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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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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for June
19, 2014:
The PA Senate will reconvene on Monday,
June 23, 2014 at 1:00PM. After voting to
amend on Tuesday afternoon, no further action was taken yesterday on SB1316,
the special education funding bill.
HB2138, the House version of the bill, is on the House calendar for
second consideration today.
Print Sara K. Satullo | The Express-Times By Sara K. Satullo
| The Express-Times
on June 18, 2014 at 7:03 AM, updated June 18, 2014 at 7:21
AM
When Bethlehem
Area School
District
Bethlehem doesn't have money to buy fancy billboards to spread
its message, school board President Michael Faccinetto said Monday. But the tax
bill does present an opportunity to communicate directly with taxpayers, he
said. The school board Monday night
approved a $242.5 million 2014-15 final budget by a 6-3 vote. District
officials blame the tax hike on school choice.
Legislature sitting on $154
million surplus
Audit comes amid budget showdown between the Legislature and
Gov. Tom Corbett.
By Steve Esack,
Call Harrisburg
Bureau 9:41 p.m. EDT, June 18, 2014
If lawmakers used that full surplus to help with the 2014-15
budget deficit, it would save taxpayers a chunk of money. The surplus is more
than 55 percent of the Legislature's total $277.6 million budget for 2014-15. But using the surplus to reduce the deficit
is highly unlikely.
The Legislature likes to keep a hefty fund balance as a
precaution against budget stalemates with governors. Such a stalemate started Tuesday, when
Gov. Tom Corbett told lawmakers he would not consider
tax increases to close a projected $1.4 billion deficit until they changed the
state liquor and pension systems as he wants. The deadline to pass a budget is
June 30.
Tom Corbett's other
budget math problem (vote-counting): Wednesday Morning Coffee
By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com on June 18, 2014 at 8:51 AM, updated June
18, 2014 at 9:02 AM
Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Well, we now know two things about Gov. Tom Corbett's budget for the fiscal year that starts on July 1: It's probably going to be late. And there's a pretty good chance that it's going to include some new taxes. At a news conference on Monday, Corbett told Capitol scribes that "given the difficulty of this budget, I have allowed — I have informed — the legislators, we need to get this done, and we need to get it done right, rather than quickly.So, if we are not able to finish by June 30, we are not able to finish by June 30.” Asked repeatedly about how he planned to pay for new education programs and other initiatives included in the $29 billion spending plan without a tax increase, Corbett said he first wanted to address big-ticket "cost-drivers" such as pensions and maybe score a win on liquor reform before he'd talk about what those in the politics biz charmingly (and euphemistically) refer to as "revenue enhancements."
Well, we now know two things about Gov. Tom Corbett's budget for the fiscal year that starts on July 1: It's probably going to be late. And there's a pretty good chance that it's going to include some new taxes. At a news conference on Monday, Corbett told Capitol scribes that "given the difficulty of this budget, I have allowed — I have informed — the legislators, we need to get this done, and we need to get it done right, rather than quickly.So, if we are not able to finish by June 30, we are not able to finish by June 30.” Asked repeatedly about how he planned to pay for new education programs and other initiatives included in the $29 billion spending plan without a tax increase, Corbett said he first wanted to address big-ticket "cost-drivers" such as pensions and maybe score a win on liquor reform before he'd talk about what those in the politics biz charmingly (and euphemistically) refer to as "revenue enhancements."
Decision comes after state appeal board reaffirmed vote to
shut it down.
By Chris Reber, Of The Pocono Record 7:09 p.m. EDT, June
17, 2014
Young said the school will be dissolved Saturday.
This month the state Department of Education's Charter Appeal
Board reaffirmed an earlier vote, concluding that there was excessive
entanglement between the school and its landlord, the Shawnee Tabernacle
Church
NPR: Philly Schools Teeter On
Brink Of Layoffs, Struggling For Funding
All
Things Considered by JEFF BRADY June 17,
2014 4:06 PM ET
Listen
to the Story 1 min 46 sec
…And I'm Melissa Block. Once again, one of the most troubled
school districts in the country is sounding alarm bells over funding. The head
of the Philadelphia
school district says he needs almost $100 million, and even that, he says,
would just maintain a status quo he calls inadequate. NPR's Jeff Brady reports.
A costly pension-reform
plan
Inquirer Opinion by ROB MCCORD POSTED: Wednesday, June 18,
2014, 1:08 AM
Rob McCord is the
treasurer of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
lawmakers face many difficult challenges, including a billion-dollar revenue
shortfall, as they try to meet the June 30 deadline for enacting a balanced
budget. They shouldn't add to their list of issues by adopting pension reforms
that would only create future problems for seniors and taxpayers. This election year is the wrong time to rush
through sweeping public-pension changes that too few understand. Although there
has been general discussion about addressing our public-pension shortfall,
lawmakers now face a specific proposal that neither the General Assembly nor
the public has fully evaluated.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20140618_A_costly_pension-reform_plan.html#ko7lPpsPuWDq7TSI.99
Blogger's school funding note: Private Philly philanthropy
continues funding charters while Philadelphia 's Feltonville School
PSP Grant will let three Philadelphia
MARTHA WOODALL, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER POSTED: Wednesday,
June 18, 2014, 12:11 PM
The Philadelphia School Partnership announced Wednesday nearly
$3 million in grants to help three high-performing city charter schools expand.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140619_Grant_will_let_three_Philadelphia_charter_schools_grow.html#wlkltEgbURH2zhZ1.99
Sounding the alarm about
school conditions
the notebook commentary
By Amy Roat, Ray Porreca, and Kelley Collings Jun 18, 2014
This is a call to action
regarding the crisis in the School
District of Philadelphia
We are teachers at the
Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences in North
Philadelphia . Our school is predominantly Latino and has a
large population of special education and ESL students. This is our story,
but it is not exceptional. We know our
problems are similar to other schools throughout the District. We don't
have basic resources such as supplies and updated textbooks. We lack
valuable programs and the appropriate staff, including a full-time
counselor, nurse, non-teaching assistant, librarian, and cleaning staff.
Classrooms are dirty, and we're unable to get toilet seats
replaced. Students do not have enough staff who can relate to them in ways
that promote safety and avert crises. The resulting environment is one in which
turmoil reigns, as staff and teachers cobble together an inadequate education
for students.
Sources say Council to
propose new borrowing for Philly schools
TROY GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Thursday, June 19, 2014, 1:08 AM
POSTED: Wednesday, June 18, 2014,
8:38 PM
After weeks of being
pressured to find money to plug the School
District of Philadelphia School District will need.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140619_Sources_say_Council_set_to_approve_borrowing_for_schools.html#URMXs371hjoCmllL.99
Council committee wants local
school board to make school district decisions
JENNY DEHUFF, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER DEHUFFJ@PHILLYNEWS.COM,
215-854-5218 POSTED: Thursday, June 19, 2014, 3:01 AM
A BILL THAT barely moved
out of a City Council committee yesterday calls for the abolition of the School
Reform Commission, but its passage teetered on the brink because of its purely
symbolic nature. Council's Committee on
Law and Government moved the bill - with "no recommendation" for
passage. If adopted by the full Council, the bill would allow a question on the
November ballot asking voters whether the SRC should be eliminated through an
amendment to the city charter. Although the state has ultimate authority over
the School District
of Philadelphia
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20140619_Council_committee_wants_local_school_board_to_make_school_district_decisions.html#TsIKX3Bu5g1CkMK6.99
Audit shows PA legislative
branch sat on $153.5 million nest egg at start of the 2013-14 fiscal year
By on June 18, 2014 at 11:47 AM, updated June 18, 2014 at
12:50 PM
After reconciling the
General Assembly and legislative service agencies' various checkbooks for
2012-13, the balances showed they were sitting on more than $153.5
million. That represents an increase
from the $140.7 million held in reserve the prior year. The outside audit report on the legislative
branch's finances accepted today by the Legislative Audit
Advisory Commission shows the
Senate began this current fiscal year with a $50.1 million financial cushion
and the House had a $71.8 million reserve.
SB1382: PASSING PA
STANDARDIZED TEST TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL DERIDED AS UNFUNDED MANDATE
PCCY website June 18, 2014
State Sen. Andrew Dinniman, (D-Chester
County ), introduced legislation in Harrisburg Wednesday that would exempt Pennsylvania high school students from
having to pass standardized tests to graduate.
Starting with the class of 2017, Pennsylvania
law dictates that students must show proficiency on Keystone standardized tests
in Algebra I, Biology and Language Arts before earning diplomas. Dinniman said recent state cuts to classroom
education budgets make this requirement an "unfunded mandate" that
will simply "stamp failure" on many students coming from impoverished
school districts. Dinniman's proposal,
S.B. 1382, would leave graduation requirements up to individual districts.
More info on SB1382 from
Senator Dinniman's newsletter
Tenure for public school
teachers
WHYY Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane June 18, 2014 audio
runtime 52:01
Guests: Jim Wyckoff, Jack Schneider
A California
court struck down tenure for public school teachers last week, inflaming the
debate over how teachers can be hired and fired. The landmark Vergara v. California ruling
decided that state protections for teachers deprive poor and minority students
of equal education. Tenure was introduced in American public schools in
the early 20th Century, to stop teachers being fired
unfairly. Since 2009, two-thirds of states have watered down teacher
protections, to compete for billions of education dollars from President
Obama’s Race to the Top program. We delve into the arguments over
tenure with JIM
WYCKOFF, the Curry Memorial Professor of Education and Policy at the University of Virginia
and JACK
SCHNEIDER, Assistant Professor of Education at the College of the Holy
Cross in Massachusetts .
Establishment panel: The Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette Editorial June 18, 2014 12:00 AM
Cocalico budget raises school
taxes 2.6%
The Cocalico school board unanimously approved a 0.56-mill tax
increase on Monday, bringing the real estate levy to 22.32 mills for 2014-15. The increase, which is just under 2.6 percent,
means the owner of a home with the district’s median assessment of $138,600
will pay about $78 more in tax, for a total bill of $3,094.
Ephrata adopts final $60
million school budget with no tax increase
A high school stage renovation bid and approval of next year's
budget were the major topics of discussion at Ephrata Area's last board meeting
for the school year on Monday, June 16.
Board President Timothy Stayer took time to explain to the
public the reasons behind keeping the 19.6-mill tax rate for a second year in a
row. The budget calls for expenditures
of $59,792,040 and revenues of $58,864,188. A deficit of $927,852 was covered
by savings from the district's fund balance.
Delco Times By SUSAN L. SERBIN, Times Correspondent POSTED: 06/18/14,
11:11 PM EDT
Controversial tax increase in
U-CF budget
West Chester Daily
Locall By CANDICE
MONHOLLAN, cmonhollan@21st-centurymedia.com
POSTED: 06/18/14,
7:07 PM EDT |
With the June meeting of
the Unionville-Chadds Ford school board came the approval of the final budget
for the 2014-15 fiscal year at $75.9 million which, although passed
unanimously, came with some controversy among the members. The final number, down about $75,000 from the
preliminary number in January, includes a tax increase of 2.76 percent in Chester County
and 2.26 percent in Delaware
County
Evidence
for What Works in Education
We review the research on the different programs,
products, practices, and policies in education.
Then, by focusing on the results from high-quality
research, we try to answer the question “What works in
education?” Our goal is to
provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based
decisions.
La. Gov. Bobby Jindal
Declares State Dumping Common Core, PARCC Tests
In a five-point plan,
outlined in an afternoon news conference, Jindal, a Republican and a one-time
common-core supporter, said he has told the Council of Chief State School
Officers and the National Governors Association, the two groups that oversaw
the creation of the standards, that the state is dropping the common core.
Come to Harrisburg
Monday, June 23, and Monday, June 30
Education Voters PA
Governor Corbett’s “election-year” budget is falling apart.
Revenue projections are down and Corbett and state legislators are looking to
make more than $1.2 billion in cuts to his proposed 2014-2015
budget. Lobbyists will be swarming the
Capitol in the month of June and we need to be there, too. Join Pennsylvanians from throughout the
commonwealth as we send a loud and clear message that after three years of
balancing the state budget on the backs of Pennsylvania’s public school
children, it is time for our state government to do what is right and pass a
fair budget that will provide students with the opportunities they need to meet
state standards and be successful after they graduate.
Details: http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=7059
PA Basic Ed. Funding
Campaign: Building capacity to advocate for adequate, equitable school funding
PSBA website 6/10/2014
The Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Campaign seeks up to
ten (10) regional "circuit riders" statewide to work with and support
school system leaders to build capacity and advocate for an adequate and
equitable school funding system.
Regional Circuit Riders Contract Employment Announcement
The Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Campaign seeks up to ten
(10) regional "circuit riders" statewide to work with and support
school system leaders to build capacity and advocate for an adequate and
equitable school funding system. Circuit riders will support school system
leaders by providing education and training about past and current school
funding systems, principles and models of good school funding systems and
effective advocacy strategies using information and materials provided by the
Campaign. School system leaders include school directors, Intermediate Unit
executive directors, district superintendents, business managers and other key
school district leaders. Building
capacity among Pennsylvania school system leaders to advocate for an adequate
and equitable school funding system is one component of a broader multi-year
effort that involves more than 25 organizations across Pennsylvania. This
component is a collaborative effort of the PA Association of School Business
Officials (PASBO), PA Association of School Administrators (PASA), PA School
Boards Association (PSBA), PA Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS)
and PA Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU). PASBO serves as the fiscal
agent for the collaborative.
- See more at: http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=7943#sthash.rYZzUteD.dpuf
EPLC Education Issues
Workshop for Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff, and Interested Voters -
Harrisburg July 31
Register Now! EPLC will again be hosting
an Education Issues Workshop for Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff,
and Interested Voters. This nonpartisan, one-day program will take place
on Thursday, July 31 in Harrisburg. Space is limited. Click here to learn more about workshop and
to register.
PSBA opens nominations for
the Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award
The nomination process is now open for the Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award. This award may be presented annually to the individual school director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform. Applications will be accepted until July 16, 2014. The July 16 date was picked in honor of Timothy M. Allwein's birthday. The award will be presented during the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference in October. More details and application are available on PSBA's website.
The nomination process is now open for the Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award. This award may be presented annually to the individual school director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform. Applications will be accepted until July 16, 2014. The July 16 date was picked in honor of Timothy M. Allwein's birthday. The award will be presented during the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference in October. More details and application are available on PSBA's website.
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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