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
PA cybercharters average cost of $10,145 per student was $3,500 more
than national average of $6,500
PA cybercharters avg cost of $10,145
was $3,500 more than national average of $6,500.
PA charters spent avg $13,411
per student, about $3K more than national average of $10K.
Fixing PA’s Charter School
“Now is not the time to vote on costly new tax cuts for profitable
corporations as the House plans to do next week. Instead, lawmakers should
consider delaying the phase out of the capital stock and franchise tax. “As IFO Director Matthew Knittel noted today,
recent economic activity in Pennsylvania
“Lawmakers should allocate scarce tax dollars carefully. New corporate
tax cuts will come at the expense of investments that really matter to our
economy and local communities, including schools, safe streets, and infrastructure.”
Statement: IFO Revenue Report Should Raise Red
Flag for Lawmakers
HARRISBURG, PA (May 1, 2013) — Sharon Ward,
Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, issued the following
statement on the Independent Fiscal Office’s preliminary 2013-14 state revenue
outlook:
Posted: May 02, 2013 10:55 PM EDTUpdated: May 03,
2013 5:26 AM EDT
A proposal to turn the York City
School District York
City School
District
"It sets up a system that
is separate but might not be equal," said Kevin Schreiber (D), a candidate
running to represent the State House's 95th District. He feels that city
students should not be forced into charter schools in order to receive
education equivalent to other places in York County
By The Associated Press on May 03, 2013 at 5:07 PM
READING (AP) — State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a scathing assessment of the Reading School District in a Friday report that alleges that weak leadership has exacerbated academic and financial problems in one of the state's largest and poorest school districts.
READING (AP) — State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a scathing assessment of the Reading School District in a Friday report that alleges that weak leadership has exacerbated academic and financial problems in one of the state's largest and poorest school districts.
The report, which focuses
mainly on a two-year period ending in February, says officials had failed to
adequately educate students. It cited a 2011-12 graduation rate of 61 percent
that was 24 points shy of the state goal and standardized-test scores that
similarly lagged state targets.
Central
High School RoboLancers compete in FIRST World Championship
Technically Philly By Juliana
Reyes / STAFF May. 2, 2013 10:30 am
It’s been a crazy few weeks for
the Central High School RoboLancers: a World Championship, a 750-student
Robotics Expo and a marathon week of fundraising. Last week, the robotics team competed in the
FIRST World Championship in St. Louis St. Louis
They did it in five days.
Knade, Crossley to discuss pensions on PCN
Call-In Program Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. on PCN.
PSBA 5/3/2013
Stuart Knade, PSBA interim
executive director, will join Mike Crossey, president of PA State Education
Association, to discuss pension reform in the Commonwealth -- Wednesday, May 8
at 7 p.m. on PCN. Viewers may call (877)
PA6-5001 with questions during the program. Check your local listings for
station information.
How Public Education Is Funded - EPLC
"Focus on Education" TV Program
Wednesday, May 8 at 9 p.m. on PCN.
Education
Policy and Leadership
Center May 3, 2013
Next Wednesday, May 8, tune in
to the next episode of EPLC's "Focus on Education" series,which
will cover How Public Education Is Funded In Pennsylvania and air
at 9:00 p.m. on PCN television. The panel
will include:
- Ron Cowell, President of The Education Policy and
- Corinna Vecsey Wilson, PCN Host of the "Focus on
Education" programs;
- Joe Bard, Executive Director of the
- Dr. Paula Hess, Former Senior Education Advisor,
- Laura Cowburn, Past President of the
EPLC and PA Cable Network (PCN)
have partnered for a monthly program focusing on education issues in Pennsylvania
"Focus on
Education" will be broadcast on PCN at 9:00 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday
of every month, now through June, and then again this fall in September through
December.
To learn more, visit PCN's "Focus on Education" web page.
Thanks to PA Congressmen Meehan,
Gerlach and Barletta
More lawmakers sign on to NSBA bill
NSBA School Board News Today By
Joetta Sack-Min|May 3rd, 2013
The National School Boards
Association’s (NSBA) legislative proposal which would establish a framework for
improved recognition of local school board authority when the U.S. Department
of Education acts on issues that impact local school districts unless
specifically authorized in federal legislation, the Local
School Board Governance and Flexibility Act (H.R. 1386), has now garnered
16 co-sponsors.
Introduced by Rep. Aaron Schock
(R-lll.) on March 21, the bill had as original co-sponsors Reps. Schock, Rodney
Davis of Illinois , Ron Kind of Wisconsin , Patrick Meehan of Pennsylvania ,
and David Valadao of California
School board members are
encouraged to contact their House members to become co-sponsors. Increased
focus is now being directed to urge senators to introduce a companion bill in
the U.S. Senate, and school board members also are encouraged to contact their
senators and urge them to sponsor similar legislation.
Justice
Department Says State Voucher Programs May Not Discriminate Against Students
With Disabilities
DOJ Finding Was Prompted by ACLU Complaint
American Civil Liberties Union
Press Release May
2, 2013
The DOJ letter was prompted by
a 2011 complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of
Wisconsin, and Disability Rights Wisconsin that the Milwaukee Parental Choice
Program violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"The state cannot, by
delegating the education function to private voucher schools, place students
beyond the reach of the federal laws that require Wisconsin
Full
Committee To Examine State and Local Accountability Systems
House Education and the Workforce Committee Press Release
On Tuesday, May 7 at 10:00
a.m., the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep.
John Kline (R-MN), will hold a hearing entitled, “Raising the Bar: Exploring
State and Local Efforts to Improve Accountability.” The hearing will take place
in room 2175 of the Rayburn
House Office
Building
The challenges facing our
nation’s elementary and secondary education system are clear: fewer than 40
percent of 4th graders are proficient in reading and math, and only about
three-quarters of students graduate from high school. Many students who do
graduate from high school lack the knowledge or skills they need to succeed.
Instead of working with Congress to change the nation’s K-12 education law
(known as No Child Left Behind), the
Obama administration imposed a temporary waiver scheme that merely exchanges a
few of the law’s most onerous mandates for new requirements dictated by the
Department of Education.
As the committee renews its
efforts to rewrite No Child Left Behind, a top priority will be granting states
and school districts the flexibility necessary to develop their own
accountability plans that provide parents more accurate and meaningful
information about school performance.
Tuesday’s hearing will offer
members an opportunity to examine the appropriate federal role in
accountability and explore innovative state and local efforts to hold schools
accountable for student performance. To learn more about this hearing, visit: www.edworkforce.house.gov/hearings
A raw deal on virtual schools
When Virginia ’s
first statewide virtual school opened in 2009, it looked to be a good deal for
the private operator and its host, Carroll
County
It’s no surprise that K12 was
the only party thriving under the arrangement. The company had a seat at the
table when Gov. Bob McDonnell and lawmakers drafted a law allowing virtual
schools in the state. It also has given $140,500 in campaign gifts to state
politicians since 2007, including $55,000 to McDonnell, according to the
Virginia Public Access Project.
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
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 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
rgin-b�
!m . �� `� i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Charter schools - public funding without public scrutiny; Proposed
statewide authorization and direct payment would further diminish
accountability and oversight for public tax dollars
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
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