Daily postings from the Keystone State Education
Coalition now reach more than 3000 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school
directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers,
Governor's staff, 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
These daily emails are archived at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
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?
Where’s the accountability for state and local
elected officials responsible for providing a constitutionally mandated “thorough
and efficient” education for 134,000 Philly students?
Pennsylvanians Want a School
Funding Formula
Press Event Monday September 23rd, 11:30 am Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg
Every child in Pennsylvania
Grassroots Advocacy by
Education Voters PA; Education Matters in the Cumberland
Valley and the Keystone State
Sign up here if you
may be able to join us to represent your schools and community: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/104e0endYpVYcPxSyfG9V_DOIVAB0J3AVI0-20Q8Yylw/viewform
Reuters: Fiscal crisis looms for Philadelphia
Reuters By
Hilary Russ Sat Sep
7, 2013 9:08am
EDT
(Reuters) -
A new school year begins on Monday for about 134,000 Philadelphia
students even though the school district - one of the largest in the United States
Mayor
Michael Nutter and the city council remain at odds over his proposal for the
city to borrow $50 million from capital markets and
loan the proceeds to the district.
Based on
the promise of that cash influx, the embattled district rehired about 1,000
teachers and staffers laid off at the end of the last school term. The city council meets on Thursday to take up
the issue, with both sides vowing to bridge their differences.
The school
district is also counting on a $45 million state grant that Governor Tom
Corbett's administration won't release unless unionized teachers make
concessions in a new labor pact. Their old contract expired on August 31, and
talks are under way.
Even if
both pieces of financial help arrive soon, they would only put a bandage on a
long-festering budget shortfall for the district that serves the fifth-largest
city in the United States
WaPo: Philly Back to
school: It’s worse than you think
Amid an
agonizing financial and leadership crisis, the appointed School Reform
Commission, which has run the district since the state took it over a dozen
years ago, passed a “doomsday” budget this past summer that included cuts so
drastic there was no money for schools to open this fall with funding for
things such as paper, new books, athletics, arts, music, counselors, assistant
principals and more. Teachers were laid off. This came after the closure
of a few dozen schools.
How did
this happen? The state government has financially starved the district for
years, and the city’s public school system has been subjected to one reform
experiment after another.
How bad is
it? Superintendent William Hite made some accommodations to allow schools to
open, but parents say the answer to the question is this: Worse than you think.
Here to
explain is Helen Gym, a Philadelphia
Inquirer Editorial: Schools open amid angst
POSTED:
Sunday, September
8, 2013 , 1:09 AM
Fear and
loathing shouldn't describe parents' feelings as the first day of school
approaches. But in urban districts facing fiscal and staffing issues, they
can't help it. Philadelphia
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20130908_Inquirer_Editorial__Schools_open_amid_angst.html#jzwBdMcXFR2qw4Oj.99
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20130908_Inquirer_Editorial__Schools_open_amid_angst.html#jzwBdMcXFR2qw4Oj.99
Countdown, Day 2:
Tweeting #Philly1stDay
experiences
by thenotebook on
Sep 07 2013
The Notebook has
been counting down the
days before schools open. For 40 days, we tried to follow each
dramatic twist, every political turn that arose in what many believe is Philadelphia
Though the
summer's unofficially over and the school year will start on time, the
uncertainty of what schools will look like when they open Monday is of major
concern. How safe will they be? What quality of academic instruction will
students receive? The question remains to be answered: Will it be a calamity?
We ask
that, on the first day of school, teachers and other school staff, parents, and
students use Twitter help to keep the public apprised of the successes,
surprises and problems or incidents that occur due to a lack of
adequate staff and resources.
We
encourage you to do this by tweeting issues, events, and images as they arise,
using the hashtag #Philly1stDay.
"Last year my largest
class was 22 students," said Roxborough
High School
Philly Countdown, Day 3:
Class-size challenges and split grades loom
The notebook
by Paul Socolar on Sep 06 2013
The School District 's staff has shrunk by 3,000 since June,
with 17,144 employees (full-time equivalents) now on the payroll. That's a 15
percent staffing cut. The District has not yet released information about how
many of those eliminated positions were teachers.
But when
schools open the doors to students on Monday, classrooms will be feeling
the pinch from reduced staff in a few different ways.
Phila. teachers, district still talking . . . and
talking
Jan Hefler,
Inquirer Staff Writer LAST UPDATED: Sunday, September 8, 2013 , 1:09 AM POSTED: Saturday, September 7, 2013 , 8:10 PM Contract negotiations
between the city's teachers and the Philadelphia School District continued
Saturday and were expected to go through the weekend and, possibly, into
Monday, when students are scheduled to return to school. Philadelphia
Federation of Teachers spokesman George Jackson said Saturday night that he did
not know "how much further the negotiators got when they were at the
table" but that "the plan is to go through the weekend."
"Negotiations will continue until we can reach a deal," Jackson
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130908_Phila__teachers__district_still_talking_____and_talking.html#Ae4keVkHyQrOiPZs.99
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130908_Phila__teachers__district_still_talking_____and_talking.html#Ae4keVkHyQrOiPZs.99
All Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
Opinion By Daniel M. Zuckerman September 8, 2013 12:17 am
Daniel M. Zuckerman is an associate
professor of computational and systems biology at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, the author of a textbook and the father of a Pittsburgh
Allderdice High School student
A Pittsburgh fantasy?
A Pittsburgh fantasy?
Forward to
2016. A dad from another city asks me, "Did your kid really learn that in
a public school?" I hadn't fished
for the question. The guy already knew from national media that Pittsburgh
Interest rate swaps may
be banned in Pa.
WHYY
Newsworks By Mary Wilson, @marywilson September 8, 2013
Interest
rate swaps are going under the microscope at an upcoming Pennsylvania Senate
hearing. The complex financial deals
were legalized for Pennsylvania
A
bipartisan group of lawmakers is moving to ban the agreements not just in local
governments, but in the city of Philadelphia
State Sen.
Rob Teplitz, D-Dauphin, said he expects pushback from Philadelphia
Tax Dollars For Private
School Tuition Gain In States
Huffington Post By
Elaine S. Povich Posted: 08/07/2013 4:13
pm EDT
This piece comes to us courtesy of Stateline. Stateline is
a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts that
provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy.
Opponents
called it a “bombshell” and “sleaziness.” Backers said it was “historic” and
would free low-income students from failing public schools. Hyperbole aside,
the Alabama Legislature’s last-minute move to create a $3,500 state tax credit
for private school tuition is emblematic of a growing movement in the states.
Thirteen
states created or expanded tuition tax credits, private school scholarships or
traditional vouchers in 2013, according to the National Conference of State
Legislatures. Eight states did so in 2012 and seven states in 2011,
according to the group.
Public hearing to examine
public education funding cuts Tuesday, Sept. 10th in Philadelphia
HARRISBURG,
Sept. 5 – House
Democratic Policy Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, announced today the
committee will hold a hearing about Pennsylvania’s public education and funding
cuts from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the Franklin Institute,
Fifth Floor Conference Center, 222 North 20th St., Philadelphia.
State Rep.
Brian Sims, D-Phila., requested the hearing and will serve as co-chairman. The
hearing will focus on the importance of public education and how decreasing
state funding is hurting schools all over the Commonwealth.
The current
hearing agenda is:
- 2 p.m. – Welcome and opening
remarks
- 2:10 p.m. – Panel one:
- Dr. Richard Ingersoll,
professor of education and sociology,
- Jamira Burley, executive
director, Philadelphia Youth Commission
- 2:35 p.m. – Panel two:
- Laurada Byers, co-founder,
- Mark Gleason, executive
director, Philadelphia School Partnership
- 3 p.m. – Panel three:
- Helen Gym, co-founder, Parents
United
- Jerry Jordan, president,
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers
- 3:25 p.m. – Panel three:
- Kathleen Melville,
communications coordinator for Teachers Lead Philly and teacher at
- Christine Carlson, founder,
Greater Center City Neighborhoods School Coalition
- 3:50 p.m. – Closing remarks
The hearing
is open to the public and media coverage is invited.
Parents as Advocates for
Children and Education - EPLC "Focus on Education" TV Program on
PCN Sept. 11th
Next Wednesday,
September 11, tune in to the next episode of EPLC's "Focus on
Education" series, which will discuss Parents as Advocates for Children
and Education 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;
- Deborah Dunstone, President,
- Sylvia P. Simms, Founder and
President of PARENT POWER and Commissioner, School Reform Commission, The
- Bonita Allen, Former Member,
- Kurt A. Kondrich, M.Ed., Chair,
EPLC and PA
Cable Network (PCN) have partnered for a monthly program focusing on education
issues in Pennsylvania
The episode
next Wednesday, September 11 will be broadcast on PCN at 9:00
p.m., and "Focus on Education" will not be broadcast monthly through
December. Tapings of the episodes which aired in February through June
are available on the PCN web site.
To learn
more, visit PCN's "Focus on Education" web page.
Keystone State Education Coalition Co-Chair and PSBA
Pres-Elect Candidate Mark B Miller on tap for Bucks County Town Hall Meeting to
discuss possible Property Tax reform, HB 76 on Sept. 12th.
Thursday evening September 12th,
7 to 9 p.m. @ Kings Caterers, 4010 New Falls Road, Bristol
PILCOP 2013 Symposium on Equality September 12, 2013
Privatization: Looking out for the Public Good
HEALTHCARE—LAND USE—EDUCATION
Thursday, September 12, 2013
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
University
of Pennsylvania Law School Levy Conference
Center
Join us for
a day of panels, discussions and presentations on what privatization means for
communities and individuals, using healthcare, education and land use as
examples.
Details and
tickets here: http://www.pilcop.org/2013symposium/
Featuring
Morris Dees and honoring education advocates Barbara Minzenberg and the
Philadelphia Student Union. Wednesday,
Sept. 18th at 5:30 p.m., Crystal Tea Room, Wanamaker Building 100 Penn Square East , Philadelphia
Details and
registration: http://elc-pa.givezooks.com/events/copy-of-morris-dees-a-passion-for-justice
PA Special Education Funding Formula Commission
Upcoming Meeting Sept 19th in Reading
Save the
date: September 19 tentative meeting date in Reading
To consider
charter and cyber special education funding
Diane Ravitch will be speaking in
Philly at the Main Branch of the Philadelphia 7:30 pm ..
Diane Ravitch | Reign
of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America
When: Tuesday,September 17, 2013
at 7:30PM
Where: Central Library
Cost: $15 General Admission, $7 Students
Ticket and Subscription Packages
Tickets on sale here:
When: Tuesday,
Where: Central Library
Cost: $15 General Admission, $7 Students
Ticket and Subscription Packages
Tickets on sale here:
Yinzers - Diane Ravitch will be
speaking in Pittsburgh on September
16th at 6:00 pm at Temple Sinai
Free and open to the public; doors open at 5:00 pm
Hosted by Great Public Schools (GPS) Pittsburgh :
Action United, One Pittsburgh , PA
Interfaith Impact Network, Pittsburgh
Co-sponsored byCarlow Univ. School
of Education, Chatham Univ. Department of Education, Duquesne
Univ. School
of Education, First Unitarian Church
Social Justice Endowment, PA State Education Association, Robert Morris Univ.
School of Education & Social Sciences, Slippery Rock
Univ. College
of Education, Temple Sinai , Univ.
of Pittsburgh School of Education
Children’s activities provided by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh andCarnegie Mellon University
Co-sponsored by
Children’s activities provided by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and
Join the National School Boards
Action Center
Participate
in a voluntary network to urge your U.S.
Representatives and Senators to support federal legislation on Capitol Hill
that is critical to providing high quality education to America
PSBA members will elect
officers electronically for the first time in 2013
PSBA 7/8/2013
Beginning
in 2013, PSBA members will follow a completely new election process which will
be done electronically during the month of September. The changes will have
several benefits, including greater membership engagement and no more absentee
ballot process.
Below is a
quick Q&A related to the voting process this year, with more details to
come in future issues of School Leader News and at
www.psba.org. More information on the overall governance changes can be found
in the February 2013 issue of the PSBA Bulletin:
Electing PSBA Officers:
2014 PSBA Slate of Candidates
Details on each candidate, including
bios, statements, photos and video are online now
PSBA Website Posted 8/5/2013
The 2014 PSBA Slate of Candidates is being officially published to the
members of the association. Details on each candidate, including bios,
statements, photos and video are online at http://www.psba.org/elections/.
October 15-18, 2013 | Hershey Lodge & Convention Center
Important change this year: Delegate Assembly (replaces the
Legislative Policy Council) will be Tuesday Oct. 15 from 1 – 4:30 p.m.
The
PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference is the largest gathering of elected
officials in Pennsylvania
Registration:
https://www.psba.org/workshops/?workshop=17
The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College , PA
The state
conference is PAESSP’s premier professional development event for principals,
assistant principals and other educational leaders. Attending will enable you
to connect with fellow educators while learning from speakers and presenters
who are respected experts in educational leadership.
Featuring
Keynote Speakers: Charlotte Danielson, Dr. Todd Whitaker, Will Richardson &
David Andrews, Esq. (Legal Update).
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