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.
The Keystone State Education Coalition is
pleased to be listed among the friends and allies of The Network for Public
Education. Are you a
member?
These daily
emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
PSBA Region 15 Members (Delaware and Chester
Counties
Jeffery B. Clay, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania School
If kids aren’t reading on grade level by 3rd grade the game
is over; advocate for high quality early childhood education
TAKE ACTION: Tell President Obama we need
his early learning proposal to pass to serve more kids in high-quality pre-K!
PA Partnerships for Children
Email May 9, 2013
President Obama’s early
learning proposal calls for an unprecedented investment in pre-kindergarten for
4-year-olds. Tell President Obama his proposal is critical to providing more
children with high-quality pre-k that will prepare them for school.
This site provides great
resources on the President’s Early Learning Initiative
Strong
Start for Children Campaign
National Women’s Law Center
In his State of the
Union address in February, President Obama announced an ambitious agenda for
early care and education. This early care and education initiative would
greatly increase access to high-quality pre-K for four-year-olds with a new
investment of $75 billion to support state-federal partnerships, expand the
availability of high-quality options for infants and toddlers through
partnerships between Early Head Start and child care, and expand voluntary home
visiting programs with a new investment of $15 billion.
High-quality early care
and education helps give children the boost they need to succeed in school,
provides parents with the support and peace of mind they need to be productive
at work, and strengthens our economy in the short- and long-term. These
benefits have garnered support for early care and education investments from
across the political spectrum.
Sequestration
means cuts to Head Start programs in Lehigh
Valley , northwest New Jersey
By Sara K. Satullo | The Express-Times
on May 10, 2013
at 5:30 AM
Head Start programs across the
country are going to have to start cutting seats and turning away eligible
children due to federal budget cuts.
The sequester went into effect
March 1, ushering in federal spending cuts of about $85 billion in 2013. The
cuts are set to continue for a decade.
Redistricting Aftermath: Potential Member
Vs. Member Battles
PoliticsPA
Written by Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor May 9,2013
Now that the Pa. Supreme Court
has cemented the
new state House and Senate maps, lawmakers must look to 2014 – and in some
cases at each other. Here are the potential races between incumbent
legislators. You can view
high-resolution versions of the House map here(PDF) and
the Senate map here(PDF).
District statistics come from Labels & Lists.
“At the state level, Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, suggested $722
million could be raised if lawmakers postpone a business tax reduction, expand
Medicaid eligibility to bring in more federal funds and free up state money for
other uses, and bolster sales in the state-controlled wine and liquor business.
Part of that revenue could then be made available for education statewide, he
said. But Gov. Tom Corbett's budget
secretary, Charles Zogby, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake
Corman, R-Centre, seemed less optimistic about Philadelphia
Philly
schools seek $304M to avoid harmful cuts
AP PA
State Wire by KATHY MATHESON May 9,2013
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Mayor Michael Nutter called for a shared sacrifice among city, state and union leaders on Thursday to help the Philadelphia schools avoid devastating budget cuts.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Mayor Michael Nutter called for a shared sacrifice among city, state and union leaders on Thursday to help the Philadelphia schools avoid devastating budget cuts.
If left unaddressed, the
district's $304 million deficit means schools across the city could open next
fall without assistant principals, guidance counselors, lunch monitors,
athletic programs, extracurricular activities and other vital resources.
"That's not a
school," Nutter said. "The only way that we can prevent that
nightmare ... from happening is by all of us working together."
City leaders pledge effort to get school
funds
BOB
WARNER AND TROY GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS May 9, 2013 , 8:19 PM
City officials and leaders of
the Philadelphia delegation in Harrisburg
pledged their strongest efforts Thursday to find an additional $180 million for
the School District , as about 300 students
marched peacefully to City Hall, asking the government to "save our
schools."
Mayor Nutter joined Superintendent
William R. Hite Jr., School Reform Commission Chairman Pedro Ramos, and six
members of the city's House and Senate delegations for an assembly at Andrew Jackson
School in South
Philadelphia featuring HOME, the school's acclaimed rock band.
Students protest at City Hall as debate
heats up over school funding
Citypaper
by Samantha Melamed THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 , 1:48 PM
Several hundred public school
students crowded around City Hall at lunchtime, holding signs and umbrellas, demanding
an end to cuts to school staff and programming. Their march — instigated on
Twitter and Facebook and, according to them, supported by their teachers and
school staff — came hours after Mayor
Nutter and state legislators held a
press conference to announce their plan to put together an additional
$60 million in funding for Philadelphia
Education cuts taking a toll
Inquirer Opinion by Rebecca
Poyourow Friday, May 10, 2013 , 3:01 AM
Rebecca Poyourow is a member of Parents United for Public Education.
Over the past four years, my children have attended their neighborhood school inPhiladelphia Cook-Wissahickon
Elementary School
Over the past four years, my children have attended their neighborhood school in
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20130510_Education_cuts_taking_a_toll.html#0Twd32HsPPIBhGlT.99
Pennsylvania District Rejects
Charter-Conversion Plan
Education Week District Dossier
Blog By Jackie Zubrzycki on May
9, 2013 3:33 PM
In York , Pa.
The 5,000-student School
District of the City of York
Reading Eagle by Stephanie
Weaver May 9, 2013
In an unexpected move, the Oley
Valley School Board voted Wednesday to bring back full-day
kindergarten this fall. The motion was approved 8-0 with no discussion or
comments from the board. Dr. Robert J. Cappa was absent. The district
eliminated full-day kindergarten in June 2011 and offered only half-day for the
past two school years. School officials at the time said the decision was
overdue and they did not see any benefit in keeping full-day.
Pennridge student becomes junior member of
Pennsylvania State Board of Education
By
Meghan Ross mross@montgomerynews.com
Published: Monday, May
06, 2013
Few people, and fewer students,
can say they represent the interests of 1.8 million people, but Pennridge High School
Reynolds said he was inspired to apply for the position because he has always been interested in politics and had a special concern with education.
Reynolds said he was inspired to apply for the position because he has always been interested in politics and had a special concern with education.
This video provides a good discussion of issues and concerns around
pension reform…
PCNTV May 8: State
Pensions Video Runtime 57:41
By Francine
Schertzer on May 08, 2013
with Comments 1
Gov. Tom Corbett
proposed changing the state pension system by moving future employees to a
401K-type plan and altering future benefits for current employees. The PA
State Education Association says they will litigate to prevent unconstitutional
changes to workers’ benefits, however the PA School Boards Association
recently testified that benefits may be legally changed when a “trigger event”
occurs, due to a change in job classification. Michael Crossey, President of the PA State Education Association, and
Stuart Knade, Interim Executive Director of the PA School Boards Association,
will be here to discuss.
Face-to-face talks between Neshaminy school
board president and teachers’ union VP break down as contract impasse continues
By
D.E. Schlatter BucksLocalNews.com
Published: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
NESHAMINY - School board
president Ritchie Webb revealed this week that over the last several weeks he
has had four one-on-one negotiating sessions with teachers’ union vice
president Anne Schmidt, but said that the contract impasse continues. In a statement, Webb said that the
privately-held talks took place with the full knowledge of the board’s
negotiating team, and that the last session with the Neshaminy Federation of
Teachers’ (NFT) vice president was May 6.
Dispute over boys participating in girls’
sports in Pennsylvania
NSBA Legal Clips, May 9, 2013
Citing the desire to
protect athletic opportunities for girls and safety concerns, the Pittsburgh
Post- Gazette reports that the Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) is seeking to overturn state
law that has allowed boys to play on girls’ high school sports teams for
decades. Following a status conference with PIAA’s attorneys and
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office, it appears PIAA’s suit is
headed for an evidentiary hearing.
The case centers on a 1975 Commonwealth Court
By Lynn Bonner — lbonner@newsobserver.com Published: May 2, 2013
High school graduates will have
seals on their diplomas in a few years showing whether they are ready for work
or college under new criteria the State Board of Education adopted Thursday.
The new standards follow a
state law and Gov. Pat McCrory’s campaign promise to boost student interest in
post-high school jobs. Students starting their junior year in the fall would be
the first to earn the designations.
The board set out three paths
students for students earning seals on their diplomas: career, community
college and four-year university. A McCrory spokeswoman said he supports the
board’s decision.
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/02/2866581/state-board-of-education-sets.html#storylink=cpy
House Informational
briefing on the Common Core Standards from PA Dept. of Education Secretary
Ron Tomalis.
Tuesday,
May 14, 2013
9:00 AM Room
G50 Irvis Office Bldg.
Senate Public
hearing on Common Core
Wednesday, May 15, 1:00 PM , Hearing Room 1 North Office
Bldg
PSBA
Region 15 Members (Delaware and Chester Counties
Jeffery B. Clay, Executive Director for the
Pennsylvania School
Penns
Grant Region 15 -- Thursday,
May 30 ; 5 p.m. Region 15 meeting; 6
p.m. dinner; 7 p.m. Legislative meeting; Garnet Valley HS, 552 Smithbridge
Rd., Glen Mills, 19342; registration is required
Directions:http://goo.gl/maps/fDkh0
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.
Panel: Striking Back on High Stakes Testing
hosted by Rethinking Schools
Panel Discussion Hosted by
Rethinking Schools
Arch Street United Methodist Church 55 North Broad Street , Philadelphia
Wednesday, May
15, 2013 4:30pm until 6:00pm
Join CUNY Professor Michelle
Fine and Rethinking
Schools
Space limited! RSVP: parentsunitedphila@gmail.com
Info and directions: https://www.facebook.com/events/459048834184078/
Looking for PA Governor's School for the
Arts Alumni
For over 35 years, the Pennsylvania
Governor's School for the Arts was a robust summer program that provided over
10,000 students state-wide with extraordinary opportunities to develop their
artistic talents, intellects, self-confidence, and leadership. Unfortunately,
for budget reasons, state officials ended the program a few years ago. The
Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC)'s 2012 Arts and Education Policy
Report recommended the school be reestablished and the Pennsylvania Arts
Education Network is now urging that the Governor's School for the Arts be
restored.
To support this effort, we
would like to create a comprehensive list of alumni who attended the School.
This list would be an important voice in supporting the reopening of the
Governor's School for the Arts, and arts education in Pennsylvania
If you, or someone you know attended the Pennsylvania
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
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 Keystone State May 2,
2013 )
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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