PA Ed Policy Roundup July 23: State funding increase didn’t cover mandated increases in pension and cyber charter costs

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PA Ed Policy Roundup July 23, 2018

State funding increase didn’t cover mandated increases in pension and cyber charter costs


“The increase of funding we received from the Commonwealth didn’t even cover the mandated increase of expenditures like retirement expense, cyber charter schools, etc. Those are all mandated by the government,” he said. “I think this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Reform needs to happen, particularly on cyber charter schools and retirement.”
State increases for education not quite reaching classrooms
Sun Gazette by CARA MORNINGSTAR Reporter cmorningstar@sungazette.com JUL 22, 2018
Area school districts received increases in state funding with the passage of the state budget in June, but a number of local educators say mandated costs have gone up even higher. “I think, given the vast majority of the state’s increase, it ends up going into PSERS (the Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System),” said Dr. Mark Stamm, South Williamsport Area School District superintendent. “So I think the state is contributing a significant amount of money into education, but unfortunately, most of it is not filtering down into classrooms.” He said the funds do not end up going to the students who need it. Agreeing with Stamm, Michael Pawlik, East Lycoming superintendent, said PSERS is an ongoing problem. “We still haven’t addressed the thousand-pound elephant in the room. Until we address PSERS continually increasing, no matter what increase they give us, we are going backward,” he said. He said the increase the district received was nothing compared to the cost of PSERS. “PSERS far out-increases our state increase. The issue is, we cannot control the cost of PSERSs,” he said. “The other number almost becomes irrelevant.” Ben Enders, Jersey Shore Area School District business manager, said the increase of expenditures was not covered by the increase of state funds.
http://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2018/07/state-increases-for-education-not-quite-reaching-classrooms/

Pennsylvania school funding is unfair and disgraceful
Bill White Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call July 22, 2018
Did you know that the state is underfunding the Reading School District by $118 million a year, according to Pennsylvania’s fair funding formula? Allentown? $80.6 million. Bethlehem? $23 million. East Stroudsburg? $23 million. Parkland, surprisingly? $6 million. East Penn? $4.9 million. So if you’re following the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race and some of the rhetoric about Gov. Tom Wolf’s allegedly wanting to cut $1.2 billion from 362 school districts, understand that the issue is way more complex than that. In 2005, legislators commissioned a study to determine how much it costs to provide a quality education for every child. It found that due to heavy reliance on local property taxes, districts with the lowest wealth were forced to levy higher tax rates than wealthier districts but still could not raise enough revenue to finance an adequate education for their students. It proposed a funding formula that was “sensitive to the needs and wealth of school districts.” The costing out study also found that the state fell $4.3 billion short of providing enough money to prepare students to meet state standards. Nonetheless, when Gov. Tom Corbett took office in 2010, he cut $1 billion from education funding and dropped the funding formula. You saw the impact of Corbett’s multipronged assault on public education in the form of increased property taxes and reduced school programs, particularly in the districts that most suffered from inequitable state funding. How bad did they have it? A 2015 Washington Post study found that the disparity in per pupil spending between Pennsylvania’s poorest and wealthiest districts was 33 percent, nearly double that of the next worse state.
http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/mc-opi-pennsylvania-school-funding-disgraceful-white-20180718-story.html

”It is a dilemma that has been playing out in several states that have adopted new school-funding formulas. In Pennsylvania, the future of how the state will pay for public education has become an issue in the gubernatorial campaign, with Gov. Wolf hammered by GOP rival Scott Wagner for saying he favored applying the formula passed in 2016 to all state education aid. The approach — which Wolf has said would take more money — would benefit poorer districts, like Philadelphia, and others where student needs and enrollments have grown, but could require cuts to others. That can become problematic.
As states overhaul school funding, not everyone gains. Take New Jersey
Inquirer by Maddie Hanna & Meghan Bobrowsky - Staff Writers Updated: JULY 23, 2018 5:00 AM
New Jersey has just added more than $350 million to help pay for public education, yet the Washington Township School District finds itself looking at cutting back on capital projects and insurance coverage. And it’s only going to get worse, says school board president Ginny Murphy, with more-drastic cuts inevitable. “It’s going to be a difficult seven years for us,” she said. In Glassboro, where state aid is being slashed, “it’s going to decimate the public school system,” said board president Peter Calvo. While most districts in the state are getting more money for the 2018-19 school year, Washington Township and Glassboro — both in Gloucester County — are among the districts losing dollars under a redistribution to more fully enact the state’s funding formula, which calculates how much aid school districts need based on student enrollment and a community’s ability to raise taxes. The state needs to take money from some districts to adequately fund others, says Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester). Inevitably, that is going to mean fiscal pain for those who see their subsidies cut.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/new-jersey-schools-state-aid-budget-murphy-sweeney-20180723.html

“Particularly in southeastern Pennsylvania, the ranking of Pennsylvania as 47th among states for public school funding and dead last in funding equity has created a crushing local tax burden in communities from Pottstown to Upper Darby.”
Editorial: Pa. rankings show we have a lot of work to do
Delco Times POSTED: 07/22/18, 5:01 AM EDT | UPDATED: 19 HRS AGO
 “Pennsylvania — pursue your happiness.” The state slogan adopted in 2016 is based on the “pursuit of happiness” promise in the Declaration of Independence, the nation’s Founding Fathers’ words penned in Philadelphia. The idea of course is that tourists and visitors to the Keystone State can enjoy happy pursuits while spending tourism dollars in the cradle of liberty sites of Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania, the industrial heritage and ethnic neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, the farming culture of Amish country and Lancaster, and the abundant hiking, camping, biking, fishing, hunting, skiing and boating opportunities throughout the state. The beauty and the historical legacies preserved here add to the quality of life both for visitors and residents. But — and it’s a big but — Pennsylvania is not the most attractive place economically. The tax burden, cost of higher education and poor labor rankings make living in this beautiful and bucolic state a challenge. A report published by Watchdog.org revealed a study recently released by financial analysis firm WalletHub that ranked Pennsylvania 46th among the 50 states for jobs.
http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20180722/NEWS/180729938

Colin McNickle: Funding not solution for underperforming schools
Trib Live COLIN MCNICKLE | Thursday, July 19, 2018, 6:51 a.m.
The long proffered claim that Allegheny County’s poorer performing public school districts would deliver better academic results if only they had more funding is laid bare in a new analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “The findings show once again that arguments about inequitable and inadequate funding are largely a diversionary tactic to avoid discussing real solutions to address grossly deficient academic achievement,” says Jake Haulk, president of the Pittsburgh think tank. Pennsylvania has 500 school districts. Factoring in charter schools and occupation training centers, it has (as of the 2016-17 school year), 593 “local education agencies” (LEAs). Allegheny County has 43 school districts, not including charter schools. They run the gamut of having some of Pennsylvania’s top-ranking academic achievement to some of its worst. The Duquesne and Wilkinsburg districts ranked 586th and 563rd, respectively, landing in the commonwealth’s bottom 5 percent. In addition to those districts, seven others fell in the lowest 20 percent of the state’s academic performers: Clairton (555), McKeesport (534), Penn Hills (522), Pittsburgh (477), Cornell (480), Highlands (478) and Steel Valley (474). But then there are plenty of Allegheny County districts performing quite well academically, led by South Fayette and Mt. Lebanon, ranked third and fourth in the state, respectively, placing them in the top 1 percent. Five more districts — Pine-Richland (6), Upper St. Clair (8), Fox Chapel (12), Hampton (14) and North Allegheny (17) fall in the top 5 percent.
https://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/13880853-74/colin-mcnickle-funding-not-solution-for-underperforming-schools

Here's what's really happening with redistricting reform | Mike Turzai
Penn Live By Guest Editorial By Mike Turzai Updated Jul 21; Posted Jul 21
A recent PennLive letter to the editor, submitted by Rochelle Kaplan of Fair Districts PA, is downright false and dishonest. As former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, "everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." In today's political climate, there are unfortunately many partisan organizers who are unwilling to accept any narrative other than one of blaming Republicans. These same people came to my personal home last week to protest on my front porch. I was not home at the time, but two of my sons were. It was completely uncivil and uncalled for. Senate Bill 22, which would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to change the way Congressional and state Legislative district lines are drawn, was passed by the Senate on June 13. It became clear that there was no consensus, as amendments inserted by the Senate caused many groups supporting the legislation to change their position to opposed.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/07/heres_whats_really_happening_w.html

Four black, male Philly educators - all victims of racial profiling - tell their stories
Inquirer by TyLisa C. Johnson, Staff Writer  @tylisajohnson |  tjohnson@philly.com Updated: JULY 23, 2018 — 6:08 AM EDT
Quamiir Trice was getting food for his girlfriend when the police pulled him over and yanked him out of the car.
Ismael Jimenez complained about noise in a movie theater, and the next thing he knew he was surrounded by security.
Will Mega was stopped on the way out of a Lowe’s store and asked to show proof that he had paid after making a purchase.
Benjamin Slater of East Mount Airy has filed a lawsuit against Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom alleging he was a victim of racial profiling by an armed security guard on Father’s Day.
And Benjamin Slater had just gotten off a roller coaster at Dorney Park when a security officer detained him, saying he “fit the description” of someone who had been rummaging through purses and bags.
All four men are black educators in Philadelphia — three are teachers and one is a dean of students — and all are complaining about the same thing: being racially profiled, stopped, detained, or harassed because of stereotypes associated with the color of their skin. The men sat shoulder to shoulder beneath stained-glass images in a Germantown sanctuary last week, told their stories, and announced a forthcoming anthology of racial profiling anecdotes. They want to make sure their cases, all different in details but identical in essence, are not viewed as isolated incidents but “as a narrative,” said Jimenez.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/four-black-male-philly-educators-all-victims-of-racial-profiling-tell-their-stories-20180723.html

Data show cases of anti-Muslim bullying in schools on the rise
Inquirer by Kelly Brennan, Staff Writer  @_kellybrennan |  kbrennan@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 22, 2018 — 5:11 AM EDT
In June, a Muslim family in Northeast Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and St. Dominic Catholic School, alleging their son endured months of discrimination. Similarly last month, an 11-year-old girl had her khimar, an Islamic headscarf, abruptly removed by a classmate. And in a separate incident, a student alleged his teacher persistently harassed him because he was Muslim, according to Philadelphia’s Council on American-Islamic Relations. Officials at CAIR-Philadelphia said these acts represent a pattern of anti-Muslim bullying in schools that has been on the rise since 2014. Since August, the organization has received more than a dozen complaints of anti-Muslim bullying targeted at 15 to 20 students in 13 schools and colleges in the region, said Timothy Welbeck, the civil rights attorney for CAIR-Philadelphia. By comparison, there was one complaint of bullying for 2014, two for 2015, and nine for 2016. Nationally, CAIR recorded a 17 percent increase in all types of anti-Muslim bias incidents from 2016 to 2017, according to its 2018 Civil Rights Report. It reported 2,599 bias incidents in 2017, compared with 2,213 for 2016 and 1,409 the year prior. Reports range from harassment to hate crimes and incidents of being unnecessarily targeted by the FBI or Customs and Border Patrol. In 2017, Welbeck said he noticed a “significant uptick” in all types of complaints to the Philadelphia office, adding that they often coincided with “[President Trump] making Islamophobic remarks and inflammatory statements.”
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/anti-muslim-bullying-schools-increase-lawsuit-st-dominics-20180722.html

At these schools, teachers get a say in how things are run
Inquirer by Kathy Boccella, Staff Writer  @Kathy_Boccella |  kboccella@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 20, 2018 — 1:36 PM EDT
On a hot July morning when their peers might be enjoying summer break at the beach, Julie Cook and Jeannine Dunn — teachers at the Souderton Charter School Collaborative – have come into the red brick schoolhouse on the town’s main drag to work on a new technology curriculum and elective schedule for the fall. It’s just what you have to do when you’re in charge – the situation that Cook, Dunn, and their colleagues sought as Souderton become one of only 120 “teacher-powered schools” in the nation, where classroom instructors make key decisions about what to teach, what to spend money on, or even whom to hire. At institutions like Souderton,  The Workshop School and Building 21 in Philadelphia – the three recognized teacher-powered schools in the region – classroom teachers are setting the rules for matters such as curriculum and discipline – areas that would be handled by central administrators in a traditional school. There’s still a principal or head of school, but they are more facilitator than boss. “We have a real voice and choice and a sense of ownership of what we’re doing here,” said Cook, 49, who taught at three conventional schools and nearly left the profession after bristling over top-down authority and being dictated which lessons to teach and when to teach them. She said discovering Souderton charter school when she enrolled her oldest son there in 2002 saved her career.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/souderton-charter-building-21-workshop-school-teacher-powered-schools-20180720.html

Teaching to the tempo of mental health
Suzanne Spencer creates a culture of caring in her music classes at Benjamin Rush.
The notebook by Alyssa Biederman July 20 — 9:51 am, 2018
On Tuesday night, six Benjamin Rush High School students and recent graduates met at Drexel University to perform last minute for a conference. They gathered around a table talking about how they pulled together arrangements in the last 24 hours. They had very little time to practice. In the center was Suzanne Spencer, reassuring them. “I knew you were up to the challenge. I know you can do this,” she said. Spencer has been a music teacher at Rush for the past 10 years. She said when she was hired, she was tasked with building the program from the ground up. Along with teaching quarter notes, scales, and harmonies, she said, it is important to weave in lessons about self-worth, community, and reflection. “Artists are really emotional people,” she said. “Some of these kids have the most traumatic childhood stories and not the most amazing home lives. So, it was really important for me to create a community and a family in my program.” “You could be in the worst mood, or have a terrible home situation, and you come in and walk into that room and you can’t be upset,” said Lauren Farrell, a recent graduate of Rush. “Everyone knows each other, everyone cares about everyone, everyone knows each other’s strengths and weaknesses and is rooting for each other.”
http://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/07/20/teaching-to-the-tempo-of-mental-health/

Big brother or safety precaution? Easton Area to require students to use IDs with computer chips
Michelle Merlin Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call July 22, 2018
This coming school year, all of Easton Area School District’s nearly 9,000 students will be issued special ID badges. They will look similar to their old IDs, which were imprinted with the students’ photos and graduation years, but the new ones will have a special computer chip. Students will have to swipe the badge to ride school buses with drivers using computer tablets to make sure they are getting on and off the right bus at the correct stop. Once they get to school, middle and high school students will have to swipe it again at a kiosk that will be manned by security personnel who will verify the student who swiped in is the student whose face is on the ID. Security personnel also be able to tell if a student was suspended and shouldn’t be in school. Students, who will be given lanyards so they can wear the IDs, will use them to take books out of their school libraries and eventually may use it to buy food in the cafeteria. The ID badge, offered by New York-based ScholarChip, is a tool that school districts across the country are increasingly using to help keep track of who is in their buildings.
http://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-easton-schools-scholarchip-20180713-story.html

The PIAA's transfer rule tweak wasn't enough. It needs to level the post-season playing field | Editorial
By PennLive Editorial Board penned@pennlive.com Updated Jul 20; Posted Jul 20
If you spend a day under the Capitol dome in Harrisburg, one thing rapidly becomes clear: State law is a fluid thing. While some bedrock principles remain immutable, the specifics of language are updated all the time to reflect updates in technology; shifts in societal norms and new knowledge that bubbles up with startling regularity. Not so for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Pennsylvania's high school sports sanctioning body has spent more than four decades leaning on a 1970s-vintage law "authorizing private schools to participate with public schools in post-season athletic events. The end product?  It's now become virtually impossible for smaller public, or so-called "boundary schools," to compete for championships with deep-pocketed private institutions, or "non-boundary" schools, who can recruit the best talent, shower them with financial aid and pile up trophy after post-season trophy.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/07/lets_take_a_breath_theres_no_n.html#incart_2box_opinion

'What's Scott Wagner hiding?' Wolf asks of Republican rival's refusal to release his tax returns | Monday Morning Coffee
Penn Live By John L. Micek jmicek@pennlive.com Updated 8:06 AM; Posted 8:04 AM
Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Gov. Tom Wolf's re-election campaign is coming out swinging on this rainy Monday morning, slamming GOP rival Scott Wagner for failing to release his tax returns, and accusing the York County pol of stonewalling. Wagner, of York County, took heat during the spring primary season for declining to release his returns, a Pennsylvania political tradition that dates back at least two decades. "What's he hiding?" Wolf's spokeswoman, Beth Melena, asked in an email. "We know he's trying to bail out his failing business by raising rates on small business owners and consumers. And the people of Pennsylvania deserve to know the real story." Wagner's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We'll update when we receive one. Wagner, and former GOP gubernatorial candidates Laura Ellsworthand Paul Mango all said during a March debate sponsored by PennLive/CBS21 that they would not release the financial documents. Wagner, who owns trash hauler Penn Waste, declined to explain why he would not. Editorial boards across the state piled on:
https://www.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2018/07/gop_rep_brian_fitzpatrick_was.html

'Young and naive' teen to GOP candidate: You don't need to be a scientist, but must know science
Candy Woodall, York Daily Record Published 7:18 p.m. ET July 20, 2018
YORK, Pa. – She has a name, but for the last two days she's been known as the "young and naive" woman who asked a question during a town hall with a Republican candidate for governor. Rose Strauss insists she's not the one who was naive Wednesday evening, though she can't argue 18 years old is young.  By not addressing climate change, Scott Wagner is more naive than she'll ever be, she said.  During a town hall near Philadelphia two days ago, Strauss said the GOP hopeful for Pennsylvania governor proved his naivete when he said, "Are we here to elect a governor or elect a scientist? OK? I'm here to be the governor."  The 18-year-old environmental studies student offered a sharp rebuke during an interview Friday afternoon:  "The governor doesn't have to be a scientist, but he needs to understand science," she said. 
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/20/pa-governor-election-race-republican-scott-wagner-climate-change-young-naive-comment-lost-voters/810757002/

Pa. report: Legalizing marijuana could generate $580 million in state tax revenues
Inquirer by Sam Wood, Staff Writer  @samwoodiii |  samwood@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 19, 2018 — 5:49 PM EDT
Legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use in Pennsylvania could generate more than $580 million in tax revenue for the state, said Auditor General Eugene DePasquale in a report issued Thursday morning. “Pennsylvania’s budget challenges are now a consistent factor in all state policy decisions,” said DePasquale, a Democrat. “Taxing marijuana offers a rare glimmer of fiscal hope, providing a way to refocus the state budget process away from filling its own gaps.” Next year, the state could face a shortfall of close to $1 billion, he said in an interview. “If the Republicans maintain control of the Assembly, there’s not going to be a broad-base tax increase, and we’re looking at serious need for funding for the schools and child care,” he said. “Even without the money, this is a saner way to handle a very controversial topic. With the revenue, it makes it a no-brainer.” ePasquale proposes a 35 percent tax on any recreational marijuana that would be sold in state-sanctioned retail stores.
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/cannabis/legalizing-marijuana-pa-auditor-general-tax-revenues-20180719.html

What Your State Is Doing To Beef Up Civics Education
NPR by EMILY CARDINALI July 21, 20185:57 AM ET
Fake news. Record-low voting turnout. Frequent and false claims from elected officials. Vitriol in many corners of political debate. These are symptoms we hear of all the time that our democracy is not so healthy. And those factors might be why many states are turning to the traditional — and obvious — place where people learn how government is supposed to work: schools. More than half of the states in their last legislative sessions — 27 to be exact — have considered bills or other proposals to expand the teaching of civics. "The electorate is largely ignorant, and there is an overall deficit of civic learning," said Charles Quigley, the executive director of the Center for Civic Education, a nonprofit group that advocates for civics learning. The political climate at the state, local and national levels, and the steady drumbeat of negative news, "has people wondering, 'How the hell could this have happened?' " In their efforts to create informed, educated citizens, some states have invested in teacher training and increased curriculum standards for civics at the elementary through high school levels. Among the most common proposals have been more attention to media literacy and closer study of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and state founding documents.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/07/21/624267576/what-your-state-is-doing-to-beef-up-civics-education

“And in Pennsylvania, incumbent Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has been fending off accusations by Republican opponent Scott Wagner that his proposed new funding formula, unveiled in June during a well-attended press conference, will result in drastic cuts to the state’s rural public schools. “Try as he might, Tom Wolf cannot hide from the fact that he is in support of a disastrous proposal that would cut $1.2 billion from 362 school districts,” Wagner said in a press release. Wolf has retorted that Wagner himself has in the past supported several components of the proposal.”
Candidates in Midterms Spar Over School Funding vs. Taxes
Education Week State Ed Watch By Daarel Burnette II July 20, 2018
How—or whether—to pour more money into public school coffers has emerged as one of the most divisive issues for states in this year’s midterm elections. In at least nine states, voters this fall will consider ambitious ballot measures that seek to increase, or in some cases curtail, how much legislatures distribute to schools. Similarly, those running for governor in states including Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have sparred over the dynamics of their states’ public school spending habits and over plans to upend how their states fund schools. There are 36 governor races this year, and three-fourths of state legislature seats are up for grabs. While both Democratic and Republican politicians alike have in the past touted how much they love public schools, this year’s battles are supercharged by the teacher and parent activism that led to walkouts in various states, as well as fierce anti-tax and spending forces.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/07/20/candidates-in-midterms-spar-over-school-funding.html


Become a PSBA Advocacy Ambassador
PSBA Website July 18, 2018
PSBA is seeking applications for three open Advocacy Ambassador positions. This is a part-time, 9-month (September 2018-May 2019) independent contractor position with a monthly stipend and potential renewal for a second year. The individuals should have previous experience in day-to-day functions of a school district — on the school board or in a school leadership position. The purpose of the PSBA Advocacy Ambassador program is to facilitate the education and engagement of local school directors and public education stakeholders. Each Advocacy Ambassador will be an active leader in an assigned section of the state and is kept up to date on current legislation and PSBA positions based on the association’s Legislative Platform and Priority Issues to accomplish advocacy goals.  The current open positions are for PSBA Section 1; Sections 3 and 4; and Section 8.  (see map).  Advocacy Ambassadors are independent contractors who serve as liaisons between PSBA and their state legislators, and who also work with local school officials in their section to advance PSBA’s public education advocacy mission. To complete the application process and upload required documents go to PSBA’s Career Gateway to create an account and apply. Career Gateway questions can be directed to Michelle Kunkel at 717-506-2450, x-3365.  Questions and information regarding the specific duties of the Advocacy Ambassador position should be directed to Jamie Zuvich at 717-506-2450, x-3375. The deadline to submit cover letter, resume and application is August 10, 2018.
All other required documents must be submitted upon successful application.
https://www.psba.org/2018/07/become-an-advocacy-ambassador/

PA Superintendent of the Year nominations requested by July 27th
PASA and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) are seeking nominations for 2019 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year. Candidates will be judged on the following criteria: leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement. The nomination deadline is Friday, July 27. For more information, visit the AASA website, http://soy.aasa.org.

Apply Now for EPLC's 2018-2019 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program!
Applications are available now for the 2018-2019 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).  The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC). 
With more than 500 graduates in its first eighteen years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.  State Board of Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants.
Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization. The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 13-14, 2018 and continues to graduation in June 2019.
Applications are being accepted now.
Click here to read more about the Education Policy Fellowship Program.
The application may be copied from the EPLC web site, but must be submitted by mail or scanned and e-mailed, with the necessary signatures of applicant and sponsor.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact EPLC Executive Director Ron Cowell at 717-260-9900 or cowell@eplc.org.

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.

http://dlvr.it/Q5d0c8 

2nd Annual National Black Male Educators Convening, Oct. 12-14, Philly

by The Fellowship: Black Male Educators for Social Justice

Teacher diversity works. Increasing the number of Black male educators in our nation’s teacher corps will improve education for all our students, especially for African-American boys.Today Black men represent only two percent of teachers nationwide. This is a national problem that demands a national response. Come participate in the 2nd National Black Male Educators Convening to advance policy solutions, learn from one another, and fight for social justice. All are welcome. Register to attend. Nominate a speaker. Propose a workshop. Sponsor the event.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-national-black-male-educators-convening-tickets-46322952197

Save the Dates PASA/PSBA School Leadership Conference – Hershey, Oct. 17-19, 2018 

Mark your calendar! The Delegate Assembly will take place Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.
Housing now open!

Our Public Schools Our Democracy: Our Fight for the Future
NPE / NPE Action 5th Annual National Conference
October 20th - 21st, 2018 Indianapolis, Indiana
We are delighted to let you know that you can purchase your discounted Early Bird ticket to register for our annual conference starting today. Purchase your ticket here.
Early Bird tickets will be on sale until May 30 or until all are sold out, so don't wait.  These tickets are a great price--$135. Not only do they offer conference admission, they also include breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Please don't forget to register for your hotel room. We have secured discounted rates on a limited basis. You can find that link here. Finally, if you require additional financial support to attend, we do offer some scholarships based on need. Go here and fill in an application. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Please join us in Indianapolis as we fight for the public schools that our children and communities deserve. Don't forget to get your Early Bird ticket here. We can't wait to see you.

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.