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Thursday, February 15, 2018

PA Ed Policy Roundup Feb 15: Congress is complicit and negligent in school shootings

Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Wolf education transition team members, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Congress is complicit and negligent in school shootings

Reprise October 2017: Thoughts and Prayers and NRA Funding
New York Times By DAVID LEONHARDT, IAN PRASAD PHILBRICK and STUART A. THOMPSON OCT. 4, 2017
Most Americans support stronger gun laws — laws that would reduce deaths. But Republicans in Congress stand in the way. They fear alienating their primary voters and the National Rifle Association. Below are the top 10 career recipients of N.R.A. funding – through donations or spending to benefit the candidate – among both current House and Senate members, along with their statements about the Las Vegas massacre. These representatives have a lot to say about it. All the while, they refuse to do anything to avoid the next massacre.

“Less than two weeks after the Port Arthur massacre, all six Australian states agreed to enact the same sweeping gun laws banning semi-automatic rifles and shotguns - weapons that can kill many people quickly. They also put more hurdles between prospective gun owners and their weapons. Australia has 28-day waiting periods, thorough background checks, and a requirement to present a "justifiable reason" to own a gun. Unlike in the US, self-protection is not accepted as a justifiable reason to own a gun. In the 21 years since the laws were passed, about one million semi-automatic weapons - roughly one third of the country's firearms - were sold back to the government and destroyed, nearly halving the number of gun-owning households in Australia. The number of Australia's mass shootings dropped from 11 in the decade before 1996, to zero in the years since.”
Reprise October 2017: Are Australia's gun laws the solution for the US?
By Katie Beck BBC News, Sydney  October 2017
"We have an opportunity in this country not to go down the American path."
Those were the words of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard before he radically changed Australia's gun laws and - many believe - rid the country of gun violence on a large scale. Now the US is reeling from another mass shooting - its deadliest ever - in Las Vegas. A year after 49 people were shot dead in an Orlando nightclub, America continues to find itself far down that violent path. But could it still change course the way Australia did? In April 1996, 35 people were killed by a gunman, Martin Bryant, wielding semi-automatic weapons at a former prison colony and tourist attraction in Tasmania. This became known as the Port Arthur massacre, and it was a turning point for Australia.

“In retrospect Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.”
Reprise July 2015: Why it’s never ‘the right time’ to discuss gun control
Washington Post By Christopher Ingraham July 27, 2015 Email the author
Last Friday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was in no mood to talk gun control in the wake of the Lafayette theater shooting. "There will be an absolute appropriate time for us to talk about policies and politics," he said. But it wasn't then. He didn't want to talk about it a month earlier, either, in the aftermath of the Charleston church shootings. "Now’s not the time," he said, criticizing President Obama for "trying to score cheap political points" for bringing up gun control in a speech. But it's not just Bobby Jindal. In recent years, politicians and commentators from across the political spectrum have responded to mass shootings with an invocation of the phrase "now is not the time," or a close variant. The Obama White House said it in response to the Newtown shootings, though it later made an unsuccessful push for tighter gun laws. Nick Gillespie, editor-in-chief of Reason.com, invoked it in response to the Washington Navy Yard shootings. It's a refrain the NRA finds itself singing often. There are good reasons for legislative restraint in the aftermath of emotional tragedies. You probably don't want lawmakers drafting bad legislation in a panic to do something, anything, in response to a public outcry. On the other hand, as the shootings continue and the body count rises, the inevitable counter-argument becomes: if not now, when? Jindal didn't want to talk gun laws last month, after Charleston. He doesn't want to talk about them this month, after Lafayette. It's only a matter of time before the next national tragedy strikes and sets the national gun clock back to zero again. And it will likely happen sooner than you think.

Wednesday, an 18-year-old walked into a high school and killed 17 people. Here are some of the most recent, or deadliest, US school shootings
Lancaster Online by ASSOCIATED PRESS and MEAGEN FINNERTY | Website Producer
Authorities say a former student opened fire at a Florida high school Wednesday, killing "numerous" people. The Broward County sheriff said 17 people were killed. Here's a look at some recent U.S. school shootings, and some of the deadliest of years past:

Students dove under desks and teachers barricaded classrooms as gunman stalking halls killed 17; suspect arrives at jail
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Morning Call – 5:55 a.m. February 15, 2018 South Florida Sun Sentinel by David Fleshler, Aric Chokey, Lisa J. Huriash and Linda Trischitta
Shortly before 5:45 a.m. Thursday, the young man accused in a shooting that left more than a dozen people dead was escorted into Broward’s Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale. Nikolas Cruz was surrounded by Broward Sheriff’s deputies who walked him inside the facility. Some 15 hours earlier, the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook erupted as authorities say a 19-year-old man with a troubled past and an AR-15 rifle stalked the halls of Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Expelled from the school over disciplinary problems, Cruz is accused of squeezing off shot after shot as students took cover under desks, fire alarms blared and teachers barricaded classrooms. By the time it was over Wednesday, 17 people were dead or dying, and 16 were wounded.

Florida teen charged with 17 murder counts in school attack
Inquirer by TERRY SPENCER & KELLI KENNEDY, The Associated Press Updated: FEBRUARY 15, 2018 — 6:46 AM EST
PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) - An orphaned 19-year-old with a troubled past and an AR-15 rifle was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder Thursday morning after being questioned for hours by state and federal authorities following the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in five years. Fifteen wounded survivors were hospitalized as bodies were recovered from inside and around Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Just before the shooting broke out, some students thought they were having another fire drill. Such an exercise had forced them to leave their classrooms hours earlier. So when the alarm went off Wednesday afternoon shortly before they were to be dismissed, they once again filed out into the hallways. That's when police say Nikolas Cruz, equipped with a gas mask, smoke grenades and multiple magazines of ammunition, opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon, killing 17 people and sending hundreds of students fleeing into the streets. It was the nation's deadliest school shooting since a gunman attacked an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, more than five years ago.

Republican school choice proposal could siphon $500M from Pennsylvania public schools
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer February 15, 2018
The state Legislature’s latest proposal promoting school choice could siphon millions of dollars from public schools across Pennsylvania, critics say. Public school advocates fear it could lead to a significant number of students leaving public schools for a private or parochial school. With every student that makes the switch, they say, school districts would lose thousands of dollars. Private schools and school choice supporters, however, say the bill would help parents seek better educational outcomes for their kids. “I strongly support innovation in education that empowers parents to choose the best education for their child,” state Sen. Ryan Aument said. Aument, a Republican from Peach Bottom, is one of Senate Bill 2’s 21 Republican co-sponsors, which includes state Sen. Scott Martin, also from Lancaster. The legislation, which is in the Senate Education Committee, would create education savings accounts for parents who wish to transfer their child out of a low-performing school district. A low-performing school district, the bill states, is one with student test scores in the bottom 15 percent statewide. A portion of state funding originally intended for the school district would go into an account for parents to use for private school tuition. The amount is based on the average state funding per student, currently at $5,700. “If money continues to be siphoned from public education,” School District of Lancaster Superintendent Damaris Rau said, “(it will impact) the future of our society, and not in a positive way.”

“Over the 43 years that IDEA has been law, public school districts have been shortchanged by hundreds of billions of dollars. The closest the federal government has ever come to reaching its 40 percent commitment to IDEA funding was 18 percent of the total cost in 2005. For the 2017-2018 school year, the federal appropriation of funding for IDEA’s six million students is only 15 percent of the cost. Meanwhile, the growing number of students with disabilities has increased by more than 25 percent over the last 20 years.”
Another View: Sad IDEA: Hypocrisy & betrayal from Congress
Delco Times Opinion By Joseph Batory, Times Guest Columnist  02/14/18, 9:04 PM EST 
Joseph Batory is the former superintendent of schools in Upper Darby, and the author of three books and numerous published articles on politics and education.
In 1975, the Congress of the United States passed sweeping legislation that guaranteed full access to the benefits of the public education system for all students with disabilities. This 43-year-old federal law (now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA) represents American ideals at the highest. It created inclusion and equality for what had once been our nation’s most disenfranchised young people. With the inception of this new federal law in 1975, one million children with disabilities previously kept at home or in institutions were brought into the public school system. Later amendments increased the scope of IDEA to include even infants and pre-school children. Congress knew full well when it passed this legislation that the costs to public schools would be substantial. So the federal government made “a promise” to appropriate 40 percent of the cost of IDEA each year. Unfortunately, this commitment of Washington’s elected officials has been sorely lacking. It is a sad tale of federal governmental abdication of its responsibility. For decades, Congress has never come close to its promise to fund 40 percent of the annual cost of the student special education services associated with this expensive law. Instead, school districts and state governments have had to make up the difference for the annual shortfall of promised funding from Washington. Huge sums of money raised via local and state tax revenues each year have had to supplement this federal law, which has never been subsidized at the designated amount by the government that enacted it.

Grant program at School District of Lancaster in peril; Proposed federal budget would defund after-school services
Lancaster Online by KIMBERLY MARSELAS | LNP Correspondent February 15, 2018
A federal grant program that provides after-school tutoring, support for English language learners and academic and cultural enrichment for hundreds of School District of Lancaster students would end under a budget proposed earlier this week by President Donald Trump. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is among 22 programs or agencies Trump targeted for abolition in the 2019 spending plan. School District of Lancaster currently receives two such grants, one each for middle school and high school students, for a total of about $800,000 annually. The programs offer routine after-school opportunities, using district staff and community members to provide lessons in science, technology, engineering, art and math; safe recreation space; and a credit recovery component that helps high school seniors earn their degrees on time. Parents are also invited to participate in workshops that help them understand the district’s academic resources and provide English language supports geared toward job seekers. “I would be very concerned for our district if we couldn’t offer our kids these opportunities for tutoring, their parents opportunities to learn English and just a safe place for kids to gather after school,” Superintendent Damaris Rau said. She said the grant is the main source of funding for the district’s after-school programs.

Court to seek new map in Pennsylvania gerrymandering case
AP State Wire By MARC LEVY Published: Today
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Thursday is deadline day in Pennsylvania's high-stakes gerrymandering case for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and others to submit maps of new congressional district boundaries that they want the state Supreme Court to adopt for this year's election. The midnight deadline gives justices four more days to impose new boundaries, under a timeline the divided court set to keep May's primary election on schedule. Pennsylvania's congressional map is widely viewed as among the nation's most gerrymandered. Upending it could boost Democrats nationally in their quest to capture control of the U.S. House and dramatically change the state's predominantly Republican, all-male delegation. Meanwhile, sitting congressmen, dozens of would-be candidates and millions of voters could find themselves in different districts. Republican lawmakers say they will swiftly ask federal judges to block a new map, and contend that the Democratic-majority court had no power to invalidate the congressional boundaries or draw new ones.

Drawing its own map - that's the Supreme Court's nuclear option | Franklin Kury
Penn Live Guest Editorial By Franklin L. Kury Updated Feb 14, 10:04 AM
Franklin L. Kury is the author of the forthcoming book,"GERRYMANDERING! A Guide to Congressional Redistricting, Dark Money, and the U.S. Supreme Court."
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's order and later opinion in the League of Women Voters gerrymandering case shook the state's political community with the force of a nuclear bomb blast. It shattered the almost unquestioned conventional wisdom that the political party controlling the legislature and governorship could, within the bounds of the U.S. Constitution, redistrict the state's Congressional seats for maximum party advantage. Now that Gov. Tom Wolf has shot down a Republican-drawn map, and has said he plans to submit his own alternative, it appears it will be left to the high court to follow through on its announcement that it would draw its own map in the event of a deadlock. Since the case is still in progress, final judgments about it are premature. But several points help place it in better perspective. The Pennsylvania case could be a landmark decision in the law of gerrymandering. For the first time, challengers of Congressional redistricting have gone to a state court with no reliance on the U.S. Constitution, relying solely on the state constitution.

PA State Senate and House Open Seats Thread
Written by Paul Engelkemier, Managing Editor PoliticsPA
2018 has seen large numbers of retirements and candidates seeking higher office in both the state Senate and House, so we are compiling them all into one thread that will be updated as new retirements are announced. For each open seat we name who currently holds the seat, what counties they represent, how long they have served, and the district level results from the district.  We got the results from Daily Kos. If we missed any, please email us at paul@politicspa.com.

Could Anthony Hamlet’s staunch focus fix legacy problems at the Pittsburgh Public Schools?
Public Source by Mary Niederberger  | February 14, 2018
There’s no question who commands the room during the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ executive cabinet meeting. Superintendent Anthony Hamlet moves briskly from member to member of his executive team. He asks questions. He demands clarity. He quizzes them on their week’s worth of progress in pushing the district forward. An efficient and authoritative administrator, Hamlet recalls where each cabinet member left off at the previous meeting in the Pittsburgh Board of Education headquarters. It’s time for business, not blather, and Hamlet lets that be known when one staffer goes into the weeds about online enrollment. “So what’s the priority? Find the priority,” Hamlet instructs. Hours earlier, it was a different Anthony Hamlet. The agile and confident former University of Miami star lineman moved through the hallways and classrooms of Brashear High School, shaking hands and high-fiving students who appeared delighted to see him.


Protesters seek 'working group' to draft policy on amending charters
The School Reform Commission is due to consider the policy Thursday. Several dozen charter advocates rallied outside District headquarters to protest, citing overreach and a lack of collaboration.
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa February 14, 2018 — 1:07pm
Charter school advocates rallied outside District headquarters Wednesday morning, again complaining that the School Reform Commission and its Charter Schools Office overregulate charters and refuse to collaborate on what the advocates would consider reasonable oversight policies. The rally took place the day before the SRC's planned consideration of Policy 406, which sets ground rules for how a school can amend its charter before it is up for five-year renewal. A letter addressed to the SRC and signed by representatives of more than 60 of the 84 charters in the city said that adoption of this policy will "set up a lengthy and contentious policy (and likely legal battle) that will last beyond the SRC's existence." It asks for the establishment of a "working group" to draft "a reasonable and updated" policy before any vote. The SRC is scheduled to review the policy at Thursday's meeting, putting it on track for final adoption in March. The continued public pressure comes in the waning days of the SRC, which will cease to exist July 1 as the District returns to local governance under a Board of Education appointed by Mayor Kenney. Charter schools, which educate about 70,000 students in the city, have been warring with the SRC's charter office over myriad issues, including the degree of their independence to change location or educational programming and whether they are subject to enrollment caps.

Protesters decry Philly district's 'overreach' with charters
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer  @newskag |  kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 2:04 PM EST
Decrying a proposed policy shift they say would hamper their ability to operate charter schools in Philadelphia, dozens of administrators, parents, and students demonstrated outside the city’s school district headquarters Wednesday. The School Reform Commission is scheduled to have a first reading on a new charter policy Thursday and would presumably adopt it in March. Charter officials said the policy, which would govern charter school amendments, is onerous and represents “an overreach” by the school system, said Amy Hollister, CEO of Northwood Academy Charter School in Frankford. She and others said the policy could require them to clear even small school changes through the district, a violation, Hollister said, of Pennsylvania charter law.
“If this gets enacted, the district can come in and tell us what to do,” said David Hardy, a retired charter school founder now employed by Excellent Schools PA, a pro-charter nonprofit. “The charter school office is not the superintendent of charter schools.” District officials reject the notion that they are overstepping their authority; they say they have given charter officials the opportunity to weigh in on the policy and have already revised it to incorporate their suggestions.

Former Innovative Arts Academy Charter School faculty file whistleblower lawsuit
Sarah M. Wojcik Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call February 14, 2018
Two former Innovative Arts Academy Charter School teachers who spoke out last year about the school’s handling of special education say their contracts were not renewed because of their open criticism. In a lawsuit filed this month in Lehigh County Court, Ann Tarafas and Elizabeth Fox cite the state’s whistleblower law as the basis for a civil suit seeking damages in excess of $50,000. “They wanted to let it be known this what was going on the entire time, despite what was being said to the public,” said Chad DiFelice, the attorney representing the women. Named in the lawsuit are Innovative Arts Academy Charter School and Principal Douglas Taylor, who joined the school in April after what had to that point been a rocky first year of operation. Messages seeking comment from the attorney representing the school and Taylor were not returned Wednesday.

Students and community members have a family talk during Black Lives Matter Week of Action
From social justice lessons to personal stories, organizers sought to reinforce the movement's 13 guiding principles.
The notebook by Darryl C. Murphy February 12, 2018 — 10:41am
Family was the emphasis when students and community members gathered at Martin Luther King High School as part of the Black Lives Matter Week of Action. The Caucus of Working Educators organized last week’s event to promote racial justice and equality in education.  The event — "It Takes a Village: Black Families" — was “all about building a commitment to creating strong villages, strong families, strong communities,” said Kendra Brooks, a caucus member. “It’s all about reflecting on the past and thinking toward what’s next for the future.” Brooks invited the racially diverse, intergenerational group of attendees to share their fondest family memories, the impact their families have had on them, and ways to improve their family relationships. Stories emerged about long road trips, family disputes, traditions, and communication. The event reinforced several of the 13 guiding principles of Black Lives Matter that center on community and a strong bond through the generations. The discussion “helped reveal a common thread that we often don’t see,” said Eric Marsh, a parent at Edward T. Steel Elementary: “We’re all part of the same family.”

Abington High alum Stephen Schwarzman gives school $25 million, hopes to spur similar donations
Inquirer by Kathy Boccella & Susan Snyder - Staff Writers Updated: FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 1:15 PM EST
Stephen Schwarzman became a billionaire on Wall Street and a close friend of President Trump but never forgot his years at Abington High School, where he starred in track and won the student council presidency – a bond he sealed Wednesday with a staggering $25 million gift to remake his Montgomery County alma mater. The Blackstone CEO – whose name is already on Abington’s football stadium after a $400,000 donation in 2005 – said in a prepared statement he hopes the giant gift for a new science and technology center as well as a complete renovation of the high school from which he graduated in 1965 will spur other wealthy donors to support public education. Schwarzman has known Abington Superintendent Amy Sichel for more than a decade. According to an item from the Politico Playbook in February 2017, Sichel was spotted at a 70th birthday party for Schwarzman at his Palm Beach estate that was also attended by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as well as cabinet members Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross.
Sichel said she has been talking to Schwarzman for more than a year about the gift and how it could be used to transform education at the 1950s-era high school, which is undergoing an expansion and renovation.

Chief justice on ECOT claim for state money: ‘How is that not absurd?’
By Jim Siegel The Columbus Dispatch  Posted Feb 13, 2018 at 10:42 AM Updated Feb 14, 2018 at 9:24 AM
As ECOT attorney Marion Little wrapped up his arguments for why state law says the online school should get full funding for students even if they rarely log in and do no work, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor interjected, “How is that not absurd?”
Little insisted it wasn’t. “There are other ways of testing whether or not a community school is discharging its responsibility,” he replied. “We make a distinction between how is funding done, than how are schools evaluated ... the state has tried to confuse funding with other metrics.” The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow was before the Supreme Court on Tuesday in a literal fight for its existence. The state’s largest charter school shut down three weeks ago when its sponsor suspended operations because the school was set to run out of money in March. The closure impacted hundreds of teachers and about 12,000 students. It appears the only way for ECOT to reopen next year is if the Supreme Court agrees that the state Department of Education illegally imposed a retroactive rule change that led to ECOT owing the state about $80 million for unverified enrollment. Unlike past attendance reviews that relied on ECOT teachers verifying students were “offered” the state-minimum 920 hours of educational opportunities, the Education Department in 2016 beefed up its oversight. It started requiring online schools to prove student participation through log-in durations and offline documentation.


Save the Date: PA School Funding Lawsuit Wed. March 7, 2018 9:30 A.M.
Commonwealth Court Hearing on Legislative leaders motions to Dismiss the Wm Penn SD challenge to state funding.
Before the Court en banc sitting in Court Room No. 1 Ninth Floor, Widener Building, 1339 Chestnut Street, One South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107
All members of Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court will hear oral argument on motions to dismiss filed by legislative leaders in the school funding lawsuit William Penn School District, et al. v. Pennsylvania Dept. of Education, et al.  The Legislators are arguing that the Petition challenging the inadequacy and inequity of Pennsylvania’s funding of schools is moot because the new school formula has supplanted the funding scheme existing when students and school districts filed their Petition in 2015.  In addition, Legislators also contend that the Petition failed to allege that insufficient state funding caused any harm such as poor PSSA results or lack of sufficient instructional resources.   In September, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the Commonwealth Court to hold a trial on whether state officials are violating the state’s constitution by failing to adequately and equitably fund public education.  The Legislators objections have delayed efforts to bring this case to trial.   

Snooze or Lose: Promoting Sleep Health in Adolescents
Dr. Wendy Troxel Mon., March 12 at 7 p.m. in the Radnor High School auditorium 
The Radnor Township School District Adolescent Sleep & School Start Time Study Committee will welcome licensed clinical psychologist and certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist Dr. Wendy Troxel for a presentation to the Radnor community on Mon., March 12 at 7 p.m. in the Radnor High School auditorium (130 King of Prussia Road, Radnor). Dr. Troxel is a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation and Adjunct Faculty in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. A licensed clinical psychologist and certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist, Dr. Troxel been widely cited by the media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, ABC World News Tonight, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR and BBC. Dr. Troxel was also one of the featured sleep experts in the National Geographic documentary “Sleepless in America.” Her TED talk on the impact of school start times on adolescent sleep has received more than 1.4 million views.
THIS EVENT IS FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Help draft a plan to implement a statewide vision for the future of public education in PA!
(Updated) PSBA Member Roundtables/Receptions – February and March Dates
Member Roundtable and Receptions
Join your PSBA Member Roundtable and Reception to hear the public education advocacy and political updates affecting your school district. Take this opportunity to network, learn and develop your leadership skills. Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and networking with fellow school leaders in your area, then provide your input on the future vision for public education in PA.
Roundtable Discussion: Help draft a plan to implement a statewide vision for the future of public education in PA! PSBA would like to capture your thoughts on what education should look like in the coming decades. We will compile your expertise with the perspectives of others from across the state to develop the Commonwealth Education Blueprint. The Blueprint will then serve as our guiding resource and will set milestones for creating the best public education experience for future generations of students. Don’t miss your opportunity to weigh in!
Agenda:
6:00 pm – 6:15 pm Association Update
Learn the latest news, initiatives and upcoming events from your association.
6:15 pm – 7:00 pm Government Affairs
Bring knowledge back to your district of how the commonwealth budget will fiscally impact it. Discuss the top legislative issues affecting public education. Learn how you can advocate for your school district taxpayers, students and public education success.
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm Networking
Enjoy productive conversation with your school leader colleagues. Boost your network, share your experiences and build a stronger voice for public education.
7:45 pm – 8:30 pm Commonwealth Education Blueprint: Developing a vision for public education
This focus group is your opportunity to share your input in drafting a blueprint for the future of public education. The Commonwealth Education Blueprint is a multiyear effort founded and managed by PSBA to develop and implement a statewide vision for the future of public education. Through this comprehensive project, education stakeholders from across the state and from many areas of expertise are coming together to proactively determine what education should look like in years to come. Having a clear and comprehensive statewide vision will ensure that we provide an increasingly excellent public education experience for children. This is your opportunity to get involved, share your feedback, and help draft the plan for the future of education!
Pricing: This is a complimentary PSBA member event.
Locations/dates:
·         Feb. 26, Parkway West CTC (Section 5)
·         Feb. 27, A. W. Beattie Career Center (Section 5)
·         Feb. 28, Crawford Co. CTC (Section 1)
·         Mar. 1, Seneca Highlands IU 9 (Section 2)
·         Mar. 5, Central Montco Technical HS (Section 8)
·         Mar. 6, Lehigh Carbon Community College (Section 8)
·         Mar. 7, West Side CTC (Section 4)
·         Mar. 8, Montoursville Area HS (Section 3)
·         Mar. 12, PSBA (Section 7)
·         Mar. 13, Altoona Area HS (Section 6)


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 

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Join the PA Principals Association, the PA Association of School Administrators and the PA Association of Rural and Small Schools for PA Education Leaders Advocacy Day at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at the Capitol in Harrisburg, PA.  
A rally in support of public education and important education issues will be held on the Main Rotunda Steps from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Visits with legislators will be conducted earlier in the day. More information will be sent via email, shared in our publications and posted on our website closer to the event.
To register, send an email to Dr. Joseph Clapper at clapper@paprincipals.org before Friday, June 8, 2018.
Click here to view the PA Education Leaders Advocacy Day 2018 Save The Date Flyer (INCLUDES EVENT SCHEDULE AND IMPORTANT ISSUES.) 

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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