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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for October
9, 2014:
Crowds pack forum in Radnor
to discuss new mandated 3-part Keystone Exams in order to graduate
Follow the Money: Who gave/received school privatization contributions
in Pennsylvania
Six millionaires and billionaires contributed $1,482,604 to privatize
democratically-governed Pennsylvania
Wolf and Corbett get in final
jabs in Pittsburgh debate: John L. Micek
By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com on October 08, 2014 at 9:07 PM,
updated October 08, 2014 at 9:45 PM
PITTSBURGH _ Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and
Democrat Tom Wolf ended their trio of campaign season debates here
Wednesday in much the same way they began them: amid a flurry of charges and
counter-charges that have yet to move public sentiment on either of them in any
significant manner. But if a winner had
to be declared in the final televised match-up in the studios of WTAE-TV in
suburban Wilkinsburg, it nominally went to Wolf, who hammered steadily away on
a mantra of four years' worth of "failed" policies that had resulted
in larger public school class sizes and lagging job-growth and economic
development.
But — again — only nominally.
Corbett and Wolf politely
answer host of questions
By Steve
Esack,Call Harrisburg
Bureau October 8, 2014
PITTSBURGH — Attention, Pennsylvanians: Wednesday's debate —
the third and final one of the campaign — proved there is more to this
gubernatorial election than education spending and income taxes. Incumbent Republican Tom Corbett and Democratic
challenger Tom Wolf answered questions on a wide range of topics. They did so
politely, unlike in the second debate in Philadelphia
where they tossed verbal haymakers.
Corbett, Wolf restate cases
in final gubernatorial debate before election
Trib Live By Melissa
Daniels Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, 11:09 p.m.
With less than a month to go before Election Day, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolf presented their contrasting policies — spanning fiscal, social and political issues — Wednesday night in the final debate in thePennsylvania
gubernatorial race. Corbett, trailing in
the polls, painted his opponent as uninformed and tax-happy, and extolled his
own experience.
With less than a month to go before Election Day, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolf presented their contrasting policies — spanning fiscal, social and political issues — Wednesday night in the final debate in the
Wolf, a first-time candidate ahead by double-digits, criticized
Corbett's leadership and emphasized his commitment to increasing funding for
public schools.
Read more:http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/6907445-74/wolf-corbett-debate#ixzz3Fdp9eOTv
Crowds
pack forum in Radnor to discuss new mandated 3-part Keystone Exams in order to
graduate
Delco Times By Linda
Stein, lstein@mainlinemedianews.com
POSTED: 10/08/14, 11:33 AM EDT
RADNOR - More than 100 parents and educators filled the meeting
room at the Radnor
Township
The class of 2017 will be the first class that must pass three
Keystone Exams—Biology, Literature and Algebra I—in order to obtain a high
school diploma.
Most of the panel members spoke out strongly against that
policy.
Josh Kershenbaum, a lawyer who represents parents and students,
compared the public educational system to one-size-fits-all life jackets thrown
to drowning children.
Governor Corbett Announces
More Than $9.8 Million in Pre-Kindergarten, Early Learning Grants
PDE Press Release October 07, 2014
Harrisburg –
Governor Tom Corbett today announced that more than $9.8 million has been
awarded to 32 early education providers in 27 counties across the state through
the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program. In
July, Corbett signed into law the state budget that increased state funding for
Pre-K Counts by $10 million to $97.3 million – a 12 percent increase. “High-quality early learning programs, like
Pre-K Counts, are proven to ensure at-risk children are ready to learn when
they enter the K-12 education system,” Gov. Corbett said. “This funding
will provide the opportunity for more Pennsylvania
families to enroll their child in a pre-kindergarten program.”
PDE Press Release October 07, 2014
Pre-K Counts provides half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten
services to Pennsylvania children who are: between age three and the beginning
age of kindergarten; at risk of facing challenges in school; living in families
earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($67,050 for a family of
four); and who may be English language learners or have disabilities or
developmental delays. Editor’s Note: Below
is the list of Pre-K Counts grantees and award amount.
Corbett Administration Awards
$2.7 Million in Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zone Grants
PDE Press Release October 06, 2014
Harrisburg - The Corbett Administration is awarding nearly $2.7 million in Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zone Grants to 12 communities to expand local programs that help bridge the achievement gap for at-risk young children, the Pennsylvania departments of Public Welfare (DPW) and Education (PDE) announced today.
PDE Press Release October 06, 2014
Harrisburg - The Corbett Administration is awarding nearly $2.7 million in Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zone Grants to 12 communities to expand local programs that help bridge the achievement gap for at-risk young children, the Pennsylvania departments of Public Welfare (DPW) and Education (PDE) announced today.
“This grant will provide communities with much-needed funding
to expand their successes and ensure children are entering kindergarten ready
to learn,” Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq said. “Preparing
students for school success requires collaboration of the family, school and
community. We all want our children to succeed, and we all can play a part
in building a bright future for our students.”
The grants will target innovations on individual at-risk communities
serving select elementary schools.
Discussing the teachers'
contract cancellation on 'Radio Times'
By the Notebook on Oct 8, 2014 03:00 PM
On Radio Times this morning, host Marty
Moss-Coane delved into the controversy surrounding the School Reform
Commission's dramatic decision to cancel the contract with the city teachers'
union and force health benefits changes on its members. Joining her on the program were WHYY/NewsWorks education
reporter Kevin McCorry for an overview of the situation, new SRC member
Marjorie Neff, and PFT president Jerry Jordan, with their reactions to the
SRC's decision.
Why health-care cuts for
Philly teachers are likely to hurt schools, too
Citypaper By Daniel
Denvir Published: 10/08/2014
When the School Reform Commission voted to "cancel"
the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' contract and cut health-care benefits
for teachers, nurses, counselors and other members, the district talked about
the money it would save. Unmentioned was the likely impact on ensuring
high-quality teaching. Among other
changes, PFT members must now, mostly for the first time, pay toward their
insurance premiums — standard practice not only across the private sector but
in many school districts as well. The SRC's action Monday was an extraordinary
move, one made with almost no public notice. And it strikes at what is likely
among the PFT's least popular positions with the public.
But as things now stand, Philadelphia
teachers are already paid less than their suburban counterparts to teach under
far more difficult conditions — conditions that have only gotten worse amid the
severe budget crises and deep staffing cuts. As warring parties debate whether
the SRC's action was legal (it might not be) or reasonably transparent
(probably not), the basic question of how the cut will affect teachers, and
schools as a whole, remains unanswered. At issue is not just an individual
teacher's financial position and morale but, as a consequence, the School District of Philadelphia
Citypaper June 2013 Reprise: Secret
Corbett poll proposing teachers union attack funded by PennCAN
CityPaper By Daniel Denvir
Published: 06/19/2013
A secret report, based on a poll of Pennsylvanians, proposing
that Gov. Tom Corbett mount a high-profile attack on
the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers was funded by the
self-described school reform group PennCAN, according to pollsters
at Public Opinion Strategies.
The secret poll, which suggested that Corbett exploit the Philadelphia
schools crisis to attack the teachers union in an effort to boost his
faltering reelection prospects, was first reported by City Paper Wednesday
afternoon. Notably, PennCAN supports
school vouchers, which use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition. PennCAN, which has not yet responded to
requests for comment, is part of an expanding universe of corporate-inspired
"school reform" groups in Pennsylvania .
PennCAN, like many such groups, has deep-pocketed donors.
A look at the law behind
cancellation of teachers' contract
CHRIS MONDICS, INQUIRER
STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Thursday, October 9, 2014, 1:08 AM POSTED: Wednesday,
October 8, 2014, 5:56 PM
Legally speaking, can the School Reform Commission really do
this?
Legislation authorizing the takeover of the Philadelphia schools, signed in 1998 and
implemented a few years later, gives the state broad powers to manage the
financial affairs of the district, and it is on that basis that the SRC
canceled its contract Monday with the teachers union. Public employee contracts enjoy broad, if not
absolute, legal protections in Pennsylvania ,
but the SRC says the legislature created a carve-out for Philadelphia schools, and subsequent
amendments only bolstered its powers. It
is what lawyers call an issue of first impression, a legal question never
before fully tested by the courts, lending an element of uncertainty to the
commission's tactic.
Phila. students protest
canceling of contract
MARTHA WOODALL, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Thursday, October 9,
2014, 1:08 AM POSTED: Wednesday, October 8, 2014, 8:32 AM
Two days after the Philadelphia School Reform Commission
unilaterally canceled its teachers' contract and announced it would impose
changes, hundreds of high school students went on "strike" Wednesday
to support their teachers. Dozens of
students from Science Leadership Academy in Center City and as many as 175 from
the High School for Creative and Performing Arts in South Philadelphia
boycotted classes. They held peaceful, upbeat demonstrations outside the two
magnet schools. Twenty-five students
from the Franklin Learning Center
in Spring Garden 440 N. Broad St .
Al Dia: Some of us came to America
Philly Daily News Attytood Blog by Will Bunch WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 8, 2014, 4:21 PM
The
Latino-oriented Philadelphia newspaper Al Dia has a killer -- and I mean killer
-- editorial today on the affront to democracy that is our city's
School Reform Commission and its
buried-in-the-classifieds assault on the teachers' union. It speaks for
itself, but the most powerful lines say, in so many words, that some
Philadelphia Hispanics came here as refugees from regimes that rule in the same
banana-republic fashion as the SRC:
Education, education, education…
Vereb, McKenzie square off in
150th Pa. House District
NORRISTOWN >> Republican state Rep. Mike Vereb is seeking
his fifth term representing the 150th state House District against Democratic
challenger David McKenzie III, a West Norriton commissioner and Montgomery
County attorney. Vereb, 47, was elected
majority Republican caucus secretary in 2010, and became chairman of the
Montgomery County Republican Committee on Dec. 5, 2013. The West Norriton
resident worked as a West Conshohocken police
officer and detective for 10 years. He served on the West Norriton Board of
Commissioners from 1999 to 2006, including four years as board president. Vereb is campaigning on three issues:
reducing school property taxes by devising other funding mechanisms for
education, reformulating education spending to make it more equitable for local
school districts and improving transportation infrastructures statewide.
District, charter mix
proposed in York City
Recovery officer opened door for mix of district- and
charter-run schools next year
York Daily Record By
Angie Mason amason@ydr.com @angiemason1
on Twitter 10/08/2014 10:37:30 PM EDT
Unexpected twist in plan for York City
The plan for York
City
However, if district teachers and administrators want a shot at
reforming from within, they must act fast.
The district's state-appointed chief recovery officer said Wednesday he
is willing to consider a blended approach that would include both charter
schools and traditional district schools.
Conclusion: David Meckley said he, personally, would prefer
to see the district's eight buildings converted by July 2015 to charter schools
operated by Charter Schools
USA
"My goal is absolutely to gain a board vote on this,"
he said. "I think they have legitimate concerns, and I am trying to
address them."
Arthur Rock, California
billionaire and TFA board member noted in this article has contributed $300,000
to Pennsylvania
Why are TFA and a California billionaire investing in Minnesota
For several years now local school board
races around the country have attracted big money from outside the state — and
sometimes from across the country — as school reformers and their supporters
seek to elect like-minded public officials. In 2013, for example, millions
of dollars were spenton school board races in Los
Angeles and in 2012, outsiders poured
moneyinto a New Orleans
school board race. The following post looks at what is going in a Minnesota school board
race . It was written Minneapolis-based writer and former teacher Sarah Lahm,
published by In
These Times, and reported in partnership with The Investigative Fund with
support from the Puffin Foundation.
In protest against Common
Core, Portland School
Oregon Live By Kelly House |
khouse@oregonian.com on October 07, 2014 at 12:32 PM,
updated October 07, 2014 at 5:28 PM
A month after asking
the state to delay using Common Core-aligned state testresults to grade
schools, the Portland School Board appears ready to back that effort up with a
refusal to set yearly achievement targets in three subjects linked to the new
test. The board is set to vote next week
upon the district’s proposed yearly goals for student achievement – which
conspicuously don’t include targets for third grade reading, fifth-grade math
and eighth-grade math. Oregon law requires school districts to file
the yearly “achievement compacts” with the Oregon Education Investment Board,
spelling out the district’s goals in areas such as student attendance,
graduation rates, and state test pass rates. But during a meeting Monday night,
the district committee charged with setting yearly targets declined to address
the three subject areas linked to the state’s new Smarter Balanced Test, which
is launching this year.
Cleveland Plain Dealer: New
bill would limit state testing to four hours per student each year
By Patrick O'Donnell, The Plain Dealer on October 07, 2014
at 1:50 PM, updated October 07, 2014 at 5:09 PM
House Bill 629 would drastically cut back the nine to 10
hours a year needed for the new tests from the Partnership for Assessment
of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) -- the testing
partnership Ohio
joined along with 16 other states.
Fairtest Testing Resistance
& Reform News: October 1 - 7, 2014
Fairtest October 7, 2014
This week's assessment reform news comes from 15 states and Washington , DC
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.
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
Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 10
AM, Perkiomen Valley
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11 AM, Pittsburgh
* meeting times and locations subject to change
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, 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.
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.
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.
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