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
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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy
Roundup for March 20, 2015:
Here's why Pennsylvania
Education Voters of PA will hold a forum
about public school funding in York: Wed., March 25th, 6:30pm to 8pm at York
Learning Center
More info/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
Here's why Pennsylvania needs
a fair school funding formula: Richard Freeman, Gregory J. Edwards and Dwayne
Royster
PennLive
Op-Ed By Richard Freeman, Gregory J.
Edwards and Dwayne Royster
on March 18, 2015 at 2:00 PM, updated March 18, 2015 at 4:03 PM
on March 18, 2015 at 2:00 PM, updated March 18, 2015 at 4:03 PM
The Rev. Richard Freeman
is the president of Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, a faith-based
coalition in northwestern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh. He is the pastor of
Resurrection Baptist Church in Braddock, Pa.
The Rev. Gregory J.
Edwards is the Senior Pastor of Resurrected Life Community Church in Allentown
and a leader with POWER Northeast, a diverse faith-based coalition in the
Lehigh Valley.
Bishop Dwayne Royster is
the executive director of POWER Philadelphia and the founding pastor of Living
Water United Church of Christ in Northeast Philadelphia.
When it comes to funding our schools, economic inequality and
educational inequality in Pennsylvania are inextricably intertwined. And we are
not moving fast enough to fix it.
Gov. Tom Wolf has taken an important first step towards
prioritizing public education by asking for a dramatic increase in school
funding. But his proposal is far from the "promised land." While we applaud any boost to education, the
$400 million increase he wants for basic education spending is not nearly
enough for districts statewide to restore reasonable class sizes, art, music,
nurses, libraries, and other essentials for our children that many districts
have cut back on or cut completely.
Editorial: Fair education
funding fight goes to court
Bill Adolph is not exactly doing backflips over new Gov. Tom
Wolf’s budget and tax plan.
This could be a problem for the governor. Adolph, R-165, of Springfield ,
is the majority chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, through which
any fiscal plan for Pennsylvania
must pass. “This is a gigantic tax
increase, OK? A gigantic tax increase,” Adolph stated during the first week of
hearings on the controversial spending plan. “I do believe the PIT (personal
income tax) and the sales tax is on the middle class. And the governor picked
and chose where he sent the money to.” Wolf
and Democrats instead say it’s a matter of balancing and fairness. They stress that
what people lose in increases in the income and sales tax are balanced by
decreases in property taxes. The
Democratic governor wants to use the increased revenue to fix the state’s
education funding mess, which was exacerbated during Gov. Corbett’s four years,
and at the same time tame out-of-control property taxes.
In the meantime, school officials, students and families in Pennsylvania wait.
Editorial: Pension reform a
priority in Pennsylvania
THE ISSUE: Gov. Tom Wolf wants to issue $3
billion in bonds and cut management fees on the state’s two big
pension systems by $200 million per year to pay down their combined $50 billion-plus in
unfunded liabilities. Republicans in the state Legislature have called for
structural changes that will make the state's pension systems more affordable
in the future. Payments on the pension
funds for Pennsylvania ’s
teachers and state employees will be nearly $4 billion this year and are
expected to grow to more than $4 billion next year. That’s about 12 percent of the total state
budget — nearly 50 percent more than will be spent on the state’s
correctional system and 50 percent less than the state expects to collect from
its two levies on business profits, the Corporate Net Income and Capital Stock
and Franchise taxes. The governor is
right about one thing: It’s time for the state to start paying its share of
pension costs. Failing to pay its share is a big part of what caused the
state’s pension liabilities to explode.
Wolf’s school tour reaches
New Castle
By Nancy Lowry New Castle News Posted: Thursday, March 19,
2015 7:17 am
Gov. Tom Wolf believes educating every child is the best means
to ensure Pennsylvania’s future.
Through his “Schools That Teach Tour,” Wolf visited the New
Castle Area School district yesterday, promoting his proposals directly to the
voters hoping they pressure their representatives in Harrisburg to accept his
plan. Wolf has proposed a budget which
increases public school funding by $500 million this year and $2 billion over
the next four years. Wolf was welcomed
at George Washington Intermediate School by a brigade of pre-kindergarten and
kindergarten students by a sign and the New Castle High School Band’s playing
of the fight song.
Superintendents react to mixed signals over school
funding
Penn Live By Barbara Miller | bmiller@pennlive.com on March
19, 2015 at 7:45 AM, updated March 19, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Superintendents have received some mixed messages from state
officials in Harrisburg over the past week about the increase in school funding
that Gov. Tom Wolf included in his 2015-16 budget proposal. One day a letter arrives from Senate GOP
leaders warning against counting on the $400 million increase in direct support
to schools that Wolf proposed when preparing their district budget for next
year. A few days letter, they get another from Acting Education Secretary Pedro
Rivera asking them to share details about how they plan to spend that money.
The very next day, they get copied on a letter to Wolf from House Republican
leaders asking him to rescind Rivera's instructions. So what is a superintendent to think? Should
they plan on Wolf getting the historic $6.1 billion investment in basic
education that depends on controversial tax increases to fund it or not?
Rescind school spending
mandate, GOP leaders ask Gov. Wolf
By Mary Niederberger / Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette March 18, 2015 10:51 PM
Republican leaders in the Legislature have asked Gov. Tom Wolf
to rescind a mandate given Tuesday to school districts requiring them to submit
spending plans to the state in order to receive increased state funding. In a letter to the governor, House majority
leader Dave Reed and speaker Mike Turzai questioned the Wolf administration’s
legal authority to issue the mandate when there is currently no funding stream
in place to finance it.
But the governor’s office said the mandate will remain.
Whether Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY
SARA HOOVER MARCH 19, 2015
Superintendents may get whiplash from trying to keep up with
what Harrisburg wants them to do with proposed state funding. A partisan battle
is heating up over state education dollars that school districts don't
have--and may not even see. Earlier this
month, Governor Tom Wolf unveiled his preliminary budget that included an
additional $400 million for basic education and $100 million for special
education funding. Those extra monies
seem to have given Pennsylvania's superintendents a new pen pal: the state
capitol. After the governor introduced
his historic investment in education, Republican senators sent a letter to
superintendents warning them not to rely on the projected state dollars and to
take a "conservative approach" to their budgets. This week, Acting Education Secretary Pedro
Rivera sent a letter to superintendents that reinforces the idea schools will
see increased state funding this year.
What's a school district to
do?
John Baer, Daily
News Political Columnist POSTED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015, 9:03 AM
If you're looking for a sense of how things are going in Harrisburg between the new
Democratic Wolf administration and the Republican Legislature all you need to
do is read the mail of any school superintendent in the state. First, right after Wolf proposed new big
spending for public education, GOP leaders fired off a
missive to school districts essentially saying, yeah, well, don't
count your chickens. And Philly, as you
know, is hoping for lots more chickens. The
letter, signed by Senate Republican leadership, including Senate President Pro
Tempore Joe Scarnati, notes Wolf's proposed $400 million increase in the
multi-billion-dollar basic education subsidy and other new spending hinges on
hikes in taxes "unsupported throughout the General Assembly."
Message: as you're making up your budgets (which are due before
the Legislature finalizes its budget in July or whenever) don't figure on
figuring in what Wolf wants to give you.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/growls/Whats-a-school-district-to-do.html#HCmzhpTfPvcfciCu.99
SB128: Pa.
Phoenixville News By
State Sen. Sean Wiley, Guest Columnist POSTED: 03/19/15, 2:44 PM
EDT
Schools that teach. A very basic concept, yet one that has more
complicated layers — with one layer costing about $426 million annually. Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget included a new $1
billion cumulative investment in education as well as a four-year commitment of
$2 billion in new money for basic education, special education and Pre-K. The
governor focused on “schools that teach” because “for our children to succeed
tomorrow, every child must have access to a great education, and teachers must
have the resources they need to deliver a great education.” Students and families have the choice of the type of education
they want: traditional public school, tuition-based school, charter school,
cyber charter school or a hybrid. I am an avid supporter of public education
and I believe in innovation. I strongly believe we should use tools and
mechanisms to educate each student in the way that is best for that child. I am
not proposing abolishing methods that can reach children; rather, I believe it
critical that we hold education providers to heightened standards of
accountability and equity and feel it only fair as taxpayer’s dollars are at
issue.
Pa. charter schools wary of
the fine print in Gov. Wolf's budget
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY MARCH 19, 2015
Cautious optimism flutters in the hearts of Pennsylvania educators, but less so among
the state's charter schools. Gov. Tom
Wolf's first budget proposal showed an intention to invest substantially in
public education. Over four years, Wolf
would like to boost the state's share of preK-12 education spending by $2
billion through a comprehensive set of tax increases, tied to a plan to offer
relief from the local tax primarily used to fund education, the real estate
levy. In Philadelphia, the tax relief funds would go to cut the wage tax. Traditional public school districts and
charters alike have much to gain if the Democrat can successfully navigate his
vision through the capitol's Republican-held legislative chambers. Despite their support for the improved
funding, charter school leaders have been scratching their heads at some of the
fine print.
Philly's Arise Academy
the notebook By Dale
Mezzacappa on Mar 19, 2015 10:09 PM
Arise Academy, a charter school founded to educate children in
the foster care system, will close its doors in June after six years of
struggling to serve its difficult population and meet the requirements set out
as a condition of its continued operation.
The School Reform Commission -- the first meeting with Marjorie Neff as
the new chair -- voted Thursday night on a resolution to "surrender and
forfeit" the charter and "close and dissolve" the school, which
now has an enrollment of 94 students. Under
the agreement, the charter agreed not to appeal to the state and to a series of
additional conditions, including that it continue to provide its students with
all required educational services.
$16.9 million North Warren schools budget calls for staff cuts
By Steve Novak |
The Express-Times Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 19, 2015 at 6:45 AM, updated March 19, 2015 at 6:46 AM
on March 19, 2015 at 6:45 AM, updated March 19, 2015 at 6:46 AM
This year's budget was tough enough without the rumors,
according to North
Warren Regional School District's superintendent. While fears of axed middle school athletics
and other programs were unfounded, Brian
Fogelsonstill had to inform some staff members that their jobs could be
eliminated. "It's one of the
toughest things I've had to do in my career," the superintendent said
Wednesday. Seven staff positions,
including teachers and a guidance counselor, are to be cut under the proposed
$16.9 million budget introduced Monday before a large audience of residents,
teachers and students. The biggest
problem is declining enrollment, Fogelson said.
Making more than 100 teachers
part-time one of Stroudsburg's budget scenarios
By Lynn Ondrusek Pocono Record Writer Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at
4:33 PM
If the Stroudsburg Area School District doesn’t take money from its fund balance or raise taxes, it could face a number of cuts. Superintendent John Toleno presented two drastic scenarios that could fix the 2015-16 budget gap. The district has to close a $4.5 million deficit before the budget is adopted. The budget must be adopted by June 30.
If the Stroudsburg Area School District doesn’t take money from its fund balance or raise taxes, it could face a number of cuts. Superintendent John Toleno presented two drastic scenarios that could fix the 2015-16 budget gap. The district has to close a $4.5 million deficit before the budget is adopted. The budget must be adopted by June 30.
Philly City Council candidates'
views on education: Helen Gym
By the Notebook on Mar 19, 2015 10:59 AM
On May 19, Philadelphians will hit the polls to winnow the
field of City Council at-large candidates. Out of 28 declared candidates, only
seven will be elected in November (including at least two from a minority
party). Each party can run five candidates in the general election. The
Notebook reached out to the candidates, asking their opinions on the election's
most gripping issue: education. Where do
candidates stand on the School Reform Commission's decision to approve five new
charter school applications? Whose job is it to find more money for public
schools, the city's or the District's? Absent an agreement with the teachers'
union, do they think the SRC is right to pursue concessions through the courts?
And finally, what ideas do they have for how the District can fix its financial
problems? We are posting statements from
City Council candidates responding to these prompts in the order we received
them. Today's statement comes from Democrat Helen Gym, an education advocate,
mother of three children in public schools, and co-founder of Parents United
for Public Education. She is also a co-founder of the Notebook, where she has
written regularly.
Write on: Penmanship proponents
say cursive writing is more than just pencil pushing
By Mary Thomas / Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette March 20, 2015 12:00 AM
The Three R’s — reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic
— used to be considered educational cornerstones. Now it appears that
at least one of those — writing — is falling victim to the Three T’s
— time, tests and technology. But pockets of perseverance still exist. For generations, knowing how to read and to
write have been the hallmarks of an educated person. But the teaching of
cursive handwriting in schools nationwide has been declining for decades,
mostly due to increasing demands on teachers’ time, the need to prepare
students to score well on tests identified with the Common Core standards in
most states, and the perception that handwriting is as outdated as dial
telephones in a technological age.
Sharpen Your Pencils: Come to
a Test-In on High Stakes Testing, March 21 at CMU
Get out your bubble sheet and sharpen your pencil. It’s your
turn to take the test! Join us this Saturday to see what the PSSA and Keystone
exams look like, take sample questions, talk to teachers, and discuss the
impact of high-stakes-testing on students and our schools. It’s like an
old-fashioned teach-in, only it’s a “Test-In.” Get it?
We’ll be learning from some great teachers and educators,
including Dr. Greg Taranto. He was Pennsylvania’s 2012 Middle School Principal
of the Year and is currently serving on Governor Wolf’s education transition
team. Other speakers include Steel Valley teacher (and Yinzercation steering
committee member), Steve Singer, and Pittsburgh Allderdice teacher, Jon Parker.
Please RSVP on
our Facebook event page, and then invite your networks. The Test-In runs from 11:30AM – 1:30PM in the University Center
at Carnegie Mellon. Free parking in the garage at Forbes & Beeler. Snacks
provided! Co-sponsored by the Great Public Schools (GPS) Pittsburgh coalition and Carnegie Mellon’s
Center for the Arts in Society.
Register
Now for EPLC Forum on the State Education Budget – Philadelphia
Education Policy and Leadership Center Pennsylvania
Education Policy Forum
You are invited to attend one of EPLC’s Regional Education
Policy Forums on Governor Wolf’s Proposed Education Budget for
2015-2016 Space is limited. There is no cost, but an
RSVP is required. The program will
include a state budget overview presented by Ron Cowell of EPLC and a
representative of the PA Budget and Policy Center. The presentations are
followed by comments from panelists representing statewide and regional
education and advocacy organizations. Comments from those in the audience
and a question and answer session will conclude the forum. Wednesday, April 1, 2015– EPLC
Education Policy Forum on the Governor’s State Budget Proposal for
Education – 10 a.m.-12 Noon – Penn
Center for Educational Leadership, University of Pennsylvania
– Philadelphia , PA
For this event, sponsored by Public Citizens for Children and
Youth (PCCY), local dentists will provide free screenings and cleanings for
children. Give Kids a Smile Day is especially for children who do not
have health insurance or who have not had a dental exam in the last six months.
Appointments are necessary, so please call PCCY at 215-563-5848 x32 to
schedule one starting Monday, March 16th. Volunteers will be
on hand to answer calls. Smile Day information can also be found on the school
district website and on PCCY’s website - http://www.pccy.org/resource/give-kids-a-smile-day/.
PCCY Spring Training:
Hit a School Funding Home Run for Kids Advocacy Training Workshop
March 21
This year we have an unprecedented opportunity to make public
education funding more fair and to get more of it for schools across
Pennsylvania. Voters spoke in November when an incumbent governor—widely
perceived to be responsible for drastic education cuts, was unseated while his
opponent ran on the promise to increase school funding. A funding commission
has been established to research and develop recommendations for a new funding
formula. Now is our time to let our elected officials know we take investment
in education seriously.
Please join Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) for
our annual advocacy training to learn how you can win fair and increased
funding for our students.
By participating, you’ll be joining a statewide movement. PCCY
is a part of a statewide coalition of 50 (and growing) organizations committed
to getting a fair funding formula passed by 2016.
Attend our training to:
·
Learn
o
Why education funding in PA is broken and how a
funding formula can fix it
o
Best practices for amplifying your voice for PA
kids
o
How to develop an advocacy plan tailored to fit
your schedule and strengths
·
Connect with
·
Others throughout our region who are as
passionate about public education as you are
·
Leave
·
Inspired and ready to take action for PA
Workshop Details:
When: The same workshop will be offered on two different
days for your convenience.
Wednesday, March 18th, 6:00-8:00pm or Saturday,
March 21st, 9 am - Noon
Where: United Way Building, 1709 Benjamin Franklin
Pkwy., Philadelphia, 19103
For additional information, email info@pccy.org.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is
requested. Children are welcome.
Click here to sign up:
Public Interest Law Center of
Philadelphia offering two special education seminars in March
Leaving Gifted Kids Behind Tuesday, March 24, 2015 1:00
-- 4:00 P.M.
In this session, participants will learn how Pennsylvania law affects and supports gifted children, as well as practical tips for ensuring gifted services. We will also discuss race and gifted services.
In this session, participants will learn how Pennsylvania law affects and supports gifted children, as well as practical tips for ensuring gifted services. We will also discuss race and gifted services.
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.
Children with Emotional Problems: Avoiding the Juvenile Justice
System, and What Does Real Help Look Like? Friday, March 27, 2015 1:00
-- 4:00 P.M.
This session will focus on giving you the tools you need to
support children with emotional problems, including those in the foster care
system or those in the juvenile court system.
Note: This session was originally scheduled for February 17,
but had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. Tickets purchased for the
original date still apply.
United Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Philadelphia, 19103
Tickets: Attorneys $200
General Public $100 Webinar $50
Pay What You Can" tickets are also available
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.
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
More info/registration: http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/2015-events/
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.
Agenda/Speakers: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-forum-day-hill-2015/
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