Tuesday, March 5, 2019

PA Ed Policy Roundup March 5: SB34/HB526: Proposed bills could provide relief to school districts regarding cyber school tuition


Started in November 2010, 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
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SB34/HB526: Proposed bills could provide relief to school districts regarding cyber school tuition


SB34/HB526: Proposed bills could provide relief to school districts regarding cyber school tuition
Washington County Greene County Mon Valley Observer Reporter by Gail Rhodes Mar 2, 2019
Some local education officials believe legislation introduced at the state level that amends how cyberschools are funded could significantly curb expenses for public education. Senate Bill 34, sponsored by state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks County, and House Bill 526, introduced by state Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie, have local school districts hopeful about the possibility of being able to get out from under the crippling expenses of cyberschool tuition. The bills, which are similar in essence, were introduced in January and February, respectively. If passed, they would require a family to pay out-of-pocket tuition to attend a cyber charter school if their home district offered a cyber-based program equal in scope and content. “Depending on its interpretations and implementations, this measure could halt the flow of millions in taxpayer dollars from traditional school districts to cyber charters,” said Southmoreland school board member Gail Rhodes as part of her Pennsylvania School Boards Association liaison report when the board met recently at its regular meeting. Currently, school districts are mandated to pay tuition to cyber charterschools for district students who opt out of district education and into a statewide cyber charter school. Rising costs in cyber school tuition rates have spurred many districts to develop their own cyber education programs.

Blogger note: The above article cites the Albert Gallatin and Southmoreland school districts, among others. Those two are in Senator Stefano’s senatorial district. Total cyber charter tuition paid by PA taxpayers from 500 school districts for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 was over $1.6 billion; $393.5 million, $398.8 million, $436.1 million and $454.7 million respectively. Over the next several days we will continue rolling out cyber charter tuition expenses for taxpayers in education committee members and legislative leadership districts.
In 2016-17, taxpayers in .@SenatorStefano’s districts had to send over $13.6 million to chronically underperforming cybers that locally elected school boards never authorized. SB34 (Schwank) or HB526 (Sonney) could change that.
Data source: PDE via @PSBA


Albert Gallatin Area SD
$880,086.12
Belle Vernon Area SD
$867,078.08
Berlin Brothersvalley SD
$145,931.08
Brownsville Area SD
$1,469,117.33
Conemaugh Township Area SD
$288,716.57
Connellsville Area SD
$1,797,899.02
Frazier SD
$445,585.62
Laurel Highlands SD
$1,102,788.02
Meyersdale Area SD
$445,796.59
Mount Pleasant Area SD
$973,980.02
North Star SD
$502,342.94
Rockwood Area SD
$250,318.98
Salisbury-Elk Lick SD
$86,889.36
Shade-Central City SD
$173,601.78
Shanksville-Stonycreek SD
$50,523.83
Somerset Area SD
$852,844.91
Southmoreland SD
$706,095.30
Monessen City SD
$471,731.14
Turkeyfoot Valley Area SD
$112,129.14
Uniontown Area SD
$1,577,085.40
Windber Area SD
$467,326.78

$13,667,868.01


How much could your school district and taxpayers save if there were statewide flat tuition rates of $5000 for regular ed students and $8865 for special ed.? See the estimated savings by school district here.
Education Voters PA Website February 14, 2019


Has your state representative cosponsored HB526?

“Other state boards or commissions serve as the administrative hearing venue for appeals of the decisions made by municipal or county elected officials; but the [charter appeals board] has sweeping powers to override the decision of a locally elected officials in a manner that directs the expenditure of locally collected taxes.  As such, the one vacancy combined with the fact that all sitting members are serving in expired terms and that they all reflect the perspective of the former governor calls into question the fairness and balance exercised by the board.”
Education group wants Wolf to prevent Corbett-appointed charter school board from making rulings
PA Capital Star By Elizabeth Hardison March 4, 2019
A leading education organization is calling on Gov. Tom Wolf to prevent a state board from ruling on charter school appeals until he works with the state Senate to fill its six seats. Public Citizens For Children and Youth, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that advocates for high-quality public education, called for the moratorium in a statement Monday. The group is led by Donna Cooper, former policy secretary under Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell. All five members of the powerful Charter School Appeal Board are holdovers from Republican Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration, as the Philadelphia-based news site The Notebook recently reported. The charter appeals board can overturn a local school board’s decision to deny, revoke, or not renew a charter school application. Charter schools in Pennsylvania are privately run but funded with contributions from public school districts. As the Capital-Star reported, the board’s members may soon be asked to rule on the appeal of their former chair, Carolyn Dumaresq, who was acting Secretary of Education under Corbett. Nothing in state law prevents the board from doing that, but the situation could raise questions over impartiality, according to a good-government advocate.   The board’s decision to grant a charter application the Pittsburgh school board voted unanimously to reject is also drawing fire from two General Assembly Democrats.

“Funding for cyber charters also emerged as a bipartisan concern. Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery, and Clint Owlett, R-Tioga, questioned the amount of money districts send to cyber charters under the current arrangement. Owlett said the cost of cyber charters is “probably the biggest conversation that comes up with all of our school districts.” “It’s an unsustainable model at this point,” he said, echoing the skepticism of some other lawmakers who believe cyber charters are a fiscal drain on traditional districts. One of those skeptics is Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie, the new head of the House Education Committee.”
Wolf’s plan to boost teacher salaries faces bipartisan skepticism in Pa. House
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent March 5, 2019
Lawmakers from Pennsylvania’s powerful House Appropriations Committee cast doubt on the fate of Governor Tom Wolf’s proposal to set the state’s teacher-salary minimum at $45,000 a year. That message rang clear in a Monday budget hearing for the state’s education department. Legislators questioned the practical implications of the proposal, warning that it could cost more than the administration predicts and that it would unduly favor rural districts that already get a disproportionate per-pupil share of state dollars. “When we look at the $45,000, where is it going?” said State Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, the committee chair. “It’s not going to those areas that are in need of funding. It’s going to areas that are already, some people would say, overfunded.” Wolf wants to raise the minimum teacher salary from $18,500 a year to $45,000. There are no teachers who make the minimum, and the average Pennsylvania instructor gets about $67,000 a year. But there are 3,200 school staffers across 180 districts that do make less than $45,000. Wolf wants to raise their yearly pay and cover the difference with state money. His administration estimates the hike would cost about $14 million a year, a total that includes salary and benefits.

Ripple effects of raising Pa.’s minimum teacher salary concern House GOP lawmakers
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated 5:57 PM; Posted 5:57 PM
The ripple effects of Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to raise the state’s minimum public school teacher salary by 143 percent to $45,000 a year could be what costs it the support of some House Republicans. At Monday’s House budget hearing with state Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, GOP members voiced several concerns about the impact it could have on such things as teacher contracts, salaries of more experienced teachers, and school property tax rates. “I can see a court case,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York County.  Wolf is proposing to update the 30-year-old law that set the statewide minimum teacher pay at $18,500. Raising the salary floor to $45,000 is estimated by the administration to impact the starting pay for 180 school districts at a cost of $13.8 million. He included funding in his budget proposal to cover that cost. What that cost figure doesn’t include is the impact it could have on the rest of the salary schedule, which is where Saylor predicted legal action could ensue particularly for those teachers who have gone on to earn master’s degrees and taking continuing education courses.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/03/ripple-effects-of-raising-pas-minimum-teacher-salary-concern-house-gop-lawmakers.html

Report: More Allegheny County schools serving breakfast to more students
ELIZABETH BEHRMAN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Lbehrman@post-gazette.com  MAR 4, 2019  2:55 PM
More Allegheny County schools are feeding breakfast to students who qualify, putting many on track to meet Gov. Tom Wolf’s goal of providing breakfast to at least 60 percent of eligible students by 2020, advocates say. In its annual report, released Monday, Pittsburgh nonprofit Allies for Children said more local schools and districts implemented “alternative” breakfast models last school year, and as a result are serving nearly 600 more students breakfast each day than they were during the 2016-17 school year. Allies for Children, in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, worked with five Allegheny County school districts last year to implement the alternative models beyond simply serving the breakfast in the cafeteria before the start of the school day, which most districts already do. The alternatives included a “grab and go” mobile cart, offering breakfast for a time after the first bell rings and offering breakfast during students’ first class of the day. Each of the five districts that implemented an alternative model — Gateway, North Hills, Sto-Rox, South Allegheny and West Mifflin — saw a greater increase in student breakfast participation than most other Allegheny County school districts and charter schools, all of which were included in the Breakfast Basics 2019 Update report.

Promoting play, indoors and outdoors
Playwork's Team Up program trains staffers to organize recess.
The notebook by Naomi Elegant March 4 — 1:23 pm, 2019
It was a gray and overcast February morning in Philadelphia, and the temperature hovered around 32 degrees — too cold for the students at Richard R. Wright Elementary School to enjoy recess outdoors. Instead, they congregated in the cafeteria after finishing lunch to jump rope and play board games and tag. In the wintertime, when inclement weather often prevents outdoor recess, schools have to adapt. At Wright Elementary, the nonprofit organization Playworks Pennsylvania has worked with the school to make sure students are able to engage in activities regardless of setting or conditions. Wright is one of 16 Philadelphia schools in Playworks’ Team Up program, which trains school staff members to coordinate play during recess. Playworks program manager Corrie O’Neil, who oversees Wright, said that schools generally move recess indoors when the outside temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less. The kinds of indoor play that can happen at recess depend on how much space a school has available. Wright has a spacious cafeteria with extra tables for board games and room for activities like jump rope and Duck, Duck, Goose, as well as an elevated stage. Still, O’Neil said, “I do think it involves a little bit more management on the adult side of things to make things happen smoothly.” At Wright, that’s the job of Charles Brown. As the school’s climate support specialist and recess coach, he assists in any areas that teachers need him, and he is in charge of recess and lunch. “I own the lunchroom,” Brown said with a laugh.

Editorial: Pittsburgh schools reduced pot penalties puzzling
TRIBUNE-REVIEW | Monday, March 4, 2019 4:30 p.m
Pennsylvania has yet to decide on the future of marijuana. Yes, it’s legal for medicinal purposes. Yes, the possibility of recreational use is being explored. There are very real reasons why that should be on the table. Why should alcohol be OK for frivolous consumption but marijuana isn’t? Valid question. But it’s still a question. That’s what makes the Pittsburgh Public Schools decision to make changes to penalties for student possession both premature and confusing. First offenders have traditionally faced a 10-day suspension that might be served through alternative placement in the Student Achievement Center for a minimum of 45 days. The new protocol would give the option of a five-day suspension in exchange for meeting with counselors and taking a drug treatment course. The district’s goal of taking less punitive stances on minor, nonviolent infractions is understandable. The brass ring is to teach kids, not act as a de facto prison camp. But a mid-year switch in policy in the midst of a statewide conversation about recreational legalization and the increased possible availability of marijuana in homes because of medicinal dispensaries is troublesome. Making possession of a controlled substance less of a big deal seems like minimization at a time when lines are already being blurred.


“Using the most recent federal data, collected by the U.S. Department of Education in 2015-16, the ACLU analysis found that:
·         3 million students are in schools with police but no nurses.
·         6 million students are in schools with police but no school psychologists.
·         10 million students are in schools with police but no social workers.”
1.7 Million Students Attend Schools With Police But No Counselors, New Data Show
By Evie Blad on March 4, 2019 1:44 PM | No comments
As policymakers call for more school police in response to safety concerns, a new analysis of federal data shows that many students don't have access to other kinds of staff necessary for safety and support—staff like school nurses, social workers, and psychologists. As a result of safety discussions that focus on shootings, rather than the broader range of safety concerns and student needs, "schools are under-resourced and students are overcriminalized," says the report, released Monday by the ACLU. The analysis also found that disproportionately high arrest rates for students of color and students with disabilities are continuing, while there was a 17 percent growth in school-based referrals to law enforcement from 2013-14 to 2015-16. "The consequences for these funding decisions fall on the most vulnerable students," the report says."Teachers are often not equipped to deal with the special needs posed by children with disabilities. Furthermore, historically marginalized students, such as students of color, may attend schools with fewer resources and supports. When there are no other behavioral resources at hand, some teachers request help from law enforcement. This results in an increased criminalization of our youth: we found that schools with police reported 3.5 times as many arrests as schools without police."

“A comprehensive survey of school districts published in 2015 found that the number of standardized tests U.S. public school students take had exploded during the previous decade — and that most schools were requiring tests of questionable value. The survey by the Council of the Great City Schools found that a typical student took 112 mandated standardized tests between prekindergarten and 12th grade. A testing culture developed in many schools, with excessive test prep and even pep rallies to get kids “up” for taking their exams. Schools cut down or eliminated art, music, science, history, physical education and other subjects in favor of math and English Language Arts, the two tested subjects, Darling-Hammond said.”
‘If all of that testing had been improving us, we would have been the highest-achieving nation in the world.' Here’s what does work in school reform.
Washington Post Answer Sheet By Valerie Strauss March 4 at 4:41 PM
At a recent gathering of school superintendents from throughout the nation, the newly appointed head of the California State Board of Education made an important point about education in this country that is obvious yet long ignored by policymakers. Linda Darling-Hammond, an internationally recognized educator and researcher who is an expert on teacher preparation and educational equity, appeared at a Feb. 14 conference of AASA, the School Superintendents Association. She spoke about what this country should — and should not — do to improve public schools. Darling-Hammond, who taught at Stanford University and founded the Center for Opportunity Policy in Education there before establishing the Learning Policy Institute think tank, made clear what shouldn’t be done: continuing to throw standardized tests at students and expecting change. “If all of that testing had been improving us, we would have been the highest-achieving nation in the world,” she said.

The Community School Comes of Age
The model is expanding rapidly. Is it a fad, or the future?
New York Times By David L. Kirp Contributing Opinion Writer Jan. 10, 2019
A third grader was having one of his meltdown days. He was throwing food in the lunchroom and cursing out everyone in sight. At most schools, this child would be out the door — suspended or expelled — but P.S. 188 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, known as the Island School, does things differently. The guidance counselor, Eddy Polanco, took the 8-year-old in hand, and over several months the boy came to recognize when he was about to blow a gasket. Then, with the school’s blessing, he’d take a walk until he calmed down. “That’s my coping skill,” he told Mr. Polanco. Such out-of-control moments are not uncommon at this school, which has about 500 students from prekindergarten through eighth grade. There’s a ready explanation — nearly half are homeless, living at a shelter across the street. “Most of the kids have strong emotional trauma,” the principal, Suany Ramos, told me. “We need to stabilize a child emotionally before we can work on the academics.” Island School is one of 247 “community schools” in New York. These are regular public schools, with a twist. They have longer days and longer school years: Island stays open 12 hours a day, six days a week, including spring and winter breaks as well as the summer. A psychologist makes weekly rounds. A dentist comes by regularly. So does an optometrist, and students who need glasses get them free. (The retailer Warby Parker donates the glasses, a good example of a public-private partnership.)


The League of Women Voters of Delaware County and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit present: EPLC 2019 Regional Training Workshop for PA School Board Candidates April 27th 8am – 4:30pm at DCIU
The Pennsylvania Education Policy and Leadership Center will conduct a regional full day workshop for 2019 Pennsylvania School Board Candidates.
Date & Time: Saturday, April 27, 2019, 8am to 4:30pm
Location: Delaware County Intermediate Unit, 200 Yale Ave. Morton, PA
Incumbents, non-incumbents, campaign supporters and all interested voters are invited to participate in this workshop. Registration is $75 (payable by credit card) and includes coffee and pastries, lunch, and materials. For questions contact Adriene Irving at 610-938-9000 ext. 2061.
To register, please visit http://tinyurl.com/CandidatesWksp

“BACKPACK FULL OF CASH” DOCUMENTARY You Are Invited to A Free Screening presented by BASD Proud Parents and the Bethlehem Area School District MARCH 21, 6:30pm – 8:00pm  NITSCHMANN MIDDLE SCHOOL Discussion to Follow
“BACKPACK FULL OF CASH” DOCUMENTARY – Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor, Matt Damon, BACKPACK explores the real cost of privatizing America’s public schools. Before the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the appointment of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, filmmakers Sarah Mondale and Vera Aronow couldn’t have known that the new administration would dramatically shift the national debate about education to the very issues at the heart of their film: charter schools, vouchers and privatization. Now, this timely new documentary takes viewers into the world of market-based education “reform”.
BACKPACK FULL OF CASH follows the tumultuous 2013-14 school year in Philadelphia and other cities where public education – starved of resources and undermined by privatization – is at risk. The documentary also showcases a model for improving schools – a well-resourced public school system in Union City, New Jersey, where poor kids are getting a high-quality education without charters or vouchers. BACKPACK FULL OF CASH makes the case for public education as a basic civil right. The film features genuine heroes like the principals, teachers, activists, parents and most hearteningly, students who are fighting for their education. Former Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch, writer David Kirp and policy expert Linda Darling Hammond are among the national thought leaders who provide analysis in the film.

2019 State of Education report now online
PSBA Website February 19, 2019
The 2019 State of Education report is now available on PSBA.org in PDF format. The report is a barometer of not only the key indicators of public school performance, but also the challenges schools face and how they are coping with them. Data reported comes from publicly available sources and from a survey to chief school administrators, which had a 66% response rate. Print copies of the report will be mailed to members soon.

PSBA Members - Register for Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg Monday April 29, 2019
All PSBA-members are invited to attend Advocacy Day on Monday, April 29, 2019 at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. In addition, this year PSBA will be partnering with the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) to strengthen our advocacy impact. The focus for the day will be meetings with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. There is no cost to attend, and PSBA will assist in scheduling appointments with legislators once your registration is received. The day will begin with a continental breakfast and issue briefings prior to the legislator visits. Registrants will receive talking points, materials and leave-behinds to use with their meetings. PSBA staff will be stationed at a table in the main Rotunda during the day to answer questions and provide assistance. The day’s agenda and other details will be available soon. If you have questions about Advocacy Day, legislative appointments or need additional information, contact Jamie.Zuvich@psba.org  Register for Advocacy Day now at http://www.mypsba.org/
PSBA members can register online now by logging in to myPSBA. If you need assistance logging in and registering contact Alysha Newingham, Member Data System Administrator at alysha.newingham@psba.org or call her at (717) 506-2450, ext. 3420

Board Presidents’ Panel
Learn, discuss, and practice problem solving with school leader peers facing similar or applicable challenges. Workshop-style discussions will be facilitated and guided by PSBA experts. With the enormous challenges facing schools today, effective and knowledgeable board leadership is essential to your productivity and performance as a team of ten.
Locations & Dates
Due to inclement weather, some dates have been rescheduled. The updated schedule is below.

PSBA Sectional Meetings - Ten convenient locations in February and March
School safety and security is a complex, multi-perspective topic impacting school entities in dramatic ways. This complimentary PSBA member meeting featured in ten locations will offer essential updates and information on Safe2Say reporting, suicide awareness related to student safety, school climate, and emergency preparedness planning. Representatives from the Attorney General’s office, PEMA, and a top expert in behavioral health will be presenting. Updates on legislation impacting your schools will be presented by PSBA staff. Connect with the experts, have your questions answered, and network with other members.
Locations and Dates
Section Meetings are 6-8 p.m. (across all locations).
Register online by logging in to myPSBA.



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/

Indiana Area School District Safety & Security Symposium March 15, 2019
Indiana Area School District Website
Background: It’s 2019, and school safety has catapulted as one of the top priorities for school districts around the country. With an eye toward providing educators with various resources and opportunities specific to Pennsylvania, the Indiana Area School District -- in collaboration with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, PA Representative Jim Struzzi, and as well as Indiana County Tourist Bureau-- is hosting a FREE safety and security symposium on March 15, 2019. This safety and security exchange will provide information that benefits all stakeholders in your education community: administrators, board members, and staff members alike. Presenters offer valuable resources to help prepare your organization to continue the discussion on safety and security in our schools.  Pre-registration is required, and you will be invited to choose the breakout sessions that you feel will have the most impact in your professional learning on these various topics, as well as overall impact on your District’s systems of operations. Please take time to review the various course breakout sessions and their descriptions.  Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and learn.
How to Register: Participants attending the Safety Symposium on March 15, 2019, will have the option to select a maximum of 4 breakout sessions to attend on this day.  Prior to the breakout sessions, attendees will hear opening remarks from former Secretary of Education - Dr. Gerald Zahorchak.  We want to empower the attendees to exercise their voice and choice in planning their day!  Please review the various break out session descriptions by clicking on the "Session Descriptions" on the right-hand side of this page.  On that page, you will be able to review the sessions offered that day and register for the symposium.  
https://www.iasd.cc/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1491839&type=d&pREC_ID=1637670

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:  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


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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