Daily
postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 1900
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.
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pleased to be listed among the friends and allies of The Network for Public
Education. Are you a
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These daily
emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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Public education groups call for restoring $900 million in school
funding cut two years ago
Public
education groups call for restoring $900 million in school funding cut two
years ago
By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com
on April 30, 2013
at 6:15 PM
Public education groups are
calling on Gov. Tom Corbett and state lawmakers to make a three-year commitment
to restore the $900 million cut from
public school funding two years ago.
The groups say they can start
next year by approving a $270 million increase in the basic education subsidy
districts receive to cover operating costs.
At a news conference today in
the Capitol Rotunda, representatives from groups that have mounted what they
call the Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign lamented the toll
the funding cuts have had on districts.
School Funding Campaign Calls for Restoration
of State Funding for Student Programs and Services and Long-Term Plan for
School Funding Fairness
PA School Funding Campaign
Press Release April
30, 2013
today that legislators need to
prioritize funding for K-12 student programs and services by approving a $270
million increase in basic subsidy for 2013-2014, and also make a commitment to
a three-year process to restore nearly $900 million cut from school district
funding in each of the past two years.
“One speaker after another criticized Gov. Corbett and the Legislature
for reducing state aid to basic education by nearly $1 billion in the last two
years and diverting dollars to charter schools.
"It seems that in the last 10 years, our schools have been like a
medieval village that has been encircled by an outside army, put under siege,
and steadily starved of resources and support personnel until we have been
weakened for a final assault," said Ken Derstine, who retired in 2011
after 37 years as a public schoolteacher, most recently at Meredith School in
Queen Village.”
Parents: Besieged Philly schools in dire
need
Bob
Warner, Inquirer Staff Writer Tuesday,
April 30, 2013 ,
9:37 PM
Even assuming that the city
comes up with another $60 million requested by the Philadelphia School
District McCall School Washington Square
"I felt compelled to come
out for all the librarians, all the secretaries, all the band teachers,
everybody who makes our community what it is," Stuart said, beginning to
cry as she described the school nurse cleaning tables in the lunchroom.
Despite parent, teacher pleas, City Council
still not moved on District budget woes
thenotebook by Bill Hangley on Apr 30 2013 Posted in Latest news
Day two of City Council’s
education hearings was a long string of bleak predictions and passionate calls
for funding from public school supporters faced with the prospect of what one
parent called “trying to do the impossible with nothing.”
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell
called the day’s testimony “disheartening” but gave little indication that she
and her colleagues are eager to move on meeting the Philadelphia School
District
“The governor cut all this
money,” said Blackwell, a co-chair of Council’s education committee, who along
with Council President Darrell Clarke presided over the day’s testimony.
“The gap in the budget was
primarily due to an increase in special education costs of $3.2 million, net
pension liability increase of $1.7 million, and additional charter school costs
of $746,000, said business manager Ed Smith.”
Philly.com
by Kathy Bocella Tuesday, April 30, 2013 , 8:33
PM
The Upper Darby School District
"No school district
programs will be cut, no employee will lose a job, and kindergarten, art,
music, and sports will all remain intact while still reaching our goal of $9.7
million," he said in presenting the budget to the board Tuesday night.
Over 2000 people have signed
this online petition – have you?
Fund public education, not corporate tax breaks!
Fund public education, not corporate tax breaks!
http://signon.org/sign/fund-public-education-4.fb24?source=c.fb.ty&r_by=43354
Over 1000 people have signed this
online petition – have you?
PA Students are Waiting: Fund Public Ed
PA Students are Waiting: Fund Public Ed
PA has an obligation to fund a thorough and
efficient system of education for children. Stop shifting the burden to local
communities and RESTORE education funding to 2010 levels.
Comparing York City
York
Dispatch By ANDREW SHAW 505-5431 / @ydblogwork 04/30/2013
10:45:51 AM EDT
The two options are converting
to all charter schools starting in the 2014-15 school year, or allowing the
district to do an immediate internal transformation using ideas such as salary
cuts, the addition of pre-kindergarten classes, and the creation of themed
magnet schools.
But York
isn't the only Pennsylvania
29 Pittsburgh-area school districts get
state OK to exceed cap on tax increases
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review By Tony
LaRussa May 1, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
State education officials have given more than a third ofPennsylvania 's
school districts — including 29 in the Pittsburgh
State education officials have given more than a third of
Fewer Pa.
WHYY Newsworks: The Feed By Associated
Press April 30,
2013
Fewer and fewer Pennsylvania
A state Department of Education
report released Tuesday shows 171 of the 497 districts in the report were
granted exceptions from a requirement that local voters approve tax increases
that exceed the index. Officials say this is the third straight year in which
those requests have declined. Department
spokesman Tim Eller speculated that the trend reflects boards' reluctance to
raise taxes and more innovative methods for holding down expenses.
Of the remaining districts, 311
approved resolutions declaring they would not increase taxes above the index,
and 15 others left open the possibility that they would seek voter approval for
larger increases in the May 21 primary.
Tomalis
touts Corbett's education efforts
The Greater Reading
By Teresa McMinn Reading Eagle
correspondent 4/30/2013
Finding and keeping skilled
workers is top of mind for just about any employer. The Greater Reading Chamber
of Commerce & Industry invited the state's top education official and a
panel of experts to offer insights on education and workforce development
during an event April 23 at the Green Valley Country Club in Lower Heidelberg
Township
Education Secretary Ron Tomalis
hit on several topics, starting with No Child Left Behind, the sweeping federal
education reforms enacted in 2001 under President George W. Bush.
“This much is clear: A key Senate committee chairman
effectively pulled the plug on the House's version of privatization just two
months before a June 30 deadline for a new state budget.
"I am on record saying I will not support the House
bill," Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks, chairman of
the Law and Justice Committee, said after the hearing.”
Corbett's liquor privatization plan on life
support
As key Senate panel holds hearing, its
chairman pulls plug on House version.
By Steve Esack, Call Harrisburg
Astroturf
They’re heeeeeere! Yes, we’ve
been watching the astroturf groups set up shop in Pennsylvania ,
and now they are here in Pittsburgh California
The first astroturf group
popped up here like a weed last month just as the weather started to warm.
Called “Shepherding the Next Generation,” this Washington
D.C. based group received money from the Gates
Foundation to start working in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh
Well, first of all, there is no
alliance.
Teachers at Philly charter unionize
Inquirer
Philly School Files Blog by Kristen Graham April 30, 2013 , 12:37 PM
After a significant two-year
battle, teachers at the New
Media Technology
Charter School West Oak Lane
The New Media vote was the
first in the state to be held according to private labor law. It was
overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.
Not a word from Obama (or White House press
corps) on education
At his Tuesday news conference,
held 100 days into his second term, President Obama spoke about the following:
“The fund, which has invested about $260 million over 15 years, receives
financing from high-profile education donors like the Broad Foundation, the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Walton Foundation. On its board are
Silicon Valley leaders including John Doerr,
partner in the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, and
Dave Goldberg, chief executive of Survey Monkey (and husband of Sheryl
Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer).”
NewSchools
Fund Attracts More Capital
New York Times By MOTOKO RICH Published: April 30, 2013
NewSchools Venture Fund, a
nonprofit that started out channeling philanthropic donations to charter schools and that
now invests in a range of education groups and businesses, is entering into a
partnership with a new venture capital fund that could result in millions more
in financing.
Common
Core: Union Chief Recommends Delay in Use of Test Scores
By JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ Published:
April 30, 2013
Warning that a new set of
academic standards was on the verge of falling into the “dustbin of history,”
the leader of a national teachers’ union called on Tuesday for school systems
to postpone using new tests to evaluate teachers and promote students.
The leader, Randi
Weingarten, president of the American Federation
of Teachers, said teachers needed at least a year to master a new
curriculum and review test materials before schools should be held accountable
for results.
‘Parent trigger’ legislation fails in Florida
For the second straight year,
significant parent opposition to “parent trigger” legislation in Florida
Arne
Duncan's address to U.S.
Who: Arne Duncan
When: Thursday,May 2, 11 :45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Webcast: edpolicy.stanford.edu/multimedia/video/
You're invited to tune in to a live webcast by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.Duncan
When: Thursday,
Webcast: edpolicy.stanford.edu/multimedia/video/
You're invited to tune in to a live webcast by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
PSBA Bylaws amendment proposals due May 15
PSBA
website 2/15/2013
As stated in Article XII,
proposals for amending the PSBA Bylaws must be submitted "in writing,
mailed first class and postmarked or marked received at PSBA headquarters prior
to May 15 of each year." Proposals
should be addressed to the Bylaws Committee Chair or the Executive Director and
sent to PSBA headquarters by the May 15, 2013, deadline.
The procedures for submitting
proposed bylaws changes are outlined in Article XII and can be found online atwww.psba.org/about/psba/2013_psba_bylaws.pdf.
Search underway for PSBA Executive Director
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA)
is a nonprofit statewide association of public school boards, pledged to the
highest ideals of local lay leadership for the public schools of the
commonwealth. Founded in 1895, PSBA has a rich history as the first
school boards' association established in the United States Pennsylvania
Search
by Diversified Search, 1990 M St NW, Suite 570Washington , DC
Superintendents, Business Managers, School
Board Members, Union Leaders, Any Others interested in PSERS and wanting to
learn more about Pension Reform . . .
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Registration:
6:30 p.m. Presentation: 7:00 p.m.
Allegheny Intermediate Unit 475 East Waterfront Drive Homestead , PA 15120
Jeffery B. Clay, Executive
Director for the Pennsylvania Schools Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS)
will present on the topic of pension reform. Mr. Clay’s presentation will
review the increases in retirement contributions and the Governor’s proposal on
pension reform. As one concerned about public education, we are sure that
you will find this meeting enlightening and a valuable investment of your time.
In order to accommodate those
attending and prepare the necessary materials for the meeting, please
register using the following link: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6252177431 by May 7, 2013 .
If you have any questions
regarding the registration process, please contact Janet Galaski at 412.394.5753 or janet.galaski@aiu3.net.
NAACP 2013
Conference on the State of Education in Pennsylvania
A Call for Equitable and
Adequate Funding for Pennsylvania
Media Area Branch NAACP Saturday, May 11, 2013 9:00 am – 2:30 pm (8:30 am registration)
Marcus Foster Student Union 2nd
floor, Cheyney University of PA, Delaware County Campus
Information and registration
at: http://www.naacpmediabranch.org/2013_conference.html
Sign Up
Today for PILCOP Special Ed CLE Trainings
Spots are filling up for the
final two trainings in our 2012-2013 Know Your Child’s Rights series with
seminars on ADAAA, Pro Se Parents and Settlement Agreements.
For seminar details and
registration: http://pilcop.org/sign-up-today-for-special-ed-cle-trainings/
Turning the Page for Change
celebration, June
11, 2013
Please join us for the Notebook’s annual Turning the Page for
Change celebration on June 11, 2013 , from 4:30 - 7 p.m. at the University of The Arts 320 S. Broad Street
PA Charter Schools: $4 billion taxpayer dollars with no real
oversight
Charter schools - public funding without public scrutiny; Proposed
statewide authorization and direct payment would further diminish
accountability and oversight for public tax dollars
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