Wednesday, March 11, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for March 11: Schools Preparing for Coronavirus


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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PA Ed Policy Roundup for March 11, 2020


PSBA Webinar: Prepare for Advocacy Day – A discussion on charter reform, PlanCon; school funding – Today at Noon
MAR 11, 2020 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM



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.


NPE: Due to Covad-19 Concerns,Our March 28-29 Conference in Philly will be Rescheduled. We Will Announce Details Shortly
The Network for Public Education Website March 10, 2020

Rep. Longietti: Charter School Funding Needs Reform
Pa. House Video•Mar 10, 2020 Video Runtime 1:34
Pa. state Rep. Mark Longietti attended a public hearing on charter school funding in Pennsylvania.

Rep. Ciresi Supports Charter School Reform Plan
Pa. House Video •Mar 10, 2020 Video Runtime 34 seconds
During a House Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, Pa. state Rep. Joe Ciresi showed his support for a charter and cyber charter school reform plan that would help save taxpayers $300 million while leaving school choice intact for Pennsylvanians.

Rep. Ullman Initiates Dialogue on Charter School Funding
Pa. House Video•Mar 10, 2020 Video Runtime 43 seconds
Pa. state Rep. Wendy Ullman hosted the Pa. House Democratic Policy Committee to discuss reforming charter schools and public school funding.

Let’s be honest about public charter school funding
Post0Gazette Opinion by David Fair MAR 11, 2020
DAVID FAIR of Franklin Park is the president of the Propel School Board.
Education reform is certainly needed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but doing so at the expense of public charter schools will only force thousands of children to return to traditional public schools that their families fled seeking better educational outcomes. While Gov. Tom Wolf is focused on instituting significant cuts that will adversely affect public charter schools, anti-charter school voices are empowered to spread untruths and blame public charter schools for their inability to manage the tax dollars allocated to them. The truth about funding is that charter schools receive only a portion of the per-pupil allocation given by state government. School districts on average keep 25% of every charter student’s allocation. This leaves brick-and-mortar charters like Propel fewer dollars to complete its mission of providing high-quality education to a largely underserved student population. Propel is a public charter school system serving more than 4,000 students in 13 brick and mortar schools located in eight districts.

County schools settle on pandemic action plan
Delco Times By Loretta Rodgers Times Correspondent March 11, 2020
Delaware County school superintendents and a representative from Episcopal Academy on Monday met with county officials in person or via conference call to discuss a path forward in preparing for a potential outbreak of coronavirus. Lori Devlin, director of InterCommunity Health, Medical Countermeasures Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Health; Delaware County Intermediate Unit; county council Vice Chairman Dr. Monica Taylor and county Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce were on hand for the planning session. “I am very happy with how Monday's meeting went,” Boyce said. “All of the superintendents arrived with plans already in place for their respective districts and we spent quite a bit of time discussing what is in the best interest of the districts' students and staff.” Upper Darby School Superintendent Dr. Dan McGarry sent a message to parents outlining steps the district will be taking including asking the school board to declare Friday as an in-service day. “As a unified County response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19, school districts throughout Delaware County have agreed to hold planning and preparation meetings with their staffs,” McGarry said.  “Upper Darby School District will be asking our school board of directors to designate this Friday, March 13, as an in-service day for our teachers and staff. Similar to a regular in-service day, students will not report to school on March 13, but staff will report on that day.  The March 13 planning and preparation day will provide teachers and staff time to prepare to deliver instruction to our students K-12 if we are required to close our district. At this time, all afternoon and evening school district activities will continue, but we are monitoring these activities closely.”

Some Delco public schools to close for a day to prepare for coronavirus
At least six of Delaware County public school districts are planning to close for one day - most are picking Friday or Monday - to test their preparedness in the wake of the coronavirus' arrival here in Delaware County and in Pennsylvania. Superintendents from all the county school districts met with representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, county Council Vice Chairman Dr. Monica Taylor and county Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce Monday to discuss the situation. "From yesterday's meeting ... every school left that meeting with the idea that we're going to do a readiness day," Boyce said. "This is going to get worse before it gets better." He explained that each district will chose which day it plans to close but that the purpose is to exercise policies and best practices, such as testing online education procedures.

Western Pennsylvania school districts prepare for coronavirus
Post Gazette by JAMIE MARTINES   | Tuesday, March 10, 2020 6:30 p.m.
Western Pennsylvania school districts are making plans to continue instruction in the event schools close temporarily because of the spreading covid-19 coronavirus. “We are not in a position at this point to say that there’s a need to send kids home,” said Jenny Webb, spokeswoman for South Butler County School District, where teachers were instructed this week to prepare 10-day lesson plans that students can work on remotely in the event the district must close its doors temporarily. There had been 12 presumed positive cases of covid-19 reported in Pennsylvania as of Tuesday afternoon, including eight in Montgomery County and one each in Philadelphia, Delaware, Monroe and Wayne counties, all in the eastern part of the state.

Philly cancels St. Patrick’s Day parade, warns against large gatherings after first coronavirus case; Bucks identifies first two cases
Inquirer by Oona Goodin-SmithAnthony R. WoodMaddie HannaLaura McCrystalAnna Orso and Susan Snyder Ongoing Corona Virus Coverage
The Philadelphia Health Department is now recommending that city residents consider not attending public gatherings with more than 5,000 expected attendees.

Voter Registration Update: Pa.’s blue and red divide deepens as April primary approaches | Analysis
PA Capital Star By  Nick Field March 11, 2020
Since our last voter registration update former Vice President Joe Biden enjoyed a Democratic primary season resurgence, President Donald Trump got impeached and a potential pandemic broke out across the globe. Given this frenetic pace, it seemed necessary to write a new installment before Pennsylvania’s April 28 primary. After all, who knows what will transpire between now and then?  Before diving into the regions, I did want to lay out the top-line numbers, with the commonwealth currently sitting at 8,533,170 total voters. Among them are 4,058,718 Democrats and 3,256,004 Republicans, resulting in an 802,714-voter advantage for Democrats.  Now to look at the various corners of the state and dig in to see the trends underneath.

“Understanding how our economy works is not a luxury. It is now time for Pennsylvania to join the 25 other states that require economics and the 21 states that mandate instruction in basic personal finance in our schools.”
What you don’t know about money can hurt you | Opinion
Penn Live Letter By Michael A. MacDowell Posted Mar 10, 2020
Michael A. MacDowell is President Emeritus of Misericordia University and a Trustee of the Calvin K. Kazanjian Economics Foundation.
There are few topics that generate more spirited conversation than economics. Policy makers, politicians, and pundits all have opinions on the state of the American economy and the forthcoming presidential election. This virtually assures that the future economic health of the country will be discussed daily. Yet there are few subjects about which people are more emotional and yet less informed. On the personal finance level a survey conducted by Annamaria Lusardi of George Washington University and Oliva S. Mitchell of the University of Pennsylvania found that 40 percent of the respondents knew little or nothing about the impact of compound interest; 65 percent did not understand how inflation can harm their future buying power and 60 percent did not know about the importance of diversification in their retirement planning.

Equal approach, unequal results at CSPR public meetings
Parent engagement was the highest for popular and threatened schools. Questions emerged about the data used and the process.
The notebook by Bill Hangley Jr. March 10 — 12:58 pm, 2020
The School District of Philadelphia has completed its first round of public forums as it gathers information for its sweeping initiative to realign schools with city population trends. The forums attracted hundreds of attendees, but they were marked by uneven parent turnout, incomplete data, and uncertain next steps for the ambitious process. Officials said they were happy with the three forums – “a lot of good dialogue, a lot of good feedback,” said Vanessa Benton, head of the District’s Comprehensive School Planning Review (CSPR) team – but acknowledged that the limited parent attendance did not appear to fully represent the communities involved. “I feel like we got representation from the people who were able to come at that time,” said Benton. “It’s a difficult time for families to be able to come out.” Observers at the forums said that failing to equitably engage families could undermine the CSPR process, a multi-year effort launched in November with a price tag of $1.3 million. “If you want to keep this process legitimate, you have to have parents,” said Charlene Samuels, a leader of North Philadelphia’s Logan Civic Association and a staffer for City Councilwoman Helen Gym, as she sat in a school working group session that included no parents at all.

Sheppard supporters crowd CSPR forum to defend their school
Closing the North Philadelphia school is an option being considered, but plans are not final.
The notebook by Bill Hangley Jr. March 10 — 12:59 pm, 2020
Among the 21 schools discussed at the Comprehensive School Planning Review public forums, only one school community bucked the process entirely: North Philadelphia’s Sheppard Elementary, a neighborhood fixture on Cambria Street since 1898. Sheppard supporters, faced with the closure of the school as one of their study area’s planning options, spent weeks organizing in the neighborhood. School staff and local activists from the Philadelphia Liberation Center – a community organization with a socialist bent that is focused on “solidarity, education, and the fight for justice” – knocked on doors on weekends and raised about $130 from teachers and staff to rent a school bus to bring parents to the CSPR forum, a 1.5-mile journey. “The stakes are monumental,” said organizer Steven Powers. “That school is truly an anchor in an otherwise abandoned neighborhood.” The result of their efforts was a crowd of about 40 people, chanting on the sidewalk in support of Sheppard before the CSPR forum began. It was the only organized protest of its type at the three meetings.



PSBA report finds correlation between strong boards and student achievement
POSTED ON MARCH 10, 2020 IN PSBA NEWS
In 2001, the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) conducted a groundbreaking study to examine the impact school boards have on student achievement. In the fall of 2018, PSBA refreshed the Lighthouse Inquiry research with the goal of discovering the impact school board governance and leadership has on student achievement in the commonwealth. Utilizing data available within the state and with the help of an outside research firm, PSBA was able to uncover supporting evidence that the actions and behaviors of school boards impact the performance of students in the district.   CEO Nathan Mains recently sat down with Chief Member Services Coordinator Dr. Britta Barrickman to discuss the highlights of the study and explain the impact of the findings. To view this video, please click here. If you are interested in reading the full report, login to myPSBA and click on Resources.  

“The declines equate to a student who was performing at an average level (50th percentile) sinking to the 35th percentile in math and the 40th percentile in reading, Berends said. It didn’t make much of a difference which virtual charter school they attended or which teachers they had, according to the study. And the negative effects weren’t just due to the disruption of switching schools — unlike students who transferred to brick-and-mortar charter schools, students’ scores didn’t bounce back after the transition.”
Indiana virtual charter schools linked to a decline in student test scores, a new study shows
Chalkbeat By Stephanie Wang  March 10, 2020
Faced with low academic results at online schools across the country, supporters often defend virtual education because it provides a haven for struggling students. But a new study in Indiana found that students fell further behind after transferring to virtual charter schools. The findings suggest that online schools post low outcomes not simply because the students they serve face challenges, but because of problems with how online learning works — and the shortfalls of not having a physical classroom. The new research, to be published in the journal Educational Researcher, is in line with other studies that have shown that students who transfer to virtual charter schools saw significant drops in their math and reading scores. “Parents need to know that as they’re making these choices,” said Mark Berends, director of the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Research on Educational Opportunity. Berends, along with three other researchers, tracked seven years of recent test scores to look at how Hoosier students in grades 3-8 performed before and after they transferred to virtual charter schools. The study compares students at virtual charters to peers in brick-and-mortar classrooms with similar profiles at the same academic level.

Shut Down by Coronavirus, Schools Scramble to Feed Students
Education Week By Corey Mitchell March 9, 2020
With school closures stemming from the novel coronavirus escalating, school leaders across the country must wrestle with another dilemma: if schools shut down, their students may not have access to meals. Millions of students, in school districts big and small, rely on the free or discounted meals they eat at school. Advocates worry that as more schools close their doors, more children will go hungry. “These meals are a very big deal,” said Joel Berg, chief executive officer of Hunger Free America, a New York-based nonprofit. “Almost 30 million kids a day rely on government subsidized school meals. If schools are shut down for weeks at a time, we’re going to have a serious child hunger crisis.” As of Monday, 507 U.S. schools had been closed or are scheduled to close, affecting 363,357 students, according to Education Week’s tracking of coronavirus-related shutdowns.


EdVotersPA: Take action now to support charter school reform in PA!
Education Voters PA Published by EDVOPA on February 25, 2020
We have helped build a movement to fix Pennsylvania’s worst charter school law in the nation in every corner of the commonwealth. Now it is time to take this movement to Harrisburg! Please click HERE and sign a letter to your state representative and senator calling on them to support charter school reform. Ed Voters’ volunteers will hand deliver each constituent letter to state lawmakers’ offices in mid-March. Make sure yours is included! We will need to deliver thousands of letters to send a strong message that Pennsylvanians expect lawmakers to take action this legislative session.

PSBA Board Presidents Panel April 27 & 28; Multiple Locations
Offered at 10 locations across the state, this annual event supports current and aspiring school board leaders through roundtable conversations with colleagues as well as a facilitated panel of experienced regional and statewide board presidents and superintendents. Board Presidents Panel is designed to equip new and veteran board presidents and vice presidents as well as superintendents and other school directors who may pursue a leadership position in the future.

PSBA: Coronavirus Preparedness Guidance
In the last few weeks, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has become a topic of concern nationwide. Although the virus is not widespread in Pennsylvania at this time, that status could change. Being proactive is key to prevention and mitigation. Below, you will find a list of resources on all aspects of preparedness, including guidance on communication planning, policy, emergency management and disease control. Use these resources to help you make decisions regarding the safety and health of those in your school district.

Bucks County Intermediate Unit: FLU AND CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
Resources for School Leaders; Bucks County Intermediate Unit Website
This page contains a collection of news articles, health agency resources, and school system templates related to the Flu and Coronavirus.  This page is by no means exhaustive and in no way serves as an endorsement for specific resources.  Instead, it serves as a collection point for school leaders seeking resources and exemplars.  Please contact Dr. Mark Hoffman with any additional documents or links to post!

Blogger note: support Governor Wolf’s proposed charter reforms:
Reprise: PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb 10, 2020
1. Adopt resolution for charter funding reform
2. Ask your legislators to cosponsor HB2261 or SB1024
3. Register for Advocacy Day on March 23rd

Adopt: the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform
PSBA Website POSTED ON FEBRUARY 3, 2020 IN PSBA NEWS
In this legislative session, PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.

Cosponsor: A 120-page charter reform proposal is being introduced as House Bill 2261 by Rep. Joseph Ciresi (D-Montgomery), and Senate Bill 1024, introduced by Senators Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny). Ask your legislator to sign on as a cosponsor to House Bill 2261 or Senate Bill 1024.

Register: 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

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.

A Free Educational Event Hosted at Capitol Building in Harrisburg, March 16, 2020
CONTACT Holly Lubart EMAIL HollyL@PANewsMedia.org PHONE 717-703-3032
A Free Sunshine Week Educational Event Hosted at Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pa.
Guest Speaker: Sarah Hofius Hall, Education Reporter, The Times-Tribune
Guest Speaker:  Representative Curt Sonney, Chairman, House Education Committee
Guest Speaker from the Wolf Administration
To register for this event, please complete the form below.

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

PSBA Board Presidents Panel April 27, 28 and 29; Multiple Locations
Offered at 10 locations across the state, this annual event supports current and aspiring school board leaders through roundtable conversations with colleagues as well as a facilitated panel of experienced regional and statewide board presidents and superintendents. Board Presidents Panel is designed to equip new and veteran board presidents and vice presidents as well as superintendents and other school directors who may pursue a leadership position in the future.

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.

Register today for the 2020 PASA/PA Principals Association PA Educational Leadership Summit, August 2-4, at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square 
(hosted by the PA Principals Association and the PA Association of School Administrators). Participants can earn up to 80 PIL hours (40 hours for the Summit and - for an additional cost of $50 - 40 hours for EdCamp) for attending the conference and completing program requirements. Register early to reserve your seat! The deadline to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount is April 24, 2020.   
Click here to register today!


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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