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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for June 17, 2015:
Tight lips and mixed
reactions follow Tuesday budget meeting
The PLS Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Tuesday, June 16,
2015
Following Tuesday’s
weekly budget meeting between Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative Republican
leadership, negotiators remained silent as to possible areas of potential
agreement, but offered mixed reaction as to the progress of the ongoing
negotiations surrounding the budget and related major pieces of legislation. Tuesday’s discussions lasted about 30
minutes. First out of the meeting to
catch up with reporters was House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) who
relayed that talks are still progressing on the big issues. “Certainly, sometimes these meetings are more
going through an update on what staff has been meeting on in the working
groups,” he said. “We’re still plowing ahead.”
State budget negotiators
have a quick, cordial meeting; and leave the details in the room
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on June 16,
2015 at 12:56 PM, updated June 16, 2015 at 2:14 PM
Gov. Tom Wolf and
senior Republican legislative leaders had another closed-door meeting about Pennsylvania 's $30
billion budget Tuesday, and it was short, sweet and private. Participants described Tuesday's session as
more of an update on the work of various working groups looking at issues like
pension reform, liquor reform, new revenues and other matters. And the singular agreement seemed to be, for
the time being at least, to keep the details in the room.
Basic Education Funding
Commission: Lawmakers will release recommendations on Thursday
The Basic Education
Funding Commission will release recommendations for a new school funding
formula on Thursday, according to a press release. The
state Legislature created the Basic Education Funding Commission in June 2014.
Members were charged with studying how to distribute state money to K-12 public
schools. Pennsylvania
is one of only a few states without a consistent school funding formula. The commission's report was initially
expected last week, but lawmakers said they needed more time to hammer out the
details. According to the commission's press release on Tuesday, the panel will
hold a meeting on its recommendations at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The meeting
will stream live on www.pasenategop.com and www.pahousegop.com. The commission's
recommendations would not go into effect without legislation approved by the
Senate, House and Gov Tom Wolf.
Basic Education Funding
Commission to Release Report Thursday,
June 18th at 10 a.m.
PA Senate Republican website June 16, 2015
The Basic Education
Funding Commission, Co-Chaired by Senator Pat Browne (R-16 Lehigh) and
Representative Mike Vereb (R-150 Montgomery), will meet on Thursday, June 18th at
10 a.m. to consider recommendations and a funding formula and release its
report to the General Assembly and the public.
The Basic Education Funding Commission was established through Act 51 of
2014 to develop a new formula for the distribution of state funding for basic
education to Pennsylvania ’s
500 school districts. The 15-member commission has undertaken a comprehensive
study of a number of factors, held 15 hearings over the past 11 months and
heard from a wide-range of experts and advocates in the education field, as
well as parents, before arriving ultimately at a consensus on a new formula. The meeting will be held in the Majority
Caucus Room of the House of Representatives. The recommendations of the
commission will not go into effect, however, without legislation approved by
the General Assembly and signed by the Governor. Barring any unforeseen technical
difficulties, the hearing will stream live on www.pasenategop.com and www.pahousegop.com.
"More than half of the
state's 500 districts cannot generate sufficient revenues with Act 1 to cover
mandated expenses, said Jay Himes PASBO executive director. Mr. Himes said school districts tax hikes are
prompted by insufficient state funding.
He said nationally, states contribute more than 48 percent of the
education dollars spent, but in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
Seven of 10 Pa.
By Mary Niederberger
/ Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette June 16, 2015 12:15 PM
Seventy-one percent
of Pennsylvania
school districts who participated in a recent survey predicted they will raise
taxes for the 2015-16 school year, with 30 percent raising beyond their Act 1
state limit. The revenues beyond the
limit -- which is set by the state for each district based on its relative
wealth - will come from exceptions granted by the state department of education
for pension, special education and construction. The information came from a survey conducted
last month by the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials and the
Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and presented today. Of the state's 500 school district's 346
responded to the survey, representing 66 of the state's 67 counties and 74
percent of students.
By: PASBO
On: 06/15/2015 10:50:02
The latest version
of the PASA-PASBO school budget survey, Continued Cuts: the PASA-PASBO
Report on School District Budgets, has been released and shows that school
districts across the state are continuing to face financial challenges. In many
of the school districts participating in the survey, property tax increases,
staff reductions and cuts to programs are on the table to balance 2015-16
budgets. Survey respondents also indicated that mandated pension, health care,
special education and charter school tuition costs continue to present sizable
burdens, with a significant majority of districts projecting increased costs in
each of the four areas for next year.
Educators say Senate vote to delay Keystone Exams as
graduation requirement is 'good first step'
By Jacqueline Palochko Of The Morning Call June 16, 2015
Superintendents call
the push to delay the state's graduation requirements a “good first step”
School districts
across Pennsylvania ,
in a panic over what to do with the students who fail the Keystone Exams, were
handed a lifeline this week when the state Senate agreed to place a moratorium
on making the tests a graduation requirement.
The Senate voted 49-0 on Monday to delay using the exams as a graduation
requirement until 2019. The requirements — which demand students pass tests in
Algebra I, biology and English to graduate — were to be in place for the Class
of 2017. The Senate bill was
co-sponsored by Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, who has been a vocal critic of
the Keystone Exams. It would give school districts more time to plan for the
project-based assessments that students must take after failing algebra and
English twice or biology once. The bill
still needs the approval of the state House and Gov. Tom Wolf. On Tuesday, a
Wolf spokesman said the governor supports a two-year delay.
"Philadelphia Philadelphia
When it comes to education
funding, what's the deal with Philly schools?
WHYY
Newsworks/Keystone Crossroads BY PAUL
JABLOW JUNE 17, 2015 MULTIPLE CHOICES: PART 14
Fourteenth in an
occasional series of podcasts and web
"explainers."
How much does the
Philadelphia School District
The district's
budget for the 2014-15 school year is roughly $2.6 billion. The School Reform
Commission and Superintendent William Hite have proposed a $2.89 billion plan
for the 2015-16 school year, arguing that the additional money is needed to
restore vital, basic services.
Doesn't Philadelphia
House Majority
Leader Mike Turzai (R- Allegheny) makes the point that the city has 12
percent of the state's school population, but receives 18 percent of the
state's basic education subsidy. That's accurate. Philadelphia
school officials counter that those numbers alone don't capture the situation.
They cite several reasons. First, Pennsylvania
chips in a smaller share of education funding than most other states, so there
is less state aid to balance out unequal tax bases among districts. Also, they say, the state's school aid system
is supposed to send more help to districts that have a lot of impoverished
families with children who pose extra challenges to educate.
Closing of Kensington
Urban postponed a year
the notebook By Dale
Mezzacappa on Jun 16, 2015 07:26 PM
The merger of Kensington International
Business High
School and Kensington
Urban Education
High School
Reductions In Funding
Forcing Many Pa. School Districts To Consider Property Tax Hikes
KDKA CBS Pittsburgh
by Harold Hayes June 16, 2015
5:15 PM
Penn Hills school board considers cuts, awaits $12
million loan
By Clarece Polke / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 8, 2015 11:37 PM
Wallingford-Swarthmore OKs
2.56 percent tax hike
Delco Times By NEIL A. SHEEHAN, Times Correspondent POSTED: 06/17/15, 12:12 AM EDT
NETHER PROVIDENCE
>> Final adoption of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District’s 2015-16
budget went off without a hitch, with the votes falling the same as they had
during two previous decision points on the spending package. The board approved the roughly $74 million
proposal by a tally of 7-2 on Monday night. Board President Paul Schregel and
member Robert Reiger once again cast opposing votes. Taxes will increase by 2.56 percent under the
fiscal roadmap. For a property owner with a home assessed at the district
average of $179,000, the change will translate into a tax hike of $186, on top
of the current district bill of $7,439. Superintendent
Richard Noonan said a major driver of the increase is another dramatic rise in
the district’s pension obligations. Still, he said the administration had
worked to identify $1.1 million in cuts to help ease the impact of climbing
costs combined with state-imposed restraints on school district spending. Under the state’s Act 1 index,
Wallingford-Swarthmore’s tax increase was to be capped at 1.9 percent for the
next fiscal year. However, like other districts, it was allowed to make use of
specific exceptions if it opted to do so.
Greater Latrobe school
board passes budget, 1-mill tax hike
Trib Live By Stacey
Federoff Tuesday, June 16, 2015, 11:12 p.m.
Greater Latrobe school board on Tuesday adopted its final budget for the 2015-16 school year with a 1-mill tax increase to make up for an expected shortfall while state funding levels are uncertain. The board passed the $53.3 million spending plan and the millage levy 6-0 with members William Mohler, Merle Musick and Michael Zorch absent. The average assessed property value in the district is $25,860, which means the average homeowner could experience a $26 increase in property taxes next year. Business administrator Dan Watson said the state budget, normally finalized by June 30, is uncertain because of the new governor. The district's mandated contribution to state retirement benefits, known as the Public School Employees' Retirement System, increased 24 percent from 2014-15.
Greater Latrobe school board on Tuesday adopted its final budget for the 2015-16 school year with a 1-mill tax increase to make up for an expected shortfall while state funding levels are uncertain. The board passed the $53.3 million spending plan and the millage levy 6-0 with members William Mohler, Merle Musick and Michael Zorch absent. The average assessed property value in the district is $25,860, which means the average homeowner could experience a $26 increase in property taxes next year. Business administrator Dan Watson said the state budget, normally finalized by June 30, is uncertain because of the new governor. The district's mandated contribution to state retirement benefits, known as the Public School Employees' Retirement System, increased 24 percent from 2014-15.
By Eric Devlin,
The Mercury POSTED: 06/16/15,
7:04 PM EDT
Royersford >>
While it still increases taxes, officials in the Spring-Ford Area School
District say its newest proposed final budget for 2015-16 accomplishes more for
less. During Tuesday night’s school
board meeting, the administration proposed a $143.8 million final budget that
increases property taxes by 1.22 percent. With a millage rate of 26.061, the
owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay an additional $31.50 a year for
a tax amount of $2,606.10. A mill is equal to $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property
value. With a tax increase,
Superintendent David Goodin said the district can add 12.5 new teachers, three
guidance counselors, curriculum and special education supervisors, and increase
a communications staff member from a part time to full time position. At the
same time, taxes are low, comparatively speaking.
Digital Notebook
Blog by Evan Brandt Wednesday, June 17, 2015
The Pottsgrove School
Diane Ravitch's Blog
By dianeravitch June 15, 2015
Like every other
state, Pennsylvania
spent many tens of millions (or more) to develop a new teacher evaluation
system. Guess what? Teachers got
their highest ratings ever!
“In the first year
of many school districts using a new statewide teacher evaluation system, a
greater portion of teachers was rated satisfactory than under the old system.
“In figures released
by the state Department of Education, 98.2 percent of all teachers were rated
as satisfactory in 2013-14 — the highest percentage in five years — despite a
new system that some thought would increase the number of unsatisfactory
ratings.” “In the four prior years, 97.7
percent of teachers were rated satisfactory in all but 2009-10, when 96.8
percent were. These figures count teachers in school districts, career and
technical centers, intermediate units and charter schools.” Pennsylvania
is fortunate to have so many good teachers!
Whom shall we blame
now?
Testing Resistance & Reform News: June 10 - 16,
2015
Fairtest Submitted
by fairtest on June 16, 2015 - 1:47pm
With the school year
ending around the notion, the assessment resistance and reform movement is
focusing its energies on Congress and state legislatures to end policies
encouraging test overuses and misuses, which that opt-out activists and their
allies have exposed.
Come to Harrisburg
Education Voters PA website June 1, 2015
On June 23 at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Education Voters will be
joining together with more than 50 organizations to send a clear message to
state lawmakers that we expect them to fund our schools in this year’s budget. Click
HERE for more information and to register for the June 23 All for Education Day
in Harrisburg. Join us as we speak up for the importance of
funding our schools fairly and at sufficient levels, so that every student in
PA has an opportunity to learn. Community,
parent, education advocacy, faith, and labor organizations will join together
with school, municipal, and community officials to hold a press conference and
rally at 12:00 in the main rotunda and to make arrangements to meet with
legislators before and after the rally. We
must send a strong message to state lawmakers that we are watching them and
expect them to pass a state budget that will fund our schools this year. Please
come to Harrisburg on June 23 to show broad support for a fair budget for
education this year.
Register Now – PAESSP
State Conference – Oct. 18-20 – State College, PA
Registration is now
open for PAESSP's State Conference to be held October 18-20 at The
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College, PA! This year's
theme is @EVERYLEADER and features three nationally-known keynote
speakers (Dr. James Stronge, Justin Baeder and Dr. Mike Schmoker), professional
breakout sessions, a legal update, exhibits, Tech Learning Labs and many
opportunities to network with your colleagues (Monday evening event with Jay
Paterno). Once again, in conjunction
with its conference, PAESSP will offer two 30-hour Act 45 PIL-approved
programs, Linking Student Learning to Teacher Supervision and Evaluation
(pre-conference offering on 10/17/15); and Improving Student Learning
Through Research-Based Practices: The Power of an Effective Principal (held
during the conference, 10/18/15 -10/20/15). Register for either or both PIL
programs when you register for the Full Conference!
REGISTER TODAY for
the Conference and Act 45 PIL program/s at:
Apply
now for EPLC’s 2015-2016 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program
Applications are
available now for the 2015-2016
Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).
The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The
Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC).
With more than 400 graduates in its first sixteen years, this
Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state
and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders. State Board of
Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants. Past participants include state policymakers,
district superintendents and principals, charter school leaders, school
business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association
leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community
leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another
organization. The Fellowship Program
begins with a two-day retreat on September 17-18, 2015 and continues to
graduation in June 2016.
Click here to read about the Education Policy
Fellowship Program.
Sign up here to receive a weekly
email update on the status of efforts to have Pennsylvania adopt an adequate,
equitable, predictable and sustainable Basic Education Funding Formula by 2016
Sign up to support fair funding »
Campaign for Fair
Education Funding website
Our goal is to
ensure that every student has access to a quality education no matter where
they live. To make that happen, we need to fundamentally change how public
schools are funded. The current system is not fair to students or taxpayers and
our campaign partners – more than 50 organizations from across Pennsylvania -
agree that it has to be changed now. Student performance is stagnating. School
districts are in crisis. Lawmakers have the ability to change this formula but
they need to hear from you. You
can make a difference »
COMMUNITY MEETING: PUBLIC
SCHOOL FUNDING IN BERKS COUNTY
Berks County IU June 23,
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Time:7:00 – 8:30 p.m. | Registration begins
at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Berks County Intermediate Unit, 1111 Commons Boulevard,
Reading, PA 19605
Local school district leaders will discuss how state funding issues are
impacting our children’s education opportunities, our local taxes, and our
communities. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how you
can support fair and adequate state funding for public schools in Berks County. State lawmakers who represent Berks County
have been invited to attend to learn about challenges facing area schools.
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