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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for August 12, 2015:
PA. starts 7th week
without a budget; PA standardized test opt-outs tripled in 2015
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
WHYY Newsworks BY MARY WILSON AUGUST 12, 2015
The engineers of the
Pennsylvania
budget impasse will sit down for another design meeting Wednesday afternoon. The new fiscal year began July 1.
Negotiations between the governor and top lawmakers have been held about once a
week since then. "We had productive
discussion," said House Speaker Mike Turzai after a budget confab last
month. "We really rolled up our sleeves." Despite all the purported progress, there's
been no breakthrough on any of the issues that continue to divide the
Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature. They remain far
apart in their views on taxes, education funding, public pension changes, and
the fate of the state liquor system.
"Wolf said that under
Republican leadership, schools in Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Wolf, Montgomery County
By Dan Clark,
The Times Herald POSTED: 08/11/15,
5:23 PM EDT
NORRISTOWN >>
Gov. Tom Wolf and Montgomery County commissioners’ Chairman Josh Shapiro were
in the county seat on Tuesday calling on the Republican-controlled Legislature
to pass a budget that adds up, not one that just appears to do so. The governor called the Republicans’ tactics
smoke and mirrors and said there needs to be a serious discussion over Pennsylvania ’s finances. “The thing that I am most concerned about is
the sham that we have in Harrisburg
called the budget that was presented to me on June 30,” Wolf said. “It was a
disgrace. If I had taken a budget that looked like that, when I was running a
business, to my banker he would have thrown me out of his office and rightly
so. It doesn’t balance. The math really doesn’t add up.” Wolf called on Republicans on Tuesday to stop
playing games and pass a fiscally sound budget. He said the one they passed on
June 30 does not make sense. “It assumes
next year’s revenues will be $100 million higher than the independent fiscal
office figures it’s going to be,” Wolf said of the Republican budget.
Wolf: GOP budget plan a
'disgrace'
CHRIS PALMER, INQUIRER
STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 2:20 PM
POSTED: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 2:16 PM
Gov. Wolf Tuesday
dampened any hopes that Pennsylvania 's
six-week budget stalemate was nearing an end, holding a news conference to
reiterate his own long-stated spending priorities while assailing those of his
Republican counterparts. Describing the
GOP budget proposal as equal parts "sham," "insult," and
"disgrace," Wolf said his plan would close a budget gap while
increasing school funding and reducing property taxes. Republicans have opposed increases of other
taxes that would pay for the Wolf proposal.
"We have got to get to the point where our financial house is in
order," Wolf said. The event in Norristown came during a hiatus in ongoing negotiations
between the first-term Democrat and Republican legislators.
WSEE Erie By Matt Knoedler Posted: Aug 11, 2015 10:26 AM EDT
We’re into the sixth
week without a budget in Pennsylvania .
Now, the stalemate could threaten the savings of local school districts,
including Erie ’s
Public Schools, forcing them to break open their piggy banks. Erie 's
Public Schools receives about 60 percent of its funding from the commonwealth.
That’s roughly $96 million for the upcoming school year, including an
additional $6.5 million in Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed budget. But without state funding, the district plans
to tap into its reserve accounts, said Brian Polito, the district’s chief
financial officer. Along with using local real estate tax revenue and a $12
million tax revenue anticipation note, the district plans to borrow money from
health insurance and worker's compensation funds. That funding would carry the
district through September. But
borrowing from the reserve funds means losing interest the district would
otherwise earn. Moreover, the district could lose money after paying back
interest on other borrowed cash. "If
we had to go out and borrow additional funds, then we would be paying interest
we wouldn't normally pay,” Polito said.
The Pennsylvania
State Legislature passed a budget that
under-funds Southeastern PA schools by $33
million.
PCCY website
Bucks, Chester , Delaware Southeastern Pennsylvania gets a quality
education.
The number of
students opted out of state tests tripled in 2015, according to data from the
Pennsylvania Department of Education. PSSA
math opt-outs rose to 3,270 students from 1,064 in 2014. PSSA English language
arts opt-outs rose to 3,245 from 1,068. Those are the largest jumps in the
nine years of available data. (Note: in 2014, students in grades 3 through 8
took reading PSSAs, and students in grade 4 and 8 also took a writing test.
Those components were combined in 2015.)
Keystone Exam opt-out numbers were not available.
Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 5 - 11,
2015
FairTest Submitted
by fairtest on August 11, 2015 - 12:46pm
As K-12 classrooms
across the country ready to reopen, scores from last year's tests are starting
to be released. And, with Congress on summer recess, education committee
staffers are working behind the scenes on reconciling provisions of the
NCLB-overhaul bills passed by the House and Senate. This is a great time
to make your views about the need for assessment reform known to both state and
federal policy makers.
Letter to the Editor:
Don’t strip schools’ right to challenge assessments
Delco Times Letter
by Nathan Mains, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School
To the Times: I’m sure everyone reading this is an upright
citizen. You keep your lawn neat and tidy. In the winter you may be the first
out to shovel the snow from your walk, and perhaps your elderly neighbor’s too.
You pay your taxes on time, and you even pay a little more to cover that strip
mall down the road. What’s that? You don’t? Well whether you think you do or
not, chances are your hard-earned tax dollars are going to subsidize the taxes
of that strip mall, or office building, or apartment complex in your community
and you didn’t even know it. As a
taxpayer if you feel the value of your property is being overtaxed you have the
right to appeal the current assessment and potentially lower your taxes.
Likewise, taxing bodies such as townships, boroughs and school districts can
conduct an assessment appeal if it believes the value of a property has
increased beyond its assessed value. This
process allows municipalities to tax fairly so these corporate properties
aren’t paying less than their fair share, and you’re not picking up the tab for
their underpayment. Critics (yes, typically those corporate entities) are
trying to take this authority away from school districts. Like all of us, they
don’t want to pay more taxes, but nor should the families of a community chip
in and subsidize their taxes.
By Kristen A. Graham LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 10:02
PM POSTED: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 9:41 PM
The Pennsylvania
Supreme Court will decide whether the School Reform Commission has the power to
cancel its teachers' contract, justices said in an order dated Monday. The SRC did so last October, attempting to
impose new economic terms on the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The union
immediately challenged the legality of the action. Commonwealth
Court justices sided with the union in January,
but now the matter rests with the Supreme Court, the court affirmed in its
order. Neither the union nor the
district was immediately available for comment Tuesday night.
Supreme Court takes case
over Philadelphia
The PLS Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Tuesday, August
11, 2015
The Pennsylvania
Supreme Court Monday granted an appeal by the School Reform Commission and School District of Philadelphia Commonwealth Court holding allowing an
injunction to remain in place over the SRC’s and district’s nullification of
the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ collective bargaining agreement. According to the allocatur grant, the court
will look at the following issue: “Whether
Sections 693 and 696 of the Distressed School Law and Act 46 of 1998 authorized
the School Reform Commission and the School
District of Philadelphia Philadelphia School
District
Letter to the editor: Sen.
Jake Corman on wrong side of major issues
Centre Daily Times Letter by MARIA A. SWEET, STATE
COLLEGE August 11,
2015
Sen. Jake Corman is
on the wrong side on all three major issues facing Pennsylvania .
1. The gas tax would
support schools and give property tax relief to the growing older population in
Pennsylvania .
Further, money saved in property taxes would help homeowners upgrade and repair
their homes while activating the local economy. I call on Corman to support the
gas extraction tax.
2. Pennsylvania liquor stores provide $100
million yearly revenue to the state general fund. The proposal to sell them for
$220 million leaves a shortfall of $100 million per year in future years.
Further, the more than 4,500 employees with benefits contribute to our economy.
The senator needs to protect Pennsylvania ’s
revenue that brings relief to taxpayers.
3. The Employees
Pension Fund was shortchanged by legislators beginning with the Ridge
administration, resulting in insufficient accrued funds. Employees paid full contribution.
Privatization and a 401(k) plan will aggravate the problem. Pensioners, often
ignorant of finance, will be at the mercy of hedge fund managers for their
future security. Corman needs do the right thing and restore the pension fund.
I am puzzled at the
senator’s position on issues that hurt hard-working, taxpaying citizens of his
district and of Pennsylvania .
He should revisit these positions with a mathematical (not ideological)
perspective.
Arts charter school
application submitted to Reading
School District
Reading Eagle Tuesday
August 11, 2015 12:01 AM
Organizers of an
arts charter school have submitted their application to the Reading School District
Lubben has said he
hopes to open the school, which would accommodate 400 high school and middle
school students, at the former Central
Catholic High
School Lehigh County Allentown
real estate developer Abe Atiyeh, who is involved in the project - were among
24 targeted clients, individuals and entities included the July 10 raids of
City Hall and the home of Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer. Lubben has insisted the FBI investigation
does not involve the school and will not impact his plans. The Reading School Board will hold hearings
for the charter application this fall. Dates for the hearings have not yet been
set.
- See more at: http://readingeagle.com/news/article/arts-charter-school-application-submitted-to-reading-school-district#sthash.rAxkePWk.dpuf
Post Gazette By Anne
Cloonan August 10, 2015 9:03 PM
The East Allegheny school board tonight approved a new
six-year contract with the East Allegheny Education Association, the district's
teachers union. The contract will begin
retroactively on July 1, 2012, and run until June 30, 2018. As part of the contract, teachers agreed to
no wage increase and no "step movement" in pay based on years of
service and education during the 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school
years. Employees below "step 16" on the salary scale will be eligible
for a raise based on step movement during the 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and
2017-2018 school years. Teachers at step 16 of the salary scale who have a
bachelor's degree plus 24 years of experience earned $92,468.49 in the first
three years of the contract.
Frank Bruni: Can We Interest You In Teaching?
The New York Times Opinion by Frank Bruni AUG. 12, 2015
Teaching can’t
compete.
When the economy improves
and job prospects multiply, college students turn their attention elsewhere, to
professions that promise more money, more independence, more respect.
That was one
takeaway from a widely discussed story in
The Times on Sunday by Motoko Rich, who charted teacher shortages so severe in
certain areas of the country that teachers are being rushed into classrooms
with dubious qualifications and before they’ve earned their teaching
credentials. It’s a sad, alarming state
of affairs, and it proves that for all our lip service about improving the
education of America ’s
children, we’ve failed to make teaching the draw that it should be, the honor
that it must be. Nationally, enrollment in teacher preparation programs dropped
by 30 percent between 2010 and 2014, as Rich reported. To make matters worse, more than 40 percent
of the people who do go into teaching exit the profession within
five years. How do we make
teaching more rewarding, so that it beckons to not only enough college
graduates but to a robust share of the very best of them?
Catholics wrestle with
teachings as gay employees dismissed
Education Week by AP
Published Online: August 10, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Pope Francis refined his vision for the church last week when he said
long-spurned divorced and remarried Catholics should be welcomed with
"open doors." And he has famously parsed centuries of thought on
homosexuality into a five-word quip: "Who am I to judge?" Yet the Archdiocese of Philadelphia opened
its door only briefly when married gay teacher Margie Winters, trailed by
supporters, arrived Monday with 23,000 petitions seeking reinstatement to her
job at a Catholic elementary school. "The
school and the Sisters of Mercy allowed me to work there for eight years. Once
the diocese was notified, something changed," said Winters, who was
disappointed that a security guard, and not a church official, took her
petitions at the chancery door. Winters,
50, lost her job at Waldron
Mercy Academy Philadelphia
next month for the World Meeting of Families.
Jesuit-run Fordham University is standing by its theology chairman whose
same-sex marriage made the New York Times wedding section this year, while at
Seton Hall University, the archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, recently
reassigned the head chaplain after the priest denounced gay bullying and later
came out as gay.
Around the U.S. , more than 50 people have reported losing
their jobs at Catholic institutions since 2010 over their sexual orientation or
identity, according to New Ways Ministries, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender Catholics based in Mount Ranier , Maryland
Merrow Report: DECIPHERING
SCHOOLING IN NEW ORLEANS
DECIPHERING
POST-KATRINA SCHOOLING
The flood of stories
about education in New Orleans
began well before the 10th anniversary of the flooding that destroyed most of
the city’s terrible schools. Is education better or worse now that
the city is virtually all-charter? Is this a model for urban America , or a
gigantic hoax? So far, I haven’t seen much in the way of middle ground. Here are SIX truths (as I see them), THREE predictions, and ONE piece of advice.
Philly.com by MARY WISNIEWSKI, REUTERS POSTED: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 3:01 AM
CHICAGO (Reuters) -
Chicago Public Schools on Monday began notifying nearly 1,500 teachers and
support staff who are being fired amid a previously announced, $200 million
budget cut and a shift in student enrollment.
The announcement came as CPS released its $5.7 billion 2016 budget,
which includes a historic $1.1 billion budget deficit driven by rapidly rising
pension payments. The layoff notices
will affect 479 teachers and 1,012 other staff members out of more than 41,500
employees, according to the school system.
Why tonight's
Perseid meteor shower will be especially awesome
The
Perseid meteor shower maximum is almost upon us, and this year especially, you
don't want to miss it. The annual August
meteor shower is one of the most prolific natural light shows of the year with
up to 100 shooting stars streaking across the sky per hour at its peak. It's also the brightest of the annual meteor
showers. In 2013 NASA declared the Perseid meteor shower the "Fireball
Champion" because it had the most shooting stars that shone at least as
brightly as Venus in the night sky. This year the meteor watching should be especially
good because the shower peaks between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning,
coinciding with the new moon. With
no moon in the sky, even the dimmest meteors will be visible if you can get
yourself far away from man-made light pollution. "Moonlight is the bane of meteor
watchers because bright moonlight washes out faint meteors," said Alan
MacRobert, senior editor at Sky and Telescope. "It is nature's own light
pollution." The last time the
Perseids peaked at the same time as the new moon was in 2007.
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
- 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
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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