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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for
October 13, 2014:
Distribution of
money for K-12 schools in Pa. uneven, study says
“The study came the same week the Campaign for Fair
Education Funding, a coalition of more than 40 business, education and
community groups, met at the Capitol to campaign for fair and predictable
funding for K-12 education.”
Distribution of
money for K-12 schools in Pa. uneven, study says
By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette October 10, 2014 11:29 PM
Even though Pennsylvania invests in
K-12 education, it distributes those resources inequitably, according to an
American Institutes for Research study. “Revenue
and spending across Pennsylvania school districts fails to meet basic equity
standards, with significant numbers of districts serving high-need populations
having substantially lower per-pupil spending than surrounding districts
serving more advantaged populations,” the study, released Friday, stated.
The unevenness in spending is so
large that there is a difference of about $3,000 per child between the total
revenue that the poorest and richest districts spent. That increased from
$2,000 in 2010.
Here’s the study cited above….
Educational Equity, Adequacy, and Equal Opportunity in the
Commonwealth: An Evaluation of Pennsylvania’s School Finance System
American Institutes for Research
(AIR) by Bruce Baker of Rutgers University and Jesse Levin of AIR October 2014
The American Institutes for
Research (AIR) has just completed an analysis of Pennsylvania’s school finance
system. Educational Equity, Adequacy, and Equal Opportunity in
the Commonwealth: An Evaluation of Pennsylvania’s School Finance System examines
multiple measures of education adequacy and equity, as well as relationships
between funding and student achievement. The new report – written by nationally
recognized education finance experts Bruce Baker of Rutgers University and
Jesse Levin of AIR – also provides an overview and analysis of school funding
formulas in other states and the methods used to develop these formulas.
Full report is linked here. http://www.air.org/resource/PASchoolFinance
“Despite the heavy investment of
taxpayer dollars, the Keystone Research Center notes that
there is no enforcement of requirements or guidelines, and
no data exists on how well these programs perform. While public schools
are required to let taxpayers know how well they perform, these programs still
cannot answer the most basic question: Do the students receiving
scholarships or aid from these programs improve academically?”
EDUCATIONAL TAX
CREDITS: INCREASING PUBLIC FUNDING OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
Third
and State Blog Posted by Waslala Miranda on October 10, 2014
In the last few days of the
legislative session, state lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill that would expand
and unify the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity
Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC). Tax credits provide taxpayer subsidies to
businesses that fund scholarships to students attending private and religious
schools, pre-K through 12th grade. House Bill 1207, a
proposal by Rep. Jim Christiana (R – Beaver County), would make more tax
credits available for businesses and combine the tax credit programs so any
money left in one program could be used by the other. Taxpayers would pay
up to 90% of the tab. A PBPC analysis
shows why taxpayers foot nearly the entire bill: the triple dip tax reduction. In addition to the tax
credits, businesses could file for state and federal tax reductions for
“charitable” contributions.
Teachers' union
leader to SRC: See you in court
ROBERT MORAN, INQUIRER
STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Saturday, October 11, 2014, 1:08 AM POSTED: Friday,
October 10, 2014, 8:38 PM
The leader of the Philadelphia
Federation of Teachers said Friday that he expected the union's lawyer to go to
court next week to fight the School Reform Commission's decision to cancel the
union's contract. At a news conference,
PFT president Jerry Jordan was joined by Randi Weingarten, president of the
American Federation of Teachers, who came to the city to blast the SRC's
action. Weingarten called the SRC's move
"reckless, illegal, and immoral."
The union leaders were backed by a
large contingent of city and state political leaders showing their support for
the union's 15,000 teachers, counselors, nurses, and secretaries.
Bill Green: Why
the SRC acted quickly, decisively
Philly.com Opinion by William J.
Green POSTED: Sunday, October 12, 2014, 1:09 AM
William J. Green is chairman of
Philadelphia's School Reform Commission
For almost two years, the School
District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) have
been in contract negotiations, seeking a labor agreement that positions our
schools for long-term stability and invests in student success. After 21 months, we remain far apart on key
issues. Meanwhile, due to the district's devastating funding crisis, conditions
in our schools are worsening. Stories about overcrowded classrooms,
understaffed schools, and dwindling to nonexistent resources and services have
become frighteningly common.
Our students need more, and they
need it now. The School Reform
Commission last week suspended the PFT contract in order to achieve $43.8
million in savings this year - and nearly $200 million over four years -
through changes to union health benefits. Philadelphia teachers previously paid
nothing for health-care costs. By requiring new monthly contributions - $26 to
$67 for individual coverage and up to $200 for family coverage - the district
will be able to reallocate funds and restore resources that our schools
currently lack.
State education
secretary seeks lawsuit dismissal over conditions in Phila. schools
SUSAN SNYDER, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST
UPDATED: Monday, October 13, 2014, 1:08 AM POSTED: Sunday, October
12, 2014, 5:35 PM
Pennsylvania's secretary of
education on Friday asked Commonwealth Court to dismiss a lawsuit against her
that accuses her of failing to investigate complaints from Philadelphia school
parents over poor conditions in schools.
The complaints, Carolyn Dumaresq contends in court filings, do not
constitute "curriculum deficiencies," so she is not compelled to
investigate.
"The petition fails to state a
claim of violation of that regulation," the response said in part.
"It is outrageous for the
state to disclaim any responsibility for these problems," Benjamin Geffen,
staff attorney at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, said in a
statement issued in response and published on the group's website. "The state's failure to fully fund
public education in Philadelphia and in districts across the state is the real
reason our students must contend with grim conditions when they walk into
schools each day."
Allentown
School District likely to outsource substitute teachers
By Adam Clark,Of The Morning Call October 12, 2014
Another local school district is
outsourcing its substitute teachers
Allentown School District will
likely outsource some of its substitute teaching positions, pending a vote at
the Oct. 23 school board meeting. Administrators
introduced plans at Thursday's school board Finance Committee meeting to
outsource substitutes who work between 15 and 89 cumulative days for an average
of at least 30 hours a week. The
district would continue to employ substitutes who fill short-term assignments,
as well as salaried substitutes, who are contracted to work at least 90
consecutive days and are members of the teachers union.
Conservative
unease growing toward leadership in Pennsylvania Senate
By Karen Langley / Post-Gazette
Harrisburg Bureau October 13, 2014 12:00 AM
HARRISBURG — Signs of conservative
discontent have emerged in what has often appeared a unified caucus of
Republicans in the state Senate. A
second GOP senator in two weeks has written to Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi,
R-Delaware, with complaints about Mr. Pileggi’s stewardship of Republican
legislative goals. Sen. Don White,
R-Indiana, claimed in a letter Friday that Mr. Pileggi has refused to allow
votes on several conservative initiatives — ending automatic dues deduction for
public-sector unions, remaking pension benefits for state and school workers,
ending the state’s business selling liquor — and said he would not support
another term as majority leader for Mr. Pileggi, who was first elected to that post
in November 2006.
Universal
Companies' schools offering full-scale health centers
SOLOMON LEACH, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER LEACHS@PHILLYNEWS.COM,
215-854-5903 POSTED: Sunday, October 12, 2014, 3:01 AM
AS PRINCIPAL of Universal Bluford
Charter School, Crystal Gary-Nelson saw about 6 percent of her students missing
daily last year. That's a pretty low number, but one she wants to improve upon. The issue, she said, was not so much truancy,
but sickness. "For us, if I can
just keep my scholars in school healthy, that's a bonus for us," the
second-year principal said. One of the problems is "kids being sick for a
prolonged period of time and it going untreated."
To help address the issue, the West
Philadelphia school and the seven other schools run by Universal Companies now
have a full-scale health center, a hybrid between a school nurse and a doctor's
office. The centers are staffed with a full-time medical assistant and a
part-time nurse practitioner who can give physical exams, administer
immunizations, write prescriptions and treat acute illnesses with parental
consent.
Johnstown to
host social studies conference
Johnstown Tribune Democrat By Kelly
Urban kurban@tribdem.com October 11, 2014
An upcoming conference will shine a
light on the importance of social studies education.
The Pennsylvania Council for the
Social Studies will hold its 61st annual conference Thursday through Saturday
at the Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown. It will feature a variety of workshops and
educators from across the state. David
Trevaskis, president of the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies, said
the goal of the conference is to create future partnerships, share materials
with educators that they can then use in the classroom and advocate the social
studies at all levels of education.
“Since a state-mandated consolidation
effort in the 1960s and '70s reduced the number of districts from 2,227 to just
over 500, only one voluntary merger has occurred: Center Area and Monaca in
Beaver County formed the Central Valley district in 2009. Five years later, district officials say they
are pleased with the results. Central Valley now has the lowest tax rate in
Beaver County while offering students more AP classes and avoiding the
expensive need to replace aging schools in Monaca. Districts in three other counties are
considering mergers, according to the state Department of Education.”
Morrisville
woos other school districts for merger deal
KATHY BOCCELLA, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Sunday,
October 12, 2014, 1:09 AM
In theory, Morrisville High School
still has a music program, but with the music teacher assigned to a social
studies class, students aren't getting lessons, and the Bulldogs have yet to
field a marching band at a football game.
Its musical blues aren't the only off-key notes in the small and
steadily shrinking district in the postage-stamp-size Bucks County borough just
across the Delaware River from Trenton. Its
situation is so dire school leaders have issued urgent appeals to several
neighboring districts to consider either a full-scale merger, or at least a
tuition deal that would allow Morrisville to send some of its students to their
schools. So far, however, any courtship has been one-sided.
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
Join the PSBA Listening
Tour - Oct. 15 & Nov. 20
The bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission established under Act 51 of 2014 has begun a series of hearings across the state, and you’re invited to join the Listening Tour hosted by PSBA as it follows the panel to each location this fall. The next tour stop will be on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 from 5:30-7 p.m., at the William Tennent High School, 333 Centennial Road, Warminster, PA 18974. A tour also has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Brighton Elementary School in Lancaster. Click here to register for the free event. Be watching for more tour dates as they are scheduled. The comments and suggestions from the Listening Tour will be compiled and submitted to the Commission early next year. Members also are encouraged to complete a form online allowing you to “Tell your story” if you are not able to attend one of the BEF Listening Tours.
The bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission established under Act 51 of 2014 has begun a series of hearings across the state, and you’re invited to join the Listening Tour hosted by PSBA as it follows the panel to each location this fall. The next tour stop will be on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 from 5:30-7 p.m., at the William Tennent High School, 333 Centennial Road, Warminster, PA 18974. A tour also has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Brighton Elementary School in Lancaster. Click here to register for the free event. Be watching for more tour dates as they are scheduled. The comments and suggestions from the Listening Tour will be compiled and submitted to the Commission early next year. Members also are encouraged to complete a form online allowing you to “Tell your story” if you are not able to attend one of the BEF Listening Tours.
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 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.
EduCon 2.7
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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