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Keystone
State Education Coalition
PA
Ed Policy Roundup April 5, 2017:
Tax
Credit Scholarships: A Laundromat for Tax Dollars
PSBA
Advocacy Forum and Day on the Hill APR 24, 2017 • 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
“Nothing has more impact for
legislators than hearing directly from constituents through events like PSBA’s
Advocacy Forum.”
— Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh),
Senate Appropriations Committee chair
Registration: Visit the Members
Area of PSBA’s website under Store/Registration tab to register.
Blogger comment: The budget bill passed
by the PA House yesterday includes a $75 million increase in the EITC/OSTC tax
credit programs, which divert tax dollars to private and religious schools that
have virtually no academic performance or fiscal accountability. Private schools receiving diverted tax
dollars are free to discriminate against any student for any reason. Intermediate scholarship organizations get to
keep 20% of the money with no transparency to the public. At the end of the day the state has less
money available to spend on public education and other public services.
Tax
Credit Scholarships: A Laundromat for Tax Dollars
Have You Heard on Soundcloud
Audio Runtime 34:51
Tax credit scholarships are a
complex, controversial way of sending taxpayer dollars to private religious
schools, allowing wealthy donors and corporations to reap huge windfalls in the
process. Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire explore the origins of the wall
between public money and private schools that these “neo vouchers” are intended
to circumvent. They're joined by tax policy expert Carl Davis who They’re
joined by tax policy expert Carl Davis who explains that tax credit
scholarships have more in common with money laundering than with charitable
giving.
HB250: Increasing EITC/OSTC vouchers hurts PA taxpayers
Chambersburg Public Opinion Online Opinion by Susan Spicka 10:23 a.m. ET March 31, 2017
Increasing taxpayer-funded vouchers for private/religious schools has emerged as a top budget priority for state lawmakers. Recently, the PA House approved legislation (HB 250) that would provide $55 million in new funding for private/religious school vouchers through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. This 44% increase would bring total funding for vouchers in PA to $180 million/year.
The EITC and OSTC programs allow businesses to divert their tax payments away from the state and into private/religious schools. These programs have virtually no fiscal or academic performance accountability standards and there is no evidence that they have contributed to improved student achievement in PA.
The EITC/OSTC programs do, however, come at a steep cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers. Every tax dollar that is sent to private/religious schools through the EITC/OSTC programs creates a hole in the state budget that must be filled by hard-working Pennsylvanians.
In order to pay to for $55 million in new private/religious school voucher funding in the 2017-2018 budget, state lawmakers will need to either raise new taxes or cut programs and services from the budget that benefit Pennsylvanians.
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/opinion/2017/03/31/increasing-vouchers-hurts-taxpayers/99864442/
Pa. House passes
trimmed-back state budget with no new taxes, modest school funding increase
Penn Live By Charles Thompson | cthompson@pennlive.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on April 04, 2017 at 5:44 PM, updated April 04, 2017 at 6:05 PM
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has voted 114-84 to move its
first edition of a state budget bill for 2017-18. The measure passed on strong party lines
Tuesday with all yes votes cast by Republicans, and just four of the majority
Republicans joining all 80 Democrats on the floor in voting no. The $31.5 billion spending plan, introduced earlier
this week, is most significant for setting down some early
markers from the House majority for weeks of budget deliberations ahead,
including:
- An insistence
on no tax increases and no new borrowing to support current-year expenses.
The Republican plan would turn first to expanded gambling and further liquor
sales reforms for new state revenue.
- Setting a
likely floor of $31.5 billion for overall general fund spending, which is
actually slightly below current-year spending levels. Gov. Tom Wolf's
February proposal called for $32.3 billion in total spending.
- Endorsement of
the $100 million increase sought by Wolf in the state's main subsidy line
for classroom instruction in public schools.
But there are battle lines drawn, too.
In brief floor debate, Democrats complained about what they termed as deep
cuts into several human-services programs.
Wolf on Monday had criticized the GOP's proposed spending cuts in areas
like assistance with child care expenses for low-income families; a $50 million
trim to Wolf's $75 million boost in spending for pre-kindergarten programs; and
$12 million slice to Commission on Crime and Delinquency funding that Wolf said
will have a direct impact on the ability to provide overdose-reversing
antidotes to local police.
County officials, top Dem
object, but Pa. House GOP OKs pared-down budget bill
Inquirer by Karen Langley, HARRISBURG BUREAU @karen_langley | klangley@post-gazette.com
Updated: APRIL 4, 2017 — 7:13 PM EDT
HARRISBURG -- House Republicans on Tuesday sent the Senate a pared-down
budget bill over the objections of Democrats and county commissioners, who
warned that the funding cuts could lead to property-tax increases. The House approved the legislation by 114-84,
with all Democrats and a few Republicans opposed. House GOP leaders on Monday had unveiled the
plan, which would spend $31.5 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1,
about $800 million less than the budget Gov. Wolf proposed in February. The Republican-crafted budget would trim
spending throughout government, including in areas such as human services and
prisons. "This budget may not be
perfect, but this budget accomplishes many core goals that we as Republicans
and Democrats say that we stand together on," Majority Leader Dave Reed
(R., Indiana) said on the House floor. Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D.,
Allegheny) said the Republican budget had been written without input from
Democrats. He said the plan falls short of the governor's proposal in its
funding of early-childhood education and child care.
“Education funding would increase
modestly for public schools, early childhood education, special education and
the State System of Higher Education. The Educational Improvement Tax Credit
program, which helps underwrite scholarships, would grow by $75 million.”
Divided House votes to
advance Republican budget proposal
Morning Call by Associated Press April 4, 2017
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A divided Pennsylvania House on Tuesday gave its
approval to a $31.5 billion Republican budget proposal that was touted by
supporters as a way to fund priorities without increasing taxes. The Republican-controlled House voted 114-84,
with every Democrat joined by two Republicans in opposition. The GOP-penned plan for the fiscal year that
starts July 1 faces the inevitability of months of tough negotiations with the
Senate's Republican majority and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. The plan relies heavily on spending cuts to
help fill a projected $3 billion deficit, and would require nearly $800 million
in new money to balance it, primarily from the expansion of casino-style
gambling and private-sector sales of wine and liquor. It would actually reduce spending by $246
million, or a little under 1 percent, after patching a current-year shortfall.
"We've got a chance to begin the process of changing our budget, a
chance to begin the process of changing our government," said Majority
Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana. His
Democratic counterpart, Minority Leader Frank Dermody of Allegheny County, said
the bill would not increase the minimum wage or impose a tax on Marcellus Shale
natural gas production, despite what he described as large majority support for
both ideas.
House passes GOP budget
bill despite united Dem opposition
WITF Written by Katie Meyer, Capitol Bureau Chief |
Apr 5, 2017 4:49 AM
The budget proposal was able to pass on the
strength of only Republican votes.
(Harrisburg) -- The state House has passed a Republican budget proposal
that includes no new taxes and makes deep, across-the-board cuts to Governor
Tom Wolf's spending plan.
The bill was only introduced two days ago and has been fast-tracked
despite near-unanimous Democratic opposition.
It passed quickly on party lines, with just four Republicans breaking
ranks to dissent. House Majority Leader
Dave Reed said it's a plan that will "get government back to its core
functions. "From pension and debt
obligations to our correctional spending to entitlement programs--this budget
seeks to being those costs back in line with reality," he told the House.
Meanwhile Democrats, like House Appropriations Committee Minority Chair
Joe Markosek, condemn the sharp reductions in Human Services spending. "This Republican budget bill cuts into
the bone that many of us agree is already bare," he said. "The economy is growing," he added.
"More people are working. And yet we move on Pennsylvania taxpayers like
they're the ones who have done something wrong." The proposed cuts have also been criticized
by the County Commissioner's Association, which said in a statement that
they'll only increase local tax burdens.
Reinventing Government
Starts With State Budget, House Republican Leaders Say
House Majority Leader Dave Reed’s website 4/4/2017
House GOP crafts $31.52 billion budget that eliminates deficit and funds
our schools without new taxes or borrowing.
HARRISBURG – Taking up the challenge to deal with a potential $3 billion shortfall, House Republicans crafted a “smart budget” to begin the process of reinventing Pennsylvania government without raising or creating new taxes and also providing additional funding for key education and public safety programs. The budget bill, House Bill 218, passed the House today by a vote of 114 to 84, House Republican Leaders said. “House Republicans are working to reverse the growth of government by using this opportunity to reinvent Pennsylvania government in the most efficient and effective ways – without raising taxes,” Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) said. “Our budget begins the process of a government reinvention – plotting a new course for Pennsylvania, punching holes in bureaucracy and focusing on government’s core functions.” “This budget reflects our continued commitment to controlled spending and does not rely on the governor’s proposed tax hikes that could hurt our state’s economic future,” Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said. “This plan reflects a no-tax, no-borrow budget; it does not mortgage our future, but places priorities on core government functions, especially quality education for our children.”
HARRISBURG – Taking up the challenge to deal with a potential $3 billion shortfall, House Republicans crafted a “smart budget” to begin the process of reinventing Pennsylvania government without raising or creating new taxes and also providing additional funding for key education and public safety programs. The budget bill, House Bill 218, passed the House today by a vote of 114 to 84, House Republican Leaders said. “House Republicans are working to reverse the growth of government by using this opportunity to reinvent Pennsylvania government in the most efficient and effective ways – without raising taxes,” Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) said. “Our budget begins the process of a government reinvention – plotting a new course for Pennsylvania, punching holes in bureaucracy and focusing on government’s core functions.” “This budget reflects our continued commitment to controlled spending and does not rely on the governor’s proposed tax hikes that could hurt our state’s economic future,” Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said. “This plan reflects a no-tax, no-borrow budget; it does not mortgage our future, but places priorities on core government functions, especially quality education for our children.”
“Many districts have still not recovered
from the Great Recession,” said Mark DiRocco, executive director of the
Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA). He estimates that one-third of the state’s
districts continue to slash programs and faculty positions or increase class
sizes to make ends meet. The biggest culprits, DiRocco said, are
skyrocketing teacher pension costs and the failure of state and federal school
aid to keep pace.”
Quakertown looks to close
two schools, furlough 50 staff to make ends meet
Inquirer by Kathy Boccella, Staff Writer @Kathy_Boccella | kboccella@phillynews.com
Updated: APRIL 4, 2017 — 5:07 PM EDT
After 30 years of nonstop property-tax increases, the superintendent of
the Quakertown Community School District says only one way is left to balance
the books: Immediately shut down an aging middle school, close an elementary
school next year, end an expensive cyber-learning program, and furlough 50
teachers and other staff. William Harner
calls his plan to save his Upper Bucks district “a paradigm shift.” Some
parents are using much less kind words to describe it. “We were blindsided completely,” said Emily
George. She is sending her two children to different elementary schools because
of Quakertown’s last redistricting and now may have to send one of them, a
third grader who is on the autism spectrum, to yet another school. She called
Harner's proposed solution to the district’s $4.8 million budget gap
“horrible.” The fiscal strife in the
district, encompassing a mostly blue-collar community between Philadelphia and
Allentown where more than a quarter of the 5,240 public school students live in
poverty, is a jarring example of what administrators regionwide are facing:
large structural budget gaps that aren’t going away, even as the overall
economy improves and headlines about a state education-funding crisis fade.
SB406: A good idea or meddling?
Intelligencer Editorial
Apr 4, 2017 Updated 15 hrs ago
Montgomery County
state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44, has come up with a plan designed to make it
harder for school boards to raise taxes. Under Rafferty's Senate Bill 406,
which the Education Committee unanimously advanced last week, a tax increase
would require a two-thirds majority vote (six) of school directors. The measure
would put an end to tax increases passed by a 5-4 vote, such as the one in
Council Rock last June. (Six votes would be necessary even if fewer than all
nine school board members voted.) Rafferty,
a former school director himself, reasons that requiring six votes for a tax
increase would encourage more thought and deliberation among board members
before they raise taxes on, in his words, "the most important part of
ownership, which is one's house." It's
true enough that taxing real estate is an archaic mechanism for raising revenue
that frequently ignores one's ability to pay. At the same time, the property
tax provides the lion's share of support for public education because that's
the system the Legislature has allowed to remain in place. For those same
Harrisburg lawmakers to dictate how school boards have to vote in order to
raise the money they need strikes a number of local school officials as
meddling where they don't belong. For
one thing, we've rarely seen a tax increase in any school district that was not
the result of careful deliberation. Many taxpayers might differ, but no school
board goes into budget discussions bent on sticking it to residents.
Another View: Why standardized
testing is failing our kids, schools
Delco Times Opinion By Jerry Oleksiak, Times Guest Columnist POSTED: 04/03/17
Jerry Oleksiak is a special education teacher
in the Upper Merion Area School District, and president of the 180,000-member
Pennsylvania State Education Association.
For years, educators
have spoken out forcefully about the toxic effect standardized tests have on
public schools. As a teacher with more
than 30 years of experience in the classroom, I’ve spoken out to my students’ parents,
my colleagues, and to state and federal officials. But you don’t have to just
ask me. Ask the classroom teachers in your community. They will tell you that
too much standardized testing is interfering with teaching and learning. Students spend 12 hours taking the
Pennsylvania State Standardized Assessment tests and Keystone Exams each year.
Students lose up to 110 hours each year on standardized tests and test
preparation. For teachers, that’s a loss of valuable time that could be spent
providing assistance to students who are struggling, and enrichment to students
who have mastered content knowledge and skills in core subjects.
The impact of over
testing and overemphasizing test scores has undermined the fundamental
hallmarks of great teaching. It stifles creativity and innovation in the
classroom in order to devote more classroom time and resources to prepare,
administer, and remediate students around tests mandated by state and federal
laws. Even worse, in communities
struggling with inadequate funding and strict accountability policies based on
test scores, schools have increasingly done away with subjects like art,
history, and music to focus on the mandated tests. There are additional
negative consequences: over testing narrows the curriculum, forcing teaching to
the test, driving teachers out of the profession, and stamping out children’s
innate love of learning.
As enrollment falls, Innovative Arts Academy
restructures leadership
Sarah M. Wojcik Contact
Reporter Of The Morning Call April 3, 2017
Six months into its
first year, Innovative Arts Academy Charter School is restructuring its
leadership as its student enrollment has dropped and it has faced delays in key
classroom construction. Principal
Douglas Taylor and Vice Principal Lori Moeck started their jobs Monday, days
after the Board of Trustees scrapped a chief executive officer post to save
money. That decision is raising questions with a legal expert about whether
trustees adhered to the state's Sunshine Act.
The school offers career-focused curriculum in journalism, culinary
arts, graphic arts and fashion design to students in grades six through 12. But
it wasn't able to complete its graphic design classroom and culinary arts
kitchen until the start of the second half of the school year. Meanwhile, its enrollment has steadily
fallen, going from 283 in September to 250 students in March. School
leaders previously said they needed 300 students to open it doors. School officials concede they had a rough
start. But they insist the future is promising for the school, which moved into
its Catasauqua building after Medical Academy Charter School closed over
financial troubles and low enrollment.
Philly teachers: District
windfall should mean new contract
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer @newskag | kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: APRIL 4, 2017 — 1:41 PM EDT
The Philadelphia
School District stands to receive $65 million annually in new money, thanks to
the city’s reassessment of commercial properties. District teachers, who have gone without a
contract for almost four years and without a raise for almost five, think they
know just how to use that revenue stream: Give them a new deal. Backed by the Philadelphia Federation of
Teachers, educators are tweeting, emailing, and calling Superintendent William
R. Hite Jr. and the School Reform Commission, demanding that the district put
its money where its mouth is. “Everybody
says, ‘If we had more money, we would love to give you a contract,' ” said
Kathie Tomczuk, a 14-year veteran teacher at Farrell Elementary School in
the Northeast. “Now, they have more money. Did they mean what they said?”
How Community Schools Plan to Build Up Neighborhoods
City of Philadelphia
Mayor’s Office of Education
An initiative funded
by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, the City’s community schools initiative
focuses on meeting local students’ and families’ needs in neighborhood
hubs: schools.
To address those
needs, the School District of Philadelphia and the Mayor’s Office of Education
formed plans to cover the needs of schools as identified by students, parents,
teachers, community members, and other partners. This comprehensive assessment involved
a variety of input from more than 2,000 community members as well as 500 others
who participated in 50 in-person focus groups.
There are some common themes across all the schools, including:
- Job training and access to job
opportunities.
- Food insecurity and access to healthy
foods.
- Access to physical, social, and
emotional health services, including the need for a “trauma informed”
approach to serving students.
- Access to clothing and uniforms.
- Cultural and social opportunities.
Along with these
overarching needs, each community school has its own specific plan, customized
and relevant to the surrounding neighborhood’s unique concerns. You can read briefs about each plan below or visit
the Community
School Plans site to check out the comprehensive plans in their
entirety.
“The city will defend its
1.5 cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened and diet beverages. The tax, levied on
distributors, is expected to funnel $92 million per year into the city’s
general fund to pay for pre-K, community schools. and an overhaul of parks and
recreation centers. Mark A. Aronchick will present arguments on behalf of the
city.”
Appellate panel to hear
soda tax arguments
Inquirer by Julia Terruso, Staff Writer @JuliaTerruso | jterruso@phillynews.com Updated: APRIL 4, 2017 — 3:34 PM
EDT
The city’s
sweetened-beverage tax is headed back to court.
A panel of seven Commonwealth Court justices will hear arguments over
the legality of the tax Wednesday in Pittsburgh. The American Beverage Association, along with
several Philadelphia residents and businesses, filed suit against the tax in September. A Common Pleas
Court judge rejected their arguments and upheld the tax in December. The decision was appealed to Commonwealth Court, a
statewide appellate court responsible for cases involving local governments. Tax opponents will argue in a morning hearing
that the lower court’s dismissal of their challenge should be reversed and the
tax overturned. Shanin Specter and Charles Becker of Kline & Specter PC and
Marc J. Sonnenfeld, John P. Lavelle Jr., and Thomas J. Sullivan of Morgan,
Lewis & Bockius LLP are representing the challengers.
Spring Grove school board
approves preliminary budget
York Dispatch by Junior Gonzalez ,
505-5439/@JuniorG_YD10:23 p.m.
ET April 3, 2017
The Spring Grove
School Board’s preliminary budget proposal includes a 3.2 percent tax increase
for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The
proposed general fund budget cites expected total revenues of $64.9
million and expenditures of $68.9 million. The expected shortfall of almost
$4 million would be covered by the general fund. All school board members present at Monday's
meeting quickly voted in favor of the proposal, which was approved with a
budget notice for public inspection and advertising. Each 1 percent increase equals approximately
$350,000 in revenue for the district.
Bethlehem schools' water
still lead-free 1 year later
Lehigh Valkley
Live BY SARA
K. SATULLO ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com
Updated on April 4, 2017 at 8:30 PM Posted on April 4, 2017 at 6:17 PM
A year after a
WFMZ report alleged high levels of lead in the drinking water at
a Bethlehem area school, the school district reported the water is still safe
to drink. Recent samples taken
from 27 district buildings turned up no readings at the threshold of 1 part per
billion, said Mark Stein, Bethlehem
Area School Districtchief facilities and operations officer. "This was just a health check,"
Stein said. "We can say we are alright, we are doing OK." Primary sources of drinking water, such as a
kitchen and water fountains, were tested and resulted in 112 samples being
collected from 27 buildings, Stein said.
'Ghost teachers': Education dollars misspent
TRIBUNE-REVIEW Editorial Tuesday, April
4, 2017, 9:00 p.m.
Amid the ceaseless
clamor for more funding for K-12 public schools, more attention should be paid
to where taxpayers' education dollars already go — such as to “ghost teachers,”
who are on the public payroll but work for teachers unions. Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school
districts, 111 — almost one in four — “authorize ghost teachers in their
collective bargaining agreements,” according to the Commonwealth Foundation.
Among such districts, it lists about three dozen in Southwestern Pennsylvania,
with union reimbursement covering “ghost teacher” costs in only a few. In too many districts, “ghost teachers” —
sometimes said to be on “release time” or “union release” — not only cash
taxpayer-funded paychecks, they also accrue seniority and receive taxpayer-funded
pensions and health benefits. Yet they do so not while working in classrooms,
the foundation says, but “while working for a private organization” — a
teachers union.
Trump says DeVos is
‘highly respected’, U.S. education is ‘so sad’ — and there’s more
Washington Post Answer
Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss April
4 at 1:00 PM
President Trump was
asked Tuesday about his education priorities and how he would address “the
disconnect” between skills that companies are looking for and what young people
entering the workforce are able to offer. This is what he said:
- “If you look at so many elements of
education, and it is so sad to see what is coming, happening in the
country.”
- He really likes charter schools and
doesn’t think they are “an experiment” anymore.
- The Common Core State Standards has “to
end” because “we have to bring education local.”
- Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is
“doing a terrific job,” is “highly respected” and has “a tremendous track
record.”
At the town hall
event in Washington, Catherine Engelbert, chief executive of Deloitte, asked
him about his priorities “around education” and around “the work of the
future.” She noted that the New York
City public high school graduation rate is 70 percent, but the readiness of
students for college and career is assessed at 37 percent, and she asked him to
explain his education priorities given the extraordinary pace of change in the
workplace and the “disconnect between what employers need and what are our
students coming into the workforce are prepared to deliver.”
Donald Trump Praises Betsy
DeVos and Urges More Local Control Over Education
Education Week
Politics K12 Blog By Andrew
Ujifusa on April 4, 2017 12:30 PM
President Donald
Trump repeated a few promises related to the Common Core State Standards
and education governance from his 2016 campaign, and also praised Secretary of
Education Betsy DeVos, at a town hall of business executives in
Washington on Tuesday. In
response to a question about college- and career readiness at the event, Trump
sharply criticized the academic performance of students New York City, Chicago,
and Los Angeles, while also praising charter schools. "I don't call it an
experiment any more. It's far beyond an experiment," he said of charters.
(More on recent academic performance of students in Chicago and
L.A. here.)
He then moved on to
one of his key priorities for education: shifting control from federal to state
and local leaders. You can watch video of Trump's remarks on schools beginning
at about the 2-hour, 2-minute mark in the video below: "We have to bring education more local.
We can't be managing education from Washington," Trump said, adding that
when he goes to states to discuss education policy, "they want to run
their school programs locally. And they'll do a much better job [than
Washington]." He added that many federal bureaucrats can't match state
officials' grasp of what their schools need.
PSBA Spring Town Hall Meetings coming in May!
Don’t be left in the
dark on legislation that affects your district! Learn the latest from your
legislators at PSBA Spring Town Hall Meetings. Conveniently offered at 10
locations around the state throughout May, this event will provide you with the
opportunity to interact face-to-face with key lawmakers from your area. Enjoy
refreshments, connect with colleagues, and learn what issues impact you and how
you can make a difference. Log in to the Members Area to register today for this FREE event!
- Monday, May 1, 6-8 p.m. — Parkway West
CTC, 7101 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale, PA 15071
- Tuesday, May 2, 7:30-9 a.m. — A W
Beattie Career Center, 9600 Babcock Blvd, Allison Park, PA 15101
- Tuesday, May 2, 6-8 p.m. — Crawford
County CTC, 860 Thurston Road, Meadville, PA 16335
- Wednesday, May 3, 6-8 p.m. — St. Marys
Area School District, 977 S. St Marys Road, Saint Marys, PA 15857
- Thursday, May 4, 6-8 p.m. — Central
Montco Technical High School, 821 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA
19462
- Friday, May 5, 7:30-9 a.m. — Lehigh
Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Dr, Schnecksville, PA 18078
- Monday, May 15, 6-8 p.m. — CTC of
Lackawanna Co., 3201 Rockwell Avenue, Scranton, PA 18508
- Tuesday, May 16, 6-8 p.m. — PSBA, 400
Bent Creek Boulevard, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
- Wednesday, May 17, 6-8 p.m. — Lycoming
CTC, 293 Cemetery Street, Hughesville, PA 17737
- Thursday, May 18, 6-8 p.m. — Chestnut
Ridge SD, 3281 Valley Road, Fishertown, PA 15539
For assistance
with registration, please contact Michelle Kunkel at 717-506-2450 ext. 3365.
The
2017 PenSPRA Symposium Keeping Current: What’s New in School
Communications April 7th Shippensburg
Join PenSPRA Friday, April 7, 2017 in Shippensburg, PA 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with evening social events on Thursday, April 6th from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Shippensburg University Conference Center
The agenda is as follows: Supporting transgender students in our schools (9 am), Evaluating School Communications to Inform Your Effectiveness (10:30 am), and Cool Graphics Tools Hands-on Workshop (1:15 pm).
Join PenSPRA Friday, April 7, 2017 in Shippensburg, PA 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with evening social events on Thursday, April 6th from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Shippensburg University Conference Center
The agenda is as follows: Supporting transgender students in our schools (9 am), Evaluating School Communications to Inform Your Effectiveness (10:30 am), and Cool Graphics Tools Hands-on Workshop (1:15 pm).
The $150 registration fee also
includes breakfast, lunch and Thursday’s social! You can
find more details on the agenda and register for the Symposium here:
PSBA
Advocacy Forum and Day on the Hill APR
24, 2017 • 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Join PSBA and your fellow school
directors for the fourth annual Advocacy Forum on April 24, 2017, at the
State Capitol in Harrisburg. Hear from legislators on how advocacy makes a
difference in the legislative process and the importance of public education
advocacy. Government Affairs will take a deeper dive into the legislative
priorities and will provide tips on how to be an effective public education
advocate. There will be dedicated time for you and your fellow advocates to hit
the halls to meet with your legislators on public education. This is your
chance to share the importance of policy supporting public education and make
your voice heard on the Hill.
“Nothing has more impact for
legislators than hearing directly from constituents through events like PSBA’s
Advocacy Forum.”
— Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Senate Appropriations Committee chair
— Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Senate Appropriations Committee chair
Registration:
Visit the Members Area of PSBA’s website under
Store/Registration tab to register.
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!
Save the Date
2017 PA Principals Association State Conference October 14. 15, 16, 2017
Doubletree
Hotel Cranberry Township, PA
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