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
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These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
Phase 1 of Commonwealth Education Blueprint completed
PSBA Website POSTED ON OCTOBER 3, 2018 IN PSBA NEWS
Last fall PSBA and other education stakeholders began work on the Commonwealth Education Blueprint, a plan to develop and implement a statewide vision for the future of public education in Pennsylvania. The steering committee, made up of representatives from the many perspectives of public education, has completed Phase 1 of the project, and the preliminary report based on five strategic categories has been released. Your participation is critical to the Blueprint’s success! We hope you will complete a short survey to provide feedback for the committee during next steps. Get the survey link here, and read the Phase 1 report. Visit the website for more information on the goals and work of the Commonwealth Education Blueprint at www.edblueprintpa.org.
https://www.psba.org/2018/10/edblueprint-phase1-report/
Two-thirds of Philly kids can’t read at grade level. Can a library in a barbershop change that?
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, October 3, 2018
Leroy's Barbershop on Lancaster Avenue has all the trappings of a neighborhood gathering spot: a cozy, neat room, a narrow line of chairs with folks waiting for their turn for a shape up or a fade, a steady, low hum of conversation — and an overflowing bookshelf that serves as a de facto children's library. Two-thirds of all Philadelphia third graders cannot read at grade level, a marker researchers say can be a make-or-break for whether students succeed in school or make it to 12th grade graduation. For the past three years, an early literacy effort known as Read by 4th has aimed to change that, with over 100 philanthropic organizations and partners large and small pouring tens of millions of dollars into a citywide effort to double the number of kids who hit that mark before fourth grade. Much of the campaign's work is focused on formal classroom instruction, with funders like the William Penn and Lenfest foundations supporting efforts to bolster early literacy teaching in the Philadelphia School District. But another significant part is funneled into grassroots campaigns — everything from reading captains, who conduct trainings and serve as community resources, to book nooks in key small businesses.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/education/philly-kids-read-by-4th-literacy-library-20181003.html
Read by 4th - Our Vision
Read by 4th is a citywide campaign bringing together an ever growing coalition of partners working towards a shared vision that all children will be reading on grade level by the time they enter the 4th grade.
Why This Matters: By the start of the 2016-2017 school year, almost two thirds of children in Philadelphia entered the 4th grade unable to read at grade level. Fourth grade is the year when instruction shifts from learning to read to reading to learn. As a result, students who are not reading proficiently by the 4th grade may struggle in school and fall behind their peers. Fortunately, research has shown that all children are capable of making great strides in their reading ability as long as they have support from adults inside and outside the classroom. Through a comprehensive research review, Read by 4th believes the key levers to achieving grade level reading are: School Readiness, Daily Attendance, Quality Classroom Instruction, and Out-of-School Learning Experiences. Based on these findings, we created Six Bold Ideas with the aim of transforming Philadelphia’s children into strong readers.
http://readby4th.org/about/
“Philadelphia officials said the key to pulling the city out of long-term poverty is education. “At the end of the day, it kind of all leads back to education,” said City Council President Darrell Clarke.”
The Politics of Poverty: Officials grapple with what works and what doesn’t
Philly Trib by Michael D’Onofrio Tribune Staff Writer Sep 30, 2018
Poverty is holding the city back. “We can never fully achieve the level of great city until we dramatically reduce our poverty rate,” said U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-13. But current efforts to reduce poverty are falling short. “It’s clearly not enough,” said state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-7. “The numbers haven’t changed.” Poverty in the city has remained at nearly 26 percent for another year — the highest figure among the most populous metropolitan areas in the nation. African-American and Black poverty remains high, but ticked down from 30.8 percent to 27.1 percent last year as White poverty rose from 17.7 percent to 23.5 percent.
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/the-politics-of-poverty-officials-grapple-with-what-works-and/article_560fbb5f-a61e-5532-9ec2-a65fe971ae6b.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
How likely is Pittsburgh to arm its school officers?
Public Source by Mary Niederberger | October 2, 2018
Pittsburgh Public Schools is debating a proposal to arm the officers who patrol district schools. The district’s Chief of School Safety George Brown Jr. made the request to arm officers Monday night at the board policy committee meeting. The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, which represents the officers, supports the proposal. However, the proposal doesn’t appear to have the support of the majority of the school board, whose members expressed concerns about the safety of students — black students in particular — if officers were to carry guns. “We know who gets shot: students of color and students with IEPs,” said board member Moira Kaleida, who chaired the Monday meeting. The IEP reference is to individualized education plans provided for students with special needs. The district adopted the current school safety policy in 1997 to promote the safety and welfare of students while they are in school and while traveling to and from school and to keep district property safe. It does not authorize school police to carry firearms.
https://www.publicsource.org/how-likely-is-pittsburgh-to-arm-its-school-officers/
Cumberland Valley School District receives award for graduation policy
Phyllis Zimmerman For The Sentinel Oct 1, 2018
The Cumberland Valley School Board has received an award from the Pennsylvania School Board Association for its work in expanding the district’s graduation policy to better meet today’s economic climate, Superintendent Frederick Withum III announced at a school board meeting Monday night. CV school directors were named as the 2018 Pennsylvania Education Innovation Awards’ Innovative School Board in recognition of members’ efforts in developing new graduation requirements and career pathways, and connecting students to careers in the local economy. Board members worked in partnership with leaders in business and industry, post-secondary education, plus other government officials and agencies. “Our school directors understand the critical importance in connecting our educational programs and opportunities with post-secondary educational institutions and employers so that students can have a seamless transition into a career that provides family-sustaining wages and room for advancement,” Withum said.
https://cumberlink.com/news/local/communities/mechanicsburg/cumberland-valley-school-district-receives-award-for-graduation-policy/article_c0ecad15-4f09-53c6-a5f4-2f9b0a882f5c.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
West Mifflin school board ratifies 5-year teacher contract
Post-Gazette by DEANA CARPENTER OCT 2, 2018
The West Mifflin Area school board unanimously has approved a five-year contract with the West Mifflin Federation of Teachers. The collective bargaining agreement was approved unanimously at the board’s Sept. 27 meeting. The union, which represents 193 teachers, guidance counselors, nurses and psychologists in the district, approved the contract earlier last month. The contract is retroactive to July 1 and runs through June 30, 2023.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/10/02/West-Mifflin-Area-School-District-ratifies-teacher-contract/stories/201810040008
We Already Know School Starts Too Early. It's Time to Do Something About It
Teenagers shouldn't have to go to class while half asleep
Education Week Commentary By David Polochanin October 2, 2018
Common sense, as a general idea, seems easy to define. But when it comes to the time that middle and high school students start school in most places across the United States, the education community has been doing it wrong—with numerous, hard-to-ignore studies, sleep experts, and national organizations rightly blasting the negative impact on adolescents to begin class around 7:30 a.m. On this topic, most schools have been in the Dark Ages, literally and figuratively. The vast majority of districts do not heed recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics to hold off beginning middle and high school until 8:30 a.m. For advocates of a later start time for secondary schools, it was a brief ray of hope to learn of California's recent progress on the matter, with lawmakers there approving a bill that would require all middle and high schools to begin after 8:30 a.m. Unfortunately, Gov. Jerry Brown, citing that the decision should be made by local school boards, vetoed the legislation late last month.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/10/03/we-already-know-school-starts-too-early.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss
“There's still time for political conditions to change, but today the likeliest outcome appears to be a Democratic gain of between 25 and 40 seats (they need 23 for House control).”
House Rating Changes: Eight More GOP Seats Move Towards Democrats
Cook Political Report by David Wasserman October 3, 2018
Five weeks out, several personally popular Republicans who appeared to be defying the "blue wave" in Clinton-won districts are beginning to see their leads erode. GOP Reps. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), John Katko (NY-24) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) led most surveys over the summer but are now prime targets as their well-funded Democratic challengers become better-known and the Kavanaugh debate further polarizes voters into red and blue corners. It's becoming harder and harder to see Republicans' path to holding the majority. In the past few days, multiple Democrats challengers have announced staggering fundraising totals of more than $3 million during the third quarter of the year, exceeding what many predecessors have raised for an entire cycle. One high-ranking Republican worries his party could be "buried under an avalanche" of Democratic money that GOP outside groups can't match. After today's ratings changes, there are 15 GOP-held seats in Lean or Likely Democratic (including seven incumbents) and Democrats would only need to win 11 of the 31 races in the Toss Up column to flip the majority. There's still time for political conditions to change, but today the likeliest outcome appears to be a Democratic gain of between 25 and 40 seats (they need 23 for House control). View our full ratings here.
https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/house-overview/house-rating-changes-eight-more-gop-seats-move-towards-democrats
“In the state senate races in Maine and Minnesota, teacher candidates could help flip state legislatures to Democratic control, according to Mara Sloan, spokeswoman for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. She said her group knows of 650 educators running for state legislative positions across the country this year and that more than 450 are Democrats.”
Hundreds of US teacher candidates shake up midterm elections
AP News by By CAROLYN THOMPSON October 3, 2018
Last September, school speech therapist Kathy Hoffman was settling into the new academic year, working with youngsters in her small classroom behind a playground at Sahuaro Ranch Elementary School in a blue-collar neighborhood outside Phoenix. This year, the political novice is gone from her classroom and on the campaign trail across Arizona full-time as the Democrats’ choice in the race to become superintendent of public education, overseeing the state’s schools. It’s a post typically held by career politicians or political insiders. “My tipping point was realizing we need more teachers running for office, people who understand what it’s like in the classroom, who have seen the effect of having the lack of resources from our lawmakers,” Hoffman said.
Hundreds of current and former educators, most of them Democrats like Hoffman, are on general election ballots from school board to governor — far exceeding educator candidacies prior to this year’s successful #RedForEd protests. In her first campaign during the Democratic primary, the 32-year-old Hoffman beat a former state senate minority leader, illustrating how much a surge in teacher activism centering on higher teacher pay and increased educational funding have shaken up November midterm elections around the U.S.
https://www.apnews.com/7c7b7679de3448aa97a2ed4377f801b6/Hundreds-of-US-teacher-candidates-shake-up-midterm-elections
Feds to Investigate Whether School's Transgender Policy Created 'Hostile Environment for Girls'
Education Week By Evie Blad on October 3, 2018 1:58 PM | No comments
The U.S. Department of Education's office for civil rights will investigate whether a Georgia school district created a "hostile environment for girls" when it implemented a policy that allows transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identities. The investigation comes after a parent claimed their daughter was sexually assaulted in the girls' restroom at a Decatur City elementary school "by a male student who identified as gender fluid," according to a Sept. 14 letter from the federal agency to an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian organization that has opposed transgender student policies and helped file the Georgia complaint. The office for civil rights will investigate both the district's policy and how officials handled the family's sexual assault complaint. The district responded in a statement that said it is "committed to supporting all students." "We are aware of the unfounded allegations made by the Alliance Defending Freedom," the statement said. "We fully disagree with their characterization of the situation and are addressing it with the Office of Civil Rights." If the complaint is found to be valid, the investigation could trigger a dramatic shift for how transgender students are treated in public schools and set the stage for legal battles between the federal government—which currently takes no position on transgender student rights—and states that identify gender identity as a protected class in their own laws and policies.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2018/10/feds_to_investigate_whether_schools_transgender_student_policy_created_hostile_environment_for_girls.html
Betsy DeVos: The K-12 System Has 'Stolen Decision-Making Power From Families'
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Alyson Klein on October 3, 2018 7:46 PM
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has a lot of questions about the American K-12 education that she's been charged with leading, and she unspooled a series of them in a speech in Huntsville, Ala., Wednesday, the first day of four-state "Rethink School" tour.
"Why does 'the system' pretend that every teacher and every student is the same?"
"Why aren't parents allowed to decide the education that's right for their children?"
"Why aren't all students allowed to pursue learning in ways that work for them?"
DeVos argued in her speech at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center that "next to nothing" has changed in education, since 1983's landmark "A Nation at Risk" report, which warned that the country was falling dangerously behind foreign competitors. Some students are "bored" in class and others are unable to study a subject they're interested in because their school doesn't offer it, she said.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2018/10/betsy_devos_choice_rethink_schools_alabama.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=campaignk-12
Three Time covers show how American attitudes about teachers have changed
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss October 3 at 8:00 AM
In 2008, Time magazine published a cover showing Michelle Rhee, then the District’s schools chancellor, standing in a classroom holding a broom. The headline was, “How To Fix America’s Schools,” and the blurb for the piece said: “Michelle Rhee is the head of Washington, D.C., schools. Her battle against bad teachers has earned her admirers and enemies — and could transform public education.” As it turned out, the standardized-test reform movement that Rhee helped lead has been anything but the success that its leaders had promised, and she left the job in a bit of a huff when her mentor, then-Mayor Adrian Fenty (D), was defeated in a primary election in 2010. But her attack on teachers — many of whom she fired, and who she insisted should be evaluated by student standardized test scores, despite the advice of assessment experts — had legs for years. The Obama administration and state legislatures jumped on the bandwagon, even when only English and math were tested. Sometimes, educators wound up being evaluated based on test results from students they didn’t have or subjects they didn’t teach.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/10/03/three-time-covers-show-how-american-attitudes-about-teachers-have-changed/?utm_term=.0d20c4ba6494
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 – Voting ends Oct. 11th
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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