Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now
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administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's
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These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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Keystone
State Education Coalition
“All of which underscores why neither
party should be able to draw lines that benefit themselves and harm their
opponents. It should be in the hands of an independent citizens
commission that is prohibited from using politics to draw district lines. Fair
Districts PA (fairdistrictspa.com)
is one group pushing for such a change, and has outlined the steps that it
would take to get the necessary constitutional amendment. It’s not a fast
solution, but it’s the right one.”
Court
starts drawing the line at rigged elections | Editorial
by The Inquirer Editorial Board Updated: JANUARY
24, 2018 — 1:18 PM EST
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issues landmark
rulings benefiting the common good about as often as the Eagles make the Super
Bowl. So, the court’s ruling
Mondaythat the state’s congressional map “clearly, plainly
and palpably” violates the state constitution was an overdue, welcome surprise.
But can the same Republican-controlled Legislature that created the
unconstitutional maps be trusted to fix this mess? The court blocked the use of
the current congressional map in the upcoming May 15 primary, giving the
Legislature until Feb. 9 to approve a map that meets the state constitution. If
the Legislature fails to do so, the court will impose its own map. That leaves
little time for the Legislature to act. Then again, the Legislature created
this mess by abusing its authority and drawing cockamamie districts that have
nothing to do with equal protection, free expression or a functioning democracy.
Detailed databases that include the race and ethnicity were used to craft
districts that enable elected officials to pick their voters rather than have
voters choose them. Such gerrymandered districts essentially rig elections
before votes are cast.
WITF Written by Katie Meyer, Capitol Bureau Chief | Jan 25, 2018 6:18 AM
(Harrisburg) -- In the wake of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision to declare the state's congressional maps unconstitutional, lawmakers are starting the redrawing process before the February 15th deadline. The ruling creates a rare question for members who are currently running for Congress: is it appropriate for them to help fix the maps or vote on the news ones? Art Halvorson, a Republican who's launching his fourth run for the soon-to-be-vacant 9th Congressional District, thinks not. He's up against House Majority Leader Dave Reed and Senator John Eichelberger, both Indiana County Republicans. "Mr. Reed and Mr. Eichelberger, you need to recuse yourselves from any process that would involve your participation in the redrawing of the 9th District lines," Halverson demanded at a public forum. The process of redrawing congressional maps is designed to give all members of the legislature a say, which means Reed and Eichelberger would certainly be participants under normal circumstances. As a caucus leader, Reed in particular would have a key role in shaping the new districts. But now, Reed's spokesman Steve Miskin said the majority leader won't take part in the drawing process. "He is taking a step back to avoid any possible, even discussion of a conflict," Miskin said. That doesn't mean Reed--or Eichelberger--won't vote on the finished maps, though.
Confused
about the Pennsylvania congressional map ruling? Here's a primer
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided the
state's congressional map illegally favors Republicans and must be redrawn.
Here's the background on the case.
Morning Call by Steve Esack and Laura Olson Contact Reporters January 24, 2018
Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rocked the
political world by ordering the state’s 18 congressional districts to be
redrawn before the May 15 primary election. Tuesday, Republican leaders in the
state Legislature asked the high court to postpone its ruling, pending a likely
appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is considering the fairness of other
states’ maps. Dozens of candidates are in limbo, and millions of voters
confused. One resident, flummoxed by the fast-paced legal and political
developments, asked: “What is a congressional voting district?”
Here are some answers:
“Another reason for creating the cyber
academy was to reduce the number of district students going to cyber charter
schools, which cost the district approximately $3.7 million in tuition last
year. The cyber academy option has prevented 127 students from attending a
cyber charter school and another 19 were recruited back to the district from a
cyber charter school. Any immediate savings in charter tuition costs have not
yet been verified.”
Enrollment
up in Upper Darby’s first cyber school platform
Delco Times By Kevin
Tustin, ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com, @KevinTustin on Twitter
POSTED: 01/24/18, 8:36 PM EST | UPDATED:
18 SECS AGO
UPPER DARBY >> More than 200 students have
enrolled in Upper Darby School District’s cyber academy since it launched at
the start of the school year. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction Dan McGarry and cyber academy Principal Candice Riccione announced
at a school board committee meeting on Tuesday that 214 students across all
grade levels are receiving instruction on the district’s new learning platform.
Approximately 90 percent of those students are in seventh grade or higher with
41 deemed special education and another six are English Language Learners.
Another 57 were on administrative home study. Enrollment has increased in just
the first semester of the school year from 86 pupils. With that, the number of
stipend teachers will be increasing from 21 for the fall semester to 39 for the
spring semester.
Saucon
Valley School Board offered a choice of tax increases
Charles Malinchak Special to The
Morning Call January 24, 2018
The Saucon Valley School District’s preliminary
2018-19 budget made its first appearance Monday night and it showed two
spending plans that both call for a tax increase. District Superintendent Craig
Butler presented the board with the two proposals, calling the first one a
“rollover’’ budget and the second a plan that includes spending on technology
and rewriting academic curricula. The two proposals
come as the district raised taxes 2.5 percent for the current school year — the
first time in nearly a decade. The first plan would cost $46.6 million and
includes no new spending on anything except meeting expenses that routinely go
up every year, such as retirement and health insurance costs, salaries and
utilities. “This includes the normal yearly increases,’’ said district Business
Manager David Bonenberger. But even without spending on new programs or
projects, Bonenberger said just to meet those normal yearly increases the plan
needs $669,104 to bring a balanced budget.
Candidates
who pledge never to raise taxes are irresponsible and phony
Paul Muschick Contact Reporter Opinion The
Morning Call January 24, 2018
It’s still early in the campaign season but it’s
never too early to start paying attention to what the candidates are saying. There
are few right or wrong answers. Candidates have different opinions on issues
and voters must sort through them to find the candidate they believe represents
their interests and would do a good job. One big exception, though, is when a
candidate pledges not to raise taxes. That’s irresponsible and nothing more
than a weak attempt to suck up to voters. It turns me off and should turn you
off, too. I was heartened that the four Republican candidates for governor
didn’t take the bait at a forum last week in Pittsburgh. It would have been
easy to do because that’s what voters want to hear. Candidate Laura Ellsworth,
an attorney, summed it up best when she described tax pledges as “political
gimmicks,” according to a story by Morning Call Harrisburg correspondent Steve
Esack.
Unionville-Chadds
Ford school directors agree to keep Keystone Exam graduation requirement
By Fran Maye, Daily Local News POSTED: 01/24/18,
4:31 PM EST | UPDATED: 9 HRS AGO
EAST MARLBOROUGH >> Unionville-Chadds Ford
school directors voted this week to keep the Keystone Exams as a high school
graduation requirement. The Keystones are used to meet the accountability
requirements tied to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act to evaluate
students’ mastery of those subjects as well as teacher and school performance.
The three Keystone tests are Algebra, English and Biology. The vote was 8-1,
with Gregg Lindner, school director, dissenting. John Nolen said that if
administrators agree to give the test, it should be meaningful to students. “From
my perspective, I never wanted to take a test that didn’t mean a lot to me,” Nolen
said. Nolen said that if a student does not pass a test, they are given
remedial studies and other “pathways.” “We expect our students to continue to
score quite well on Keystones,” Nolen said. “For those who do struggle, there
are remediation courses, tutoring, and second and third tries if needed to be
able to meet it. If not, there are other pathways.”
Influx of
new students at WCASD may cause tax increase
Daily Local News By Bill
Rettew, brettew@dailylocal.com POSTED: 01/24/18,
5:00 PM EST
WEST WHITELAND >> The West Chester Area School
District has become a coveted location for homebuilders. Those new homes will
add more students to the district, with a possible small tax increase,
Superintendent Dr. Jim Scanlon said at Monday’s school board meeting. “We have
seen more than 2,700 residential units approved in our school district during
the past 18 months,” Scanlon said. “We need to plan for the growth in the
number of students we anticipate will be attending our schools from these
residences in the next five years. “Developers are starting to build here
again. It’s a desirable place for people to raise families.” The district
currently enrolls 11,928 students, with a projected increase to 12,677, by
school year 2023-24. About 500 of those students will attend elementary
schools. Enrollment had recently dropped to 11,400. The birth rate was down and
there was not a lot of construction, Scanlon said. The superintendent pointed
to the Department of and Education and individual township approval processes
as reasons the district has to look so far down the road. The district is
considering expansion at existing schools.
Some
members of the 'People's School Board Slate' air their views
The notebook by Greg Windle January 24, 2018 —
3:23pm
While Mayor Kenney’s 13-member nominating panel is
interviewing potential candidates for the new Philadelphia school board,
which will replace the School Reform Commission this summer, a
group of potential candidates calling itself the "People’s School
Board Slate” is publicly campaigning for seats. The main plank of the
slate’s platform is for the new board to focus on the needs of people and
prioritize the ideals of equity and quality rather than just concentrating on
making ends meet in the chronically cash-strapped School District. The latest
forecast has the District running a $700 million deficit by 2022, given current
revenue projections and fixed expenditures. Like its predecessor, the School
Reform Commission, the new Board of Education will not have its own taxing
power. “We’ve got to have someone on the school board who understands that
behind those numbers — behind that deficit, behind those school closings —
there are children behind those numbers,” said Sheila Armstrong, a member
of the slate. The People’s School Board Slate is made up of
parents, educators, and organizers from groups that came together to form the
Our City Our Schools coalition, which led the charge for an end to the SRC and a return
of the city’s public schools to local control. The slate includes eight adults
and two students.
Latino
advocates will help shape new Philadelphia Board of Education
Al Dia By Emily Neil January 19, 2018
Two prominent advocates for Latino and immigrant
education are among 13 education, nonprofit, business, and civic leaders named
by Mayor Jim Kenney on Tuesday to the education nominating panel — a group that
will play a key role in establishing the city’s new Board of Education in the
coming months. Bonnie Camarda is the director of partnerships for The
Salvation Army of East Pennsylvania and Delaware and serves as a board member
for Nueva Esperanza Community Development Corporation, which established Esperanza
College, the Esperanza Academy Charter School, Esperanza Cyber School, and the
nonprofit arts education organization Artístas y Músicos Latino Americanos in
North Philadelphia. She and Peter Gonzales, president and CEO of the
Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians — an immigrant education and resource
center — and former board member of ASPIRA of Delaware, will work with the rest
of the nominating panel to select 27 candidates for the nine-seat board by the
end of February. See the full list of the members of the nominating panel here(link is
external).
Philly
kids rap about the stigma of being a ‘bad kid’
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent January 24, 2018
It’s easy to label
the kids who land at Camelot KAPS, a K-7 school in Philadelphia’s Germantown
section. The school educates students with extreme behavioral and emotional
needs, many of whom acted out habitually before arriving. By the time many kids
make it to Camelot KAPS, misbehavior has become part of their identity. “I see
them becoming more aware of it younger and younger,” said program manager
Carolyn Abele. “I’m bad. I’m stupid. I don’t know how to do
anything right. Nobody likes me.” The students know, at a young age, they’re
different. But one of their teachers, Luke O’Brien, wants them
to wear that difference with pride. To do that, he helped them create a
delightful catchy rap song and music video called “Way Above Average.”
York Dispatch by Eric Rosso, PA Spotlight Published
7:10 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2018 | Updated 9:36 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2018
Last January, the York Dispatch published PA
Spotlight’s 2017 wish list. We outlined our hopes regarding the Commonwealth
Foundation, the Keystone State’s local Koch Brothers-funded outfit. Our wish
was simple; to expose this right-wing organization for what it truly is. This
past year, we worked to make more Pennsylvanians aware of the Commonwealth
Foundation’s efforts to make our state less friendly to workers, its fight to
keep wages low, and its influence in twisting the debate via the media. As we
kick-off 2018, its worth taking stock of last year’s list. And to remind folks
of the truth about the Commonwealth Foundation. In actuality, it’s the
Pennsylvania outpost of the State Policy Network — a national network of
billionaire-funded front groups that mostly go after labor unions and working
families. They’ve been described as “less free actors than a coordinated collection of
corporate front groups.” In fact, they didn’t have a very good year
either. The Guardian was able to
bring to light fundraising documents that showed their true intention as a
right-wing alliance aimed at “defunding and defanging” labor unions.
Here are
eight ‘Schools of Opportunity’ that do extraordinary things for students
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss January 22 For several years, I have published the winners of an annual project called “Schools of Opportunity,” which recognizes public high schools that work to close opportunity gaps by creating learning environments that reach every student. Here are the 2017 winners, and an explanation of how these high schools are succeeding and how other schools can apply for the 2018 cycle. The stories of traditional public schools that work are important to tell, especially when the U.S. education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is interested in expanding alternatives to them. She has in the past called traditional public schools “a dead end” in a stark statement about her education beliefs. The Schools of Opportunity project started in 2014 as a pilot in New York and Colorado, and went national in 2015-16. Several dozen schools have been honored in the program, which assesses a range of factors (see graphic above), including how well the adults in a school building provide health and psychological support for students as well as judicious and fair discipline policies, and broad and enriched curriculum.
Laptops
And Phones In The Classroom: Yea, Nay Or A Third Way?
NPR by ANYA KAMENETZ January 24, 2018 6:00
AM ET
"If something on their desk or in their
pocket dings, rings or vibrates — they will lose focus.""Students are doing so much in class, distraction and disruption isn't really something I worry about." How should teachers — both K-12 and college — deal with the use of computers and phones by students in class? On the one hand, those sleek little supercomputers promise to connect us to all human knowledge. On the other hand, they are also scientifically designed by some of the world's top geniuses to feel as compelling as oxygen. So where does that leave teachers? Should you ban these devices in the classroom? Let students go whole hog? Or is there a happy medium?
GOP
Lawmaker Revives Push to Create New Tax Break for Home Schooling
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Andrew Ujifusa on January
24, 2018 12:51 PM
A stalwart school choice supporter in Congress is
trying to finish what the recently enacted tax reform couldn't: a
new tax break for home schooling. Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., one of the
biggest supporters of vouchers and charter schools on Capitol Hill, introduced
legislation Wednesday to allow
families to use money in 529 savings plans for home-schooling expenses. Messer said he
intended to file such legislation last month. The tax-code overhaul, signed
into law by President Donald Trump last month, will allow 529
plans—previously reserved for higher education costs—to be used for K-12
expenses, including private school tuition. Families can take up to $10,000
each year from the plans for K-12 costs and still get a tax advantage. Shortly
before Congress gave final approval to the bill, Democrats raised a procedural
objection to the new language applying to 529 plans that would also
have allowed the money to be used for home schooling. Ultimately,
lawmakers stripped out this language before final passage.
Register now for PSBA Board Presidents Panel
PSBA Website January 2018
School board leaders, this one's for you! Join your colleagues at an evening of networking and learning in 10 convenient locations around the state at the end of January. Share your experience and leadership through a panel discussion moderated by PSBA Member Services team. Participate in roundtable conversations focused on the most pressing challenges and current issues affecting PA school districts. Bring your specific challenges and scenarios for small group discussion. Register online.
NSBA 2018
Advocacy Institute February 4 - 6, 2018 Marriott Marquis, Washington D.C.
Register Now
Come a day early and attend the Equity
Symposium!
Join hundreds of public education advocates
on Capitol Hill and help shape the decisions made in Washington D.C. that
directly impact our students. At the 2018 Advocacy Institute, you’ll gain
insight into the most critical issues affecting public education, sharpen your
advocacy skills, and prepare for effective meetings with your representatives. Whether
you are an expert advocator or a novice, attend and experience inspirational
keynote speakers and education sessions featuring policymakers, legal experts
and policy influencers. All designed to help you advocate for your students and
communities.
Local School Board Members to Advocate on Capitol Hill in 2018
NSBA's Advocacy Institute 2018 entitled, "Elected. Engaged. Empowered: Representing the Voice in Public Education," will be held on February 4-6, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. This conference will convene Members of Congress, national thought-leaders, state association executives and well-known political pundits to provide local school board members with an update on key policy and legal issues impacting public education, and tactics and strategies to enhance their ability to influence the policy-making process and national education debate during their year-round advocacy efforts.
WHAT'S NEW - ADVOCACY INSTITUTE '18?
·
Confirmed
National Speaker: Cokie Roberts, Political Commentator for NPR and ABC News
·
NSBA
will convene first ever National School Board Town Hall on School Choice
·
Includes
General Sessions featuring national policy experts, Members of Congress,
"DC Insiders" and local school board members
·
Offers
conference attendees "Beginner" and "Advanced" Advocacy
breakout sessions
·
NSBA
will host a Hill Day Wrap-Up Reception
Click here to register for the Advocacy
Institute. The hotel block will close on Monday, January 15PSBA Closer Look Series Public Briefings
The Closer Look Series Public Briefings will take a deeper dive into concepts contained in the proposed Pennsylvania State Budget and the State of Education Report. Sessions will harness the expertise of local business leaders, education advocates, government and local school leaders from across the state. Learn more about the fiscal health of schools, how workforce development and early education can be improved and what local schools are doing to improve the State of Education in Pennsylvania. All sessions are free and open to the public.
Connecting Student Success to Employment
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel – Pittsburgh Green Tree Feb. 27, 2018, 7-8:45 a.m.
More than eight out of 10 students taking one or more industry-specific assessments are achieving either at the competent or advanced level. How do we connect student success to jobs in the community? What does the connection between schools and the business community look like and how can it be improved? How do we increase public awareness of the growing demand for workers in the skilled trades and other employment trends in the commonwealth? Hear John Callahan, PSBA assistant executive director, and Matt Smith, president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, give a free, public presentation on these topics followed by a Q&A period.
A Deeper Dive into the State of Education
Crowne Plaza Philadelphia – King of Prussia March 6, 2018, 7-8:45 a.m.
In the State of Education Report, 40% of schools stated that 16% to 30% of students joining schools at kindergarten or first grade are below the expected level of school readiness. Learn more about the impact of early education and what local schools are doing to improve the State of Education in Pennsylvania. A free, public presentation by local and legislative experts will be followed by a Q&A period.
Public Education Under Extreme Pressure
Hilton Harrisburg March 12, 2018, 7-8:45 a.m.
According to the State of Education Report, 84% of all school districts viewed budget pressures as the most difficult area to manage over the past year. With so many choices and pressures, school districts must make decisions to invest in priorities while managing their locally diverse budgets. How does the state budget impact these decisions? What investments does the business community need for the future growth of the economy and how do we improve the health, education and well-being of students who attend public schools in the commonwealth in this extreme environment? Hear local and legislative leaders in a free, public presentation on these topics followed by a Q&A period.
Registration for these public briefings: https://www.psba.org/2018/01/closer-look-series-public-briefings/
Registration is now open for the 2018 PASA Education Congress! State College, PA, March 19-20, 2018
Don't miss this marquee event for Pennsylvania school leaders at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College, PA, March 19-20, 2018.
Learn more by visiting http://www.pasa-net.org/2018edcongress
SAVE THE DATE for the 2018
PA Educational Leadership Summit - July 29-31 - State College, PA sponsored by
the PA Principals Association, PASA, PAMLE and PASCD.
This year's Summit will be held from July 29-31, 2018 at the Penn Stater
Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA.
Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
that I may be affiliated with.
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