Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now
reach more than 3500 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors,
administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers,
Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Superintendents,
PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business 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, Twitter and LinkedIn
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?
PA Ed Policy Roundup for
September 29, 2014:
Why the kids who most need
arts education aren’t getting it
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
DId you catch our weekend postings?
PA Ed Policy Roundup Sept 28: Quadrillion to one: no
fallout; no charges for Gureghian managed CCCS
PA BASIC
EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
Tuesday,
September 30, 2014 11:00 AM
(public hearing on funding issues related to
rural school districts)
"I have continued those reform efforts
by authorizing a Basic Education Funding Commission to consider the input of
educators, parents, legislators and other stakeholders in agreeing on what a
truly fair funding formula should look like. In my second term, I look forward
to reviewing their recommendations and implementing, with their guidance, what
would be landmark reforms to how we fund our schools."
The race for governor: How
Tom Corbett would address 3 pressing Pennsylvania
Trib Live By Tom Corbett Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014,
9:00 p.m.
Through hard work, innovation, strong leadership, a commitment
to smaller government and lower taxes, the Corbett-Cawley administration is
succeeding in building a stronger Pennsylvania .
When I was sworn into office in 2011, our commonwealth faced
unprecedented challenges. Our budgets were increased to unsustainable levels
and too often tax increases were the first place state government went looking
for new revenue to fulfill its desire for wasteful spending. To compound
issues, public school funding had been cut and replaced with one-time federal
stimulus money. Unemployment was as high as 8.7 percent while businesses were
leaving in search of states with lower taxes.
Read more: http://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/6840789-74/taxes-corbett-issues#ixzz3EhLvHTCD
"Currently, charter school funding is
based on a school district's per-student cost, which includes funds associated
with services not provided by charter schools. The Pennsylvania Auditor
General's Office estimates that more accurate funding formulas could save
taxpayers and local districts at least $365 million each year. Right now, Pennsylvania
The race for governor: How
Tom Wolf would address 3 pressing Pennsylvania
Trib Live By Tom Wolf Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014,
9:00 p.m.
For nearly two years, I have traveled the commonwealth talking
with workers, business owners and struggling families about the need for a
fresh start to get Pennsylvania
moving again, fully fund our public schools, revitalize the state's stagnant
economy and rebuild the middle class.
I believe we can build a better Pennsylvania — where a dynamic economy will
offer opportunities for everyone. But too often policymaking is about the next
deal or reacting to the latest crisis. Pennsylvania 's
sluggish economy is reflective of how this type of politics in Harrisburg is failing us. It's time we think
ahead.
Read more: http://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/6840780-74/pennsylvania-education-class#ixzz3EhMjtNQP
Wolf and Corbett square off
on school funding - Wolf
Responses of candidate Tom Wolf
By thenotebook on Sep 24, 2014
12:52 PM
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, is running for
re-election against challenger Tom Wolf, a Democrat, on Nov. 4.
The Notebook invited both candidates to submit a 1,000-word
response answering our six questions about key education issues, with a focus
on funding. The Wolf campaign submitted a response. The Corbett campaign
declined the invitation to respond, but the Notebook has compiled other published statements from Corbett on
these issues.
Wolf and Corbett square off
on school funding - Corbett
Statements of Gov. Tom Corbett
By thenotebook on Sep 24, 2014
01:00 PM
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, is running for
re-election against challenger Tom Wolf, a Democrat, on Nov. 4.
The Notebook invited both candidates to submit a 1,000-word
response answering our six questions about key education issues, with a focus
on funding. The Wolf campaign submitted a response. The Corbett campaign
declined the invitation to respond, but the Notebook has compiled other
published statements from Corbett on these issues.
During debate, Corbett hits
on a new strategy
By Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer POSTED: September
28, 2014
"Where's the beef?"
That was the question underdog candidate Walter Mondale
borrowed from a Wendy's ad to skewer front-runner Gary Hart and his airy
"new ideas" in a 1984 presidential debate.
In the same vein, underdog Tom Corbett paced the stage in last
week's first debate of the Pennsylvania
governor's race, demanding that Democrat Tom Wolf provide details of his
promises to make the state's personal income tax fairer to the middle class and
to increase state funding on education.
Here are addresses of
campaign websites where Gov. Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf have
posted policy proposals.
Corbett
Wolf
Big, inconsistent classes at
Phila. schools
KRISTEN A. GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Friday, September 26, 2014, 1:08 AM
One Philadelphia
school solved overcrowding by placing first, second, and third graders in a
single classroom. Another is using a different substitute every week to teach
Spanish. Elsewhere, there are reports of class sizes of 35, 36 - and more. Oversize classes are not unheard of at the
beginning of the year in Philadelphia ,
where student mobility often makes planning tough. But in the past, the school
system was able to hire more staff to ease crowding.
"In previous years, we carried a couple of hundred extra
teachers, but we just don't have that luxury anymore," said Naomi Wyatt,
the district's human resources chief. "We have to be a little bit more
conservative about bringing folks in full-time until our numbers are
final."
So Danny Allen Jr., a freshman at Central High, has had a
rotating cast of substitutes for Spanish I, and could until late October, when
the district's "leveling" process is complete, adjusting staffing to
reflect actual enrollment.
By Robert Zullo and Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette September 29, 2014
12:00 AM
Three months after it was assembled and about two months before
it is supposed to deliver a report on public education in Pittsburgh , Mayor Bill Peduto’s education
task force is still searching for its mission as it prepares for its third
meeting tonight. Curtiss Porter, the
mayor’s chief education and neighborhood reinvestment officer, said the
21-member task force, which the mayor and city council convened to address
school closings and make recommendations on improving the school system, is
still trying to find its footing. But Mr. Porter noted that he expects the
collaboration among city politicians, teachers, parents, nonprofits and school
board members, among others, to be a positive step forward.
Plans proceeding for
Chromebooks at Haverford High School
Delco Times By LOIS
PUGLIONESI, Times Correspondent POSTED: 09/28/14, 11:15 PM EDT
HAVERFORD — Plans for providing all Haverford High School
School directors approved an initiative named 1:World in May,
so that all high school students would have 24/7 use of these compact, rapid
activation/Internet access computers. Chromebooks will allow students to
conduct research in the classroom and work collaboratively in real time. School
officials also found their affordable price, just under $300, manageability and
automatic update system attractive. Greenspun
noted the initiative began with a soft rollout last year, when the district
purchased 250 Chromebooks and stationed them in the high school library to be
shared among departments. Officials also
introduced Google Drive
last year, which provided students and staff access to “Cloud” data storage.
Also introduced was Canvas, an online management system. The entire wireless
network at the high school was upgraded in preparation, Greenspun said.
Aug. 28, 2014 – The Education Law Center has joined a
statewide coalition of more than 40 organizations representing educators,
business and labor leaders, faith-based organizations, civic and child advocacy
groups who want to address one of Pennsylvania’s most important and challenging
issues: the funding of its public schools.
“We have to address the school funding crisis,” said Rhonda Brownstein,
ELC Executive Director. “All of our students deserve an opportunity to learn
and should have the resources necessary to succeed in the classroom and
beyond.” While the campaign plans to
formally launch this fall, the coalition behind the effort already has begun
examining the issues that impact school funding and formed a governing body
chaired by Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for
Children, a statewide children’s advocacy organization.
“While there has been plenty of discussion over the years about
how Pennsylvania
funds its public schools, there hasn’t been consensus among the many groups
that have a vested interest in our kids and schools,” Benso said. “This
campaign will be unprecedented in the various voices it listens to and
represents.” Kathy Manderino,
a former state lawmaker, has been named campaign manager for the new
campaign.
- See more at: http://www.elc-pa.org/2014/08/28/elc-joins-new-school-funding-campaign/#sthash.Rjjg1mtY.dpuf
Why the kids who most need
arts education aren’t getting it
Though the benefits of art education are very
real (see here for a list of 10), it is one of
the big, unfortunate casualties of the high-stakes testing era, with its laser
focus on math and English Language Arts — especially in schools with big
populations of students who live in poverty. Just how effective a good arts
program can be was shown by Michael Sokolove, a contributing writer for the New
York Times Magazine, in his book titled “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a
Struggling Town and the Magic of Theater,” about an elite high
school theater program in a blue-collar Pennsylvania town. The book will be
issued in paperback on Oct. 7. Here’s a piece by Sokolove on saving arts
education.
How to Register to Vote -
Deadline is October 6th
PA Department of State
Once you know you are eligible
to vote, the next step is to register. In Pennsylvania , you can register in person, by
mail and at various government agencies. Below you will find information about
how to register, as well as links to voting registration forms and
applications.
Upcoming PA Basic Education
Funding Commission Meetings*
PA Basic Education Funding
Commission website
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at
11 AM, Clarion University
Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 10 AM, Perkiomen Valley
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11 AM, Pittsburgh
* meeting times and locations subject to change
Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 10 AM, Perkiomen Valley
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11 AM, Pittsburgh
* meeting times and locations subject to change
Health Issues in Schools:
"Mom I can't find the Nurse"
October 21, 2014 1:00 -- 4:00 P.M.
United Way Building 1709
Benjamin Franklin Parkway , Philadelphia
Tickets: Attorneys $200
General Public $100 Webinar $50
"Pay What You Can" tickets are also
available
Click here to purchase tickets
Click here to purchase tickets
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.