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 ) May 30
Jeffery B. Clay, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania School
Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) will present on the topic of
pension reform.
F&M Poll: Only 1% of respondents give Governor Corbett’s
administration an “A” grade for improving public education.
F&M Poll: When asked “What do you think is the
MOST IMPORTANT problem facing PENNSYLVANIA
TODAY?” the number one answer was the economy (18%); the number two answer was
education,school (17%).
When asked to rate how important it is for state
officials to address a list of issues, Help create new jobs was #1,
Improve the state’s economy was #2, and
Improve the public schools was #3.
Only 1% of respondents give Governor Corbett’s
administration an “A” grade for improving public education.
The
Franklin & Marshall
College Poll April 30 – May 5
The May 2013 Franklin &
Marshall College Poll of Pennsylvania registered voters finds a majority (58%)
believes the state is “off on the wrong track” and only one in four (25%) believes
Governor Tom Corbett has performed sufficiently well to deserve re-election.
The Poll also finds fewer registered voters support selling
the state-owned liquor stores
(47%) than did so in February (53%).
View the latest Franklin
& Marshall
College Poll:
“I challenge members of the Corbett administration to come to Philadelphia and spend a
day in a classroom without books, supplies, proper staffing, assistant
principals, counselors, or librarians.
I invite you, Gov. Corbett, to shadow a student who has no art or music
class to look forward to; no after-school sport to attend. I challenge you to
explain to a student that librarians and guidance counselors are luxury items.”
Governor, visit a Philly school
Inquirer Opinion by Blondell
Reynolds Brown Thursday, May 9, 2013 , 3:01 AM
Blondell Reynolds Brown is a Philadelphia
councilwoman at large.
The Pennsylvania Constitution says the state must "provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth."
The Pennsylvania Constitution says the state must "provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth."
And yet, for the third year in
a row, we look to the Corbett administration to help us fill a sizable hole in
the School District
of Philadelphia budget.
The district's "ask" is $120 million from Harrisburg and $60 million
from the city to prevent the elimination of art, music, sports, school nurses,
guidance counselors, assistant principals, all after-school activities, and
more. In return we get silence and shrugged shoulders
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20130509_Governor__visit_a_Philly_school.html#yY3T5pJjesbkJ7gP.99
Patriot News By The Associated Press on May 08, 2013 at 11:26 AM
The state Supreme Court is
upholding a revised plan to redraw the boundaries of Pennsylvania 's legislative districts, ruling
that a panel's new plan is constitutional.
The court's unanimous ruling
Wednesday came after it initially rejected a map drawn by a five-member
commission of top lawmakers and a former judge.
The map will take effect for Pennsylvania 's 203 House
districts and 50 Senate districts in next year's election.
PA
Redistricting Website – Maps of plan upheld by PA Supremes on May 8, 2013
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
Corbett's
pension fix is a bold start; do critics have a better one? Editorial
By Patriot-News Editorial Board
on May 08, 2013
at 10:55 AM
Give Gov. Tom Corbett credit:
He has served up a bold plan that would make a big dent in the $47 billion
unfunded liability now facing state pension plans. He may not have the perfect
solution – reducing future benefits already promised to current employees
raises serious constitutional questions – but he is trying to tackle a huge
problem before it inflicts needless pain.
The Legislature’s Republican
leaders don’t seem eager to run with their fellow Republican’s plan. However,
just ignoring the problem and hoping that a booming stock market will solve it
is not fiscally responsible.
Debate continues regarding 'appropriate' PA
state pension investment returns assumptions.
Capitolwire.com
Under the Dome May 8,2013
The pension reform embodied in
Act 120 of 2010 was built on an assumption that pension investments for the
state’s pension plans would yield at least an 8 percent return. However, both
the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’
Retirement System (PSERS) have since reduced their expectations for investment
earnings – down to 7.5 percent. And that
slight change has added $6.7 billion to the pension systems’ total unfunded
liability and provided more fodder for argument in what is an ongoing
debate about what constitutes an appropriate expectation for investment returns
by Pennsylvania ’s
state pension systems. CLICK HERE (paywall) to read Capitolwire Deputy Bureau
Chief Chris Comisac’s third report in a series of stories about the pension
systems’ unfunded liability.
Liquor-funded
grant program for schools legislation introduced in House
By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com
on May 08, 2013
at 3:24 PM
Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposal to
direct money made off of the sale of the state liquor system to education is
now a matter before the state House.
Rep. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster,
has introduced House Bill 1366 that he and Corbett say has the potential to
generate $1 billion for school districts in the form of Passport for Learning
grants.
Districts would be restricted
to using the grants for supporting school safety; enhancing science,
technology, engineering and math education; improving the early learning of
core subjects in grades kindergarten to grade three; and personalized learning.
Plan to fund $60 million School
District request begins to take shape
Philly.com
Philly Clout Blog by Sean Collins Walsh // 215-854-4172 POSTED: Wednesday,
May 8, 2013 ,
4:25 PM
Most of the details are
unknown, but Mayor Nutter's plan to fund the School
District 's request for an extra $60 million in city funding is
beginning to take shape.
Shippensburg's advanced placement history
students test at high level
Chambersburg Public Opinion
Online By BRIAN HALL @bkhallpo
SHIPPENSBURG - In one week,
students in Kristoffer Rhinehart's advanced placement U.S. history class will find out
how they measure up against the rest of the country.
The odds are in the students'
favor. Students in Rhinehart's class,
which condenses the history of the United States
from the arrival of Christopher Columbus to present-day events, have performed
significantly higher than the U.S.
average the previous two years.
New Community Schools Initiative for
Detroit Public Schools: What Will It Mean?
By Marilisa
Sachteleben | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Tue, May 7, 2013
Detroit Public Schools announced
a groundbreaking initiative that should have broad-spectrum impacts for
residents when fully implemented. "Neighborhood-Centered,
Quality Schools" aims to partner community and schools and make
schools hubs within the neighborhoods they serve. Here are outcomes and changes
locals can expect.
According to a tweet from the Inky’s Amy Worden, Eugenie Scott,
educator, was a key figure in the 2005 PA Dover
evolution trial victory
Eugenie Scott to Retire From U.S.
Center That Fights Antievolution Forces
Science
Insider by Jeffrey Mervis on 6 May 2013, 5:45 PM | 22
Comments
Eugenie Scott has spent 26
years helping teachers do what's right for their students in the name of
science. And while the need to defend the teaching of evolution and climate
change certainly hasn't disappeared, Scott announced today that she is stepping
down later this year as the founding CEO and "the public face" of
the National Center for Science Education
(NCSE).
Coalition Funnels 'Thank-You' Notes to
White House on Pre-K Push
Education Week Early Years Blog
By Julie Blair on May 8, 2013 2:08 PM
It will take dozens of little
red wagons to deliver more than 30,000 thank-you notes to President Barack
Obama next week, but that's exactly how the folks spearheading the Strong Start
for Children campaign aim to do it. The
letters—including pieces of artwork done by children—were written in response
to the president's budget, which outlines a multi-billion dollar expansion of
preschool programs, said Helen Blank, director of child care and early learning
at the Washington-based National Women's Law Center, an advocacy group.
“Perhaps we
should begin looking more closely at two different groups of poor children.
Consider research to identify the most meaningful differences between the
households of (a) poor kids who fail academically and (b) poor kids who succeed
academically.”
Poverty and student achievement: Are we comparing the wrong groups?
Earlier this week I published a piece by UCLA Professor and
author Mike Rose titled, “Leave
No Unwealthy Child Behind,” in which he discusses how economic inequality
is reflected in educational achievement. Here’s a response from Robert Bligh,
former general counsel of the Nebraska Association of School Boards.
Bligh’s research interest involves the efficacy of the school reform efforts
promoted by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act since its original
adoption in 1965. He served as assistant professor at Doane College
and was editor and publisher of the Nebraska School Law Reporter.
Network for Public Education Endorses Monica Ratliff
Diane Ravitch’s Blog By dianerav May
9, 2013 //
This is the first endorsement by the Network for Public
Education.
After a careful review by the board, we endorse Monica
Ratliff for school board in Los
Angeles .
We promised we would support candidates who support public
education.
We don’t have the money to compete with the billionaires.
But we hope our support will persuade parents and teachers
to get out and vote.
“Jeanne Allen founded the Center for Education Reform twenty years ago
to advocate for charters and vouchers, anything but public schools. She was
formerly the education person at the Heritage Foundation. The media often call
her for quotes, thinking that the center is nonpartisan and independent.”
Bruce Baker Teaches Civics to Jeanne Allen
Diane Ravitch’s Blog By dianerav May 7, 2013 //
Bruce Baker of Rutgers is one of my favorite education analysts. He is
adept at sorting through claims and demanding evidence. In
this post, he gives Jeanne Allen a civics lesson.
PSBA
Region 15 Members (Delaware and Chester Counties )
Jeffery B. Clay, Executive Director for the
Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) will present on the topic of pension reform.
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 McGuffey/Sullivan Rooms
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 editors Stan Karp
and Helen Gym for a conversation on fighting back against the testing
industry's dismantling of public education. Suggested donation $10, or $20 for
panel plus your copy of Rethinking Schools' newest book: "Pencils Down:
High-stakes testing and accountability in public 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 , generally.
If you, or someone you know attended the Pennsylvania 's Governor's School for the
Arts, please complete this form and share with others. This
list will be used internally, and will not be made public. For more information about the Pennsylvania
Arts Education Network and for news about the reestablishment of the
Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts, please visit ArtsEducationPA.org.
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 's 4,500 school directors become
members by virtue of election to their local board -- the board joins as a
whole. Membership in PSBA is by school district or other eligible local
education agency such as intermediate unit, vocational school or community
college……..
Search
by Diversified Search, 1990 M St NW, Suite 570 , Washington , DC .
Questions may be directed to PSBA@divsearch.com. Interested
parties should email their resume and cover letter to PSBA@divsearch.com.
Please apply by June 1, 2013 for
best consideration.
NAACP 2013
Conference on the State of Education in Pennsylvania
A Call for Equitable and
Adequate Funding for Pennsylvania 's
Schools
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 , Hamilton Hall, 320 S. Broad Street .
We will be honoring a member of the Notebook community for years of
service to our mission as well as honoring several local high school journalists.
Help us celebrate another year of achievement that included two awards from the
Education Writers Association and coverage of other critical stories like the
budget crisis and the school closing process.
PA Charter Schools: $4 billion taxpayer dollars with no real
oversight Keystone State Education Coalition
(updated 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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