PA Ed Policy Roundup Jan. 3: Wisconsin Gov.-elect wants property tax bills to show how much people are paying to support private voucher schools

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PA Ed Policy Roundup Jan. 3, 2019

Wisconsin Gov.-elect wants property tax bills to show how much people are paying to support private voucher schools


January is School Director Recognition Month.
Letter to the Editor: Thank a school board member today
Delco Times Letter by Maria Edelberg, Ed.D., Executive Director, Delaware County Intermediate Unit January 2, 2019
I am writing on behalf of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) and our public school districts in honor of School Director Recognition Month. A quality public education is a key that can open doors of opportunity for many students. Providing that education takes a team of committed people from educators and staff to parents and administrators. The nine members of your local school board are an important part of this team, making informed decisions that direct the course of our public schools. Every January, we take time to celebrate and recognize the challenging and vital work they do on behalf of our students, families and community. School directors volunteer an average of 10 hours each month to board work, which includes adopting policy, voting on budgets, approving curriculum changes, choosing textbooks and reviewing hiring decisions to name a few. They have many difficult, often unpopular decisions to make. They take time to learn about the issues affecting public education and to seek innovative solutions. As unpaid, locally elected officials, school directors are invested in their communities. They are our neighbors, friends, local leaders, parents and engaged senior citizens. During this month of recognition, please take a moment and show your gratitude for school directors’ time, dedication and effort year-round. The job they do is necessary to ensure our schools remain a pathway to a promising future. Thank them for advocating on behalf of our collective interest, and most importantly, for making the success of our children their priority.
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-thanks-a-school-board-member-today/article_3354d134-0e8d-11e9-b8ef-4ba99b505e92.html

“Education: Rep. Curt Sonney, 4th Legislative District, Erie County.”
Turzai Announces Committee Chairmen for 2019-20 Session
PA House Republican Caucus Website JAN. 02, 2019 
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) today announced the appointments of majority committee chairmen for the 2019-20 Legislative Session.
House committees study each bill and determine which proposals will go to the full House. They conduct public hearings on key issues, allowing citizens and interested groups to have a say in the legislative process, and they serve as a resource for members and others.
“The men and women who chair the House committees are getting the work done to prepare legislation for the full House to consider,” Turzai said. “Through public hearings and voting meetings, committee chairs lead the way by vetting proposed solutions to the serious issues and challenges facing Pennsylvania.”
Committees are outlined in the House Rules that are enacted for each session.
Turzai made the following appointments: 
http://www.pahousegop.com/News/Latest-News/Turzai-Announces-Committee-Chairmen-for-2019-20-Session-

Pa. House committee chair assignments include seven midstate lawmakers
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated Jan 2, 3:13 PM; Posted Jan 2, 3:13 PM
House Speaker Mike Turzai on Wednesday announced his committee chairman assignments for the 2019-20 legislative session that puts nine lawmakers, including two from the midstate, into leadership roles for the first time in their legislative careers. It also leads to some new chairman assignments for lawmakers who previously held one of these leadership posts. That includes Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler County, who is now chairing the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, which is expected to have a full plate of issues come before it over the next two years. Metcalfe held the reins of the House State Government Committee for eight years and was often in the spotlight for sundry reasons from his tirades against Democrats and being a blackhole for Democratic billsto being critical of the ranking Democrat on the committee touching him. The committee chairmen, determined by seniority, play an important role in determining which legislation the panel considers and which proposals can continue down the law-making pipeline that can lead to consideration by the full House.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/pa-house-committee-chair-assignments-include-seven-midstate-lawmakers.html

New year, new Congress: Key storylines as Pennsylvania lawmakers take oaths
Laura Olson Contact Reporter Morning Call Washington Bureau January 3, 2019
At noon today, the 116th Congress gathers in the U.S. Capitol to be sworn in for its two-year term. The big picture: Republicans tightened control of the 100-member Senate in the 2018 election. The GOP holds a six-vote edge, up from the last Congress. Seventy-five senators are men; 25 are women — the most female senators ever. Democrats won control of the U.S. House, and will enjoy a 36-member majority. In the House, 333 members are male and 102 female. Pennsylvania voters elected four women, after having no female lawmakers during the last two sessions. Nancy Pelosi is poised to become House speaker, a role she held the last time Democrats controlled that chamber. But there’s dissension in the ranks: Liberal Democrats are resisting plans requiring any new spending be offset by budget cuts. The incoming Democratic majority in the House means more scrutiny of the Trump administration. The president enjoyed a GOP hold on the Oval Office, Senate and House during the first half of his term.
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-116th-congress-chatter-20190102-story.html

“It seems as if finally, in Pennsylvania, a woman’s place is in the House. And the Senate. And U.S. Congress.”
Editorial: In Pa. a woman's place is now in House - & Senate
Delco Times Editorial January 3, 2019
There is a bit of irony that our newly elected legislators were on the job on Harrisburg Tuesday, on New Year’s Day. Actually, they didn’t have a choice. The state constitution mandates they take the oath of office on Jan. 1. So yes, this group that takes a lot of heat all year for not getting things done and their seemingly light workload were present in the state Capitol as they took the oath of office while the rest of us enjoyed a holiday. But there was something even more important about the group that gathered under the Capitol dome. They looked dramatically different than the group that skedaddled out of town with lots of unfinished business before the holidays. They look more like the rest of us. In other words, it’s a more diverse body. Specifically, there are more women, who have been historically under-represented in Harrisburg. Eighteen women put their hand on the Bible and were sworn into office in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the first time Tuesday. They join 34 women incumbents. That means 52 women will serve in the 203-member House. In the Senate, the numbers are not as star, but women still have made advancements. Five new women members will join seven female incumbents in the senior chamber. You can put away the party hats, whistles and champagne, however. The Pennsylvania Legislature is still comprised for the most part by older white males. Old Boys Club? It’s been that way for a long time in Harrisburg. And it’s not just in the Legislature.
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/editorial-in-pa-a-woman-s-place-is-now-in/article_cc19307c-0e97-11e9-83ec-571e184a400b.html

Pennsylvania House's powerful new 'oversight committee' triggers legal and political questions
Steve Esack Contact Reporter Morning Call Harrisburg Bureau January 2, 2019
Buried within the multitude of volumes that encompass Pennsylvania laws is a 176-year-old statute that is rarely used. The June 13, 1842, law gives the Legislature the legal authority to issue subpoenas that force anyone to testify before the House or Senate about “any part of the commonwealth.” It says those who refuse to testify can be imprisoned, while a separate “Contempt of the General Assembly” law carries a misdemeanor criminal penalty. Despite those laws, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to expand that chamber’s investigative and subpoena power. It targets the Democratic-controlled governor’s office and three independent row offices — attorney general, treasurer and auditor general. The House voted 142-58 to adopt its biannual operational rules covering the 2019-20 legislative cycle. Within those rules, the House created a Government Oversight Committee to investigate “executive agencies and administrative actions.”
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-house-subpoena-legal-power-20190102-story.html

Pa. House Republicans must not play politics with new executive branch oversight committee | Opinion
By PennLive Editorial Board Updated Jan 2, 4:05 PM; Posted Jan 2, 4:03 PM
There’s a lot to like in the new operating rules Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday. As it begins its 2019 session, the 203-member chamber is taking a tougher stance on fighting sexual harassment in its ranks that is long overdue. And it’s moving to make it easier to banish criminally convicted lawmakers. Both are important steps toward improving accountability and transparency in an institution that is often woefully lacking in both. The House’s 142-58 vote, which came with the support of 32 Democrats, also authorizes the creation of a nine-member Government Oversight Committee that’s intended to strengthen oversight of the executive branch.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/01/pa-house-republicans-must-not-play-politics-with-new-executive-branch-oversight-committee-opinion.html

December Revenue Collections $70.1 Million Over Estimates; $403.7 Million Over Estimates For The Year
PA Capitol Digest by Crisci Associates January 2, 2019
On January 2, the Department of Revenue reported Pennsylvania collected $2.9 billion in General Fund revenue in December, which was $70.1 million, or 2.5 percent, more than anticipated. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $15.3 billion, which is $403.7 million, or 2.7 percent, above estimate. Since the start of the 2018-19 fiscal year, overall tax revenue is $934.7 million, or 6.7 percent, more than was collected in the same period of the last fiscal year. The Independent Fiscal Office also released its Monthly Trends Report which found December General Fund collections were $80.8 million (2.9 percent) above the IFO’s revenue projections released in July and $419.7 million (2.8 percent) above estimate for the fiscal year-to-date (FYTD).
https://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/2019/01/december-revenue-collections-701.html

Pensions require close look
Altoona Mirror EDITORIALS JAN 3, 2019
Pennsylvania’s two public pension systems received a wake-up call on Dec. 20, delivered by a review commission in a 400-page report. What’s clear from the report is that, if the two pension funds don’t respond appropriately, the funds risk increasingly shaky times. Fortunately, they still have the opportunity to avoid, or at least minimize, such unwanted scenarios, if they make the right moves now. However, they won’t really be able to replace what the report indicates that they might have lost. Those currently in charge of overseeing the funds’ operations and decisions should welcome recommendations contained in the report. Meanwhile, state taxpayers need to pay attention to developments on the pension front because of their financial stake. State taxpayers contribute to both the State Employees’ Retirement System and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System. A consultant’s analysis accompanying the report indicates that the pension plans have had a consistent record of underperformance over the past 10 years and over a 30-year period. Why has that alleged underperformance taken so long to receive the kind of close scrutiny to which it now is being subjected?
http://www.altoonamirror.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/pensions-require-close-look/

“In 2015, before the new training began, more than half of the kindergartners in the district tested below the benchmark score, meaning most of them were heading into first grade at risk of reading failure. At the end of the 2018 school year, after the science-based training, 84 percent of kindergartners met or exceeded the benchmark score. At three schools, it was 100 percent. Jack Silva says he’s thrilled with the results, but cautious. He’s eager to see how the kindergartners do when they get to the state reading test in third grade: “We may have hit a home run in the first inning. But there’s a lot of game left here.”
Why millions of kids can’t read, and what better teaching can do about it
WHYY By Emily Hanford January 2, 2019
Jack Silva didn’t know anything about how children learn to read. What he did know is that a lot of students in his district were struggling. Silva is the chief academic officer for Bethlehem, Pa., public schools. In 2015, only 56 percent of third graders were scoring proficient on the state reading test. That year, he set out to do something about that. “It was really looking yourself in the mirror and saying, ‘Which 4 in 10 students don’t deserve to learn to read?’ ” he recalls. Bethlehem is not an outlier. Across the country, millions of kids are struggling. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 32 percent of fourth-graders and 24 percent of eighth-graders aren’t reading at a basic level. Fewer than 40 percent are proficient or advanced. One excuse that educators have long offered to explain poor reading performance is poverty. In Bethlehem, a small city in eastern Pennsylvania that was once a booming steel town, there are plenty of poor families. But there are fancy homes in Bethlehem, too, and when Silva examined the reading scores he saw that many students at the wealthier schools weren’t reading very well either. Silva didn’t know what to do. To begin with, he didn’t know how students in his district were being taught to read. So, he assigned his new director of literacy, Kim Harper, to find out.
https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/why-millions-of-kids-cant-read-and-what-better-teaching-can-do-about-it/

Lehigh Valley arts charter high school celebrates Blue Ribbon award
Jacqueline Palochko Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call January 2, 2019
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts welcomed students and teachers back from winter break by celebrating the school’s Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education. As students and staff entered the school Wednesday morning, they were given Blue Ribbon wristbands, according to a news release from the charter school. Staff and faculty each signed their name to a star on the “blue star wall” at the school’s entrance. The charter school was decorated with blue ribbons on light posts and fences around the school. The events are part of the charter school’s “Happy Blue Year” initiative. Later this month, the charter school will invite state legislators to visit the school. In October, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the charter as a Blue Ribbon School, which recognizes the state’s highest performing schools. Nineteen schools in Pennsylvania received a Blue Ribbon award. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-bethlehem-arts-charter-high-school-blue-ribbon-20190102-story.html

Central York debt could curb program needs, raise taxes for years to come
Lindsay C. VanAsdalan, York Dispatch Published 3:57 p.m. ET Jan. 1, 2019 | Updated 8:28 a.m. ET Jan. 2, 2019
A dance program is the one missing link for Central York performing arts students, supporters say. Without it, alumni told performing arts staff member Donna Lynch, who pitched adding a full program to the high school curriculum at the board's Nov. 12 meeting, that they felt "woefully underprepared for their time in college musical theater programs." Several people, including staff, students and arts professionals, also spoke at the meeting about dance's capacity to serve as an outlet in art therapy, which would be invaluable to students' mental health. But though the board and administration were in favor of the idea, they were faced with a familiar roadblock: the budget. District in debt: The push and pull with the district's budget came up last year, when the board considered adding $11,661 in water polo funding. And disagreements arose over other issues come budget season. "I was probably about as popular as a Ravens fan in Pittsburgh for several months for suggesting that we might need to have limits to our appetites," said board member Joseph Gothie. The district is following a plan to reduce its debt, with a goal to be debt-free by 2024, so there's no room for new programming, he said.
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/education/2019/01/01/central-york-debt-could-curb-program-needs-raise-taxes-years-come/2269191002/

Wallingford-Swarthmore appeals for calm in wake of racist incidents
Delco Times By Neil A. Sheehan Times Correspondent January 3, 2019
NETHER PROVIDENCE — With emotions still raw over several racially charged incidents that have roiled the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, officials opted for updates and calls for calm Monday night rather than what had been billed as a community forum. Superintendent Lisa Palmer set the tone at the outset as she addressed the nearly standing room-only crowd gathered in Strath Haven High School’s auditorium “Our community has been shaken and has reacted with a range of emotions: Disappointment, anger, confusion and sadness,” she said. “Ours is a community that prides itself on being respectful and inclusive. These incidents were in direct conflict with those values.” Palmer said “misinformation and half-truths” have flown as the community has sought to make sense of the incidents, which became known in mid-December and involved racially fraught letters being delivered to some Swarthmore residents and a photo that surfaced on a social media platform of two individuals wearing what appeared to be Ku Klux Klan-style hoods. Both the letters and photo were allegedly produced by Strath Haven High School students. The goal of the meeting, Palmer said, would be for a panel of officials to provide the latest information to the degree possible and next steps. Attendees were asked to then go home, digest the information and submit any questions that remain.
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/wallingford-swarthmore-appeals-for-calm-in-wake-of-racist-incidents/article_de9902dc-0eff-11e9-8866-afdd10c6770a.html

Officials address threatening note sent to Swarthmore families, but reveal few details
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent January 3, 2019
At a tightly run town hall meeting, school and police officials from the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District in Delaware County urged unity and civility as the community grapples with a threatening note allegedly sent by teenagers to four local families. Authorities did not, however, reveal much new information to the capacity crowd packed into Strath Haven High School’s auditorium, citing a need to keep matters private as the Delaware County District Attorney investigates. In mid-December, police say, four Swarthmore families received letters saying they’d be removed from their homes and perhaps killed if they didn’t leave the town. Crediting President Donald Trump, the letter-writers said there was “now a law against filthy nutheads like yourself living in this country.” It was signed by “Donald and his crew, specifically Mike Pence.” A lawyer for the four girls accused of writing the letter told Philly.com that the girls were attempting “parody” and that it “was not intended as a racist or anti-immigrant statement.” The recipients of the note were all white, according to police.
https://whyy.org/articles/officials-address-threatening-note-sent-to-swarthmore-families-but-reveal-few-details/

Wallingford-Swarthmore School District leaders appeal for calm about racist letters and photo
Inquirer by Kathy Boccella, Updated: January 2, 2019- 10:45 AM
At what was dubbed an “informational meeting” Wednesday night about December’s racial incidents that roiled the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, educators and community leaders offered little new information but instead used the forum to call for healing and for more skepticism about social media postings. “Our community has been shaken," district Superintendent Lisa Palmer said of the incidents that prompted a student walkout at Strath Haven High School last month. “Ours is a community that prides itself in being respectful and inclusive. There is a lot of misinformation and half-truths on social media.” Many of the more than 300 people who crowded into Strath Haven’s auditorium hoping for more specific information about the racist letters that authorities said four girls from the high school left at four Swarthmore homes on Dec. 15, or the connection with a picture of two youths in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods that circulated on social media, left the meeting disappointed.
http://www.philly.com/education/wallingford-swarthmore-sd-hold-meeting-tonight-about-racist-letters-photo-20190102.html

"At some point in time as a state, we have to figure out whether we can afford two or three separate allocations of public schools,"
Evers Wants Property Tax Bills To Show Cost Of Wisconsin Voucher Schools
Democratic Gov.-Elect Says He'll Propose It In His First Budget
Wisconsin Public Radio By Shawn Johnson Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2019, 2:00pm
Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers said Wednesday that he wants Wisconsin property tax bills to show how much people are paying to support private voucher schools. The plan is one of many Evers will introduce as part of his first state budget, which will be the first proposed by a Democratic governor in Wisconsin in eight years. Given the recent history of divided government and the recent push by Republicans to restrict Evers' powers, he'll likely find himself at odds with legislators on a wide array of issues, from taxes, to schools and roads. While that could also carry over to Evers' voucher schools plan, he said it would start a "good conversation" around education funding in Wisconsin. "At some point in time as a state, we have to figure out whether we can afford two or three separate allocations of public schools," Evers said in an interview Wednesday. "People in Wisconsin don't know how much school districts are losing because of vouchers and how much is being deducted from their aid. They need to know that so that we can as a state have a good discussion about what's involved with the voucher program."
https://www.wpr.org/node/1383521

This Indiana virtual charter school graduated just 2 percent of its students in 2018
Chalkbeat BY SHAINA CAVAZOS  -  13 HOURS AGO
One of the state’s largest and most controversial virtual charter schools graduated a smaller percentage of students than nearly every other public school in the state in 2018, new state data shows. About 2 percent of Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy’s 1,009 seniors graduated, putting the school’s graduation rate below just two others — a school that caters to students with significant intellectual and behavioral disabilities and an adult high school that enrolls only a couple dozen students each and graduated no students last year. Across the state, the vast majority of schools graduate at least three-quarters of their senior students. The graduation data, released Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Education, comes as Indiana education officials are considering ways to curb growth and add oversight for online charter schools, which tend to receive low grades from the state and have few students pass state tests. Leaders from Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy have said previously that the school was designed to serve students who are far behind their peers academically. The school did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the graduation data.
https://chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2019/01/02/this-indiana-virtual-charter-school-graduated-just-2-percent-of-its-students-in-2018/

Commission OKs recommendation to arm teachers in Florida
Post Gazette by TERRY SPENCER Associated Press JAN 2, 2019 2:22 PM
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The commission investigating a shooting massacre at a Florida high school unanimously approved its initial findings and recommendations Wednesday, including a controversial proposal that teachers who volunteer and undergo training be allowed to carry guns. The 15-member Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission’s 446-page report details what members believe happened before, during and after the Feb. 14 shooting attack that left 14 students and three staff members dead and 17 wounded. The report, which the commission sent to Gov. Rick Scott, incoming governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature, is also critical of the Broward County sheriff’s deputies who failed to confront suspect Nikolas Cruz, and of Sheriff Scott Israel, whose office did not at the time have a policy requiring them to rush the three-story freshman building where the shooting happened. Sheriff Israel’s critics hope the report will result in Mr. DeSantis suspending Sheriff Israel shortly after the new governor takes office Tuesday. Sheriff Israel has said that he has done nothing to warrant his removal.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2019/01/02/Commission-approves-recommendation-arm-teachers-guns-control-schools-Florida/stories/201901020150

Elizabeth Warren, Who Said 'America Is Failing Its Teachers,' Running for President
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Alyson Klein on January 2, 2019 12:30 PM
We've barely said hello to 2019, and already, the 2020 Democratic primary is ramping up. Earlier this week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts became the first big-name Democrat to announce she's running. (Well, OK, technically she's launching an exploratory committee, a legal prequisite to actually running, but close enough.) So what's Warren's record on education? Warren, a member of the Senate education committee, was an outspoken opponent of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' confirmation, and has even started a "DeVos Watch" section of her website, detailing Warren's oversight of the Education Department. Warren also was one of just three Democrats to vote against the Senate version of a bill that eventually became the Every Student Succeeds Act because she thought it didn't go far enough on accountability, but she joined all Senate Democrats in voting for the final version of the law. In 2016, Warren opposed a Massachusetts ballot initiative that would have raised the cap on the number of charter schools in the state. The amendment, which the state's teachers' unions also campaigned against, ultimately went down to defeat. But she has praised some Massachusetts charters. 
https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2019/01/elizabeth-warren-K-12-education-essa-president.html

U.S. officials discuss Turkey’s request for return of cleric from Pennsylvania
ASSOCIATED PRESS JAN 3, 2019 7:06 AM
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s state-run news agency says a U.S. delegation is meeting Turkish officials to discuss a long-standing Turkish request for the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who is accused of being behind the failed coup in 2016. Anadolu Agency said Thursday that the delegation, which includes FBI officials, will meet with officials from Turkey’s foreign, justice and interior ministries. Hurriyet newspaper said the delegation is also expected to talk to a top suspect accused of leading the coup from an air base in Ankara. Turkey has demanded the extradition of Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Saylorsburg, Pa., north of Allentown. Gulen denies involvement in the coup attempt that killed more than 250 people. Since the coup, Turkey has arrested or dismissed tens of thousands of people with links to Gulen’s movement.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/01/03/U-S-officials-discuss-Turkey-s-request-return-of-cleric-Fethullah-Gulen-Pennsylvania/stories/201901030081?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_PittsburghPG

“Gulen followers have been active in founding approximately 120 charter schools in 25 states. Although there is no formal networking of all the schools, collectively they form one of the largest collections of charter schools in America.”
Gülen movement schools
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gülen Movement Schools are a network of private or semi-private schools founded by the members of the Gülen (Fethullah Gülen) movement. In 2009 it was estimated that members of the Gülen movement ran schools that serve more than 2 million students, many with full scholarships.^[1] Estimates of the number of schools and educational institutions varied widely, with about 300 schools in Turkey and over 1,000 schools worldwide.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BClen_movement_schools


School Director Recognition Month
January 2019 is School Director Recognition Month!
PSBA Website
In January, we pause to salute a group of nine people who spend dozens of hours each month voluntarily leading our schools and making difficult decisions – they are the school directors.
As the successes of our students are being highlighted in a statewide campaign called “PA Public Schools: Success Starts Here,” let’s not forget our elected school directors who play a significant role in creating the environment where those successes can happen.
https://www.psba.org/advocacy-and-news/resources/school-director-recognition-month/

Pennsylvania schools work – for students, communities and the economy when adequate resources are available to give all students an equal opportunity to succeed.
Join A Movement that Supports our Schools & Communities
PA Schools Work website
Our students are in classrooms that are underfunded and overcrowded. Teachers are paying out of pocket and picking up the slack. And public education is suffering. Each child in Pennsylvania has a right to an excellent public education. Every child, regardless of zip code, deserves access to a full curriculum, art and music classes, technical opportunities and a safe, clean, stable environment. All children must be provided a level chance to succeed. PA Schools Work is fighting for equitable, adequate funding necessary to support educational excellence. Investing in public education excellence is the path to thriving communities, a stable economy and successful students.
http://paschoolswork.org/

Build on finance, policy, board culture skills at PSBA’s Applied School Director Training
Four convenient locations in December and January
Take the next step in your professional development with Applied School Director Training. Building upon topics broadly covered in New School Director Training, this new, interactive evening event asks district leaders to dive deeper into three areas of school governance: school finance, board policy and working collaboratively as a governance team. Prepare for future leadership positions and committee work in this workshop-style training led by experts and practitioners. Learn how to:

·         Evaluate key finance documents such as budget and audit materials

·         Review and analyze board policies and administrative regulations

·         Build positive board culture by developing strong collaboration skills

Locations and Dates:
Dec.11, 2018 — Seneca Valley SD
Dec. 12, 2018 — Selinsgrove, Selinsgrove Area Middle School
Jan. 10, 2019 — Bethlehem, Nitschmann Middle School
Jan. 17, 2019 — State College
Cost: This event is complimentary for All-Access members or $75 per person with standard membership and $150 per person for nonmembers. Register online by logging in to myPSBA.
https://www.psba.org/2018/11/applied-school-director-training-state-college/

PASBO is looking for leaders! The deadline for board seats is Dec 31st, 2018.
PASBO members who desire to seek election as Director or Vice President should send a letter of intent with a current resume and picture to the Immediate Past President Edward G. Poprik, PCSBO, who is chair of the PASBO Nominations and Elections Committee.
More info: https://www.pasbo.org/election

NSBA 2019 Advocacy Institute January 27-29 Washington Hilton, Washington D.C.
Register now
The upcoming midterm elections will usher in the 116th Congress at a critical time in public education. Join us at the 2019 NSBA Advocacy Institute for insight into what the new Congress will mean for your school district. And, of course, learn about techniques and tools to sharpen your advocacy skills, and prepare for effective meetings with your representatives. Save the date to join school board members from across the country on Capitol Hill to influence the new legislative agenda and shape the decisions made inside the Beltway that directly impact our students. For more information contact federaladvocacy@nsba.org. 

PSBA Board Presidents’ Panel
Nine locations around the state running Jan 29, 30 and 31^st.
Share your leadership experience and learn from others in your area at this event designed for board presidents, superintendents and board members with interest in pursuing leadership roles. Workshop real solutions to the specific challenges you face with a PSBA-moderated panel of school leaders. Discussion will address the most pressing challenges facing PA public schools.
https://www.psba.org/2018/11/board-presidents-panel-2/

Annual PenSPRA Symposium set for March 28-29, 2019
Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association Website
Once again, PenSPRA will hold its annual symposium with nationally-recognized speakers on hot topics for school communicators. The symposium, held at the Conference Center at Shippensburg University, promises to provide time for collegial sharing and networking opportunities. Mark you calendars now!
We hope you can join us. Plans are underway, so check back for more information.
http://www.penspra.org/

2019 NSBA Annual Conference Philadelphia March 30 - April 1, 2019
Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Registration Questions or Assistance: 1-800-950-6722
The NSBA Annual Conference & Exposition is the one national event that brings together education leaders at a time when domestic policies and global trends are combining to shape the future of the students. Join us in Philadelphia for a robust offering of over 250 educational programs, including three inspirational general sessions that will give you new ideas and tools to help drive your district forward.
https://www.nsba.org/conference

Save the date: PSBA Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg has been scheduled for Monday April 29, 2019

Save the Date:  PARSS Annual Conference May 1-3, 2019
Wyndham Garden Hotel, Mountainview Country Club
Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools
https://www.parss.org/Annual_Conference

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