Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now
reach more than 3850 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors,
administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's
staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Wolf education transition
team members, Superintendents, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher
leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations,
education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory
agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via
emails, website, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup February 12, 2016:
Gravity Waves Detected; still no sign of a Pennsylvania #PABudget
RSVP Today for One of EPLC’s Education Policy Forum
Series on Governor Wolf’s 2016-17 State Budget Proposal
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - Philadelphia
Thursday, February 25, 2016 - Pittsburgh
Blogger note: Could this be
in PA's future? Kansas
Supreme Court gives state until June 30 to properly fund public schools.
“Through this decision, the
Supreme Court is making clear that the opportunity for a quality education must
be available to all Kansas
children, regardless of the zip code in which they live,” Lane said. “This is
good news, not only for students in the Kansas
City , Kansas Public
Schools, but also for students and communities across the state.”
Court says Legislature must
implement an equitable financing plan by end of 2016 fiscal year. If it doesn’t, schools in Kansas “will be unable to operate beyond
June 30,” the state high court said.
Kansas City Star BY
EDWARD M. EVELD eeveld@kcstar.com February
11, 2016
The Kansas Supreme
Court Thursday gave the state until June 30 to enact an “equitable” school
funding formula or, it said, the state’s public schools won’t open for the
2016-2017 school year. In its ruling, the court said that if a formula isn’t in
place by then, the court will decide that “no constitutionally valid school
finance system exists.” “Without a
constitutionally equitable school finance system, the schools in Kansas will be unable to
operate beyond June 30,” the Supreme Court court said. “Accordingly, the Legislature’s chosen path
during the 2016 session will ultimately determine whether Kansas students will
be treated fairly and the schoolhouse doors will be open to them in August for
the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year,” the ruling stated. The ruling affirms a
Court of Appeals decision that the state had failed to correct constitutional
inequities among school districts in the state’s school funding system.
"THE LEGISLATURE'S CHOSEN PATH DURING
THE 2016 SESSION WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE WHETHER KANSAS STUDENTS WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY AND
THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOORS WILL BE OPEN TO THEM IN AUGUST.
Ruling gives lawmakers until
June 30 to craft a solution
Failure could lead to
court-ordered shutdown of schools
Wichita Eagle BY
DION LEFLER dlefler@wichitaeagle.com
AND BRYAN LOWRY blowry@wichitaeagle.com AND SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIAS stobias@wichitaeagle.com February 11, 2016
The Kansas Supreme
Court ruled Thursday that the Legislature has
inequitably funded schools and gave lawmakers until June 30 to work out a plan
that meets constitutional requirements. The justices
signaled that if the Legislature fails to craft a solution by the end of the
fiscal year, it could lead to a court-ordered shutdown of schools. “The legislature’s chosen path during the
2016 session will ultimately determine whether Kansas students will be treated fairly and
the schoolhouse doors will be open to them in August for the beginning of the
2016-2017 school year,” the ruling said.
“The legislature’s unsuccessful
attempts to equitably, i.e., fairly, allocate resources among the school
districts not only creates uncertainty in planning the 2016-2017 school year
but also has the potential to interrupt the operation of Kansas ’ public schools. We desire to avoid
this uncertainty.” The court said that
“the inequities found to exist” between school districts “have not yet been
cured." The court said it would not
enforce an order from a lower court that would have
mandated an extra $54 million be allocated to Kansas schools to address inequities between
districts and instead set a June 30 deadline for lawmakers. If the Legislature fails to act, then
Thursday’s ruling “will mean no constitutionally valid school finance system
exists through which funds for fiscal year 2017 can lawfully be raised,
distributed, or spent.”
Court
Gives Deadline to Fix
Kansas School
Financing
New York Times By JULIE BOSMAN FEB. 11, 2016
The Kansas Supreme
Court on Thursday gave the state until June 30 to fix its system of financing
public schools, or face a court-ordered shutdown before the next school year
begins. Rather than improve the way it
doled out state money, the court ruled, the Republican-controlled Legislature
has failed to cure inequities between rich and poor school districts. “The legislature’s unsuccessful attempts to
equitably, i.e., fairly, allocate resources among the school districts not only
creates uncertainty in planning the 2016-2017 school year but also has the
potential to interrupt the operation of Kansas’ public schools,” the court
said. The decision is the latest blow to
Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, and the state Legislature, which will
probably have to find tens of millions of dollars in its budget for additional
education funding. Kansas is already facing deep fiscal woes in
the wake of Mr. Brownback’s decision to cut taxes, which he predicted would
help bolster the state economy. Revenue has fallen short of projections and he
and lawmakers are scrambling to fill a roughly $200 million budget gap before
the close of the session.
"Pennsylvania now faces
a $2 billion budget deficit.
That's not a Democratic fact
or a Republican fact -- it's just a fact, and it's supported by Standard and
Poor's, an independent rating agency.
They have done the math."
With Pa. in crisis, we must pick the path to a
better future: Tom Wolf
PennLive
Op-Ed By Tom Wolf on
February 11, 2016 at 12:33 PM, updated February 11, 2016 at 12:34 PM
That's not a
Democratic fact or a Republican fact -- it's just a fact, and it's supported by
Standard and Poor's, an independent rating agency. They have done the math. And they agree: Pennsylvania faces a massive structural
deficit that will only continue to grow if we fail to address it responsibly. There are two paths that we can take. One
includes a modest income tax increase, ensuring Pennsylvania keeps one of the lowest income
tax rates in the country. The other
path, supported by some Republicans in the General Assembly, will lead to
massive increases in property taxes, which are already too high and burdensome
for seniors and homeowners. I am ready
to do the hard work to build a brighter future for Pennsylvania . In fact, if we continue down a path of irresponsible
budgeting, nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania
homeowners will see their property taxes skyrocket. Our education system, already threadbare
after years of underfunding at the state level, will also take a ruinous hit.
And basic state services will face devastating cuts. These facts are not threats, and they are not
political posturing. This bleak outlook is simply what the math tells us will happen if
the budget crisis is not resolved.
Metcalfe: Gov.
Wolf is out of touch
Trib Live LETTER TO
THE EDITOR by State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe | Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016,
8:55 p.m.
The author, a Republican, represents the
state House's 12th District in Butler
County .
No society has ever
taxed, spent or borrowed its way to prosperity. So let's be honest and
transparent about Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed 2016-17 state budget. Wolf is once again displaying what we already
knew — liberals don't care about people; they only care about increasing
government control. Taxpayers cannot
afford to pay billions more in taxes as a means for Wolf to feed his insatiable
appetite for spending. The $33.29
billion proposal is another demonstration of his out-of-touch, leftist ideology
to redistribute what belongs to hard-working taxpayers to his public union
friends who fund attacks on Republican lawmakers who stand firmly against his
massive tax hikes. Wolf's rabid demands
for higher taxes is legalized theft. I oppose any budget calling for increased
taxes, irresponsible spending and the confiscation of billions more from
taxpayers' pockets.
Another Pa. budget that'll never be
by John Baer, Daily News Political
Columnist. Updated: FEBRUARY
10, 2016 — 3:01 AM EST
NOT TO UNDULY alarm
anyone, but it appears that Pennsylvania
never will have a budget again, at least not one from Democratic Gov. Wolf and
the current Republican legislature.
Wolf on Tuesday
growled at lawmakers, gave them what-for, saying, "Get back to work."
Then, close to employing the royal we, said that if they sent him
another budget like the ones they like, "I will not be amused." Not so sure the tactic worked.
Afterward, Senate
GOP Leader Jake Corman said, "We're further apart than we ever were."
And House GOP Leader Dave Reed said, "I was hoping he [Wolf] was going to
come back from fantasy land . . . instead he left for Neverland." Ah, Harrisburg .
Such was the fallout
after Wolf on Tuesday offered another tax-and-spend plan that he says is needed
to save the state, while legislative leaders told him to stick it.
With no state budget and
much uncertainty, Pa.
schools expect 'convoluted' budgeting process
WHYY Newsworks BY LAURA BENSHOFF FEBRUARY 12, 2016
This week,
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced a plan to dramatically increase education
funding. But heading into 2016-2017 budget negotiations with the current budget
still unfinished has created a funding landscape that is "perplexing"
and "convoluted" for public schools, say superintendents around the
commonwealth. "Until we know more
about the funding, it makes it very difficult when you have two budgets you're
looking at right now," said Michael Braun, business manager for the Morrisvile School District
in Bucks County .
A small, blue-collar district, Morrisville cut some art and science
classes when its state funding was reduced across the board in 2011. The
governor's budget proposals aim to restore some of the funding that went away,
but have faced an uphill battle in the state legislature. Some schools hit hard by those cuts are now
just holding on — with the added challenge of complete uncertainty about when
they'll get money and how much. "Costs
go up all over the place," said Braun. "Your retirement, Social
Security, your medical benefits. They've all gone up." Those costs are legally mandated, said Braun,
so the money must be found by taking it away from something else. Morrisville gets about a quarter of its funds
from the state. Many districts in the commonwealth — mostly rural districts and
urban centers — get more than half of their funds from state coffers. The Reading
Area School
District is relying on Pennsylvania
for 73 percent of its 2016-2017 budget. To fill the whole left without state
funding, the district has taken out two loans, according to superintendent
Khalid Mumin.
Tab for fixing Phila. School District facilities: $5 billion
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer. Updated: FEBRUARY 11, 2016 —
10:59 PM EST
Fixing every Philadelphia School District building - more than 300
schools, athletic fields, offices, shops, and garages - could cost $5 billion,
district officials said Thursday. But
amid a perpetual budget crisis, the school system manages to allocate just $160
million yearly on maintaining its buildings, leaving thousands of work orders
unfilled and putting students' health at risk daily, some suggested. "We find ourselves in a very difficult
position of having to play catch-up. We focus on things" that are
emergencies, said Danielle Floyd, the district's director of capital programs. Her comments came Thursday evening at a
hearing convened by Democratic State Sens. Vincent Hughes and Art Haywood. The legislators, who represent the city,
called the hearing at F.S. Edmonds Elementary in West Mount Airy after an
accident there nearly killed a maintenance worker in January. Only the quick
action of another employee saved Christopher Trakimas' life and prevented
injuries to hundreds of children inside the school. Hughes and Haywood suggested that they would
pursue state-level action to help shore up the crumbling facilities.
Philly councilwoman casts
doubts on ethics of SRC charter vote
WHYY Newsworks by
Tom Macdonald FEBRUARY 11, 2016
A Philadelphia
councilwoman has demanded an investigation into whether the School Reform
Commission violated Pennsylvania 's
"sunshine" law. Philadelphia
Councilwoman Helen Gym said Thursday she has questions on the ethics of a
School Reform Commission vote on a resolution to hand Wister Elementary School
over to a charter organization without public comment. "The School Reform Commission has really
broken a lot of the public trust and credibility over the years," she
said. "It's really time — in light of a very controversial vote that
happened in the middle of the night In January at their last meeting — that we
take a holistic view of the SRC's ethical practices and standards. There
are none right now."
Gym said it's within
the city's authority to investigate the SRC.
Cooperative charter school
official gets probation
Inquirer by Martha Woodall, STAFF WRITER. Updated: FEBRUARY 11, 2016 —
4:07 PM EST
Nearly four years
ago, Anthony Smoot's life was upended. The
former business manager of Dorothy June Brown's charter school network was
indicted - along with Brown and three others - for participating in a scheme to
defraud the charters Brown founded of more than $6 million. Smoot, 53, pleaded guilty the next year,
2013, to federal charges of conspiring to obstruct justice and aiding the
obstruction to assist Brown. He
testified against her during in a fraud trial that ended in a hung jury in
December of 2013. And Smoot was poised to testify against the 78-year-old
educator again. But the retrial was scrapped and the Brown's criminal charges
were dropped last fall after medical experts found she was not competent
because she was suffering from dementia.
Thursday it was time for Smoot - one of two former charter officials who
entered guilty pleas - to be sentenced. "It's
kind of surprising [Smoot] is standing in front of me," U.S. District
Court Judge R. Barclay Surrick noted before handing down a sentence to the
resident of New Castle, Del.: three years of probation and a fine of $3,500.
Districts may bank on spring loans as subsidies wane
Sunbury Daily Item
by Justin
Strawser February 11, 2016
As Democratic Gov.
Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled General Assembly continue to squabble
over a 2015-16 budget that is 226 days past due, many Valley school districts
are operating with less than half of the subsidies they expected for the
academic year. Lewisburg has received
only 42 percent of what it anticipated in basic education subsidies;
Mifflinburg, 43 percent; Milton ,
46 percent; and Shikellamy, 47 percent. Danville officials
announced Tuesday night the school district would be out of money by June 30. “It does not reflect a state that values the
education of their children,” Kathy Swope, president of the Lewisburg school
board and the Pennsylvania School Board Association, said of the funding
shortage. “This is impacting some
(non-Valley) districts to the level that they don’t even know if they can
reopen in the fall. They don’t have the reserves or the ability to weather the
storm. They are the ones suffering the most and in the greatest danger.” In his budget address Tuesday, Wolf predicted
dire consequences if a 2015-16 budget is not passed. Among them, higher
property taxes, teacher layoffs and increased class sizes.
Governor: Invest in
education
By Russ O’Reilly (roreilly@altoonamirror.com) , The
Altoona Mirror February 11, 2016
Followed by a throng
of students, school board members and school administrators, Gov. Tom Wolf
walked the halls of Altoona
Area Junior
High School Wednesday, capping off his visit with
a short speech about the state budget address he delivered Tuesday and the
future he envisions for education in the state.
"I'm sorry if it was taken by anybody as anything other than a
straight dose of reality," he said of his state budget address that
ruffled feathers of Republican lawmakers. Sen. John H.
Eichelberger Jr., R-Blair, blogged after Wolf delivered it: "His
condescending tone and attacks on the Legislature got most of the attention.
... He used numbers only a few times to describe his version of 'structural
deficits.' His budget book revealed that he again proposed massive tax
increases to pay for his big government plans." Gov. Tom Wolf talks with Altoona Area
High School seniors Allan Buchness and
Fiona Lynch about their projects in the Technology Student Association (TSA)
program after school on Wednesday at the Altoona Area
Junior High School . Wolf was flanked by none of the local GOP
legislators during his visit to Altoona . He said he didn't announce his visit to them. He didn't speak about big government plans,
but about what he said should be government's biggest priority. "Government is not supposed to do many
things. It shouldn't over-reach. But it also shouldn't do too little,"
Wolf said.
A defensive Wolf takes his
budget show on the road, report: Thursday Morning Coffee
Penn Live By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on February 11, 2016 at 8:18 AM, updated February 11, 2016 at 8:20 AM
Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
It's one of the rites of the season: Deliver a budget, take the show on the road to build public support for it. Gov. Tom Wolf is no exception -- even if the York County Democrat finds himself in the unusual position this week of having not one, but two, budgets that he can pitch to the voters. As our friends at The Tribune-Review report,Wolf was in Clairton,Allegheny County on Wednesday, where he was
pitching his $33.2 billion spending plan (the second one, not the first) to a
friendly crowd at a local elementary school.
There, Wolf hit
back at Republican accusations, hurled in the wake of his scorching Tuesday budget address,
that he was holding schoolkids hostage to win passage of his taxing and
spending priorities. "That's
complete, utter nonsense," Wolf told
the newspaper "That's just not true."
It's one of the rites of the season: Deliver a budget, take the show on the road to build public support for it. Gov. Tom Wolf is no exception -- even if the York County Democrat finds himself in the unusual position this week of having not one, but two, budgets that he can pitch to the voters. As our friends at The Tribune-Review report,Wolf was in Clairton,
"Robert Bruchak, the
district's business administrator, said the word in Harrisburg is there is
unlikely to be a state budget approved by the Legislature and signed by the
governor until after the April primary, because legislators up for re-election
don't want to be seen as voting for a state tax hike. But Bruchak pointed out that if the state
doesn't substantially increase funding for school districts to pay for the huge
cost of payments to the Public School Employees' Retirement System, districts
will have to raise property taxes more to meet those obligations. So it will
put a heavier tax burden on homeowners."
Morning Call by
Margie Peterson February 11, 2016
SALISBURY TOWNSHIP —
As the Salisbury School District struggles to close a nearly $1.1 million
budget gap and hold down a likely tax increase for 2016-17, a school director
complained about the state's double standard in budgeting. By Pennsylvania
law, school districts that expect they'll have to raise taxes beyond the Act 1
Index must follow a strict timeline for approving a preliminary budget,
unveiling a proposed final budget and then passing a final budget in June. At Wednesday's school
board meeting, School Director George Gatanis noted that Pennsylvania 's June 30 deadline
for its own budget came and went more than seven months ago with no approved
spending plan. So Salisbury
and other school districts have no idea how much they can expect in state
funding to help pay for their own budgets.
"The frustrating thing is the state government has established our
deadlines for our budget and they're not practicing what they preach,"
Gatanis said. "They make it more difficult for us in that they set the
deadlines, but they can't meet their own deadlines." http://www.mcall.com/news/local/salisbury/mc-salisbury-school-board-0210-20160211-story.html
By Chris
Potter/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette February 12, 2016 12:11 AM
This year’s race for
state treasurer may be the most crucial of the 2016 election.
No, wait! Don’t go!
Come back!
OK, it’s not as if
the state treasurer has access to nuclear launch codes. But the outcome of this
year’s treasurer’s race may tip the balance of power in an already topsy-turvy Harrisburg budget fight
between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature. Who wins the race “certainly matters, because
different treasurers will view themselves as independent to a greater or lesser
extent from the governor,” said Michael Dimino, a law professor at Widener University ’s Commonwealth School of Law. Such questions have become more pressing
since December, when Mr. Wolf approved only part of the budget that was sent to
him by legislators. The resulting spending plan left the prison system short of
money, prompting the governor to ask the Treasury Department to pay bills
beyond what the budget anticipates.
"But in New York , he oversaw a
rocky rollout of both the Common Core academic standards in math and reading as
well as a teacher evaluation system tied to new tests based on those
standards. Critics said the state rushed
the rollout, without properly training teachers and then holding them
accountable for the new standards before local districts had completed new
curriculums and classroom materials. Scores from the new tests were used as an
element of a controversial evaluation system that affected personnel and salary
decisions for some teachers. More than a third of principals in the state
signed a letter protesting the new system, saying it was unfair to educators
and created an unhealthy focus on test scores. They were joined by thousands of
parents, teachers and administrators."
Obama to nominate John B. King Jr. to officially take
the role of education secretary
President
Obama is nominating John B. King Jr. to officially lead the Department of
Education, where he has served as acting secretary since the start of the
year, according to several people familiar with the decision. Officials at the White House, who later
confirmed the nomination, say the president is encouraged by the bipartisan
support King has received in Congress, especially the
commitment Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has made for
a speedy consideration of his nomination. King, who took office when
Arne Duncan stepped down in December, was originally going to remain the acting
head of the department for the rest of Obama’s time in office.
Gravitational
Waves Detected, Confirming Einstein’s Theory
New York Times Dennis Overbye OUT THERE FEB.
11, 2016
About a hundred
years ago, Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves, but until
now, they were undetectable. A team of
scientists announced on Thursday that they had heard and recorded the sound of
two black holes colliding a billion light-years away, a fleeting chirp that
fulfilled the last prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. That faint rising tone, physicists say, is
the first direct evidence of gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of
space-time that Einstein predicted a century ago. (Listen to it here.)
It completes his vision of a universe in which space and time are interwoven
and dynamic, able to stretch, shrink and jiggle. And it is a ringing
confirmation of the nature of black holes, the bottomless gravitational pits
from which not even light can escape, which were the most foreboding (and
unwelcome) part of his theory. More
generally, it means that a century of innovation, testing, questioning and
plain hard work after Einstein imagined it on paper, scientists have finally
tapped into the deepest register of physical reality, where the weirdest and
wildest implications of Einstein’s universe become manifest.
Conveyed by these
gravitational waves, power 50 times greater than the output of all the stars in
the universe combined vibrated a pair of L-shaped antennas in Washington State
and Louisiana
known as LIGO on Sept. 14. If replicated
by future experiments, that simple chirp, which rose to the note of middle C
before abruptly stopping, seems destined to take its place among the great
sound bites of science, ranking with Alexander Graham Bell’s “Mr. Watson — come
here” and Sputnik’s first beeps from orbit.
See the Millions of Places Migrating Birds Have
Gone—in One Gif
A new animation from the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology tracks 118 species along their journeys across the Americas .
Cornell Lab of Ornithology By
Purbita Saha January 27, 2016
Ever wondered what
bird migration looks like across the entire Western
Hemisphere ? Well, thanks to the visionaries at the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, now we know:
PSBA Members
Budget Update Webinar
FEB 12, 2016 • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Join PSBA Assistant
Executive Director of Public Policy John Callahan as he hosts PA Secretary of
Education Pedro Rivera to discuss the proposed 2016-17 state budget.
Participants will learn about issues impacting public education related to the
budget impasse and the recent release of emergency funding to school districts
during this live, complimentary members-only webinar.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration is only open to PSBA
members. All registrations must be manually verified before links are sent so
please allow for a delay in receiving this information. We cannot guarantee
receipt of this information in time if registering less than one hour before
the presentation starts at noon on Feb. 12.
Registration
URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3112822243775670273
"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.
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 andLeadership Center
Ron Cowell, President, The Education Policy and
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
PSBA New School Director Training Remaining
Locations:
- 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
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
Thursday, February 25 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. -
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.
The Pennsylvania Budget
and Policy Center will host its Annual Budget Summit on Thursday, March 3, 2016
9:00 - 3:30 at the Hilton Harrisburg.
PA Budget and Policy Center website
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, and local communities. The Summit will focus on the leading issues facing the commonwealth in 2016, with workshops, lunch, and a legislative panel discussion. Space is limited, so fill out the form below to reserve your spot at the Budget Summit.
PA Budget and Policy Center website
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, and local communities. The Summit will focus on the leading issues facing the commonwealth in 2016, with workshops, lunch, and a legislative panel discussion. Space is limited, so fill out the form below to reserve your spot at the Budget Summit.
Thursday, March 3,
2016 Hilton Hotel, Harrisburg Pennsylvania
The event is free,
but PBPC welcomes donations of
any size to help off-set costs.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.