Monday, June 17, 2019

PA Ed Policy Roundup June 17: Pa. needs more money for public schools. Not tax credits for private schools | Opinion


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.

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“Thank you, Gov. Wolf, for your veto of this legislation.”
By Lawrence Feinberg  Capital-Star Op-Ed Contributor June 15, 2019
Lawrence A Feinberg is an elected school director in Haverford Township, Delaware County.
With the Legislature’s recent passage, and Gov. Tom Wolf’s looming veto, of a bill that nearly doubles tax credits for private and religious school by 90 percent, it struck me that there might be value in revisiting our Pennsylvania constitution for some context.
Article III, Section 14 of the state’s foundational document reads like this: “The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.”
Then there’s Article III, Section 15: “No money raised for the support of the public schools of the Commonwealth shall be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian school.”
And, for good measure, Article VI, Section 3:Senators, Representatives and all judicial, State and county officers shall, before entering on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.”
Using the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s own Basic Education Funding Formula, it is estimated that 52 percent of our public school students are attending school districts that are underfunded. That’s over 893,000 students on a “waiting list” – waiting for the Legislature to fund that formula and fulfill its constitutional obligation to “provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education”.

Editorial: A fair challenge to Pa. lawmakers
Phoenixville News Editorial June 15, 2019
For some people in this part of Pennsylvania, the fight for fair school funding evokes the same emotions regarding legislators as the late-night pay raise did in 2005. Disbelief. Disgust. Outrage. The difference this time is geography. The pay raise was an affront to every citizen in every legislative district, as lawmakers voted themselves raises while the state’s economy and infrastructure crumbled. In contrast, the imbalance in school funding hurts most the districts in southeastern Pennsylvania with higher population, lower income and higher percentages of minorities. The rural, mostly white districts of central and western regions would actually lose money if education funding was given out according to the Fair Funding Formula adopted in 2016. The current system that distributes just 10 percent of the state's school funding according to the formula gives Pennsylvania the distinction as the state with the greatest funding inequity between rich and poor districts. Research has also shown that even in districts where income is not a factor, districts with more students of color receive less money. That fact has led to the "end education apartheid" protest.  The outrage born in this region is getting louder and gaining voices. The statewide faith-based activist group POWER and the NAACP are joining  local school districts in protest of underfunding. POWER was the organizing force this week for a rally that sent 1,000 people to Harrisburg, filling the Capitol rotunda, waving signs and singing, “Whose Side are You On?” Meanwhile, legislative leaders were attending to other business. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, who has the power to get legislation to the floor for a vote – or not – pushed through a bill this week to devote more money to “scholarships” for private and religious schools. The Turzai bill would expand the existing $110 million Educational Improvement Tax Credit program to raise the income level for qualifying families to $95,000 and add an additional $100 million into the program. The bill passed the state Senate Tuesday, a month after it passed the House. Wolf said Wednesday he would veto it because it is at odds with public school needs.

Pa. Gov. Wolf to veto $100M private schools bill
Trib Live by ASSOCIATED PRESS  | Wednesday, June 12, 2019 2:18 p.m.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf plans to veto legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature to substantially expand taxpayer support by $100 million for private and religious schools in Pennsylvania. Wednesday’s statement from Wolf’s office comes a day after the Senate approved the bill on a party-line basis. The bill was sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai and just four Democrats voted for it in the House. Wolf ran for office pledging to boost aid for public schools. He has said that public schools remain underfunded and that the tax-credit bill is at odds with the need for accessible public education. It would nearly double the Educational Improvement Tax Credit to $210 million annually. The program lets corporations direct tens of millions in tax dollars to favored private and religious schools.

“With a gubernatorial veto looming, there could be renewed skirmishing over a $100 million tax credit program for private and religious school scholarships. As the Capital-Star’s Elizabeth Hardison reports, a Wolf veto, however, doesn’t mean the bill authored by House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, will necessarily be going away. It could be resuscitated in a different form. As part of the state’s annual budget process, the governor signs off on dozens of code bills that authorize state statutes to take effect in the new fiscal year Hardison reported. These bills are basically the instruction manuals for spending the money in the general fund budget bill. They can be tweaked with line-item amendments that could potentially include the cash for the tax-credit program.”
Lucky 13? The final budget sprint begins today | Monday Morning Coffee
PA Capital Star By  John L. Micek June 17, 2019
Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Today is Monday, June 17, 2019. Which means just 13 days remain until the Republican-controlled General Assembly and the Democratic Wolf administration run into the immovable wall that is the end of the 2018-2019 fiscal year at midnight on June 30. Yes, we realize that, in past years, the June 30 date has sometimes been more a suggestion than a firm deadline to pass a spending plan. But judging by both the buzz around the building last week and, more importantly, the session days scheduled for the next two weeks, the end may well be in sight. The House, which is the starting point for budget and tax bills, is currently scheduled to be in session from Monday through Thursday of this week, with a respite for the weekend. More session days are scheduled from June 24-28, which takes the chamber through the final weekday of the current fiscal year. The Senate, meanwhile, is scheduled to be in session from Monday to Wednesday this week, with more session days scheduled from June 24-28, according to the legislative website. So that’s the calendar. What’s hanging out there? Excellent question, Glad you asked.

Pennsylvania has a surplus, and lots of budget patches, too
Beaver County Times By Marc Levy / The Associated Press Posted Jun 16, 2019 at 5:19 PM Updated Jun 16, 2019 at 5:19 PM
HARRISBURG — In Pennsylvania, good fiscal times may not necessarily mean good fiscal condition. The rage in the state Capitol right now is the surplus that state government rolled up in the almost-ended fiscal year, helped by unexpectedly strong corporate and sales tax collections. That news alone is fueling requests from a legion of lobbyists with pet projects, but the momentary surplus has not necessarily changed views from the outside that Pennsylvania is a state with tall fiscal challenges. “They’re not surprising to anybody,” said Montgomery County Rep. Matt Bradford, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “I think anybody who knows the numbers knows the challenges are there.” With the new fiscal year starting July 1, leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature are drafting a counterproposal to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s February proposal for $34.1 billion budget plan. Wolf is seeking roughly $2 billion more in spending, or 6 percent more, counting his more recent request for $750 million to cover cost overruns in the current fiscal year. The surplus is expected to cover the current year’s costs, ease the passage of an on-time budget and leave a respectable sum to deposit into a budgetary reserve that is relatively bare after a string of persistent deficits going back to the recession a decade ago.

Who gets Pennsylvania’s educational tax credits, and who gets money? Search the EITC data yourself.
PA Capital Star By  Elizabeth Hardison June 16, 2019
Which counties attract the most EITC funding? We mapped the recipients below.
Every year, businesses clamor to claim Pennsylvania’s educational tax credits, which allow them to lower their tax bills by donating to private school scholarship funds, pre-K programs, and other educational enrichment initiatives. We explained how the EITC program works earlier this week. Using data from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, we were also able to learn who participates — which businesses make donations to claim tax credits, and which educational programs receive money. Now, we’re publishing that data in full so readers can browse it themselves.

Blogger note: this piece includes a section on “Who gave the most? The top 100 donors to EITC programs in 2017-18.” Also includes an interactive graphic showing “Top 40 EITC Recipients”
EITC, explained: How Pennsylvania’s educational tax credits are used, who benefits, and more
Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he will veto a proposed expansion of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which directs millions of potential tax dollars each year to private schools and educational programs. But that doesn’t mean that the proposal from House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, is going to disappear anytime soon. Turzai’s bill would nearly double the size of the EITC private school scholarship program, which provides up to $110 million per year in tax credits to businesses that donate to K-12 scholarship funds. The bill also calls for that cap to increase by 10 percent annually if 90 percent of the credits are claimed. With a few legislative maneuvers, it’s possible the tax credit program could still get a boost in the state’s 2019-20 budget. It just may not be what Turzai initially proposed. As part of the state’s annual budget process, the governor signs off on dozens of code bills that authorize state statutes to take effect in the new fiscal year. These bills govern everything from education and agriculture to human services and liquor sales. The General Assembly can make line-item amendments to the code bills before they vote to send them to the governor’s desk. If lawmakers want to authorize an increase to the tax credit program, they can do it by tweaking the state’s school code, which lays out the program’s budget and rules.A spokesperson for Turzai declined to discuss strategy Wednesday afternoon, saying only that “Governor Wolf should sign the bill.” Wolf’s spokesperson was equally circumspect. “I can’t speculate about code bills that don’t exist yet,” spokesperson J.J. Abbott said. In short, the EITC expansion could remain an important bargaining chip during budget negotiations this month, despite Wolf’s looming veto. With that in mind, here’s a look at how the program works and who stands to benefit from it.

“The formula was not applied to the dollars that the state was already spending on schools, but only to new, additional dollars allocated after the formula was adopted. Last year, only 8% of our basic education dollars were distributed through the formula. As a result, Lehigh Valley homeowners continue to be overburdened and our students shortchanged. This year’s proposed budget isn’t much better. Only $700 million of the $6.54 billion budgeted for Basic Education, about 11 percent, will be distributed to school districts pursuant to the new formula. The remaining $5.8 billion is set to be distributed based on the allocation used prior to the 2014 budget everyone acknowledges is woefully inadequate. Essentially, 11 percent of our budgeted education dollars get where they are needed.”
Your View by state Sen. Lisa Boscola: How school funding hurts homeowners, students
By STATE SEN. LISA BOSCOLA | THE MORNING CALL | JUN 16, 2019 | 11:00 AM
State Sen. Lisa Boscola says Pennsylvania's school funding formula pays too little to schools in larger districts, such as Bethlehem's Donegan Elementary.
The Basic Education Funding Formula is the single largest education funding stream in the commonwealth’s budget. Until 2014, each year when the General Assembly passed a budget it distributed basic education funding dollars to our school districts based on what they received the year before — regardless of whether the student population grew or shrank. This led to large disparities throughout the state when it came to where money went versus where it was needed. Some school districts received over 70 percent of their funding for their school programs from the state while other school districts received as low as 30 percent. As you can imagine this led to significant inequality in property tax burdens for homeowners. In 2016, the Legislature adopted a Basic Education Funding Formula to more equitably distribute state resources according to actual needs. The new formula includes factors reflecting student and community differences such as poverty, local effort and capacity, and rural and small district conditions. While the funding formula was met with universal praise, its implementation has been remarkably disappointing especially to areas such as the Lehigh Valley.

More than 1,000 people rally in Harrisburg for fair school funding
"The new plantation here is education," a protest leader said.
the Notebook June 14 — 1:29 pm, 2019
The Rev. Phyllis Harris of Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia volunteers in a kindergarten class at Alain Locke Elementary School every Thursday.  She has a passion for education and was one of the leaders of the Rally for Fair Funding on Wednesday in Harrisburg. “We’re all here in God’s eyes, so we should get equal funding,” she said. “I believe that this [inequitable funding] is the new form of systematic chains. … The new plantation here is education.” More than 1,000 people traveled to the state capital Wednesday to rally for fair funding of public schools. The legislature in 2015 approved a formula that would distribute state education aid more equitably by weighing such factors as student poverty rates, local taxing capacity, and property wealth. But then lawmakers only applied the formula to increases in the budget, as opposed to the total amount. A new bill, the 100% Fair Funding Bill, HB 961, has been proposed to allot 100% of the education budget in accordance with the formula. Philadelphia resident James Solomon said a major reason why only a small portion of the $6 billion in aid is being distributed according to the formula is that the complete implementation would involve taking money away from some school districts to give to others.  “The distribution of money is based on political power now, not equity,” he said. “Only a small portion of the budget is based on equity.”

“I think the community, in general, doesn’t equate charter schools with public ed all the time,” Sniscak said. “We’re the ones who have to answer to the taxpayer. They do not. And that’s part of the accountability gap that exists with funding charter schools.”
Bill would keep charter schools from claiming they are tuition-free.
By SARAH M. WOJCIK | THE MORNING CALL | JUN 16, 2019 | 7:03 PM
The Legislature is considering a bill that would keep charter schools from suggesting that students attend for free.
There are two words on billboards, mailers and internet ads for charter schools that have come to grate on state Rep. Mike Schlossberg. “Free tuition.” While it’s true that charter and cyberschool students do not need to personally hand over cash for admittance, the schools are not free. Charter schools are public, so their funding comes from Pennsylvania taxpayers, just like public school districts. “I just think we need to be consistent in how we present this,” Schlossberg said Thursday. “If they’re going to spend taxpayer money, we need to disclose that to taxpayers.” A bill that passed the state House on Wednesday with little resistance includes numerous accountability changes for charter schools, including language that would require them to disclose that they are taxpayer-funded. The wording for that change comes from legislation crafted by Schlossberg. The state Senate has yet to vote on the bill.

Senate Bill 34 could save district money, further support cyber ed 
Bald Eagle School District Website Brit Milazzo Monday, June 10, 2019
There’s a bill circulating in the state Senate that has the potential to save public school districts money, while also benefiting district-supported cyber education programs like that at Bald Eagle Area School District. Introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank, Senate Bill 34, if passed, would require families to pay out-of-pocket tuition to attend cyber charter schools if their home district offers its own cyber program. The BEA Cyber Academy, under direction of program facilitator Margie Fisher, provides students within the Bald Eagle Area School District a form of alternative learning that takes them outside of the traditional classroom setting. Anticipating an increase enrollment of BEA Cyber Academy, the program relocated into a spacious room at the high school, which could accommodate more students and is supported by Superintendent Jeff Miles. “Twelve years ago, Bald Eagle identified the need for an alternative educational experience,” Fisher said. “During this time, we have worked hard to offer a quality program to students who need to be enrolled in online classes for various reasons.” Confident the program is designed to meet the need of students within the district, it is still constantly being evaluated to enhance the program, while also exploring new avenues and opportunities for students, Fisher said. “We have had an excellent track record on student graduation and their preparation for a successful future,” she said. “We have not only anticipated the need for online education, we embrace it and are committed to making it the best program in the area. I doubt any Cyber Charter school could match the personal attention that our students receive in the BEA Cyber Academy.”

Harrisburg School Board holds executive meeting hours before hearing on state takeover
Penn Live By Becky Metrick | bmetrick@pennlive.com Updated Jun 16, 10:02 PM; Posted Jun 16, 10:02 PM
Only four school board members attended Sunday night’s executive session Harrisburg School Board meeting, which was aimed at preparing for litigation beginning Monday. The meeting took place the night before a hearing on a state takeover of the Harrisburg School District is set to begin. The hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday in the Dauphin County Courthouse. Harrisburg school board member Carrie Fowler, who attended the meeting, said only three of her colleagues - Danielle Robinson, Lionel Gonzales and Brian Carter - were present for Sunday night’s meeting. In addition to the board members, Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney and business manager Bilal Hasan attended. Fowler couldn’t speak to what was said during executive session due to confidentiality rules. She said it was based in preparing to move forward with litigation scheduled to begin Monday morning. School District solicitor James Ellison confirmed the executive session happened Sunday night. He said the purpose of the session would be disclosed at the district’s public board meeting scheduled for Monday. Monday’s hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse will involve arguments regarding the state’s desire to take control of the Harrisburg School District.

Tis the season I (sorta) feel sorry for many Philly lawmakers | John Baer
John Baer @jbaernews | jbaer@Inquirer.com Updated: June 17, 2019 - 5:00 AM
This might surprise you.
At this time of year, I find myself feeling sorry for Philadelphia pols, specifically those representing the City of Brotherly Love in Harrisburg. Fact is, they don’t get much love. Or much o  anything beyond frustration. And, yes, I’ve used broad-brush strokes to paint a picture of ineffectiveness when it comes to their delivering for those they’re well paid and perked to serve. Especially given their numbers: 26 House members, seven senators, the largest delegation in an over-large legislature. One would think proportional results. But there’s a problem. Political reality. They’re Democrats in a Republican world. Except for Northeast Philly Republican Rep. Martina White, and Montgomery County GOP Rep. Tom Murt, who also represents a slice of the city’s Fox Chase neighborhood, 31 of 33 city lawmakers in Harrisburg are in the minority party. You know the saying: The minority may have its say, but the majority has its way. So, as the legislature moves to adopt a new state budget as soon as next week, familiar issues pushed for Philly remain, at best, in the margins.

Are the kids all right? Pennsylvania has some work to do to improve children’s lives, report says
The “Kids Count Data Book” annually takes a look at the well-being of children in the United States. It’s put together by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a philanthropic organization.
Lehigh Valley Live By Janet Pickel | jpickel@pennlive.com Today 5:08 AM
Among the 50 states, Pennsylvania ranks 17th overall in child well-being, according to a report released Monday. However, while it fares well in the education and health of its children, it ranks much lower on economic and family issues. The Kids Count data book annually takes a look at the well-being of children in the United States. It’s put together by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, based in Baltimore, an organization that helps children nationwide. These rankings are based on 16 items under four main topics using 2017 data. Here’s how they’re broken down:

How some schools restrain or seclude students: A look at a controversial practice
WHYY/NPR By Jenny Abamu June 16, 2019
When students pose a threat to themselves or others, educators sometimes need to restrain them or remove them to a separate space. That’s supposed to be a last resort, and it’s a controversial practice. As we’ve reported recently, school districts don’t always follow state laws or federal reporting requirements. Though there are guidelines around restraint and seclusion in schools, there are no federal laws governing how they can be used. And they’re most often used on students with disabilities or special needs, and boys, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Jennifer Tidd’s son falls into both those categories. He has autism and behavioral issues, and over three years — from 2013 to 2016 — he was restrained or secluded more than 400 times by his Fairfax County, Va., school, according to an investigation by member station WAMU. Tidd says the repeated seclusions traumatized her son, causing him to hate school and making him more violent and distrusting of authority figures.

Kansas Supreme Court Lets Legislature Off the Hook on K-12 Funding...For Now
Education Week By Daarel Burnette II on June 14, 2019 2:59 PM
Kansas' supreme court said Friday that the state was on track to provide an adequate education for its public school students under a long-running school finance lawsuit. But while the court said that the $90 million extra the state set aside for its schools during this year's legislative session was a step in the right direction, it did not permanently close the case known as Gannon v. Kansas. That leaves the possibility of future battles between the state's high court and the legislature over how Kansas should fund its schools.  The state has been embroiled in a knockdown legal fight over school spending for more than three decades. That came to a head during the tenure of Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, who slashed income and sales tax to dramatically reduce the government's footprint and spur its economy. (He left the governorship in early 2018 to work for the Trump administration.) Amid a series of state supreme court rulings, Kansas over the past three years has invested more than $525 million more into its schools. Last year, the court said while the contributions were admirable, the state was not on track to keep up with inflation and still owed more toward its schools.  While state politicians pointed to the $90 million for next year, school officials felt the state owed almost double that amount.  


PSBA: Nominations for The Allwein Society are open!
This award program recognizes school directors who are outstanding leaders & advocates on behalf of public schools & students. Nominations are accepted year-round with selections announced early fall: http://ow.ly/CchG50uDoxq 

EPLC is accepting applications for the 2019-20 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program
Education Policy & Leadership Center
PA's premier education policy leadership program for education, policy & community leaders with 582 alumni since 1999. Application with program schedule & agenda are at http://www.eplc.org 

PA Education Leaders to Hold Advocacy Day 2019 in Harrisburg June 18th
PA Principals Association Press Release June 5th, 2019
(Harrisburg, PA) — A delegation of principals, education leaders and staff from the Pennsylvania Principals Association, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS) will participate in PA Education Leaders Advocacy Day 2019 (#paadvocacyday19) on Tuesday, June 18 at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pa., to meet with legislators to address several important issues that are at the forefront of education in the commonwealth. These include: Increasing Basic Education Funding/Special Education Funding/Early Childhood Funding; Revising Act 82: Principal and Teacher Evaluations; Supporting Pre-K Education; Supporting Changes to Pennsylvania’s Compulsory School Attendance Ages; and Supporting and Funding Career and Technical Education.

PA League of Women Voters 2019 Convention Registration
Crowne Plaza in Reading June 21-23, 2019
DEADLINES
May 22, 2019 – Deadline to get special room rates at Crowne Plaza Hotel 
                            Book Hotel or call: 1 877 666 3243
May 31, 2019 – Deadline to register as a delegate for the Convention
June 7, 2019 – Deadline to register for the Convention

PA Schools Work Capitol Caravan Days Wed. June 5th and Tues. June 18th
If you couldn’t make it to Harrisburg last week, it’s not too late. We are getting down to the wire. In a few short weeks, the budget will likely be passed. Collectively, our voices have a larger impact to get more funding for Pennsylvania’s students. Legislators need to hear from you!  
Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) will be at the Capitol on Wednesday, June 5th and Tuesday, June 18th  for our next PA Schools Work caravan days. We’d love to have you join us on these legislative visits. For more details about the caravans and to sign up, go to: www.pccy.org/k12caravan . Please call Tomea Sippio-Smith at (O) 215-563-5848, ext. 36 or (C) 215-667-9421 or Shirlee Howe at (O) 215-563-5848, ext. 34 or (C) 215-888-8297 with any questions or specific requests for legislative meetings. 

2019 PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference Oct. 16-18, 2019
WHERE: Hershey Lodge and Convention Center 325 University Drive, Hershey, PA
WHEN: Wednesday, October 16 to Friday, October 18, 201
Registration is now open!
Growth from knowledge acquired. Vision inspired by innovation. Impact created by a synergized leadership community. You are called upon to be the drivers of a thriving public education system. It’s a complex and challenging role. Expand your skillset and give yourself the tools needed for the challenge. Packed into two and a half daysꟷꟷgain access to top-notch education and insights, dynamic speakers, peer learning opportunities and the latest product and service innovations. Come to the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference to grow!

NPE Action National Conference - Save the Date - March 28-29, 2020 in Philadelphia, PA.
The window is now open for workshop proposals for the Network for Public Education conference, March 28-29, 2020, in Philadelphia. I hope you all sign on to present on a panel and certainly we want all to attend. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NBCNDKK

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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