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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for August 17, 2015:
Wolf, GOP leaders have a
shot to make progress on state budget this week
Interested in letting our elected leadership know your thoughts on
education funding, a severance tax, property taxes and the budget?
Governor Tom Wolf, (717) 787-2500
Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Turzai, (717) 772-9943
House Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed, (717) 705-7173
Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Joe Scarnati, (717) 787-7084
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jake Corman, (717) 787-1377
House Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed, (717) 705-7173
Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Joe Scarnati, (717) 787-7084
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jake Corman, (717) 787-1377
"According to a
co-sponsorship memo for the bill, House Bill 1499 will reform Pennsylvania’s
state-managed public pension systems by halving the cost of benefits provided
to future employees to 2.5 percent, directing an estimated $11 billion to $15
billion in savings toward the unfunded liability, reducing the risk of poor
market conditions and political management through the defined contribution
portion of the plan, and establishing an adequate and sustainable benefit for
future employees by guaranteeing a benefit above the poverty level along with
money from the 401(k)-type portion of the plan."
New pension reform bill
could reshape the debate over system overhaul
The PLS Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Thursday, August
6, 2015
Rep. Mike Tobash
(R-Schuylkill) is resurrecting his hybrid pension reform plan that was
discussed at length last session, but failed to gain enough support to bring
the concept up for a vote on the House floor.
He’s hoping that with the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1 and the
vetting of a defined contribution pension reform plan that the time is ripe for
this idea to clear the hurdles that were erected in front of his plan last
session. “After that bill in the last
session had gone through the process of some agreed-to amendments, this is kind
of the product that eventually came out of that effort,” Rep. Tobash told The
PLS Reporter. “It’s the growing expectation of Pennsylvania citizens that we accomplish
something in this regard.” He said he
hesitated to introduce the plan because multiple viable options would not be
productive to the process. “But with the veto
of Senate Bill 1 and two bodies that have exhibited their ability to vote on
meaningful pension reform, I think that alternative options at this point in
time are helpful to the process,” he added. “It’s an important time to continue
and further the conversation.” Rep. Tobash’s bill
was filed on July 30th, but the text has not been formally
introduced.
Did you catch our weekend
postings?
"Pennsylvania
Failing Schools" List
PA
Ed Policy Roundup Aug 16: If the district’s 44 Blended School Blended School
"Any final pension
agreement is contingent upon the Republicans moving on education funding,"
Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan said Saturday. "The governor is committed to
his $400 million (proposed increase) for basic education." Wolf says the larger investment in public
schools to make up for the effects of sustained cuts during Gov. Tom Corbett's
administration. The logic in tying the two issues together is that pension
costs are among the fastest-rising costs in school district budgets these days,
eroding the chance for new investment in educational programming."
Wolf, GOP leaders have a
shot to make progress on state budget this week
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on August
16, 2015 at 7:00 AM, updated August 16, 2015 at 9:55 PM
It's been said that
the players on the stage that is Pennsylvania 's
state government can always strike a deal when they want to
strike a deal. This week, we should find
out a lot about who wants to make a deal to reach a state budget before the impacts of
living without onestart to pinch a much broader cross-section of
their voting constituents. State
government has been without a budget since July 1, and talks have made little
progress thus far. Gov. Tom Wolf, a
Democrat, hit a potentially important reset button Wednesday by opening the
door to consideration of a new type of pension benefits plan for future state
and public school employees.
Pa. needs a plan to fix
its credit rating and Gov. Wolf has it: Sharon Ward
Penn Live By John L. Micek | jmicek@pennlive.com Email
the author | Follow on Twitter on
August 16, 2015 at 1:00 PM
By Sharon Ward
Sharon Ward is the director of the Wolf
administration's Budget Office.
Our commonwealth is
at a critical crossroads.
On June 30, Gov. Tom
Wolf vetoed the Republican budget, a budget that fell short of what is needed
to fix our schools, improve early childhood education, and help our seniors by
providing much-needed property tax relief.
Equally important – the budget was not balanced. Accepting it would have
increased the deficit to more than $3 billion.
By failing to adequately pay our bills or plan for the future, the
budget would have had significant ramifications for Pennsylvania 's financial status for many
years to come.
Editorial: Wolf, lawmakers need to reach a budget deal
THE ISSUE
As of today, the Pennsylvania
We are seven weeks
into the new fiscal year, with no budget in sight.
Can you imagine
running your household like this? Refusing to figure out how you intend to pay
your bills, or how you intend to pay for the essential needs of those for whom
you are responsible? Bickering with others, instead of seeking a solution? As our op-ed contributors to Perspective
detail today, the state budget impasse is not merely a political issue. As it
drags on, it’s likely to have a real impact on the lives of Pennsylvanians,
particularly our most vulnerable citizens — children, the poor, victims of
violence, people with intellectual disabilities. And it’s going to make life
difficult for business owners who contract with state government, who need to
be paid in order to pay employees and their own vendors.
Funding for public
schools is one of the key disagreements as Pennsylvania plows through its second month
without a state budget. Democratic Gov.
Tom Wolf and Republican leaders in the Legislature have been
unable to agree on how much of an increase is needed, and how to pay
for it. Wolf wants to increase K-12
funding by $400 million for 2015-16 and pay for it with a new severance tax on
natural gas. The GOP is proposing a $100 million increase with no new taxes. School funding in Pennsylvania involves a
complicated soup of revenue sources but relies heavily on local real estate
taxes. Many say the system is uneven, unfair and unsustainable, and major
changes have been proposed. Let's take a look at how school funding currently
works.
Top Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN MCCORRY AUGUST 17, 2015
A top Pennsylvania
Democrat is calling for substantial new investment in education in light of
more rigorous state standardized tests. State
Sen. Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia
said poor results on recent tests make a clear argument for lawmakers to adopt
Gov. Tom Wolf's proposal to increase state education funding The 2014-15 school year was the first in
which the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests – taken in grades
three through eight – were aligned with Pennsylvania's version of the Common
Core state standards. Based on the added
difficulty of the tests and the state's higher expectations for performance,
proficiency rates dropped on average by 35.4 percentage points in math and 9.4
percentage points in English language arts.
In some schools, math proficiency rates dropped by more than 40
percentage points. Officials from the
Pennsylvania Department of Education say it is misleading to compare student
proficiency rates to prior years; 2014-15 should be considered the "new
baseline," the department said. The
sharp declines in scores have been making waves across the state, as educators
and parents grapple with how to adjust to the higher expectations. "High standards are appropriate, but the
thing that's the crime in this is not having the resources available to meet
those standards," said Hughes.
Ten Allegheny
County
By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
August 17, 2015 12:00 AM
About a week before
classes are scheduled to start in many school districts, 10 Allegheny County Harrisburg , there’s a lack of movement at the
bargaining table of the local school districts,” he said. The largest school district without a new
contract is Pittsburgh ,
where the contract expired in June.
NYT Letters: The Teacher Shortage
New York Times
Letters AUG. 15, 2015
Educators cite low
pay, lack of respect and support, and high-stakes tests as causes.
To the Editor: Re “Across Country, a Scramble Is On to Find Teachers”
(front page, Aug. 10): We applaud you for
shining a light on the economic forces that helped create the national teacher
shortage: low pay, higher student loan debt and recession-linked layoffs. But
if you ask teachers why young people are shunning the profession, and why so
many abandon it after just a few years, you’ll get an earful. We have always asked teachers to be a
combination of Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, Mom and Dad. Now, we judge them
by a faulty, narrow measure — one standardized test in English and one in math
— and then blame them for not being saviors. Teachers are used to the pressure
cooker but are stressed out because they aren’t getting the support, resources,
time and respect they need to do their jobs.
Hotline's Senate Rankings:
The Senate Seats Most Likely to Flip in 2016
National Journal By Alex Roarty, Andrea Drusch, Scott Bland and Josh Kraushaar August
13, 2015
Much has changed
since our spring Senate power rankings. Some previously unexpected candidates
like Alan Grayson and Joe Heck have jumped in, while some anticipated ones like
Kay Hagan have passed on the 2016 elections. One thing we do know, though, is
that the race for control of the Senate remains precariously balanced between
the two parties. Three clear tiers of
Senate races have emerged 15 months away from the next election, when Democrats
would need to win four seats (five if they lose the White House) to recapture
control of the chamber. Republicans look
more likely than not right now to lose two blue-state seats. But after that,
it's far too early to say whether one party or the other holds a definitive
advantage in five toss-up seats—four held by Republicans and one by retiring
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid. After
that, another handful of five swing states could potentially come into play
later—but only if something dramatic happens. Ultimately, many if not all of
these races are going to track closely with the presidential campaign, but each
party is still maneuvering and preparing to raise and spend millions of dollars
in the hope that a percentage-point swing here or there could end up swinging
the Senate. Without further ado, here's
our look at the 2016 Senate landscape, ranked in terms of which seats look most
likely to change hands next year:
PCCY: Get on the Bus to Harrisburg
As parents, teachers
and advocates, you know first hand how difficult it is to get the resources
needed to support our students. Harrisburg continues to be mired in political
gridlock and has failed to pass a budget for Pennsylvania’s 500 school
districts.
Teachers,
parents and students have no idea what they will be walking into come September
for the start of school. We say enough is enough.
We are contacting
you because on August 25th the PA House is scheduled to return to the
Capitol—and we want to be there to meet them. Could you give us a few hours of
your day and help make it clear that we demand a budget?
- Join your neighbors and other concerned
citizens who believe that investing in our kids is non-negotiable
- We’ll provide: FREE Transportation to
and from the Capitol and lunch; a brief training on the bus, materials,
and day of schedule
- Scheduled visits with elected
officials
Kids are off from
school so bring them with you – after all, it concerns their future!
Details:
Details:
- Bus will depart from in front of the
United Way Building at 7:45am at 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
- We will return to Philly by
approximately 4:30pm. (Discounted parking ($8) available at the
Sheraton Hotel at 17th & Race)
- If you plan to drive yourself, we will
meet at the Capitol between 10am and 10:30am.
The John Stoops Lecture
Series: Dr. Pasi Sahlberg "Education Around the World: Past, Present &
Future" Lehigh University October 8, 2015 6:00 p.m.
Baker Hall |Zoellner Arts
Center | 420 E. Packer Avenue | Bethlehem , PA 18015
Baker Hall |
Free and open to the
public!
Ticketing is general
admission - no preseating will be assigned. Arrive early for the best seats.
Please plan to stay
post-lecture for an open reception where you will have an opportunity to meet
with students from all of our programs to learn about the latest innovations in
education and human services.
Register now for the
2015 PASCD 65th Annual Conference, Leading and Achieving in an Interconnected World, to be
held November 15-17, 2015 at Pittsburgh Monroeville Convention
Center.
The Conference
will Feature Keynote Speakers: Meenoo Rami – Teacher and Author
“Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re)Invigorate Your Teaching,” Mr. Pedro Rivera,
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Heidi Hayes-Jacobs – Founder and President
of Curriculum Design, Inc. and David Griffith – ASCD Senior Director of Public
Policy. This annual conference features small group sessions focused on:
Curriculum and Supervision, Personalized and Individualized Learning,
Innovation, and Blended and Online Learning. The PASCD Conference is
a great opportunity to stay connected to the latest approaches for innovative
change in your school or district. Join us forPASCD 2015!
Online registration is available by visiting www.pascd.org <http://www.pascd.org/>
Nominations for PSBA's
Allwein Advocacy Award now open
PSBA July 7, 2015
PSBA July 7, 2015
The Timothy M.
Allwein Advocacy Award was established in 2011 by the Pennsylvania School
Boards Association and may be presented annually to the individual school
director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in
legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that
are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform. The
2015 Allwein Award nomination process will close on Aug. 28, 2015. The
2015 Allwein Award Nomination Form is available online. More details on the
award and nominations process can be found online.
Slate of
candidates for PSBA offices now available online
PSBA website July 31, 2015
PSBA website July 31, 2015
The
slate of candidates for 2016 PSBA officer and at-large representatives is now
available online, including bios, photos and videos. According to
recent PSBA Bylaws changes, each member school entity casts one vote per
office. Voting will again take place online through a secure, third-party
website -- Simply Voting. Voting will openAug. 17 and closes Sept. 28. One person from the
school entity (usually the board secretary) is authorized to register the vote
on behalf of the member school entity and each board will need to put on its
agenda discussion and voting at one of its meetings in August or
September. Each person authorized to register the school entity's votes has
received an email on July 16 to verify the email address and confirm they are
the person to register the vote on behalf of their school entity.
Register Now for PASA-PSBA
School Leadership Conference Oct. 14-16, 2015 Hershey Lodge & Convention
Center
Save the date for the
professional development event of the year. Be inspired at more than four
exciting venues and invest in professional development for top administrators
and school board members. Online registration is live at:
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.
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