Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now
reach more than 3525 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors,
administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's
staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Wolf education transition
team members, 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
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These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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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 February
17, 2015:
Education Voters of PA holding public forums on school funding
Details/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
Wolf
links tax on shale drillers, school aid in Monroeville
visit
Governor projects
potential revenue at $1 billion
By Mary Niederberger / Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette February 16, 2015 10:49 PM
When Gov. Tom Wolf unveils his state budget proposal on March
3, he’ll have to find a way to fund the state’s 500 school districts with
existing revenue. But if he has his way,
the 2016 budget proposal will include projected revenues of $1 billion from a
natural gas extraction tax on the state’s drilling industry, much of which he
said would be used to fund schools.
The governor pitched his proposal to raise money for schools
with an extraction tax Monday during a news conference at the Monroeville
Municipal Center, flanked by local Democrats, including county Executive Rich
Fitzgerald and several state legislators.
In Monroeville ,
Gov. Wolf pushes his proposed natural gas extraction tax
Trib Live By Gideon
Bradshaw Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, 4:24 p.m.
Public schools inAllegheny County have lost about $47 million in state funding
since 2010-11 but could recoup some of that money if lawmakers support a tax on
natural gas drilling, Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday during a visit to Monroeville . With
several Democratic officials by his side, Wolf made a push for his tax
proposal, saying Pennsylvania
ranks 45th in the country for education funding.
Public schools in
“This is an effort to tap into a natural resource that is ours,
lies beneath our feet, and turn that into something that creates skills and new
jobs for our economy,” Wolf said.
Wolf wants lawmakers to impose a 5 percent severance tax on the
value of gas that drillers extract and a levy of 4.7 cents per thousand cubic
feet. He said the state Independent Fiscal Office has estimated this would
amount to a roughly 5.8 percent tax on natural gas.
Wolf pushes gas-tax education
funding plan during visit to Greater Johnstown
Tribune Democrat By David Hurst dhurst@tribdem.com Posted: February
16, 2015 4:58 pm
Gov. Tom Wolf said his Pennsylvania Education Reinvestment Act
is a simple solution to a statewide education funding pinch. Pennsylvania
has the chance to capitalize on one of the state’s most valuable resources –
the Marcellus Shale – to benefit another: school-age youth. "The commonwealth ranks 45th in the nation in percentage
of state funding for public education,” Wolf said, arguing that the state
continues to fall behind - and that schools such as Greater Johnstown High
School feel the brunt. “We need to invest in education. And we need to invest
into efforts to keep these kids here in Pennsylvania .” the Pennsylvania
Education Reinvestment Act. Wolf toured the Greater Johnstown school Monday as
part of a statewide pitch to sell his idea the Pennsylvania Education
Reinvestment Act..
Governor Talks Education
Reinvestment
WeAreCentralPA.com
by Ashley Doerzbacher 02/16/2015 05:19 PM
Blogger's note: Pennsylvania 's
legislative leadership is no stranger to the ongoing largesse of Philadelphia School
Pressure builds on SRC to
approve new charter schools
KRISTEN A. GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, February 17,
2015, 1:08 AM POSTED: Monday, February 16, 2015, 5:13 PM
Just days before the fate of 39 new charter-school applications
is decided, pressure on the School Reform Commission is building from all
sides. Top state Senate Republicans have
sent Chairman Bill Green a letter saying they were "confident" that
the SRC would approve strong charter schools.
The letter, obtained by The Inquirer and sent Friday by Senate President
Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson), Majority Leader Jake Corman (R.,
Centre), and Education Committee Chairman Lloyd Smucker (R., Lancaster), said
the leaders were "hopeful that the SRC will approve these qualified
charter schools in the very near future."
The SRC is scheduled to vote on the charter applications, the
first new proposals considered in seven years, on Wednesday. If the commission
approves 15,000 new seats, the six-year price to the financially troubled
school system could be close to $500 million, district officials say.
"Because of the deadlines, local
schools have to adopt preliminary budgets without knowing what the state’s
contribution will be. That’s like planning a household budget for next year
without knowing your income. This year
the stakes are even higher in that guessing game. Pennsylvania’s new governor,
Gov. Tom Wolf, ran on a platform of more state aid for schools. But his budget
address with specifics on what that means isn’t scheduled until March, which is
past the deadline for preliminary budgets if exceptions are to be
applied."
Local school boards in Pa.
Ironic, isn’t it that at the same time taxpayers scurry to
finish tax returns for a year that ended last Dec. 31, local school boards face
a deadline for budget plans that extend 18 months into the future? Public schools in Pennsylvania
must budget under the requirements of Act 1, the 2006 property tax relief
legislation that established casino gaming in Pennsylvania . The law requires school
districts to seek voter approval for tax increases greater than an assigned
index unless exceptions are granted. In order to apply for those exceptions,
local schools must submit preliminary budgets in February. Thus, local schools undergo voluminous budget
preparations for scenarios too uncertain to predict. Because of the deadlines, local schools have
to adopt preliminary budgets without knowing what the state’s contribution will
be. That’s like planning a household budget for next year without knowing your
income.
Phoenixville physics students
prepare for international competition in Thailand
West Chester Daily
Local By Eric Devlin, edevlin@21st-centurymedia.com, @Eric_Devlin on
Twitter POSTED: 02/16/15, 10:33 AM EST |
PHOENIXVILLE >> Between the piles of loose wiring, boxes
of Goldfish crackers, laptop computers, lasers and high-tech equipment, some of
Phoenixville Area High School’s best and brightest science students are
preparing for the biggest fight of their young lives on the world stage. This summer, 31 teams from around the world
will converge on Korat , Thailand United States
in the tournament since 2007. The competition runs from June 27 through July 4.
At least one thing is for sure when it comes to the York City
School District
The district's school board won't be raising taxes more than 3
percent when the time comes to approve a 2015-16 budget later this year. The board agreed to the state's tax cap at a
meeting late last month. If taxes were
raised to the full cap, the district's tax rate would rise to about 34.75
mills. With an increase of about 1.01 mills, a homeowner with a property valued
at $50,000 could expect a tax increase of about $50.61. The district — which the state declared to be
in moderate financial recovery status in 2012 — has not hiked its tax rate for
the past two years.
But monumental challenges remain.
Pottstown Mercury By
Jarreau Freeman, jfreeman@21st-centurymedia.com, @JarreauFreeman on
Twitter POSTED: 02/16/15, 10:59 AM EST |
Wallingford-Swarthmore passes
budget draft with 2.56 percent tax hike
Delco Times By NEIL A.
SHEEHAN, Times Correspondent
POSTED: 02/16/15, 9:55 PM EST |
NETHER PROVIDENCE >> Despite opposition from the school
board president and another member, the Wallingford-Swarthmore School
District’s proposed $74 million budget for fiscal year 2015-16 crossed an
initial hurdle Monday night. The board
voted 7-2 in favor of the preliminary spending plan, which as currently
formulated would result in a 2.56 percent tax increase as of July 1. Board
President Paul Schregel and member Robert Reiger cast the dissenting votes.
Philly teachers group to
'grade' city election candidates
WHYY Newsworks BY LAURA
BENSHOFF FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Fresh off a trial run grading candidates for governor of Pennsylvania , a group of Philadelphia
teachers is getting ready to evaluate the positions of candidates for Philadelphia mayor and
City Council. Last year, the Teacher
Action Group, or TAG Philly, awarded Tom Wolf an 'A' for fair funding. Tom
Corbett got an 'F'. Paul Robeson High
School English teacher Andrew Saltz, a leader of the grassroots organization
also known as TAG Philly, said the group evaluated gubernatorial candidates on
five different categories: fair funding, high stakes testing, transparency,
labor relations and teaching and learning. Former Governor Tom Corbett was the
only candidate who did not respond to the group's survey. This year, Saltz and a new group of teachers
have set their eyes on the city elections, where the fate of public education
is clearly a top issue.
Testing based on Common Core
standards starts this week
Post Gazette By Kimberly Hefling and Julie Carr Smyth /
Associated Press February 17, 2015 12:00 AM
STOCKPORT, Ohio
— Sixth-grader Kayla Hunter considers herself pretty tech savvy. She has a
computer at home, unlike about half of her classmates at her elementary school.
And it matches up well with the one she’ll use this week to take a new test
linked to the Common Core standards.
Still, the perky 11-year-old worries. During a recent practice
exam at her school in Ohio ,
she couldn’t even log on. “It wouldn’t let me,” she said. “It kept saying it
wasn’t right, and it just kept loading the whole time.” Her state today will be the first to
administer one of two tests in English language arts and math based on the
Common Core standards developed by two separate groups of states. By the end of
the school year, about 12 million children in 29 states and the District of
Columbia will take them, using computers or electronic tablets.
Public screening:
Standardized - Lies, Money, and Civil Rights: How Testing is Ruining Public
Education
Church of the Redeemer,
Wednesday, February 25, 7-9pm 230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, Parish House,
Assembly Room
The Redeemer Moms will follow up with a Q & A session with
parents who have been researching this topic for over a year. All are welcome
and invited to bring a friend. RSVP by Feb. 23 to Cheryl Masterman.
Stop the Push Out
In Pittsburgh ,
students of color are 2.5 times more likely to be suspended than white
students. Four out of every ten black students are suspended at least one time.
And suspension is just one of the policies, practices, and procedures that
“push out” students, making them less likely to graduate – a serious, and life
altering outcome that feeds the “school to prison pipeline” and
disproportionately impacts students of color and those with disabilities. [Beyond Zero Tolerance, ACLU report, 2013] After meeting with parents all over the city,
the Great Public Schools (GPS) Pittsburgh
coalition has made school push-out one of its primary areas of focus. GPS is
partnering with the Education
Law Center
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015 5:30 PM Dinner, 6PM Meeting
Sci-Tech Academy (107 Thackeray
Ave. , Oakland
Sci-Tech Academy (
Education Voters of PA will
hold a forum about public school funding in Lancaster County Tuesday, March 17,
at 7:00 pm at Millersville University
Education Voters of PA and the Millersville University
Education on Location program will be co-hosting a forum about public school
funding in Lancaster County on Tuesday, March 17, at 7:00 pm at Millersville University ,
the Lehrer Room in the Bolger
Conference Center
This event is free and open to the public. It will give
Lancaster County residents the opportunity both to learn more about how state
funding issues impact their own school districts and to learn about how they
can make a positive difference for their schools and communities by advocating
for a state system of funding schools that is fair, adequate, and predictable
and will provide all students with an opportunity to learn.
Panelists for the forum include:
Dr. Brenda Becker, Hempfield Area SD, Superintendent
Dr. Bob Hollister, Elanco SD, Superintendent
Dr. Mike Leichliter, Penn Manor SD, Superintendent
Dr. Tim Shrom, Solanco SD, Business Manager
Ms. Idette Groff, Conestoga Valley SD, School Board Member
Mr. Tim Stayer, Ephrata Area SD, School Board Member
Ms. Susan Gobreski, Education Voters of PA
Dr. Brenda Becker, Hempfield Area SD, Superintendent
Dr. Bob Hollister, Elanco SD, Superintendent
Dr. Mike Leichliter, Penn Manor SD, Superintendent
Dr. Tim Shrom, Solanco SD, Business Manager
Ms. Idette Groff, Conestoga Valley SD, School Board Member
Mr. Tim Stayer, Ephrata Area SD, School Board Member
Ms. Susan Gobreski, Education Voters of PA
More info/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
Education Voters of PA will
hold a forum about public school funding in York :
Wednesday, March 25th, 6:30pm to 8pm at the York Learning
Center 300 E. 7th Avenue , York
This forum will give York County residents the opportunity both to learn more about how state funding issues impact their own school districts and to learn about how they can make a positive difference for their schools and communities by advocating for a state system of funding schools that is fair, adequate, and predictable and will provide all students with an opportunity to learn.
This forum will give York County residents the opportunity both to learn more about how state funding issues impact their own school districts and to learn about how they can make a positive difference for their schools and communities by advocating for a state system of funding schools that is fair, adequate, and predictable and will provide all students with an opportunity to learn.
Panelists for the forum include:
Dr. Emilie Lonardi, West York SD, Superintendent
Dr. Scott Deisley, Red Lion Area SD, Superintendents
Mr. Brian Geller, Northeastern York SD, Director of Operations
Mr. Troy Wentz, Hanover Public SD, Business Manager
Mrs. Ellen Freireich, York Suburban SD, School Board Member
Mr. Eric Wolfgang, Central York SD, School Board Member
Dr. Scott Deisley, Red Lion Area SD, Superintendents
Mr. Brian Geller, Northeastern York SD, Director of Operations
Mr. Troy Wentz, Hanover Public SD, Business Manager
Mrs. Ellen Freireich, York Suburban SD, School Board Member
Mr. Eric Wolfgang, Central York SD, School Board Member
Guest Panelist: Mr. Jim Buckheit, Executive Director, PA
Association of School Administrators
Moderated by: Ms. Susan Spicka, Education Voters of PA
More info/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
Education Voters of PA will
hold a forum about public school funding in Cumberland
County : Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 pm at
the Grace Milliman Pollock
Performing Arts
Center 340 North 21st Street
This forum will give Cumberland County residents the opportunity both to learn more about how state funding issues impact their own school districts and to learn about how they can make a positive difference for their schools and communities by advocating for a state system of funding schools that is fair, adequate, and predictable and will provide all students with an opportunity to learn.
This forum will give Cumberland County residents the opportunity both to learn more about how state funding issues impact their own school districts and to learn about how they can make a positive difference for their schools and communities by advocating for a state system of funding schools that is fair, adequate, and predictable and will provide all students with an opportunity to learn.
Panelists for the forum include:
Mr. Richard Fry, Big Spring SD, Superintendent
Mr. John Friend, Carlisle Area SD, Superintendent
Dr. Mark Leidy, Mechanicsburg Area SD, Superintendent
Ms. Christine Hakes, Camp Hill Area SD, Business Manager
Mr. Matt Franchak, school board member, East Pennsboro SD, School Board Member
Guest Panelist: Mr. Dave Patti, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Business Council
Moderated by: Ms. Susan Spicka, Education Voters of PA
Mr. Richard Fry, Big Spring SD, Superintendent
Mr. John Friend, Carlisle Area SD, Superintendent
Dr. Mark Leidy, Mechanicsburg Area SD, Superintendent
Ms. Christine Hakes, Camp Hill Area SD, Business Manager
Mr. Matt Franchak, school board member, East Pennsboro SD, School Board Member
Guest Panelist: Mr. Dave Patti, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Business Council
Moderated by: Ms. Susan Spicka, Education Voters of PA
More info/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
PSBA 2015 Advocacy Forum
APR 19, 2015 • 8:00
AM - APR 20, 2015 • 5:00 PM
Join PSBA for the second annual Advocacy Forum on April 19-20,
2015. Hear from legislative experts on hot topics and issues regarding public
education on Sunday, April 19, at PSBA headquarters in Mechanicsburg. The next
day you and fellow advocates will meet with legislators at the state capitol.
This is your chance to learn how to successfully advocate on behalf of public
education and make your voice heard on the Hill.
·
Schedule of Events
·
Day One –PSBA headquarters
·
10 a.m. — Early Bird Arrival and Registration
·
10:30-12 p.m. — The State Education Agenda
The chairman of the Senate and House Education Committees will share their perspectives on the education agenda for the 2015-16 session of the General Assembly. Speakers: Senator Smucker, chairman, Senate Education Committee; and Representative Saylor, chairman, House Education Committee
The chairman of the Senate and House Education Committees will share their perspectives on the education agenda for the 2015-16 session of the General Assembly. Speakers: Senator Smucker, chairman, Senate Education Committee; and Representative Saylor, chairman, House Education Committee
·
Noon-1:15 p.m. — Welcome Lunch
·
1:00-12:15 p.m. — Special Welcome and
Introduction: Nathan Mains, PSBA Executive
Director and William LaCoff, PSBA President
·
12:30-1 p.m. — Speaker: Diane Ravitch, nationally known education
historian, policy analyst and author of Reign of Error.
·
1:15-2:00 p.m. — Education Priorities will be
discussed with the Education Secretary Pedro
Rivera
This session provides the latest information on the governor’s proposed state funding plans, the pension crisis and the latest on special education.
This session provides the latest information on the governor’s proposed state funding plans, the pension crisis and the latest on special education.
·
2:00-2:30 p.m. — Federal Education Update:
NSBA
Director of National Advocacy Services Kathleen Branch will join Director of Federal Programs Lucy Gettman from NSBA, to speak about federal advocacy.
Director of National Advocacy Services Kathleen Branch will join Director of Federal Programs Lucy Gettman from NSBA, to speak about federal advocacy.
·
2:30-3 p.m. — Social Media Training (Speakers
to be announced)
·
3-3:15 p.m. — Break
·
3:15-3:45 p.m. — Grassroots Advocacy: How to
be an Effective Advocate
Hear from former Allwein Advocacy Award winners Shauna D’Alessandro, school director from West Jefferson Hills SD and PSBA Allegheny Region 14 director, and Mark B. Miller, board vice president of Centennial SD and PSBA BuxMont Region 11 director.
Hear from former Allwein Advocacy Award winners Shauna D’Alessandro, school director from West Jefferson Hills SD and PSBA Allegheny Region 14 director, and Mark B. Miller, board vice president of Centennial SD and PSBA BuxMont Region 11 director.
·
3:45-4:15 p.m. — Legislative Update and Lobby
Day Coordination
PSBA’s Senior Director of Government Affairs John Callahan will walk you through legislative issues and priorities that might be addressed the next day during legislative visits by members.
PSBA’s Senior Director of Government Affairs John Callahan will walk you through legislative issues and priorities that might be addressed the next day during legislative visits by members.
·
4:15-5 p.m. — Roundtable Discussion
Network with your fellow board members before visiting your legislator
Network with your fellow board members before visiting your legislator
·
5:00-5:15 p.m. — Break
·
5:15-6:30 p.m. — Dinner Buffet
Enjoy a legislative discussion on the 2015-16 budget and appropriations with Senator Browne
Enjoy a legislative discussion on the 2015-16 budget and appropriations with Senator Browne
·
6:30 p.m. — Adjourn
Campaign for Fair Education
Funding Seeks Campaign Manager
Campaign for Fair Education Funding February 2, 2015
The Campaign for Fair Education Funding seeks a campaign
manager who is a strategic thinker and an operational leader. This position
could be filled by an individual or firm. The manager will lead the day-to-day
operations of the campaign and its government relations, communications,
mobilization and research committees and work in partnership with the campaign
governing board to set and implement the campaign’s strategic direction.
Sign-up for weekly email updates from the
Campaign
The Campaign for Fair
Education Funding website
PA Basic Education Funding
Commission website
Thorough and Efficient: Pennsylvania
Education Funding Lawsuit website
Arguing that our state has failed to ensure that essential
resources are available for all of our public school students to meet state
academic standards.
Sign up for National School Boards Association’s Advocacy Network
Friends of
Public Education http://p2a.co/nsbac
Register
Now! EPLC 2015 Regional Workshops for School Board Candidates and Others
The Education Policy and Leadership Center, with the
Cooperation of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) and
Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), will
conduct A Series of Regional Full-Day Workshops for 2015
Pennsylvania School Board Candidates. Incumbents,
non-incumbents, campaign supporters and all interested voters are invited to
participate in these workshops.
Pittsburgh Region Saturday, February 21, 2015 – 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120
Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120
Harrisburg Region Saturday, March 7, 2015– 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania School Boards Association Headquarters, 400 Bent Creek Boulevard, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Pennsylvania School Boards Association Headquarters, 400 Bent Creek Boulevard, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Philadelphia Region Saturday, March 14, 2015 – 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, 2 W. Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA 19401
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, 2 W. Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA 19401
PILCOP: Children with
Emotional Problems: Avoiding the Juvenile Justice System, and What Does Real
Help Look Like?
This session will help you navigate special education in order
to assist children at home not receiving services, those in the foster care
system or those in the juvenile court system. CLE and Act 48 credit is
available. This session is co-sponsored
by the University of Pennsylvania School of Policy and Practice, a Pre-approved
Provider of Continuing Education for Pennsylvania
licensed social workers. Click here to purchase tickets
NPE 2015 Annual Conference –
Chicago April 24 - 26 – Early Bird Special Registration Open!
January 4, 2015 NPE 2015 Annual Conference, NPE National Conference
Early-bird discounted Registration for the Network for
Public Education’s Second Annual Conference is now available at this address:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/network-for-public-education-2015-annual-conference-tickets-15118560020
These low rates will last for the month of January.
The event is being held at the Drake Hotel in downtown
Chicago, and there is a link on the registration page for special hotel
registration rates. Here are some of the event details.
There will be a welcoming social event 7 pm Friday night,
at or near the Drake Hotel — details coming soon. Featured speakers will be:
§
Jitu Brown, National Director – Journey
for Justice, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Network for Public
Education Board of Directors
§
Tanaisa Brown, High School Senior, with
the Newark Student Union
§
Yong Zhao, Author, “Who’s Afraid of the
Big Bad Dragon?“
§
Diane Ravitch in conversation with
§
Lily Eskelsen Garcia, NEA President and
§
Randi Weingarten, AFT President
§
Karen Lewis, President, Chicago Teachers
Union
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