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
LinkedIn
These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at
@lfeinberg
The Keystone State Education Coalition is pleased to be listed
among the friends and allies of The Network for Public Education. Are you a member?
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 March
3, 2015:
Hornbeck: Charter schools do
not equal education reform
The next PA Basic
Education Funding Commission Public
Hearing will be on Thursday, March 12th at 10:00 am in Hearing Room 1, North
Office Building, Harrisburg
Streaming
Tuesday at 11:30 am: Gov. Tom Wolf Budget Address
PCN By Rob Krout on
Mar 02, 2015
Gov. Tom Wolf Budget
Address Video courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services
New Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY MARCH 2, 2015
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf will unveil a state
budget proposal that will crystallize his plan for increasing education
spending while also dealing with the state's $2.3 billion structural deficit. In order for Wolf's agenda to pass, which
will likely include a slate of tax increases and expansions, he must first find
a way to compromise with the Republican leaders who control the Legislature. Chief among them is Jake Corman of Centre County
Binge watchers beware, Gov.
Tom Wolf's first budget could offer 'House of Cards' worthy plot twists: John
L. Micek
Penn Live By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
March 02, 2015 at 2:25 PM, updated March 02, 2015 at 3:30 PM
There's no doubt at all about who's going to take center stage
just before noon on Tuesday when Gov. Tom Wolf delivers his
first budget address to a joint session of the state House and
Senate. But like any good
multipart drama -- and there will be binge-watchers, no doubt about it
-- Wolf's speech will just be one of several plot threads competing
for Pennsylvanians' attention as budget season marches to its inevitable finale
in June. Lawmakers in the state House
and Senate, abetted by their taxpayer-funded PR staff, were laying the
groundwork for that counter-narrative on Monday, as they summoned reporters to
a series of press conferences and briefings.
Wolf unveils ‘ambitious’
budget today, plans tax hikes for school funding
Delco Times By MARC
LEVY, Associated Press POSTED: 03/03/15, 5:40 AM EST |
Wolf is due to deliver his budget and address a joint session
of the Legislature before noon Tuesday, as he juggles a budget hole of
more than $2 billion, rising costs of more than $1 billion and campaign
promises to bring unprecedented help to struggling public schools.
Everything Wolf proposes must be approved by a
Republican-controlled Legislature, and many in the Capitol wonder how a liberal
Democrat governor and a Legislature dominated by rural and suburban
conservatives will come to an agreement on major priorities.
Wolf wants Pennsylvania
income, sales tax increase
By Karen Langley / Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau March 3, 2015 12:00 AM
In his first budget, the Democratic governor, who unseated
Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, faces the task of closing a revenue shortfall
estimated at $2 billion while meeting campaign pledges such as increasing state
funding for education.
His plan for doing so includes a proposal to raise the personal
income tax rate in July 2015 from 3.07 percent to 3.7 percent, while increasing
the eligibility for a poverty exemption, according to a briefing document
prepared by the administration. He will propose increasing the state sales tax
in July 2016 from 6 to 6.6 percent while broadening what the tax applies to,
but keeping food, clothing and prescription drugs exempt, according to the
document. (Allegheny
County
Proposal: $3 billion more
for Pennsylvania
By Evan Grossman / March 2,
2015 Watchdog.org
Hornbeck: Charter schools do
not equal education reform
Chartering schools is
not an education reform; it's merely a change in governance.
David W. Hornbeck was Maryland State
As Philadelphia 's
Superintendent of Schools, I recommended the approval of more than 30 charter
schools because I thought it would improve educational opportunity for our
215,000 students. The last 20 years make it clear I was wrong.
Those advocating change in Maryland 's charter law through proposed
legislation are equally committed to educational improvement. They are equally
wrong. New policy should not build on current inequities and flawed assumptions,
as the proposed charter law changes would do.
"The bill also creates a panel made up
of members of the House, Senate, Department of Education and the State Board of
Education as well as representatives from charter schools and public school
districts. This panel will be tasked with coming up with a recommendation for
funding and other matters for charter and cyber-charter schools.
HB530: Charter school reform
bill clears PA house education committee
A bill aimed at reforming the way charter and cyber-charter
schools are funded and changing the way those schools are evaluated cleared its
first hurdle last week with approval from the House education committee. House Bill 530, introduced by Rep. Michael
Reese, R-Westmoreland
County
Currently, the public school district a student comes from pays
the tuition for that child to attend charter and cyber-charter. The payment is
based on the amount the district would normally spend to educate the child, and
lawmakers say the payments need to more accurately reflect charter school's
costs. House Bill 530 allows districts
to deduct certain costs such as food services from the calculation when paying
cyber-charter schools. By law, the
online schools cannot provide lunch to their students, but their compensation
includes the amount public schools spend feeding children, according to state
Rep. Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Township, chairman of the education committee.
Wolf to outline plan to expand
charter-school accountability
Philly.com by PETER JACKSON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LAST UPDATED: Monday, March 2, 2015,
5:11 PM POSTED: Monday, March 2, 2015, 2:42 PM
The Democrat "will discuss greater charter oversight in
his budget," spokesman Jeff Sheridan said Monday of Wolf's scheduled
speech before a joint session of the Legislature.
Campaign for Fair Education
Funding Update Monday March 2, 2015
The Campaign for Fair Education Funding introduced a
proposed Basic Education funding formula last week that is predictable,
sustainable, and strategically directs resources to students and school
districts with the greatest needs. The formula provides the investment
necessary to enable every child to succeed academically.
The Patriot News reported that, "A coalition of
educational, business, child advocacy, faith and community groups has crafted a
school funding formula that they believe would lead to an equitable
student-driven method of distributing state dollars for public
schools."
WESA quotes Joan Benso, President & CEO of PA
Partnerships for Children, a campaign partner, who said that, "We're
saying to the general assembly, the governor and the Basic Ed Commission that
as you continue this work this winter and spring through the commission and
through the budget to more rationally fund Pennsylvania's schools that there
are some critical elements that you cannot ignore, and you need to
consider."
Please check out the campaign's NEWS RELEASE and EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of the formula and share with
friends and colleagues.
Local educators are hopeful
for Wolf’s spending plan
Area educators are hoping to see increased state funding for their
school districts when Gov. Tom Wolf proposes a budget today. “As with most school districts, we are hoping
for the best, but we understand that Gov. Wolf just took office and our
expectations remain realistic,” Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent
Bernard Prevuznak said. “Change takes time, but at least we have the support of
a governor who is a friend to public education.”
Increased funding for education was a major plank in Wolf’s
campaign. Wolf has said he wants to increase the state share of school funding,
from the approximately one-third now to half.
“Since the governor is trying to balance a budget with a $2
billion deficit, and rising pension costs, I am trying to be a realist,”
Pittston Area School District Superintendent Michael Garzella said. “I believe
the governor has good intentions related to educational funding; however many
obstacles must be overcome before our schools begin to see 50-percent state
funding levels.”
As new SRC chair, Neff plans
to continue teamwork
WHYY Newsworks BY LAURA
BENSHOFF MARCH 3, 2015
Gov. Tom Wolf called -- and newly named Philadelphia School
Reform Commission chair Marjorie Neff answered.
Neff replaced former Gov. Tom Corbett appointee Bill Green as chair of
the SRC, a position with responsibilities such as setting the agenda for
meetings and signing all district contracts.
But Neff, a former principal of Julia R. Masterman, a special admissions
district-run school, said she's not expecting to shake things up. "I'm a
collaborator, I'm interested in making sure all voices are heard," she
said the day after the shakeup. "So I don't think there's going to be any
changes." As for new directions,
Neff said she is "just trying to support the governor in his reinvestment
in public education." Green has
"graciously" stated he would work with her, Neff added. "We work as a team together," said
Green, who said he didn't expect the decisions coming out of the SRC to change
with new leadership.
Five things to know about
Marjorie Neff
Retired principal
to replace Green as SRC chair
EMILY BABAY, PHILLY.COM
LAST UPDATED: Monday, March 2, 2015, 9:58 AM
Marjorie Neff is the new leader of the Philadelphia School
Reform Commission, after Gov. Tom Wolf stripped Bill Green of the chairmanship over the
weekend. Green's ousting came just days
after the SRC's controversial approval of five new charter schools in the
district.
Wolf asked Neff, an SRC commissioner and retired Philadelphia School District
Analysis: The SRC Can’t Win
Heads: You lose your
job. Tails: You lose funding. There’s got to be a better way to govern Philadelphia
Philly Mag BY JOEL MATHIS | MARCH
2, 2015 AT 3:10 PM
Now we know for sure: There is no good way to govern Philadelphia schools —
because all attempts to do so will end in tears. Today, those tears belong to Bill Green,
who gave up a council seat last year to make a longshot bet that he could lead Philadelphia schools into
a new, brighter era. Now he’s apparently lost that bet, pending the outcome of
a legal challenge — but the issues exposed by his untimely fall from grace have not. The Philadelphia School District Philadelphia school district — lo these many
years ago — was that the state would speak with something like one voice. Yes,
the governor gets to choose three of the School Reform Commission’s five
members, and three people can generate disagreement on any topic. But the
direction from Harrisburg ,
at least, was supposed to be somewhat consistent.
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/03/02/analysis-philly-schools-now-ungovernablej/#otCzPWd1a2kkujkR.99
Philly’s Mayoral Candidates
Pretty Much Cool With Wolf’s Ouster of Green
One jokes that Wolf
“should fire everyone and get a new team.”
Philly Mag Citified BY HOLLY OTTERBEIN | MARCH
2, 2015 AT 1:58 PM
Most of Philadelphia’s mayoral candidates either
agree with Gov. Tom Wolf‘s shocking decision this week to remove Bill
Green as chairman of the city’s School Reform Commission, or
believe that it was his choice to make. After Green defied Wolf’s
call to approve no new charter schools, Wolf tapped Marjorie Neff, a
former school principal, to be the new head of the SRC.
None of the candidates polled said they outright disagree
with Wolf's move. Green said it may be illegal, and he is planning to challenge
Wolf's decision in court.
The Brief: Is Bill Green’s
Political Future Over?
And other questions
about Gov. Wolf’s bold move.
Philly Mag Citified BY HOLLY OTTERBEIN | MARCH
2, 2015 AT 6:38 AM
Gov. Tom Wolf sure isn’t pulling any punches.
In a move that has shocked many, Wolf announced Sunday that he is yanking Bill
Green from his position as chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform
Commission and naming retired school principal Marjorie Neff as the
new chair. What's this all about? Green
is an appointee of Wolf's predecessor, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.
Perhaps more significantly, against Wolf's recommendation, Green voted last month to approve the creation of
seven new charter schools (five were ultimately OKed). Neff, on the other hand, voted
against all of the proposed charters.
When asked if Wolf removed Green at least partly because of
his vote, Wolf spokesman Jeffrey Sheridan said,
"Wolf thought it was irresponsible to approve five new charter schools at
a time when the school district cannot afford the approval of any new charter
schools. However, the governor made this move because he believes the district
cannot continue down its current path, which is putting our children at a
disadvantage. The governor named Marjorie Neff as chair because she supports
his vision for the School
District of Philadelphia
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/citified/2015/03/02/the-brief-bill-greens-political-future-over/#LBrXWcg5P5krvWmP.99
How to Ensure and Improve
Teacher Quality
New York Times Room for Debate UPDATED MARCH 3, 2015 3:30
AM
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed major
changes to teacher evaluations in New
York . The changes emphasize student scores on
standardized tests as a way to rate a teacher’s performance. It is a trend that
is popping up across the country, raising concerns amongteachers, administrators and
public school parents, some of whom are refusing to
let their children take the exams. If
this approach is not the way to go and yet American students are still
academically behind their peers in other countries, how do we ensure and
improve teacher quality such that student success is a given?
Walton Family Foundation
stepping back from Milwaukee
Alan J. Borsuk is senior fellow in law and public policy at Marquette University Law
School
"We have decided to make grants where we can have the
highest impact, which means working in the places that we believe are most ripe
for improving our education system."
Read that sentence and you know that it isn't coming from
someone happy with the education landscape in Milwaukee .
In fact, the statement is from the Walton Family
Foundation, the huge philanthropy of the family of the founders of Wal-Mart
Stores Inc. The foundation is pulling back from a long, strong commitment to
"education reform" in Milwaukee . The Walton decision is important in itself.
The foundation has given several million dollars a year to Milwaukee schools and education
organizations. But it is also important
in a broader context. Walton is joining a significant list of national players
who in one way or another have entered the Milwaukee scene and then departed or reduced
their interest.
I came, I got involved, I got frustrated, I didn't see much
change, I moved on. That has been the summary of a parade of those who
have found Milwaukee
a difficult environment for change.
And there are others (the large and impressive KIPP network of charter
schools comes to my mind first) that have declined even to try Milwaukee for similar reasons. Fifteen years ago, Milwaukee was called by some "ground
zero" for school reform. Now, you rarely see national attention to Milwaukee education, at
least not for positive reasons. The Walton decision underscores that.
PSBA Members Only: Annual
Pennsylvania
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
Education Law Center
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.
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.
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
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.
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/
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.
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/
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:
Thank you for sharing that post.
ReplyDeleteEducational Company in India, Global Schools in India