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Wagner receives $1 million from PA school privatization
Students First Pac
Tell your PA House member we need
graduation reforms under SB 1095, which was unanimously passed by the Senate in
June and unanimously voted out of the House Education Committee on Monday:
PSBA Legislative Alert August 27, 2018
Deadline
to register to vote is October 9. How to
Use Pennsylvania’s Online Voter Registration:
To
vote in the next election, you must complete your application by 10/09/2018
Pennsylvania voters: Know your deadlines
Morning Call September 26, 2018
You probably know the election is Nov. 6. But did you know you already can apply for an absentee ballot. Here are key deadlines for Pennsylvania voters.
The 2018 general election’s about six weeks away, but deadlines are approaching, especially if you’re not registered to vote or plan on using an absentee ballot. And there’s plenty to decide in Pennsylvania, including the next governor and (most of) the lawmakers we’ll send to Washington and Harrisburg for the next two to six years.
Oct. 9 — Last day to register to vote in November
Oct. 30 — Last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot
Nov. 2 — Last day for counties to receive civilian absentee ballots
Nov. 5 — Last day to submit military and overseas absentee ballots
Nov. 6 — Election Day
Nov. 13 — Last day for counties to receive military and overseas absentee ballots
For more information: www.votespa.com
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-voter-deadlines-2018-story.html
Sen. McGarrigle's SB1095 bill a smarter approach to testing
Delco Times By Rich Askey Times Guest Columnist Sep 22, 2018
Rich Askey is a music teacher in the Harrisburg School District and vice president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents approximately 181,000 future, active, and retired teachers and school employees, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.
Standardized tests aren’t the only way to measure students’ abilities, and they’re certainly not the best way to do it. Ask any educator, and they will agree. I recall many times during my three decades in the classroom when students stressed out so much over a standardized test that they acted out in some way — bursting into tears or worse. During one testing session, a student suddenly jumped out of his seat, feeling frustrated and defeated with no way to ask for help. His actions meant he had to be removed from the testing room. This is not the kind of learning environment that educators strive to create. For more than a decade, educators and parents have been sounding the alarm about the impact of toxic, high-stakes testing on our schools and students. The good news is that our elected leaders are listening. Take, for example, the Keystone Exams, end-of-course tests in algebra, biology, and English literature. nitially, a state regulation required every Pennsylvania student to take the Keystone Exams and score “advanced” or “proficient” in order to graduate high school. Then in 2015, elected officials, recognizing the problems with this mandate, enacted a moratorium on the graduation requirement. Just this summer, the state Senate unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, that provides a more permanent solution.
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/sen-mcgarrigle-s-bill-a-smarter-approach-to-testing/article_53098958-be0f-11e8-b8cb-170543f3bc74.html
Here’s PSBA’s summary of SB1095. Please consider reaching out to your PA House members today to urge them to support this legislation and to have them ask House Leadership to bring SB1095 up for a vote before the full House before the legislative session ends.
Summary of Senate Bill 1095: Changes to high school graduation requirements
Provisions of Senate Bill 1095, as amended in the House Education Committee on Sept. 24, 2018
Prime Sponsor: Senator Thomas McGarrigle (R-Chester/Delaware)
Quick summary: Senate Bill 1095 amends the Public School Code by establishing alternative pathways for high school graduation and making other changes. The bill creates four options that students who are not proficient on the three Keystone Exams in Algebra I, literature and biology may use to meet requirements to graduate. Schools are not required to offer related supplemental instruction. Provisions for project-based assessments are eliminated. The bill applies to school districts, intermediate units, area vocational-technical schools/career and technical education centers, charter schools, cyber charter schools, regional charter schools or multiple charter school organizations.
Effective date: The act will become effective immediately upon the governor’s signature. Requirements for high school graduation will be effective in the 2021-22 school year. The legislation establishes requirements for high school graduation and calls for the State Board of Education to revise regulations as necessary to implement the provisions.
https://www.psba.org/2018/09/summary-sb1095-092418/
“Wagner's largest single contribution came from Students First, a political action committee that supports charter schools and vouchers for students in underperforming school districts. Critics say such a system would funnel millions away from public education and end up hurting low-income students.”
Gov. Tom Wolf leads challenger Scott Wagner in fundraising as election nears
Penn Live By Wallace McKelvey WMckelvey@pennlive.com Updated 1:11 PM; Posted 12:31 PM September 25, 2018
Gov. Tom Wolf's re-election campaign brought in twice as much money as his Republican challenger, former state Sen. Scott Wagner, over the last three months. Wagner's campaign reported $3.6 million in contributions between June 5th and September 17th, according to a filing with the state Department of State. It spent roughly $3.4 million and ended the period with $1.8 million in cash on hand. Wolf's campaign raised $7.2 million over the same period and ended with a cash balance of $8.9 million. The Wolf campaign noted that it spent $13.5 million, including a recent $5 million ad buy.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/09/gov_tom_wolf_leads_challenger.html#incart_river_index
“Wagner's campaign received $1 million from Students First PAC, which advocates for school choice. It is affiliated with a group founded by Betsy DeVos, secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.”
Gov. Wolf’s campaign advertising budget: $10M since June
Inquirer by Andrew Seidman, September 25, 2018
With six weeks to go until Election Day, Gov. Wolf maintains a significant fund-raising edge over Republican Scott Wagner, according to campaign-finance reports made public Tuesday. Wolf, a Democrat seeking a second term, outspent Wagner $13.5 million to $3.4 million over the last three months, a factor of four. The governor ended the reporting period — from June 5 to Sept. 17 — with $8.9 million in his reelection campaign account, nearly five times as much as Wagner's $1.8 million. The filings show that after spending heavily to win the primary in May, Wagner, a former state senator who owns a waste-hauling company in York County, has not fully recovered. He trails Wolf in public polls by double digits.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/politics/elections/tom-wolf-scott-wagner-pennsylvania-governor-race-campaign-finance-20180925.html
“The Republican candidate’s biggest single donor was the Students First PAC, a pro-charter school committee. It gave Wagner $1 million, more than one quarter of the funds he raised in the period. The Student First PAC’s only contributor in the period was Jeffrey Yass, a wealthy investor from Bala Cynwyd, who’s been active in funding school choice candidates in the past.”
Wolf keeps big lead over Wagner in campaign cash
WHYY By Dave Davies September 26, 2018
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf still holds a big lead in fundraising over his Republican rival Scott Wagner according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday. During the period that dates back to June 5, it showed the incumbent out-raised his challenger two-to-one with Wolf raising $7.2 million during the period, compared to Wagner’s $3.6 million. It also showed the governor out-spent his challenger four-to-one during the period. Wolf spent $13.5 million compared to $3.4 million for Wagner. A look at how the two are faring going into the final months, Wolf’s campaign still has $8.9 million left in his war chest compared to $1.8 million for Wagner. Wolf and Wagner are both wealthy businessmen who’ve put millions of their personal funds into their campaigns in the past.
https://whyy.org/articles/wolf-keeps-big-lead-over-wagner-in-campaign-cash/?utm_source=dlvr&utm_medium=twitterauto&utm_campaign=social-inbound
Blogger note: here’s a couple articles that provide a little background on Students First PAC’s primary contributor, Jeffrey Yass.
ThinkFest Preview: Jeffrey Yass on School Choice
The stock trader argues that school vouchers could "drastically" reduce poverty in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Magazine by HOLLY OTTERBEIN· 10/19/2016, 10:03 a.m.
Jeffrey Yass may be best known in Philadelphia as the suburban stock trader who, along with his two business partners, donated heavily to a pro-Tony Williams super PAC in the 2015 mayoral race. At the time, the three Susquehanna International Group execs were pretty press-shy, but explained to a handful of journalists that they spent millions on the election for one reason and one reason only: “school choice.” Williams, a Democrat, is one of the most charter-friendly politicians in Pennsylvania. Now, Yass will make his case for school vouchers publicly at Philadelphia magazine’s ThinkFest, an event showcasing ideas from around the region.
Read more at https://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/10/19/thinkfest-jeff-yass-school-choice/#vAIQ99DgahThuIS1.99
“The investor, along with his business partners, Joel Greenberg and Arthur Dantchik, has long seen school choice as the civil rights issue of our time. Janine Yass, his wife, founded Boy’s Latin, a charter school in West Philadelphia.”
This Billionaire’s Plan Could Save Philadelphia Schools
Huffington Post By Laura Goldman 01/04/2017 10:28 pm ET Updated Jan 05, 2018
Public education in Philadelphia has reached a crisis point. Only 65% of students enrolled in Philadelphia public school students graduated high school in 2015. A local billionaire has a revolutionary idea that would overhaul public education in Philadelphia. The co-founder of Susquehanna Investment Group (SIG), Jeff Yass, presented his bold initiative at Philadelphia Magazine’s Thinkfest. It would be easy to dismiss his idea as one from the clueless elite, but anyone who has known the renowned trader for a long time, including this reporter, knows that he can see profit or potential at the poker table, race track, and the stock market that others failed to notice. Unlike Donald Trump, he’s a billionaire that did not start his empire with a “small” loan of $1 million from his father. He secured the stake to start his company, which is one of the world’s most successful trading firms, the modern way-by winning at poker. Unlike many on Wall Street, he did not earn his fortune taking advantage of those less fortunate than him. The only toes he may have stepped on were of his fellow millionaire traders.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-goldman/this-billionaires-plan-co_b_13963394.html
Pivot to white nationalist rhetoric shows Wagner is running scared | Opinion
Penn Live Guest Editorial By Adanjesus Marin Posted Sep 25, 9:15 AM
Adanjesus Marin is the director of Make the Road Action in PA, a Latino advocacy group. He writes from Philadelphia.
Clearly, Scott Wagner is scared, and he should be.
With polls dating back to March consistently showing Governor Tom Wolf with commanding double-digit leads over Wagner in the gubernatorial race, Wagner last week dug into the fever swamp that is Alex Jones' InfoWars to embellish his stump speech with a tale of white nationalist paranoia. In the story Wagner chose to relate, an 80-year-old white man explains his decision to vote for Donald Trump by describing a fictionalized world in which immigrant groups, particularly Muslims and immigrants of Latinx or Hispanic descent, are "part of a special group with special rights, to the point where we don't even recognize the country we were born and raised in."
It is telling that Wagner prefaced his remarks by saying, "I'm going to tone it down a little bit," but he immediately followed that by saying, "but it's a great story." He knew exactly what he was about to say and how it would be received by his intended audience.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/09/pivot_to_white_nationalist_rhe.html#incart_river_index
A new one-stop-shop for Pennsylvania education data
WITF Written by Avi Wolfman-Arent/Keystone Crossroads | Sep 24, 2018 1:23 PM
If you're looking for an education-related figure, number, data point, or variable, chances are the new Pennsylvania School Data Project has you covered. Conceived as a repository for researchers, journalists, policy wonks, and school administrators, the new website hosts more than a dozen spreadsheets packed with education data. The nonprofit Research for Action -- known as RFA -- spent more than six months collating federal, state, and local data to make the new databank. The final product includes data on student test scores, suspensions, enrollment, and revenues. Crucially, data are assembled longitudinally, meaning you can track something -- say a district's graduation rate -- from year to year. The oldest data go back to the 2006-07 school year. RFA didn't generate any new data for this project, but it stitched together data sets "that you would normally have to bring together in order to answer your research questions," said research assistant Jason Fontana. The nonprofit hopes the Pennsylvania School Data Project will grease the wheels of local research -- and even help on-the-ground administrators better understand the education landscape. RFA's work includes statewide numbers, districtwide numbers, and school-specific numbers.
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/09/a-new-one-stop-shop-for-pennsylvania-education-data.php
The Philly school board is getting 2 new members. They’re 17.
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: September 18, 2018
For the first time in nearly two decades, the Philadelphia School District will have a student at the table as its governing body makes the decisions that affect 200,000 students. Actually, there will be two. Officials announced Tuesday that Julia Frank and Alfredo Praticò will become the first student members of the new Philadelphia Board of Education. The School Reform Commission, which the local board replaced on July 1, did not have any student members during its 17-year run. Both of the new members, who will take an oath of office at Thursday's school board meeting, are 17 and high school seniors; Frank attends Northeast High and Praticò goes to Masterman. School district officials were initially planning to choose a member and an alternate, but decided given the scope of the job, it was wise to have two full-fledged members. Frank and Praticò are not voting members of the board, and they will be excluded from executive sessions, where legal and personnel matters are discussed, but they will read, review and weigh in on all other matters the nine-member panel considers. They've already got the inches-thick briefing books for Thursday's meeting to prove it, they said.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/education/philadelphia-school-board-new-student-members-17-20180918.html
SR417: Senate Committee Approves Dinniman’s Resolution to Study Later H.S. Start Times, Student Sleep
Senator Dinniman’s Website September 25, 2018
West Chester (September 25, 2018) – The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved state Senator Andy Dinniman’s resolution calling for a study on the benefits and impacts of instituting later start times to the school day in secondary schools. “We know that our children, especially adolescents and teenagers, need sufficient sleep to learn, grow, and reach their highest potential,” Dinniman who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, said. “Unfortunately, we also know too many students are simply not getting enough sleep and there’s a growing body of research about its negative impact on education and health. As more and more schools consider pushing back start times, it’s important that legislative leaders fully understand the issues at stake.” Senate Resolution 417 establishes an advisory committee under the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to study and report on later school start times, including an assessment of the health, academic and safety benefits associated with them, as well as any potential negative impacts. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that adolescents receive 8 – 10 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended middle and high schools aim for start times that allow students to receive the recommended amount of sleep.
http://www.senatordinniman.com/senate-committee-approves-dinnimans-resolution-to-study-later-h-s-start-times-student-sleep
$13 million available for some local schools with weather-related displaced students
By:WFMZ 69 News Posted: Sep 25, 2018 08:06 PM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., - $13 million in federal funds is available to 17 education agencies across Pennsylvania. These agencies enrolled students displaced from Hurricanes Maria, Harvey, Irma, and the 2017 California wildfires. The 17 agencies that qualified for the funds include 15 school districts and two charter schools. The money will be used to provide various school services such as services for students who may require special needs amenities, or translation services. Eligible schools must apply for funding from Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The 17 school districts and charter schools eligible for funding include: Allentown School District; School District of Philadelphia; Reading School District; School District of the City of York; School District of Lancaster; Lebanon School District; Harrisburg School District; Bethlehem Area School District; Central Dauphin School District; Chambersburg Area School District; Erie School District; I-Lead Charter School; John B. Stetson Charter School; Muhlenberg School District; Parkland School District; Scranton School District; Wilkes-Barre Area School District.
For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs, please visit the Department of Education’s website at www.education.pa.gov.
http://www.wfmz.com/news/top-stories/-13-million-available-for-some-local-schools-with-weather-related-displaced-students/799498461
“The recommendation was made, O’Donnell said, because racially tinged remarks made by the national pizza chain’s former CEO and chairman went against the district’s Climate and Inclusive Excellence Policy.”
After dropping Papa John’s, the State College school board OKs a new pizza vendor
Centre Daily Times BY LAUREN MUTHLER lmuthler@centredaily.com September 25, 2018 04:08 PM Updated September 25, 2018 04:10 PM
The State College Area school board on Monday voted unanimously to approve Domino’s as the delivered pizza provider for elementary students for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year, beginning Oct. 15. The decision comes after the board, acting upon the recommendation of Superintendent Bob O’Donnell and Business Manager Randy Brown, voted 5-4 at its Sept. 12 meeting to cancel the bid award for Papa John’s and to seek a new provider.
https://www.centredaily.com/latest-news/article218996905.html#storylink=hpdigest
Penn-Trafford teachers may strike over contract
Trib Live by JOE NAPSHA | Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, 8:45 p.m.
Penn-Trafford’s 3,800 students could find themselves caught in a teachers strike “sooner rather than later,” because of a disputed tentative agreement, the teachers’ union president said Tuesday. Penn-Trafford’s teachers union could call for a strike as early as the end of the week, said Shaun Rinier, president of the 250-member Penn-Trafford Education, on Tuesday following a membership meeting. While the membership previously authorized the union officers to call a strike, it must give the school district a 48-hour notice before walking off the job, Rinier said. Penn-Trafford Superintendent Matthew Harris declined to comment Tuesday, saying he had not heard from Rinier. The teachers, who are working under an extension of the four-year pact that expired on June 30, planned to vote on a six-year tentative agreement on Thursday, but that has been cancelled, Rinier said.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14117490-74/penn-trafford-teachers-may-strike-over-contract
Early evidence of a ‘Trump effect’ on bullying in schools
WHYY By Jill Barshay, The Hechinger Report September 25, 2018
This story first appeared on The Hechinger Report.
During and following the 2016 presidential election, there were many media reports describing bullying in schools. But it was hard to know if bullying had actually increased or if parents and teachers and journalists were simply noticing it more. Or perhaps, in our age of Facebook and Twitter, more incidents were coming to our collective attention. A pair of researchers decided to investigate what happened in middle schools in the political battleground state of Virginia, which voted 49.8% for Hillary Clinton and 44.4% for Donald Trump in 2016. Using surveys that were regularly administered to students throughout the state before and after the election, the researchers tracked how teasing and bullying had changed and mapped that onto election returns. The results: in 2017, both teasing and bullying were significantly higher in schools located in districts that had voted for Donald Trump compared with districts that had voted for Hillary Clinton. Prior to the election, in 2013 and 2015, there had been no divergence in bullying or teasing rates between Republican and Democratic communities.
https://whyy.org/articles/early-evidence-of-a-trump-effect-on-bullying-in-schools/
Opening Doors for Young Parents
By the Annie E. Casey Foundation September 25, 2018
POLICY REPORT DOWNLOAD (24 PG PDF)
This report reminds policymakers and child advocates of the barriers that young families face. It examines national and state-level trends — highlighting areas of opportunity and concern — and then shares potential solutions that can help these families thrive.
https://www.aecf.org/resources/opening-doors-for-young-parents/
Teachers Aren't Just Running for Office—They're Winning
New data show most educators vying for state seats pass first hurdle
Education Week By Madeline Will September 24, 2018
It's a trend noted by the news media, teachers' unions, and educators themselves: Fed up with the state of public education, teachers are running for office. And now, a new Education Week analysis shows that teachers are not only running—they're winning. Out of the 158 current classroom teachers that Education Week confirmed were running for their state legislature, 101 have moved on to the general election. Thirty-seven of those teachers won their primaries, while 59 ran unopposed. Five are running as write-in candidates, so they didn't have to go through a primary. "If even just a handful of us win a seat [in November], ... then teachers will have a voice at the Capitol—and we haven't had one in so very long," said Jennifer Samuels, an 8th grade teacher who is running for Arizona's House as a Democrat. While these teachers are scattered across the country in 32 states, many are in Oklahoma—15 teachers won their primaries there, and 12 additional teachers in the Sooner State were unopposed. That's about a 42 percent success rate so far for the 64 teachers there who filed to run.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/09/26/teachers-arent-just-running-for-office--theyre-winning.html
Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 19 - 25, 2018
FairTest Submitted by fairtest on September 25, 2018 - 12:35pm
Early fall is a very busy season for assessment reformers across the nation, as this week's stories from a third of the states plus higher education and overseas clearly show. Policy makers are paying particular attention to their constituents' concerns as Election Day draws near.
http://www.fairtest.org/testing-resistance-reform-news-september-19-25-201
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/
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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