Saturday, January 25, 2014

PA Ed Policy Roundup for January 25, 2014: Prospects brighten for new Pa. schools funding formula

Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 3060 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, 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 and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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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?



The Network for Public Education Press Release
NPE National Conference at University of Texas at Austin March 1 & 2



Keystone State Education Coalition
Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup for January 25, 2014:
Prospects brighten for new Pa. schools funding formula


EPLC Education Notebook – Friday, January 24, 2014
Education Policy and Leadership Center

Education Law Center’s New Website

Prospects brighten for new Pa. schools funding formula
WHYY Newsworks BY MARY WILSON JANUARY 24, 2014
As Pennsylvania's gubernatorial election heats up and education issues take center stage, a measure that would create a new schools funding formula is getting a boost from the governor.  Gov. Tom Corbett said recently he thinks the current funding system for public schools is unfair and needs to change.  "Let's get a true, fair funding system for all the schools of Pennsylvania, not for one school district or another, but for all the schools," he said.

Hearing sought on Green's SRC nomination
Philly.com by Martha Woodall Friday, January 24, 2014, 7:16 PM
A Philadelphia education advocacy group has asked State Sen. Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson), the Senate's president pro tempore, to allow the public to comment on Gov. Corbett's nomination of City Councilman Bill Green to become chairman of the School Reform Commission.
"Unlike every other district in the commonwealth, Philadelphia does not have an elected school board," the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools said in an letter e-mailed to Scarnati Thursday night. The group said that a hearing by Scarnati's committee would be the only chance for parents, teachers, students, and community members to comment on Green's nomination.

“The two-year deal includes a half-step increase on the pay schedule for each year while increasing teachers' health insurance contribution from 7 percent to 10 percent of the total medical cost im the 2014-15 school year and 11 percent the following year.”
Phoenixville, teachers reach contract deal
TRICIA L. NADOLNY, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Saturday, January 25, 2014, 1:08 AM  POSTED: Friday, January 24, 2014, 4:50 PM
On the heels of a teacher contract that took three years to negotiate, the Phoenixville Area School District and its teachers' union reached a new agreement ahead of schedule on Thursday.
"Given our history, it's a very big deal," said Keith Black, district director of human resources and labor and employment counsel.  The parties began negotiating the contract that was passed Thursday in November, two months after ratifying a contract that they started negotiating in January 2010. Because the current contract was agreed upon so recently, Black said the parties agreed to make few changes.  "The thought was that since we had just come off agreeing to a new contract, let's try to let that new contract breathe a little bit," he said.

Schools under the gun to spend grant money on school police officers
By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com on January 24, 2014 at 3:35 PM
If marked state police cars is seen parked outside Northern Lebanon School District buildings on a daily basis between now and the end of the year, there’s no need for concern or sign of trouble.  Grants awarded to 81 school districts or municipalities will enable more schools to maintain a police presence, but one superintendent worries the way the grant program is structured it may encourage unnecessary and possibly wasteful spending. The school district is just trying to spend as much of a state grant it received for a school resource officer in the remaining four and a half months left in this school year so it is eligible to receive a grant more in line with what it has been spending for in-school police presence.

Manheim Township School District receives Governor's Awards
Lancaster Online By Ryan Mellon Posted: Friday, January 24, 2014 2:53 pm
Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq visited Manheim Township High School on Friday to present the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics to five schools in the district.
Neff, Bucher and Reidenbaugh elementary schools and Manheim Township middle and high schools received the awards at a ceremony held in the high school auditorium.
Those five schools attained a score of 90 or higher on the 2012-13 school performance profile.

Acting Secretary of Education Recognizes Academic Achievement of Five Schools in Manheim Township School District
PDE Press Release January 24, 2014
Manheim Twp. – Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq today presented the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics to five schools in Manheim Township School District, Lancaster County.  Neff Elementary School, Manheim Township High School, Bucher Elementary School, Reidenbaugh Elementary School and Manheim Township Middle School each were awarded a banner for their academic performance.

Acting Secretary of Education Presents Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics to Two Palmyra Area School District Schools
PDE Press Release January 24, 2014
Palmyra – Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq today presented the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics to two schools in Palmyra Area School District, Lebanon County.  Lingle Avenue Elementary School and Palmyra Area Senior High Schools each were awarded a banner for their academic performance.  “I congratulate Palmyra Area School District and the local community for working together to ensure that students are growing academically and being prepared for postsecondary success,” Dumaresq said. “These schools are examples of the high-quality learning that is taking place in classrooms across Pennsylvania.”



Register Now! EPLC’s 2014 Education Issues Workshops for Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff, and Interested Voters
EPLC’s Education Issue Workshops Register Now! – Space is Limited!
A Non-Partisan One-Day Program for Pennsylvania Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff and Interested Voters
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 in Harrisburg, PA
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 in Monroeville, PA
Thursday, March 27, 2014 in Philadelphia,PA

Come to Harrisburg February 4th for the Governor's Budget Address
Show your School Spirit with PCCY!
On February 4th the Governor will introduce his budget plan for 2014-2015.  Based on past performance, the next budget may do little to meet the needs of Pennsylvania’s public school students.  School districts in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery remain underfunded by the state by a combined $161 million.  That is why we need YOU to stand up for your school in Harrisburg on February 4th to demand equitable funding for our schools.  To really make our point, please wear local school colors, jackets or sweatshirts to show your school spirit!  
Click here to sign-up and get details.  For more information please email Shanee Garner-Nelson at shaneeg@pccy.org.

PA House Education Committee Meeting Monday, January 27, 2014 11:00 AM Room 140 Main Capitol
Informational briefing - Recommendations of the Special Education Funding Commission Report.

PDE chief Dumaresq LIVE budget presentation, PSBA Conference Center, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m
PSBA’s website 1/13/2014
Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq will be at the PSBA Conference Center on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. to present a special state budget overview.
Find out how the proposals of the fiscal year 2014-15 Pennsylvania budget impact your school district the day after the governor delivers his address to the General Assembly. Secretary Dumaresq will review the governor's plan and answer your questions. In addition to the live presentation, members across the state also can participate through streaming media on their computers.
To register for the LIVE event, Wed., Feb. 5, 2 p.m., at the PSBA Conference Center, Mechanicsburg: https://www.psba.org/workshops/register/?workshop=150

2014 PA Gubernatorial Candidate Plans for Education and Arts/Culture in PA
Education Policy and Leadership Center
Below is an alphabetical list of the 2014 Gubernatorial Candidates and links to information about their plans, if elected, for education and arts/culture in Pennsylvania. This list will be updated, as more information becomes available.

2014 PICASSO PROJECT SCHOOL AWARDS
Representatives from winning schools and partner organizations are invited to join us for the grants award ceremony on Monday, January 27, 2014 at the World Cafe Live3025 Walnut Street from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.  RSVP to info@pccy.org or call 215-563-5848 x11.

DELAWARE COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT - GOOGLE SYMPOSIUM 2014
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2014
The DCIU Google Symposium is an opportunity for teachers, administrators, technology directors, and other school stakeholders to come together and explore the power of Google Apps for Education.  The Symposium will be held at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit.  The Delaware County Intermediate Unit is one of Pennsylvania’s 29 regional educational agencies.  The day will consist of an opening keynote conducted by Rich Kiker followed by 4 concurrent sessions. 

NPE National Conference 2014

The Network for Public Education
The Network for Public Education is pleased to announce our first National Conference. The event will take place on March 1 & 2, 2014 (the weekend prior to the world-famous South by Southwest Festival) at The University of Texas at Austin.  At the NPE National Conference 2014, there will be panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote address by Diane Ravitch. NPE Board members – including Anthony Cody, Leonie Haimson, and Julian Vasquez Heilig – will lead discussions along with some of the important voices of our movement.

The National School Boards Association 74th Annual Conference & Exposition April 5-7, 2014 New Orleans
The National School Boards Association 74th Annual Conference & Exposition will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.  Our first time back in New Orleans since the spring of 2002!
General Session speakers include education advocates Thomas L. Friedman, Sir Ken Robinson, as well as education innovators Nikhil Goyal and Angela Maiers.
We have more than 200 sessions planned! Colleagues from across the country will present workshops on key topics with strategies and ideas to help your district. View our Conference Brochure for highlights on sessions and focus presentations.
·          Register now! – Register for both the conference and housing using our online system.
·         Conference Information– Visit the NSBA conference website for up-to-date information
·          Hotel List and Map - Official NSBA Housing Block
·          Exposition Campus – View new products and services and interactive trade show floor
Questions? Contact NSBA at 800-950-6722 (NSBA) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST

Join the National School Boards Action Center Friends of Public Education
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’s schoolchildren

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