Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now
reach more than 3550 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, faith-based organizations, labor organizations,
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
Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for April 17, 2015:
Senate
Education Committee Unanimously Passes Bipartisan ESEA Rewrite
Lehigh Valley Forum on School Funding April 22, 7:00-8:30
Penn State Lehigh Valley , 2809
Saucon Valley Rd , Center Valley , PA 18034
The entrance is at the back of the building and parking is available in lots by the school.
The entrance is at the back of the building and parking is available in lots by the school.
Confirmed panelists include:
Dr. Bill Haberl, superintendent, Pen Argyl Area SD
Dr. Joe Roy, superintendent, Bethlehem Area SD
Mr. Rich Sniscak, superintendent, Parkland SD
Mr. Russ Giordano, school board director, Salisbury Township SD
Dr. Russ Mayo, superintendent, Allentown SD
Ms. Stacy Gober, CFO, Bethlehem Area SD
Ms. Susan Gobreski, Executive Director, Education Voters of PA
Moderator: Roberta Marcus, School Board Director, Parkland SD
Dr. Bill Haberl, superintendent, Pen Argyl Area SD
Dr. Joe Roy, superintendent, Bethlehem Area SD
Mr. Rich Sniscak, superintendent, Parkland SD
Mr. Russ Giordano, school board director, Salisbury Township SD
Dr. Russ Mayo, superintendent, Allentown SD
Ms. Stacy Gober, CFO, Bethlehem Area SD
Ms. Susan Gobreski, Executive Director, Education Voters of PA
Moderator: Roberta Marcus, School Board Director, Parkland SD
Register HERE to attend
the Lehigh Valley education forum.
Voters wishing
to cast ballot in May 19 primary must register by Monday
By The
Tribune-Review Thursday, April 16, 2015, 2:42 p.m.
Voters wishing to cast a ballot in the May 19 primary election must register by Monday.
Voters wishing to cast a ballot in the May 19 primary election must register by Monday.
People
can register in person at their county's election office or by mail using a
form available online atwww.votespa.com or
many state and county government agencies, military recruitment centers and
post office branches. Mail must be postmarked by Monday. Voters who have moved, changed names or
switched party affiliations must notify their county election officials of the
changes by Monday. Voters can confirm
their registration at www.votespa.com.
State legislators see possible increase in
education funding this year, but questions linger
By Mary
Niederberger / Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette April 16, 2015 10:15 PM
No
promises were made and no specific amounts were mentioned, but a group of state
legislators who gathered Thursday night to discuss public education said they
believe an increase in education funding could come this year. “I am optimistic. I really believe we will
get something done,” said Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, at a legislative
forum hosted by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. State Rep. Hal English, R-Shaler, also
expressed optimism but warned that Gov. Tom Wolf's proposal to increase basic
education funding by $400 million and special education funding by $100 million
is “the high-water mark.” “We will see
where the real numbers are,” Mr. English said.
Members of both political parties said the question they must answer
before any commitments to increased funding can be made is where the money
would come from.
Many More Philly Students Are Opting Out
of State Exams
486 students have opted out of
testing this year. Only 20 did last year. The opt-out movement is growing
exponentially.
Philly Mag BY JOEL MATHIS | APRIL
15, 2015 AT 4:50 PM
It would
appear the opt-out movement has momentum: Philadelphia School
District officials said this week that the
families of 486 students in grades 3 through 8 have asked to be excused from
taking standardized tests — a dramatic increase over the mere 20 who opted out
last year.
That
growth is “remarkable,” said Kelley
Collings, a teacher and activist with the Caucus of Working Educators who has helped lead efforts
to encourage Philadelphia
parents to opt their children out of standardized tests. “The numbers are still growing,” she said via
email. “As more parents and students understand they have the right to opt out,
word is spreading.”
Students
in grades 3 through 8 are taking the Pennsylvania Standardized System of
Assessment tests this week. A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Education
said today her department would not have statewide data on opt-outs available
until July, but that about 1,000 students across the state opted out last year. The movement doesn’t appear to be limited to Philadelphia . NewsWorks reports that
roughly 200 students in the Lower Merion
district have also opted out.
Read
more at http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/04/15/philadelphia-opt-out-standardized-tests/#WQyHEZ2GxhSTWiMY.99
What would
proposed budget increases buy Philadelphia Schools?
WHYY
Newsworks BY LAURA BENSHOFF
APRIL 16, 2015
Four
years after Pennsylvania state budget cuts
reduced recurring funding for Philadelphia
classrooms by $294 million dollars, Mayor Michael Nutter and Gov. Tom Wolf
propose to put nearly that much money back into the Philadelphia School
District . For
its part, the school district is showing — not telling — what the added $264
million dollars would do, by holding a series of community budget meetings at
neighborhood schools. Nearly
three-quarters of the money would go directly to schools, according to Matt
Stanski, the district's chief financial officer.
"The
change that we want to see is going to happen at the school, and that's where
the resources need to go," Stanski said at the first meeting, held at
Northeast High School .
Around
20 parents, teachers and students joined school district officials in the
Northeast auditorium, where Stanski laid out the District's budget numbers.
Which of these
Philly mayoral candidates will best improve city schools?
WHYY
Newsworks BY KEVIN MCCORRY
APRIL 16, 2015
There's
a few concrete things to zero in on.
"The approval of this
resolution was a response to presentations given during the April 7 work
session by Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Legislative Services and Grants
Development Director Tina Viletto and Lawrence Feinberg, a member of The
Circuit Riders — a group that is campaigning for fair education funding in the
state. The pair talked about the
education funding dilemma in the state, the Campaign for Fair Education Funding
and encouraged the board to contact legislatures about the issue. The campaign
is an initiative being spearheaded by about 50 educational, religious and
business organizations working to develop their own funding formula proposal."
North Penn Reporter By Jarreau Freeman, jfreeman@21st-centurymedia.com, @JarreauFreeman on Twitter POSTED: 04/16/15, 10:23 PM
EDT | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO
Lansdale
>> The North Penn School Board doesn’t seem to be shy about wanting a new
basic education funding formula, and at Thursday night’s action meeting the
board unanimously approved a resolution urging the Pennsylvania General to do
just that. Pennsylvania currently has no funding
formula. “We need a funding formula,
instead of them taking a dart and throwing it at a wall,” Board President
Vincent Sherpinsky said prior to the vote.
Pennsylvania ’s
contribution to basic education funding went from being more than 50 percent of
the budget in the mid-1970s to less than 35 percent today. Pennsylvania ranks 47th among the 50 states
in the amount of state subsidies it gives to support elementary and secondary
education. The state ranks eighth regarding its reliance on taxpayer dollars to
fund education, according to the resolution.
On average, other states contribute 44 percent of their budget to
education funding, the resolution said.
"The biggest increase in
the budget is the contribution to the Pennsylvania Public School
Employees' Retirement System, a hike of $905,000 next year, which equals a
24.02 percent increase from this year. The PSERS rate will be 25.84 percent,
compared to 21.40 percent this year."
By Tricia Kline | Special to PennLive on
April 16, 2015 at 9:02 PM
DILLSBURG--The
proposed 2015-16 budget for Northern
York County
School District includes
a 2.4 percent increase in taxes. The
school board on Thursday night unanimously approved, with a vote of 6-0, the
$45,620,419 tentative budget, which equates to about a $56 increase for
properties with a value of $150,000. Absent
from the meeting were board members Elisabeth Grinder-McLean, Michael Barndt,
and John Price. The millage rate
increases from 15.6296 to 16.0047. The
expenditure amount represents a more than $3 million, or 7.09 percent increase
over this year's budget, and the 2.4 percent tax increase is within the Act 1
index allowed by the state. With
revenues totaling $43,172,789, fund balance money will be used to pay for the
deficit of just under $2.5 million, leaving a projected fund balance of $6.1
million as of June 30, 2016.
ARCHBALD
— Valley View School District ’s
first look at its 2015-16 budget brought a bleak outlook with a near-$1 million
funding shortfall. District Business
Manager Corey Castellani gave his initial budget presentation to the board of
directors during Wednesday’s work session, estimating next school year’s
expenses at $30.6 million. Anticipated revenue is $29.7 million. Aside
from cutting costs, which Mr. Castellani said would dramatically affect how the
district operates, the district that serves students from Archbald, Blakely and
Jessup has several options to balance the budget.
By Elizabeth Gibson | Special to PennLive on
April 14, 2015 at 2:47 PM
In its
second comprehensive discussion on a proposed 2015-16
spending plan,Carlisle Area School Board members considered new ways
to close the revenue shortfall. At the
same time, board members agreed to sign on to a Pennsylvania Schools Boards
initiative to call for action from state lawmakers to improve school funding. The board likely will vote this week in
favor of three resolutions that call
on the General Assembly to change school funding formulas.
More funding,
less ideology would help Pa. ’s
public schools
Lancaster Online Opinion by STEVEN HEFFNER |SPECIAL
TO LNP April 16, 2015
Steven Heffner, a McCaskey High School teacher, is
president of the Lancaster Education Association, the union representing
teachers in the School District
of Lancaster .
Earth to
Harrisburg …
The most recent Franklin & Marshall
College Poll reveals that Pennsylvania
registered voters’ No. 1 priority is an increase in the state’s share of
education funding. The finding isn’t terribly surprising, given the steady
drumbeat of research over the past year showing that Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s most
inequitable school funding systems and one of the nation’s lowest shares of
state spending on education. Unfortunately,
Sen. Ryan Aument’s recent column (“Protecting effective teachers to promote
quality education,” Op-Ed, April 1), unless a clever April Fools’ Day joke,
demonstrates the distance that remains between voters and some Harrisburg politicians. After a five-year span that saw Pennsylvania ’s education
workforce decline by more than 20,000, Aument argues that a new approach to
teacher furloughs will “improve educational outcomes for our children.” After
record state disinvestment in public schools, he notes that “more government
spending serves only to mask problems and deter genuine reform.”
Letter: The Revolt Over Standardized Tests
in New York Schools
New York
Times LTE APRIL 17, 2015
To
the Editor:
Re “Some
Parents Oppose Standardized Testing in Principle, but Not in Practice”
(news article, April 14): On April 15
and 16, the days after a record number of students “opted out” of New York
State standardized tests in English language arts, not a single word in this
paper was dedicated to this groundswell of grass-roots opposition to Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo’s testing and evaluation scheme. While statistics are difficult to compile, it
is clear that parents, in large numbers, are openly protesting what they see as
state political leaders eroding the quality of public schools and siphoning
local control away from them. It is also an example of politically strange
bedfellows, liberal and conservative, acting in concert.
Senate
Education Committee Unanimously Passes Bipartisan ESEA Rewrite
Education
Week Politics K-12 Blog By Lauren Camera on April 16, 2015 3:01
PM
In a calculated
and largely fireworks-free markup of a bipartisan Elementary and Secondary
Education Act rewrite, members of the U.S. Senate education
committee approved the measure 22-0 Thursday amid much back-slapping and
promises to continue working across the aisle. "The
vote today is about how we conducted this markup," said Sen. Lamar
Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman and co-author of the bill, who worked closely
in crafting the measure with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the ranking
member. "I can tell Sen. Murray was a preschool teacher ... [because]
she plays well with others."
Senate
Committee Makes Progress On Updates To Education Law
Huffington Post by KEVIN FREKING Posted: 04/15/2015 6:59 pm
EDT Updated: 04/15/2015 10:59 pm EDT
WASHINGTON
(AP) -- A Senate committee made progress Wednesday on a bipartisan update to
the No Child Left Behind education law with a final vote expected Thursday
afternoon. In all,
the committee has passed 24 amendments and defeated six. Dozens more amendments
were debated but withdrawn as lawmakers sought to find common ground and leave
some of the tougher fights for later. Lawmakers
are intent on ensuring that schools continue to use annual standardized tests
to measure student performance. But they are moving toward letting states
determine how much weight to give the tests in evaluating school performance.
The move is in response to frequent criticism that the federal government is
playing too great a role in shaping what is taught in the classroom.
National School Boards Association Calls
ECAA Vote 'A Great Victory'
NSBA Press Release April 16, 2015
“Today
marks a great victory for local and community leadership in public education,”
said Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director, National School Boards Association.
“Though there is much more work to be done, today’s powerful vote demonstrates
that we are one step closer to rewriting the broken No Child Left Behind Act
and modernizing ESEA.”
Selected
highlights from this week’s mark-up of interest to local school board members
include:
- See
more at: https://www.nsba.org/newsroom/press-releases/national-school-boards-association-calls-ecaa-vote-great-victory#sthash.fGERiIx1.dpuf
You're
invited to our 2015 YEA! Philadelphia
Investor Panel Competition on April 22nd at Rosemont College! 5:30 meet &
greet; 6:30 Presentations
Young Entrepreneurs Academy - Philadelphia
and suburban middle schoolers make presentations to a panel of local investors
to obtain funding for their business/social movements. We hope you can join us for this fun and
inspiring event. Registration is FREE:
DISTRICT TO HOLD SEVEN
COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETINGS
Wednesday,
April 15
Wednesday,
April 22
Tuesday,
April 28
Wednesday,
May 6
Tuesday,
May 12
Thursday,
May 14
Congreso, 216 West Somerset St .
Wednesday,
May 20
Nominations for PSBA
offices closes April 30
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. The positions open are:
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. The positions open are:
- 2016 President Elect (one-year term)
- 2016 Vice President (one-year term)
- 2016 Eastern Section at Large
Representative - includes Regions 7, 8, 10, 11 and 15 (three-year
term)
Complete details on
the nomination process, including scheduled dates for nominee interviews, can
be found online by clicking here.
Please join Education Voters, school
officials, community leaders and guest legislators at upcoming community forums
in the Lehigh Valley, central PA, and Southeastern PA to discuss school
funding and state funding policy. Click HERE for more details.
Pre-registration for the forum is recommended, but not necessary.
Lehigh Valley Forum April 22,
7:00-8:30
Penn State Lehigh
Valley , 2809 Saucon Valley Rd , Center Valley , PA 18034
The entrance is at the back of the building and parking is available in lots by the school.
The entrance is at the back of the building and parking is available in lots by the school.
Confirmed panelists
include:
Dr. Bill Haberl, superintendent, Pen Argyl Area SD
Dr. Joe Roy, superintendent, Bethlehem Area SD
Mr. Rich Sniscak, superintendent,Parkland SD
Mr. Russ Giordano, school board director,Salisbury
Township SD
Dr. Bill Haberl, superintendent, Pen Argyl Area SD
Dr. Joe Roy, superintendent, Bethlehem Area SD
Mr. Rich Sniscak, superintendent,
Mr. Russ Giordano, school board director,
Ms. Stacy Gober,
CFO, Bethlehem Area SD
Ms. Susan Gobreski,
Executive Director, Education Voters of PA
Moderator: Roberta
Marcus, School Board Director, Parkland SD
Register HERE to attend the Lehigh Valley education forum.
Central PA education forum
Tuesday,
April 28, 6:30-8:30
Grace Lutheran Church (in Harkins Hall), 205 S. Garner Street, State College
Grace Lutheran Church (in Harkins Hall), 205 S. Garner Street, State College
Panelists
Dr. Cheryl Potteiger, superintendent, Bellefonte Area School District
Ms. Kelly Hastings, superintendent, Keystone Central School District
Mr. James Estep, superintendent, Mifflin County School District
Mr. Sean Daubert, CFO, Mifflin County School District
Dr. Robert O’Donnell, superintendent, State College Area School District
Mr. David Hutchison, school board member, State College Area School District
Ms. Cathy Harlow, superintendent, Tyrone Area School District
Mrs. Linda Smith, superintendent, Williamsburg Community School District
Dr. Cheryl Potteiger, superintendent, Bellefonte Area School District
Ms. Kelly Hastings, superintendent, Keystone Central School District
Mr. James Estep, superintendent, Mifflin County School District
Mr. Sean Daubert, CFO, Mifflin County School District
Dr. Robert O’Donnell, superintendent, State College Area School District
Mr. David Hutchison, school board member, State College Area School District
Ms. Cathy Harlow, superintendent, Tyrone Area School District
Mrs. Linda Smith, superintendent, Williamsburg Community School District
Register HERE to attend the central PA education forum.
Southeastern PA Regional
Meeting on School Funding
Wednesday April 29th 7:00 pm Springfield High School Auditorium, 49 West Leamy Avenue, Springfield, PA 19064
Wednesday April 29th 7:00 pm Springfield High School Auditorium, 49 West Leamy Avenue, Springfield, PA 19064
Local school district
leaders will discuss how state funding issues are impacting our children’s
educational opportunities, our local taxes and our communities.
Hosted by Delaware County School Boards Legislative Council, Education Voters of PA, the Keystone State Education Coalition and Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Hosted by Delaware County School Boards Legislative Council, Education Voters of PA, the Keystone State Education Coalition and Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Panelists:
Mr. Frank Agovino, school board president, Springfield
School District and Board of Directors, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
Dr. James Capolupo, superintendent, Springfield School District
Dr. Wagner Marseille,
Acting Superintendent, Lower
Merion School District
Mr. Joe Bruni, superintendent, William Penn School District
Dr. Richard Dunlap, superintendent, Upper Darby School
District
Mr. Stanley Johnson.
Executive Director of Operations, Phoenixville Area
School District
Ms. Susan Gobreski, Executive Director, Education Voters of
PA
Moderator: Mr. Lawrence Feinberg, Chairman, Delaware County
School Boards Legislative Council
Registration info to be
provided soon.
All are invited for a screening of the
documentary:
STANDARDIZED: Lies, Money
& Civil Rights—How Testing is Ruining Public Education Monday,
April 27, 7-9PM
The Saturday Club, 117 West Wayne Avenue,
Wayne, PA
Standardized testing
has long been a part of public education. Over the last ten years however,
education reform has become an increasingly heated political issue and
seemingly a highly profitable target market for private enterprise resulting in
expanded and high-stakes testing. While some hold the view that testing is an
effective assessment of student ability and teacher and school effectiveness,
many feel these exams are instead undermining our students, teachers and
schools. Daniel Hornberger’s STANDARDIZED documentary raises issues
about this model of education reform and
the standardized testing that goes along with it. The film includes interviews
with prominent educational experts and government officials who take aim at the
goal of standardization that is being promoted and imposed by our federal and
state governments. It sheds light on the development, nature and use of these
assessments, the consequences of high-stakes testing, and the ostensible
private enterprise and government agendas behind them.
A Q&A session with a panel
of informed parents, teachers and experts will follow.
This screening is made possible
through a collaboration of Radnor, Tredyffrin/Easttown and Lower Merion
concerned parents and PTOs.
Your Right to a Fair Shot: Discrimination Claims,
Post-Secondary and the Professions
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia Tuesday,
April 21, 2015 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
United Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin
Parkway, Philadelphia, 19103
Attendees will learn
about discrimination claims, post-secondary schools and the professions in this
session. You'll learn how federal law aids students with disabilities who
do not qualify for special education services, hear about recent cases, and
understand strategies for getting students 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.
Tickets: Attorneys
$200 General Public $100 Webinar $50
"Pay What You Can" tickets
are also available
Who will be at the PSBA Advocacy Forum April 19-20 in
Mechanicsburg and Harrisburg?
- Acting
Ed Sec'y Pedro Rivera
- Senate
Ed Committee Majority Chairman Lloyd Smucker
- House
Ed Committee Majority Chairman Stan Saylor
- Senate
Appropriations Committee Chair Pat Browne
- Diane
Ravitch
- House
Majority Leader Dave Reed
- House
Minority Leader Frank Dermody
- 2014
PSBA Tim Allwein Advocacy Award winners Shauna D'Alessandro and Mark
Miller
How about You?
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.
·
Registration is only $25! We don't want cost
to be a factor. That's how important public education advocacy is!
·
Can't make the two days? Register and come to
either day that works into your schedule.
Details and Registration for PSBA members (only $25.00) https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-forum-day-hill-2015/
Register for the April 18 Education Voters
Advocacy Summit in Harrisburg
Education Voters of Pennsylvania will be
holding a half-day advocacy summit for public education advocates on Saturday
April 18 from 10:00-2:00 in Harrisburg, PA.
During the summit we
will:
- Get an update on Governor Wolf’s budget
from John Hanger, secretary of planning and policy,
- Develop successful advocacy techniques
and strategies to maximize our impact on public policy,
- Receive organizing and communications
training
- Network with other advocates from
throughout the state, and
- Leave prepared to support fair and
adequate state funding for schools this year!
Event Location: Temple
University Harrisburg 234 Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17101
Lunch will be
provided. Please register today! Space is limited.
Curmuducation Blog Saturday, March 21, 2015
I don't get out much. I'm a high school English teacher in a
small town, and kind of homebody by nature. When I leave town, it's for family
or work. But in just over a month, on the weekend of April 25-26, I am taking a
trip to Chicago for neither. The Network for Public
Education is the closest thing to an actual formal organization of the
many and varied people standing up for public education in this modern era of
privatizing test-driven corporate education reform. NPE held a conference last
year, and they're doing it again this year-- a gathering of many of the
strongest voices for public education in America today. Last year I
followed along on line-- this year I will be there.
Beyond a New School Funding
Formula: Lifting Student Achievement to Grow PA's Economy
Wednesday, May 6, 2015 from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM (EDT)
Harrisburg, PA
7:30 am: Light breakfast fare and registration; 8:00 am:
Program
Harrisburg University Auditorium, Strawberry Square 326 Market
Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
Opening Remarks by Neil D. Theobald, President, Temple
University
SESSION I: THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN
PENNSYLVANIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS with introduction by Rob Wonderling,
President, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and Member, Center on
Regional Politics Executive Committee.
Presentation by Lynn A. Karoly, Senior Economist, RAND
Corporation
SESSION II: WHAT CAN PENNSYLVANIA LEARN FROM THE WORLD’S
LEADING SCHOOL SYSTEMS? with introduction by David H. Monk, Dean, Pennsylvania State University College of Education .
Presentation by Marc S. Tucker, President and CEO,
National Center on Education and the Economy
Sessions to be followed by a response panel moderated
by Francine Schertzer, Director of Programming, Pennsylvania Cable
Network
Program presented by the University Consortium to Improve
Public School Finance and Promote Economic Growth
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