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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for
November 12, 2014:
Palmer school officials cited
Fifth Amendment in charter revocation hearing - 77 times
"Billing the district for students who
were no longer enrolled is one of the reasons the School Reform Commission
cited in April when it voted to begin revoking the charter of the school,
officially known as the Walter
D. Palmer
Leadership Learning
Partners Charter
School
Palmer school officials cited Fifth Amendment in charter revocation hearing - 77 times
Palmer school officials cited Fifth Amendment in charter revocation hearing - 77 times
MARTHA WOODALL, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, November 12,
2014, 1:08 AM POSTED: Tuesday, November 11, 2014, 10:57 PM
Even in a school district with more than its share of
charter-school controversies, the answers stood out. Questioned about billing
practices, two officials of an embattled Philadelphia
charter school cited their Fifth Amendment right to silence - 77 times.
At hearings on whether to revoke the Walter D. Palmer school's
charter, the questions ranged from hard-nosed ("Isn't it true that you
lied . . . about accurately submitting invoices?") to humdrum ("Do
you have a master's degree?").
Daira Hinson, the Palmer school's director of administration,
invoked the Fifth Amendment 22 times in the hearings, which ended last week.
Richard Troutman, its controller, did so 55 times.
"It is the first time in anybody's knowledge that a
witness has pleaded the Fifth in a charter hearing," said district
spokesman Fernando Gallard. "It's very surprising that two high-level
administrators decided to plead the Fifth when we are asking questions on
issues of overpayment. We're talking about $1.5 million over one single fiscal
year."
The Inquirer obtained a transcript of the hearings via a Right
To Know Law request.
Taking the Fifth
Philly.com POSTED: Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 3:01 AM
Some of the questions to which top officials at the Walter D.
Palmer Leadership
Learning Partners
Charter School
With days until deadline, 46
new charter applications
The District is asking universities for volunteers to
help evaluate them.
the notebook By Dale Mezzacappa on Nov 11, 2014 05:04 PM
The deadline for filing is not until Nov. 15, but the School District of Philadelphia
With only six people, the District's Charter School Office is
severely understaffed.
The School Reform Commission hasn't considered new charter
applications since 2007. But legislation approved in September, which
authorized a $2-a-pack cigarette tax to help close the District's budget gap,
attached a condition: that it reopen the charter application process.
The law also specified that the state Charter Appeals Board
will be able to review denials. Under the law that created the SRC, its word
has been final on charter rejections, unlike in the rest of the state.
School choice advocates rally
for greater charter expansion in Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY NOVEMBER 11, 2014
A few hundred people listened to impassioned testimony from
parents of students at Mastery, KIPP, Freire, and Boys Latin, and a student
from Esperanza Academy Center City
Details of York City charter
proposal coming Wednesday
The York
City School
District
David Meckley said his presentation at the Community Education
Council meeting will include details about the scope of services, performance
measurements, goals, term length and fees.
However, he declined again Tuesday to release to the public a
copy of the draft agreement with Charter
Schools USA
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26917401/details-york-city-charter-proposal-coming-wednesday
PA Ed Policy Roundup Nov 11: "Thorough and Efficient"
Coverage of PA School Funding Lawsuit
Going to court.
Education Voters PA
website November 10, 2014
Pennsylvania’s system is neither adequate, nor equitable;
thorough, nor efficient Today, Public Interest Law Center of
Philadelphia (PILCOP) and Education Law Center- PA filed a lawsuit on behalf of
individuals, school districts and organizations, making the complaint that the
funding system in Pennsylvania is not only wrong, it violates the Constitution.
Monday, November 10th, 2014
Today, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP) and
Education Law Center- PA filed a lawsuit on behalf of individuals, school
districts and organizations, making the complaint that the funding system in
Pennsylvania is not only wrong, it violates the Constitution. Around the state,
our schools have not received adequate and equitable funding to meet our
children’s educational needs. But our Constitution says “The General
Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and
efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” The state government is breaking its own law
and our kids are suffering.
So, a lawsuit is being filed to try to force the state to fix
the way it funds schools.
Specifically, the complaint is asking the court to:
“(1) Declare that the current system of funding our schools does not comply with the state constitution; and
(2) Order the defendants to cease using a funding system that does not provide adequate funding where students can meet state standards and which discriminates against low wealth districts.
(3) Order the defendants to create and maintain a constitutional school funding system that will enable all students to meet state academic standards and does not discriminate against low-wealth school districts.” (From an FAQ by the law centers).
Specifically, the complaint is asking the court to:
“(1) Declare that the current system of funding our schools does not comply with the state constitution; and
(2) Order the defendants to cease using a funding system that does not provide adequate funding where students can meet state standards and which discriminates against low wealth districts.
(3) Order the defendants to create and maintain a constitutional school funding system that will enable all students to meet state academic standards and does not discriminate against low-wealth school districts.” (From an FAQ by the law centers).
Luzerne County
Citizen's Voice BY ROBERT SWIFT, HARRISBURG BUREAU CHIEF Published: November
11, 2014
HARRISBURG — A Wilkes-Barre mother joined school districts and
advocacy groups Monday in a lawsuit calling for an end to sharp inequities in
funding for public education throughout Pennsylvania. Tracey Hughes is a plaintiff in the lawsuit
filed in Commonwealth Court on behalf of her minor son described by the
initials P.M.H., an eighth-grader at E.L. Meyers Junior-Senior High School in
Wilkes-Barre Area School District. The lawsuit documents how her son’s academic
performance dropped after fourth grade as class sizes increased to over 30
students and funding cuts necessitated the sharing of school text books among
students. Tutoring options were unavailable due to lack of resources. Read the lawsuit
Because the state doesn’t provide sufficient academic resources
to Wilkes-Barre Area School District, Hughes’ son has been unable to achieve
academic proficiency standards, the lawsuit contends. Wilkes-Barre Area School District, Shenandoah
Valley School District in Schuylkill County and Panther Valley School District
in Carbon County are plaintiffs in the lawsuit seeking court action to erase
disparities in per pupil spending between richer and poorer school districts
across Pennsylvania. Often reflecting variations in property values, education
spending ranges from a low of $9,800 per pupil to a peak of $28,400 per pupil,
advocates said.
Cutler among local lawmakers
seeking leadership positions
Rep. Bryan Cutler is seeking a leadership post in the House GOP
caucus.
A third Lancaster
County
Republican Rep. Bryan Cutler has thrown his hat into the ring
for the Majority Whip position, according to House GOP spokesman
Steve Miskin. Reports indicate that as many as three other legislators
also are eyeing the job. Cutler could
not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Sen. Lloyd Smucker and Rep. Mike Sturla also are
campaigning for leadership positions within their respective
caucuses. Smucker, a Republican who
represents a large portion of the county, said Monday that he will try to
unseat Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati. Meanwhile, in the House,
Sturla is running for House Democratic leader, a post currently held by Rep.
Frank Dermody. PennLive has reported
that other possible candidates for Whip include Reps. Jim Cox of Berks County ,
John Maher of Allegheny County and Mike Vereb of Montgomery County
State association honors
Centennial's Mark Miller
Doylestown Intelligencer By Gary Weckselblatt Staff Writer Posted: Tuesday,
November 11, 2014 10:30 pm | Updated: 1:28 am, Wed Nov 12, 2014.
Mark Miller can get quite passionate when the topic is public
education. Tuesday night was one such example.
“It’s fitting that this is Veterans Day,” Miller said during Tuesday’s
meeting of the Centennial school board, where he is vice president. “Public
education is under attack. There’s a war on public education.” He specifically took aim at privatization,
standardized tests and publicly funded cyber charter schools, saying they are
“wrong.” “The new governor,” he added of
Gov.-elect Tom Wolf, “he made some promises. We’re going to hold him to cash
them.”
It’s that type of fire and enthusiastic effort in support of
public education that earned Miller the Timothy A. Allwein Advocacy Award,
which recognizes outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on
behalf of public education and students.
The award was established in 2011 by the Pennsylvania School Boards
Association in memory of Allwein, the association’s former assistant executive
director for governmental and member relations.
In the audience at Centennial’s meeting Tuesday were PSBA
executive director Nathan Mains, who called Miller a “tremendous advocate and
champion” of public schools, and the award’s three previous winners, all school
board members: Lawrence A. Feinberg, of Haverford, Roberta Marcus, of Parkland,
and Tina Viletto, of Cheltenham .
State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12, Upper
Moreland , handed Miller a congratulatory citation from the Senate
for Miller’s legislative advocacy on behalf of public education.
“Mark looks like a calm, gentle guy,” Greenleaf said. “Take off
that coat and put on a Superman costume and he’s a strong advocate for public
education. He definitely deserves the award.”
The 10 Best Public School
Districts In The US
Business Insider by PETER JACOBS NOV. 5, 2014, 3:02 PM
The Edgemont School District in Westchester County , New York New York or Pennsylvania . Four of
the 10 districts serve towns in Westchester
County , a suburb right outside of New York City .
Philadelphia City Council Hearings
on High-stakes Testing and the Opt-Out Movement, Wednesday, November 19, 2014,
3—5 PM
Education Committee of Philadelphia City Council
Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 3—5 PM, Room 400 City Hall
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools, Councilman Mark
Squilla and The Opt-Out Committee of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public
Schools urge all who care about the future of education to attend: Parents, students and educators will testify
on the effects of over-testing on students and teaching, including the crisis
of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement.
Information: Alison McDowell or Lisa Haver
at: philaapps@gmail.com
DelCo Rising: Winning for
Education Nov 18
7:00PM - 9:00PM
601 N. LANSDOWNE AVENUEDREXEL HILL, PA 19026
Delaware County students and taxpayers have sacrificed enough.
The state is not paying its fair share. Rising property taxes and school
budget cuts are not acceptable–help us change that.
Join your neighbors for a community workshop: Delco
Rising: Winning for Education
·
Learn about Pre-K for PA and the Statewide
Campaign for Fair Education Funding and how they can help your community
·
Practice winning strategies to advocate for your
community
·
Create an advocacy plan that works for
you—whether you have 5 minutes or 5 days per month
This non-partisan event is free and open to the public.
Click here to download a PDF flyer to
share.
Children with Autism - Who’s Eligible? How to get ABA services?
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
United Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Philadelphia, 19103
Join us on November 19th, 2014 to discuss eligibility services for children with Autism. This
session will teach parents, teachers, social workers and attorneys how to
obtain Applied Behavioral Analysis services for children on the autism
spectrum. Presenters include Sonja Kerr (Law Center), Rachel Mann
(Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania), Dr. Lisa Blaskey (The Children's
Hospital of Pennsylvania), and David Gates (PA Health Law Project).
Registration: bit.ly/1sOY6jX
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
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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