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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for February
25, 2015:
Gov. Tom Wolf's first state
budget may include a plan for lower school property taxes
Education Voters of PA holding public forums on school funding
Lancaster County: Tuesday,
March 17, at 7:00 pm at Millersville University
York County: Wednesday,
March 25th, 6:30pm at the York Learning Center
Cumberland County:
Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 pm at the Grace Milliman Pollock Performing Arts
Center
Details/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
Gov. Tom Wolf's first state
budget may include a plan for lower school property taxes
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
February 25, 2015 at 6:28 AM, updated February 25, 2015 at 6:29 AM
With campaign promises solidifying into governing plans at this
writing, Gov. Tom Wolf appears to be ready to join a long line of Pennsylvania governors
who have tried to significantly reduce property taxes. Multiple sources told PennLive this week they
expect Wolf's "tax fairness" plan to include a major slash at
residential school property tax bills, in keeping with his larger goal of
shifting more education costs to state government. The plan, while not eliminating property
taxes altogether as some lawmakers would like, would add to the small
breaks currently derived from former Gov. Ed Rendell's legalization of casino
gambling, sources said.
Wolf delivers message on
school funding to business groups
Philly.com by MARC LEVY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 11:09 AM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Tom Wolf delivered a tough message
Tuesday on the need to increase public school funding as he reaches out to
business groups, a traditional ally of Republicans, ahead of a budget proposal
that is expected to seek higher taxes. The
Democrat, speaking at a suburban Harrisburg
hotel, stressed his credentials as a former business owner who understands the
hardship of making payroll and how government can affect businesses. But, with many in the business community
bracing for a Wolf proposal to substantially overhaul tax structures, Wolf also
told them that public schools must get more money.
Wolf readies plan for Pa.
tax, minimum wage hikes
AMY WORDEN, INQUIRER
HARRISBURG
BUREAU LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 1:08 AM
POSTED: Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 11:31 AM
"What I talked about was a fairer tax system. I do intend
to present that," he said. "This is a chance for a reset. I hope the
people of Pennsylvania
will be pleased with what I propose."
Despite the projected $2.3 billion deficit, any new tax
proposal is virtually certain to meet resistance in the GOP-led legislature.
Republicans have made it clear that they will not consider new revenue until
the state addresses pension funding.
Gov. Tom Wolf tight-lipped
about what is in his budget proposal
Penn LIve By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
February 24, 2015 at 12:45 PM, updated February 24, 2015 at 3:57 PM
Gov. Tom Wolf talks a lot about transparency and open
government and followed through with his gift ban and release of his daily
schedule but there's a limit. When it comes to releasing some of the major
planks of his budget proposal to be unveiled on Tuesday, he's choosing suspense
over early disclosure. Reporters
gathered around him after a speech to members of the Pennsylvania Chamber of
Business and Industry and Pennsylvania Bankers Association on Tuesday trying to
pry out more details about the first state budget proposal of his
administration. After all, what's
in that plan has given rise to ample speculation around the Capitol that it
will include a call for broad-based tax increases to address the $2.3 billion budget deficit and Wolf's campaign
promises.
KIPP CEO: Was SRC vote on
charters good for students, city?
Philly.com opinion By Marc Mannella POSTED: Wednesday, February
25, 2015, 1:08 AM
Marc Mannella is founder
and CEO of KIPP Philadelphia Schools.
Last Wednesday's School Reform Commission meeting, where the fate of the 39 charter applications was decided, resulted in a sleepless night for me. The SRC denied 34 applications and granted five, including one of KIPP Philadelphia's, where I have served since 2003 as founder and CEO. The SRC granted a total of 2,684 "new" seats for families inPhiladelphia . So I'm left wondering: Is this
a "good" result? There's
certainly a strong case to be made that this is very good news. The SRC stood
up to Gov. Wolf and the majority of Philadelphia
mayoral candidates who publicly stated that every application should be
rejected regardless of merit. The SRC also acknowledged KIPP's status as one of
the best charter school operators in the city by granting us one of only five
new charters. Critically, we will be using 300 of the 500 "new" seats
granted us to correct a mistake made in 2012, when the School District approved
our expansion to a K-12 charter, but only enough seats to serve grades K-2, and
5-11. This correction secures our long-term stability, and we are grateful for
that.
Last Wednesday's School Reform Commission meeting, where the fate of the 39 charter applications was decided, resulted in a sleepless night for me. The SRC denied 34 applications and granted five, including one of KIPP Philadelphia's, where I have served since 2003 as founder and CEO. The SRC granted a total of 2,684 "new" seats for families in
However, there's also a case to be made that last Wednesday
night was a sad one for our city.
Charter applicants turned
down by Philly's SRC get promises of help with appeals
WHYY Newsworks BY BILL
HANGLEY FEBRUARY 24, 2015
In the wake of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission's
decision to reject dozens of proposed charter schools, charter school advocates
are preparing to help those applicants who were turned down make the most of
their last chance. Last week, the SRC
voted down 34 of 39 applications for new charter schools. So far, at least two
statewide organizations say they're ready to help those charters navigate Pennsylvania 's appeal
process, which could potentially overrule the SRC on any of the 34 rejections. One such group is the Keystone Alliance for
Public Charter Schools, run by former Gov. Tom Corbett's secretary for
education, Tim Eller.
"We're hopeful that these schools do appeal. We do support
charters in their appeal process," Eller said. "That's something
that's permitted under law. Let's forget about the adults in the system, let's
forget about the districts themselves, let's look at what's in the best
interests of students." Eller said
the alliance has already reached out to all Philadelphia charters to inform them of their
rights and other aspects of the appeal process. However, he downplayed the
possibility that the alliance could support an individual school's appeal by
paying for legal fees or other expenses.
The New Way Forward:
Constitutional Amendments
PoliticsPA Written by
Michael Manzo, Guest Columnist February 24, 2015
Yesterday, two members of the PA State Senate GOP introduced a
bill that would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to
limit the rate of spending of state government. In and of itself, this
proposal is not new, as it has been introduced in some iteration or another for
more than a decade. But taking a step back, it represents the latest in a trend
that has begun in Pennsylvania ’s
General Assembly. Not including
yesterday’s bill introduction, the General Assembly has already acted on two
proposed Constitutional Amendments, and intends to act on a third before this
week is out.
Rep. Stan Saylor's criticism
of York schools: Right idea, wrong venue (YDR opinion)
York Daily Record
editorial UPDATED: 02/24/2015
08:26:33 AM EST
What they got instead was a lesson in real-life politics.
Overview of situation: A York
County judge on Dec. 26 named David
Meckley as receiver of the York
City School
District on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department
of Education. The move would have given Meckley, the district's state-appointed
chief recovery officer, all of the school board's powers — with the exception
of levying taxes. The decision has been
stayed as the case makes its way through the courts. The education department
had argued that school board members were not following a financial recovery
plan adopted in 2013. Where the court
case stands: The York City School District's appeal is being heard by Commonwealth Court ,
an intermediate state appellate court in Harrisburg .
Legal briefs in the case are due by March 24.
York NAACP president Sandra Thompson split the community forum
her organization hosted Tuesday night into two phases: What happened to bring York City
schools into such a dire situation as to require the state to step in, and
where to go from here. "The
question is: How did we get here?" Thompson said near the start of the
meeting at the Crispus
Attucks Community
Center , 605
S. Duke St .
The "how" suggestions came fast and in bunches from the
30-or-so in attendance, a crowd including city council and school board
members. Concentrated poverty. A lack of community involvement. Segregation
along economic and racial lines. Legislative action. Legislative inaction. An
eroding tax base. Violence and drugs in the community.
Many of those ideas ended up circling back to the same topic:
The toll a community with concentrated poverty and the issues it brings takes
on the kids who grow up in it, Thompson said — "More trauma-infused
students."
Local NAACP president: appeal
in York City School District
case might not be decided this year
Sandra Thompson's
remarks came before a community forum at Crispus Attucks on Tuesday
York Daily Record By
Dylan Segelbaum dsegelbaum@ydr.com @dylan_segelbaum
on Twitter UPDATED: 02/24/2015 11:50:28 PM EST
There could be no decision in the ongoing court battle over
control of the York
City School
District this year, the president of the local
NAACP chapter said Tuesday. Shortly
before a community forum about the district at Crispus Attucks in York , Sandra Thompson
said the deadline for legal briefs to be filed with Commonwealth Court has been pushed to May
29. If there are no other extensions, she said, the Pennsylvania Department of
Education's attorneys would then have 30 days to file a reply. The lawyers
could also request for oral arguments to be held in the case.
"We don't know how long it will take to decide,"
Thompson said, adding that she doesn't foresee a settlement that involves
turning the district's schools into charters.
The forum, held by the York NAACP, started at about 6:30 p.m. and
focused on how the York
City School
District got into its current situation, as well
as possible solutions to the issues it faces. About 20 community members, in
addition to local leaders such as York City Council President Carol Hill-Evans,
Councilman Michael Helfrich and school board President Margie Orr, were in
attendance.
By Jacqueline
PalochkoOf The Morning Callcontact the reporter February 24,
2015
The Saucon
Valley School
District will offer a new contract proposal to
its teachers union this week in an attempt to end a contentious three-year
impasse. While the two sides were
locking horns, a throng of Lehigh Valley school districts forged new contracts, agreeing
to terms that are strikingly similar to those rejected by both sides in Saucon Valley . District solicitor Jeff Sultanik would not
disclose details on how the district proposes to resolve the dispute.
But under the plan, the district will give a state mediator a
copy of the proposed contract for the union's perusal. The two sides will
separately meet with the mediator Thursday.
"Bond refinancing has been one of the
few bright spots in the finances of some local school districts over the past
several years. School districts have faced
skyrocketing expenditures for pensions, health care, cyber and charter school
tuition and special education costs while local tax revenue and state and
federal funding has failed to keep up."
Bond refinancing will save East Penn
School District $404,000
By Margie Peterson Special to The Morning Call February
24, 2015
"The market cooperated, we got some very good bids,"
Shearer said. The district's credit rating is good – Aa2 from Moody's —
"which the investors did find very attractive," he said.
How to opt your child out of
the PSSAs
WHYY Newsworks PHILLY PARENTING A
BLOG BY JEN BRADLEY
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
You may have heard the buzz around the growing "opt
out" movement in Philadelphia
and throughout the nation. In just one city school, Feltonville School of Arts
and Sciences, parents of over
100 students have opted their children out of the state standardized
tests this spring.
This movement is not by accident. It has been carefully
orchestrated by activist educators and parents, from organizations like
the Caucus for Working
Educatorsand United Opt Out, and it is growing by the day. The opt-out
movement is a response to both the standardization of the educational
experience and the damage of high stakes testing.
Montel Williams: “Just Let
Teachers Teach!”
Living in Dialogue Blog By Anthony Cody. Posted onTuesday, February 24, 2015
1:29 pm
Last week as I was tweeting in support of the Newark Students Union
occupation of their state-appointed administrator’s office, I was surprised to
see a familiar name joining the chorus of support for these young activists.
Montel Williams was right in there, tweeting his own support, and retweeting
messages of solidarity with the occupation. So when I was asked by the National School Boards Association if I
would like to interview Mr. Williams, and Thomas J. Gentzel, the NSBA’s
Executive Director on Public Schools, I was happy to send questions, which were
posed and answered in
this video.
How Twitter is changing the
national Common Core debate
Is Twitter affecting the national debate
on the Common Core State Standards initiative? Three researchers working on
a digital reporting project say
“yes” — and they call this the first national policy conversation played out in
social media. The university researchers
looked at hundreds of thousands of tweets at #commoncore over a six-month
period and analyzed them not only for content but also by author. One key
finding: Twitter is “making the invisible visible,” giving people
who usually have no voice in national discussions power to express their
opinions and affect discourse. The researchers also noted that the debate over
the Core isn’t only about the Core standards themselves, but, rather,
about issues such as the federal involvement in local education issues, student
privacy, standardized testing, the role poverty plays in student
achievement and how for-profit companies are affecting education.
#COMMONCORE How social media
is changing the politics of education
The creators of the #commoncore Project are:
·
Jonathan Supovitz, the co-director of the
Consortium for Policy Research in Education and a Professor of Education Policy
and Leadership at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania .
·
Alan Daly, the Chair of the Department of
Education Studies and a Professor of Education at the University
of California , San Diego .
·
Miguel del Fresno, a lecturer at the
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) in Madrid , Spain
and a senior communication consultant and researcher.
PROLOGUE
The Common Core has become a flashpoint at the nexus of
education politics and policy, fueled by ardent social media activists. To
explore this phenomenon, this innovative and interactive website examines the
Common Core debate through the lens of the influential social media site
Twitter. Using a social network perspective that examines the relationships
among actors, we focus on the most highly used Twitter hashtag about the Common
Core: #commoncore. The central question of our investigation is: How are social
media-enabled social networks changing the discourse in American politics that
produces and sustains social policy? To see how the site is organized, clickHOW
TO USE THIS SITE. To join a conversation about this research in an open forum,
tweet using #htagcommoncore.
More
Conflict Over Cutting Federal Role in Education
New York Times By TAMAR LEWIN FEB. 24, 2015
As the House of Representatives prepared to take up a
Republican proposal for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind,
Congress and the White House on Monday inched toward a confrontation over the
federal role in education. The House is
expected to pass a plan this week that would cut back federal regulation of
education from kindergarten through 12th grade and give state and local
authorities more discretion over everything from assessing teacher and student
performance to the flow of Title I money, the largest stream of federal funding
for low-income students. The House
Education Committee approved the bill on Feb. 11. Representative John Kline,
Republican of Minnesota and chairman of the committee, said after the committee
vote that the plan would “provide American families the education system they
deserve, not the one Washington
wants.” The Obama administration,
however, sees the plan as a step backward, threatening funding of the neediest
schools.
"In many ways, Obama was the ideal
surrogate for Emanuel. While the president has seen his popularity ebb
nationwide since taking office, he remains popular in his hometown. He is particularly popular among the group of
voters who have complained most bitterly about Emanuel’s tenure: African
Americans. Many of them have been deeply unhappy about the mayor’s
controversial 2013 decision to close 50 under-performing schools, most of them
in hard-scrabble neighborhoods. In sending the children to schools elsewhere,
Emanuel argued, he was ensuring they received a better education."
Rahm Emanuel heading to a
runoff
Emanuel fails to earn
majority of the vote in Chicago .
Politico By ALEX ISENSTADT and KYLE CHENEY 2/24/15
10:16 PM EST Updated 2/25/15 12:48 AM EST
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel fell short of an outright win in his
reelection battle Tuesday — despite President Barack Obama putting his hometown
political clout on the line to push his former top aide over the finish line —
and will face the second-place finisher in an April runoff.
Emanuel pulled in 45 percent of the vote — well short of the
majority needed to avoid a runoff. Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia
finished second at 34 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
Bucks County
Forum on how to run for school board
March 2, 7 pm at Northampton
library
Courier Times By Chris English Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 1:00 am | Updated: 7:17 am, Tue Feb 24, 2015.
How to run for school board and what to do if you get elected
are two issues that will be explored during a forum at 7 p.m. March 2 at the
Free Library of Northampton Township. The event is free and open to the public. "Anyone in Bucks
County who is interested in school
board elections is encouraged to attend," said event organizer and Newtown Township resident Amy McIntyre.
A panel of present and former school board members from
throughout the county will lead a discussion and answer questions about the
process and requirements of running for school board, the time commitment,
responsibilities of board members and the resources available to teach new
board members about the job. Centennial
school board member and Pennsylvania School Board Association Vice President Mark
Miller will moderate.
PSBA Members Only Annual Pennsylvania Education
Budget Briefing
MAR 4, 2015 • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Join us for a special complimentary members-only Annual
Pennsylvania Education Budget Briefing webinar, Wednesday, March 4 at noon. The webinar features Acting Secretary of
Education Pedro Rivera and PSBA Senior Director of Government Affairs, John
Callahan, who will discuss Gov. Wolf’s 2015-16 proposed budget. You will have
the option to attend live at PSBA’s Headquarters in Mechanicsburg or join us
online through your computer. Both options will allow you to ask questions
during the webinar.
Lawsuit asks the Court to ensure that all
students -- including those living in low-wealth districts -- have the basic
resources they need to meet state academic standards.
Meet Us in Court on March 11th
On Wednesday, March 11th at 9:30 a.m., the
Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania will hear oral arguments in our school
funding lawsuit which challenges the legislature's failure to adequately
support and maintain Pennsylvania 's
public school system. This historic case, which the Education Law
Center filed with the
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and pro bono counsel O'Melveny &
Meyers, asks the Court to ensure that all students -- including those living in
low-wealth districts -- have the basic resources they need to meet state
academic standards. We ask the court to hear this case and enforce the rights
of our children to a "thorough and efficient" system of public
education as guaranteed to them by our state constitution.
Please come and support us as we fight for vulnerable students and all public school students across the state. The hearing will be held at thePennsylvania Judicial
Center , 601 Commonwealth Avenue , Courtroom 5001
in Harrisburg , PA. If you plan to attend or have
questions, contact Spencer Malloy at smalloy@elc-pa.org. (The courtroom is walking distance
from the Harrisburg Amtrak Station.)
Please come and support us as we fight for vulnerable students and all public school students across the state. The hearing will be held at the
2015 Pennsylvania
Budget Summit
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Hilton Hotel, Harrisburg Pennsylvania
PA Budget and Policy
Center
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
will host its Annual Budget Summit on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at the Hilton
Harrisburg. Join us for an in-depth look at the Governor's 2015-16 budget
proposal, including what it means for education, health and human services, and
local communities. The Summit
will focus on the leading issues facing the commonwealth in 2015, with
workshops, lunch, a legislative panel discussion, and a keynote speech.
Space is limited, so fill out the form below to reserve your
spot at the Budget Summit.
"Test-In" &
Forum on High Stakes Testing
Thurs., Feb 26, 2015
(5-7pm) Free Library of Philadelphia –
Central Branch Room 406 & 407 1901 Vine St., Phila 19103 (between 19th and
20th Streets on the Parkway)
Caucus of Working Educators BY MAX
ROSEN-LONG 301SC ON FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Join parents, teachers, students, community members, higher ed
faculty, politicians, & district administrators at the...“Test-In” &
Forum on High Stakes Testing
-Answer sample PSSA and Keystone test questions.
-Hear teachers break the code of silence and reveal the injustice of high stakes testing from the classroom perspective.
-Hear students describe how the onslaught of testing has forced art, music, gym, and recess out of the school day.
-Hear school nurses describe the emotional and physical impact testing has on students.
-Learn exactly how much money and time is spent on testing annually in our schools.
-Discuss alternatives to high stakes testing.
-Learn how parents, teachers, and students have fought back again high stakes testing inChicago , New
York , Seattle ,
and other cities across the country.
http://www.workingeducators.org/test_in_forum
-Answer sample PSSA and Keystone test questions.
-Hear teachers break the code of silence and reveal the injustice of high stakes testing from the classroom perspective.
-Hear students describe how the onslaught of testing has forced art, music, gym, and recess out of the school day.
-Hear school nurses describe the emotional and physical impact testing has on students.
-Learn exactly how much money and time is spent on testing annually in our schools.
-Discuss alternatives to high stakes testing.
-Learn how parents, teachers, and students have fought back again high stakes testing in
http://www.workingeducators.org/test_in_forum
The State of Public Education Funding in Pennsylvania
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia Tuesday, March
17, 2015 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
United
Way Building, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-state-of-public-education-funding-in-pennsylvania-tickets-15816877707
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, Camp Hill.
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 Mary
Curley, Communications Director for Chester County
Intermediate Unit
·
3-3:15 p.m. — Break
·
3:15-3:45 p.m. — Grassroots Advocacy: How to
be an Effective Advocate
Hear from 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 vice president.
Hear from 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 vice president.
·
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.
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
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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