesday, the governor softened his stance. Surrounded by school administrators at a news conference in the Capitol, he said it was the legislature that would ultimately have to choose where to cut in order to recoup dollars for the state's two major pension funds.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/20130212_Corbett_shifts_stance_on_cuts_to_school_funds.html

School administrators less than enthusiastic about Corbett plan

Lebanon Daily News By BRAD RHEN Updated:   02/11/2013 04:36:50 PM EST

The 2013-14 state education budget proposed Tuesday by Gov. Tom Corbett offers some interesting math, depending on your perspective.  A year after taking about $1 billion away from education, the governor proposes to add about $338 million, and his education secretary calls it a "historic level of funding."  But Northern Lebanon Superintendent Don Bell offers a different equation to describe state funding of public education.  "Small state funding increase plus continual unfunded mandates equals increased local property taxes," he said.

http://www.ldnews.com/announcements/ci_22566226/school-administrators-less-than-enthusiastic-about-corbett-plan

City Council, community grill Philadelphia superintendent on school closings

by thenotebook on Feb 12 2013 Posted in Latest news

by Benjamin Herold for NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner

Questioning everything from safety to academics to promised savings, a parade of Philadelphians took advantage of City Council hearings Tuesday in the hopes of chipping away at Superintendent William Hite's plan to close 37 city schools by next fall.

"We are all agreed that this particular plan, by itself, is not the answer," said the Rev. Alyn Waller, pastor at Enon Baptist Tabernacle Church in Northwest Philadelphia.

Hite said he will not bow to the growing demand for a one-year school closings moratorium, arguing that the combination of declining enrollment, crumbling buildings, and a huge budget deficit has left the District with no choice but to dramatically downsize.

http://thenotebook.org/blog/135636/council-community-grill-philadelphia-superintendent-school-closings?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=twt&utm_campaign=social

Town halls slated on Philly school closings

PhillyTrib.com by  Damon C. Williams Monday, 11 February 2013 19:37

In its quest to obtain community feedback from the affected neighborhoods, the School District of Philadelphia has released its slate of six February community meetings, all to be held either in the schools identified as a potential candidate for closure, or in the neighborhood of the receiving school.  There will be three meetings on Tuesday, February 12, and two more scheduled for Wednesday, February 13; the district held the first of the six meetings last Monday at Strawberry Mansion High School.

http://www.phillytrib.com/newsarticles/item/7750-town-halls-slated-on-school-closings.html

Daniel Boone school board votes to proceed with cutting programs

By Denise Larive Journal Register News Service Posted: Tuesday, 02/12/13 10:16 am

BIRDSBORO -- The Daniel Boone School Board voted 6-2 Monday night to proceed with curtailing 14 district programs as one of several “levers” to reduce the $4.9 million 2013-14 budget deficit.  Board members will vote Feb. 25 on the resolution to submit the 14 curtailments to the state Department of Education.  If approved, the programs are not cut until the board approves the district’s final budget at the end of June.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130212/NEWS01/130219851/daniel-boone-school-board-votes-to-proceed-with-cutting-programs-

Fairmount Park Conservancy the Latest Victim of William Penn Foundation Grant Suspensions

The Philly Post by Simon Zuylen-Wood February 12, 2013

Last night, City Paper reported that the $2 billion William Penn Foundation would be suspending grants to city-related agencies indefinitely. The report identified a funding request for Bartram’s Mile, a trail extension linking the East and West banks of the Schulykill River, though it’s unclear which group applied for the grant.  Today, I learned that the Fairmount Park Conservancy also received a letter announcing that its grant application had been suspended. 

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/02/12/fairmount-park-conservancy-latest-victim-william-penn-foundation-grant-suspensions/

Reflective Teacher Network

A place for Philadelphia-area teachers to come and collaborate

Next meeting on Tuesday, March 5^th

The Reflective Teacher Network was created in October 2012 to provide a context for educators in the Philadelphia area to connect and improve their practice while fostering a reflective community.

http://www.reflectiveteachers.org/

“In truth, the new study estimates that students in charter schools in Michigan experience 0.06 standard deviations more academic growth than comparison students in traditional public schools. As Maul points out, “This is equivalent to saying that about a tenth of one percent of the variation in academic growth is associated with school type.” Such a finding of almost no difference between charters and non-charters is very much in line with the overall body of past research. Some studies suggest slight benefits, some suggest slight harm, and many show no difference.”

Sound CREDO Michigan Charter School Report Provides Little Basis for Advocacy

National Education Policy Center Press Release February 12, 2013

Reference Publication: Review of Charter School Performance in Michigan

Contact: William J. Mathis, (802) 383-0058, wmathis@sover.net
Andrew Maul, (303) 492-7653, andrew.maul@colorado.edu

URL for this press release: http://tinyurl.com/9wacp9q

BOULDER, CO (February 12, 2013) – The overall research base is now clear that the charter school sector largely mirrors the conventional public school sector in terms of students’ test scores. This is again confirmed by a recent analysis of charter schools in Michigan. A new review of that study points to some limitations but concludes that it employs solid analytic methods and relies on a large, impressive dataset.

http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2013/02/review-charter-performance-michigan

Congress Won't Reauthorize ESEA, So Netflix Will Do It For Them

Education Week Politics K-12 Blog By Ross Brenneman on February 12, 2013 8:16 AM

After a great deal of promotion, Netflix last week released the drama series "House of Cards," its first major original TV show. The political soap opera follows South Carolina congressman Francis "Frank" Underwood (Kevin Spacey, in a role he was born to play) as he and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) deftly maneuver Washington politics.  Denied a nomination to be secretary of state by the president-elect, Underwood channels his ambitions toward passing a major education bill, the Education Reform and Achievement Act. But don't let the name fool you—it's the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in every way that counts. Our real Congress has failed to reauthorize ESEA for over five years, but Hollywood has numerous advantages over Washington.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2013/02/congress_wont_reauthorize_esea_so_netflix_will.html

Obama Urges Big Preschool Expansion in State of the Union Speech

Education Week Politics K-12 Blog By Alyson Klein on February 12, 2013 10:11 PM

President Barack Obama called on Congress in his State of the Union address to significantly expand access to preschool to all 4-year-olds from moderate- and low-income families, and to create a new spin-off of his Race to the Top program aimed at pushing high schools to adopt curricula that better prepare students for the jobs of the future.  ….The preschool expansion proposal would include incentives and support for states that want to substantially grow their early-childhood education offerings. And it would entice states to offer full-day kindergarten, which right now is only available in 10 states and the District of Columbia, White House aides said.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2013/02/obama_urges_big_preschool_expa.html

NSBA commends focus on education in State of the Union address

NSBA School Board News Today by Joetta Sack-Min February 12th, 2013

President Barack Obama called for a high-quality preschool education for all children in his State of the Union address on Feb. 12. He also announced a new program, based on the Race to the Top competitive grants, that would spur a redesign of the nation’s high schools, instill more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, and better prepare students for higher education and the workforce.

http://schoolboardnews.nsba.org/2013/02/nsba-commends-focus-on-education-in-state-of-the-union-address/

President Barack Obama State of the Union 2013 speech (full text)

Politico 2/12/13 9:15 PM EST

President Barack Obama's speech for the 2013 State of the Union address, as prepared for delivery and provided by the White House.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/state-of-the-union-2013-president-barack-obamas-speech-transcript-text-87550.html#ixzz2KkCAM7Dn

Education Policy and Leadership Center

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM (Harrisburg February 13)

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

"Capital Region Breakfast Series" Wednesday, February 13, 2013

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

Harrisburg Hilton Hotel - Two North Second St., Harrisburg, PA 17101

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:
 Dr. Eric Eshbach, Superintendent, Northern York County School District

Jay D. Himes, CAE, Executive Director, PA Association of School Business Officials

Joan L. Benso, President and CEO, PA Partnerships for Children

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

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

Education Policy and Leadership Center

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM (Pittsburgh February 14)

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

"Western PA Breakfast Series" Thursday, February 14, 2013

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

Holiday Inn Pittsburgh University Center - 100 Lytton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

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:
 Dr. Joseph Clapper, Superintendent, Quaker Valley School District

Michelle Figlar, Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children
Brett Lago, Business Manager, Penn-Trafford School District

Kenneth P. Service, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education

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

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

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

Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center

SAVE THE DATE: 2013 Pennsylvania Budget Summit Feb. 21st

Many Pennsylvanians have sent a clear message to Harrisburg in recent months: The state budget cuts of the past two years were too deep. It is time to once again invest in classrooms and communities.  Join the Pennsylvania Budget and 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.
Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA

Registration is free and lunch is included.
REGISTER TO ATTEND

EPLC 2013 REGIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

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.  

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

To register, please click here.

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.

Register now