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,
professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails,
website, Facebook and Twitter
These daily emails are archived and
searchable 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?
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2014 Pennsylvania
WHYY Newsworks Tweet May 20, 2014
One Teacher’s Brilliant
Strategy to Stop Bullying
Here's how one schoolteacher takes time each week to look out for the
lonely.
By
Glennon Doyle Melton in Reader's Digest Magazine June 2014
….Every Friday afternoon, she asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they’d like to sit the following week. The children know that these requests may or may not be honored. She also asks the students to nominate one student who they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week. All ballots are privately submitted to her. And every single Friday afternoon, after the students go home, she takes out those slips of paper, places them in front of her, and studies them. She looks for patterns.
….Every Friday afternoon, she asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they’d like to sit the following week. The children know that these requests may or may not be honored. She also asks the students to nominate one student who they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week. All ballots are privately submitted to her. And every single Friday afternoon, after the students go home, she takes out those slips of paper, places them in front of her, and studies them. She looks for patterns.
Who is not getting requested by anyone else? Who can’t think of anyone to
request?
Who never gets noticed enough to be nominated? Who had a million friends last week and none
this week? You see, Chase’s teacher is
not looking for a new seating chart or “exceptional citizens.” Chase’s teacher
is looking for lonely children. She’s looking for children who are struggling
to connect with other children. She’s identifying the little ones who are
falling through the cracks of the class’s social life. She is discovering whose
gifts are going unnoticed
by their peers. And she’s pinning
down—right away—who’s being bullied and who is doing the bullying.
School districts fear
cuts in federal subsidies for Internet, telephone
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review By Debra
Erdley Published: Monday, May 19, 2014, 12:31 a.m.
A Federal Communications Commission proposal to trim Internet
and telephone subsidies to schools and libraries is raising red flags in cash-strapped
school districts. The subsidies, known
as E-rates, underwrote more than $1.1 billion in costs for telephone service,
new websites, Internet connections and email access for 1,100 Pennsylvania schools and libraries between
1998 and 2012, according to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business
Officers.
Although the FCC has not released its final plan, many suspect
the agency intends to phase out subsidies for legacy services such as telephone
voice services and hosted email, and add money for technologies and services.
Mt. Lebanon 2014-15
school budget balanced with tax increase, reserves
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review By Matthew
Santoni Monday, May 19, 2014, 9:42 p.m.
The Mt. Lebanon School Board adopted on Monday an $87.92 million budget for the 2014-15 school year that will be balanced with a 0.54-mill tax increase and $750,000 from the district's cash reserves. The new tax rate will be 23.15 mills. The school district, pressured by rising health care costs and retirement obligations, cut about $353,000 in spending by replacing retirees with cheaper, new hires and by reducing overtime as well as the supply and technology budgets.
The Mt. Lebanon School Board adopted on Monday an $87.92 million budget for the 2014-15 school year that will be balanced with a 0.54-mill tax increase and $750,000 from the district's cash reserves. The new tax rate will be 23.15 mills. The school district, pressured by rising health care costs and retirement obligations, cut about $353,000 in spending by replacing retirees with cheaper, new hires and by reducing overtime as well as the supply and technology budgets.
Carlynton school budget
projects tax increase
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review By Megan
Guza Published: Monday, May 19, 2014, 10:27 p.m.
Carlynton school directors voted Monday night to approve a proposed final budget that includes a tax increase. The budget sets a 2014-15 millage rate of 19.604; the current rate is 19.089 mills.
Carlynton school directors voted Monday night to approve a proposed final budget that includes a tax increase. The budget sets a 2014-15 millage rate of 19.604; the current rate is 19.089 mills.
The board approved the
$27.87 million budget 8-0. Antriece Hart was absent. The budget includes $23.99 million in revenue.
The district will use $3.88 million of its $6.24 million fund balance to fill
the deficit.
By on
May 19, 2014 at 8:43 PM
For the sixth year in a
row, the Saucon
Valley School Board tonight
unanimously passed a proposed final budget with no tax increase. While tax bills won't be rising this year,
several directors acknowledged they were putting off inevitable tax hikes down
the line. The board agreed to take $79,570 out of its $13 million savings
account to balance the budget. Directors cautioned the district may end the
year with a surplus that could be used instead of savings.
In recent weeks, the
board has reviewed
a bleak five-year financial projectionand tonight heard an analysis on the
impact of dipping into its savings account to stave off tax increases.
District says teachers' latest proposal is far
too costly. Teachers union says it's fair and affordable.
By Jacqueline Palochko,
Of The Morning Call 9:49 p.m. EDT, May 19, 2014
In the latest round of
negotiations for a contract, Saucon
Valley Lehigh
Valley
But the school board's
negotiating team wasn't buying that. On Monday, it rejected the new proposal
outright as the two sides met for the first time since the teachers union
formed a new negotiating team.
Some Bethlehem
By on
May 19, 2014 at 6:30 AM
Some members of the Bethlehem
Area Vocational Technical School's joint
operating committee want to bar charter school students from enrolling at the
vo-tech. The Bethlehem
Area School District contingent
of the board is pushing the issue, arguing that students can't choose a la
carte the parts of the public school system they want to participate in. The Bethlehem
contingent of the vo-tech's joint operating committee wants to create a policy
that states the school doesn't accept charter school students. Solicitor Donald
Spry is researching the legality of the proposal.
Move to revoke the
Palmer Leadership charter wasn't easy, but it was right
Philly.com Opinion by TOM CARAMANICO POSTED: Tuesday, May
20, 2014, 3:01 AM
Tom Caramanico is chair
of the board of directors at Freire
Charter School
LAST MONTH, theSchool District of
Philadelphia 's School Reform
Commission, under the new leadership of chairman Bill Green and district
Superintendent Dr. William Hite, delivered on a promise to hold schools
accountable to high standards and began revocation proceedings for the charter
for Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning
Partners Charter
School
LAST MONTH, the
Don't blame charters for
district woes
Philly.com Opinion By
Stacy Gill Phillips POSTED: Monday, May 19, 2014, 1:08 AM
Stacy Gill Phillips is the CEO and co-founder of the West Philadelphia
Achievement Charter Elementary Schoo
After suspending provisions of the Pennsylvania Public School Code last year, the School Reform Commission (SRC) disregarded the laws that govern its charter school oversight and moved to enforce enrollment caps on public charter schools, threatening to revoke charters for noncompliance.West Philadelphia
Achievement Charter
Elementary School School
District of Philadelphia Philadelphia .
After suspending provisions of the Pennsylvania Public School Code last year, the School Reform Commission (SRC) disregarded the laws that govern its charter school oversight and moved to enforce enrollment caps on public charter schools, threatening to revoke charters for noncompliance.
House GOP Bill Would Roll Back
School
Huffington Post by MARY CLARE JALONICK Posted: 05/19/2014
12:04 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are proposing to let some
schools opt out of healthier school lunch and breakfast programs if they are
losing money. A GOP spending bill for
agriculture and food programs released Monday would allow schools to apply for
waivers if they have a net loss on school food programs for a six month period. Championed by first lady Michelle Obama, the
new standards have been phased in over the last two school years, with more
changes coming in 2014. The rules set fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits on
foods in the lunch line and beyond. The
first lady held a call to rally supporters of the healthier food rules Monday
as a House subcommittee is expected to consider the bill on Tuesday.
In Huffington Post column,
Gentzel calls for vigilance in Brown decision
NSBA School Board News Today May 19, 2014
To mark the 60th anniversary of the landmark Brown v.
Board of Education decision, National School Boards Association
Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel reflected on the impact of the decision
and the challenges that public schools still face. The following commentary was
published by the Huffington
Post:
In the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision,
the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a timeless and transformative message: All students
deserve a great public education; separate systems are not equal.
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!
Dinniman: Roundtable
Discussion on Education in Pa. set for May 21
Senator Dinniman's website
MAY 13, 2014
WEST CHESTER (May 13) – State Senator Andy Dinniman
announced today that he is bringing together education professionals and
advocates from throughout the region for a roundtable discussion on critical
issues in education on Wednesday, May 21 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Technical College High School –
Brandywine Campus.
“Parents, teachers, students and education professionals from
suburban and urban school districts across Pennsylvania recently united against
the expansion of the Keystone
Graduation Exams,” Dinniman said. “Now, another pressing issue will bring
together suburban and urban schools from throughout the region – the need to
adequately support and sustain public education for the future.” The panel will feature education
professionals from Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia
counties as well as representatives from major education organizations,
including:
·
Joe Ciresi, President, Spring-Ford Area School
District Board of Directors.
·
Helen Gym, Parents United of Philadelphia.
·
Bill LaCoff, President-Elect of the Pennsylvania
School Board Association, Owen J. Roberts School District Board of Directors.
·
Larry Feinberg, Keystone State Education
Coalition, Haverford Township School District Board of Directors.
·
Joe O’Brien, Executive Director, Chester County
Intermediate Unit.
·
Joan Duvall-Flynn, President and Education
Committee Chair of the NAACP, Media Branch.
·
Hillary Linardopoulos, Philadelphia Federation
of Teachers.
·
Korri Brown, President, Southeast Region,
Pennsylvania State Education Association.
·
Mike Churchill, Public Interest Law Center of
Philadelphia.
·
Mark Miller, Director, Network for Public
Education, Vice-President of the Centennial School District Board of Directors.
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
“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
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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