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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup January 29, 2016:
Day 212 - F&M Poll: Only 15% think PA General
Assembly is doing a good job
PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM
"Southeastern
Region Forum Series" Wednesday,
February 17, 2016
Networking and Coffee - 9:30 a.m. Program - 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Networking and Coffee - 9:30 a.m. Program - 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Penn Center for Educational
Leadership (5th Floor)
University of Pennsylvania - 3440 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-3325
University of Pennsylvania - 3440 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-3325
SUBJECT: Governor Wolf's
Proposed Education Budget for 2016-2017
RSVP
for Southeastern Forum on-line at
EPLC PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION POLICY FORUM
"Capital
Region Forum Series" Thursday,
February 11, 2016
Continental Breakfast - 8:00
a.m. Program - 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Harrisburg Hilton Hotel -
Two North Second Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
SUBJECT: Governor Wolf's
Proposed Education Budget for 2016-2017
RSVP for Harrisburg
Forum on-line at
For Act 2, Gov. Wolf is
readying a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' budget: Analysis
Penn Live By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
January 28, 2016 at 2:30 PM
If you were a
school-kid back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the chances are pretty good
you remember those "Choose Your Own Adventure" paperbacks that
were a staple of middle and elementary school book fairs. And there were dozens of them, each more
luridly titled than the last, with front cover illustrations to match: "The
Cave of Time," "The House of Danger," and "Lost
on the Amazon," are just a few of the titles that rush to mind. They were the "Goosebumps"
and "Harry Potter" series of their day - but with a twist: The
reader, not the author, decided how the story would end. At the end of each chapter, you were
confronted with a choice. Turn to one page, and you might continue your adventure
or be rewarded with a spectacular prize. Turn to another, and you might find
yourself facing fiery and certain death in a volcano or something. And with his first
budget still undone after more than seven months, that's about the best
way to describe the new spending document that Gov. Tom Wolf will roll out to a joint session of the state
House and Senate in just a couple of weeks' time. "There are two paths - one of greater
destruction - which is the path we've been on for the last four or five years
or one where we move forward and fix the deficit and fund schools,"
administration spokesman Jeffrey
Sheridan said. "The Legislature will have to decide which way
to go."
With 2016 campaign season
opening, Gov. Tom Wolf pledges to be a player in legislative campaigns
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
January 28, 2016 at 2:00 PM, updated January 28, 2016 at 2:30 PM
Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday he expects to be
an active player in the 2016 election cycle, and the context was not delivering
Pennsylvania for fellow Democrats Hilary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. It was, in Wolf's words, working to elect
more "reasonable" people to seats in the state House and state
Senate. Wolf's vow came just days after
the opening date for candidates to gather petition signatures needed to place
their names on their respective parties' ballots for the April 26 primary
election. "I will do what I can to
help build the ranks of reasonable, responsible legislators," said Wolf,
who has struggled mightily to advance his priorities in the current Republican-controlled
General Assembly.
“The
more surprising result is those polled said state government and politicians
were the No. 1 problem facing Pennsylvania, twice as high as education at 18
percent. …Only 15 percent think the General Assembly is doing a good job.”
New Polls:
Wolf Just As Popular As Corbett; Kane, Sestak, Clinton, Trump Leading
PA Capitol Digest by
Crisci Assocaites January 29, 2016
A new Franklin & Marshall Poll released Thursday found Gov.
Wolf is just as popular as Gov. Corbett was-- 33 percent to 31 percent; Kane is
leading the Democratic contest for Attorney General; Joe Sestak is leading the
Democratic race for the state’s U.S. Senate seat; and Hillary Clinton and
Donald Trump are leading in the presidential race. The
more surprising result is those polled said state government and politicians
were the No. 1 problem facing Pennsylvania, twice as high as education at 18
percent. Overall, 67 percent of those polled think the state is on the
wrong track (up 5 percent from October). 52 percent blame the Legislature
and 32 percent the Governor (36 percent in October). Only 15 percent think the
General Assembly is doing a good job.
Pennsylvania
voters register disgust with Harrisburg antics in poll
Trib Live BY TOM FONTAINE | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016
Nine months ago,
Pennsylvania's registered voters felt more optimistic about the state's future
than they had in five years. Now,
according to a poll released Thursday, they are more discouraged about the
state's direction than they have been in at least six years. More than four out
of five voters think state government needs to be reformed, starting with the
Legislature, the latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll shows. “Scandal and dysfunction have touched every
branch of our government,” said pollster G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin
& Marshall's Center for Politics and Public Affairs.
The Franklin & Marshall College Poll
The January 2016
Franklin & Marshall College Poll of Pennsylvania registered
voters shows increasing dissatisfaction with the direction of the state
and with the state’s politicians. Two in three (67%) registered voters
believe the state is “on the wrong track,” up from 62% in October, and two
in five (38%) say that government and politicians are the biggest
problems facing the state. Four in five (82%) voters believe that state
government needs reformed. These sentiments are continuing to affect
Governor Wolf’s job performance ratings; 33% of registered voters believe
he is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as governor, which is down from 36%
in October and 39% in August. The January Poll shows that more registered
voters continue to hold the state legislature (52%) than the governor
(32%) responsible for the state’s late budget.
View the latest
Franklin & Marshall College Poll (PDF):
State Auditor General to see if Bethlehem charter
school violated state bidding laws
By Jacqueline Palochko The Morning Call January 28,
2016
The Pennsylvania auditor general will look
into whether a Bethlehem charter school violated state law when handling
construction contracts for its $26 million new building. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said in a
statement Thursday that he received separate letters from attorneys
representing the Bethlehem Area School District and the Lehigh Valley Charter
High School for the Arts and will begin an audit this summer. The school district alleges the charter school did not
follow Pennsylvania Charter School Law when it constructed a building at 321 E.
Third St. in Bethlehem. The district said the charter school approached
construction companies about bids, rather than following state law and
advertising for submissions. The
district also says the charter school did not request bids for subcontractors
for work such as heating and plumbing, as required by law.
Marple Newtown approves
teachers’ contract with 7 percent raise over term
Delco Times By Leslie Krowchenko, Times Correspondent POSTED: 01/27/16, 8:33 PM EST
NEWTOWN >>
Following ratification of the tentative agreement last week by the Marple
Newtown Education Association, the Marple Newtown School Board voted
unanimously Tuesday night to approve the new contract. The agreement, signed
following the Nov. 9 negotiating session, is for the period July 1, 2015-June
30, 2018. The teachers inked a two-year
agreement in June 2013 which expired June 30. The union, members of the school
board and administration and a mediator began contract negotiations in January
2015. Despite the situation, the 299 union members continued their in-class and
extra-curricular activities without interruption. According to the terms, the new money added
to the salary schedule is 2.45 percent for 2015-2016, 2.4 percent for 2016-2017
and 2.21 percent for 2017-2018. Most employees will receive annual increases
close to those percentages. In 2015-2016 all union members will move up one
step on the salary schedule and remain on that step for the next two years. The
teacher year will continue as 191 days this year and next, moving to 192 days
for 2017-2018.
New interactive map
highlights Penn GSE's work in Philadelphia
Penn Graduate School
of Education January 27, 2016
The crisis of
Philadelphia’s schools drew preeminent teaching expert Pam Grossman to
the deanship of Penn GSE. Philadelphia
is a national testing ground for many of the issues facing American education:
school reform, charters, school funding, deep poverty, and a diverse and
diversifying student body. Grossman felt compelled to make a difference here –
hoping her work at Penn could have an impact on the community and in national
discussions. Crucial to her strategy was understanding Penn GSE’s direct
work with Philadelphia schools, which she was surprised to learn extends into
every city neighborhood. Grossman also discovered that faculty within Penn GSE
and on the Penn campus, although united in their commitment to Philadelphia, do
not always have a detailed understanding of the many projects underway. Without
that shared knowledge, it is difficult to foster the alchemy necessary for
larger change. To illustrate Penn GSE’s
work and partnerships in the city, the school launched an interactive and
evolving “heat map.”
State rep salutes Wallingford-Swarthmore
school board
Delco Times by NEIL A. SHEEHAN POSTED: 01/28/16, 8:05 PM
EST
NETHER PROVIDENCE
>> A state legislator hand-delivered certificates of recognition to
members of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board at their most recent meeting.
State Rep. Leanne
Krueger‐Braneky, D-161 of Swarthmore, who was elected last year, said it was
important to her to present the certificates in person. “I want to thank you for your service,”
particularly as a resident of the district, she said, noting school board
members do not receive any financial compensation. The salute was on behalf of the Pennsylvania
School Board Association and in conjunction with January serving as School
Board Appreciation Month.
“It would require a 4.89
percent tax increase to balance the budget as it stands today. The board
approved filing with the Department of Education for 2016-17 referendum
exceptions for special education expenditures ($1.7 million) and retirement
contributions ($949,000) for a total estimated amount of $2.7 million.”
Spring-Ford board OKs
$150M preliminary budget, blames state impasse for woes
By Eric Devlin, The Mercury POSTED: 01/28/16, 6:35 PM
EST | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO
Royersford >>
The Spring-Ford Area School Board blamed the budget impasse in Harrisburg for
causing its financial headache as it tries to prepare a 2016-17 budget. The district still has not said how it
intends to balance the $150 million preliminary budget it approved Wednesday
night. It could raise taxes, cut expenses and/or pull from its reserves. For
now, all options on the table. “We’re going into
the budget process without the state telling us what we’re doing,” said board
Vice President Joe Ciresi. “It’s time for the state to do their job, what
they’re hired for and not leave the districts hanging. And stop blaming the
districts for raising taxes when they’re not properly funding education.” Ciresi is currently campaigning as a Democrat
to serve as state representative for the 146th District. The 146th District
includes the boroughs of Trappe, Royersford and part of Pottstown, as well as
Limerick, Lower Pottsgrove and Perkiomen townships.
'Working educators' caucus
challenges status quo in Philadelphia teachers union
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN MCCORRY JANUARY 29, 2016
The leadership and
direction of the politically influential Philadelphia Federation of Teachers
will be up for grabs over the next few weeks.
The incumbent leadership slate — known as the Collective Bargaining
Team — is seeing its most robust challenge in decades from a rank-and-file
division that calls itself the Caucus of Working Educators, also known as WE. WE prides itself as a proponent of
"social-justice unionism" that aims to place trauma-informed care of
students at the core of its agenda. "We
have to address those issues of poverty, or things will never get better in the
classroom. And I think that is a big scary notion, but 11,000 caring teachers
and other professionals can do this," said Amy Roat, WE's nominee for
union president.
U.S. Education Department threatens to sanction states
over test opt-outs
Washington Post
Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss January
28 at 1:12 PM
Members
of Congress, education leaders and students applaud after President Obama
signed the Every Student Succeeds Act on Dec. 10 in Washington. (Chip
Somodevilla/Getty Images) Anyone who thought
that the U.S. Education Department’s power over states in regard to
standardized testing was over because of the new K-12 education law passed in
December should think again. The Every
Student Succeeds Act was the result of a compromise among Republicans and
Democrats who were intent on ending No Child Left Behind, the chief education
initiative of former president George W. Bush, and the Obama administration’s
micro-managing of education policymaking. It did send a good deal of education
policymaking power back to the states but did not eliminate the federal role in
education. ESSA carries over the No
Child Left Behind mandate of annual standardized testing from grades 3-8 and
once in high school, and it has left enough room for the Education Department
to threaten to sanction those states where too many students refused to take
the state-mandated standardized “accountability” test.
Test-Participation Mandate
Puts States on Spot
How to deal with opt-outs remains tricky
under ESSA
Education Week By Andrew
Ujifusa Published Online: January
26, 2016
As states prepare
for the transition to the new federal education law passed last month, one of
the thornier policy questions is how they'll consider test-participation rates
in their accountability systems, after a year in which the testing opt-out
movement rose to national prominence.
States are
considering various approaches to try to ensure schools meet the requirement
under the Every Student Succeeds Act (the newest iteration of the federal
Elementary and Secondary Education Act) that 95 percent of eligible students
take state exams in English/language arts and math. The plans to deal with high opt-out numbers
in at least a few states follow suggestions from the U.S. Department of
Education about how to respond to relatively low participation numbers. The
department also notified 13 states that, according to data, the 95 percent
participation requirement was not met either by districts in their state or
statewide for the 2014-15 academic year. But even those plans could shift once
states' ESEA waivers end and life under ESSA gets under way.
“All
but two of the GOP candidates — former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov.
John Kasich — are also promising that they will rid the country of Common Core,
the K-12 academic standards in math and reading adopted by more than 40 states
and the District of Columbia. The
trouble is, the president has no power over the Common Core. States decide
academic standards. That has been true for years but was spelled out explicitly
in the new federal education law.”
When it comes to K-12 education, goals of GOP
contenders are moot
Washington Post By Lyndsey Layton January 28 at 2:41 PM
To hear the top-tier
Republican presidential candidates tell it, on their first day in office, they
will shift power over education from the federal government back to states and
local communities.
Problem is, Congress
already took care of that. In December,
the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a new law that dials back the
power of the federal government when it comes to local classrooms. It marked a
profound reset of the relationship between federal and state governments.
States, not the federal government, decide curricula, teaching methods,
academic standards, what to do about struggling schools and how to define
success or failure, among other things.
PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION
POLICY FORUM
"Southeastern Region Forum Series"Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Networking and Coffee - 9:30 a.m. Program - 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Networking and Coffee - 9:30 a.m. Program - 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Penn Center for
Educational Leadership (5th
Floor)
University of Pennsylvania - 3440 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-3325
University of Pennsylvania - 3440 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-3325
SUBJECT: Governor
Wolf's Proposed Education Budget for 2016-2017
SPEAKERS:
An Overview of
the Proposed 2016-2017 State Budget and Education Issues Will Be
Provided By:
Representative of
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
Ron Cowell, President, The Education Policy and Leadership Center
Ron Cowell, President, The Education Policy and Leadership Center
Statewide and
Regional Perspectives Will Be Provided By:
Donna Cooper,
Executive Director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Deborah Gordon Klehr, Executive Director, Education Law Center
Dr. George Steinhoff, Superintendent, Penn Delco School District
Deborah Gordon Klehr, Executive Director, Education Law Center
Dr. George Steinhoff, Superintendent, Penn Delco School District
One or more
representatives of other statewide and regional organizations are still to
be confirmed.
RSVP
for Southeastern Forum on-line at
EPLC PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION
POLICY FORUM
"Capital Region Forum Series" Thursday, February 11, 2016
Continental
Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. Program - 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Harrisburg
Hilton Hotel - Two North Second Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
SUBJECT: Governor
Wolf's Proposed Education Budget for 2016-2017
SPEAKERS:
An Overview of
the Proposed 2016-2017 State Budget and Education Issues Will Be
Provided By:
Representative of
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
Ron Cowell,
President, The Education Policy and Leadership Center
Statewide and
Regional Perspectives Will Be Provided By:
Dr. Brian Barnhart,
Executive Director, Lancaster-Lebanon IU #13
Thomas Gluck,
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units
Representatives of other statewide and regional organizations are still to be confirmed.
Representatives of other statewide and regional organizations are still to be confirmed.
While there is
no registration fee, seating is limited and an RSVP is required.
RSVP for
Harrisburg Forum on-line at
PSBA New School Director Training Remaining
Locations:
- 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
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
Register here: https://www.psba.org/2015/09/new-school-director-training/
Save
the Dates for These 2016 Annual EPLC Regional State Budget Education
Policy Forums
Sponsored
by The Education Policy and Leadership Center
Thursday, February
11 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. - Harrisburg
Wednesday, February 17 - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania)
Thursday, February 25 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. - Pittsburgh
Wednesday, February 17 - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania)
Thursday, February 25 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. - Pittsburgh
Invitation
and more details in January
Attend the
United Opt Out Conference in Philadelphia February 26-28
United
Opt Out: The Movement to End Corporate Reform will hold its annual conference
on Philadelphia from February 26-28.
Save the Date | PBPC Budget Summit March
3rd
Pennsylvania
Budget and Policy Center
The
2015-2016 budget remains in a state of limbo. But it's time to start thinking
about the 2016-17 budget. The Governor will propose his budget for next year in
early February.
The
Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center will hold our annual Budget Summit on March
3rd. Save the date and join us for an in-depth look at the
Governor's 2016-17 budget proposal, including what it means for education,
health and human services, the environment and local communities. And, of
course, if the 2015-2016 budget is not complete by then, we will also be
talking about the various alternatives still under consideration.
As in
year's past, this year's summit will be at the Hilton Harrisburg. Register today!
PASBO 61st Annual
Conference and Exhibits March 8 - 11, 2016
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
PenSPRA's Annual Symposium, Friday
April 8th in Shippensburg, PA
PenSPRA,
or the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association, has developed a
powerhouse line-up of speakers and topics for a captivating day of professional
development in Shippensburg on April 8th. Learn to master data to
defeat your critics, use stories to clarify your district's brand and take
your social media efforts to the next level with a better understanding of
metrics and the newest trends. Join us the evening before the Symposium for
a “Conversation with Colleagues” from 5 – 6 pm followed by a
Networking Social Cocktail Hour from 6 – 8 pm. Both the
Symposium Friday and the social events on Thursday evening
will be held at the Shippensburg University Conference Center. Snacks at the
social hour, and Friday’s breakfast and lunch is included in your
registration cost. $125 for PenSPRA members and $150 for non-members. Learn
more about our speakers and topics and register today at this link:
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.
2016 PA Educational
Leadership Summit July 24-26 State College
Summit Sponsors:
PA Principals Association - PA Association of School Administrators
- PA Association of Middle Level Educators - PA Association of
Supervision and Curriculum Development
The 2016
Educational Leadership Summit, co-sponsored by four leading Pennsylvania education associations,
provides an excellent opportunity for school district administrative teams and
instructional leaders to learn, share and plan together at a quality venue in
"Happy Valley."
Featuring Grant
Lichtman, author of EdJourney: A Roadmap to the Future of Education,
Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera (invited), and Dana
Lightman, author of POWER Optimism: Enjoy the Life You Have...
Create the Success You Want, keynote speakers, high quality breakout
sessions, table talks on hot topics and district team planning and job alike
sessions provides practical ideas that can be immediately reviewed and
discussed at the summit before returning back to your district. Register and pay by April 30, 2016 for the
discounted "early bird" registration rate:
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