Daily postings from the Keystone State
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policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and
congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of
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Keystone State Education Coalition
Keystone Exams: Pa.
What do the VA & Philly
schools have in common?
Tweet from Signe Wilkinson
Keystone Exams: Pa.
KATHY BOCCELLA, INQUIRER
STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Thursday, May 29, 2014, 1:08 AM
POSTED: Wednesday, May 28, 2014, 5:27 PM
A bill that would eliminate a key component of the state's
Common Core curriculum - passing proficiency tests to graduate from high school
- was introduced Wednesday by Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D., Chester), his third
attempt to send the tests to the back of the class. Critics have argued that the tests represent
an unfunded mandate for school districts and penalize students from
underprivileged schools. Dinniman,
co-chairman of the Senate Education Committee, has also sought funding for districts
to administer the tests, and to limit the test subjects to biology, algebra,
and language arts. Acting
State
OK, its not exactly Game of Thrones but if
you are concerned with the overemphasis on testing and with adequate/equitable
school funding nuke up some popcorn and check this out….and thanks to Senator
Dinniman and his staff for putting this event together.
Video of May 21st Southeastern Pennsylvania Roundtable Discussion on
Education hosted by Senator Dinniman
On May 21st, State
Senator Andy Dinniman brought together education professionals and advocates
from throughout the southeast region for a roundtable discussion on critical
issues in education at the Technical
College High
School Chester ,
Montgomery , Delaware
and Philadelphia
counties as well as representatives from major education organizations. The video from
the event is now available for viewing on Keystone on Demand (video runtime
1:56): http://video.paiunet.org/videos/view/753
Here's local coverage of the above panel discussion….
Schools want more state
funding to cover cost of Keystone Exams
Pottstown Mercury By
Ginger Rae Dunbar, gdunbar@21st-centurymedia.com
POSTED: 05/27/14
DOWNINGTOWN — School officials from five counties gathered
recently to say that Pennsylvania
school district budgets need more state funding as the mandated Keystone Exams
are costly in preparation time and testing expenses. State Sen. Andrew Dinniman, co-chairman of
the senate education committee, hosted the education roundtable to listen to
the issues concerning public education funds.
State pension reform plan
could save Pennsylvania
Despite long-term savings, the bill proposed by a Schuylkill County
By Steve Esack,
Call Harrisburg
Bureau 9:10 p.m. EDT, May 28, 2014
Hybrid pension plan for
school, state employees projected to produce $11 billion in savings over 30
years
By on May
28, 2014 at 2:52 PM
A proposed pension reform plan that would change the design of
the state and school employees' retirement plans would eventually erase the
pension systems' $47.5 billion debt and introduce a mandatory 401k-style
retirement-savings plan for new public employees. The hybrid defined benefit-defined
contribution plan would produce a projected $11 billion of savings in
taxpayers' contributions to the systems over the next 30 years, according to an
independent actuarial study commissioned and approved by the Public Employees
Retirement Commission this morning.
Other actuarial studies
put the 30-year savings between $6.5 billion and $13 billion, depending on the
assumptions built into them, said commission executive director James McAneny.
Hybrid pension reform plan
for future school and state employees draws mixed reviews
By on May
28, 2014 at 6:11 PM
A newly released pension
reform idea that would
move future state and school employees into a plan that combines the guaranteed
benefits that they have now with the riskier 401k-style plan many in the
private sector have is drawing mixed reviews.
View full sizeA hybrid pension reform plan
that is now under consideration that combines a defined benefit plan with a
defined contribution plan for future school and state employees is drawing
mixed reviews.
The shift to this
so-called hybrid defined benefit-defined contribution plan is seen by its chief
architect, Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Schuylkill, as a way to move the State
Employees' Retirement System and Public School Employees' Retirement System
into a more sustainable way of providing taxpayer-funded pension benefits to
future public employees.
But others question
whether it puts public workers' retirement security in jeopardy or goes far
enough.
Pension changes could save Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY MARY
WILSON MAY 28, 2014
Pennsylvania House lawmakers have the actuarial analysis they
need to start collecting votes on a measure to overhaul the state's pension plans. A state commission central to the debate over
changing public pension benefits in Pennsylvania
has said its consulting actuary finds that the amended House proposal would
save more than $11 billion for the commonwealth over a 30-year span. The measure would change pension benefits
only for future state and school employees, setting up a hybrid plan – part
would be the traditional defined-benefit pension, and part would be a
401(k)-style plan. Current employees are enrolled in a defined-benefit pension
plan.
Bangor Area School District
looks at cutting wood shop, sewing classes to lower proposed tax hike
Some hands-on classes
in the Bangor Area School District may
be cut in order to save taxpayers money.
Superintendent Frank DeFelice at
Tuesday night's school board meeting recommended cutting wood shop classes in
the middle and high school, sewing classes in the high school and not filling
seven staff positions. He said the staff
cuts would come through attrition. The savings could take a proposed 2.7 percent tax hike down to less than 1 percent.
"At nearly $1 million, the total, conservative number
for the costs would have been enough to pay about 20 teachers for one school
year, according to the district. The fight began around 2008."
Cost of Pocono Mountain
Charter School
Another $120,000 spent by district, charter since
September
By Jenna Ebersole Pocono Record Writer May 19, 2014
The Pocono
Mountain Charter
School Pocono Mountain
School District
The company that manages
New Hope Academy Charter
School Hilda Goodling Impact
Academy 200 E. Princess St.
will serve students in grades K-12, said Denise Stouffer, assistant managing
officer for 3Cord Inc. Stouffer said
3Cord is planning to open the academy in the fall. Enrollment is open now, but a target number
of students has not yet been decided, she said.
"We're still in that planning phase," Stouffer said. According to the school's website,
http://hgiacademy.org, the school will offer three academy programs —
entrepreneurial, sports science and performing arts. The website also lays out tuition costs for
the private school. For elementary and middle school students, the cost is
$8,500 annually. That cost increases to
$9,395 for high school students.
The academy, according
to its website, will charge special-education students $12,500 annually.
Philly charter head calls
state Supreme Court decision against his school 'political'
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY MAY 28, 2014
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of the
School Reform Commission in a case involving student enrollment caps at a Philadelphia charter
school. In a unanimous decision
overturning a lower court ruling, the state's high court said that the Philadelphia School District
and the SRC were within their legal rights to cap enrollment at Walter D.
Palmer Leadership
Learning Partners
Charter School Commonwealth Court later ruled Palmer
should be paid $1.3 million from the district for students in excess of the
cap. In its 2005 charter-renewal application, the Palmer school asked to
increase ts cap. The SRC denied its request, citing poor academic performance
on state standardized tests.
PA Budget plan leaves no
money for school construction
Tribune Review By Megan
Harris Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2014, 10:00 p.m.
Cash-strapped schools desperate to replace leaky roofs and crumbling infrastructure likely will go without state construction money for a third year, school business officials say, since Gov. Tom Corbett's budget proposal continues a moratorium on funding new projects. In 2012, Corbett cut funding to new applications, stalling 354 projects in varying stages of construction or capital planning. At least 200 since have been financed — some even finished — with the expectation of state money that didn't come. The state Department of Education has estimated it would need at least $1.6 billion to reimburse them all.
Cash-strapped schools desperate to replace leaky roofs and crumbling infrastructure likely will go without state construction money for a third year, school business officials say, since Gov. Tom Corbett's budget proposal continues a moratorium on funding new projects. In 2012, Corbett cut funding to new applications, stalling 354 projects in varying stages of construction or capital planning. At least 200 since have been financed — some even finished — with the expectation of state money that didn't come. The state Department of Education has estimated it would need at least $1.6 billion to reimburse them all.
"These school districts played by the rules and entered
the PlanCon process with no knowledge of the impending backlog and no indication
that reimbursement would be delayed in any way.
They have significant financial obligations and do not have the liberty
of simply delaying payment until state reimbursement is received."
PlanCon Background and School District Impact
PASBO January 16, 2014
PlanCon is a lengthy process of approvals required by the
Department of Education (PDE) for schools to receive reimbursement for new
construction projects or for renovations of existing buildings. The PlanCon
process and the reimbursement to schools for a portion of the cost has been
established in the School Code and State Board of Education regulations for
decades.
The PlanCon approval process consists of 11 steps, covering
everything from preliminary planning and facility design and to project financing
and refinancing. Once the extensive series of preliminary planning steps have
been completed and approved by PDE, debt is put into place, schools seek bids,
begin construction, and then apply for partial reimbursement for a percentage
of their project costs. Wealthier districts receive a very small share (usually
under 10% of the total project cost) while lower wealth districts can receive a
larger state share of the project costs.
A growing push to abolish the
SRC
Citypaper By Daniel
Denvir Published: 05/28/2014
Pennsylvania Working Families plans to deliver 40,000 petition
signatures this morning to Philadelphia City Council asking them to place a
question on November's ballot demanding that the state abolish the School
Reform Commission. The measure would add a section to the Philadelphia Home
Rule Charter charging that "the state's takeover of our schools through
the School Reform Commission has weakened the voices of parents and
community" and "call[ing] upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and
the Governor to abolish the School Reform Commission and return local control
of Philadelphia's schools." City
Council can propose a Charter amendment to appear on the ballot by a two-thirds
vote, or by only a majority if a petition signed by at least 20,000 registered
voters is submitted—but still only if Council chooses to do so.
School activists: Get rid of
the SRC
The Inquirer by Claudia
Vargas @InqCVargas POSTED: WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014, 2:34 PM
A group of school
activists went to City Hall today with 40,000 signatures on a petition calling
for city and state support in abolishing the School Reform
Commission. The lead petitioners,
who include members of the Pennsylvania Working Families, teachers and parents,
want the city to get control back of its schools. The way to do that, they
believe, is by asking for a City Charter amendment that would ask the
Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to get rid of the SRC.
Debate Continues Over
Holocaust Education
Jewish Exponent MAY 28, 2014 By: Eric Berger
Holocaust education advocates are again grappling with the best
course of action in pushing for legislation that would increase the number of
students studying the subject in Pennsylvania .
There still appears to be a divide over whether passing a bill
that does not require students to learn about the Holocaust can be considered a
success and, conversely, whether a bill that does include a mandate has any
chance of passing in the Republican-controlled legislature.
Diane Ravitch's Blog By dianeravitch May 28, 2014 //
The Florida League of
Women Voters just released a bombshell study of charters across the state. The
study shows that charter schools do not perform better than public schools;
that charters are more segregated than public schools; that many charters
funnel money to religious organizations; that a significant number of charters
operate for profit; and that the charter industry has captured control of key
seats in the legislature. Here is the
press release. Open the links and read the study. At the end of the press release
is a list of state legislators identified by the LWV with “Conflict of Interest
Concerns.”
NSBA urges U.S.
NSBA School Board News
Today by Alexis Rice May 28, 2014
The National School
Boards Association (NSBA) Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel sent a letter
today to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them not to
support the CHOICE Act as it would provide federal resources for voucher
schemes and fund private schools that are not fully accountable to the same
laws and civil rights that govern public schools.
Representatives Todd
Rokita (R-Ind.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) are expected to introduce
the CHOICE ACT on Thursday, May 29, 2014. The bill would provide vouchers to
students educated under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
students who reside in military installations, and students enrolled or waiting
for vouchers through the DC Opportunity Scholarship program.
NSBA calls for research, not
mandates, to help public schools serve ELLs
NSBA School Board News
Today by Joetta Sack-Min May 28, 2014
The National School
Boards Association’s (NSBA) Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel participated
in a National Roundtable on English Language Learners at the U.S. Department of
Education this week, where he discussed the needs of students whose primary
language is not English. Gentzel
emphasized the need for the federal government to focus on providing technical
assistance and disseminating best practices rather than imposing new mandates
on school districts. “Changing
demographics are affecting school districts of all sizes in every part of the
country,” Gentzel said after the discussion, which included representatives of
nearly a dozen national and statewide organizations, Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan, and several other officials from the Department of Education.
The Country’s Cultural
Capital Has a Big Arts-Education Problem
A new report found that many New York City
MAY 28 2014, 12:52
PM ET
With its art fairs,
first-class museums, a multi-billion-dollar theater industry, and the world’s
largest performing arts center, New
York City ’s commitment to the arts seems absolute. But
when it comes to providing access to arts education in public schools, the
city's comptroller has
given New York a failing grade. In April, the office released its
first-ever State
of the Arts report, finding a big difference between the level of arts
education in wealthier and lower-income schools. This has raised fresh
questions about how art enhances learning and whether children will be better
prepared for a 21st century economy if they have mastered the “soft” skills
that art teaches. In an increasingly “creative” economy, the argument goes,
students need original thinking to thrive—and then only wealthy New Yorkers are
being set up to succeed.
"What if Booker had objectively reported the results of
Newark 's high-performing charters, such as North Star
Academy Rutgers ' Bruce
Baker? Baker showed that in comparison to Newark schools North
Star served 14% fewer students with family incomes low enough for free lunch.
It served 36% fewer students with learning disabilities. The charter served no
students with emotional disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, or multiple
impairments. North Star was tied with another charter school for the city's
second highest suspension rate. That was only one reason why the attrition rate
for black boys between 5th and 12th grade was
60%."
John Thompson: What Will
Zuckerberg Learn From Newark
Education Week Living in Dialogue Blog By on May
28, 2014 9:47 AM
Guest
post by John Thompson.
Dale Russakoff's New Yorker
profile "Schooled" is a wonderful account of Mark
Zuckerberg's $100 million investment in Newark Newark Newark
Finns beat U.S.
Politico By CAITLIN EMMA |
5/27/14 11:39 PM EDT
“How Public School Funding
Works in Pennsylvania—Or Doesn’t: What You Need to Know” When: Friday, May
30, 2014, 9 am to 12 pm Where: Marriott Hotel in Conshohocken, PA
Session I: "Funding Schools: What Pennsylvania Can Learn from Other States"
Key Pennsylvania legislators and public officials will respond to a presentation by Professor Robert C. Knoeppel of Clemson University, an expert on emerging trends and ideas in public school finance.
Session I: "Funding Schools: What Pennsylvania Can Learn from Other States"
Key Pennsylvania legislators and public officials will respond to a presentation by Professor Robert C. Knoeppel of Clemson University, an expert on emerging trends and ideas in public school finance.
Introduction: Representative Steve Santarsiero
Moderator: Rob Wonderling, President and CEO, GreaterPhiladelphia Chamber of Commerce
Panel:
Charles Zogby, Secretary of the Budget, Commonwealth of PA, Senator Patrick Browne, Senator Anthony Williams, Representative Bernie O'Neill, Representative James Roebuck
Session II: "Why Smart Investments in Public Schools Are Critical toPennsylvania
Moderator: Rob Wonderling, President and CEO, Greater
Panel:
Charles Zogby, Secretary of the Budget, Commonwealth of PA, Senator Patrick Browne, Senator Anthony Williams, Representative Bernie O'Neill, Representative James Roebuck
Session II: "Why Smart Investments in Public Schools Are Critical to
A discussion with a panel of CEOs who are major employers in
the region.
Introduction: Rob Loughery, Chair, Bucks County Commissioners
Panel (confirmed to date):
Michael Pearson, President and CEO, Union Packaging, Philip Rinaldi, CEO, Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Bryan Hancock, Principal, McKinsey & Company, and author: "The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in America's Schools"
You can register for this free event here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-public-school-funding-works-in-pennsylvania-or-doesnt-what-you-need-to-know-tickets-11527064761?ref=ebtnebregn
Introduction: Rob Loughery, Chair, Bucks County Commissioners
Panel (confirmed to date):
Michael Pearson, President and CEO, Union Packaging, Philip Rinaldi, CEO, Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Bryan Hancock, Principal, McKinsey & Company, and author: "The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in America's Schools"
You can register for this free event here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-public-school-funding-works-in-pennsylvania-or-doesnt-what-you-need-to-know-tickets-11527064761?ref=ebtnebregn
2014 CONFERENCE ON THE STATE OF
EDUCATION IN PENNSYLVANIA
60 YEARS AFTER BROWN HOW ARE THE CHILDREN? WHAT ARE THE
ISSUES?
Saturday, May 31, 2014 - 9:00 AM
– 3:00 PM (8:30 Registration)
MARCUS FOSTER STUDENT UNION 2ND
FLR. CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, DE Co. Campus
Keynote
Speaker: Dan Hardy – Retired Reporter -Philadelphia Inquirer
Distressed Schools: How Did it
Come to This?
PANELS:
- The State of Education in Pennsylvania 60
Years after Brown
- Keystones and Graduation: Cut the
Connection
- How Harrisburg Cut District Funding,
Poured on the Keystones, and Connected them to Graduation
- Financing Our Schools: What Does it Cost
to Educate a Child in 2014 and How Should We Fund It?
- Effective Advocacy – How to be
Heard in Harrisburg - And - What We Need to be Saying
For
more info and registration: http://www.naacpmediabranch.org/#
Education
Policy and Leadership Center
Click
here to read more about EPLC’s Education Policy Fellowship Program, including:
2014-15 Schedule 2014-15 Application Past Speakers Program Alumni And More
Information
PCCY invites you to get on
the School Spirit Bus to Harrisburg on Tuesday June 10th for Fair and Full
School Funding!
Public Citizens for Children and Youth
On Tuesday June 10th, Public Citizens for Children
and Youth (PCCY) will be going to Harrisburg. Join committed parents,
leaders, and community members from around state to make it clear to Harrisburg
that PA students need fair and full funding now! We are providing free
transportation to and from Harrisburg as well as lunch. Please
arrive at the United
Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin
Parkway no later than8:15am. The bus will
depart at 8:30am sharp! Reserve your seat today by emailing us
at info@pccy.org or
calling us at 215-563-5848
x11. You can download and share our flyer by clicking here. We hope to see you there!
Pennsylvania Education Summit
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (EDT) Camp Hill, PA
PA Business-Education Partnership
Featuring:
Welcome By Governor Tom Corbett (invited)
Remarks Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq
(confirmed)
Perceptions & comments of business leaders, educators,
college presidents, and advocacy groups
Full agenda here: http://www.bipac.net/pbc/2014-PA-Education-Summit-Agenda.pdf
Registration: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/pennsylvania-education-summit-tickets-11529363637?aff=eorgf
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.
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