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Keystone State Education Coalition
Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup
for June 5, 2014:
Corbett and GOP lawmakers
talk bare-bones 'budget scenario' that would cancel hikes in education funding
"The report is not a finalized budget, said Mike Stoll,
spokesman for House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware. Stoll, speaking after The Morning Call got a
copy of the report, said it was a primer to show Republican lawmakers the
state's existing fiscal reality and the administration's ideas to help close
the two-year cumulative deficit.
"There was no finalized plan presented in caucus," Stoll said.
"We presented members of the caucus with all the information we have at
this point so they can begin to give leaders feedback for the way they want to
proceed."
Corbett and GOP lawmakers
talk bare-bones 'budget scenario' that would cancel hikes in education funding
House GOP proposal
outlines Corbett administration's call to cut most agencies by 5 percent and
transfer $294 million out of special funds to help close deficit without tax
hikes.
By Steve Esack,
Call Harrisburg
Bureau 9:36 p.m. EDT, June 4, 2014
Budget time ... and the
living is hardly easy: John L. Micek
By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com on June 04, 2014 at 3:32 PM
So here's how you can tell it's Budget Season in the state
Capitol:
Everyone has a theory on how state lawmakers are going to reach
a deal on theCorbett administration's $29.4 billion budget plan for the
fiscal year that starts July 1.
And everybody -- from the lobbyists who ringed the upper
balcony of the Capitol rotunda outside the House and Senate chamber, to the
activists and supplicants who gathered on the Rotunda's main floor below -- wants
something. For one veteran lobbyist, who
asked not to be named for fear of angering his well-paying clients -- it's
making sure they don't take too bad of a tax hit. If you're wondering, those
well-paying clients include companies doing business in the realm of what I'll
just euphemistically refer to as Scharscmellus Schmale.
Veteran
lobbyist David Tive, who did speak on the record and doesn't represent the
interests discussed just above, said he couldn't remember a budget season with
so much uncertainty.
"The level of confusion up here is higher than I've seen
it in the past," he said.
Now is the time for Gov.
Corbett to approve a shale tax to pay for Pa.
By PennLive
Op-Ed By Tom Wolf on June 04, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Tom Wolf, of York County,
is the Democratic candidate for Governor.
In the next few weeks, school districts across Pennsylvania will
dismiss for summer break. But we should all be alarmed at what our kids
and teachers will return to once school resumes in the Fall. Schools will begin another year without the
resources needed to provide our kids the kind of education that will give them
the skills necessary to take advantage of an ever-changing, highly competitive
economy. There is no greater risk
to our Commonwealth's future. And it's time, now, for the Legislature and
Governor to finally act to impose a severance tax on natural gas extraction
with an effective rate of at least 5 percent.
The result of such a tax will mean billions of additional dollars in the
coming years. Let's put politics
aside – and let's act now. Don't wait for the coming elections.
Don't wait for a new governor or a new legislature. Our kids deserve
immediate attention
Democratic challenger Tom
Wolf leads Governor Corbett by 20 points in poll
Tom Wolf, the businessman from York County, who won the
Democratic nomination for governor in a primary race last month, tops Gov. Tom
Corbett, 53 to 33 percent, a poll released this morning says. The Quinnipiac University Poll of registered
voters across the state shows that voters disapprove of Mr. Corbett’s
performance by 55 to 35 percent and 58 percent of voters say Mr. Corbett does
not deserve to be re-elected. "The
election is five months away, but Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett looks like easy
prey for Democratic challenger Tom Wolf," Tim Malloy, assistant director
of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a press release.
An alternative budget for Pa.
Philly.com Opinion By
Gene DiGirolamo POSTED: Thursday, June 5, 2014, 1:08 AM
State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R., Bucks)
represents the 18th Legislative District
As the state considers next year's budget, legislators must remember that people and communities hang in the balance. Each month brings more bad news about shortfalls in revenue that had been expected in state coffers. At this point, it's clear that revenues for the next two fiscal years will be $1.3 billion short of what the Corbett administration expected.
As the state considers next year's budget, legislators must remember that people and communities hang in the balance. Each month brings more bad news about shortfalls in revenue that had been expected in state coffers. At this point, it's clear that revenues for the next two fiscal years will be $1.3 billion short of what the Corbett administration expected.
We now face a
fundamental choice: Arrive at a balanced budget by making even bigger cuts in
education, health care, environmental protection, and human services or invest
in programs that grow the economy and create jobs by raising new revenue. Given
these choices and the current economic circumstances, why would we leave money
on the table?
I cannot support further
cuts to education and vital service programs, so I went to work and developed
the Roadmap for a Stronger Pennsylvania, a proposal that puts families first in
a responsible, sustainable approach to the budget.
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20140605_An_alternative_budget_for_Pa_.html#ChDqeIRb8YTWvL6C.99
Centennial officials: change
school funding, mandates
Bucks County
Courier
Two Centennial
School District
"The legislation, which drew bi-partisan support, now
is on track to be considered by the full House but could make it on to the
books by getting inserted in a budget-related bill that is tied to school
funding."
HB1722:
Education reform bill eliminates
seniority-based layoffs and allows furloughs for economic reasons
By on
June 04, 2014 at 5:22 PM
A controversial education reform measure that Gov. Tom Corbett
identified as a priority in his first year of taking office is once again
getting legs. The House Education
Committee today voted 17-7 to advance legislation that would add economic reasons to the
list of permitted situations when teachers and other professional school
employees could be furloughed. Current
law only allows districts to layoff professonal staff if there is a reduction
in enrollment, if a program is curtailed or eliminated, or if schools are
consolidated or reorganized.
"It's not going to have
significant impact on savings, but you know what? I think it sends a strong
message that we're serious about getting our finances under control," said
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe
Scarnati, R-Jefferson
County
Sen. Joe Scarnati determined
to boot elected state officials out of pension system
By on
June 04, 2014 at 8:54 PM
If no other pension
reform gets done before lawmakers
break for the summer, the highest-ranking state senator is calling for the
Legislature to at the very least act to move all elected officials in the
legislative, executive and judicial branch out of the state's defined benefit
pension plan. "It's not going to
have significant impact on savings, but you know what? I think it sends a
strong message that we're serious about getting our finances under
control," said Senate President Pro TemporeJoe
Scarnati, R-Jefferson
County
He said if any
consensus plan does gain traction, he wants to see elected officials in all
three governmental branches be treated like new employees and pushed out of the
guaranteed pension system and into a 401k-style plan upon their election or
re-election.
Blogger's note: William Bartles' organization, Pennsylvania
Partnerships for Children, has received three separate grants from the Gates
Foundation to sponsor Common Core. These three grants total $935,859.
Keystone Exams will ensure
students are ready for the workforce: PennLive letters
on June 04, 2014 at 1:17 PM, updated June 04, 2014 at
11:26 PM
WILLIAM J.
BARTLE, Education Policy Director, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Patriot-News reporter
Jeff Franz is to be commended for his article "High
school diploma has renewed value for graduates headed to the workforce," which stresses the increasing
importance of students pursuing post-high school learning. Today's jobs require an unprecedented level
of academic skills. But for years, Pennsylvania
has graduated tens of thousands of students who failed to show proficiency in
core subjects like reading and math. This left employers with no real assurance
that a high school graduate had the required basic skills to be successful in
an entry-level job. To address this, Pennsylvania recently
adopted stronger, internationally benchmarked academic standards called the
Pennsylvania Core Standards, along with assessments aligned to those standards.
Those assessments include the Keystone Exams in English, algebra I and
biology.
OP-ED: The sinister truth
about supporting Common Core
UPDATED:
05/01/2014 09:34:38 AM EDT2
COMMENTS
In response to a recent
op-ed by William Bartle, education policy director for Pennsylvania
Partnerships for Children, I would like to point out some conveniently ignored
truths regarding Common Core. Mr.
Bartle, with either willful ignorance or contempt for the "regular
class," has lacked the integrity to offer full disclosure in his April 18
piece titled "Nothing sinister about Common Core." The title itself
screams "nothing to see here."
I offer a public response to Mr. Bartle in order to enlighten him with the
facts and further educate him on honesty in communication.
Retired Upper
Perkiomen superintendent back at $335 per day
By Frank
Otto, The Mercury POSTED: 06/03/14, 4:15 PM EDT | UPDATED: 28 SECS AGO
PENNSBURG — Taxpayers will soon find themselves paying a new
salary to a superintendent who last year received a retirement package the
state’s Auditor General blasted as being “excessive.” Thanks to a unanimous Upper Perkiomen School
Board vote, Timothy Kirby will return to his previous post as the top
administrator in the district on July 1.
Telling a reporter, “file (a) Right-to-Know request,” school board
President William Scott refused to release Kirby’s new salary, but The
Mercury’s Right-to-Know request revealed Kirby will be paid $335 per day until
Dec. 31.
No financial returns from
roadtrip to Harrisburg
WHYY Newsworks BY TOM
MACDONALD JUNE 4, 2014
The leader of Philadelphia City Council took a road trip to Harrisburg Tuesday in
search of additional funding sources for the city, but did not return with any
commitments.
Council President Darrell Clarke isn't talking much about the
results of his lobbying trip to Harrisburg . "I've learned the simple reality is as
it relates to trying to get some support from the state is it's best practices
to keep the conversation relatively tight as it relates to members of the
General Assembly and not have a negotiation in the public," Clarke said
Wednesday.
The goal of the trip to the Capitol was to secure more money
for the Philadelphia
School District
Council bill aims $120
million at schools - but red ink still flows
TROY GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Thursday, June 5, 2014, 1:08 AM
POSTED: Wednesday, June 4, 2014,
10:00 PM
Philadelphia City
Council took a big step Wednesday toward resolving a piece of the School District 's budget woes, giving preliminary
approval to a bill that would guarantee the district $120 million in sales tax
revenue next year. But that money would
hardly cure the district's profound financial troubles. In fact, the district likely is going to need
tens of millions of dollars in city funding before the end of this month just
to make ends meet. Mayor Nutter plans to
send a bill to Council on Thursday that would let the city borrow the needed
funds and pay back the loan from future sales tax revenue. Council
President Darrell L. Clarke has introduced a bill that would give the district
the money in exchange for closed school buildings the city then could sell.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140605_City_Council_bill_aims__120_million_at_schools_-_but_red_ink_still_flows.html#AeETKpPjsPGtFdvm.99
At Muñoz-Marín, a contentious
lead-up to delayed Renaissance vote
the
notebook by Bill Hangley Jr. on Jun 04 2014 Posted in Latest news
When District officials
delayed the vote on the Muñoz-Marín
School
Instead, over the last
four weeks, the campaign for the North Philadelphia
school has grown increasingly contentious, culminating with a complaint filed
this week by charter school officials against the School Advisory Council
(SAC), alleging that the SAC had undercut their efforts to reach out to
parents. The vote is scheduled for
Thursday.
Officials at ASPIRA
Inc., a charter provider matched
with Muñoz-Marín by District
officials as part of this year’s Renaissance transformation process, say that
SAC president Maria Cruz has effectively “sabotaged” their attempts to reach
other SAC members and bring them on tours of its schools.
Charter pupils get $100,000 scholarships
to Widener U.
KATHY BOCCELLA, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 2:35 PM
POSTED: Wednesday, June 4, 2014,
11:26 AM
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140605_Charter_pupils_get__100_000_scholarships_to_Widener_U_.html#vAk2D7IDKmCvDoYs.99
Neumann offers workshops for Chester Upland parents
Philly.com by Laura
McCrystal LAST UPDATED: Wednesday,
June 4, 2014, 1:08 AM
Workshops offered for
parents
ASTON The Chester Upland
School District and Neumann
University
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140604_Lincoln_offers_workshops_for_Chester_Upland_parents.html#YZ3Yx1gRMY6y4gmx.99
Common Core implementation
concerns raised
NSBA School Board News Today by Alexis Rice|June 4th, 2014
AASA, the School
Superintendents Association, has newly released a survey of superintendents on the adoption and
implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The survey, “Common Core and Other State Standards: Superintendents Feel
Optimism, Concern and Lack of Support,” found that although superintendents
were overwhelming optimistic about the new standards, a majority also expressed
concern about a lack of implementation support at the local level. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia have adopted CCSS,
which establish grade-level expectations in math and English language arts for
K-12 students. The standards go into effect next school year, with the first
state-wide student assessments expected in the spring of 2015. Of note in the AASA survey is that many
superintendents expressed concern that their districts will not be prepared for
implementation of the standards, especially the year-end assessments
Teachers Hit The Common Core
Wall
NPR by CORY TURNER June 03, 2014 4:08 PM ET
This time next year, millions of schoolkids in the U.S. will sit
down for their first Common Core test. In some places, the stakes will be high
— for kids, their teachers and their communities. The goal of the Core
benchmarks in reading and math is to better prepare students for college,
career and the global economy. But the challenges are huge. For one, the standards are higher than many
of the state standards they're replacing. And, as
we reported earlier, new standards as rigorous as the Core require lots of
other changes, too — to textbooks, lesson plans, homework assignments. You name
it. Right now, many teachers are in a
bind. They're being asked to implement these tough new standards without being
given better materials.
S.C. Governor Signs Bill
Requiring State to Replace Common Core
Republican Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina
In effect, this means that South Carolina South Carolina Palmetto State
Haley, an outspoken opponent of
the common core, signed the bill May 30.
Look out, Chris Christie: The
new war on public schools just might be defeated
Signs of optimism in
public school fight, and warning signs for any politician who pushes
privatization, charters
Salon.com by JEFF
BRYANT TUESDAY, JUN 3, 2014 01:18 PM EDT
It’s no exaggeration at all to say that for many who claim to
be part of a “school reform” movement, the goal really is to get rid of
traditional public schools. If that
sounds like an unreasonable conclusion to you, cast your eyes toward New
Orleans where the last traditional public schools were just closed for good. Writing for the
Washington Post, Lindsay Layton reported the NOLA district closed the
remaining neighborhood schools as part of a “grand experiment in urban
education for the nation,” shifting local control of public schools by voters
and their elected representatives to privately operated charter schools. School governance in the “all-charter
district” will now be up “to dozens of independent school operators”
unencumbered by the “bureaucracy” of democratic control. The NOLA model is what the reform crowd has
been recommending
for the rest of the nation.
Pearson: Follow the
Money
It is curious indeed that Pearson has been so effective at
buying a controlling interest in American education. It is curious because in
school we were always taught that heathy competition produces better products,
that America
reveres an open field for new products, and that monopolies are clumsy and
inefficient. We were also taught that the public sector belongs to the public,
not to private corporations. This post,
by Jennifer Job of UNC Chapel Hill, follows the money in trying to understand
how Pearson inverted these axioms. How did Pearson become a dominating force
American education? She examines the tentacles of power. Maybe the CEO of
Pearson should be our next Secretary of Education. But no, that would mean
taking a salary cut.
Cloaking
Inequity Blog by Julian
Vasquez Heilig May 23, 2014 | | 1
Comment
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Do you believe in public education? Do you
want US policymakers to understand why decision makers in Chile have now
judged vouchers to be problematic after 30 years of universal implementation?
Do you have frequent flier miles you can donate? Sponsor a grad student
today! This summer, I along with eight
UT-Austin graduate students will travel to Santiago, Chile in August 2014 with
Professor Julian Vasquez Heilig to conduct field research that will result in a
policy brief, op-eds and a peer-reviewed academic paper detailing recent changes in
Chile’s market-based education policy proposed this past April by Chile’s
current Education Minister Nicholas Eyzaguirre.
Legacy of Brown v. Board of
Education After 60 Years -
EPLC "Focus on Education" TV Program on PCN - June 8 at 3:00 p.m.
EPLC "Focus on Education" TV Program on PCN - June 8 at 3:00 p.m.
The next EPLC "Focus on Education" episode
will air this coming Sunday, June 8 at 3:00 p.m. on PCN television.
This June 8 panel will discuss the significance of the 1954 Brown v.
Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court and its significance
today; the current picture of racial segregation in public schools; whether, in
Pennsylvania, we are improving or getting worse; the responsibility of state
government; the effects of the "school choice" movement on
segregation and integration in public schools; and much more.
The panel will include:
·
Ron Cowell, President of The Education
Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC) and Host of the "Focus on
Education" programs;
·
Homer C. Floyd, Former Executive
Director, Pennsylvania
Human Relations Commission;
·
Rhonda Brownstein, Esq., Executive
Director, Education
Law Center
·
Erica Frankenberg, Ed.D., Assistant
Professor, Department of Education Policy Studies, Penn State University
Visit the EPLC web site for related resources.
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
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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