Monday, January 27, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Jan. 27, 2020 Superintendents Urge Reform of PA Charter School Law


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PA Ed Policy Roundup for Jan. 27, 2020
Superintendents Urge Reform of PA Charter School Law


Blogger note: Tuscarora IU11will be live streaming this event at http://tiu11.org/live

“These potential solutions can be found within the white papers released by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA), which are available at pasa-net.org/papers. Aside from superintendents, district business managers, several board members from the districts, members of other organizations that support charter school reform and several community members, including a representative from The Daily News, have been invited to attend the conference. Members of the public are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Though Estep coordinated the event, the initial suggestion came from the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS) to spread awareness of the issue during National School Choice Week.”
Charter school reform topic of conference for Huntingdon, Fulton, Mifflin and Juniata counties
Huntingdon Daily News By JOSHUA BLATTENBERGER Staff Writer Jan 25, 2020
Monday, Jan. 27, the superintendents from the Huntingdon County school districts attend a press conference in the TUI 11 building at 2527 US-522 in McVeytown along with administrators from at least eight other area school districts between Fulton, Mifflin and Juniata counties. The press conference, set to begin at 11 a.m., aims to not only outline the negative impacts of charter schools on local districts but to also spread awareness of the need for charter school reform.
“Primarily, the conference aims for each district in attendance to outline the impacts through specific stories,” said James Estep, superintendent of Mifflin County School District, who coordinated the event. “But, more importantly, we want the public to be aware of how much funding is being siphoned away from public schools.” Charter schools have been an often-debated issue within the state in recent years. Publicly funded yet privately owned, resources given to these facilities have only increased, leading public school districts that fund the tuition of each student who attends a brick-and-mortar or cyber school to struggle. “The funding formula used by the state to determine tuition rates for charter schools does not reflect the cost of educating that child,” Estep said. “Because of how the law is written, any increases to the cost of special or regular education lead to increased tuition, meaning the more we have to spend. Taxpayers need to be made aware of how much money is going to charter schools and taken away from us.” Over the course of an estimated 30 minutes, present superintendents and other district representatives will review the negative impacts charter schools have had on their districts. Following the discussion of impacts, superintendents will present potential solutions that have been previously discussed.
https://www.huntingdondailynews.com/news/local/charter-school-reform-topic-of-conference/article_5d5eafca-0f93-504c-9200-18aecdcde1ec.html

Press Advisory: Thirty Regional School Superintendents To Come Together to Defend Public Education, Joining Public District Leaders from Across the State to Urge Reform of Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
When: Monday, January 27, 2020 10 a.m.
Where: Whitehall Elementary, 399 North Whitehall Road Norristown, PA 19403
Leaders Form Coalition and Support a Moratorium on New Charter Enrollment Until Laws Can be Reformed
Leaders from public school districts in the five-county Greater Philadelphia region are joining with others from across the state in calling for meaningful, substantive reform of Pennsylvania’s charter school laws. They also support a moratorium on new charter school applications and a freeze on additional seats for students at existing charters until reform is enacted. Public school superintendents and other top school administrators recently formed LEARN, Leaders for Educational Accountability and Reform Network, as a way to coalesce around urgent issues impacting public schools, such as charter reform. They are calling for reform to the way charters are funded, as well as an improvement in accountability and oversight. Citing an extremely inequitable funding system, LEARN says charter schools, which are often among the worst performing schools in the state, are straining public systems. Extreme increases in charter costs are sending an increasingly greater amount of public tax dollars to charters, over which locally elected school boards have little-to-no authority or oversight. LEARN wants to bring charter tuition payments in line with actual school district costs and provide more accountability.
Contact: Dr. Frank Gallagher, Superintendent in the Souderton Area School District

“School choice advocates argue that every child learns differently, and parents have a right to choose the kind of school best suited to their child’s needs. But the public education system was designed as a public benefit, with a different purpose in mind: to provide education to every person, despite their special or specific needs and limitations. Those advocates aren’t wrong in demanding better options for public education and its current failures. We all should be demanding that. Schools supported by all should work for all. Parents can make a different choice, but shouldn’t rely on the rest of us to pay for it.”
Who should pay for private and religious schools? | Editorial
The Inquirer Editorial Board | opinion@inquirer.com Updated: January 24, 2020 - 2:04 PM
What rights do parents have when it comes to how their children get educated? That question is at the crux of a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could alter the landscape of public education — especially in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Espinoza v. Montana, prompted by a mother who tried to send her daughters to a Christian school using a tax credit-funded scholarship program. The Montana Department of Revenue, reacting to the state’s ban on providing aid for religious education, barred credits from being used for religious schools. The Montana Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the entire program is now being challenged.
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/school-choice-supreme-court-tax-credits-pennsylvania-20200124.html

School fair funding lawsuit update expected Wednesday
Delco Times By Kevin Tustin ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com January 24, 2020
PHILADELPHIA — An update by the education advocacy groups representing over a dozen petitioners in a public school funding lawsuit against the state is expected in the coming days. Representatives from the Education Law Center and the Public Interest Law Center — the latter serving as counsel for the petitioners led by the William Penn School District — will host a webinar press conference for journalists Wednesday afternoon to provide an update on current litigation in the on-going fight that asks the Commonwealth Court to declare the current state funding system of schools does not comply with the state constitution. Public Interest Law Center staff attorney Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, Education Law Center-PA Executive Director Maura McInerney and William Penn School Superintendent Jane Ann Harbert are all expected to make comments at the progress of the case. The press conference comes less than a week before Gov. Tom Wolf, one of the named defendants in the case who has vocally supported the petitioners in the case, is expected to deliver his annual budget address to legislators outlying what he wants to see in the 2020-21 budget. Wolf has added over $1 billion to basic and special education funding since taking office in 2015, but all of these new dollars are argued to not be enough.
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/school-fair-funding-lawsuit-update-expected-wednesday/article_dedebadc-3ef3-11ea-a23e-1361349aaa2d.html

Five Of The Country’s Most Economically Segregated School District Borders Are In Western PA
WESA by Sarah Schneider January 27, 2020
Five of the country’s 50 most economically segregated neighboring school districts are located in Western Pennsylvania. That’s according to a national study by New Jersey-based think tank Ed Build that was updated with new data last week. It identified Western Pennsylvania as an “inequality belt” where several districts’ students are isolated in a high-poverty school district and a neighboring affluent community is supported by a healthy local economy. The report highlights Allegheny County's wealthier West Jefferson Hills, which sits next to poorer Clairton City, Beaver County's Hopewell Area alongside Aliquippa, and Cambria County's Conemaugh Township, Westmont Hilltop and Richland bordering less prosperous Greater Johnstown. The students in Clairton, Greater Johnstown and Aliquippa are mostly nonwhite and nearly 40 percent of students at each district are living in poverty.
https://www.wesa.fm/post/five-country-s-most-economically-segregated-school-district-borders-are-western-pa

“Pennsylvania, beset by post-recession budget deficits, shut down a roughly $300 million-a-year school construction program five years ago, leaving even the poorest school districts since then to pay for improvement projects themselves.”
Governor to seek school construction aid amid health issues
Penn Live By Marc Levy | The Associated Press Today 6:52 AM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With budget season approaching, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is developing a plan to help deal with aging school buildings plagued by environmental problems, including lead paint and asbestos insulation, his office said. Wolf must deliver a budget proposal to the Legislature on Feb. 4, and lawmakers who are pressing for state aid to address what they call a massive and growing problem have asked the Democratic governor to include money in the spending package. Wolf has discussed the need in the past, saying that a sprawling infrastructure plan he floated last year could have been a source of help. But that plan — a $4.5 billion infrastructure proposal to be paid off by imposing a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas production — never saw a vote in the Republican-controlled Legislature, and Wolf's office said he will try a new strategy to deal with deteriorating school buildings.
https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2020/01/governor-to-seek-school-construction-aid-amid-health-issues.html

HB1897: New legislation could bring radical change to Pennsylvania's cyber education system
Bradford Era By Alan Krawitz | The Center Square Jan 24, 202
A bill that could potentially remake Pennsylvania’s system of cyber education was the topic of a public hearing this week in the House Education Committee, and it galvanized reactions from both proponents and critics alike. In effect, the bill, proposed by state Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie, would shutter all cyber charters in the commonwealth by the 2020-2021 school year. Also, all traditional school districts would be required to offer their own, full-time virtual education programs. "Cyber education is an important choice parents should be able to make for their children, but local accountability to our taxpayers and students is imperative," said Sonney, chairman of the committee. "It should be about quality, not quantity." Pennsylvania's cyber charter system is among the largest in the nation, serving more than 24,000 students statewide, according to Jennifer Beagan of the Allegheny County Intermediate Unit, a regional educational agency. The proposal could result in the removal of thousands of students from 14 state-sanctioned, privately run and publicly funded cyber schools, sending them to virtual programs run by their home school districts. At the hearing, Sonney said he introduced the legislation due to "concerns from constituents related to the cost and accountability of cyber charter schools."
http://www.bradfordera.com/news/state/new-legislation-could-bring-radical-change-to-pennsylvania-s-cyber/article_ea3307d7-5a43-590e-9007-a848c1e3141e.html

HB1897: Sonney legislation would alert Pa. cyber education
GoErie By Alan Krawitz | The Center Square Posted Jan 24, 2020 at 3:34 PM
The bill was proposed by state Rep. Curt Sonney, of Harborcreek Township, R-4th Dist.
HARRISBURG -- A bill that could potentially remake Pennsylvania’s system of cyber education was the topic of a public hearing this week in the House Education Committee, and it galvanized reactions from both proponents and critics alike. In effect, the bill, proposed by state Rep. Curt Sonney, of Harborcreek Township, R-4th Dist., would shutter all cyber charters in the commonwealth by the 2020-2021 school year. Also, all traditional school districts would be required to offer their own, full-time virtual education programs. “Cyber education is an important choice parents should be able to make for their children, but local accountability to our taxpayers and students is imperative,” said Sonney, chairman of the committee. “It should be about quality, not quantity.” Pennsylvania’s cyber-charter system is among the largest in the nation, serving more than 24,000 students statewide, according to Jennifer Beagan of the Allegheny County Intermediate Unit, a regional educational agency. The proposal could result in the removal of thousands of students from 14 state-sanctioned, privately-run and publicly-funded cyber schools, sending them to virtual programs run by their home school districts. At the hearing, Sonney said he introduced the legislation because of “concerns from constituents related to the cost and accountability of cyber charter schools.”
https://www.goerie.com/news/20200124/sonney-legislation-would-alert-pa-cyber-education

HB1897: House bill under fire from school choice proponents
Mon Valley Independent By JEFF STITT jstitt@yourmvi.com January 27, 2020
National School Choice Week has begun, and cyber-charter school leaders in Pennsylvania are pushing to stop state lawmakers from “taking away choice” from their students. Agora Cyber Charter School, a public cyber school based in King of Prussia, Pa., that educates students from all parts of the state, is making a push to recruit students by advocating for school choice while simultaneously trying to defeat a state House bill. The School District Cyber Education Law, formally known as House Bill 1897, was posted in September by state Rep. Curtis G. Sonney, R-Erie. In a memo attached to the bill, Sonney writes that its passage would “require all school districts in the Commonwealth to offer full-time cyber education programs accountable to local communities.” In 2002, the General Assembly authorized the creation of cyber charter schools. “None of these schools are accountable to local communities, even though local taxpayer dollars are used to support them,” Sonney wrote. “Under my legislation, the constant tension between school districts and cyber charter schools will be eliminated. “Cyber charter schools, instead of being separate school entities, will be able to serve as third-party vendors and work with school districts to offer full-time cyber education programs.
https://monvalleyindependent.com/2020/01/house-bill-under-fire-from-school-choice-proponents/

“State lawmakers here led the way around state Blaine amendments in 2001. That year, Pennsylvania lawmakers established a multimillion-dollar tax credit program that allowed businesses, and later individuals, to write off state tax bills in return for donations to scholarship funds at private schools. Supporters have successfully maintained that the money does not represent public support for students attending religious or private schools because it never touches the public treasury, going instead directly to scholarship organizations. Over the years, other states adopted the model. Pennsylvania’s pool of tax credits has grown more than six fold over the years. This year, the state is foregoing $190 million in taxes — money that was diverted to the scholarship program even as lawmakers struggled to balance the budget.”

Pennsylvania watches as Supreme Court considers public support for parochial schools
Trib Live by DEB ERDLEY   | Monday, January 27, 2020 12:01 a.m.
Pennsylvanians on both sides of the school choice debate watched the U.S. Supreme Court last week for hints of how it could rule in a pivotal case that has implications for the way K-12 education is funded across the nation. Justices heard arguments in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, a case that challenges whether a scholarship fund underwritten by state tax credits can bar aid to children attending parochial schools. A group of Montana parents argue in the case that state laws barring public support for parochial schools are discriminatory. The hearing came as school choice advocates prepared for a weeklong celebration of their victories in advancing such programs — as Monday marks the beginning of National School Choice Week. It also is the start of Catholic Schools Week. Pennsylvania is among 37 states with so-called Blaine amendments that bar public support for religious schools.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/pennsylvania-watches-as-supreme-court-considers-public-support-for-parochial-schools/

Plan for new teacher evaluations would limit impact of standardized tests
Pottstown Mercury By David Mekeel dmekeel@readingeagle.com @dmekeel on Twitter January 27, 2020
Ryan Aument brushed off the complaints. No one likes change, he told himself, the kinks will eventually work out. The state senator from northern Lancaster County was proud of the bill he had authored in 2012, while a member of the House of Representatives. It created a statewide system for evaluating public-school teachers, something he felt was much-needed. Shortly after the system was implemented, he began to hear grumbles. Administrators and teachers weren't thrilled with it, thought it needed to be changed. "I have to confess, originally as I began to hear those concerns I dismissed them," Aument admitted. "I had pride in authorship. And any time you have change you know there are going to be some bumps along the way. My thought was: It's going to take some time." But Aument kept hearing from teachers, kept hearing from administrators. They were patient with him, he said, showing him data that demonstrated flaws in the system. Their biggest concern, Aument said, was that the system relied too heavily on the results of standardized testing. "They convinced me," Aument said. "I've now learned that humility in authorship is important. We have a responsibility to continue to revisit the work we've done and to make adjustments as needed."
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/local/plan-for-new-teacher-evaluations-would-limit-impact-of-standardized/article_6c335e04-9243-5b33-8276-09077977fe18.html

“The state Department of Education created the option for schools to bring in guest substitutes — or substitutes without teaching certificates — as the number of certified teachers in Pennsylvania has dropped significantly over the past two decades. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the state typically would issue about 14,000 teaching certificates every year, according to Alice Gillenberger, who assists several school districts with their guest substitute teacher programs as part of her job at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. As recently as 2016-17, she said, that number dropped to around 4,400. 
Guest substitutes help fill the gap as the number of teachers declines
ANDREW GOLDSTEIN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette agoldstein@post-gazette.com JAN 27, 2020
6:15 AM
Sylvia Famosa likes to begin her Spanish classes at Mt. Lebanon High School by starting a conversation with her students. She will ask them in Spanish about their weekend or whether they’re ready for the start of a new semester. “That kind of grabs their attention immediately,” Ms. Famosa said. “Sometimes they may not understand 100 percent of what I’m saying, but they know that they’re supposed to start paying attention.” Ms. Famosa is a substitute teacher, but she has taught her Spanish classes all year while filling in for a teacher who is on a leave of absence. Ms. Famosa, though, is not a certified teacher. She is one of 46 teachers who have qualified for Mt. Lebanon’s guest substitute teacher program.  Mt. Lebanon is just one of the school districts in Allegheny County and beyond that have taken advantage of guest substitute teachers as a way to fill gaps when a full-time substitute is unavailable.
The guest substitutes help school districts while at the same time giving a flexible option to people who seek part-time work, are potentially interested in pursuing careers in education or want to work with children in their communities.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/01/27/Guest-substitutes-help-fill-the-gap-full-time-teachers-decline-Pennsylvania/stories/202001260019

Philly’s got the worst school librarian ratio in the U.S. This group is protesting
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: January 24, 2020- 6:16 PM
Kayla Johnson is a library kid — the kind who gobbles up books and relishes time spent in the stacks of her school library and interacting with the librarian at the Masterman School. But Johnson, a senior at the elite Philadelphia magnet school, knows how privileged she is. Just seven certified school librarians are left in the city’s public schools, according to the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. Libraries, Johnson said, are a “simple necessity, a fundamental basic.” To underscore that statement, Johnson and 150 others gathered on the steps of the Philadelphia School District’s headquarters Friday to rally for school libraries and certified school
Michelle Weld cheers and holds up a sign behind State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D., Phila.) while he speaks at a rally for more school libraries. State Rep. Thomas Murt (R., Montgomery County), a former teacher, is a cosponsor of legislation that would require every school in Pennsylvania to have a certified librarian. Research shows that students with access to certified school librarians perform better, especially in low-income areas.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/school-library-librarians-closed-philadelphia-rally-ratio-20200124.html

Lancaster County students speak more than 70 different languages; what are they?
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer Jan 24, 2020
To realize how much of a melting pot Lancaster County is, look no further than its schools. Lancaster’s 17 school districts are home to more than 3,600 students who speak a language other than English. Together, they speak over 70 different languages. While some schools pride themselves on their diversity, more students not speaking English means more money spent on language support services such as English language learner programs. LNP | LancasterOnline recently analyzed 2018-19 ELL data, the most recent available, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to find out more about the languages students here speak. Here’s what we found.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-students-speak-more-than-different-languages-what-are/article_ec43c972-3d6a-11ea-9eaa-ff61fd3744a7.html

‘We’re struggling’: McClure Elementary parents cope with the practical fallout from Philly’s asbestos crisis
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: January 25, 2020- 5:00 AM
Jessika Roche doesn’t want her 8-year-old back inside his school until all asbestos is removed from McClure Elementary in Hunting Park. But the Philadelphia School District’s asbestos crisis has raised immediate, practical concerns beyond her and other parents’ fears for their children’s long-term health. As in: What do you do with your child or children when they’re unexpectedly out of school for the better part of a month, as Roche’s son and other McClure students have been? “We’re pulling our hair out, we’re struggling,” said Roche, whose son, Cassius, is in third grade at McClure. The school is closed as officials tackle areas of damaged asbestos throughout the building. “It’s taken a huge toll on our family.”
https://www.inquirer.com/education/asbestos-mcclure-childcare-school-closed-toxic-20200125.html

Asbestos cleanup continues; McClure closure extended
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: January 24, 2020- 6:48 PM
McClure Elementary, the Hunting Park school closed for the better part of a month to deal with the cleanup of damaged asbestos, will remain shut Monday and Tuesday. Still, students will be engaged in learning for part of the day. District officials announced Friday night that McClure pupils “will participate in educationally focused off-site activities and field trips aligned with curriculum.” On Monday, children will visit the Franklin Institute. On Tuesday, some will visit the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Southwest Philadelphia, others the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, and another group the National Constitution Center. Parents will be expected to pick them up at 1:30 p.m. both days.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/asbestos-mcclure-cleanup-closure-school-20200124.html

“Valentini works with at least 600 homeless Allentown students every year. He makes daily visits to places such as the Salvation Army, Sixth Street Shelter and hotels to connect with families and children. Valentini provides items such as school supplies, uniforms, hygiene products and gift cards to students and their families. Part of his job includes helping families enroll their children in school.”
He’s spent more than 30 years helping homeless students in the Lehigh Valley. Now, ‘Rooster’ is ready to retire
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO THE MORNING CALL | JAN 24, 2020 | 5:14 PM
'Rooster' is ready to retire
Even in his retirement speech, Russell “Rooster” Valentini was thinking of the Lehigh Valley’s homeless children, whom he has been helping for the last 35 years. Thursday night, when the Allentown School Board approved his retirement as a “home and school visitor" at the end of this school year, Valentini addressed the board. He shared a story of a girl whose family just received a furnished house after years of being homeless, and the girl’s response when she was asked how she liked her bed. "And she goes, ‘I don’t know. I’ve never slept in a bed,’” Valentini said.
“So we can’t underestimate … what these children are not exposed to. It’s so important for us to give them that shot.” A tireless advocate for homeless students and their families throughout the Lehigh Valley, Valentini received a standing ovation from a crowded room and praise from each of the nine school board members. We can’t underestimate … what these children are not exposed to. It’s so important for us to give them that shot.  “I’ve admired you from afar for a long time,” Director Nancy Wilt said. “When I first became a mom in Allentown, you were one of the first names that I heard of.”
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-allentown-schools-rooster-retirement-20200124-p4k6ycckond4tlwxvcvmsz2yne-story.html

This Lehigh Valley high school has 7 students, 3 teachers and a whole lot of faith
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO THE MORNING CALL | JAN 26, 2020 | 5:14 PM
After 16-year-old Gabe came home high one night and accidentally set off the security alarm, his father decided his son needed help. It wasn’t the first time Gabe did drugs. And it wasn’t the first time he got caught, Gabe said. So, in October, Gabe left Liberty High in Bethlehem to attend Kolbe Academy, the Lehigh Valley’s first recovery high school, in Hanover Township, Northampton County. Operated by the Allentown Diocese and housed in the former St. Francis Academy on Bridle Path Road, Kolbe Academy looks like any other high school. Lockers and student artwork line the hallways. The library is stacked with familiar young adult books like “The Hunger Games” and the “Harry Potter” series. Students joke around in anatomy class. But the school isn’t a typical high school. At Kolbe, students work to lead lives of sobriety while they earn diplomas. The school enrolls just seven students — six boys and one girl — and has three teachers, providing an intimate environment in which students can freely discuss with teachers their struggles.
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-bethlehelm-kolbe-academy-school-year-20200123-cie7ilhqsjebrm6ngw5fxasmra-story.html

The Philadelphia school board is getting at least one new member
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: January 24, 2020- 11:21 AM
Wayne Walker, vice president of the Philadelphia Board of Education, will not seek reappointment, officials announced Friday. That means the nine-member school board will have at least one new member this year. Walker was one of Mayor Jim Kenney’s first nine picks to the school board, which took over running the Philadelphia School District in 2018 after a state takeover that lasted 17 years.  Walker, 61, a turnaround management and corporate governance specialist who has also served as a leader on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and the National Philanthropic Trust, said he was stepping down because of a family situation that will require him to spend “significant time outside of Philadelphia.” He will remain on the board until Kenney names and City Council approves his replacement. Kenney, newly sworn into his second term as mayor, must name a new board, but it’s expected that most members of the current board will stay — all of Walker’s colleagues on the board are seeking reappointment.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/school-board-mayor-kenney-wayne-walker-new-member-20200124.html

Why is Philadelphia’s poverty rate sky high, and what can be done about it? | Mark Zandi
Inquirer Mark Zandi | help@economy.com Updated: January 26, 2020 - 8:00 AM
Philadelphia is a great American city, and it is thriving. Unemployment is about as low as it has ever been. Jobs and wages are up. Housing and commercial real estate development is in full swing in many neighborhoods. So why does Philadelphia have one of the highest poverty rates of any major city in the country? Close to one-fourth of the city’s residents have incomes below the poverty line — an astounding figure. And to be in poverty is to be very poor, indeed. A family of four is in poverty if its annual income is less than $26,000. For context, the big U.S. city with the next highest poverty rate is Houston, with one-fifth of its population under the line. Nationwide, the poverty rate is about half that of Philadelphia’s. Silicon Valley in California is the gold standard, with less than one-tenth of its population in poverty. Disentangling the causes of Philadelphia’s sky-high poverty rate is no easy feat. Poverty is due to a number of conflating factors, and causality is hard to determine. Is poverty high because of high incarceration, for example, or is incarceration high because of high poverty?
https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/philadelphia-poverty-causes-solutions-mark-zandi-20200126.html

School Choice Options In Pennsylvania
National School Choice Week 2020 will be held from January 26 – February 1, 2020
There are a variety of school choice options available for many of the 2.7 million children living in Pennsylvania. Families in Pennsylvania can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. National School Choice Week 2020 will be held from January 26 – February 1, 2020. Pennsylvania will celebrate with a record-breaking 2,915 events and activities across the state.
https://schoolchoiceweek.com/states/pennsylvania/

“Ed Fuller, Pennsylvania State University professor, found in one of his studies of a particular charter network that when considering the number of students starting in the ninth grade as a cohort, the percentage of charter cohort students who graduated and went on to college was at best 65 percent. In other words, 35 percent of ninth-graders at a charter network didn’t make it to their graduation. The charter network discounts these students by claiming a legacy of 100 percent college acceptance rates. Who are the students that fail to graduate from charters? According to Fuller, certain charters lose a greater proportion of lower-performing students than higher-performing students, which has a positive impact on their overall state exam scores at school and district levels.”
What public isn’t told about charters’ 100 percent college acceptance rates: José Espinoza
El Paso Times by José Espinoza, Guest columnist Published 4:48 p.m. MT Nov. 8, 2018
When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Dating back to 1954, the Better Business Bureau used this catchphrase to alert the public of shady business practices. In the new era of school choice, this catchphrase can be used to alert the public of misleading business practices by charter schools in order to protect our most prized possessions — our children. Every year, certain charters tout a 100 percent college acceptance rate as their major marketing pitch to lure parents away from traditional public schools. The reality is the public isn’t told acceptance to a four-year university is actually a graduation requirement at some charter schools. It specifically states in certain charters’ student/family handbooks that a student may graduate and receive a diploma ONLY if the student is accepted into a four-year university and has completed 125 hours of community service. Reading lengthy student/family handbooks carefully before considering charters is just as important as reading the fine print before signing contracts. We must also ask, “Why is Corporate America bashing our traditional public schools, yet it doesn’t demand transparency or accountability from charter schools?” While 100 percent of charter seniors get accepted to college as required, the public has a right to know the percentage of charter students who didn’t make it to their senior year.
https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/opinion/2018/11/08/truth-charters-college-acceptance-rates-jose-espinoza/1931956002/

Church-Run Charter Schools? Supreme Court Argument Stirs the Discussion
Education Week By Evie Blad on January 26, 2020 10:58 AM
Could a closely watched U.S. Supreme Court case clear the way for charter schools run by churches and other religious organizations? Justice Stephen Breyer raised the question this week at arguments for Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, one of the most significant K-12 cases before the high court in years. The debate over religious charter schools has been active in a small corner of the school choice advocacy world for years. "Overriding all objections is America's woeful lack" of space in quality schools, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation's then-President Chester E. Finn, Jr. wrote in a 2003 Education Week commentary. "Every possible asset should be brought to bear on the creation of more. Religious charter schools deserve consideration." Here's what you need to know about the discussion.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/01/religious-charter-schools-espinoza.html


PSBA Announces Completion of Commonwealth Education Blueprint
We are happy to announce the Commonwealth Education Blueprint is complete! The project is a statewide vision for the future of public education in Pennsylvania and is a collaborative effort of individuals that represent the many faces of public education.
Read it here: https://edblueprintpa.org/blueprint

School Finance & Budget Town Hall
This event is set for Jan. 28 at Bensalem High School
By  Lower Bucks Times January 21, 2020
The Bensalem community is invited to a Town Hall Forum to learn about school funding, finance and the district’s budget on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at Bensalem High School North Wing Audion, 4319 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem.
Speakers include:
Susan Spicka, executive director, Education Voters of PA
Dr. Samuel Lee, district superintendent
John Steffy, director of business operations.
Everyone is welcome to attend this interactive presentation and question and answer session.
https://lowerbuckstimes.com/2020/01/21/school-finance-budget-town-hall/

PARSS Annual Conference April 29 – May 1, 2020 in State College
The 2020 PARSS Conference is April 29 through May 1, 2020, at Wyndham Garden Hotel at Mountain View Country Club in State College. Please register as a member or a vendor by accessing the links below.

Allegheny County Legislative Forum on Education March 12
by Allegheny Intermediate Unit Thu, March 12, 2020 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT
Join us on March 12 at 7:00 pm for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit's annual Allegheny County Legislative Forum. The event will feature a discussion with state lawmakers on a variety of issues impacting public schools. We hope you will join us and be part of the conversation about education in Allegheny County.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/allegheny-county-legislative-forum-on-education-tickets-86600874547

Five compelling reasons for .@PSBA .@PASA .@PAIU school leaders to come to the Capitol for Advocacy Day on March 23rd:
Charter Reform
Cyber Charter Reform
Basic Ed Funding
Special Ed Funding
PLANCON
Register at http://mypsba.org

School Leaders: Register today for @PSBA @PASA @PAIU Advocacy Day at the Capitol on March 23rd and you could be the lucky winner of my school board salary for the entire year. Register now at http://mypsba.org
For more information: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/

Charter Schools; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN PROPOSED RULEMAKING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [ 22 PA. CODE CH. 711 ]
http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol49/49-34/1274.html

PSBA New and Advanced School Director Training in Dec & Jan
Additional sessions now being offered in Bucks and Beaver Counties
Do you want high-impact, engaging training that newly elected and reseated school directors can attend to be certified in new and advanced required training? PSBA has been supporting new school directors for more than 50 years by enlisting statewide experts in school law, finance and governance to deliver a one-day foundational training. This year, we are adding a parallel track of sessions for those who need advanced school director training to meet their compliance requirements. These sessions will be delivered by the same experts but with advanced content. Look for a compact evening training or a longer Saturday session at a location near you. All sites will include one hour of trauma-informed training required by Act 18 of 2019. Weekend sites will include an extra hour for a legislative update from PSBA’s government affairs team.
New School Director Training
Week Nights: Registration opens 3:00 p.m., program starts 3:30 p.m. -9:00 p.m., dinner with break included
Saturdays: Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., program starts at 9:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m., lunch with break included
Advanced School Director Training
Week Nights: Registration with dinner provided opens at 4:30 p.m., program starts 5:30 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Saturdays: Registration opens at 10:00 a.m., program starts at 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., lunch with break included
Locations and dates

PSBA Sectional Meetings
Hear relevant content from statewide experts, district practitioners and PSBA government affairs staff at PSBA’s annual membership gathering. PSBA Sectional Advisors and Advocacy Ambassadors are on-site to connect with district leaders in their region and share important information for you to take back to your district.
Locations and dates

Sectional Meetings are 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (across all locations). Light refreshments will be offered.
Cost: Complimentary for PSBA member entities.
Registration: Registration is now open. To register, please sign into myPSBA and look for Store/Registration on the left.
https://www.psba.org/2019/10/sectional-meetings-2020/

Congress, Courts, and a National Election: 50 Million Children’s Futures Are at Stake. Be their champion at the 2020 Advocacy Institute.
NSBA Advocacy Institute Feb. 2-4, 2020 Marriot Marquis, Washington, D.C.
Join school leaders from across the country on Capitol Hill, Feb. 2-4, 2020 to influence the legislative agenda & shape decisions that impact public schools. Check out the schedule & more at https://nsba.org/Events/Advocacy-Institute

Join us for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg to support public education Monday March 23, 2020!
All school leaders are invited to attend Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) are partnering together to strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around meetings with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Click here for more information or register at http://www.mypsba.org/
School directors 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

Register now for Network for Public Education Action National Conference in Philadelphia March 28-29, 2020
Registration, hotel information, keynote speakers and panels:
https://npeaction.org/2020-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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