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,
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These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
Pa.
lawmakers work on new congressional map as time ticks down
Trib Live THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Wednesday, Feb.
7, 2018, 12:51 p.m.
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers are heading home
with two days to comply with a court order to submit a new map of the state's
18 congressional districts. Wednesday's voting sessions were canceled amid
winter storms. Rank-and-file Republicans say House Speaker Mike Turzai and
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati are working on a new map and
considering submitting it to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf by Friday's deadline
without bringing it to a vote in either chamber. The state Supreme Court struck
down the Republican-drawn district boundaries in a gerrymandering case Jan. 22
and gave lawmakers until this Friday to produce a replacement. Otherwise, the
justices say they'll adopt a plan, potentially one proposed by a party to the
case. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down Turzai and Scarnati's
request to halt the redrawing.
Pa.
Supreme Court releases gerrymandering opinion: 2011 map violates 'free and
equal' elections
Inquirer by Jonathan Lai & Liz
Navratil, STAFF WRITERS Updated: FEBRUARY 7, 2018 11:10 PM EST
Pennsylvania’s congressional map, as adopted in
2011, violates the state constitution’s guarantee that “elections shall be free
and equal,” the state Supreme Court said Wednesday in an opinion explaining its
gerrymandering order overturning the map more than two weeks ago. “An election
corrupted by extensive, sophisticated gerrymandering and partisan dilution of
votes is not ‘free and equal,’ ” Justice Debra McCloskey Todd wrote
for the majority. In such circumstances, a “power, civil or military,” to wit, the
General Assembly, has in fact “interfere[d] to prevent the free exercise of the
right of suffrage.” The opinion came just two days before the deadline for
lawmakers to pass a new congressional district map and send it to Gov. Wolf for
approval, after the high court declared
Pennsylvania’s congressional map an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, drawn to benefit
Republicans at Democrats’ expense.
Pa.
Supreme Court details violation of voter rights in full opinion striking down
congressional map
WHYY By Lindsay Lazarski, WHYY February 7, 2018
In a full majority opinion released
Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that the state’s congressional
district map deprives voters’ of their right to “free and equal” elections as
protected by the Pennsylvania Constitution. “An election
corrupted by extensive, sophisticated gerrymandering and partisan dilution of
votes is not ‘free and equal,’” wrote Justice Debra McCloskey Todd. “In
such circumstances, a ‘power, civil or military,’ to wit, the General Assembly,
has in fact ‘interfere[d] to prevent the free exercise of the right of
suffrage.’” The opinion comes about two and a half weeks after the majority
Democratic court struck down Pennsylvania’s map as an unconstitutional partisan
gerrymander in a 5-2 party-line decision. The district boundary lines were
drawn in 2011 during a process controlled by Republican lawmakers. The court
concluded that the map was designed to give the GOP an unfair partisan
advantage over Democrats and ignores neutral redistricting criteria.
Harrisburg
harmony? Election looming, pols seek peaceful budget process
THE EDITORIAL BOARD Pittsburgh Post-Gazette FEB
8, 2018 12:00 AM
Politics often keeps Pennsylvania’s budgets from
being passed on time. This year, ironically, politics may be the reason the
budget gets passed on time. With elections looming, Republicans and Democrats
may have the epiphany that politics is the art of compromise and that they have
common ground after all. Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday proposed a 2018-19 budget of
nearly $33 billion that would increase funding for public education and
state-owned universities, fund a new job-training initiative and boost in-home
care for people with intellectual disabilities. Mr. Wolf also renewed his calls
for a severance tax on gas drillers and a fee on municipalities that rely
exclusively on state police for protection, good ideas that previously died in
the Legislature and may do so again. There’s plenty of reason to believe,
however, that political and ideological differences won’t hold up this budget
the way they have in the past. Mr. Wolf, a Democrat, is running for
re-election. House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, is one of those
seeking the Republican nomination to run against him. All 203 House seats and
25 of 50 Senate seats are on the ballot this year. In addition, House Majority
Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, is running for Congress in the 9th District. All
have an incentive to limit their bickering and hammer out a budget so they can
spend the summer campaigning instead of feuding or sticking around
Harrisburg.
Protests,
politics, some school funding: 5 tweets that explain #PaBudget2018
Penn Live By John L. Micek jmicek@pennlive.com February 7, 2018 Updated 12:34
PM; Posted 7:55 AM
Good Snowy Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.The predictions of a winter apocalypse on this 7th day of February are looking a tad overblown at this early hour. But reaction to Gov. Tom Wolf's latest budget address (at least in some quarters) took on something of a doomsaying cast out thre in the wilds of social media. The fourth spending plan of the York County Democrat's administration comes in at a shade under $33 billion, an increase of about 3 percent. The election year document includes more money for schools and social programs. It continues the administration's push for a severance tax on natural gas drillers even as it ducks (for the second year) any broad-based tax increases. So you don't have to, we combed the Twitters for the five Tweets that perfectly capture the tenor of the debate surrounding the administration's spending plan.
Trib Live by JAMIE MARTINES | Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, 4:03 p.m.
Job training and college readiness were highlights
of Gov. Tom Wolf's budget address Tuesday as he proposed a $40 million
investment in a new program intended to bolster career and technical education
programs across the state. The governor name-checked Amazon and touted previous
state investments in infrastructure and industry as he promoted the new
workforce development program, called PA Smart. "Businesses don't invest
in states that don't invest in education, infrastructure or job training,"
Wolf said in the address. "We're doing all of these things, and I am
hopeful Amazon will come here, build here, and expand here." The PA Smart
program is intended to coordinate a "one-stop shop" for resources on
workforce development efforts across the state. The funding would bolster
programs related to STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math —
with a boost to computer science programs at all grade levels.
ANALYSIS:
Pennsylvania House backtracks on bill to reduce its size
Morning Call by Steve Esack Contact Reporter Call Harrisburg
Bureau February 7, 2018
The Republican-controlled state House has halted a
bill that would reduce its membership as long as voters agree. House Bill 153,
sponsored by Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill, has
been touted by supporters for years as proof lawmakers are willing to lead by
example in finding ways to trim government fat and expenses. But Monday night a
majority of House lawmakers — including two Republicans from the Lehigh Valley
— had a change of heart. They voted to amend Knowles’ bill to include a
reduction of the Senate, too. They did so
knowing the Senate, unlike the House, has not voted to reduce its own ranks and
will not support a bill doing so.
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-house-reduce-size-bill-20180207-story.html
Local districts get nearly $3.5 million more in
proposed state budget
Times Leadeer By Mark Guydish
- mguydish@timesleader.com | February 7th, 2018 5:23 pm - updated:
9:22 pm.
Wilkes-Barre Area School District would again be the
biggest local winner in Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed state education budget,
nabbing $1.2 million more in state money for basic and special education
subsidies. Despite being the county’s largest district by enrollment — and in
money spent each year — Hazleton Area School District would get the second
biggest increase locally, with state money going up by $842,848 for basic and
special education. All told, state money for Luzerne County’s 11 districts and
Tunkhannock Area in neighboring Wyoming County would rise from nearly $185.9
million to about $189.3 million, a net increase of $3.46 million.
Lancaster County schools receive $3.4M boost in basic
education funding under Wolf's proposed budget
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer February 7, 2018
Lancaster County schools would get $3.4 million in
additional basic education funding under Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed 2018-19
budget. The Democratic governor on Tuesday announced
a $100 million increase in basic education funding to $6.1 billion as well as a
$20 million increase in special education funding to $1.1 billion. School
districts here would benefit -- some greatly, some only slightly -- from the
proposed increases as they continue to juggle unfunded mandates such as rising
pension costs with student programs. Among the big winners under Wolf's
proposed budget are Conestoga Valley and Columbia Borough school districts,
which would see a 5.8 and 5.2 percent increase, respectively, in basic
education funding.
Solanco and Elizabethtown Area school districts, on
the other hand, would get a less than 1 percent increase in basic education
funding.
Lehigh
Valley Charter high school audit to begin over $25M land deal
Lehigh Valley Live By Pamela Sroka-Holzmann pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com, Updated Feb
5; Posted Feb 5
The state auditor general's office has begun
a review of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts after
Bethlehem Area School District officials raised flags over the school's
estimated $25 million construction. Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene
DePasquale announced the move to reporters Monday at the Lehigh County
Government Center in Allentown. He said the review would cover July 1, 2013
through June 30, 2017. "We're beginning to audit the Lehigh Valley
Charter High School for the Arts and one of the reasons we're doing this audit
is the issue with their school construction," DePasquale said.
"It really came to our attention about ... an alleged contract problem. So
when we go in and do the audit, that's one of the things we're going to look at
because it was a $25 million construction tab." Asked specifically what
the team would be reviewing at the school, DePasquale vowed a "deep
dive" that would be more extensive than normal and checked off a list of
certain criteria.Trib Live by JACOB TIERNEY | Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, 9:24 p.m.
Greensburg Salem School Board will vote on a
resolution condemning a controversial school-choice bill,
but some board members say the bill is a good idea that the district should not
fight. Senate Bill 2 , which failed by
one vote in Harrisburg last year but is spooling up for another attempt, would
give parents of students in low-performing school districts a $5,700 voucher to
pay for private school or home schooling. That money would be deducted from the
local school district's usual state subsidy. Critics, including Greensburg
Salem Superintendent Eileen Amato, say the bill would siphon money out of
struggling districts that need it most, which could force them to close. “Would
we want to be a community that doesn't have a neighborhood school?” she said.
In N.J.,
new administration giving 'pause' to charter schools
Inquirer by Maddie Hanna, Staff
Writer @maddiehanna | mhanna@phillynews.com Updated: FEBRUARY
5, 2018 — 6:56 PM EST
Kindergartners spun around in hula hoops and chased
each other across a gym floor at Camden’s Pride Charter School this week, a
joyful explosion of energy as recess began.
Most of them likely will stay with the charter
network until they graduate from high school, predicts Superintendent Joe
Conway. Demand has grown at his Camden’s Promise network, which
enrolls 2,000 students, up from 100 sixth graders in 1998. But Conway and
other charter operators are concerned about what their future holds under the
Gov. Murphy administration. During his campaign, Murphy called for a “time out”
on charter expansion — something about which his predecessor, Chris Christie,
was bullish. Murphy has expressed reservations about how the schools, which are
privately run but funded with tax dollars, are approved and operated. His
transition team has recommended a “pause” on new approvals. “There’s some
nuances on what a pause means that we’re hoping to hear,” Conway said. “I think
there’s definitely room for all of these great schools. It’s just a matter of
how we can all play in the same sandbox.”
Students
rule in Upper Darby Youth Court class
Delco Times By Kevin
Tustin, ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com, @KevinTustin on Twitter
POSTED: 02/04/18, 5:38 PM EST | UPDATED:
2 DAYS AGO
UPPER DARBY >> Court is in session in Upper
Darby middle schools. A judge, bailiff, a jury and court-appointed “counsel”
are all present in these courtrooms. What makes these rooms of justice
different is that they’re run entirely by students. Three eighth-grade classes
in Beverly Hills and Drexel Hill middle schools are getting into the swing of
things as they start the first year of court sessions in their youth court
class, a year-long elective that establishes restorative justice means to deal
with violators of the schools’ codes of conduct. Students serve as the judge,
jury and, “executioner,” if you will, in youth court by hearing cases involving
conduct infractions committed by their fellow schoolmates and issuing a
disposition that the respondent must fulfill or risk potential punitive
punishments by building administrators.
The New
Tax Law’s Subtle Subversion of Public Schools
The law will facilitate private-school
attendance and put more obstacles in front of the neediest students.
The Atlantic by CLINT SMITH February
2018 7:00 AM ET
American public schools have long been, and remain,
deeply unequal. At the most dilapidated and underperforming schools,
teachers are blamed for stagnant
graduation rates, students are derided for low tests scores, and parents are
chastised for not being involved. Too often, however, scrutiny of these
schools’ performance doesn’t take into account the structural factors that have
contributed to their outcomes. One of the most significant factors contributing
to the chasm of educational opportunity is the way that schools are funded. According
to the most recent data made
available by the Department of Education in 2015, the wealthiest 25 percent of
school districts receive 15 percent more in per-student funding from state and
local governments as compared to the poorest 25 percent of school districts.
Nationally, that accounts for a $1,500-per-student funding gap,
a gap that has grown by 44 percent since the 2001-02 school year. It’s a system
that leaves the poor with less and the rich with more—a phenomenon that the new
GOP tax law has the potential to make even worse. Under the Republican plan
passed through Congress last December, families can now use 529 college-savings
plans to pay for private K-12 schooling, allowing them up
to $10,000 in tax-free withdrawals per child annually. This new provision
effectively operates the same way a voucher program would, but without the
name: While vouchers distribute funds directly to parents to pay for private
school, the new law uses the tax code to facilitate private-school attendance.
Education Week By Alyson Klein February 6, 2018
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos took the oath of office on Feb. 7, 2017, which means that this week marks her first anniversary as the head of the Department of Education. Her first year in office has been a bumpy ride. DeVos had decades of experience championing school choice before joining the Trump Cabinet. She'd been the head of the American Federation for Children, a school choice advocacy and political organization, but she had no experience working professionally in government, or in public education. Her confirmation hearing—in which she appeared not to know what the main special education law was and suggested teachers may need guns to ward off "potential" grizzly bears—was the most controversial of any education secretary in history. Thousands of calls poured in to key senators, urging votes against her. Educators and activists staged demonstrations across the country. Ultimately, two GOP lawmakers joined all the Democrats in voting against her, a 50-50 split. Vice President Mike Pence had to break the tie to confirm her. A year later, many teachers remain unimpressed.
Commonwealth Court Hearing on Legislative leaders motions to Dismiss the Wm Penn SD challenge to state funding.
Before the Court en bane 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.
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!
PSBA Member
Roundtables/Receptions – February and March Dates
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
directors 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 -6:15 pm – Association update
·
6:15 -7:00 pm – Governor’s budget address recap
·
7:00 -7:45 pm – Networking Reception
·
7:45 -8:30 pm – Member Round Table Discussion
Locations
and Dates: https://www.psba.org/2018/01/member-roundtable-receptions/
by The Fellowship:
Black Male Educators for Social Justice
There is a serious shortage of Black male
educators in our schools, and all our children are worse off for it. Maybe
you’re the answer. Whether you’re an experienced Black male educator looking
for a new challenge, a college student weighing career paths, or working in
another field you just don’t find fulfilling, come to the PURPOSE CAREER FAIR
to meet and interview with over 30 school networks looking to hire in
Philadelphia public schools and beyond.
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
Welcome to
the new look of psba.org!
POSTED ON JANUARY 30, 2018 IN PSBA NEWS
We’re excited to launch a new website with a cleaner
look and improved navigation to help you find the resources you want with even
more ease. And just like the current website, this new one is completely
mobile-friendly so it works just as easily on your tablet or smartphone as it
does on your desktop computer. Take psba.org wherever you go! As part of this
roll out, we also will be launching a new member portal – myPSBA. The new
portal will be a one-stop shop for event registrations and will offer
many of the same features of your favorite social media platforms,
with online discussion groups where members can communicate on topics
related to their position in the district. Members also can access PSBA's new
Online Learning program, included in All-Access membership, for training
anywhere at anytime. In the coming weeks members will be receiving an email
with personal login information to myPSBA. We look forward to sharing these
exciting new developments with you! Until then, registration forms are found on
each event page and do not require logging in. Available online publications,
and many of our popular reports and resources, now are easily found under
Advocacy & News.
PSBA 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
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.
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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