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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup December 13, 2015:
Could this be the week for #PABudget?
Campaign for Fair Education Funding: PA Lawmakers need to deliver a
#PABudget that meets the needs of every child. Ask them to at:
Today might be an excellent day to reach out to your House
members. Phone numbers are here:
If you have newly elected
members on your school board who would like to receive the PA Ed Policy Roundup
please have them send their email addresses. Thanks!
Could this be the week?
Protracted Pa.
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 12, 2015 at 9:14 PM, updated December 12, 2015 at 10:05 PM
Everybody at the
Capitol hopes this is the week that brings closure to Pennsylvania 's extended state budget
impasse. But they also acknowledge
there's still some significant negotiating to do before what's expected to
be a $30.8 billion, 2015-16 spending plan that is likely to
contain tax increases is put to bed.
Here's a final week (we're being optimistic) scorecard on the big
questions:
"Of all the bills that
are being reviewed, he said the Education Code bill has the most work needed,
pointing to problems with the distribution of school funds and charter school
reforms. “Many members of our caucus are
pro-school choice and pro-accountability,” he said. “Also, the way that the
monies are distributed is concerning. There’s no doubt we think it’s skewed and
we think that needs to be discussed.”
Speaker Turzai on budget:
“There are open issues in each and every area”
The PLS Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Friday, December
11, 2015
Following a Friday
morning call by a number of House Democrats for House Speaker Mike Turzai
(R-Allegheny) to bring their chamber back to session to complete the budget and
related bills, Speaker Turzai this afternoon announced the cancellation of
Saturday’s scheduled session. The House is set to
reconvene Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m. to begin caucusing—and perhaps holding
committee votes—on those bills. In
updating the schedule, the Speaker also provided some insight on the
differences that remain between House Republicans and those who are still
working toward the once agreed-to budget framework that continues to list
between success and failure in continually uncertain waters. “There are open issues in each and every
area,” he said pointing to a number of papers worked up by House Republicans on
issues with the budget, related code bills, and pension and liquor reform
bills.
"A House session planned
for Saturday was called off, with representatives due back at work around
dinnertime Sunday."
Negotiators put Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY ASSOCIATED PRESS DECEMBER 12, 2015
Gov. Tom Wolf and
the Pennsylvania Legislature appear headed for another week of grappling over
how to end a five-month budget stalemate.
The pressure is ratcheting up on them amid growing social services
layoffs, threats of school shutdowns and the looming end of the calendar year. A determined House Republican majority showed
no sign of any willingness to accept a package of Senate-passed legislation as
last week wound down. There's a long
list of disputed issues attached to the budget bills that is only making the
lines of division clearer.
Pa. budget agreement
unlikely to happen this weekend; schools, counties borrow nearly $1B
Penn Live By The Associated
Press on December 12, 2015 at 9:15 AM, updated December 12, 2015
at 12:58 PM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)
— Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Legislature appear headed for another week
of grappling over how to end a five-month budget stalemate while pressure
ratchets up on them amid growing social services layoffs, threats of school
shutdowns and the looming end of the calendar year. A determined House Republican majority showed
no sign of any willingness to accept a package of Senate-passed legislation as last week
wound down, and a long list of disputed issues attached to the budget bills
only made the lines of division clearer. With state aid shut
off to schools, social services and counties, school boards have begun to
discuss staying closed after the winter holiday break and more programs are
closing. Borrowing by school districts and counties is approaching $1 billion.
House Speaker Mike Turzai
pumps the brakes a bit on Pennsylvania
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 11, 2015 at 7:44 PM, updated December 11, 2015 at 7:52 PM
House Republicans
may not have won their fight to trim $500 million from the still-evolving state
budget this week. But that doesn't mean,
House Speaker Mike Turzai said Friday, they've given up trying to put their
imprint on the roughly $30.8 billion 2015-16 state spending package. Speaking at a late-day press conference in
his Capitol office, Turzai said his 119-member will still have its say on
issues like limiting new taxes, promoting liquor privatization and growing the
role for charter schools in low-achieving school districts. "There are open issues in each and every
area," Turzai said, "and we're moving forward to see if we can
resolve any of the outstanding issues."
Turzai's remarks came at the end of a week in which, perhaps mostly in
the interest of having their say, House Republicans passed a less-ambitious and
less-expensive budget, only to see it rejected by their Senate GOP
counterparts.
'The Senate has done its
job,' Corman, in NYC, says of #PaBudget talks
Penn Live By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 11, 2015 at 8:46 AM
NEW YORK _ At 7:45
a.m. on Friday morning, over bagels, coffee and gossip, Senate Majority Leader
Jake Corman summed up the current state of budget talks this way: "We're waiting on the House," said
the Bellefonte Republican, who was doing a drive-by Friday of this year's
Pennsylvania Society gala before heading back to Harrisburg. "It's in their ballpark. We've sent them
a complete list of bills. Let's see where they go," he said. And with the Senate out of session until at
least Sunday, the Republican floor leader defended his quick jaunt to Midtown:
"The Senate has
done its job. The House isn't in session. I made some commitments for today.
And I'll go back tomorrow," he said.
Pennsylvania's state
budget talks, at loooonnnnng last, enter home stretch
By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 11, 2015 at 7:00 AM, updated December 11, 2015 at 11:35 AM
The six-month Pennsylvania
state budget impasse - after months of political gridlock - is showing
significant signs of breaking up. That's
probably going to mean a tax increase for Pennsylvanians. (Negotiators from all
sides are expected to meet this weekend to settle on a final mix of taxes and
other income sources designed to raise $650 to $700 million in the current
fiscal year; growing to more than $1 billion on a full-year basis.) It will mean the single-biggest raw dollar
increase in aid to public schools that this state has ever seen, plus
significant boosts to aid for higher education.
And it's possible that it may make some cultural history by bringing
along a plan that, for the first time since creation of the state-owned liquor
stores, would allow an adult to buy a bottle of wine at a supermarket
or restaurant. Now comes the hard
part.
Inky Editorial: House
lacks leadership
by Inquirer
Editorial Board. Updated: DECEMBER
11, 2015 — 3:01 AM EST
The failure to pass
a budget in Pennsylvania
is a failure of leadership. For more than five months, legislators and Gov.
Wolf have tossed proposals back and forth without coming to agreement on the
same issues they faced when the governor introduced his budget in March. Negotiation skills
should be prerequisite for anyone who aspires to be a legislator. That's how
you get the most for your constituents. But instead of negotiating an
acceptable budget compromise, Pennsylvania
legislators have been caught up in a sickening game of chicken that is making
the public the biggest loser. The
situation is so bad that some Philadelphians are fondly looking back at how
Vince Fumo used his legislative skills to broker compromises when he was a
state senator, setting aside the fact that Fumo's craftiness was also what
landed him in prison for corruption. That said, the absence of skilled
negotiators is a big reason that the budget is overdue. In fact, the House Republican caucus seems to
be in a leadership crisis. The Senate and governor have finally agreed on a
spending plan, but House leaders can't corral support for the compromise budget
in their chamber. That's a breathtaking admission of failure. Leaders who can't
lead aren't leaders; they're water carriers.
Rendell to pols, business
leaders: Kick in for schools
Updated: DECEMBER 12,
2015 — 10:58 PM EST
by Tricia L. Nadolny, Jonathan Tamari, and Chris
Brennan, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS.
House Democrats blast
Speaker, urge immediate return to session
The PLS Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Friday, December
11, 2015
House Democrats
called on Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) to return their chamber to session
on Friday to conclude work on budget documents and end Pennsylvania ’s 164-day old budget impasse. “As we speak, there is legislation that is
ready to be voted on,” said Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D-Delaware). “Instead,
Speaker Turzai has scheduled a vacation day rather than have us do the people’s
work.” The group of about two-dozen
House Democrats said not only should they be in session on Friday, but also
remain in session until the budget is finalized. Rep. Kevin Schreiber
(D-York) argued that had the legislature remained in Harrisburg since the beginning of the budget
impasse, it’s more likely than not a budget would’ve been finished by now. He pointed out the House has only been in for
34 voting session days during the 164 day stalemate. “We have the ability to take up a vote to end
this impasse and provide for historic increases in education and a responsibly
balanced budget,” he said. “Yet, here we are, another day when we are not in
session.”
DN Editorial: TRUE
DISBELIEVERS
Philly Daily News Editorial Updated: DECEMBER 11, 2015 — 3:01 AM EST
PEOPLE LIKE to to
treat this year's budget fiasco in Harrisburg
as the same-old-same-old, a typical partisan squabble where each side tries to
score points over the other. There are
partisan games going on this year and passing any budget with tax increases is
a nightmare.
This year is
different, and not only because this particular budget fight has lasted into
December. It is also different because it reveals the change in the culture in Harrisburg .
To oversimplify,
there are two groups in the state capital - the politicians who believe in
government and those who do not. So far,
the "Do Not's" have been in control of the process. Most are
clustered in the Republican party. Given
the choice between higher taxes and a government shutdown, they would prefer a
shutdown. Most of them are tea party adherents
who came to Harrisburg
with a mission to get the government off people's back. They see taxation as a
form of confiscation of private property. They see compromise as a form of
treason.
Dems turn their fire on Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY MARY WILSON DECEMBER 11, 2015
Something changed in
the past week for Democrats watching Pennsylvania 's
budget impasse drag on. They found a
villain in House Speaker Mike Turzai. It
began last Saturday, when House Republicans said they would withdraw their
support for the tentative budget agreement reached with Gov. Tom Wolf and the
Senate. And it intensified in the days that followed, as Turzai repeated his
concerns about the 6 percent spending increase included in the spending plan
approved by the Senate with the governor's blessing on Monday. Throughout the summer, GOP House Majority
Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, was the face of the chamber's Republicans as he
discussed their concerns and updated the press on budget negotiations. But since the House Republicans walked away
from a tentative deal with the Senate and Wolf administration, Turzai,
R-Allegheny, has taken center stage as the caucus mouthpiece. "I'm a leader, and I'm reflective of
where our caucus is," Turzai told reporters Friday. "The House
Republican caucus is a fiscally responsible group of legislators. They have
always wanted to hold the line on taxes. They have always wanted to hold the
line on spending." So far,
Republicans in the Senate have been careful not to malign their House
counterparts – at least not publicly.
'Where are you, Mr.
Speaker?': House Democrats slam Republicans for taking Friday off during budget
impasse
Penn Live By Christian
Alexandersen | calexandersen@pennlive.com Email the
author | Follow
on Twitter
on December 11, 2015 at 12:43 PM, updated December 11, 2015 at 1:58 PM
on December 11, 2015 at 12:43 PM, updated December 11, 2015 at 1:58 PM
Democrats in the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives want to vote on two proposals that would
end the 164-day
state budget impasse. But they're not in session on Friday.
House Democrats held
a press conference Friday to criticize House
Speaker Mike Turzai's decision to adjourn until Saturday afternoon.
The Pennsylvania Senate has forwarded two $30.8 billion budget plans to the
House. The House -- which had its $30.3
billion plan gutted and sent
back by the Senate -- has been unable to come to an agreement
with Gov.
Tom Wolf or Senate Republicans and Democrats over a budget. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives
passed a GOP-crafted budget bill Tuesday that is not being supported by their
fellow Republicans in the Senate or Gov. Tom Wolf. Rep. Leanne Krueger-Brankey, D-Delaware, said
House members have the opportunity to pass a budget framework that has been
negotiated by all four caucuses and Gov. Tom Wolf. But instead, she said, Turzai cancelled a
crucial voting session on Friday.
"The estimated $100
million boost that would come to Philadelphia
Philly district leaders
criticize Pa.
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN MCCORRY DECEMBER 11, 2015
The department would
have five intervention options:
- turn over operations of the school to an
outside education management organization;
- convert the school to a
neighborhood-based charter;
- close the school and facilitate transfer
of students to higher performing schools;
- authorize a new charter and guarantee
admission preference to any students who reside in the catchment of the
low performing school;
- or replace the principal and at least
half of the school's staff.
The bill does not
mandate additional resources to support the interventions – leaving the
Legislature to decide.
Hite: Pa.
by Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff
Writer. Updated: DECEMBER
12, 2015 — 1:07 AM EST
Tucked into a
late-night school-code bill passed by the Pennsylvania Senate this week are
details that some education-watchers - including the Philadelphia superintendent - say could
cripple city schools. Aimed squarely at
the Philadelphia School District Philadelphia and its
schools, some Harrisburg Republicans have demanded increased accountability in
exchange for more funds. Hite noted that
Philadelphia
has begun turnarounds - including charter conversions - at more than 30 schools
in the last several years, despite extreme budget challenges. "I do question why there is specific
legislation just for Philadelphia
when probably no one else in the commonwealth has turned around the number or
percentage of schools we have," the superintendent said. "There's no
proof that there's no will to do this here. What we haven't had is the
revenue."
Surprisingly, Hite wants
to stay
SRC will vote Thursday to
extend his contract until 2022.
the notebook December
11, 2015 by Dale
Mezzacappa
William Hite wants
to stay on as superintendent of schools in Philadelphia for at least another seven
years. He wants to stay despite the
constant struggle for money with the city and the state. Despite the inability
to form a working relationship with the teachers’ union. Despite a few
disastrous decisions, like the outsourcing of substitute teaching services.
Despite a growing list of mandates from the state and city that cramp his
leadership and judgment. Why? “All in all, the
worst thing that could happen now is that we hit reset,” Hite said in an
interview. “I think one of the things that is really important is a level of
continuity and stability when faced with the level of challenges that we are
faced with.” The School Reform
Commission will vote on Thursday, Dec. 16, to extend his contract through
August 2022 – well into the next decade.
Trib Live By Greg
Reinbold Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, 12:01 a.m.
The political jockeying inHarrisburg that has
delayed adoption of a state budget for months might force Derry Area School District
The political jockeying in
Some preschools shutting
down until more state money becomes available
Trib Live By Natasha
Lindstrom Friday, Dec. 11, 2015,
12:39 p.m.
Sue Buffton did her best “not to fall apart” Friday morning as she drove toward a preschool in Brookline. She counted along the way four state wine and spirit stores, lit in colorful, sparkling Christmas lights. Then she thought about the pre-kindergarten classrooms under her management that will sit empty, starting Friday, because the state budget is 165 days late. The Wolf administration mandated that until the impasse gets resolved, state money can be released only to maintain “essential” government services. Buffton let out a sigh. “When did the state liquor stores become more essential than what we do?” asked Buffton, who counsels teen parents and oversees getting low-income children into preschool as director of early childhood education programs at the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center. She consoled staff saddened that the nonprofit is suspending services for seniors, closing its family center and halting its preschool programs, with about 150 of its 700 students relying on state funding.
Sue Buffton did her best “not to fall apart” Friday morning as she drove toward a preschool in Brookline. She counted along the way four state wine and spirit stores, lit in colorful, sparkling Christmas lights. Then she thought about the pre-kindergarten classrooms under her management that will sit empty, starting Friday, because the state budget is 165 days late. The Wolf administration mandated that until the impasse gets resolved, state money can be released only to maintain “essential” government services. Buffton let out a sigh. “When did the state liquor stores become more essential than what we do?” asked Buffton, who counsels teen parents and oversees getting low-income children into preschool as director of early childhood education programs at the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center. She consoled staff saddened that the nonprofit is suspending services for seniors, closing its family center and halting its preschool programs, with about 150 of its 700 students relying on state funding.
Schools continue to
grapple with 'Huckleberry Finn'
by Justine McDaniel, Inquirer Staff
Writer. Updated: DECEMBER
11, 2015 — 1:08 AM EST
After The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in 1885, the book was
boycotted in some places in the United
States for portraying friendship between a
black man and a white boy. "In its time,
it was derided and censored," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, deputy director
of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, which
tracks challenges to books. Today, Mark Twain's
classic - about a boy who flees his abusive father and travels down the Mississippi River with an escaped slave - is still
sometimes challenged in American schools, but for nearly the opposite reason:
its liberal use of the N-word and perceived racist portrayals of black
characters. This week, a Montgomery County Central School
CONGRESS
RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PEDIATRIC EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS
Reach Out & Read website Thursday
December 10, 2015
We're thrilled at
the overwhelming bipartisan support for a bill that recognizes the importance
of pediatric early literacy promotion. President Obama has just signed into law
the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, titled the
Every Student Succeeds Act (S. 1177), that seeks to ensure the provision of a
quality education for all children. Significantly,
this bill authorizes the Reach Out and Read model in federal education policy
for the first time. In signing the bill, President Obama talked about expanding
access to early childhood education as one of its three aims. Increasingly,
research shows that the foundation children need to succeed in school and
beyond is built in the early years, from infancy. We are pleased that Reach Out
and Read has been recognized as a leader in the field of early learning, and
that our model, reaching families with young children through pediatric care,
is recognized in this important legislation.
Inclusion of
pediatric early literacy promotion in this act is fully consistent with the American Academy
A Guide to Social Impact
Bonds
Diane Ravitch's Blog
By dianeravitch December 11, 2015 //
“In the Public
Interest” is an organization dedicated to warning the public about the dangers
of privatizing public services. It has
written a guidebook
to explain to citizens what Social Impact Bonds are, how they work,
who they benefit, and why they are dangerous for our society. Shar Habibi, ITPI’s
director of research, writes:
“Our guide is a
must-read for any citizen or decision-maker trying to understand these new
financing structures. It will help you ask tough questions to ensure that
private dollars don’t create perverse incentives, fail to serve the neediest
cases (also known as ‘creaming’), or distort measures of success for our most
important social services.
“Ultimately, Pay for
Success ignores the deeper cause of many of our growing social problems:
underinvestment in the public interest. America desperately needs more
investment in all our public services. Prevention-focused public funding of
critical public services—like pre-K for all children and help for juveniles who
end up in the criminal justice system—is our simplest and least expensive
solution.”
PSBA New School Director Training
School boards who will welcome new directors after the election should
plan to attend PSBA training to help everyone feel more confident right from
the start. This one-day event is targeted to help members learn the basics of
their new roles and responsibilities. Meet the friendly, knowledgeable PSBA
team and bring everyone on your “team of 10” to get on the same page fast.
- $150 per
registrant (No charge if your district has a LEARN Pass. Note: All-Access
members also have LEARN Pass.)
- One-hour lunch
on your own — bring your lunch, go to lunch, or we’ll bring a box lunch to
you; coffee/tea provided all day
- Course
materials available online or we’ll bring a printed copy to you for an
additional $25
- Registrants
receive one month of 100-level online courses for each registrant, after
the live class
Remaining
Locations:
- Allentown area —
Jan. 16 Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, Schnecksville
- Central PA — Jan.
30 Nittany Lion Inn, State College
- Delaware Co. IU 25
— Feb. 1
Scranton area — Feb. 6 Abington Heights SD, Clarks Summit - North Central area
—Feb. 13 Mansfield University, Mansfield
Register here: https://www.psba.org/2015/09/new-school-director-training/
NSBA Advocacy
Institute 2016; January 24 - 26 in Washington ,
D.C.
Housing and meeting registration is open for Advocacy Institute 2016. The theme, “Election Year Politics & Public Schools,” celebrates the exciting year ahead for school board advocacy. Strong legislative programming will be paramount at this year’s conference in January. Visit www.nsba.org/advocacyinstitute for more information.
Housing and meeting registration is open for Advocacy Institute 2016. The theme, “Election Year Politics & Public Schools,” celebrates the exciting year ahead for school board advocacy. Strong legislative programming will be paramount at this year’s conference in January. Visit www.nsba.org/advocacyinstitute for more information.
PASBO 61st Annual
Conference and Exhibits March 8 - 11, 2016
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
The Network for Public Education 3rd
Annual National Conference April 16-17, 2016 Raleigh , North Carolina
The
Network for Public Education is thrilled to announce the location for our 3rd
Annual National Conference. On April 16 and 17, 2016 public education advocates
from across the country will gather in Raleigh, North Carolina. We chose Raleigh to highlight the tremendous
activist movement that is flourishing in North Carolina. No one exemplifies
that movement better than the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, who will be the
conference keynote speaker. Rev. Barber is the current president of
the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, the National NAACP chair of
the Legislative Political Action Committee, and the founder of Moral Mondays.
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
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