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Keystone
State Education Coalition
PA
Ed Policy Roundup Nov 23, 2016
Rhee
opts out; 18 votes apart in 156th; Publicly funded school run by privately
selected board ignores taxpayer impact
Regional
Basic Education Funding Formula Workshops
Tuesday, November 29, 2016 @ 9:00 am: Luzerne IU 18
(368 Tioga Ave, Kingston, PA
18704)
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 @ 6:00 pm: Chester County IU 24
(455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA
19335)
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BEFworkshop
Pa. House candidates, 18 votes apart, take
ballot fight to election board
Inquirer by Michaelle Bond, STAFF WRITER Updated: NOVEMBER 22, 2016 —
3:48 PM EST
With a mere 18 votes -- out of
more than 36,000 cast -- separating the Democratic and GOP nominees in the
state House race in Chester County, attorneys for the rivals argued Tuesday
over whether 21 unopened provisional ballots should be counted. The Chester County Board of Elections, which
consists of the county's three commissioners, decided to count two of the
ballots, which remain unopened pending any appeals, and throw out 19 that they
determined weren't submitted by the appropriate deadlines or didn't meet other
requirements. West Chester Mayor Carolyn
Comitta, a Democrat, has 18 more votes than three-term GOP incubment Rep. Dan
Truitt. Republicans have their largest
majority in the House in 60 years, according to GOP officials. At the
unofficial vote count on Nov. 9, Truitt was part of that group, ahead by fewer
than 80 votes. After county officials counted military and absentee ballots,
however, Truitt lost that lead.
Chester County Board of Elections rules on
provisional ballots in 156th state Legislative District
By Michael Rellahan,
Daily Local News POSTED: 11/22/16,
4:53 PM EST
WEST CHESTER >> The final
result of the state representative election for Pennsylvania’s 156th
Legislative District has yet to be decided, but the process for determining the
winner has moved one step closer toward completion. The Chester County Board of Elections, which
is composed of the three county commissioners, met Tuesday morning to hear
arguments on whether a number of provisional ballots cast in the 156th District
should be accepted or rejected. State Rep. Dan Truitt, R-156, of
East Goshen, and West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta, a Democrat who challenged
Truitt in this year’s election, each attended the meeting with their attorneys.
According to unofficial election results posted on Chester County’s website on
the evening of Election Day, Truitt was on track to be re-elected to a fourth
term in the state House, as he was ahead of Comitta by 78 votes. Truitt
garnered a total of 18,196 votes on Election Day; Comitta received a total of
18,118 votes, according to the unofficial results. However, Comitta now appears to be ahead of
Truitt by 18 votes, after all of the absentee ballots, including ballots sent
in from Americans living abroad or serving in the military, had been counted.
The provisional ballots have not been factored into these results.
“The BASD school board, elected by the
citizens of the district, is particularly disappointed by the refusal of LVA, a
publicly funded school run by a privately selected board, to cooperate in
addressing the financial burden charter tuition places on local taxpayers. Unfortunately, LVA rejected all of the
proposed charter changes aimed at saving the BASD and its taxpayers money.”
Bethlehem Area School District Statement
on Charter School Renewal November, 2016
Bethlehem Area School District
BASD Blog November
22, 2016
Lehigh Valley Academy Regional
Charter School (LVA) submitted a request to have its charter renewed by the
Bethlehem Area School Board, as required by state law. The Bethlehem Area School
District (BASD) proposed that the renewed charter include several provisions
that are in the interest of the taxpayers and the students of the BASD. These proposed revisions would have no
significant impact on the ability of the charter school to continue to
function. BASD’s proposals were aimed at curbing the skyrocketing cost of
tuition payments made by the district to LVA. Tuition payments to LVA, mandated
by law, increased from $4.8 million for the 2009- 2010 school year to $10.0
million in the 2015-2016 school year. The
Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) regrets to report that the LVA has
refused to partner with the district in an effort to stem the rising cost of
the charter school to the BASD taxpayers.
Easton's
first charter publicly funded school run by privately selected board
approved
Michelle Merlin Contact Reporter
Of The Morning Call November 22, 2016
Come next fall, Easton area
kindergarten through fifth grade students could be walking through the doors of
a new charter school instead of their local elementary school. The Easton Area School District school board
voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Easton's first charter school,
Easton Arts Academy Elementary Charter School. Thomas Lubben, founder of the
K-5school, plans to model the Easton school after a similar arts school he
started in Allentown. He also founded schools in Bethlehem and Salisbury
Township. Lubben's schools place an
emphasis on the arts, with students between two to three hours of artistic
training a day, ranging from performance to visual arts. Lubben plans to open
for the fall 2017 term and so far has about 175 students enrolled in the
school, which is expected to occupy the former Express-Times building on North
Fourth Street. "We're thrilled for
the opportunity to come to Easton," Lubben said. Some school directors were less
than thrilled about the school breaking on to Easton's education scene, and
said the charter school will take funding away from public school students. Director Dominick Buscemi said he
voted yes not because he favors charter schools, but because the state leaves
school boards little choice in the matter.
Pittsburgh
City Charter High applauded for academic achievement
Pittsburgh Courier November 20, 2016
PITTSBURGH—The Pennsylvania
Department of Education released the 2016 School Performance Profile, which
assigns grades to district and charter schools based on academic achievement
and growth measures. City Charter High School CEO and Principal Ron Sofo
issued the following statement after learning that they earned an 89.8 out of
100, the highest SPP score among all Pittsburgh Public Schools, including district
and public charter schools: “On behalf of City High’s board
and administration, I would like to express how proud we are of our students
and educators for their hard work and dedication in accomplishing this notable
achievement. I am especially proud that we have achieved this success as
an open enrollment school that accepts all students, regardless of previous
academic or behavior record. At City High, we’ve created a nurturing
learning environment that helps our students grow to reach their potential.
External validation feels good because this work is so difficult, but we also
know that we need to keep improving if we want to ensure the success of every
single child that walks through our doors.
By Molly Born / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette November 22, 2016 12:16 AM
Graduation rates for Pittsburgh
Public’s regular high schools have increased since 2012, and a handful of city
schools and one charter saw racial achievement gaps of fewer than 10 points on
some state tests last school year. But
the latest report from educational advocacy group A+ Schools also found that
high percentages of students missed 10 percent or more of school days or
received suspensions during the 2015-16 school year — and that the state’s
version of the national Common Core State Standards for grades 3-8 made
narrowing the difference between black and white achievement an even bigger
challenge. Executive director James
Fogarty on Monday presented the organization’s 12th Annual Report to the
Community on Public School Progress in Pittsburgh, compiled using district- and
state-reported data from the 2015-16 school year for 51 district schools and
eight charter schools within city limits.
“Act 1 is a property tax relief last
that caps the amount a district can raise property taxes without first getting
voter approval. According to the timeline, a preliminary budget must be
available for public inspection by Jan. 26. Then a public notice of adoption
must be submitted by Feb. 5 and adoption must take place 10 days later. “Clearly doing a budget this early poses some
challenges,” Goodin said. “Of note, the major challenges are the lack of two
things: current year data and the state budget.”
Spring-Ford board eyes $157.9M draft
preliminary budget, $4M gap
By Eric Devlin,
The Mercury POSTED: 11/22/16,
6:54 PM EST
ROYERSFORD >> Early
projections in the Spring-Ford Areas School District show a preliminary budget
gap of nearly $4 million for the 2017-18 school year. Superintendent David Goodin and finance
director James Fink presented the proposed preliminary budget of $157.9 million
during Tuesday night’s school board meeting. With approximately $149 million in
revenue, combined with about $4 million in fund balance appropriation and a
transfer of approximately $860,000 from committed funds (retirement), the
district has to make up about $3.9 million to balance the budget. If it feels too early to be talking about
next year’s budget, you’re not wrong. But the lack of a board meeting in
December (other than the Dec. 5 reorganization meeting) forces the district to
begin preliminary budget talks now, in order to stay in line with
Pennsylvania’s Act 1 preliminary budget timeline.
Michelle Rhee takes herself out of the
running for Trump’s education secretary
Washington Post By Emma Brown November
22 at 4:38 PM
Michelle
Rhee, who rose to national prominence as the controversial chancellor of D.C.
Public Schools, appeared on Tuesday to take herself out of the running to
become President-elect Donald Trump’s education secretary. Rhee’s name had been circulated as a
potential candidate for education secretary, speculation that only intensified
after she and her husband — former NBA star and current Sacramento Mayor Kevin
Johnson — met with Trump over the weekend. Trump pronounced them both “greatly
talented” and, according to his transition team, they spoke about “the
possibility for increasing competition through charter and choice schools.” Rhee put the education secretary
rumors to bed on Tuesday afternoon, tweeting that she was not pursuing the
position. But she pushed back against criticism by some in the education
reform community that she should not have met with Trump, given his statements
about women, immigrants, Muslims and people with disabilities.
Michelle Rhee Says She's 'Not Pursuing'
Education Secretary Job Under Trump
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Andrew Ujifusa on November 22, 2016 4:25 PM
Former District of Columbia
Public Schools chancellor Michelle Rhee has said she isn't seeking to be
President-elect Donald Trump's education secretary, but said she
appreciated the chance to discuss education issues with him. Rhee met with Trump
last Saturday, ramping up speculation that she would be Trump's
nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Education. Here's what Rhee said on
Twitter Tuesday afternoon:
Michelle Rhee was an outsider trying to
tear up the school bosses, just like Trump
Washington Post By Jay Mathews Columnist November
22 at 4:47 PM
In his 2010 documentary “Waiting
For ‘Superman’,” Davis Guggenheim used me as a talking head to explain one of
the movie’s heroes, D.C. Public Schools chancellor Michelle Rhee. I said Rhee
was “somebody who had not gotten a Ph.D, who had only been a teacher three
years, hadn’t been a principal, hadn’t been a superintendent anywhere else, and
said she was going to tear up the district.”
That sounds like a possible Trump Secretary of Education to me. She met
the president-elect on Saturday, but she tweeted Tuesday that she is not going
to pursue a position in the administration.
It is likely not the last we will hear of her. She is one of the most
unusual figures ever to gain prominence in American education. At 46 she will
likely attract offers for other big jobs, given the widespread frustration with
slow progress in schools and her unusually strong appeal to conservatives.
Education Under Trump: Who Will Ride
Shotgun, and Who Will Get Locked Out?
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Andrew Ujifusa on November 22, 2016 7:45 AM
By Alyson Klein and Andrew
Ujifusa
President-elect Donald Trump hasn't
picked an education secretary yet, and he didn't talk a great deal about schools
on the campaign trail. But his triumph in the election already
has radically altered the prospects for various K-12 groups in the next
several years, both inside Washington and out.
So with the dust still settling after the Nov. 8 results, who looks set
to prosper under the Trump presidency, and who's going to be tempted to put on
sackcloth and ashes for a while? We've provided a list below—let us know if you
think any group is missing or miscategorized.
Few Women Run the Nation's School Districts. Why?
Stubborn gender gap in the top job
Education Week By Denisa R. Superville November 15, 2016
Nearly a decade after she was hired as the first woman to run the Council Bluffs, Iowa, school district, Mary Martha Bruckner is often one of the only women in the room. That was the case last month when about two dozen superintendents and finance officers from Iowa's urban school systems met to set their legislative agenda for the coming year. Surveying the room, Bruckner spotted two other women. "It was like, 'Wow, things haven't changed much at all,' " said Bruckner, who is used to being a pioneer. In 1986, she became the first female high school principal in the Ralston, Neb., district.
Testing
Resistance & Reform News: November 16-22, 2016
Submitted by fairtest on
November 22, 2016 - 2:19pm
As fallout from November 8
continues to settle, activists across the nation are already pressing newly
elected legislators to reduce testing volume, eliminate high-stakes
standardized exams, and promote better forms of assessment. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
“The “Success Starts Here” campaign is a
multi-year statewide effort to share the positive news about public education
through advertising, web, social media, traditional media and word-of-mouth
with the goal of raising understanding of the value of public education in
Pennsylvania. The campaign is lead by the Pennsylvania School Boards
Association, but relies on the support of a wide variety of participating
organizations.”
Share
Your School’s Story: Success Starts Here Needs You!
Success Starts Here needs you!
Show your support by sharing stories, using social media and applying window
clings to all of your school buildings. Below are some links to resources to
help you help us.
Not sure where to start? This
simple tool
kit will provide to you everything you need to get involved in the
campaign, including ways to work with the media, social media tips, a campaign
article to post, downloadable campaign logos, and photo release forms.
We know you have great stories,
and it’s easy to share them!
Just use our simple form to send your
success story to be featured on our website. Help spread the word
about how Success Starts Here in today’s public schools.
All school entities have been
sent a supply of window clings for school building entrances. Need more? No
problem! Just complete the online order
form and more will quickly be on their way to you.
CCIU to host documentary screening and
educational discussion
By Ginger Dunbar,
Daily Local News POSTED: 11/21/16,
3:25 PM EST
DOWNINGTOWN >> Joining a
worldwide campaign to re-imagine education, the Chester County Intermediate
Unit (CCIU) will host a screening and discussion of “Most Likely to Succeed.”
The documentary screening will be on Nov. 30 from 5:45 – 8 p.m. at
the Technical College High School Brandywine Campus at 455 Boot Road. It will feature a student
panel, round-table dialogue and an open forum discussion following the
screening. Complimentary dinner will be served at 5 p.m. “Most Likely to Succeed” offers an innovative
look at the current educational system and asks audiences to consider a new
vision. The film examines the history of education in the United States,
revealing the growing shortcomings of conventional education methods in today’s
technology-driven world, according to film-makers. They added that the film
offers an “inspiring look at what students and teachers are capable” of with a
vision and the courage to transform their schools.
Webinar:
PSBA Board President’s Forum DEC 7,
2016 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Join fellow board presidents and
superintendents for the latest topics affecting public education in this new
webinar series hosted by 2016 President Kathy Swope. After registering, you will receive a
confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
PASBO
is seeking eager leaders! Ready to serve on the board? Deadline for intent
letter is 12/31.
PASBO
members who desire to seek election as Director or Vice President should send a
letter of intent with a current resume and picture to the Immediate Past
President Wanda M. Erb, PRSBA, who is chair of the PASBO Nominations
and Elections Committee.
PASA, PSBA, PAIU, PARSS, the PA Principals
Association and PASBO are traveling around the state to conduct regional
workshops for school leaders to provide them with more information on the new
basic education funding formula. Register below to attend one of 8 regional
workshops to learn more about the new formula and what it means for your school
district and for the state. Please note that capacity is limited at each
location and registration is required. A webcast option is also available.
These regional workshops are being supported by a grant from the William Penn
Foundation.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016 @ 9:00 am: Luzerne IU 18 (368 Tioga Ave, Kingston, PA 18704)
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 @ 6:00 pm: Chester County IU 24
(455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA 19335)
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BEFworkshop
Join us for a public forum featuring state, city and civic leaders sponsored by Philadelphia Media Network, the Philadelphia Public School Notebook and Drexel University's School of Education.
Creese Student Center 3210 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104
It's been 15 years since the state took control of Philadelphia's schools and created the School Reform Commission. Since then, the SRC has been a polarizing presence in the city.
With the recent resignation of two members of the commission and the term of a third expiring soon, the future of the SRC and the issue of school governance is once again at the forefront of the civic dialogue. Is the SRC the only model to consider? Should Philadelphia create an elected school board, or should the governing body be controlled by the Mayor? Are there models in other cities that could help us rethink our own school governance? The Philadelphia Public School Notebook, Philadelphia Media Network -- owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and philly.com, and Drexel University's School of Education are hosting a public forum on this critical issue.
RSVP - Admission is free, but you must register in advance. Register now, and find out more about the panelists and other details at our registration page. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/who-should-run-philadelphias-schools-tickets-28926705555
NSBA Advocacy
Institute 2017 -- Jan. 29-31, Washington, D.C.
Join school directors around the country at the conference designed to give you the tools to advocate successfully on behalf of public education.
Join school directors around the country at the conference designed to give you the tools to advocate successfully on behalf of public education.
- NSBA will help you develop a winning
advocacy strategy to help you in Washington, D.C. and at home.
- Attend timely and topical breakout
sessions lead by NSBA’s knowledgeable staff and outside experts.
- Expand your advocacy network by swapping
best practices, challenges, and successes with other school board members
from across the country.
This
event is open to members of the Federal Relations Network. To find out how you can join,
contact Jamie.Zuvich@psba.org.
Learn more about the Advocacy Institute at https://www.nsba.org/events/advocacy-institute.
Register now
for the 2017 NSBA Annual Conference
Plan to join public education leaders for networking and learning at the 2017 NSBA Annual Conference, March 25-27 in Denver, CO. General registration is now open at https://www.nsba.org/conference/registration. A conference schedule, including pre-conference workshops, is available on the NSBA website.
Plan to join public education leaders for networking and learning at the 2017 NSBA Annual Conference, March 25-27 in Denver, CO. General registration is now open at https://www.nsba.org/conference/registration. A conference schedule, including pre-conference workshops, is available on the NSBA website.
SAVE THE DATE LWVPA Convention 2017 June
1-4, 2017
Join the
League of Women Voters of PA for our 2017 Biennial Convention at the beautiful
Inn at Pocono Manor!
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