PA Ed Policy Roundup August 1: Harrisburg hasn’t kept up with inflation & mandated costs, pushing the problems on local taxpayers.

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PA Ed Policy Roundup August 1, 2018

Harrisburg hasn’t kept up with inflation & mandated costs, pushing the problems on local taxpayers.


“Harrisburg has not kept up the inflation and mandated costs, pushing the problems on local taxpayers. Unless Harrisburg puts enough money into supporting student education throughout the state, distributing the existing inadequate amounts more fairly will still leave our students struggling with insufficient resources to succeed.”
Many school districts still shortchanged by Pa. education funding formula
Morning Call Opinion by Michael Churchill July 31, 2018
Michael Churchill is an attorney with the Public Interest Law Center, Philadelphia.
Columnist Bill White hit the nail on the head when he declared “the issue [of school funding] is way more complex” than politicians’ posturing. His excellent column on how some districts are very underfunded and some are overfunded by the state according to the state’s own formula tells half the story. It correctly reports that the state is not distributing the $6 billion it is spending on basic education funding in accordance with the very formula the state legislators said is the correct way to distribute state money. Six districts in Lehigh County would receive $98.8 million more and four districts in Northampton County would receive $28.6 million more if the formula were applied to all of the current funding. Statewide, there are 136 more districts similarly underfunded for a statewide total of $1.2 billion not going where it should. The problem comes when Equity First and others say that the money should come by taking it away from districts that they claim are overfunded. True, some districts are receiving more money than the formula says is their share of the $6 billion of state basic education funding. The problem is that the $6 billion is too low, and many of those districts are receiving inadequate amounts of state funding based on their needs and fiscal capacity. As White noted, the state conducted a study that in 2007 said districts needed $4.3 billion more to adequately prepare students. And, as he also noted, the state after the Gov. Corbett cuts has not come close to putting anything like that into the system.
http://www.mcall.com/opinion/national/mc-opi-school-funding-pennsylvania-20180726-story.html

State College-area charter school closes its doors
Centre Daily Times BY LAUREN MUTHLER lmuthler@centredaily.com July 31, 2018 06:59 PM
Just a few weeks before the start of the new school year, Wonderland Charter School in Ferguson Township has decided to close its doors. The school, located at 2112 Sandy Drive, sent an email out to families of its students Tuesday night, informing them of the decision. “The Wonderland board of directors was faced with a very difficult decision Monday night,” the email said. “Over the last several months, State College Area School District has continued to inundate Wonderland with increasingly numerous costly and time consuming requests, as well as intrusive, harassing, and redundant inspections. All the while, refusing to present specific charges allowing the legal renewal proceedings to continue.” The announcement comes after the State College Area school board decided in June to send Wonderland’s request for a new charter to a non-renewal/revocation hearing, after the charter review raised concerns about “systematic” and “institutionalized” failures.  “These failures, in the area of special education in particular, are systemic, institutionalized, and long-standing, and were put in place and are enforced by Wonderland leadership, to include its founder, former CEO, and current business administrator; its education director; its current CEO; and its other lead teacher,” SCASD solicitor Scott Etter said at the board’s June 4 meeting. “We believe that these failures are so severe and significant that it is appropriate to initiate the non-renewal/revocation proceeding provided for in the (charter school law) and the Basic Education Circular on Charter Schools.” During the charter review, several people associated with Wonderland, including board members, teachers and parents, informed the board of directors of their concerns with the charter: “long-standing, calculated, inappropriate, and unlawful practices with respect to students with special needs,” according to a letter to the board from Superintendent Bob O’Donnell. The three-month review also found issues with student achievement, certification, compensation and staffing, and more:
https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article215868880.html#storylink=latest_side

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey celebrates reauthorization of bill for career and technical job education
By J.D. Prose Posted Jul 25, 2018 at 3:09 PM Updated Jul 25, 2018 at 3:09 PM
The U.S. House on Wednesday passed career and technical education legislation after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Sen. Bob Casey, had worked on securing its passage. If signed by President Donald Trump, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act will be reauthorized for the first time since 2006 under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. It passed the Senate by voice vote Monday. “I am pleased that we were able to work together in a bipartisan manner on legislation that will help ensure that all students and workers get the skills they need to compete for well-paying paying jobs today and in the future,” Casey, D-Scranton, said in a statement. Besides continued funding, the bill would update career and technical education to ensure access to high-quality programs, help recruit and retain educators, and assist workers and students in obtaining the necessary skills to find in-demand jobs.
http://www.timesonline.com/news/20180725/us-sen-bob-casey-celebrates-reauthorization-of-bill-for-career-and-technical-job-education

With Pa. visit looming, Trump's White House snubs Bob Casey at his own bill-signing
Penn Live By John L. Micek jmicek@pennlive.com Updated 5:35 PM; Posted 5:28 PM
The White House may well be the people's house, but on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., apparently fell victim to a bit of good, old-fashioned election year politics. At least that's what some close to the Scranton Democrat are claiming after Pennsylvania's senior United States senator was apparently left off the invite list for White House signing ceremony for a bill reauthorizing a critical career and technical education program. Casey was the lead Senate sponsor of to the first update  to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act since 2006, his office said. The reauthorized bill was the product of years of bipartisan negotiations between Casey, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. According to an official White House schedule, Trump was set to sign the revamped "The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act," during an 11:15 a.m. event in the Oval Office.
https://www.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2018/07/trump_white_house_snubs_casey.html

Career and Technical Education is important part of public education
NSBA Press Release July 31, 2018
Public schools are where over 50 million children learn and prepare for their future. They’re also a vital part of our fabric of life that includes families, communities, town leadership, and local businesses–which is impacted by the success of our schools and the programs and services they provide students. When schools can provide rigorous academics and training to help students acquire the expertise needed to make them successful in their futures, everyone wins. Public schools offer innovative programs and services designed to meet the unique needs of their students–and with significantly positive outcomes. Yet, since the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (CTE Act) was last authorized in 2006 a much-needed education component was under severe stress. Last week Congress came together to pass an update to the CTE Act, and today President Trump signed the bill into law. This is a significant step in supporting public school students and communities.
https://www.nsba.org/newsroom/career-and-technical-education-important-part-public-education

Donald Trump Signs First Major Education Policy Bill of His Presidency
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Andrew Ujifusa July 31, 2018
In a watershed moment for his administration on education policy, President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, according to senators who attended the signing, the first legislation Trump’s signed that makes significant changes to federal education law itself. The legislation is a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, a $1.2 billion program last overhauled by Congress in 2006. The new law allows states to set their own goals for career and technical education programs without the education secretary’s approval, requires them to make progress toward those goals, and makes other changes to federal CTE law. Career and technical education is attracting new attention and support, but it’s also facing new challenges as programs try to evolve to meet changing labor force demands.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/07/31/donald-trump-signs-career-technical-education-bill.html

Editorial: Emphasis on career training crucial to state’s future
More students should consider pursuing training in fields that don’t require college.
Reading Eagle Editorial MONDAY JULY 30, 2018 12:01 AM
The Issue: State officials promote efforts to boost education that develops job skills.
Our Opinion: More students should consider pursuing training in fields that don’t require college. While we gave the 2018-19 budget mixed reviews because of the gimmicks lawmakers used to put it in balance, it did have some bright spots. One that pleases us in particular is its emphasis on career and technical education and workforce development. Though Gov. Tom Wolf's administration is out trumpeting its accomplishments in these areas, this was a budget that passed on time with rare bipartisan support. The need to make sure Pennsylvania has workers who can do today's jobs certainly should transcend politics. Our state's economic development depends on it. State Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak visited Reading recently to reinforce that point. He toured PA CareerLink Berks County to learn about several efforts to develop job skills in young people.
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-emphasis-on-career-training-crucial-to-states-future

Can Trump visit for Lou Barletta jump-start Pa. Senate race? | John Baer
Philly Daily News by John Baer, STAFF COLUMNIST  baerj@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 31, 2018 — 4:24 PM EDT
President Trump’s visit to Pennsylvania on Thursday will feature an evening rally in Wilkes-Barre for GOP Senate candidate Lou Barletta. It’s scheduled in the Mohegan Sun Arena, a hockey venue for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ minor-league team the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Expect lots of checking. As in heavy hockey-style checking of incumbent Sen. Bob Casey. And, as always, post-event fact-checking of the president’s remarks. Also, the arena sits on Casey Plaza, named in honor of Gov. Bob Casey, the senator’s late father, who helped get state funding for the facility. So, don’t be surprised if a gesturing Trump, praising the people and the place, says something like: “This is what Casey Sr. did. What has Junior ever done?” After all, Trump’s already labeled Casey “a do-nothing senator who only shows up at election time.” (At a recent Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, Casey offered examples of what he’s done legislatively for the disabled, women, and infrastructure.) But Barletta trails Casey badly in money and known independent polling. Barletta’s challenge is viewed as a long shot. Can Trump’s appearance in Barletta’s home region really make a difference? State Republicans think so. “Oh, it makes a big difference,” says GOP state chairman Val DiGiorgio, “especially in those Northeastern Pennsylvania counties where Trump did so well.”
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/john-baer-trump-rally-lou-barletta-wilkes-barre-bob-casey-pa-senate-race-20180731.html

Sen. Folmer: Why must government grow every year?
Mercury by By Sen. Mike Folmer, Guest Columnist POSTED: 07/30/18, 10:14 PM EDT
State Sen. Mike Folmer represents the 48th Senatorial District.
I’ve searched both the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions and I can’t find it. Where’s it written government must grow each and every year? Why isn’t government expected to live within its means just like people and businesses? It took 51 Sessions of Congress to pass a $1 Billion budget – the “Billion Dollar Congress” of 1889. The first $1 Trillion federal budget came in 1987. Today, Pennsylvania spends well over $1 Billion on debt service alone. In 1969, Governor Shafer branded his proposed state budget “The Fiscal Rubicon” in calling for $492 Million in new revenues: “I believe history will not deal kindly with a rich Nation that will not tax itself to cure its own miseries.” In 1970, spending for a population of 11,800,766 was $357.15 per person. Our current budget will spend $32,714,991,000 to serve a population of 12,823,989, or $2,551.08 per person. Spending increased 614% while population grew by just 9%. Consider the state budget I opposed my first year in office: $27,160,000,000, a 4.4% increase over the previous year. When I said state government spending was increasing faster than taxpayers’ ability to pay, Governor Rendell declared: “he’s certifiable”. In 2007, welfare and education represented two-thirds of the budget: medical assistance for nursing facilities, pharmacy services, and managed care; education funding increased 6.2% (to $10.5 Billion), including $5 Billion for basic education (a $167 Million increase).
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20180730/NEWS/180739972

Sick kids, hazardous classrooms: The solution requires better planning for Philly's schools | Opinion
by Anisa Heming, For the Inquirer Updated: JULY 31, 2018 — 10:00 AM EDT
Anisa Heming is Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.
Sending a child off to school requires trust: trust that they will be cared for and provided the resources to fulfill their potential. In today’s world, so many factors have eroded parents’ peace of mind when sending their child off to school. Unfortunately, in far too many instances, the condition of the school itself gives parents a reason to lose confidence in our education system.   For some of the 130,000 students enrolled in Philadelphia’s public schools, the buildings where they spend hours every day are causing them to feel sick, miss school and even become hospitalized. As previously reported, hazards like lead, asbestos and asthma triggers are too common in their learning environments. But putting all of the blame for underperformance on school district staff misses the point. Funding for public schools across the U.S. has declined greatly since the recession, and the majority lack critical updates needed to provide healthy and safe environments. At all levels of funding and management – school district, state and federal – we need to invest in the sustainable operation of our public schools. While most districts, including the School District of Philadelphia, are doing what they can to stem problems caused by deferred maintenance and financial constraints, the reality is that crumbling school infrastructure exists nationwide. We need to support districts if we want them to do better.
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-schools-environmental-issues-sick-kids-toxic-city-20180731.html

Two cofounders of The Fellowship: Black Male Educators for Social Justice just scored national recognition
Philly's Vincent Cobb II and Rashiid Coleman have been named 2018 Echoing Green Fellows.
Generocity  By Cianni Williams / CONTRIBUTOR Jul. 30, 2018 9:05 am
It’s an oft-shared statistic in the education world: Only 2 percent of America’s teachers are Black men. And, according to Philly.com, 54 percent of students in the Philadelphia School District are Black, yet only 5 percent of their teachers are Black men. Following the adage “You can’t be what you can’t see,” an organization called The Fellowship of Black Male Educators for Social Justice (BME) was founded in Philadelphia in 2014 as a membership and activist organization dedicated to promoting and recruiting Black men as teachers. BME started an annual conference this past October to convene that 2 percent. The event’s goal: to give those teachers hope and motivation, and give them a chance to thrive in a field lacking representation. This month, Vincent Cobb II and Rashiid Coleman, who cofounded BME with Sharif El-Mekki, were named Black Male Achievement Fellows within Echoing Green’s fellowship class of 2018.
https://generocity.org/philly/2018/07/30/cofounders-fellowship-black-male-educators-echoing-green-vincent-cobb-rashiid-coleman/

Wolf Administration Awards $5 Million in Fresh Food Grants to Pennsylvania Elementary Schools
July 31, 2018 - by MyChesCo
HARRISBURG, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced that nearly 200 elementary schools across the commonwealth have been selected for grants totaling almost $5 million to provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day. “Good nutrition is a building block for a child’s health and well-being,” Governor Wolf said. “Making healthy food accessible by students, whether through expanded breakfast programs or making local produce available during the day, helps keep students nourished so they are prepared to learn in our classrooms.” The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The program’s goals are to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expand the variety of fruits and vegetables students experience, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and positively impact students’ present and future health. FFVP was first implemented in Pennsylvania in 2004 and expanded to all 50 states in 2008. “Providing fresh fruits and vegetables helps keep students healthy, while also providing an opportunity to teach them about health, and how to make smart and nutritious food choices,” Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera said. To qualify for a grant, a school must have a free and reduced meal eligibility of 50 percent or more. 
http://mychesco.com/a/education/wolf-administration-awards-5-million-in-fresh-food-grants-to-pennsylvania-elementary-schools/

Senate Committee to Conduct Roundtable With Local, State Officials on Region’s School Safety Efforts
PA Senate GOP Website Posted on Jul 31, 2018
PETERS TWP – The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks), will hold a roundtable discussion to review school safety efforts with local and state officials on Monday, August 6. The roundtable will be held at 1 p.m. at the Peters Township Library at 616 E. McMurray Road in McMurray. The public roundtable comes at the request of Senators Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny/Washington) and Camera Bartolotta (R-Beaver/Washington/Greene), who want to highlight the region’s concerns and challenges when it comes to school safety. “I want to thank Senators Bartolotta, Regan, Argall, and the Policy Committee for continuing the efforts to address school safety across the Commonwealth. The Senate of Pennsylvania led the push for school safety measures, programs, and funding in this year’s budget, but it was just the start,” said Reschenthaler. “Much more is needed to improve and ensure the safety of our local school districts, and I look forward to discussing new ways to prevent school violence in our community with our teachers, administrators and law enforcement.” “Protecting students, teachers and school personnel has been a point of emphasis for lawmakers over the past year, and school safety was a major component of this year’s budget as well,” Bartolotta said. “This meeting offers us an opportunity to talk about the unique needs of our local communities and develop strategies to help keep students safe from acts of school violence.” The roundtable will feature a discussion on recently enacted reforms aimed at addressing school safety concerns, pending proposals before the state legislature and a focus on new proposals that could be pursued this fall and early next year. In addition to members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee, the roundtable will feature several local school district administrators, statewide association members and other interested stakeholders.
http://www.pasenategop.com/blog/senate-committee-to-conduct-roundtable-with-local-state-officials-on-regions-school-safety-efforts-2/

Editorial: Rational mergers: Statewide study makes case for school consolidations
THE EDITORIAL BOARD Pittsburgh Post-Gazette AUG 1, 2018 12:00 AM
The state should be encouraging its 500 school districts to consolidate or partner with one other.  Taxpayers deserve to reap whatever savings are possible from economies of scale, and children, especially those in small or poor districts, deserve the better opportunities that joint ventures might bring. One need not look far for success stories — the education of Wilkinsburg’s secondary students by the Pittsburgh Public Schools is one. Yet a report from EdBuild, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that studies school funding and equity issues across the country, found that the state does little or nothing to beat the drums for more. “Pennsylvania, I would say, is not in the hall of fame for good funding policy,” said Zahava Stadler, EdBuild’s director of policy. “What you have is sort of this wild west of school funding where local communities are raising wildly different amounts and what you’re left with is unequal results.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018/08/01/Rational-mergers-Statewide-study-makes-case-for-school-consolidations/stories/201807310031

District honors first graduates of AP Capstone program
Fourteen students at Northeast High School earned a diploma or certificate in the program, which is part of the College Board's effort to make AP more relevant for students.
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa July 31 — 5:17 pm, 2018
Silvani Amin spent part of her senior year at Northeast High School visiting the Philadelphia Mills and Neshaminy malls — not to shop or hang with friends, but to fulfill a class assignment. She had designed a survey and was looking for women age 44 and older to get their answers. Her project? Doing research on what factors play a role in women’s decisions about whether to get routine mammograms. Amin is one of 14 recent graduates from Northeast High School honored Tuesday by the Philadelphia School District for earning a diploma or certificate in the AP Capstone program, a recent addition to the Advanced Placement repertoire that requires students to complete projects rather than pass paper-and-pencil tests. Eight of the students were at the ceremony, which was attended by Mayor Kenney, several school board members, and the director of K-12 services for the College Board, which administers AP. Northeast, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,500 students, is the only school in the city that now has the full AP Capstone program, which consists of two yearlong courses — the first a seminar to learn how to do research and make presentations, and the second to complete a research project. Students who participate, for the most part, are also enrolled in traditional AP courses.
http://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/07/31/district-honors-first-graduates-of-ap-capstone-program/

“Given his support for charter schools — during his short tenure at the William Penn Foundation, he helped foot the bill for a controversial study by the Boston Consulting Group that called for closing dozens of neighborhood schools and shifting upwards of 40 percent of the city’s schoolchildren into charters, and also gave $15 million to a newly formed charter cheerleader, the Philadelphia School Partnership — it was easy for some to assume that he was some kind of anti-government, libertarian crank.”
An appreciation: Jeremy Nowak challenged assumptions about what was impossible
WHYY By Jim Saksa July 31, 2018
The irony was that people always assumed things about him.
Jeremy Nowak lived to challenge dusty assumptions and the soft thinking that emerges from the comforts of ideology. He was a thinker and a doer — it was, in fact, possible to do both. People assumed it was impossible for a community organizer to create a bank that leveraged investments from the rich into loans for the poor, but that’s what Nowak did, starting with little more than a $10,000 grant and a vision for what would become the Reinvestment Fund. “It wasn’t that long ago that this whole model of community-development finance was more than unproven,” said Donald Hinkle-Brown, the Reinvestment Fund’s CEO. “It was a little more ambitious than what people thought was reasonable.” Nowak saw a problem — the city’s poorest neighborhoods needed investment — and went about crafting a solution — getting conventional financial institutions to provide credit in those neighborhoods. Banks saw those investments as too risky — they were new businesses started by poor community entrepreneurs, or affordable-housing developments for which the only collateral was blighted land largely considered worthless. Nowak bridged the gap, convincing socially minded investors to shift their savings to the Reinvestment Fund, which plowed them into communities like North Camden.
https://whyy.org/articles/an-appreciation-jeremy-nowak-challenged-assumptions-about-what-was-impossible/

Testing Resistance & Reform News: July 25 - 31, 2018
Submitted by fairtest on July 31, 2018 - 1:14pm 
Will less than 100 days left before the November 2018 elections, grassroots activists are increasing the pressure on contenders for Congress, statewide offices, legislative seats, and local school boards to speak out against testing misuse and overuse.  This is the season to get the attention of public officials and win their commitment to genuine assessment reform -- be sure to find out where candidates stand before giving them you vote!
http://www.fairtest.org/testing-resistance-reform-news-july-25-31-2018


PSBA Officer Elections: Slate of Candidates
PSBA members seeking election to office for the association were required to submit a nomination form no later than June 1, 2018, to be considered. All candidates who properly completed applications by the deadline are included on the slate of candidates below. In addition, the Leadership Development Committee met on June 17 at PSBA headquarters in Mechanicsburg to interview candidates. According to bylaws, the Leadership Development Committee may determine candidates highly qualified for the office they seek. This is noted next to each person's name with an asterisk (*). Voting procedure: Each school entity will have one vote for each officer. This will require boards of the various school entities to come to a consensus on each candidate and cast their vote electronically during the open voting period (Aug. 24-Oct. 11, 2018). Voting will be accomplished through a secure third-party, web-based voting site that will require a password login. One person from each member school entity will be authorized as the official person to register the vote on behalf of his or her school entity. In the case of school districts, it will be the board secretary who will cast votes on behalf of the school board. A full packet of instructions and a printed slate will be sent to authorized vote registrars the week of August 7. Special note: Boards should be sure to add discussion and voting on candidates to their agenda during one of their meetings in August, September or October before the open voting period ends.
https://www.psba.org/2018/07/psba-officer-elections-slate-candidates/

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/

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.

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!

“Not only do we have a superstar lineup of keynote speakers including Diane Ravitch, Jesse Hagopian, Pasi Sahlberg, Derrick Johnson and Helen Gym, but there will be countless sessions to choose from on the issues you care about the most. We will cover all bases from testing, charters, vouchers and school funding, to issues of student privacy and social justice in schools.”
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.