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
7, 2015:
As Wolf pushes budget plan,
Republican senators warn schools not to count on new money
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
"We are not going to address any new
revenue until we get pension reform, period," said Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre County.
Solving Pa.'s public pension
problem a toughie for state leaders
By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter
Solving Pennsylvania's pension problem has eluded state leaders for more than decade but it's not for lack of trying. The $50 billion-plus debt that two state public pension systems have accrued for benefits owed to current and future retirees has given birth to a number of ideas that have gone nowhere. On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf added a new plan to the mix. On Wednesday, a faction of mostly conservative House members, led by Rep. John McGinnis, R-Blair, offered another. And soon, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh County, will propose yet another. To hear the House and Senate Republican leaders talk on Tuesday following Wolf's budget address, they plan to use their interest in achieving pension reform as leverage against Wolf's desire to increase taxes and spending.
Solving Pennsylvania's pension problem has eluded state leaders for more than decade but it's not for lack of trying. The $50 billion-plus debt that two state public pension systems have accrued for benefits owed to current and future retirees has given birth to a number of ideas that have gone nowhere. On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf added a new plan to the mix. On Wednesday, a faction of mostly conservative House members, led by Rep. John McGinnis, R-Blair, offered another. And soon, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh County, will propose yet another. To hear the House and Senate Republican leaders talk on Tuesday following Wolf's budget address, they plan to use their interest in achieving pension reform as leverage against Wolf's desire to increase taxes and spending.
Governor Tom
Wolf's proposed budget restores $1 billion in funding to education and cuts
property taxes. See how you and your community benefit:
Governor Tom Wolf's website 03/05/2015
Gov. Wolf visits Allentown
elementary school to sell proposed education spending
By Edward
Sieger | The Express-Times Email the author on March 06, 2015 at
12:57 PM
As he campaigned last year for governor, Gov. Tom Wolf said
he heard about the need for property tax relief and the importance of
education. And he heard the call from all areas of the state, from rich and
poor, from Democrats and Republicans. "I'm
assuming everyone in the (state) legislature heard the same thing," Wolf
said Friday. The first-term Democrat
made his comments standing in the library of Muhlenberg Elementary School in
Allentown, where he was selling his budget
proposals that dramatically increase education funding, slashes
property taxes and increases other taxes to pay for his vision.
"Along with the tour, Wolf has
launched a Schools that Teachwebsite that tells how much each district
would save in property taxes and under cybercharter school reform proposed in
his budget. Allentown, for example,
would see a $64.2 million reduction in property taxes and $1.1 million in
savings under cybercharter reform. A
suburban district such as East Penn would see less — a $13.5 million reduction
in property taxes and $368,000 savings in cybercharter costs."
Wolf on increased school
spending: 'This is what the people want'
By Jacqueline
Palochko Of The Morning Call March
6, 2015
Coming back to the Allentown school where he pledged last fall
to make education a top priority, Gov. Tom Wolf again underscored the need for more funding
and reform in public education. The
Democrat toured Muhlenberg Elementary School on Friday morning, days after he
proposed a 2015-16 budget that would restructure and raise taxes to give a
substantial increase to the financially struggling Allentown School District
and significantly cut property taxes. Wolf
was last at the school on North 21st Street during a campaign stop in November.
Friday's visit was part of his Schools that Teach tour. He also stopped at
Downingtown STEM Academy High School in Chester County this week and will be
touring other schools across the state to promote his budget.
As Wolf pushes budget plan,
Republican senators warn schools
Lancaster Online by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 03/06/2015 8:41
PM
HARRISBURG, PA. Gov. Tom Wolf took his campaign for a
state budget with more education funding to Allentown on Friday, while school
superintendents got a letter from Republican Senate leaders warning them not to
count on the new money. Wolf said people
across the state have told him they want schools — and property tax relief — to
be priorities, and he emphasized the role schools play in the state's economy. "If we want a strong economy, we need a
good education system," Wolf said. The
letter sent this week by four high-ranking Republican state senators advised
districts not to factor in Wolf's proposal as they craft preliminary budgets.
Senate Republicans warn
school officials about budget proposal
Post Gazette Early Returns Blog Published by Karen Langley
on Friday, 06 March 2015 4:06 pm.
Senate Republicans are warning Pennsylvania school officials
against counting on the funding increases that Gov. Tom Wolf proposed this
week. A letter that went out after his
address:
Dear Superintendent:
As you know, earlier this week Governor Tom Wolf unveiled his
FY 2015-16 proposed state budget. Given the extraordinary level of spending
increases proposed in the Governor's overall plan, we encourage you to take a
conservative approach to your state revenue estimates and advise against
adjusting your school district's preliminary budget to reflect his education
proposal.
Education funding is a significant priority in each year's
budget; however, it must be put in the context of the overall budget picture,
both in terms of expenditures and revenues. The proposed budget recommends a
$400 million increase in the basic education subsidy while the overall budget
includes historic revenue and spending escalations that necessitate $4.7
billion in tax increases that are unsupported throughout the General Assembly.
We recognize the difficult task school administrators have in
making decisions about anticipated revenue from the Commonwealth given that the
full extent of the Governor's proposed increases may not be contained in the
Commonwealth's final budget. The Senate remains committed to addressing the
underlying fiscal cost drivers of school districts, most importantly pension
reform.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. As the critical
work of ensuring the overall financial stability of the Commonwealth continues,
know that we will advocate for education funding to be a priority during budget
conversations.
Sincerely,
Senator Joe Scarnati
Senator Jake Corman
Senator Pat Browne
Senator John Gordner
Senate GOP leaders warn
superintendents not to expect Wolf's historic increase in school funding
Penn Live By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 06, 2015 at 6:17 PM, updated March 06, 2015 at 6:19 PM
on March 06, 2015 at 6:17 PM, updated March 06, 2015 at 6:19 PM
Two days after Gov. Tom Wolf proposed making a historic investment in education, superintendents had their
hopes dashed of seeing that history being made courtesy of the Senate
Republican leaders. A letter sent out to
these school officials on Thursday urged them to take a cautionary approach
when developing their district budgets for the next school year.
"Given the extraordinary level of spending increases proposed
in the governor's overall plan, we encourage you to take a conservative
approach to your state revenue estimates and advise against adjusting your
school district's preliminary budget to reflect his education proposal,"
it stated. The letter signed by Senate
President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati of Jefferson County, Senate Majority Leader
Jake Corman of Centre County, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat
Browne of Lehigh County, and Senate Majority Whip John Gordner of Columbia
County goes on to say education funding is always a priority in every year's
state budget but it must be put in context of the total budget picture.
Wolf Administration Denounces
Senate Republicans ‘Just Saying No’ To Helping Schools
Governor Tom Wolf's website 03/06/2015
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today
denounced a letter sent by the Senate Republican leadership to school districts
across the state. The letter warned district superintendents to lower their
expectations about the levels of funding to be provided by the commonwealth in
the 2015-2016 budget. On Tuesday, Governor Wolf presented a budget proposal
calling for the restoration of massive cuts made over the past four years to
Pennsylvania’s struggling schools. The Senate Republicans’ response rejected
this push for a historic reinvestment in education.
“Unfortunately, the Republican leadership is just saying no to
challenging the status quo by putting forth the same old Harrisburg obstruction
instead of real ideas to help Pennsylvania’s struggling public schools,” Wolf
spokesman Jeff Sheridan said. “Governor Wolf has proposed a bold and expansive
plan to reinvest in our schools and our economic future. The Governor called
for robust debate and collaboration in his budget address. This is the opposite
of that. This is a political stunt.” In
contrast to the negative expectations being set by Republican leaders, Governor
Wolf’s budget sets the table for historic investments in education. Over the
last four years schools across Pennsylvania have suffered from $1 billion cuts
that led to massive layoffs, huge property tax increases, and the elimination
of valuable programs. The data also shows that as education classroom funding
fell, so did student scores in reading and math.
How would Gov. Wolf's
proposed tax shifts affect you? Here are 8 scenarios
Penn Live By Teresa Bonner |
tbonner@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 06, 2015 at 6:46 PM, updated March 07, 2015 at 6:59 AM
on March 06, 2015 at 6:46 PM, updated March 07, 2015 at 6:59 AM
Gov. Tom Wolf's budget is proposing to raise the state's
personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.7 percent, increase the sales tax
from 6 to 6.6 percent and broaden the number of items to which it will apply,
and use the money raised from those tax increases to reduce school property
taxes. His administration said most
families will pay less under his plan, with the average family receiving a net
tax decrease of about 13 percent. But
the determination of who gains and who loses depends on several factors - income,
whether you own or rent your home, which school district you live in, and how
much you spend on taxable items each year.
To try to give a clearer idea of what effect the tax plan could
have on an individual, PennLive calculated how large a reduction in homeowners
in different school districts would see in their school property tax homestead
exemption.
What happens to your taxes
under Wolf's budget plan?
WHYY Newsworks BY SHAI
BEN-YAACOV MARCH 6, 2015
So what does Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed budget mean for the
average Pennsylvanian living in the Philadelphia area? Let me introduce you to
two of my friends.
"About 400,000 Philadelphians live in
poverty. That's close to the total population of Pittsburgh and Allentown
combined - the state's second- and third-largest cities. It includes nearly
four out of every 10 children in Philadelphia."
Reducing poverty would
benefit all Philadelphians
PHIL GOLDSMITH, FOR
THE INQUIRER OSTED: Sunday, March 1, 2015, 3:01 AM
Phil Goldsmith has
been managing director of Philadelphia and chief executive officer of the
Philadelphia School District.
Several years ago, I offered to give a new resident of Philadelphia a tour of the city. She was grateful but declined. Having lived in the suburbs, she said she knew Philadelphia quite well. After some back and forth, it was clear what she knew was Center City. My tour included the other Philadelphia: the good, the bad, and the ugly. One Philadelphia is vibrant. New condos, ample restaurants, an exciting cultural scene, fashionable shops - something for every generation from millennials to baby boomers. The energy is palpable as you walk the streets - safely.
Several years ago, I offered to give a new resident of Philadelphia a tour of the city. She was grateful but declined. Having lived in the suburbs, she said she knew Philadelphia quite well. After some back and forth, it was clear what she knew was Center City. My tour included the other Philadelphia: the good, the bad, and the ugly. One Philadelphia is vibrant. New condos, ample restaurants, an exciting cultural scene, fashionable shops - something for every generation from millennials to baby boomers. The energy is palpable as you walk the streets - safely.
But there is the other Philadelphia, where poverty lives and
gives birth to unemployment, crime, high dropout rates, and, worst of all,
hopelessness. For many people, this part
of Philadelphia is out of sight and out of mind.
DN Editorial: Does $105M =
education?
It just might, if
put in the able hands of Superintendent Hite
Philly Daily News Editorial POSTED: Friday, March 6, 2015,
12:17 AM
IN HIS BUDGET address, Mayor Nutter framed his proposal to
raise $105 million for the school by raising property taxes by 9.3 percent in
this way: "I don't want to raise your taxes, but I do want to educate our
children." But, do we have any
guarantee that the money raised by higher taxes will meet that goal? Will Philadelphia's public-school students,
many of whom lag so far behind in the basics, really be educated?
The Drama of the SRC
Governor Wolf wants
Marjorie Neff to be the SRC’s last chair. But then what?
The Philadelphia Citizen by Jeremy Nowak March 6, 2015
Last Sunday, Governor Wolf replaced Bill Green as the School
Reform Commission Chair with longtime public school educator and fellow SRC
member, Marjorie Neff. What does this
tell us about the Governor ‘s SRC strategy, his broader perspective on public
education and overall governance? I interpret the move through three lenses:
politics, temperament, and policy.
Governor Wolf, like you, we are committed to reversing the
academic failure of the York
City School
District York City School District York ,
is not likely to improve student performance. The real causes of the failure
are:
Poor governance and leadership;
Lack of workforce accountability and flexibility;
Lack of innovation and creativity;
Lack of consistent implementation of pedagogy.
Such a broken, dysfunctional system cannot be fixed simply by
throwing more money into it.
That only makes a failed and dysfunctional system more
expensive and provides no return on investment.
Kline says House will still
vote on ESEA rewrite
Education Dive By Roger Riddell | March
5, 2015
·
Dive Brief:
·
Despite a setback late in February, U.S. Rep.
John Kline (R-MN) still expects a vote on the House rewrite of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act.
·
The House education committee chairman says
conservative opposition to the rewrite of the law, also known by the name of
its Bush-era reauthorization, No Child Left Behind, caught him off-guard,
attributing it not just to groups like Heritage Action for America and
Club for Growth, but also a blog post that it would reinforce Common Core and
give the government authority in private schools.
·
What the bill would actually do, if passed, is
maintain the annual testing status quo, allow more authority on the state level
regarding how federal funds are spent and failing schools are addressed, bar
the U.S. education secretary from imposing standards or conditions in exchange
for waivers, and allow public ed dollars to follow low-income students to other
schools, among other things.
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/.
Nominations for PSBA offices
now open: Deadline April 30th
PSBA Leadership
Development Committee seeks strong leaders for the association
Members interested in becoming the next leaders of PSBA are
encouraged to complete an Application for Nomination no later than April
30. As a member-driven association, the Leadership Development
Committee (LDC) is seeking nominees with strong skills in leadership and
communication, and who have vision for PSBA. Persons seeking consideration for
a position as an officer or at-large representative of the Association shall
file at PSBA headquarters to the attention of the Leadership Development
Committee chair in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL an Application
for Nomination on the form approved by the PSBA Governing Board,
accompanied by a photograph, letters of recommendation and such other
supporting materials as may be specified on the Application for Nomination form
for the purpose of further documenting the candidate’s involvement in
activities of the association, relevant community service and leadership
experiences or other qualifications.
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
PCCY Spring Training:
Hit a School Funding Home Run for Kids Advocacy Training Workshop
March 18 or 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.
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.
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:
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