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School funding lawsuit can proceed, judge rules
Landmark Pa. school-funding lawsuit appears headed to trial
Inquirer by Maddie Hanna, Staff Writer @maddiehanna | mhanna@phillynews.com Updated: AUGUST 21, 2018 — 5:22 PM EDT
A landmark lawsuit challenging how Pennsylvania pays for public education is moving closer to trial after Commonwealth Court dismissed state lawmakers’ last remaining objection to the case. State Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) argued for dismissal on the ground that in 2016, Pennsylvania adopted a formula directing more money to school districts with greater student needs. But the plaintiffs — among them the William Penn School District in Delaware County and parents of Philadelphia students — said that disparities between low and high-wealth districts had increaseddespite the formula, which applies only to a portion of what Pennsylvania spends on public education. “Clearly, a factual dispute about the significance and adequacy of the funding changes … persists,” the court said in its order Monday. A spokesman for Scarnati did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Neal Lesher, a spokesman for House Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny), said lawmakers had increased funding for school districts by $2 billion since 2015. “Crafting a budget, including education funding, is constitutionally a legislative matter that we take very seriously,” Lesher said. “We continue to believe that this matter does not belong in the courts.”
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/pennsylvania-school-funding-suit-philadelphia-william-penn-landmark-trial-20180821.html
Pa. school funding lawsuit may now proceed to trial now that the court denies mootness claim
Penn Live By Jan Murphy jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated 6:53 PM; Posted 6:53 PM
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's system of funding public schools is now able to move forward to trial. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson on Tuesday issued a ruling, denying the last of the preliminary objections made by legislative leaders that claimed the implementation of a school funding formula in 2016, two years after the lawsuit was filed, rendered the case moot. In his ruling, Simpson stated at this juncture, "there are sufficient legal and factual issues that remain in dispute, such that this court cannot find petitioners' constitutional claims moot." No trial date has been scheduled. Bringing the case against state government officials are six families and six school districts, along with some statewide associations. In their lawsuit, they allege the Legislature is not living up to its constitutional responsibility of providing a "thorough and efficient" education system, resulting in underfunding and gross disparities in funding allocations that penalize students in poorer school districts.
https://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/08/pa_school_funding_lawsuit_may.html#incart_river_index
Judge refuses to toss education funding lawsuit
Delco Times By Kevin Tustin, ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com POSTED: 08/21/18, 6:54 PM EDT | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO
The public school funding lawsuit led by the William Penn School District will continue after a state judge Tuesday denied an application brought by two leading Republican state lawmakers to quash it. Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson delivered the four-page order denying the objection without prejudice filed on behalf of state Senate President Pro-Tempore Joseph Scarnati and House Speaker Mike Turzai, both Republicans, who claimed the fair funding formula enacted under Act 35 of 2016 remedied the funding inadequacies that initiated the lawsuit in 2014. Simpson’s order said it was clear that a “factual dispute about the significance and adequacy of the funding changes wrought by the passage of Act 35 persists.” “In addition,” Simpson wrote, “it is unclear whether the preceding statute has been sufficiently altered by Act 35 so as to present a substantially different controversy. Further, none of the respondents address our Supreme Court’s guidance in (the case) William Penn II. “Therefore, we conclude that at this early procedural juncture, with the pleadings not yet closed, there are sufficient legal and factual issues that remain in dispute, such that this court cannot find petitioners’ constitutional claims moot.”
http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20180821/judge-refuses-to-toss-education-funding-lawsuit
School funding lawsuit can proceed, judge rules
Robert Simpson of the Commonwealth Court rejected arguments made by GOP legislative leaders.
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa August 21 — 5:00 pm, 2018
The landmark Pennsylvania education funding lawsuit can proceed, a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Tuesday, rejecting the argument made by Republican legislative leaders that it has been rendered moot and should be dismissed. Judge Robert Simpson concluded that the General Assembly’s adoption of a fair funding formula in 2016 did not negate the need to collect further evidence on the petitioners’ contention that the current system violates the state constitutional guarantee that all children have access to a “thorough and efficient” education. Assembly Speaker Mike Turzai and Senate President Joseph Scarnati, both Republicans, contended that the case was moot because of the adoption of the formula, which sends districts extra money depending on their level of poverty, number of English learners, taxing capacity, and other factors. The formula, known as Act 35, is used to distribute only a small portion of the funds. The rest is distributed based on past patterns, along with a guarantee that no district will lose aid from one year to the next.
https://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/08/21/school-funding-lawsuit-can-proceed-judge-rules/
“Clearly, a factual dispute about the significance and adequacy of the funding changes wrought by the passage of Act 35 persists,” Simpson wrote. This mini-victory for the plaintiffs likely means the landmark case will proceed to a full trial.
Advocates brought the case in 2014, and they have been fighting since to argue the merits of their case.”
Pa. funding lawsuit moves toward full trial as court dismisses latest objection
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent August 21, 2018
A lawsuit that could reshape the way Pennsylvania funds its public schools cleared another roadblock Tuesday. The Commonwealth Court determined that the case was not moot, dismissing an argument by the head of the GOP-controlled state Senate. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R- Jefferson, said the lawsuit should be tossed because the state recently passed a student-weighted funding formula that distributes some state dollars according to student enrollment, local tax effort, student poverty, and other factors. The plaintiffs — a coalition of school districts, parents, and advocacy groups — argued that the new formula, which applies to under a 10th of state aid, hasn’t rectified large funding gaps between districts or provided enough money to ensure all students can receive an adequate education.
https://whyy.org/articles/pa-funding-lawsuit-moves-toward-full-trial-as-court-dismisses-latest-objection/
In victory for students, Court rules that Pa. school funding lawsuit is not moot
Education Law Center Press Release August 21, 2018
Contact: Paul Socolar, Education Law Center, 215-906-1250, psocolar@elc-pa.org
Jonathan McJunkin, Public Interest Law Center, 267-546-1305, jmcjunkin@pubintlaw.org
In victory for students, Court rules that Pa. school funding lawsuit is not moot
Commonwealth Court dismisses Senator Scarnati’s motion that the case was rendered moot by the adoption of a fair funding formula in 2016
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court ruled Tuesday that a lawsuit challenging the state’s school funding system can move forward, denying a claim by state legislative leaders that the lawsuit was rendered moot by the state’s adoption of a funding formula in 2016. The lawsuit was filed in 2014 by the Education Law Center and Public Interest Law Center on behalf of parents, school districts, and statewide organizations alleging that the state’s school funding system violates Pennsylvania’s constitution, due to significant underfunding and gross disparities in allocations that penalize students in low-wealth districts. The ruling is a significant victory for petitioners in the lawsuit William Penn School District et al. v. PA Department of Education et al., eliminating a major obstacle to a trial in the case. Judge Robert Simpson wrote the court order, rejecting claims by Senate President Scarnati and House Speaker Turzai that a change in the school funding formula made the issues in the case moot. “We are pleased that the court has denied respondents’ baseless attempt to dismiss our lawsuit,” said Education Law Center Legal Director Maura McInerney. “As the court recognized, our challenge to the inadequacy and inequity of Pennsylvania’s broken school funding system will persist. We look forward to presenting our case at trial.”
https://www.elc-pa.org/2018/08/21/in-victory-for-students-court-rules-that-pa-school-funding-lawsuit-is-not-moot/
Editorial: Welcome to the new school reality: Being prepared
Delco Times Editorial POSTED: 08/21/18, 6:54 PM EDT
It’s one of the annual rites portending the end of summer. Pools are closing. Parents are dragging kids off to the store to stock up on school supplies. Kids are filled with dread – let alone the notion of once again getting up bright and early. And, of course, teachers are engaged in self-defense classes, learning how to keep themselves and their young charges safe in the event of an active shooter. Huh? Welcome to life after Parkland. After Virginia Tech. After Sandy Hook. And, of course, after Columbine. Call it School Security 101. Actually, it was called “Teacher Safety Workshop: Protecting Those Who Protect Our Children.” It was sponsored recently by Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland and state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield.
The two-day workshop drew 70 teachers and educators to the campus of Penn State Brandywine for training them in conflict management, self-defense, how to secure a classroom and how to stop the bleeding for a gunshot victim.
http://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/20180821/editorial-welcome-to-the-new-school-reality-being-prepared
School districts address security as new school year gets underway
Observer Reporter by Karen Mansfield Aug 20, 2018 Updated Aug 20, 2018
A sign in front of Gastonville Elementary School in Finleyville reads, “Warning: Ringgold School District Students and Staff are Protected by Armed Police Officers.” It is a sign of the times we live in. Following February’s mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead – one of many school shootings since Columbine in 1999 – schools across the country beefed up security and bolstered school-based mental health services. As students get ready to head back into classrooms, school districts in Washington and Greene counties are continuing to address school safety. Central Greene School District has purchased handheld metal detectors, giving the Greene County district one more resource at its disposal to include in its safety plans. Carmichaels Area School District is hiring a second school resource officer, who will be assigned to the elementary school.
https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/school-districts-address-security-as-new-school-year-gets-underway/article_8c499e14-9c0a-11e8-ad0b-cb2c6ec98f63.html
“State lawmakers introduced dozens of new bills aimed at improving school safety after the Parkland, Florida school shooting that left 17 dead in February. Most of those bills — which touched on everything from mandatory mental health screenings to armed guards in every school — have not been brought up for votes. The one bill that cleared the Legislature and was approved by Gov. Tom Wolf will create $60 million in new state funding for school safety and security grants. It also established a new anonymous reporting program called Safe2Say.”
School officials, lawmakers say they need more federal funding for school safety
Lancaster Online by SAM JANESCH | Staff Writer August 22, 2018
Six months after the deadly Florida school shooting that sparked a renewed national debate about school safety, local officials are saying it’s about time the federal government chipped in to more fully fund students’ physical and emotional needs. “We need more resources so that we can not only identify those students in ninth grade who have depression issues and other kinds of issues — but what about the seventh graders? What about the sixth graders?” Penn Manor school board member Rich Frerichs said Tuesday. “If you can identify some of that stuff earlier, that's going to help us. And to do that, we need money.” His and others’ pleas for more aid came in a roundtable discussion with Penn Manor School District officials, parents, elected lawmakers, as well as Millersville and state police. They said local schools need more programs fostering positive mental health, along with security like school resource officers.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/school-officials-lawmakers-say-they-need-more-federal-funding-for/article_2a513b58-a58e-11e8-892c-63ea10db14ff.html
GOP LG candidate Bartos: Wolf's 'school choice' is a $4b tax hike or $1b in cuts | Wednesday Coffee
Penn Live By John L. Micek jmicek@pennlive.com Updated 8:15 AM; Posted 8:12 AM
Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Credit Republican Scott Wagner's gubernatorial campaign with this much, when it finds a riff, it sticks with it. Thus do we find Wagner's running-mate, Montgomery County business guy Jeffrey Bartos, renewing the well-trod claim that Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf wants to cut $1.2 billion from public education by funneling state support for schools through a fair funding formula approved to bipartisan acclaim three years ago. As riffs go, it's an effective one. The Wagner campaign briefly forced Wolf to play defense on an issue that's in his wheelhouse. And it's given Wagner, who's spent most of his career in public life hammering public education and teachers, the rare chance to seize on a third-rail issue in state politics. But much like the Les Paul-wielding, classic rock wannabe in every guitar shop who insists on playing "Stairway to Heaven," but can't quite get through the opening lines without loudly and noticeably muffing a few, key notes, Bartos' attack overlooks some important facts. And we'll get to that in a second.
https://www.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2018/08/gop_lg_candidate_bartos_wolfs_1.html
Wolf Administration Announces $13 Million Available for Schools with Weather-related Displaced Students
Pennsylvania Pressroom 08/20/2018
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration announced today that $13 million in federal funds is being made available to 17 local education agencies (LEAs) across the state that have enrolled students displaced from Hurricanes Maria, Harvey, Irma, and the 2017 California wildfires. “When last year’s record-breaking weather forced families to relocate to Pennsylvania, communities across the commonwealth responded,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “Enrolling in our schools gave students from as far away as California and Puerto Rico, a sense of normalcy and a safe place to continue their education.” In total, 20 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands were awarded almost $356 million in federal funds under the U.S. Department of Education’s Temporary Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students program. Funding was determined using Pennsylvania’s quarterly counts of displaced students, and the commonwealth is set to receive the fifth highest award. “Last year’s storms caused an influx of new students in several districts throughout Pennsylvania,” Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera said. “In most cases, those students and their families had very little time to prepare for evacuation and came without school supplies, academic records, or other resources. But our schools worked to minimize the disruption for students transitioning into the commonwealth’s communities.” Fifteen school districts and two charter schools qualify for funding to provide an array of school services, such as services for students who may require special needs amenities, or translation services. Eligible schools must apply for funding from PDE. School districts and charter schools eligible for funding include:
https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Education-Details.aspx?newsid=497
Charter increase: Number of schools actually growing — not shrinking
Daily Item By David Hurst dhurst@tribdem.com August 21, 2018
The idea of chipping away at the number of Pennsylvania’s public school districts — 500 in all — has been a hot topic for years. But the number of publicly funded charter schools has quietly been growing since 1997. Since the state permitted charter schools in 21 years ago, the number of state-funded, independently run charters and cyber charters has grown from four schools to 178. “People talk about consolidating schools, but we’ve added charter schools galore in Pennsylvania here over the past 20 years,” longtime educator and former State Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak said. “We’ve gone from 500 to almost 700. “Not saying that they are good or bad — but the reality is, Pennsylvania has more schools than it’s had in a long, long time.” While they may not have to rely on bus lines — and in many cases maintaining brick and mortar school buildings — charter schools have expenses that state tax dollars cover regardless, he said. Charter schools have their own administrators, payroll offices and back office costs.
http://www.dailyitem.com/news/charter-increase-number-of-schools-actually-growing-not-shrinking/article_7755565c-a55f-11e8-8987-bfce25d6fb02.html
The 10 lessons reformers learned in the fight against gerrymandering | Opinion
Penn Live Guest Editorial By Patrick Beaty Updated 8:45 AM August 21, 2018
To my fellow redistricting reformers, now that the dust has settled on your disappointing season, it's time to take stock and review what you've learned from our Legislature's latest round of "Legislating Without Results."
Lesson #1: Most legislators agree the current system for redrawing district lines is flawed. They're just not ready to agree on a proposed solution.
Lesson #2: Some Republican legislators will never believe your claim that you are against gerrymandering no matter which political party is doing it. They prefer to believe rumors that you're funded by billionaire George Soros rather than listen or respond to your reform proposals.
Lesson #3: Those same hard-core partisans on the right will continue their false accusations even when partisans from the left try to block the reforms you support.
Lesson #4: The smartest people working in the Legislature aren't as smart as they think they are. They advised their bosses in the Senate to allow a vote on redistricting reform to provide political cover for their more vulnerable members, then sabotaged that maneuver with a "poison pill" amendment that raised frustrations even higher.
Lesson #5: Legislators don't always act in their own best interest. If nothing changes, Democrats will control the five-member commission that will redraw state Senate and House district lines after the 2020 census. That's because the state Supreme Court, now dominated by Democrats, will appoint the chairman of that panel, who will have the deciding vote. Some Republican legislators understand this and would like a bipartisan solution. Others seem oblivious to the changing dynamics.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/08/the_10_lessons_reformers_learn.html
“The legislation would allocate 75 percent of new basic education funding to districts that are underfunded, including the Pottstown and Reading school districts. The remaining 25 percent would be allocated through the formula to all school districts.”
Bill would benefit Pottstown, other underfunded Pa. schools
Reps. Tom Quigley and Tim Hennessey say the legislation would promote parity in state education funding.
Reading Eagle WRITTEN BY MATT CAREY TUESDAY AUGUST 21, 2018 07:27 PM
Two state representatives from the Pottstown area introduced legislation to reduce inequity in how Pennsylvania provides funding to public school districts. The bill by Republican Reps. Tom Quigley and Tim Hennessey, both of whom represent parts of Pottstown, would redistribute education funding in a way that is more favorable to schools that are underfunded. While the state introduced a new Fair Funding Formula in 2016, only new education funding has been put through the formula to date. In addition, a “hold harmless” provision prohibits schools from receiving less funding than they did prior to the new formula. Fair funding advocates argue that all school funding should be allocated through the formula. Pottstown, in particular, would receive an extra $13 million a year if all funding was based on the formula instead of only new funding. “In my opinion, anyone with a scintilla of ethical judgment would see that Pennsylvania’s funding system is broken and it needs to be fixed,” Pottstown Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez said Tuesday. “Not just for Pottstown, but for the vast numbers of students in underfunded districts.”
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/bill-would-benefit-pottstown-other-underfunded-pa-schools
Report: Black students suspended at twice the rate of whites in many Allegheny County schools
Trib Live by NATASHA LINDSTROM | Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, 10:39 a.m.
Nearly three-fourths of Allegheny County public school districts suspend black students at twice the rate of white students and more than a third of districts have excessive suspension rates overall, a new report says. The findings are among research published Tuesday after a four-year examination of state and local data by the University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems. “The overuse of school suspensions represents a pressing and costly problem to the greater Pittsburgh region,” the report says. With higher-than-state-average suspension rates in 80 percent of districts countywide, “the overuse of exclusionary discipline practices is not simply an issue of poverty, urbanicity or tough schools with tough kids,” the report says. “It is a regionwide problem, and one that disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable students.” The 40-page report, “Just Discipline and the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Greater Pittsburgh,” includes data and analyses spanning 51 traditional public schools as well as charter schools across Allegheny County and is based on state data collected between 2013 and 2016.
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13995461-74/report-3-out-of-4-allegheny-county-school-districts-suspend-black-students
Study lists charter schools among those with highest suspension rates in Allegheny County
ELIZABETH BEHRMAN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Lbehrman@post-gazette.com AUG 22, 2018 6:00 AM
Several local charter schools were flagged in a new University of Pittsburgh study that highlighted high suspension rates at schools in Allegheny County. The report, “Just Discipline and the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Greater Pittsburgh,” reviewed state discipline data from the 2012-13 school year to the 2015-16 school year and determined that the average suspension rate for schools across Pennsylvania was 9.7 suspensions for every 100 students in 2015-16. According to the report, Allegheny County schools on average had 13.7 suspensions per 100 students, and about a third of the districts and charter school networks studied were above the state average for suspension rates. Those included the Urban Pathways Charter School, Propel Schools, City Charter High School, Manchester Academic Charter School and Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship. During the study period, the number of suspensions in Propel Schools — a network that operates 13 charter schools across Allegheny County — increased to 43 suspensions per 100 students in 2015-16. City Charter High School Downtown also increased to an average 41 suspensions per 100 students that year, according to the report. The suspension rates for Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania and Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School also increased during the study period.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/08/22/Charter-schools-suspension-rates-University-of-Pittsburgh-Propel-Urban-Academy-Allegheny-County/stories/201808210266
Back to school in August? Why Philly's doing it and some other districts aren't.
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer @newskag | kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: AUGUST 22, 2018 — 5:00 AM EDT
Some things you just know without having to consult a calendar: Valentine’s Day is Feb. 14, July 4 is Independence Day, and Philadelphia public school students return to class after Labor Day. That last part is about to change. Beginning this year, all Philadelphia School District students will report to school on Monday, Aug. 27 — a full week before the unofficial end to summer. Officials said the pre-Labor Day start is the new norm in Philadelphia, mostly to front-load the school year with as much instructional time as possible, and are in the midst of a splashy, city-wide social-media campaign to raise awareness of the change. An analysis of school start dates around the region shows that, as usual, they’re all over the map — Mastery Charter Schools, a large network in Philadelphia and Camden, starts Thursday, Aug. 23, and many districts in New Jersey don’t go back until Sept. 6. That’s for a number of reasons, experts say: considerations regarding snow days, holidays, families’ summer vacation plans, standardized testing, professional development, and an attendance falloff late in the school year. Though pre-September start dates are on the rise nationally, many districts locally still opt for the traditional post-Labor Day start. In Lower Merion, schools spokesperson Amy Buckman said the schedule suits families well.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/back-to-school-philadelphia-school-district-students-august-pre-labor-day-20180822.html
Schroeder replaces O’Neill on 29th District ballot
Intelligencer By Chris Ullery Posted Aug 21, 2018 at 7:34 PM
The Bucks County Republican Committee has named Meghan Schroeder, of Buckingham, to replace state Rep. Bernie O’Neill as the party candidate for the 29th District. She’ll face Democrat Andrew Dixon in November. Meghan Schroeder, a former staff member in state Rep. Bernie O’Neill’s office, is the new Republican nominee for the 29th District in November’s election. Schroeder was unanimously nominated Monday night by the Bucks County Republican Committee to replace O’Neill, who ended his re-election bid earlier this month. Schroeder, of Buckingham, faces off against Democratic candidate Andrew Dixon, a Centennial School Board member, organizer with the American Federation of Teachers in New Jersey and teacher at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. “I’m honored to be nominated,” Schroeder said in a committee news release following Monday’s nomination.
http://www.theintell.com/news/20180821/schroeder-replaces-oneill-on-29th-district-ballot
Delco school district stops faith-based group from teaching sex-ed classes
Inquirer by Kathy Boccella, Staff Writer @Kathy_Boccella | kboccella@phillynews.com Updated: AUGUST 21, 2018 — 5:00 PM EDT
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District agreed with a Strath Haven High School senior who complained that her health class sex-ed lecture from a faith-based pregnancy center was not factually accurate, and said it would no longer invite the organization to speak at the high school. In an email to parents, Superintendent Lisa Palmer said after reviewing the materials the Drexel Hill-based Amnion Pregnancy Center presented that she found some of the information shared in class and in conversations with students after class about romantic relationships “was not purely factual.” Abby McElroy, the 17 year-old who told school officials about the class, said she’s already working to bring her protest to other Philadelphia-area schools. “I want to pursue this because I think every student has the right to fact-based, comprehensive sex education,” McElroy said in an email. “Amnion’s presentations seek to shame students into believing that they only have one option (abstinence) because if they don’t abstain from sex, they will become unlovable,” McElroy said. “This is incredibly degrading and dehumanizing, and no one should be subjected to it.” Amnion’s executive director defended the program.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/wallingford-swarthmore-school-district-amnion-pregnancy-center-sex-ed-classes-20180821.html
Wolf aides tout apprenticeship program
Philly Trib Tribune News Report August 20, 2018
Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak and Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin on Monday provided updates on how Gov. Tom Wolf’s office is strengthening workforce development by expanding apprenticeship programs across the commonwealth. The state officials were joined by representatives from York-based precision stamping company Tooling Dynamics and the School District of Philadelphia, who discussed how the administration’s support of apprenticeships has bolstered their organizations and provided opportunity for enrolled apprentices. “Gov. Wolf is committed to expanding apprenticeship programs and job training efforts statewide by investing $30 million through his new, innovative PAsmart initiative,” Oleksiak said. “PAsmart is bringing together workforce, education and economic development partners to connect Pennsylvania learners with the training they need to secure good middle-class jobs and provide employers with a ready pipeline of high-skilled, well-trained employees to meet the needs of a 21st century economy.” Philadelphia School District recently registered an HVAC and pipefitter trade addition to the school’s existing electrician and plumber apprenticeship programs being supported by the Wolf administration.
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/wolf-aides-tout-apprenticeship-program/article_fa9db3ba-ae56-55a6-a618-cab19e2c7bd2.html
How Much Do Charter Schools Cost Districts?
As charter school enrollment grows, researchers disagree on extent of financial impact and who's to blame.
Education Writers Association AUGUST 20, 2018 DAVID LOEWENBERG
It’s a refrain heard often in arguments against charter schools—they divert money and resources from already cash-strapped traditional public schools. But determining to what extent that criticism rings true is anything but simple. Despite several studies, estimates of the costs traditional public schools bear as they lose students to charter schools are imprecise and vary considerably. The upshot is that even as charter school enrollment has expanded rapidly—and now stands at more than 3 million students nationwide—a consensus on the long-term fiscal impact on district-operated schools has proven elusive. Education reporters often find themselves caught in the crossfire as they struggle to make sense of the claims and counterclaims by advocates who support or oppose charter schools, which have proven a political flashpoint in many communities. Charter schools—independently-operated public schools of choice that typically receive flexibility from state and local rules—now exist in more than 40 states. (For more background on charter schools, check out the EWA Topics page, plus a helpful piece recently published by Education Week—Charter School: Seven Common Questions, Answered).
https://www.ewa.org/blog-educated-reporter/how-much-do-charter-schools-cost-districts#.W31ZLJzIpMo.twitter
Teachers Are Winning Public Support for Pay Raises, Survey Finds
Education Week By Madeline Will August 21, 2018
This spring, thousands of teachers walked out of their classrooms in a half-dozen states, protesting low salaries and cuts to school funding. Their activism likely made a difference in boosting support for raising teacher salaries, shows a new poll from the journal Education Next. EdNext surveyed a nationally representative sample of 4,601 adults during the first three weeks of May. The survey included representative oversamples of parents of school-age children and teachers. In the six states where there were widescale teacher strikes and walkouts—West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Colorado—63 percent of respondents favored raising teacher pay. Public support in those states jumped by 16 percentage points since last year.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/08/22/teachers-are-winning-public-support-for-pay.html
Poll: Support for school choice growing among Republicans
AP News by Maria Danilova August 21, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Support for charter schools and private school voucher programs has gone up over the past year, with Republicans accounting for much of the increase, according to a survey published Tuesday. The findings by Education Next, a journal published by Harvard’s Kennedy School and Stanford University, come as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos promotes alternatives to traditional public schools. Forty-four percent of respondents in the poll conducted in May said they support the expansion of charter schools, compared to 39 percent in 2017. The gain of 5 percentage points, however, did not fully offset the drop in support from 51 percent in 2016. When broken down according to party affiliation, 57 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of Democrats voiced support for charter schools, compared to 47 percent of Republicans and 34 percent of Democrats in 2017. “Support is up among Republicans for various strategies to expand school choice, and the Trump administration’s embrace of those policies is a likely explanation,” said Martin West, associate professor of education at Harvard University and a co-author of the report. Nina Rees, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools said the findings “demonstrate through the educational choices they make for their children - families want high-quality charter school options for their kids. “Above all else, parents care that their child has access to an excellent school, and as education advocates it is our job to ensure that wish becomes a reality,” Rees added. Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, noted that support for charters has risen mostly among Republicans. “I hate to see an issue turn into a partisan question,” Lake said. “I don’t think that an education policy that’s designed to get better outcomes for kids should ever be a partisan issue.”
https://www.apnews.com/d74e1d2a3aa447b58c3fbadc409e7b13
EdPAC reception helps support election of pro-public education leaders
Do you want to help strengthen public education in the commonwealth? Join with EdPAC, a political action committee that supports the election of pro-public education leaders to the General Assembly. EdPAC will hold a fundraising reception at the 2018 PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Cocoa 2-3. More details to come! Visit the conference website to register online.
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/
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
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.
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!
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.
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do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
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