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Keystone
State Education Coalition
Governor drops prior objections
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa January 25, 2018 —
7:25pm
Gov. Tom Wolf filed a brief Wednesday
asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to speed up its consideration of the
lawsuit seeking to overhaul the state's current system for funding
education, abandoning his prior objections. Legislative leaders, meanwhile,
doubled down on their arguments against the plaintiff's claims again urged its
dismissal. Wolf, a Democrat, initially opposed the suit largely on
the grounds that school funding is a legislative and executive
responsibility, not a matter for the courts. In seeking at first to
dismiss the case, his attorneys had also argued that preservation of local
control over education was a "constitutionally reasonable basis" for
maintaining an inadequate funding system, even if it results in
"widespread deprivations in economically disadvantaged districts of the
resources necessasry to attain a constitutionally adequate education." Wolf's
new brief concluded that the high court's most recent ruling in the case, in September,
"foreclosed" those arguments and so they were being abandoned. It
asked the court to "enter an order setting a deadline" to "move
this matter toward a resolution." Wolf's brief reiterated his political
commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of zip code, has access to
a high-quality education." The gaps between wealth and low-income
districts in Pennsylvania are among the widest in the country.
Pa.
Supreme Court rejects stay request in redistricting case; new maps now rest in
U.S. Supremes' hands
Penn Live By Charles Thompson cthompson@pennlive.com Updated Jan
25, 6:38 PM
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a decision
that came as little surprise, refused Thursday to stay an order for the creation of
new Congressional district maps from earlier this week. The state court's
ruling leaves leaders of the Republican-controlled General Assembly - who want
the 2018 elections to proceed under the existing maps - with one remaining card
to play: a stay from the United States Supreme Court. The leaders sought
that relief earlier in the day. The state court's decision was rendered by the same
4-3 split as Monday's original order holding the current Congressional maps as
unconstitutional because of excessive partisan gerrymandering. Justices Christine Donahue, Kevin Dougherty, Debra
Todd and David Wecht were in the majority. Monday's order, if it stands, requires the
legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf to reach agreement on a new map of 18
Congressional districts by Feb. 15. The court's goal, the majority stated, was
to have a new map in place for the May 15 primary election.
Pa.
legislative leaders take redistricting case to U.S. Supreme Court
Penn Live By Charles Thompson cthompson@pennlive.com Updated Jan
25, 4:24 PM; Posted Jan 25, 3:46 PM
The two presiding officers of the
Pennsylvania General Assembly have filed an emergency application with nation's
top court Thursday for relief from an 11th-hour state court order to redraw the
state's 18 congressional districts. Senate President
Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, and Speaker of the House Mike
Turzai, R-Allegheny County, filed the motion. A sharply-split Pennsylvania
Supreme Court ordered the redraw on Jan. 22, to be completed by
state officials by Feb. 15 so that the date of the state's May primary
election would not be affected. The state court made its ruling in a suit brought by
a set of Democratic voters arguing that the existing map, adopted in 2011, was
the product of extreme partisan gerrymandering that violated the Pennsylvania
Constitution. The case only applies to the state's 18 seats in the U.S. House
of Representatives. The application for a stay actually represents the leaders'
last best hope to stop the state court's ruling.
PA-07: Meehan
won't seek re-election after sexual misconduct settlement becomes public
Penn Live By The Associated Press Updated Jan 25, 10:46 PM; Posted Jan
25, 9:40 PM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- The Republican
congressman who settled a
former aide's sexual harassment complaint with taxpayer moneywon't seek
re-election. A spokesman for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan says U.S. Rep.
Pat Meehan informed Ryan of his decision on Thursday. Meehan is the fifth
member of Congress to resign or abandon re-election amid a national reckoning
over sexual misconduct in the workplace. The former aide is three decades
younger than Meehan. Her complaint came to light Jan. 20 in a New York Times
report, citing unnamed people. The settlement was secret under confidentiality
provisions, and Meehan refuses to say how much taxpayer money was involved. Meehan
denies he did anything wrong and says he followed the advice of House lawyers
and Ethics Committee guidance.
PA-07: Amid
scandal, Meehan drops bid for re-election
By Alex Rose, Delaware County Daily Times and Kathleen E. Carey, Delaware County Daily Times POSTED: 01/25/18, 9:32 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD >> U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan,
R-7 of Chadds Ford, reeling from allegations he used public money to settle a
former aide’s sexual harassment charges, is dropping his bid for re-election. A
spokesman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Thursday night that
Meehan informed Ryan of his decision on Thursday, according to the Associated
Press. Meehan is the fifth member of Congress to resign or abandon re-election
amid a national reckoning over sexual misconduct in the workplace. The news
came after a double whammy of back-to-back protests outside Meehan’s local
district office with a shared sentiment Thursday: It’s time for the congressman
to resign. Chants included “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and “Hey, hey, ho,
ho, Pat Meehan’s got to go!” from the 40-plus in attendance at the early
noon rally. At one point, protesters broke out in song: “Hit the road, Pat, and
don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more ...” as they stood along
Sproul Road. Meehan has been embroiled in a controversy since Saturday when the
New York Times published a story indicating the four-term congressman used
taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment complaint by a former aide. Ryan
quickly removed Meehan from the House Ethics Committee and an investigation at
Meehan’s request is underway.
PA-07: In a Comically Drawn Pennsylvania District, the Voters Are Not
Amused
New York Times By TRIP GABRIEL JAN. 26, 2018
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — It was supposed to be a
political firewall. It has become a laughingstock. The Seventh Congressional
District in Pennsylvania is nicknamed Goofy Kicking Donald Duck because its
highly contorted shape resembles one Disney character planting a foot in the
posterior of another. But the district got the boot itself this week, along
with the rest of the state’s political map. Pennsylvania’s highest court said
the Congressional boundaries didn’t just look funny, they also violated the State Constitution, by unfairly
favoring the Republicans who drew them. The decision was greeted with joy by
Democrats, and even some Republicans, in the Goofy district, which spreads like
an ink blot for 50 miles from the Philadelphia suburbs all the way out to Amish
country. Residents have grown weary of having their House seat held up as one
of the most gerrymandered in the country, used to explain the country’s descent
into tribal politics and voter cynicism.
PA-18: National
GOP money funds attack ad on Conor Lamb; Democrats expected to respond
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE localnews@post-gazette.com JAN 26, 2018 9:19
AM
National Republicans are plunking down another
million-dollar ad buy in the southwestern Pennsylvania TV market, the latest
sign that the GOP isn’t taking anything for granted in a special election being
held in the 18th Congressional District. And while national Democratic groups
expect to make at least a modest counteroffensive starting next week, by the
time the election rolls around on March 13, voters may be half-expecting to see
the name of Nancy Pelosi on the ballot. The Congressional Leadership
Fund, a political committee tied to Republican Speaker of the House Paul
Ryan, is spending at least $1.5 million to air the spot. The 30-second ad
seeks to link the Democrat in the race, Conor Lamb, to Ms. Pelosi, a former
House Speaker who leads Democrats in the chamber.
Do Lancaster County high schools start too early?
Research says yes
Lancaster Online by
ALEX GELI | Staff Writer January 26,m 2018
A few extra minutes of sleep at night could go a
long way for students in Lancaster County, research from Penn
State suggests. In a national study published last month,
Penn State researchers found that high school start times after 8:30 a.m. not
only increased the likelihood of teens getting the recommended amount of sleep,
but also improved their overall health and well-being. The study adds to a
wealth of research in the past several decades pointing to the potential
benefits of starting school later. Despite mounting evidence, an LNP analysis
found Lancaster County school districts still start school as early as 7:22 a.m.,
and most local school officials haven’t engaged in serious discussions
surrounding school start times. Logistics, local and state education leaders
say, get in the way. “Backing up school times may only lead to backing up all
those other things that are occurring in the evening and may result in a net
gain of zero,” Eastern Lancaster County School District Superintendent Bob
Hollister said. “Due to complexities” — such as adding bus routes
and rearranging athletic schedules — “we are not considering changing starting
times,” Columbia Borough Superintendent Tom Strickler said
“According to the report, titled “Pre-K
works, so why not PA?,” 64 percent of eligible children — or 112,900 3- and
4-year-olds — are not enrolled in high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. Pennsylvania
ranks 18th out of 30 states in public funding for high-quality pre-K, with $792
invested per capita, well short of neighboring states such as New York
($1,736), New Jersey ($3,227) and Maryland ($1,005).”
York-area
business leaders urge candidates to support pre-K push
York Dispatch by Junior Gonzalez,
505-5439/@EducationYD Published 2:42 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2018 | Updated 4:12
p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2018
York County business leaders and child advocates
this week urged candidates up and down the ballot in 2018 to make state funding
for high-quality pre-K a major priority in their campaigns. They say early education has consistently shown a
return on investment for both the children and society at large. York County
Economic Alliance President and CEO Kevin Schreiber was joined Wednesday, Jan.
24, at the alliance's downtown York City headquarters by Advancement Solutions
LLC President Michael Smeltzer and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
President Joan Benso for a news conference. They made their plea on the
heels of a report published last week on pre-K funding.
York Dispatch by Junior Gonzalez,
505-5439/@EducationYD Published 8:13 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2018
Helen Thackston Charter School’s chance to fulfill a
crucial deadline under a dissolution agreement is in trouble as the school’s
board failed to receive three years of completed audits to approve during
their last regular meeting before its due date. A board item to approve audits
for the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years was pulled from the Thursday,
Jan. 25, agenda earlier in the day, according to CEO Carlos Lopez, who said
they remain incomplete. Board members will now meet in a special meeting on
Tuesday, Jan. 30, in anticipation of completed audits, according to Lopez. If
they are completed and approved, Lopez said he will deliver the documents in
person to York City School District administrators the following morning on
Wednesday, Jan. 31 — deadline day. The audits are a crucial missing piece from
a closure agreement reached by York City and Thackston boards last October to
avoid lengthy revocation hearings focused on Thackston’s performance and keep
the school open until June 2019.
Creating a
Philadelphia school board we can trust
WHYY/notebook By Paul
Socolar January 25, 2018
I find education
politics endlessly fascinating. Nonetheless, School Reform Commission meetings
long ago became a painful spectacle. And I witnessed nearly every one, because
of my job, from 2001 to 2016. The experience has given me a clear perspective
about what must be different about Philadelphia’s new school board if “local
control” is to live up to its promise. It’s tempting to believe that a locally
controlled school board will bring on a new day in city schools. But that is by
no means guaranteed.
Promise of local control a challenge
The advantages of going local seem a
no-brainer. The new board will have nine members who are fellow residents of
the city. Appointed by the mayor, they will likely identify more closely with
the progressive politics of the city — valuing diversity and equity,
pro-immigrant, friendly to LGBTQ people, concerned about poverty — than did
some past SRC appointees. All that could make it feel less like a hostile
takeover by outsiders, which was a feeling among locals from the SRC’s earliest
days. But with “local control,” many expect that the new board will function in
a democratic, responsive, and accountable manner, even though it’s appointed
rather than elected. Fulfilling that expectation will be challenging. The SRC
has had many commissioners from Philadelphia who were committed public servants
— the current commissioners live in the city — and yet that body never acted
like it saw itself as accountable to the people of Philadelphia.
“Dunn says, despite the shortfall, the
tax has had its benefits. “$78.8 million has brought 2700 children free,
quality pre-K. It has also brought 11 community schools which support 6,000
students. Seventy-one percent of those students are below the poverty level.
Those are things that would not have happened had we not had this beverage
tax,” said Dunn.”
Beverage
Tax First Year Total Falls Below ExpectationsCBS Philly By Pat Loeb January 25, 2018 at 9:46 pm
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The final total for the first year of Philadelphia’s beverage tax is in, and it’s about 15 percent below projections. The tax brought in $6.5 million in December, bringing the first year receipts to $78.8 million. It was clear several months ago the tax was not going to reach the projected $91 million the city had budgeted, but officials say they were waiting to see a full year’s revenue before making any changes. Now that those figures are in, city spokesman Mike Dunn says they will revise projections, though he couldn’t say by how much or what impact it will have.
Jury mulls
ex-Coatesville super’s fate
By Michael Rellahan, Daily Local News POSTED: 01/25/18,
10:12 PM EST
WEST CHESTER >> Richard Wallace Como, the
former superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District, abused his
position of authority to steal thousands of dollars, manipulate things to get
his son into a lucrative job, bill the taxpayers for his passion for sports,
and dispose of a piece of machinery that was useless to him, the prosecution in
his trial argued Friday. In her closing to the panel of seven women and five
men in Senior Judge Thomas G. Gavin’s courtroom in the Chester County Justice
Center, Assistant District Attorney Andrea Cardamone said that Como — who
reigned “at the top of the food chain” in the 7,000-student public school
district where he was regarded as something of a legend — pushed things through
when no one bothered or dared to challenge him. “Ask yourself, ‘Who wanted
these things to happen, who had the power to make things happen?’” Cardamone
said toward the conclusion of her 90-minute closing argument. “In every case,
it is the defendant. The question you have to ask yourself is, ‘Did he commit a
crime?’ I would suggest that if you use your common sense, you agree that the
defendant is guilty of these charges.”
Trump administration looks to roll back a rule requiring more aggressive monitoring
Education Week By Christina Samuels and Alex Harwin January 24, 2018
Are too many minority students being placed into special education who don’t need to be there? And, once enrolled, are they kept in isolated classrooms or punished more severely than their peers? For 423 school districts in the 2015-16 school year—the most recent year for which complete federal statistics are available—the answer was yes. That’s about 3 percent of the nation’s 14,500 or so school systems. More than 20 states documented no disproportionality in their districts that year, according to an analysis by the Education Week Research Center. So are states underestimating the problem? Are they even using the best methods to measure the status of these students? Those questions are at the heart of a policy debate that is pitting the actions of a formerly hands-on U.S. Department of Education under the Obama administration against new leadership, under President Donald Trump, that says it wants to get out of states’ business.
New Jersey
to join multi-state lawsuit over federal tax reform
Inquirer by Laura McCrystal, Staff
Writer @LMcCrystal | lmccrystal@phillynews.com
Updated: JANUARY 26, 2018 — 10:40 AM EST
New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut plan to sue
the federal government over the constitutionality of the tax law President
Trump signed in December, the states’ governors announced Friday. The three
Democratic governors said they are forming a multi-state coalition to file a
lawsuit against the federal government and believe that other states will join
them. “There is a very strong argument that the bill is a
fundamental violation of states’ rights and repugnant to the very concept of
federalism that formed this nation,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a
conference call with reporters Friday morning. The governors said their
top concern is the $10,000 cap placed
on deductions of state and local taxes, which hurts
residents in their states more than others because they have relatively high
state income and property taxes. The states most affected by the loss of that
deduction are all led by Democrats. The governors said they believed the
federal tax law was intended to discriminate along party lines.
New poll
of Americans’ top priorities for 2018 has education at No. 2 — ahead of the
economy
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss January 25 at
5:25 PM A new poll of American adults released Thursday by the Washington-based Pew Research Center shows that the economy is not the No. 1 public priority for 2018. Fighting terrorism is No. 1, and No. 2 is improving education.
ECOT
students rushing to other e-schools but trickling back to districts
Cleveland Plain Dealer By Patrick O'Donnell, The Plain Dealer paodonnell@plaind.com Updated Jan 25, 1:58 PM; Posted Jan
25, 6:00 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Students from the just-closed ECOT
online charter school have started to land in school districts and other
charters, but the numbers remain low and it's too early to tell how well the
process is working. There's a clear trend so far, however. ECOT students are
rushing to other online charters and trickling to districts. The shutdown of the giant Electronic Classroom of
Tomorrow (ECOT) last Thursday amid a fight with the
state over funding, enrollment and participation in classes bounced about
12,000 students out of school mid-year, forcing them to find new schools. Parents
and supporters complained to the school's sponsor last week and in online messages to the Ohio Department of Education that the
closure is disruptive, that it has them scrambling and that it will be hard to
find a new school. They are also worried about delays in obtaining records from
ECOT and getting them to their new school.
Advertising in schools?
A number of school districts
across the country have turned to advertising as a way to fill budget gaps.
Some districts have offered corporate naming rights to buildings and others
have allowed ads on buses and lockers. A reporter for the Harrisburg
Patriot-News is investigating the prevalence of ads in Pa. schools and needs
your help. Please contact him if you’re aware of any of the following in your
area:
· Ads placed on sports uniforms, school buses, lockers, or other areas of
school grounds.
· Corporate sponsorship of sports fields, buildings, parking lots, or
other school property.
· Ads on school websites or newsletters.
· Any other examples of advertising or sponsorship in the school
environment or curriculum.
You can reach reporter Daniel Simmons-Ritchie at simmons-ritchie@pennlive.com or
on 717-255-8162
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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