Daily postings from the Keystone State
Education Coalition now reach more than 3250 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,
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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?
Keystone State Education Coalition
Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup
for March 28, 2014:
Backlog of PA PlanCon
reimbursements to school districts has grown to $1.2 billion
Radnor school officials this week
joined a number of other areas school districts opposing a proposed state law
that could make major changes to how charter schools are created and governed
in Pennsylvania . Radnor board of school directors approved a
resolution Tuesday night asking the members of the Pennsylvania House and
Senate to “return debate to the education committee to reform the law so that
it would no longer transfer authority for taxpayer dollars to unelected
individuals on boards of trustees of colleges and universities.”
Backlog of PlanCon
reimbursements to school districts has grown to $1.2 billion
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review By Matthew
Santoni Wednesday,
March 26, 2014, 9:00 p.m.
As Pittsburgh-area school districts plan their budgets for the next school year, any that have built or renovated schools in the past few years will have a big question mark: Will this be the year the state resumes reimbursing them for construction projects? Since 2012, there has been a moratorium on applications for the state's Planning and Construction Workbook, or PlanCon, process. More than 350 school districts that applied before then await compensation for projects under construction or completed. “Our application that triggers payment is sitting on an administrator's desk somewhere,” said Jan Klein, finance director for the Mt. Lebanon School District, which is awaiting $1.8 million in state reimbursement and will be owed $643,000 more next year. A report the state compiled in May put the estimated backlog of payments at $1.2 billion for 354 projects statewide, said Timothy Eller, spokesman for the Department of Education.
As Pittsburgh-area school districts plan their budgets for the next school year, any that have built or renovated schools in the past few years will have a big question mark: Will this be the year the state resumes reimbursing them for construction projects? Since 2012, there has been a moratorium on applications for the state's Planning and Construction Workbook, or PlanCon, process. More than 350 school districts that applied before then await compensation for projects under construction or completed. “Our application that triggers payment is sitting on an administrator's desk somewhere,” said Jan Klein, finance director for the Mt. Lebanon School District, which is awaiting $1.8 million in state reimbursement and will be owed $643,000 more next year. A report the state compiled in May put the estimated backlog of payments at $1.2 billion for 354 projects statewide, said Timothy Eller, spokesman for the Department of Education.
"The first of these reasons
lies in the fact that the State will owe the Western Wayne
School District
16.9% to 21.4%"
The Western Wayne
School District Western Wayne School District Western Wayne School District
http://www.westernwayne.org/Lists/District%20Announcements/Attachments/108/2014%20Budget
Tapping the talent: Reviving
the governor’s schools is good for Pa.
For 35 years, thousands
of Pennsylvania’s most promising high school students attended the state’s
eight Governor’s Schools of Excellence, intensive, five-week, residential
programs in the arts and sciences — and they didn’t have to pay for any of it.
The schools counted
successful alumni in all walks of life, many of whom recall fondly the value of
living and studying on a college campus with similarly talented, driven
classmates at a formative age. In 2009, though, the schools were eliminated,
victims of a state budget crisis. Although some universities offered comparable
programs in subsequent years, most of those charged students thousands of
dollars, thus altering the applicant pool.
Slowly, the official
governor’s schools are making a comeback. Last year, the Governor’s School for
Science reopened at Carnegie Mellon University
and, this summer, a school for agricultural sciences will be housed at Penn State
and one for engineering and technology will operate at Lehigh University
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/03/28/Tapping-the-talent/stories/201403270137#ixzz2xFjDDmyY
"The district opened its
budget season with a $13.2 million deficit, which it attributed to a projected
$5.7 million spike in charter school expenses, a $4.6 million rise in bond
payments, a $4.3 million increase in health care costs and a $2.9 million jump
in pension costs."
One director says all the district can do is
'effectively manage the disaster.'
By Adam Clark, Of The Morning Call 11:17
p.m. EDT, March 27, 2014
Allentown School Board
voted 5-4 Thursday to eliminate 74 teaching positions, dealing another blow to
a faculty that says its already decimated by budget cuts. The 74 teaching positions, along with 26
other district jobs set to be eliminated, will save the district about $5
million and push the five-year total to more than 450 jobs eliminated by the
district. Because few teachers are
expected to retire at the end of this school year, it's likely that the 74 job
cuts will result in at least some layoffs, teachers union President Debbie
Tretter said. The cuts will not
eliminate any district programs. But they will reduce teachers at the
elementary, middle and high school levels, including traditional classroom
teachers, special education teachers, English-as-a-second-language teachers and
intervention specialists.
Divided Allentown School
By Colin McEvoy
| The Express-Times on March 27, 2014 at 9:17 PM
A split Allentown
School Board signed off tonight on plans to eliminate 100 positions,
including 74 teachers, despite objections from district employees and members
of the public. "I don't see how you
can let a single teacher go," said city resident Ken
Heffentrager. "The school district is atrocious. It's a laughingstock
when it comes to the dropout rate."
The job cuts are expected to save $5 million at a time when
the district faces a $10.6 million deficit assuming a 3.2 percent tax
increase or a $13.2 million deficit without a tax hike. This marks the fourth straight year of staff
reductions, Superintendent Russell
Mayo said, and would bring the total number of lost positions over
that time to 466.
SRC budget relies on $440
million that's not assured
KRISTEN A. GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST
UPDATED: Friday, March 28, 2014,
1:08 AM POSTED: Thursday, March
27, 2014, 9:28 PM
PHILADELPHIA The Philadelphia School District is forecasting a
budget of $2.8 billion next year - a figure that is up from this year's $2.4
billion outlay, but calls for $440 million in new money that the district is
not assured of getting from the city or the state. Still, the budget would provide only what
Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. called the basics for school reform. Acknowledging there were some risks involved
in its forecasting, the School Reform Commission on Thursday night adopted a
"lump sum" budget statement that projects slightly better conditions
in city classrooms for 2014-15.
Philly schools facing $320
million deficit
SOLOMON LEACH, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER LEACHS@PHILLYNEWS.COM,
215-854-5903 POSTED: Friday, March 28, 2014, 3:01 AM
FOR THE SECOND straight
year, the Philadelphia
School District
Philly school principals
rally at City Hall with hat in hand
JENNY DEHUFF, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER DEHUFFJ@PHILLYNEWS.COM,
215-854-5218 POSTED: Friday, March 28, 2014, 12:16 AM
ABOUT 50 principals from
schools throughout the city came to City Council's front door yesterday with a
plea for more school funding. The
principals, hailing from local elementary, middle and high schools, crowded the
fourth-floor hallway outside Council chambers with a united message to Philadelphia 's
legislative body. "I stand here
with my colleagues having just voluntarily voted to take a pay cut so that
there is more money coming into our schools for our children," said Chris
Lehmann, founder of the Science Leadership Academy
in Center City Philadelphia deserve a world-class education,
and we need City Council to fund our schools so that we can give our children
the education they so richly deserve," he added.
Stewardship
Practical
Theory blog by Chris Lehmann Posted on March 28, 2014
Chris Lehmann is the
founding principal of the Science
Leadership Academy, a progressive science and technology high school in
Philadelphia, PA.
Several weeks ago, I
voted in favor of a contract that took me from a 12 month employee to a 10
month employee – even though I know that I’m going to work for much of the
summer. The contract also now has me paying more for health care and all in, it
will mean that I see about 15% less in my paycheck every week. I voted for it, not because I really am
excited to make less money, but because it was the responsible thing to do in
the midst of a massive budget crisis. If we are to make the case that we, as
principals, are the responsible stewards of the education of the children of Philadelphia , then we
have to be willing to lead and make sacrifices for the sake of our children. I
am proud to say that the contract passed with overwhelming support from
principals. Today, many of those same
administrators went to City Council to ask our council members to end the
political squabbling and make the hard decisions to put the children above the
politics and fund our schools.
Building an Effective School
A new report finds school board members with a
background in public education are not better informed than their colleagues.
MAR
27 2014, 12:17 PM ET
When it comes to the
decisions that most directly affect the business of public education and what
happens in classrooms, few people are as influential—and often as
unacknowledged—as local school board members.
Indeed, a new report from the conservative Thomas B. Fordham
Institute suggests the makeup of local school boards can have a measurable
effect on student achievement. The
report is part of a joint project between Fordham and the left-leaning Center
for American Progress looking at how school governance influences education
reform. The findings are based on a 2009 survey of more than 900 school board
members in districts across the country. Board members were asked about their
level of experience and backgrounds, their awareness of their district’s fiscal
picture and top challenges, and their personal political leanings.
Before I jump into the
findings, my usual caveat: Surveys are subjective, and the questions that are
asked are as important as the answers. At the same time, surveys offer a
snapshot in time, rather than a complete or definitive portrait.
NSBA and CDE name
2013-2014 top 10 digital school districts
NSBA School Board News
Today by Alexis Rice March 27th, 2014
The tenth annual Digital
School Districts Survey were by CDE and NSBA
Top-ranked school
districts have been announced in the tenth annual Digital School Districts
Survey by theCenter
for Digital Education (CDE) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). The survey
showcases exemplary school boards’ and districts’ use of technology to govern
the district, communicate with students, parents and the community, and improve
district operations. This year’s
recognition goes to school districts for their expanding use of innovative
technologies district-wide as well as in the classroom.
http://schoolboardnews.nsba.org/2014/03/nsba-and-cde-name-2013-2014-top-10-digital-school-districts/
Preview: Public Schools
for Sale
Moyers & Company March
26, 2014
Public education is
becoming big business as bankers, hedge-fund managers and private-equity
investors are entering what they consider to be an “emerging market.” As Rupert Murdoch put it after purchasing an education
technology company, “When it comes to K through 12 education, we see a $500
billion sector in the US
alone.” Diane Ravitch says the
privatization of public education has to stop. As an assistant secretary of
education under the first President Bush, she was an advocate of school choice
and charter schools and supported the No Child Left Behind initiative of the
second President Bush. But after careful investigation, she changed her mind,
and has become, according to Salon.com, “the nation’s highest profile opponent”
of charter-based education. On this
week’s Moyers & Company, she tells Bill Moyers, ”I think
what’s at stake is the future of American public education. I believe it is one
of the foundation stones of our democracy: So an attack on public education is
an attack on democracy.”
The Pennsylvania PTA 105th annual
statewide convention April 4-6, 2014, at the Radisson Valley Forge/King of Prussia
Pennsylvania PTA Harrisburg,
Pa. March 21, 2014
Delegates from local PTA
units, councils, and regions throughout the state will gather to give direction
to the State PTA on issues of resolutions, bylaws, and timely topics being
addressed around education and child advocacy. The convention format will include a Diversity
Leadership Conference, a Town Hall Meeting on Suicide Awareness and Prevention,
twenty (20) workshops on timely issues, networking time with other delegates,
an exhibit hall, a Reflections Gallery showcasing student artwork, and the
opportunity to hear keynote speakers and representatives from the National PTA
and other statewide partnering organizations from Pennsylvania. Complete
details for registration may be obtained at the Pennsylvania PTA website at
www.papta.org.
Education Debate - Pittsburgh, April 8
by Yinzercation
March 20, 2014
Please mark your calendars now
and plan to be a part of this event:
Democratic candidates for
Governor of Pennsylvania
Tuesday, April 8th atPittsburgh 6-12 515 N. Highland Ave. , Pittsburgh
PA 15206
Tuesday, April 8th at
Sign up for weekly Testing
Resistance & Reform News and Updates!
Fairtest - The National Center for Fair and Open Testing
PSBA
nominations for offices now open!
Deadline April 30th
PSBA Leadership Development Committee seeks strong leaders for the association
Members interested in becoming the next leaders of PSBA are encouraged to complete an Application for Nomination no later than April 30. As a member-driven association, the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is seeking nominees with strong skills in leadership and communication, and who have vision for PSBA. Complete details on the nomination process, links to the Application for Nomination form, and scheduled dates for nominee interviews can be found online by clicking here.
PSBA Leadership Development Committee seeks strong leaders for the association
Members interested in becoming the next leaders of PSBA are encouraged to complete an Application for Nomination no later than April 30. As a member-driven association, the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is seeking nominees with strong skills in leadership and communication, and who have vision for PSBA. Complete details on the nomination process, links to the Application for Nomination form, and scheduled dates for nominee interviews can be found online by clicking here.
How the Business Community Can Lead on
Early Education
Economy
League of Greater Philadelphia
Join
business and community leaders to learn about how you can help make sure every
child arrives in kindergarten ready to succeed. On April 29th, the Economy
League of Greater Philadelphia and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and
Southern New Jersey will host a forum featuring business leaders from around
the country talking about why they’re focused on early childhood education and
how they have moved the needle on improving quality and access in their states.
Featured
Speakers
- Jack Brennan, Chairman Emeritus of The
Vanguard Group
- Phil Peterson, Partner, Aon Hewitt and
Co-Chair of America’s Edge/Ready Nation
- And more to be announced!
- Date & Time Tuesday, April
29, 2014 | 5-7 PM
Registration begins at 5 PM;
program from 5:30 to 7:00 PM
- Location Federal Reserve Bank of
Philadelphia
10 North Independence Mall West Philadelphia,
PA 19106
Registration:
http://worldclassgreaterphila.org/worldclasscouncilforum
PILCOP Special Education Seminars 2014
Schedule
Public
Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
Tuesday, April 29th,
12-4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14th,
1-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
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.
Network for Public Education's Pennsylvania Friends and Allies:
@the chalkface http://atthechalkface.com
Angie Villa Art & Education http://www.angievillaartwork.blogspot.com
Keystone State Education Coalition http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/
Parents United for Public
Education http://www.parentsunitedphila.com
Pennsylvania Alliance for Arts
Education http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/kcaaen/statealliance/home.cfm
Philly Teacherman http://phillyteacherman.blogspot.com/
Raging Chicken Press http://www.ragingchickenpress.org/
Yinzercation http://yinzercation.wordpress.com
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