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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup February 3, 2016:
Statewide Coverage/Reaction to Wolf 2016-17 Education
Funding Plan
Network for Public Education gives state 'C' for
school funding
By Mary Niederberger
/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette February 3, 2016 12:00 AM
On the same day that
Gov. Tom Wolf called for an additional $377 million K-12 funding for schools
this budget year and another $200 million for next year, a report card issued
by a national advocacy group gave Pennsylvania a “C” grade for school finance. The Network for Public Education, co-founded
by education activist Diane Ravitch, released its first 50-state report card
that issued grades based on six criteria, with school finance being one of
them. NPE advocates for funding equity
in an effort to fight poverty’s effects on students’ education and against
high-stakes testing and educational alternatives to traditional public schools. To determine how effectively states funded
schools, it considered three factors: per-pupil expenditures, resources spent
on education in relation to a state’s ability to pay and equitable funding
across the state. The equitable
funding measure considered whether each state’s funding system “recognizes the
additional resources required for students in settings of concentrated student
poverty.”
Ravitch-Led Group Rates
Most States Low on Its Education Priorities
Many states rely too
heavily on standardized testing, open their doors too easily to charters and
other school choice options, and fall short in adequately paying and supporting
their professional teaching force, according to a stinging report
published Tuesday by the Network for Public Education, a group led by education
historian and policy advocate Diane Ravitch.
The report, entitled "Valuing Public Education: A 50-State Report
Card," rates the states and the nation on an A to F scale in a
half-dozen categories and overall, based on the group's policy positions
in areas such as teacher evaluation and compensation, testing, and the
financial support of traditional public schools. "The current policy framework that
pushes for more testing and privatization has failed," Ravitch, the
co-founder and president of the group, said at a press conference at the
National Press Club Tuesday. The meeting was attended by several supporters.
"It's insanity. Let's try some common sense for a change."
How do states support their public schools? Badly, a
new 50-state report card shows.
How
do the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia support their public
schools? Badly, according to a new report card (see in full below) which
evaluates their performance on six key criteria and finds all of them wanting.
The best overall grade is a C, with most states earning D’s or F’s. The report card is being issued Tuesday by
the Network for Public Education (NPE), a nonprofit group co-founded several
years ago by education historian and activist Diane Ravitch to advocate for
America’s public school system. The authors evaluated states on criteria they
see as promoting a professional teaching force, equitable and sufficient
funding and equal opportunities for all students to succeed — all critical to
the health of public schools. Specifically,
the reports looks at how states approach high-stakes standardized testing and
school finance as well as how much they promote teachers as professionals and
resist privatizing public education. How states spend taxpayer money is another
criterion, as is whether states promote policies that affect the income, living
conditions and governmental support for students to give them all a chance to
succeed in school. Some states earned A’s in a category or two but none earned
higher than an overall C. You can see the breakdown below.
"About 19,000
Philadelphia 3- and 4-year-olds now either attend no preschool at all, or are
in early childhood programs that don't meet the state's basic standards for
quality. About 14,000 children, however, are already in publicly funded,
quality pre-K programs."
Pre-K would cost Philly
$60M per year
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham and Tricia L. Nadolny,
STAFF WRITERS. Updated: FEBRUARY
3, 2016 — 1:08 AM EST
Philadelphia should
make prekindergarten available to every 3- and 4-year-old, at a cost to the
city of $60 million annually, a special city commission urged in a report
released Tuesday. With 42,000 city
children in that age group, pre-K is a tall and costly order. The $60 million
tab assumes an unspecified amount of support from the philanthropies and
businesses. Mayor Kenney has made
universal pre-K one of the priorities of his administration, vowing to include
new funding beginning with his first budget, to be introduced in early March. City voters in May approved creation of the
Commission on Universal Pre-Kindergarten, which was composed of 16 early
childhood experts, current pre-K providers, government officials, and others. The commission recommended that the city
develop over several years a pre-K structure that would use the Philadelphia
School District and nonprofit and private providers throughout the city. The
providers could operate out of schools, centers, or homes, but would have to
meet standards and be monitored.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20160203_Pre-K_would_cost_Philly__60m_per_year.html#t2QckgYWrRvsALY1.99
"In my 40 years in
journalism, politics, and advocacy, I have seen polls painting a negative
picture of the government and the political class, but never have I seen one
showing voters so disenchanted with their elected leaders across the
Commonwealth. Some of the numbers are,
frankly, stunning."
By the numbers, Pa. voters
are hungry for reform: Stephen Drachler
PennLive
Op-Ed By Stephen Drachler on February 02, 2016 at 2:00 PM, updated February
02, 2016 at 2:01 PM
Stephen Drachler is a partner in Denny Civic
Solutions, a Harrisburg and Pittsburgh based public affairs firm. He is a
former Harrisburg Bureau Chief for the Allentown Morning Call, and served as
press secretary to the House Republican Caucus from 1995-2002.
Last week's Franklin and Marshall College poll supports the case
for reform across Pennsylvania government and politics. Consider these findings, from the poll,
which which is widely considered to be a bellwether for public
opinion in Pennsylvania :
- Two in three Pennsylvania voters believe
the state is on the "wrong track."
- Two in five voters say the government
and the politicians are the biggest problems facing the state.
- One in seven voters believe the
legislature is doing a good or excellent job.
- Four in five voters believe state
government needs to be reformed.
PA Cyber founder Nick Trombetta's federal trial to
start in June
Pennsylvania Cyber
Charter School founder Nick Trombetta’s trial on multiple federal charges will
begin June 6 with jury selection. U.S.
District Court Judge Joy Flowers Conti signed the order Monday scheduling the
trial’s start, which would come almost three years afterTrombetta was indicted on 11
charges, including mail fraud, theft concerning a program receiving federal
funds, tax conspiracy and filing a false tax return. Prosecutors allege that Trombetta, an
Aliquippa native and East Liverpool, Ohio, resident, siphoned millions of
taxpayer dollars in a scheme using a web of entities -- including the
Rochester-based National Network of Digital Schools (NNDS), now known as
Lincoln Learning Solutions, and Avanti Management Group in Koppel -- associated
with Midland-based PA Cyber, which he founded and led for years. Conti ordered that the trial will immediately
start after a jury is picked and that court will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Monday through Thursday. The trial will take place in U.S. District Court
in Pittsburgh.
Judge sets
trial date for Cyber Charter CEO Trombetta accused of siphoning $1 million
Trib Live BY BRIAN
BOWLING | Tuesday,
Feb. 2, 2016, 10:54 a.m.
The criminal trial
of former Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School CEO Nick Trombetta and his
accountant will start with jury selection on June 6, a federal judge ruled
Monday. Using his control of PA Cyber
and several other companies, Trombetta siphoned off at least $1 million in tax
dollars paid to the online school, prosecutors say. Trombetta of East Liverpool, Ohio, retired in
2012. A federal grand jury indicted him in 2013 on 11 counts of mail fraud,
bribery, tax conspiracy and filing false tax returns. The grand jury indicted
Neal Prence of Koppel on a charge of helping Trombetta in the tax conspiracy. During a pretrial motion hearing Monday, U.S.
District Judge Joy Flowers Conti denied Trombetta's motion to dismiss the tax
conspiracy charge. She also denied motions to hold separate trials for Trombetta
and Prence.
By Torsten Ove / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
February 2, 2016 3:45 PM
Nick Trombetta, the
indicted founder of Pennsylvania
Cyber Charter
School Midland , through several
corporate entities he controlled. He was
indicted in 2013 on 11 counts of bribery, mail fraud, tax conspiracy and filing
false tax returns.
"The budget stalemate
has been especially hard on the Reading
School District
In Reading, Gov. Tom Wolf
calls for increased education funding
Reading Eagle By Karen Shuey Tuesday February 2, 2016 02:00 PM
Gov. Tom Wolf
visited 10th & Green Elementary School in Reading on Tuesday to talk about the top
priority on his 2016-17 budget wish list: more money for public schools.
This despite the
fact that the state still doesn't have a complete spending plan in place for
the 2015-16 fiscal year. The Democrat
called for a $200 million increase to basic education subsidies as part of his
2016-17 budget plan. He is scheduled to unveil the full proposal next Tuesday
before the Republican-controlled Legislature in Harrisburg. “We absolutely need the state to step forward
and make a commitment to public education,” Wolf said while surrounded by local
officials. “I'm not asking for a lot of other things. I'm really going to focus
on public education.” Wolf said the new
investment is in addition to the $377 million increase contained within a
stalled bipartisan plan negotiated between the governor and Republican
leadership. It would be distributed using a new fair funding formula created
and unanimously adopted by the Basic Education Funding Commission this past
summer.
- See more at: http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/live-coverage-of-gov-tom-wolfs-visit-to-reading#sthash.6AfGHpgm.dpuf
"Campaign for Fair
Education Funding spokesman Charlie Lyons said Wolf's commitment to increasing
funding is an "essential first step," but the organization was
underwhelmed by Wolf's proposal. "We
need multiple years of increased investment and a permanent, student-driven
funding formula," Lyons
Wolf proposes $200M more
for education next fiscal year
Gov. Tom Wolf, a
week ahead of his formal budget proposal for the 2016-17 fiscal
year, announced he will continue to seek an increase in state
funding for education. Wolf's
announcement, which came at Green
Elementary School in the Reading School District
"Senate Republicans will
not agree to a big education boost or tax increase without reworking the state
pension system to take some of the market risk away from taxpayers by partly
reducing guaranteed payouts. Wolf has
said he'd agree to this, but the proposal has not gained traction in the state
House of Representatives among any Democrats and many Republicans. "Until we fix the problem of the pension
system and stop that leak in the bucket, we can't continue to go back to
taxpayers, go back to homeowners and say, 'Give us more money. Give us more
money,' when the No. 1 driver of property tax increases and cuts to classrooms
is pensions," said Jennifer Kocher, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader
Jake Corman. "We have not fixed that problem."
Last year's budget
unresolved, Gov. Wolf adds $200 million to education funding request
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN MCCORRY FEBRUARY 3, 2016
As the battle in the
Pennsylvania Capitol over funding public schools this year continues, Gov. Tom
Wolf has proposed a $200 million increase for next year's basic education
budget. Wolf, a Democrat, and the
Republicans who control the legislature are still sparring over how much money
schools should receive this year. Wolf has been seeking a $377 million boost for
K-12 basic education spending for the current year's budget. Republicans pushed back against the tax
increases needed to get to that number, so negotiations have stalled since the
budget was technically due in June. Wolf
signed a budget in late December that included a Republican-backed education
spending boost that fell well short of his goal. Wolf authorized only six
months worth of school spending, and he used his veto pen to zero out other
budget items in an attempt to force Republican leaders back to the table to
strike a grand bargain. More than a
month past that action, the parties have shown little sign of nearing consensus
— a prospect that grows more difficult as lawmakers enter the primary election
season.
Gov. Wolf seeks millions more for education next
fiscal year
By Karen Langley /
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette February 2, 2016 3:20 PM
Like spring, budget wishes
are coming early this year
The PLS Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Tuesday, February
2, 2016
Punxsutawney Phil
did not see his shadow Tuesday morning, a sign that spring is on its way early. Just like spring, FY 2016-2017 budget
requests were coming in ahead of the governor’s budget address with asks coming
in the form of higher basic education spending and revenues for state-funded
social programs. Starting with education
funding, Gov. Tom Wolf took to the road to announce he will be seeking $200
million more for basic education in FY 2016-2017 than what he says is in the
agreed-to $377 million increase in FY 2015-2016 proposal, encompassed in the
yet-to-be-passed Senate Bill 1073. The
basic education funding line in the partially vetoed budget bill was cut to
only a six-month appropriation that was said by Republicans to contain a $100
million increase, but criticized by the Wolf administration as netting a $92
million loss.
Wolf: Give schools $200
million more in 2016-17
Inquirer by Angela Couloumbis and Justine McDaniel, STAFF WRITERS.
Updated: FEBRUARY 2, 2016 — 5:53 PM EST
Gov. Wolf said Tuesday that he will propose boosting funding for public
education by $200 million when he unveils his budget next week for the new
fiscal year. The problem: he and the
Republican-controlled legislature have yet to reach agreement on education
spending - or even a final budget, for that matter - for this fiscal year. Speaking at an elementary school in the
struggling Reading
school district, Wolf, who is to give his budget address to a joint session of
the legislature next Tuesday, said education funding remains a top priority for
his administration. "We have a
choice in Pennsylvania," the governor said. "We must choose a path
that funds our schools, eliminates our deficit, and puts Pennsylvania back on
track." Wolf said the $200 million
hike - or 3.3 percent - would be on top of the additional $365 million he and
the legislature had agreed to give schools in the fiscal year that began in
July 2015.
Gov. Tom Wolf calls for $200 million more for schools
next year; This year's funding still unresolved
Continuing a
pro-education message that got him elected, Gov. Tom Wolf wants to give schools
a $200 million funding increase next year.
But the amount of funding the increase would be added to remains
unclear, as the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature have
yet to agree on a final budget for the current school year. In January, after a protracted budget
stalemate, the two sides agreed on a partial state budget of $23.4 billion. The move brought
temporary financial relief to school districts and other agencies that depend
on state funds to operate. In Lancaster County Reading on Tuesday. He will give his full
budget proposal next Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Harrisburg .
Wolf asking for $577
million more for schools but some say that's not enough
Penn Live By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
February 02, 2016 at 5:28 PM, updated February 02, 2016 at 5:29 PM
Gov. Tom Wolf apparently
is a believer in not accepting "no" for an answer especially when it
comes to education funding. He announced
on Tuesday that he is standing by his demand for a bigger increase in basic
education funding in the still-unfinished
2015-16 budget of $377 million. On top of that, he
will ask the Legislature for $200 million more for 2016-17 and proposes that
money be distributed using the school funding formula recommended by the Basic Education
Funding Commission last summer.
"We have a choice in Pennsylvania and we must choose a path that
funds our schools, eliminates our deficit, and puts Pennsylvania back on
track," Wolf said at a stop at a Reading elementary school to announce his
school funding proposal. "My proposed budget will build on the goal of a
bipartisan budget compromise and it provides a clear path for a promising
future for our state."
2016-17
spending plan set to join Pa. budget mess; Wolf to seek $200M more for schools
Trib Live BY BRAD
BUMSTED | Tuesday,
Feb. 2, 2016, 11:00 p.m.
HARRISBURG — Less
than a week before Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf proposes a new state spending plan,
more partisan gridlock looms, and many Republican lawmakers remain firmly
opposed to the higher taxes he seeks. “I
think they stay right on course,” said G. Terry Madonna, a political science
professor at Franklin & Marshall College, who predicts neither side will
back down. The state budget remains
unfinished. Wolf vetoed about $8 billion in items before Christmas, including
$1 million for the Public Employee Retirement Commission. He told the agency
Tuesday to close its doors. Established in 1981, it independently analyzed
state and municipal pension legislation and funding levels. Wolf announced he will propose a $200 million
increase to basic education funding as part of his 2016-17 budget plan Feb. 9. That 3.3 percent increase is in addition to a
$377 million increase in a 2015-16 budget compromise agreement that had
majority support until Republican House leaders failed to vote before leaving
town prior to Christmas, the governor's office said.
Campaign for Fair Education Funding statement on
Governor Wolf's basic education funding announcement
HARRISBURG (February 2, 2016) – The Campaign for Fair
Education Funding issued the following statement on Gov. Tom Wolf's basic
education funding budget announcement today: "We are pleased that Governor
Wolf is continuing his commitment to public schools by calling for an increase
of $377 million in the current fiscal year to begin fixing our broken school
funding system," said Charlie Lyons, spokesman for the Campaign.
"Overall state education funding has been inadequate in providing what
students need to achieve state educational standards, and that would be an
essential first step. "We need multiple years of increased investment and
a permanent, student-driven funding formula," said Lyons. "We support
the Governor's proposal to distribute education funding in fiscal year 2016-17
using the new funding formula proposed by the Basic Education Funding
Commission. But the $200 million increase proposed by the Governor for next
year does not keep us on track toward the long-term goal. We urge the Governor
and legislature to increase that amount when enacting a final budget for the
next fiscal year."
In a memo to the Governor and General Assembly yesterday,
the Campaign urged lawmakers to (1) adopt the fair funding formula recommended
by the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC), (2) bring the state's
increased allocation for basic education funding for the current fiscal year to
at least $350 million to help schools recover from past funding shortfalls and
begin implementing the formula, and (3) build on that investment by including
$400 million more in the FY2016-17 budget.
Release:
Education Law Center-PA Statement on Wolf announcement of proposed Basic
Education Funding increase
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE February 2, 2016
Deborah Gordon
Klehr, Executive Director of the Education Law Center-PA, issued the following
statement regarding Governor Wolf’s announcement of his proposed basic
education funding levels for 2016-2017: “We
welcome Governor Wolf’s proposal to finally bring an end to Pennsylvania’s
months-long budget stalemate. Additional resources are desperately needed for
school districts across our commonwealth that are relying on emergency funding
just to maintain the inadequate status quo.
The $377 million in additional basic education funding for this fiscal
year and the $200 million in funding for the next fiscal year proposed by the
Governor would allow school districts to begin to restore critical programs and
supports – including addressing curriculum deficiencies, providing remedial
help, updated textbooks, and school counselors. We are pleased that the
governor is pressing for the adoption of a bipartisan education funding formula
for the upcoming fiscal year – though a formula is only as good as the dollars
sent through it. The Governor’s proposal
would be only a down payment on the resources that are required to ensure that
every child in Pennsylvania receives the thorough and efficient public
education guaranteed by our Constitution. Substantially more resources are
needed to close longstanding adequacy gaps which keep our children from meeting
state standards.
Education shouldn’t
be a partisan issue. It is the most important investment we can make in our
future, and we call on the Governor and legislative leaders to immediately
return to the negotiating table to find a long-term, sustainable solution that
prepares children to succeed and to compete in the global economy.”
Education Voters of PA’s
reaction to Governor Wolf’s proposed Basic Education Funding increase in the
2016-2017 budget
Posted on February 2, 2016 by EDVOPA
Susan Spicka,
Advocacy Coordinator for Education Voters of PA, issued the following statement
regarding Governor Wolf’s Basic Education Funding increase in the 2016-2017
budget:
“We are heartened to
see that Governor Wolf is planning to continue to make progress on fixing the
broken and inadequate system for funding education, despite all the dysfunction
in the budget process. We are also very glad that he continues to be committed
to ensuring that the $377 million increase in the 2015-2016 will be allocated
this fiscal year. The $200M proposed increase is a step in the right direction,
and we are glad he is committed to annual increases. The difficult truth is
that we really need to be at something between $300 and $400M per year to make
sufficient progress for today’s students.
If we are going to provide every child in PA with a reasonable chance to
get a decent education, the Commonwealth will have to make progress on
increasing education funding and closing equity gaps every single year. It is
necessary, even if it is hard and seems to bring out the worst in some people.
This substantial investment of new state dollars will take a significant step
toward moving Pennsylvania’s schools forward and ensuring that all public
school students have a fair chance to get a quality education.
PSBA calls for joint commitment to educating
Pennsylvania students
PSBA Press Release
February 2, 2016
Today, Gov. Tom Wolf
called for $200 million in school funding for the 2016-17 budget as well as
$377 million for budget year 2015-16 that was part of a budget compromise put
forward in December 2015 but never fully implemented. “PSBA would encourage all sides to stay true
to their joint commitment to make sure every child in Pennsylvania has a
first-rate education,” said PSBA Executive Director Nathan Mains. “Despite the
differences among the various parties, we hope all can agree that adequate
funding is needed now as we near eight months without a state budget.” PSBA will continue working with both the
governor and General Assembly on fair school funding and the end to this historic
budget impasse. In addition, we continue to push for adoption of the Basic
Education Funding formula that will help distribute whatever funding is
provided in a fair and equitable way. The association and its members looks
forward to hearing more details from the governor during his budget address
next week.
Badams urges budget work to continue
By Erica
Erwin 814-870-1846 Erie
Times-News February 2, 2016 05:59 AM
Erie School District
administrators were relieved when state money started flowing. But today, the 217th day of the
record-setting state budget impasse, Erie schools Superintendent Jay Badams is
feeling something else: Frustration. Now
that school districts and nonprofit organizations have received some money, the
sense of urgency that once prompted taxpayers to rally against the stalemate
has diminished, Badams said. "I
hope we as residents of the city of Erie and Erie County
and the state of Pennsylvania
aren't so shortsighted that the limited release of some of our tax dollars
prevents us from considering the larger problem of inadequate and inequitable
public education funding," Badams said Monday. Districts like Erie, which received an
additional $1.6 million in basic education funding over 2014-15 levels in the
budget Gov. Tom Wolf partially vetoed, are relying on additional state funding
when the 2015-16 budget is finally passed. If Erie doesn't receive any extra
education dollars, it stands to end 2015-16 with a $2.5 million deficit and
begin 2017-18 $8 million in the red.
Straight out of drilling country, a severance tax
proposal
WITF Written
by Mary
Wilson, Capitol Bureau Chief | Feb 3, 2016 4:37 AM
There's a new
proposal for a severance tax on natural gas drillers in Pennsylvania , and it comes from an unlikely
proponent: a conservative Republican based in Marcellus Shale territory. State Rep. Jim
Christiana (R-Beaver) hopes his plan will neuter a Democratic talking point
that the state isn't getting enough money from the natural gas industry because
of the particular kind of tax placed on drillers. Democrats, including Governor Tom Wolf, have
argued that Pennsylvania
should join the other major gas-producing states and make drillers pay a
severance tax tied to the value and amount of gas being extracted. Some
moderate Republicans have joined this camp, and even the state's Independent
Fiscal Office found that Pennsylvania
has one of the lowest
effective tax rates on gas drillers anywhere in the country. In 2012, the state levied an impact fee on
the drilling industry. The fee is based on each gas well's age and the average
price of natural gas. Republican legislative leaders have argued that it's a
suitable and adequate levy.
"However,"
said Christiana, "the Republicans have lost that public relations
battle." A recent poll shows widespread popularity
for a severance tax. Enter
Christiana's proposal: It cedes to supporters of the severance tax model, but
it does not roll over.
Next superintendent: Pittsburgh
Post Gazette By the
Editorial Board February 3, 2016 12:00 AM
The process to hire
a new superintendent for the Pittsburgh Public Schools moved into a new phase
Friday with the official posting of the call for applications. The job
description, reflecting priorities expressed by the engaged public at seven
community forums, could be summed up in few words: You must be perfect. That’s about right. The next superintendent
will arrive at yet another pivot point. It’s not over-dramatic to say that the
health of the city depends on its public schools, which must simultaneously
attract middle-class families who have other options while serving students
from distressed circumstances who deserve rigorous education. The next
superintendent will inherit a viable school district with the potential to
improve but that sometimes seems to be one good crisis away from decline.
Neshaminy will appeal
state charter school board decision on MaST
Bucks County Courier Times by Joan Hellyer, staff writer Posted: February 2, 2016 6:00 am
The Neshaminy school
board is not giving up its fight to keep a Philadelphia-based charter school
from expanding into the district. The
board will appeal a ruling from the State
Charter School Appeal Board that orders Neshaminy to grant MaST
Community Charter School a charter to operate a school in the
district. The appeal will go to the state’s Commonwealth Court, according to
Neshaminy solicitor Thomas Profy III. The
charter appeal board’s order was handed down in Harrisburg on Jan. 6
— three years after Neshaminy’s governing body initially rejected the MaST
charter application to privately run a publicly funded kindergarten-12th grade
school within district borders.
Bill to delay Keystone
Exams awaits Wolf signature
York Dispatch by Jessica
Schladebeck, 505-5438/@JessDispatch3:56 p.m. EST February 2, 2016
A bill
to delay for two years a requirement that high school seniors
pass Pennsylvania 's
Keystone Exams before graduation has made its way to the governor's desk. Should Gov. Tom Wolf sign the
bill, current high school freshman will become the first required to
pass Pennsylvania's Keystone Exams in order to receive their diploma. The proficiency tests in algebra I, biology
and literature were approved as part of Pennsylvania Core standards — similar
to the national Common Core — and implemented during the 2012-13 school year.
As it currently stands, passing marks on the end-of-course exams are set
to become a graduation standard for the class of 2017, or for those who
are currently juniors.
Quakertown pilot program
to pay for AP exams
Doylestown Intelligencer By Gary Weckselblatt, staff writer Posted: February 1, 2016 3:00 pm
The Quakertown Community School District plans
to institute a pilot program where students who take multiple Advance Placement
tests are reimbursed for the cost of the exams.
The $92 price for the first test wouldn't be returned, under guidelines
of the program, passed by the school board last week. Each subsequent AP test
that school year, however, would be paid for by the district if the student
scores a three, four, or five. Superintendent
William Harner said the goal is about providing an incentive for students
"to reach for the stars." "This
is about changing the culture to make the leap from good to great," he
said. "There are obstacles that sometimes get in the way of that, where
some families may not have the financial wherewithal."
"The one thing that all
these takeovers have in common is that none has succeeded. Not one. What they
do best is to extinguish democracy and give the governor control of a large pot
of money to use as he wishes."
Why Does the GOP Want to
End Local Control?
Diane Ravitch's Blog
By dianeravitch February 2,
2016 //
Lyndsey Layton has
a terrific
article in today’s Washington Post about the move by GOP governors to
end local control when it suits them. They like to say that they are “saving”
people or children. Think Flint. Think Detroit. Think Newark. As the late
Derrick Bell said in the title of a book, “And They Are Not Saved.” The GOP once made local control a basic
principle. Now it’s not. As Layton points out, Governor Kasich took over
Youngstown schools in quiet coup. Governor Deal of Georgia wants to create a
takeover district like the so-called “Achievement School District” in
Tennessee. Governor Snyder in Michigan has taken over several cities and school
districts. The GOP in Virginia wants to supersede local control.
U.S. Ed dept. gives states
ways to cut standardized testing
Seattle Times By JENNIFER C. KERR
The Associated Press Originally
published February 2, 2016 at 6:00 am Updated February 2, 2016 at 6:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) —
The Obama administration is offering states and local school districts a lesson
plan of sorts to cut the amount of time that students spend on those
fill-in-the-bubble and other standardized tests. The Education Department released guidance
Tuesday to states and local school districts outlining different ways they can
use existing federal money to reduce testing in the nation’s public schools. It
follows a call by President Barack Obama last October to cap standardized
testing and complaints by teachers, parents and others that that too many hours
are spent “teaching to the test.” In a
letter to state school officials, the department details how certain federal
money can be used to cut tests. States and districts, for example, could use
federal education dollars intended for the development of state assessments to
instead conduct audits of their tests to see if they have redundant assessments
or low-quality ones that could be eliminated.
States also could use federal dollars to develop strategies to improve
the quality of current tests or decrease the time students spend taking them,
the letter said.
Satirical campaign ad seeks to raise awareness about
gerrymandering
PSBA call for volunteers: ESSA Study Group
On March 2 and 3,
the Pennsylvania School Boards Association will convene an ESSA Study Group to
examine the federal statute and provide recommendations on how best to
implement the law in Pennsylvania. The group will include four workgroups
to draft a white paper for submission to PDE and the General Assembly. The
group will divide their work into the following areas:
- Schools identified as falling in to the
“bottom 5%”
- Assessment
- Teacher Evaluation
- Charter school issues and solutions
The ESSA Study Group
will be chaired by PSBA President Kathy Swope and each subgroup will be led by
a team of co-facilitators.
Each subgroup will
consist of:
- 10 school directors
- 3 superintendents (1 rural, 1 suburban
and 1 urban)
- 3 school principals (1 HS, 1 MS and 1
elementary)
- 2 representatives from district staff
(business manager, guidance, curriculum, etc.)
- 2 representatives from other public
education groups (EPLC, PASA, charter school, etc.)
- Support/content experts as identified
Our two-day meeting
will take place at the Harrisburg Hilton beginning at 10 a.m. on March 2 and
concluding at approximately 2 p.m. on March 3. PSBA will provide all
participants with a travel stipend, all meals and overnight accommodations.
Please send an email
stating your interest in serving to PSBA Executive Director Nathan G. Mains (nathan.mains@psba.org)
by this Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Selected group participants will
be notified next week.
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.
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
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:
- 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. -
Thursday, February 25 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. -
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
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