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administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers,
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These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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PA Ed Policy Roundup for
September 25, 2014:
Everything Wrong With
Education "Reform" Is In York ,
PA
KEYSTONE EXAMS: Not Just Another Standardized Test
What You Need to Know
About Pennsylvania’s NEW High School Graduation Requirement
Join the Radnor, Haverford, Chester
County , Lower
Merion & Narberth Leagues of Women Voters October 7 @ 7:00 pm
in Radnor
Charter operators face
community questions in York City
Two companies appeared
at a public meeting on Wednesday
York Daily Record By Angie Mason amason@ydr.com @angiemason1 on Twitter 09/25/2014
01:13:50 AM EDT
Two charter operators faced opposition before and during a
meeting Wednesday where they discussed their proposals for running York City
School District York
City Charter
Schools USA
Charter schools defend plans
despite public concern for York
City
The two charter school operators vying to run York City schools
next year answered questions for more than three hours at the district's
community education council meeting Wednesday, talking with the community
despite public concerns about converting the city district to charter schools.
The meeting was set to the backdrop of a teacher protest an
hour before the meeting began, with leaders of the York NAACP, National
Education Association and other York
groups speaking out against moving toward a charter school option.
Democrat Tom Wolf says he's
opposed to York
The Democratic candidate for governor says 'we need to take a
different course'
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf said he's concerned
about the possible conversion to charter schools for the York City School District
The York
City School
District
"York ,
PA York , PA
When I was on Rick
Smith's show the other day, kvetching about Chris Christie's education
"policies" (it's the whole reason Rick has me on the show), he brought
up a really good point:
As bad as Governor Chris Christie has been for New Jersey's schools, Governor Tom Corbett has been far, far worse for Pennsylvania's. Under Corbett, "cyber charters" have proliferated, even though all the evidence shows they are little better than pits where taxpayers throw their money, enriching the operators and denying students proper educations. Corbett brought us Vahan Gureghian, a school privatizing pirate who all but bankrupted the Chester-Uplands school district, thanks to Pennsylvania's insane special education funding policies. Now Gureghian has come toCamden on this side of the Delaware ,
thanks to the indifference of the South
Jersey Democratic machine.
As bad as Governor Chris Christie has been for New Jersey's schools, Governor Tom Corbett has been far, far worse for Pennsylvania's. Under Corbett, "cyber charters" have proliferated, even though all the evidence shows they are little better than pits where taxpayers throw their money, enriching the operators and denying students proper educations. Corbett brought us Vahan Gureghian, a school privatizing pirate who all but bankrupted the Chester-Uplands school district, thanks to Pennsylvania's insane special education funding policies. Now Gureghian has come to
- See more at: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2014/09/everything-wrong-with-education-reform.html#sthash.AEkqDuEZ.dpuf
Education top priority for Pa.
Trib Live By Brad
Bumsted Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, 12:01 a.m.
HARRISBURG — Candy Eslinger, a retired secretary and registered Democrat, isn't sure who will get her vote in the governor's race, but she leans toward businessman Tom Wolf, her party's nominee. Yet she might vote for Republican Gov. Tom Corbett on Nov. 4, said Eslinger, 53, of Dauphin Borough. “I want to know who's going to do the best job for the state,” she said. “You're hearing things they will do, but when it gets down to it, are they going to do it?”
HARRISBURG — Candy Eslinger, a retired secretary and registered Democrat, isn't sure who will get her vote in the governor's race, but she leans toward businessman Tom Wolf, her party's nominee. Yet she might vote for Republican Gov. Tom Corbett on Nov. 4, said Eslinger, 53, of Dauphin Borough. “I want to know who's going to do the best job for the state,” she said. “You're hearing things they will do, but when it gets down to it, are they going to do it?”
She's among 520 registered Pennsylvania
voters polled by Franklin & Marshall College
in Lancaster
for its latest survey, conducted Sept. 15-22. Education came in as the top
issue affecting how people will vote for governor: 26 percent ranked it No. 1.
The poll, like others in recent months, found Wolf holding a
substantial lead — 49 percent of registered voters to Corbett's 31 percent,
with 19 percent undecided.
Franklin & Marshall poll
shows gains for Corbett, but Wolf maintains lead in Pa.
Penn Live By Christina
Kauffman | ckauffman@pennlive.com on September 25, 2014 at 3:37 AM,
updated September 25, 2014 at 3:38 AM
A new Franklin
& Marshall College poll released Thursday shows Gov. Tom
Corbett picking up some undecided voters but is
trailing Democratic challenger Tom Wolf by
18 percentage points among registered voters.
The poll shows Wolf leading 49 percent to 31 percent, with 19 percent
still not knowing how they'll vote. That's
a gain for Corbett since the August
poll, in which he was trailing by 25 percent.
The Franklin & Marshall
The September 2014 Franklin & Marshall College Poll of Pennsylvania registered
voters shows that Tom Wolf maintains a sizable lead over Republican incumbent
Tom Corbett. The survey finds Governor Corbett continues to trail his
Democratic challenger Tom Wolf, 49% to 31%. Wolf’s lead is similar among likely
voters. As in prior surveys, a majority (60%) of registered voters continues to
believe the state is “off on the wrong track” and only three in ten (30%)
believe Governor Corbett has performed sufficiently well to deserve
re-election. Most (84%) registered voters have seen advertising for the
governor’s race, but only one in ten (10%) say a commercial has changed their
gubernatorial preference.
View the latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll:
"Sen. Anthony "Hardy"
Williams, D-Philadelphia, the driving force behind the original cigarette tax
proposal, said lawmakers should not be satisfied with the bill's final passage.
The Legislature needs to pass a fair funding formula for all districts in Pennsylvania
Corbett signs Philly
cigarette tax
By Steve
Esack,Call Harrisburg
Bureau September 24, 2014 8:58 pm
Philly smokers, stock up on cigarettes now; they are going up
$2 in 5 days
Gov. Tom Corbett signs Philadelphia-only cigarette tax bill to
raise money for city schools
Cigarettes going up 42 a pack in Philadelphia to fund city
schools HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett on
Wednesday signed into law a bill adding a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes sold in
Philadelphia to help pay for the city's schools. The tax takes effect Wednesday and will push
to about $7.80 the price of a pack of cigarettes sold in Philadelphia .
At that rate, the state Budget Office estimates, smokers will raise an
additional $55 million a year for the Philadelphia School
District
Corbett signs Philadelphia
cigarette tax legislation, calling it a step toward firmer funding for schools
Penn Live By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com on September 24, 2014 at 12:49 PM, updated September
24, 2014 at 1:01 PM
Gov. Tom Corbett signed a law on Wednesday imposing a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes and little cigars sold in
Philadelphia to help fund the city's cash-strapped schools.
This new levy, which takes effect Oct. 1, is anticipated will
generate $70 million to $90 million per year of recurring revenue to support
the district. In his and others remarks
about the legislation that allows Philadelphia to enact the
tax, it was emphasized that it was a bi-partisan effort that got this bill
across the finish line that Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, began
pushing for two years and created a lot of legislative drama along the
way.
"This was not a partisan issue. It was about the students
of Philadelphia ,"
Corbett said. "House Bill 1177 is another step in our mission to provide
great education for every student in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania School District of Philadelphia
"Sen. Anthony Williams,
D-Philadelphia, said he's "grateful" the cigarette tax is finally
law. But with Corbett on his left, Williams said education spending across the
state remains a problem, with a funding formula and other reforms at its root."
Corbett signature makes
Philly cigarette tax official
WHYY Newsworks BY MARY
WILSON SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
Gov. Tom Corbett has signed a long-awaited measure to let Philadelphia levy a tax
on cigarettes beginning next month to raise money for its schools. Supporters heralded the bipartisan effort of Pennsylvania lawmakers to allow Philadelphia to levy a $2-per-pack tax on
cigarettes. The tax, along with a city sales tax increase and borrowing, will
help the school district bridge an $81 million deficit. "We're thrilled and, for the first time
while in Harrisburg ,
I'm actually smiling and celebrating," said district Superintendent
William Hite at a bill-signing ceremony Wednesday. A lobbyist leading the
effort to pass the proposal let out a happy whoop. The measure also contains a change allowing
city charter schools to go to the state to appeal rejected applications. House
Republicans insisted on the provision, already wary of appearing to bail out Philadelphia schools by
allowing higher taxes.
Corbett signs Phila.
cigarette-tax bill
ANGELA COULOUMBIS, INQUIRER HARRISBURG
BUREAU LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 1:23 PM POSTED: Wednesday,
September 24, 2014, 1:20 PM
"For the first time while in Harrisburg , I'm smiling," said city
Schools Superintendent William Hite.
The bill signing follows months of wrangling in the
GOP-controlled legislature, with some of its more conservative members
resisting allowing the city to increase the levy. Corbett, a Republican, said legislators in
both parties came together to bridge those differences.
"This bill represents the best interests of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140925_Corbett_signs_cigarette-tax_bill.html#Pf8i3gYhkb6Yd8sA.99
"School boards in struggling eastern Delaware County
Editorial: Struggling school
districts still awaiting tax fix
Delco TImes POSTED: 09/24/14, 11:18 PM EDT
Better late than never.
Unless, of course, you happen to be a smoker who resides in Philadelphia .
Or live in the William
Penn School
District , or any of the many other struggling districts that
have the geographic misfortune of sitting outside the city of Philadelphia .
That massive sigh of relief you heard was executives at the
cash-strapped Philadelphia School District after the Pennsylvania Senate put its
seal of approval on a measure that would allow an increase in the cigarette tax
in Philadelphia .
Gov. Tom Corbett signed the measure into law Wednesday morning.
Fitch slaps PA with another
debt downgrade as pensions, bad budgeting continue to wreck state’s finances
PA Independent September 24, 2014 | By Eric
Boehm | Posted in WatchBlog
If three times is a trend, we’ll have to find another word to
describe the fact Pennsylvania’s credit rating has been downgraded for a fourth
time in just a little over two years. One
thing it isn’t: surprising. WE’RE GOING
DOWN: Fitch Ratings slapped Pennsylvania
with a second credit rating downgrade in 14 months on Tuesday.
Fitch
Ratings dropped Pennsylvania’s credit rating to AA- from AA on Tuesday, citing
the state’s reliance on $2 billion in one-time revenue in this year’s $29
billion budget and a refusal to take on the long-term budget-busted pension
costs that will continue to drive costs higher for the rest of the decade. “The ‘AA-’ rating is sensitive to the
commonwealth’s continued ability to address increasing fixed-cost pressures,
particularly for pensions,” Fitch said in a statement announcing the downgrade.
“Given the magnitude of Pennsylvania ’s
structural budget gap, Fitch anticipates some continued use of non-recurring
items in upcoming budgets, but at a declining rate. Failure to make progress
toward structural balance could trigger negative rating action.”
A lower credit rating makes it more expensive for the state to
borrow money, but also serves as a gauge of fiscal health.
Philly PSSA scores stay flat;
Hite encouraged by results
the notebook By Dale Mezzacappa on Sep 24, 2014 06:09 PM
Less than half of Philadelphia
students in District schools read and do math proficiently, but the rates
stayed essentially flat this year despite severe funding cutbacks.
Superintendent William Hite called the results good news.
"These numbers represent the fact that we have a very long
way to go," Hite said in an interview. "But I'm quite frankly
surprised we didn't see a more significant decline considering how we started
the year and went almost two months" with shortages of essential personnel
like counselors and some teachers due to budget cuts.
"We started adding people back in November, and
essentially had three months before [students] had to take assessments,"
he said.
Spring-Ford teachers agree to
new contact
Philly.com by Kathy Bocella LAST UPDATED: Thursday,
September 25, 2014, 1:08 AM
ROYERSFORD Spring-Ford Area teachers have a new four-year
contract that includes small pay raises for those at the top of the salary
scale. Teachers will also pay a greater share of their benefits costs. The 600 members of the Spring-Ford Area
Education Association had been working without a new contract for more than a
year. The school board approved the agreement, which is retroactive to last
year, this week. The contract calls for
$750 increases for teachers reaching the maximum salary step this year and
again in 2016-17. There were no other cost of living or wage raises. Moreover, teachers will pay for 7 percent of
their base health plan and 8 percent in the final year of the contract, up from
5 percent now.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20140925_Spring-Ford_teachers_agree_to_new_contact.html#YSA5FFTawPCUL2Xy.99
Judge denies Palmer charter's
request for more funds; school's future uncertain
the notebook By Dale
Mezzacappa on Sep 24, 2014 04:23 PM
A Common Pleas
Court judge refused Wednesday to order the Philadelphia School District School District
is moving to close the school due to financial irregularities and poor
academics. This week, the District sent notices to students' families alerting them of how to
enroll in other schools. The school is
appealing the move to revoke its charter, a process that could take more than a
year.
Palmer charter school in Philadelphia
MARTHA WOODALL, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, September
24, 2014, 2:42 PM POSTED: Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 12:45 PM
A Common Pleas
Court judge on Wednesday denied a request by Walter D. Palmer Leadership
Learning Partners
Charter School
for an immediate $1.4 million payment from the Philadelphia School
District
In Pennsylvania
Education Week by AP Published Online: September 24, 2014
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania
has redefined the concept of the snow day, announcing that schools can offer
"cyber days" when kids can't make it into the classrooms.
In other words, some students can kiss snow days goodbye.
For up to five days a year, the "Flexible Instructional
Days" pilot program will allow schools in all 501 school districts,
including Philadelphia ,
to use nontraditional instruction methods, such as cyber school, when bad
weather or other emergencies shut down school buildings.
After last winter froze out schools for seven or more days and
extended some school calendars into July, some educators welcomed this week's
news from the state Department of Education.
"Having been a superintendent through this past winter,
this is greatly appreciated," said William E. Harner, superintendent of
the Quakertown Community School District
‘Test reform’ movement
picking up steam
We’ve had years and years of “school
reform” that has mostly resulted in creating an untenable culture of
high-stakes tests– and now, there is a growing “test reform” movement that is
pushing back against the culture of high-stakes testing that has taken over
public education.
Every week, an organization called the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, or
FairTest, publishes a list of education news from around the country
that highlights efforts to reduce federal and state mandates for high-stakes
testing. The newest list is particularly interesting, showing growing awareness
by educators and parents in more than 15 states about the problem of
over-testing as well as new steps to curb the number and importance of tests.
In the last week, we’ve seen new legislation introduced in Congress to reduce
federal testing mandates, school board resolutions calling for a suspension of
high-stakes testing, more education leaders calling for testing reform, and
more.
Testing Resistance &
Reform News: September 17 - 23, 2014
Another incredible week for the assessment reform movement --
school boards adopting strong resolutions calling for a suspension of
high-stakes testing, candidates speaking out against standardized overkill, new
Congressional legislation to reduce federal mandates and many excellent
commentaries at the same time parents, teachers and community organizers
continue to speak out! Keep the heat on.
LWV Panel:KEYSTONE EXAMS
Not Just Another Standardized Test Oct 7th Radnor
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s NEW High School Graduation
Requirement
Join the Radnor,
Haverford, Chester County, Lower Merion & Narberth Leagues of Women Voters
October 7 @ 7:00 pm in Radnor
In partnership with your area schools’ Parent
Organizations and supported by your area School Districts
Moderator: Susan Carty, President, League of Women Voters of PA
Panelists Will Include:
Pennsylvania State
Senator, Andy Dinniman
Lower Merion
School District Board of Directors
Member, Lori Actman
Conestoga High
School
Education Lawyer, Josh Kershenbaum, Esq.
Additional Panelists To Be Announced
Panelists Will Include:
Education Lawyer, Josh Kershenbaum, Esq.
Additional Panelists To Be Announced
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM Radnor Municipal Building, 301 Iven Ave. ,
Radnor
Questions? Please Call 610-446-8383 or e-mail katederiel@verizon.net
Questions? Please Call 610-446-8383 or e-mail katederiel@verizon.net
What About the Schools? A
Community Forum on the Next Governor's Education Agenda Oct. 15 7:00 pm WHYY
Philly
Pennsylvania's public schools, especially in Philadelphia, are
in dire straits. Many hope that the upcoming gubernatorial election will help
shine a light on the state's education issues. But how will Harrisburg politics
and financial realities limit the next governor’s agenda for education?
Join Research for Action, WHYY, and the United Way of Greater
Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey for an interactive community forum
designed to suggest an education agenda for the next administration—and to
assess the politics of achieving it. Hear
from local educators about what they see as priorities for the schools, and
from seasoned policy practitioners on the political realities of Harrisburg. Then, make your voice heard. Discuss your
thoughts and perspectives with other event guests and interact with the
panelists. You’ll come away from this spirited discussion with a more nuanced
view of the politics of education in both Philadelphia and at the state level.
Admission
This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is
required.
When
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Doors open at
6:30 p.m.
Where
WHYY, Independence Mall West, 150 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia,
Pa 19106
Contact
Questions? Call 215-351-0511 during regular business hours,
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Save the date: Bob Herbert
book event! Pittsburgh October 9th
Save the date – you don’t want to miss this! We are hosting the
national launch of Bob Herbert’s new book, Losing Our Way: An Intimate
Portrait of a Troubled America
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2014 Time: 5:30 – 6:30PM,
moderated discussion and Q&A.
Doors will open at 5 with student performances. Followed by book signing.
Doors will open at 5 with student performances. Followed by book signing.
Location: McConomy Auditorium,
Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh 15213. Free parking in the garage.
Hosted by: Yinzercation (we are
profiled in the book!)
Moderator: Tony Norman, columnist and
associate editor,Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PUBLIC Education Nation October
11
The Network for Public Education will hold a historic event in one month's time.
The Network for Public Education will hold a historic event in one month's time.
PUBLIC Education Nation will deliver the
conversation the country has been waiting for. Rather than featuring
billionaires and pop singers, this event will be built around intense
conversations featuring leading educators, parents, students and community
activists. We have waited too long for that seat at someone else's table.
This time, the tables are turned, and we are the ones setting the agenda. This event will be livestreamed on the web on
the afternoon of Saturday, October 11, from the auditorium of Brooklyn New
School, a public school. There will be four panels focusing on the most
critical issues we face in our schools. The event will conclude with a
conversation between Diane Ravitch and Jitu Brown.
Please join us for a symposium
on:
“Funding
Pennsylvania's Public Schools: A Look Ahead”
This event is co-sponsored by the
University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics and the Temple University
Center
When: Friday, October 3, 2014, 8:30 am to 12 pm
Where: Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh in Green Tree, PA
Session I:
"Forecasting the Fiscal Future of Pennsylvania's Public
Schools"
A panel of legislators and public
officials will respond to a presentation by Penn State Professor William
Hartman and Tim Shrom projecting the fiscal trajectory of Pennsylvania’s 500
school districts over the next five years and by University of Pittsburgh
Professor Maureen McClure discussing the implications for school finance of an
aging tax base.
Session II: "Why Smart
Investments in Public Schools Are Critical to Pennsylvania's Economic
Future"
Following an address by Eva Tansky
Blum, Chairwoman and President of the PNC Foundation, a panel of business
and labor leaders will discuss the importance of public school funding
reform to the competitiveness of regional and state economies.
We look forward to your
participation!
Pennsylvania Arts Education
Network 2014 Arts and Education Symposium
The 2014 Arts and Education Symposium will be
held on Thursday, October 2 at the State Museum
of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, PA. Join us for a daylong convening of
arts education policy leaders and practitioners for lively discussions about
the latest news from the field.
The Symposium registration fee is $45 per person.
To register, click
here or follow the prompts at the bottom of the page. The Symposium will include the following:
Register Now – 2014 PAESSP
State Conference – October 19-21, 2014
Please join us for the 2014 PAESSP State Conference, “PRINCIPAL
EFFECTIVENESS: Leading Schools in a New Age of Accountability,” to be
held October 19-21 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh,
Pa. Featuring Keynote Speakers: Alan
November, Michael Fullan & Dr. Ray Jorgensen. This year’s conference will provided PIL
Act 45 hours, numerous workshops, exhibits, multiple resources and an
opportunity to network with fellow principals from across the state.
PASA-PSBA School Leadership
Conference (Oct. 21-24) registration forms now available online
PSBA Website
PSBA Website
Make plans today to attend the most talked about education
conference of the year. This year's PASA-PSBA
School Leadership Conference promises to be one of the best with new
ideas, innovations, networking opportunities and dynamic speakers. More details
are being added every day. Online registration will be available in the
next few weeks. If you just can't wait, registration
forms are available online now. Other important links are available
with more details on:
·
Hotel
registration (reservation deadline extended to Sept. 26)
·
Educational
Publications Contest (deadline Aug. 6)
·
Student
Celebration Showcase (deadline Sept. 19)
·
Poster
and Essay Contest (deadline Sept. 19)
Voting for PSBA officers
and at-large representatives opens Sept. 9
PSBA Website 9/8/2014
The slate of candidates for 2015 PSBA officer and at-large
representatives is available online. Photos, bios and
videos also have been posted for candidates. According to recent PSBA
Bylaws changes, each member school entity casts one vote per office. Voting
will again take place online through a secure, third-party website -- Simply
Voting. Voting will open Sept. 9 and closes Oct. 6. One person from the school
entity (usually the board secretary) is authorized to register the vote on
behalf of the member school entity and each board will need to put on its
agenda discussion and voting at one of its meetings in September. Each person
authorized to cast the school entity's votes received an email on Aug. 13 and a
test ballot was sent to them on Aug. 28. In addition, a memo from PSBA
President Richard Frerichs will be mailed in the coming days to all board
secretaries and copied to school board presidents and chief school
administrators.
- See more at: http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=8465#sthash.faopm8Xr.dpuf
January 23rd–25th, 2015 at The Science Leadership
Academy , Philadelphia
EduCon is both a conversation and a conference.
It is an innovation conference where we can come together, both
in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will
be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas — from the very practical to the
big dreams.
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