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?
The Keystone State Education Coalition is an endorsing member of The Campaign for Fair Education Funding
Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for October
15, 2014:
NY Times
coverage of Philly funding cuts
BASIC
EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday, October 16, 2014 10:00
AM Perkiomen Valley
(public hearing to consider
other state's funding formulas and weights; and level of local support and
taxing capacity)
NY
Times: Philadelphia
New York Times By MOTOKO RICH OCT.
14, 2014
“When you are given a loaf of bread, you have to make it last
as long as you can,” said Michael Adelson, the math teacher. Feltonville serves
541 students, close to 80 percent of whom come from low-income families. Such is the state of austerity across Philadelphia , where this
fall, the schools almost did not open on time, and the
district has eliminated 5,000 staff positions and closed 31 schools over the
last two years. Feltonville alone has lost 15 teachers, two assistant
principals, two guidance counselors, an office secretary, three campus police
officers, 10 aides who supervised the cafeteria and hallways, and an operations
officer, who oversaw most of the school’s day-to-day logistics.
Follow the Money: Price
of the Prize
Post-Gazette and PublicSource By Eric Holmberg | PublicSource | Oct. 14, 2014
Less than a month before the election, Republican Gov. Tom
Corbett and his challenger, Democrat Tom Wolf, have raised and spent enough
money to put the governor’s race on track to be the most expensive in state
history. During this election cycle,
Wolf has raised $27.6 million and spent $21.1 million compared with Corbett,
who has raised $20.6 million and spent $19.3 million. That’s a total of $48.2 million raised on a
race where Wolf has consistently been ahead in the polls by a double-digit
margin. If the polls hold, Corbett would
be the first incumbent governor to lose since Pennsylvania switched to two-term
limits for the governor in 1968.
Of course, no race is ever a foregone conclusion. It’s always
important to know where the money is coming from. Big donors have big
influence. So PublicSource and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are
collaborating to show you who’s giving, and how much.
Tune in Thursday 8:30 am for
live coverage of Corbett interview
Editorial board members from several Digital First Media
Pennsylvania news organizations will interview Republican Gov. Tom Corbett at
the York Daily Record offices 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Bookmark this article to view a video feed and live coverage of
that session.
Readers will be able to comment on the interview as part of our
live coverage.
A similar session, featuring live coverage, will be held Oct.
23 with Democratic gubernatorial challenger Tom Wolf, time to be announced.
Wolf touts plan to use
severance tax to restore education funding
Beaver County Times By Tom Davidson tdavidson@timesonline.com Published: Monday,
October 13, 2014 6:00 pm | Updated:
8:04 am, Tue Oct 14, 2014.
Open
records request for Tomalis comes up empty, report: Tuesday Morning Coffee
By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com on October 14, 2014 at 8:26 AM
Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
An open records request looking to show what former Corbett administrationadviser Ron Tomalis did -- or didn't do -- to earn his $139k salary has come up empty,The Tribune-Review reports this morning. Neither the Department of Education nor the Office of the Governor, "both under Republican Gov. Tom Corbett," could provide "progress reports, employee evaluations, performance reviews or performance improvement plans in response to the public information request by Campaign for a Fresh Start, a political committee formed by Corbett's opponent, Democrat Tom Wolf," the newspaper reported.
An open records request looking to show what former Corbett administrationadviser Ron Tomalis did -- or didn't do -- to earn his $139k salary has come up empty,The Tribune-Review reports this morning. Neither the Department of Education nor the Office of the Governor, "both under Republican Gov. Tom Corbett," could provide "progress reports, employee evaluations, performance reviews or performance improvement plans in response to the public information request by Campaign for a Fresh Start, a political committee formed by Corbett's opponent, Democrat Tom Wolf," the newspaper reported.
Education adviser Tomalis had
no employment contract
By Mary Niederberger and Bill Schackner / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette October 14, 2014
12:00 AM
Ron Tomalis, the former special adviser to the governor on
higher education, had no employment contract with the state, and neither the
Department of Education nor the governor’s office acknowledges employing him,
according to state documents. The
Campaign for a Fresh Start, an offshoot of the election campaign for
gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf, filed Right-to-Know requests with the state
Office of Administration, the Governor’s Office and the Department of Education
in August in an effort to obtain Mr. Tomalis’ employee contract and other
personnel records, such as performance evaluations and reviews, from Jan. 18,
2011, to Aug. 25, 2014.
Philly labor leaders weighed
general strike over SRC action
JANE M. VON BERGEN , INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 1:08 AM POSTED: Tuesday,
October 14, 2014, 7:42 PM
Outraged by the School Reform Commission's decision to cancel
its collective bargaining agreement with Philadelphia
public school teachers, city labor leaders contemplated calling for a general
strike. In two meetings, last Thursday
and Sunday, labor leaders debated the wisdom of asking members of all area
unions - laborers, electricians, communications workers, janitors, nurses, bus
drivers, city employees - to walk off their jobs to protest the SRC's decision.
"If there is going to be a fight, we have to fight about
the future, and the kids are the future," said Henry Nicholas, president
of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, headquartered in Philadelphia . In the end, the region's labor leaders
decided to hold off.
Democrats' last-ditch effort
to kill SRC fails
SUSAN SNYDER AND AMY WORDEN, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS POSTED: Wednesday, October 15, 2014,
1:08 AM
An eleventh-hour proposal to give Pennsylvania 's governor the power to abolish
the Philadelphia School Reform Commission died in committee Tuesday under deep
protest from Democratic lawmakers. "We
have suffered under this SRC and its actions," State Sen. Vincent Hughes,
a Philadelphia Democrat, told a packed Harrisburg hearing room as he sought
support for the measure. Hughes and fellow Democrats, angered that the SRC had
canceled the Philadelphia
teachers' union contract and imposed terms that included new payments toward
health insurance, targeted the commission for elimination. But the effort, which came as GOP leaders
rushed through the agenda to move bills before the session was to end late
Wednesday, was doomed nearly from the start.
Amendment to give the
governor power to abolish the SRC falls flat
SOLOMON LEACH, DAILY
NEWS STAFF WRITER LEACHS@PHILLYNEWS.COM,
215-854-5903 POSTED: Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 3:01 AM
A STATE Senate committee yesterday shot down a proposal that
would have given the governor the authority to abolish the School Reform
Commission, the body that oversees the Philadelphia School
District
State Sen. Vincent Hughes, of Philadelphia , who sponsored the amendments,
said he is disappointed in the result, but satisfied that lawmakers got their
message across.
"But to cover a family under the security-providing
"buy-up" plan, teachers would actually spend more than $500 per
month. This covers a quarter of the total premium, which is a significantly
higher burden compared with suburban compensation packages."
Health care concessions a
tough pill to swallow for city teachers
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY OCTOBER 14, 2014
Speech and language pathologist Sonya Brintnall has been
dreaming lately of the Pacific Northwest . "I used to live in Oregon ," she said. "I could go
back there, and I could be poor and have nothing, but it would be
beautiful." Brintnall, who works at
Greenfield Elementary in Center
City
Philly parents complaints not
about curriculum, says Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY OCTOBER 13, 2014
With resources stripped to bare-bones levels, parents in the Philadelphia school
district filed more than 800
complaints last year to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The office hasn't investigated the claims,
and last month The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit
in Commonwealth Court
on behalf of seven parents and the advocacy group Parents United for Public
Education in an attempt to compel action.
On Friday, Pennsylvania
education secretary Carolyn Dumaresq petitioned
the courtto dismiss the case. Dumaresq
reasons that the complaints are not curricular, and thus don't legally demand a
state investigation.
An analysis of Pennsylvania
school aid by the District's former finance chief finds that Philadelphia
the notebook commentary By Michael Masch on Oct 14, 2014
01:52 PM
Some in our community maintain that the School
District is in a budget crisis because it has a “structural
deficit.” Others suggest that the crisis results from internal fiscal
mismanagement. Still others claim that the crisis was caused by the withdrawal
of federal stimulus funding.
So let us look at the facts, and let us be clear. The School
District is in a budget crisis, and has been for the past three years, because
it has been subjected to unprecedented, discriminatory and unbalanced state
funding cuts that have not been imposed on other Pennsylvania school
districts.
An elected school board for
Philly? No thanks
WHYY Newsworks DAVE DAVIES OFF MIC A BLOG BY DAVE DAVIES OCTOBER 14, 2014
The sad state of Philadelphia 's
public schools inspires fury, frustration, and now, from the Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf, a really bad idea for
fundamental change.
Wolf recently proposed replacing the current five-member School
Reform Commission that runs the schools with a locally elected school board. I know Wolf means well. But establishing an
elected school board in Philadelphia
will not empower parents and their communities. It will put the selection of
our school board members in the hands of the same people who pick judges, state
legislators, sheriffs and city commissioners in this town: Democratic ward
leaders.
By Evan Brandt, The Mercury October
14, 2014
POTTSTOWN >> Just four months after adopting a $56
million budget that raised property taxes by 2.9 percent, work has begun on the
next year’s budget, which officials are hoping won’t raise taxes at all. Business Manager Linda Adams told the school
board’s finance committee last week that the Act 1 law that governs school
budget has begun and that this year, the district could raise taxes by 2.7
percent without going to the voters. Act
1 sets an “index” or tax cap for individual districts which they can exceed
only with voter approval. To pursue that
approval, school boards must prepare and adopt a preliminary budget by Feb. 18.
However, school boards can also adopt a resolution pledging to
keep any tax increases within their “index” and avoid the exercise of adopting
a preliminary budget that will in all likelihood change many times before final
adoption in June.
'Right now, we're at a total
impasse': Saucon board on teacher contract
By Sara K. Satullo | The Express-Times on October 14, 2014
at 9:52 PM
The Saucon Valley School Board says it is at an impasse with
its teachers union and doesn't feel it can make a better offer than its latest. The two sides returned to the bargaining table Oct. 8 and exchanged new proposals.At
a Tuesday night board meeting, directors outlined their latest offer to about
15 residents and teachers. Before the
presentation by the board, new Superintendent Monica McHale-Small acknowledged
the growing frustration over the stalled contract talks.
The Scranton School Board may turn to a financial consultant to
help solve the district’s projected $7.5 million deficit. At a special meeting Tuesday night, directors
heard from Michael Judge, president of CaseCon Capital, who said he could put a
plan together to balance the budget.
The 2014 budget of $126 million, balanced with one-time revenue
sources, including borrowed money and the sale of property, helped create the
$7.5 million deficit for 2015. Pensions and salary costs have also increased,
and district officials should present directors with a preliminary budget soon.
Local legislators, law
enforcement officials meet with educators to discuss pre-K funding
Montgomery News By Brendan Wills bwills@21st-centurymedia.com
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
During a Pre-K for PA campaign workshop Oct. 9 at the Play and
Learn Collegeville early childhood education center, local law enforcements
officials, legislators and education specialists unanimously voiced their
support for increased funding to early childhood education.
Play and Learn Program Coordinator Melanie Godhania; Play and Learn Collegeville Center Director Jill Law; State Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Bruce Clash; Limerick Township police Chief William Albany; Upper Gwynedd Township police Chief David Duffy; District Attorney Risa Ferman; state Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150; state Rep. Todd Stephens, R-151; and state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44, met to discuss how access to early childhood education not only helps children succeed in life, but also helps to lower the costs of incarcerating criminals who did not have adequate education to guide them through life.
Play and Learn Program Coordinator Melanie Godhania; Play and Learn Collegeville Center Director Jill Law; State Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Bruce Clash; Limerick Township police Chief William Albany; Upper Gwynedd Township police Chief David Duffy; District Attorney Risa Ferman; state Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150; state Rep. Todd Stephens, R-151; and state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44, met to discuss how access to early childhood education not only helps children succeed in life, but also helps to lower the costs of incarcerating criminals who did not have adequate education to guide them through life.
"The issue could become more prominent as the 2016
presidential campaign draws near.
Recently, former President Bill Clinton said he would be in
favor of fewer tests—perhaps once in elementary school, once in middle school,
and once in high school. That testing regime is "quite enough if you do it
right," Mr. Clinton said, according
to theHuffington Post. Mr. Clinton's remarks pack a political punch:
His wife, Hillary Clinton, is considered a likely candidate for the Democratic
presidential nomination in 2016."
Push to Limit Federal Test
Mandates Gains Steam
Education Week By Alyson Klein
Published Online: October 13, 2014
For more than a decade, teachers, administrators, students, and
even parents have criticized the No Child Left Behind Act—and, now, the Obama
administration's waivers under that law—for giving too much weight to
standardized testing and forcing students to take too many exams.
That critique hasn't gotten very far in Washington . But there are signs that the
movement to limit the number of federally mandated tests students take may be
gaining momentum—and it could pick up more steam as the Obama administration
draws to a close and the 2016 presidential election begins in earnest.
Poverty The Strongest Factor
In Whether High School Graduates Go To College
Huffington Post by Rebecca Klein Posted: 10/14/2014
12:02 am EDT
Students from high-poverty public schools are less likely to
attend college than those from wealthier ones, regardless of whether they're
from urban, suburban or rural areas.
A report released Tuesday by the research branch of the
nonprofit National Student Clearinghouse, which examined data from more than
3.5 million high school graduates, found that poverty remains a more important
indicator of whether a student will go to college than high school demographics
or location.
Often Foes, Some Districts
and Charters Forge Partnerships
Education Week By Arianna Prothero Published Online: October 14, 2014
Ohio Charter schools use
Turkish ties, visas to get teachers
Cinncinnati Enquirer by James Pilcher, jpilcher@enquirer.com12:51 p.m. EDT October 6, 2014
·
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
·
Concept Schools uses more H-1B teachers than any
other school in Ohio .
·
Almost all teachers come from Turkey and
account for more than 12 percent of teaching staff statewide.
·
Concept under federal investigation for possible
role in fraud involving national internet education program.
·
State education department looking at
allegations of foreign teachers working without teaching licenses.
The charter school also employs seven foreign teachers, mostly
from Turkey , brought to the U.S. on H-1B visas for jobs it says Ohio teachers are
unqualified to fill.
Concept Schools, founded by followers of a Turkish Islamic
cleric secluded in the Poconos, already is under federal and state scrutiny for
possible irregularities in teacher licensing, testing and technology contracts. An Enquirer investigation has found that
Chicago-based Concept Schools, which runs Horizon and 17 other charter schools
in Ohio ,
annually imports dozens of foreign teachers in numbers that far surpass any
other school system in the state.
At least 474 foreign teachers, again mostly from Turkey , have arrived at Concept's Ohio schools between
2005 and 2013. The schools are collecting about $45 million in state funds
annually to educate 6,600 children in kindergarten through high school.
Community Schools: Learning
Payoff Found for 'City Connects' Program
Education Week By Sarah D.
Sparks October 1, 2014
Even in resource-rich cities like Boston
or New York ,
students in poverty often miss out on the support and enrichment provided by
local museums, businesses, and civic organizations.
By the start of middle school, The Afterschool Corp. estimates
that children in poverty have received 6,000 fewer hours of learning outside of
school—both enrichment and support—than their middle-income peers. While many programs
target low-income students who are struggling academically or emotionally, it
can be more difficult to find enrichment activities to build on the strengths
and interests of students progressing normally in school.
To fill those gaps, some elementary schools in two
states—Massachusetts and Ohio—are working to better coordinate with local
partners to provide the kinds of cultural and extracurricular experiences, as
well as social services and supports, that boost all students' long-term
academic progress.
New website offers closer
look into candidate' views on public education
PSBA NEWS RELEASE 10/6/2014
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) has created a
new website for its members and the general public to get a closer look into
candidates' views on public education leading up to the 2014 election for the
Pennsylvania General Assembly. Following
the primary elections, PSBA sent out a six-question questionnaire to all
Pennsylvania House and Senate candidates competing for seats in the November
election. Candidates are listed by
House, Senate seat and county. Districts can be found by visiting the 'Find My
Legislator' link (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/).
Features include:
·
Candidate images, if provided
·
Candidates are tagged by political party and
seat for which they are running
·
Candidates who did not respond are indicated by
"Responses not available."
Visit the site by going to
http://psbacandidateforum.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the link tweeted out
by @PSBAadvocate.
Candidates wishing to complete the questionnaire before
election day may do so by contacting Sean
Crampsie (717-506-2450, x-3321).
- See more at: http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=8650#sthash.1vGGRff4.dpuf
Register Now – 2014 PASCD
Annual Conference – November 23 – 25, 2014
Please join us for the 2014 PASCD Annual Conference, “Leading
an Innovative Culture for Learning – Powered by Blendedschools Network” to
be held November 23-25 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in
Hershey, PA. Featuring Keynote Speakers: David Burgess - - Author
of "Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your
Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator", Dr. Bart Rocco,
Bill Sterrett - ASCD author, "Short on Time: How do I Make
Time to Lead and Learn as a Principal?" and Ron Cowell.
This annual conference features small group sessions (focused
on curriculum, instructional, assessment, blended learning and middle level
education) is a great opportunity to stay connected to the latest approaches
for cultural change in your school or district. Join us for PASCD
2014! Online registration is available by visiting www.pascd.org
Upcoming PA Basic Education
Funding Commission Meetings*
PA Basic Education Funding
Commission website
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11
AM, Community College of Allegheny County
West Campus, Pittsburgh
Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 10 AM, Lancaster
Tuesday, November 18 & 19, 2014, Philadelphia
Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 10 AM, East Stroudsburg
Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 10 AM - 12:00 PM, Lancaster
* meeting times and locations subject to changehttp://basiceducationfundingcommission.pasenategop.com/
West Campus, Pittsburgh
Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 10 AM, Lancaster
Tuesday, November 18 & 19, 2014, Philadelphia
Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 10 AM, East Stroudsburg
Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 10 AM - 12:00 PM, Lancaster
* meeting times and locations subject to changehttp://basiceducationfundingcommission.pasenategop.com/
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, 19103
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
Philadelphia has one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the
country. We need more nurses in Philadelphia's schools to aid children
suffering from this and other health issues. Join us to discuss Pennsylvania
laws governing nursing services.
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
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.
Register Now – 2014 PAESSP State
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)
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.