Thursday, August 30, 2018

PA Ed Policy Roundup August 30: PA Ed Policy Roundup will be off the grid, not publishing during September


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

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

PA Ed Policy Roundup will be off the grid, not publishing during September



We will be off the grid and the PA Ed Policy Roundup will be offline, not publishing during September

After tomorrow morning our next posting will most likely be during the last week in September.  Here are a few significant items to keep in mind in the meantime:

We are pleased to announce that the Keystone State Education Coalition is now an endorsing member of the PA Schools Work coalition
Join A Movement that Supports our Schools & Communities. Sign up here:
Follow PA Schools Work on twitter: @PASchoolsWork 
Follow PA Schools Work on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PASchoolsWork/

Tell your PA House member we need graduation reforms under SB 1095, which was unanimously passed by the Senate in June
PSBA Legislative Alert August 27, 2018

How to Use Pennsylvania’s Online Voter Registration
To vote in the next election, you must complete your application by 10/09/2018



“But the fallout in Oklahoma is unprecedented in recent political history. A dozen incumbents in the Legislature, all Republicans, have lost their jobs already, even before Democrats have a chance to challenge them. Oklahoma Republicans typically don’t pay a price for opposing tax increases, especially in a GOP primary, but this year’s vote came after four consecutive years of budget shortfalls that have decimated funding for public schools. Nearly 20 percent of the state’s school districts have gone to four-day school weeks, and teachers hadn’t received a raise in a decade, leading to this spring’s walkout in which tens of thousands of teachers rallied at the Capitol for more funding.”
Pro-education movement ousts 6 more Oklahoma GOP legislators
AP News By SEAN MURPHY  August 29, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Six Republican members of the Oklahoma House who opposed hiking taxes to improve teacher salaries lost their jobs in primary runoffs, adding momentum to a pro-education movement that previously ousted two other GOP legislators and fueled a statewide teacher walkout. Pro-education groups were extraordinarily successful in targeting legislators who sought to block the tax hike. Of the 19 House Republicans who voted against the measure, eight failed to win their nominations — including the six who lost primary runoffs Tuesday. Seven others were either term-limited or decided not to run. Only four advanced to the November general election. “The walkout woke us up, and we took our voice and our power back,” said Alicia Priest, the head of the Oklahoma Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union. “All across the state our members and their circle of influence have gotten involved in that political process and worked on campaigns and elections, and we saw the fruits of that effort last night.” This year’s education movement that led to teacher protests in Arizona, Kentucky and West Virginia has already shaken up political races elsewhere. In Kentucky, where teachers thronged the Capitol over changes to their pension system, a high school math teacher ousted a top GOP leader in a primary, and dozens more teachers are on the ballot in November.
https://apnews.com/7e80f52c9b44486fa282ee8f36e75193/Pro-education-movement-ousts-6-more-Oklahoma-GOP-legislators

“Teacher turnover has long been a problem in Philadelphia, felt most acutely in a core group of hard-to-staff schools – generally in the poorest neighborhoods with the neediest students. Of the 3,460 teachers hired between 2013 and 2018, excluding those in the current cohort, more than a third – 34 percent – are no longer with the District, according to its data. Of the group recruited for 2017-18, (875 first-time teachers), 20 percent left in their first year.”
New District teacher, a Philly native, looks forward to helping ‘kids who look like me’
Jessica Kesler, a graduate of the city's public schools, is one of 581 new hires this year in the District.
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa August 29 — 5:00 pm, 2018
Jessica Kesler in her classroom at Muñoz-Marin Elementary on the first day of school. Jessica Kesler grew up in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook Elementary, Beeber Middle School (since closed), and Parkway Center City High School. From there, she went on to St. Joseph’s University. On Monday, she started in her new role in the Philadelphia School District: teaching 4th-grade science at Muñoz-Marin Elementary School in Kensington. She is one of 581 new teachers hired this year in the District and is among the 146 African Americans – 25 percent – in her new cohort and the 430 women – 74 percent. The District is actively seeking to increase the number of  African American teachers it employs, a figure that has been declining steadily. In previous years, the District has needed to hire significantly more teachers than it did this year, as large numbers retired or left. Superintendent William Hite hopes that this smaller number signals more stability in the teacher corps.

“In 2013, 16,631 students graduated from teacher-training programs; by 2015, that number had dropped to 6,125”
100-plus new teachers hired amid PA teacher shortage
Pottstown Mercury By Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com @PottstownNews on Twitter August 25, 2018
There will be no shortage of new faces on the first day of school this year.
August is the season for new hires and a review of personnel votes in area districts show more than 100 new teachers have been hired in the eight public school districts covered by The Mercury. That review also shows that some districts are weathering more staff changes than others. …CBS News reported Wednesday that nationally, fewer college students are studying education. Enrollments dropped by 35 percent between 2009 and 2014, according to the Learning Policy Institute, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on education policy. That number is almost doubled in the Keystone State, where data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education shows that from 2013 to 2015, the number of students graduating from teacher-training programs plummeted by 63 percent.

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/plus-new-teachers-hired-amid-pa-teacher-shortage/article_b00a80c8-a7e7-11e8-8805-6746b2a1ac3c.html

Most People Wouldn't Want Their Child to Become a Teacher, Poll Finds
Education Week By Madeline Will on August 27, 2018 7:34 PM
A growing number of people say teacher salaries are too low and that they would not support their children entering the teaching profession, a new national survey finds. The PDK International poll on education, released today, surveyed a random national sample of 1,042 adults, which included an oversample of 515 parents of school-aged children. PDK International, a professional association for educators, conducts an annual survey of American attitudes toward public schools. A research firm conducted the 2018 survey online during the first three weeks of May. (Some of this year's results—the findings on school safety—were already released in July.) This year, most respondents—61 percent—said they have trust and confidence in public school teachers. That's up from 51 percent in 2015.  However, just over half of respondents said they would not want their child to become a teacher. That's an 11 percentage point increase from when the poll last asked that question in 2014. Among those who said they would not want their child to become a teacher, 29 percent said the main reason was inadequate pay and benefits. The second-most common answer—said by 12 percent of respondents—was student behavior and a lack of discipline. Six percent said teaching was a thankless job that wasn't respected or valued in society.  People's lack of support for their children becoming teachers is "disappointing, but not necessarily surprising," said Joshua Starr, the CEO of PDK International. 
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2018/08/pdk_poll_finds_teacher_salaries_too_low.html

F&M Poll: Trump holds key in Pa. midterms
Citizens Voice BY JEFF HORVATH / PUBLISHED: AUGUST 30, 2018
President Donald Trump is “an essential motivating force” for both Democrat and Republican voters in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a new Franklin & Marshall College poll released Wednesday. The poll — which surveyed 511 registered Pennsylvania voters, including 243 Democrats, 200 Republicans and 68 Independents — found that more voters prefer a Democratic candidate for U.S. House (48 percent) than a Republican candidate (39 percent). Of those planning to vote for a Democrat candidate, however, 67 percent see their vote mainly as a vote against the president and Congressional Republicans. Conversely, 74 percent of those planning to vote for a Republican will cast their ballot mainly to support Trump and Republicans in Congress, the poll found. The findings are a testament to how polarizing Trump and his aggressive brand of politics has been, said G. Terry Madonna, the poll director. “Typically midterm elections are a referendum on the president,” Madonna said. “This one has ratcheted up the referendum to almost a new level given the nature of the Trump presidency and the steep polarization that exists within the voters. ... Much of it has to do with the president’s controversial style and personality probably as much as anything, and that’s not likely to change.”
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/poll-trump-holds-key-in-pa-midterms-1.2379880

“Two in three (67%) of those who plan to vote for a Democratic congressional candidate are casting their ballot mainly as a vote against President Trump and Republicans in Congress; while three in four (74%) of those who plan to vote for a Republican candidate are casting their ballot mainly as a vote to support President Trump and the Republicans in Congress.”
Read the Latest F&M Poll Results
August 20 - 26, 2018 Franklin & Marshall College Poll
Franklin and Marshall Center for Opinion Research
The August 2018 Franklin & Marshall College Poll finds that more than half (54%) of the state’s registered voters are “very interested” in the 2018 mid-term elections; more Democrats (60%) than Republicans (53%) or independents (33%) say they are “very interested.” At the moment, both Governor Tom Wolf and Senator Bob Casey hold comfortable leads against their Republican challengers, but a large portion of voters, notably Republicans and independents, are undecided in those races. Neither Republican candidate is well known yet among voters. At the moment, Democrats have an advantage in voter interest and turnout. More than two in five (46%) registered voters in Pennsylvania believe Governor Wolf is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as governor, which is similar to our March and June surveys. Two in five (41%) registered voters believe Senator Casey is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as the state’s U.S. Senator, which is a bit higher than his ratings in March and consistent with our June survey. About two in five (38%) registered voters in Pennsylvania believes 
https://www.fandm.edu/fandmpoll

Top 2018 midterm election donors to Philly-area candidates:Who's giving, who's getting what in Pa., N.J.?
Inquirer by Jonathan Lai and Holly Otterbein, Staff Writers Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018
Follow the money. It may be a cliché, but it is a reliable way to track power.
And this year, the Philadelphia region is home to some of the most important congressional races in the country — face-offs that could make or break Democrats' dreams of taking back the U.S. House. To find out who's trying to influence politics in the area — and where candidates are spending their big bucks — the Inquirer and Daily News examined the most recent campaign finance data available in this year's congressional races. Our analysis is based on data released this month by the Federal Election Commission, which covers the Jan. 1, 2017-June 30, 2018 period. We examined 19,163 contributions received by campaigns and a key super PAC in that 18-month period, totaling more than $25.5 million, as well as 6,626 campaign expenditures — nearly $16 million. The analysis covers 42 candidates in the region seeking nine U.S. House seats.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/campaign-finance-contributions-donations-midterm-elections-2018-pennsylvania-new-jersey.html

Tom Wolf and Scott Wagner are having the wrong school funding debate | Opinion
Guest Editorial By Stephen DeMaura Updated Aug 29, 8:01 AM; Posted Aug 29, 8:00 AM
Stephen DeMaura is the executive director of Excellent Schools PA, an advocacy group based in Philadelphia.
Money. Money. Money.
For the politicians and "education advocates" that fill the hallways of the Capitol that is where most conversations on education in Pennsylvania start and end. It is all a fight about how much money is being spent and who gets it. If you listen to the back and forth on education spending between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican challenger Scott Wagner, that's exactly what they are arguing about: Which districts are the winners and which districts are the losers. The debate is not about quality, accountability or achievement, and it is certainly not about how we can raise the bar for every student in the state. Governor Wolf ran on increasing state education spending by $1 billion and with the support of the Republican legislature he did just that. Over the last five years, beginning the year before Wolf took office, state education spending has increased by $1 billion. The Pennsylvania taxpayers spend $33.2 billion each year to educate students in our public schools, roughly $17,600 per student.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/08/tom_wolf_and_scott_wagner_are.html#incart_river_index

Blogger opinion: here is all you need to know about former state senator Wagner’s “support” for public education:
Sponsors for Voucher Bill Senate Bill 2 (Education Savings Accounts)
PA General Assembly Website Bill Information
DiSANTOSCARNATIEICHELBERGERARGALLALLOWAYAUMENTBAKERBARTOLOTTAFOLMERMARTINRAFFERTYREGANRESCHENTHALERSTEFANOWAGNERWHITE and KILLION
Short Title: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for education savings account; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the State Treasury.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2017&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=2


EDITORIAL: Transparency, if not the law, demands that Scott Wagner release his tax returns
York Dispatch Editorial Published 5:41 a.m. ET Aug. 30, 2018
Scott Wagner is right about one thing — he is under no legal obligation to release his tax returns. Ethically, however, the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania should follow a tradition of transparency. In recent decades, most gubernatorial nominees have, when asked, released part or all of their federal tax returns. It’s obvious by now, however, that Wagner is not like most candidates of recent vintage. That became painfully obvious recently when he was asked about releasing his returns. The owner of Penn Waste Inc., a nonunion, waste-hauling business in York County, fairly bristled in his response. “If I make money or don’t make money that’s my business,” Wagner said during a question-and-answer session in Erie, an exchange captured on video by the Democratic party. “And you know what? If I disclose those tax returns, union representatives get a hold of my tax returns, go around to my employees’ homes at night and say, ‘Hey Mrs. Jones, how much does your husband make?’ She goes, ‘Well he makes this.’ ‘Well this guy makes a lot more.’”
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/08/30/editorial-transparency-demands-wagner-should-release-tax-returns/1116261002/

School District of Lancaster has welcomed hundreds of Puerto Rican students (so far) since Hurricane Maria
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer Aug 28, 2018
About a month after his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017, Carlos Rodriguez Rivera said he received a message from God — to leave home and build a brighter future for his family elsewhere. “The situation economically wasn’t enough for me to make ends meet, so I decided to come here,” Rodriguez Rivera, 47, said. On Nov. 23, 2017 — Thanksgiving Day — Rodriguez Rivera, his wife, Jacqueline Estremera, and two kids, 11-year-old Chamir Rivera and 7-year-old Chaesly Rivera came to Lancaster to live with his 24-year-old son, Luis Gilberto Rivera, who had moved here four years earlier. No more were the days of constant power outages, scarce food, water and gas that marred quality of life in Puerto Rico. Rodriguez Rivera enrolled Chamir, now a sixth-grader at Lincoln Middle School, and Chaesly, a second-grader at Burrowes Elementary School, in the School District of Lancaster. The father was hired as a maintenance worker at San Juan Bautista Catholic Church, he and his wife purchased their own cars and they now rent a home on Orange Street. Rodriguez Rivera’s story is similar to that of many men and women with children who have fled Puerto Rico seeking refuge in Lancaster after the island was devastated by the hurricane. They want what’s best for their kids — ample food and water, safety and a proper education. And, at least in Rodriguez Rivera’s case, that’s what he found.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/school-district-of-lancaster-has-welcomed-hundreds-of-puerto-rican/article_ac77f46c-aa40-11e8-87c0-a76b3ab2b329.html

Pa. education secretary visits Juniata
Rivera welcomes staff back for another year during visit to school
The Lewistown Sentinel by ERIN THOMPSON Education/religion editor ethompson@lewistownsentinel.com AUG 29, 2018
MIFFLINTOWN — By participating in a School Improvement pilot program, Juniata County School District has helped shape some practices throughout the commonwealth in terms of meeting student needs in rural communities, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera told school staff Tuesday. Rivera welcomed administrators, faculty and staff to the new school year with a speech at Juniata High School auditorium. The speech was held during a teacher inservice day. “You’ve really challenged us with your involvement in the school improvement pilot — over the course of the past year — to think differently about how diverse, geographically and socioeconomically, in terms of students needs we continue to be in the Commonwealth,” Rivera said. “It has allowed us to think more deeply about the needs of kids, specifically about the needs of rural students and rural families.” Juniata County was one of three Pennsylvania school districts — along with districts in Pittsburgh and Allentown — to participate in the program, which is part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to help schools and improve education across the state.
http://www.lewistownsentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/08/pa-education-secretary-visits-juniata/

Philly charter school trains teachers, staff in youth mental health first aid
WHYY By Sara Hoover August 29, 2018
A Pennsylvania task force on school safety recommends better access to mental health services — including age-appropriate materials for students and teachers. Heeding that advice, Philadelphia’s String Theory Charter Schools hosted a day of mental health first aid training for its teachers and staff. At an event Tuesday, hundreds took part in the instruction provided by the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and a national mental health awareness organization called Project 375. Malik Gray, a supervisor in Philadelphia’s Mental Health First Aid Unit, says it’s important to train adults to understand what causes kids to act out rather than criminalizing that behavior. “We look at the behaviors that we see developing in adolescents and being able to differentiate between, ‘Hey, typical behavior’ versus ‘Hey, something’s not right here with this young person. What’s going on?’ ” Gray said.
https://whyy.org/articles/philly-charter-school-trains-teachers-staff-in-youth-mental-health-first-aid/

With danger of concussions better known, high school football programs take notice
Trib Live by DOUG GULASY  | Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, 10:06 p.m.
Running back Logan Harmon took a handoff in Apollo-Ridge’s 2017 season finale against Gateway. He hit the hole, but he didn’t see the Vikings defender converging on him. “I got hit by a big kid,” Harmon remembered a year since he was diagnosed with a concussion. Apollo-Ridge’s training staff pulled Harmon from the game, effectively ending his freshman season. Such hits happen at all levels of football — head contact between players, or between a player’s helmet and the ground. And over the past decade, research into head injuries is bringing more scrutiny into such hits and their potential impact on the players’ future. As research continues into the effect of concussions and other head injuries on former NFL players, the effects – and some of the worry – are trickling down to the high school level, where more attention is being paid to the injury and players, coaches, trainers and officials are adapting. A study released in Journal of the American Medical Association in July 2017 reported the brains of 110 of 111 deceased ex-NFL players exhibited signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive, degenerative disease caused by repeated blows to the head.
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14025618-74/the-danger-of-concussions-better-known-treated-now-in-high-school-football

“Even though Jolly was not present, residents were given the opportunity to comment. Every individual who spoke was in opposition to the charter school.”
Residents pack Chi School Board meeting on new charter school
Delco Times By Loretta Rodgers Times Correspondent August 29, 2018
UPPER CHICHESTER >> About 150 residents packed a special meeting of the Chichester School Board Tuesday night to weigh in on a proposal for the operation of a charter school in the district was expected to be presented. However, the applicant, Marketa Jolly, never showed up. Katherine Meehan, special counsel to the school district, asked several times if Jolly was present, but there was no response. The proposal includes the operation of a charter school in Lower Chichester Township at the site of the former Holy Saviour Elementary School.
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/residents-pack-chi-school-board-meeting-on-new-charter-school/article_c1cc072e-abb0-11e8-b8d5-97ff83adbbda.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share

Upper Darby applies for school funds promised by lawmakers
Delco Times By Kevin Tustin ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com August 29, 2018
UPPER DARBY >> Administrators in the Upper Darby School District have applied for money that was reportedly secured in the 2018-19 state budget for the underfunded school district. Assistant Superintendent Dan McGarry said the district recently filed applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for grants worth $3.5 million, the sum amount that was announced by state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, and state Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, in late June, just one day before the district adopted its budget on June 21. The district was working up to the last minute to accommodate this added boost of revenue, which swelled the budget from $207.2 to $210.7 million for this extra revenue source to be slated for capital improvements in the district if the money comes through. McGarrigle and Santora had urged the district to use the money to cover revenues that would have otherwise been brought in from a tax increase, but the school board elected to raise taxes 2.5 percent which will bring in $2.3 million more to the district from real estate taxes. Almost $7 million in fund balance was also committed to the budget. When the district’s budget was adopted there was some uncertainty about whether the money would actually be coming through to the district seeing that both chambers of the Legislature had not yet passed the state budget that these funds were supposedly coming from.
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/upper-darby-applies-for-school-funds-promised-by-lawmakers/article_89e67712-abe3-11e8-ad77-bb3d05892fe6.html

Guns, crumbling buildings: School safety requires an enlightened approach | Editorial
The Inquirer Editorial Board Posted: August 29, 2018
Although a School Safety Report commissioned by Gov. Wolf was prompted by the mass shootings at a Parkland, Fla., high  school, it's worth noting that the report's release on Monday coincided with the opening day of school in Philadelphia during a heat wave so bad that schools had to close early on Tuesday and Wednesday due to lack of air-conditioning. We take note of that to underscore that "school safety" is a very broad subject, one that can easily be colored  by current events.  In the aftermath of a school shooting,  the physical and emotional safety of students is critical. We're not faulting the report for focusing solely on school violence, but it's important to remember how many facets of our children's safety need addressing. The School Safety Report follows the creation of a task force by the governor and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, and is the result of six months of meetings and hearings.  It was long overdue. School shootings have numbered in the hundreds since the 2013 shootings in Newtown, Conn., that killed 28. Fortunately, the findings and recommendations of the report do not include the distribution of guns to teachers; apparently, that's the job of the U.S. secretary of education.  In fact, the report is light on sweeping pronouncements.  Rather, the recommendations recognize that creating truly safe schools requires systemic change in communication, coordination, and training.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/pennsylvania-school-safety-shootings-governor-wolf-20180829.html

THE ROLE OF OUR FATHERS IN DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS AND DREAMERS
Phillys7thWard Blog BY NOSAKHERE GRIFFIN-EL AUGUST 29, 2018
Dr.  Nosakhere Griffin-El is a former student of mine at John P. Turner Middle School. He is dedicated to increasing the literacy rates of our youth and I am honored that he has joined our community of writers on Phillys7thWard. Remember that you are the windows through which your children see this world. Take notice of yourself and the things that you do in hopes that your example will stir their hearts and souls! -Rayfield Wright As fathers, we are the windows through which our children see their dreams. When our children look through us, they see the possibility of accomplishing their dreams or overcoming the insurmountable odds that discourage them from dreaming. Looking through us, our children can decide to either pursue or give up on their purpose. As men who have lived life, we know that the world is a graveyard of lost and forgotten dreams. Our role as fathers is to support our children in developing the necessary skills needed to develop and advance their dreams. In the summer of 2017, I pitched an idea to my wife to create a summer reading program for the boys. The idea was centered on using reading as a tool to prepare my sons to develop and advancing their passions and interests. My wife, who is an analytical thinker, asked me the key question, “How are you going to execute this idea?” I developed an action plan that made this idea a reality. The plan had four pillars — reading identity, home reading culture, selection of books, and modeling good reading habits.
http://phillys7thward.org/2018/08/role-fathers-developing-next-generation-readers-dreamers/

What Privatization Really Means
Curmuducation Blog by Peter Greene Wednesday, August 29, 2018
We're living through an unprecedented age of privatization, filled with ongoing attempts to turn public spaces and public institutions into privately owned and operated businesses. The first impulse is to ascribe this to corruption and greed-- surely the goal of privatization is to grab more money, to profit from institutions and endeavors that used to be for the shared public good. But that doesn't entirely scan. The accusations are common, but I don't believe that Betsy DeVos is in the secretary of education's chair because she sensed a money-making opportunity-- certainly nothing that would make a perceptible difference to her family fortune. I don't think Bill Gates is one of the point men on the privatization of education for the benjamins; the man already has more money than he will ever spend. Are people pursuing privatization simply out of a desire to rake in mountains of money? I don't think so.
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2018/08/what-privatization-really-means.html?spref=tw

Rhode Island bans guns on school grounds, except with police
Inquirer by AP Updated: AUGUST 29, 2018 — 12:35 PM EDT
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The governor of Rhode Island and the state's commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education have announced a directive barring all guns from schools except those carried by law enforcement personnel. The directive issued Wednesday by Commissioner Ken Wagner was in response to what he called "ambiguities and inconsistencies" in state law and different rules among school districts. While the law guarantees "that all students and educators have the right to attend and work in a school that is safe and secure," it also allows people with concealed-carry permits in schools. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said Rhode Island was one of only a few of states that allowed non-law enforcement officials to carry concealed weapons into schools. Republican gubernatorial candidate Patricia Morgan accused Raimondo of "waging war on the Constitution."
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20180829_ap_f553c9fc0d4e4991ae00a9183cd19160.html?arc404=true


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!

“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.

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