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
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
If any of your colleagues would
like to be added to the email list please have them send their name, title and
affiliation to KeystoneStateEdCoalition@gmail.com
PA Ed Policy Roundup for March 16, 2020
All K-12 schools in Pa. ordered closed for 2 weeks
because of coronavirus concerns
Penn Live By Paul
Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com Updated Mar 13, 2020; Posted Mar
13, 2020
Gov. Tom Wolf this afternoon announced that
all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective
Monday, March 16. The administration has been working with school districts as
well as state and local officials to gather input on this decision. The Wolf
Administration will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the commonwealth and at the
end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed.
Gov. Wolf made the following statement:
"We understand that these are trying times
and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities. "First
and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders –
must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities.
"As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the
next two weeks. "Be aware that no school district will be penalized if
it fails to meet the 180 day or school hours requirements. "The
Department of Education will work with intermediate units and other
stakeholders to support school districts with any continuity of learning plans
they may be pursuing.
Gov. Wolf, Congresswoman Houlahan, Sec. of Health, Sec.
of Education Outline COVID-19 Mitigation Guidance for Pennsylvania Schools and
Additional Closures in Bucks and Chester Counties
Governor Wolf’s Website March 14, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf, United States
Representative for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District Chrissy Houlahan,
Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, and Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera
this afternoon provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts,
including further guidance for schools following Governor Wolf’s announcement
yesterday of the closure of all
Pennsylvania schools beginning Monday, March 16.
Schools to be closed include public K-12 schools, including brick and mortar
and cyber charter schools, career and technical centers (CTCs), and
intermediate units (IUs). All other schools – including private, parochial, and
institutions of higher education – should be consulted directly for the most
current closure information. Gov. Wolf also announced mitigation efforts
expanding to Chester and Bucks counties beginning tomorrow, March 15. The
governor previously announced mitigation efforts in Montgomery and Delaware
counties. The total number of positive cases in Pennsylvania as of 1:15 p.m.
includes two new cases: two adults in Allegheny County, bringing the state’s
total to 47, with six of those cases confirmed by the CDC.
Coronavirus, kids and school closings: Four questions
answered | Monday Morning Coffee
PA Capital Star By John L. Micek March 16,
2020
Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
The bad news is that school students from
Pittsburgh to Perkasie will be staying home from class for the next 10 days
starting this Monday morning. The good news? Disney+ released
“Frozen 2” ahead of schedule to provide some diversion during the
difficult days ahead. We’re being a bit flip, but we’ve always believed that a
wry smile is the best medicine at times of trial. But for those of you who need
some extra-strength advice as you and your children stare down two weeks — and
perhaps more — of enforced confinement, we’re turning to an expert to get the
week going. Aubree Gordon, a
professor of public health at the University of Michigan, wrote the
piece below for The Conversation, where it originally appeared.
White House: More drive-through coronavirus test sites to
open this week
The sites each will be able to screen 2,000
to 4,000 people per day.
WITF By Bobby Allyn and Mara Liasson/NPR MARCH
16, 2020 | 5:30 AM
With our coronavirus coverage, our goal is to
equip you with the information you need. Rather than chase every update, we’ll
try to keep things in context and focus on helping you make decisions. See all of our stories here.
What you should know
» Coronavirus facts & FAQ
» Map: Confirmed cases in the U.S. and around the world
» How to prepare your home for coronavirus
» Coronavirus facts & FAQ
» Map: Confirmed cases in the U.S. and around the world
» How to prepare your home for coronavirus
(Washington) — States hit hardest by the
spread of coronavirus will see drive-through and walk-through testing sites set
up this week, the White House said on Sunday, a shift that will provide more
information about how widely the virus has spread across the country. The sites
each will be able to screen 2,000 to 4,000 people per day, with priority given
to health care workers, first responders and people age 65 and older with
respiratory symptoms and fevers above 99.6 degrees. The Trump administration
has been criticized for the lack of testing, which public health experts have
said has masked the prevalence of the virus. Early on, there was a problem in test kits distributed
to labs by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, which slowed efforts to make testing more widely available. President
Trump declared the virus a national emergency on
Friday, a move that freed up billions in funding and also activates the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to help set up testing sites and field hospitals.
Schools across Pa. close due to coronavirus
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent March 13, 2020
Pennsylvania will close all of traditional
public schools and charters for the next two weeks due to coronavirus, Governor
Tom Wolf announced Friday. The governor also said that school districts and
charters will not be penalized if they cannot meet the state’s requirement to
hold 180 instructional days this school year. “First and foremost, my top
priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure
the health and safety of our students and school communities,” Wolf said in a
statement. The federal government has cleared Pennsylvania to serve meals to
low-income students in “non-congregate settings” while the closures persist,
Wolf added — meaning that children who rely on free lunch and breakfast may
still have opportunities to receive food during this shutdown. State officials
also insinuated that the sudden closures could cause them to delay or cancel
the standardized tests students take annually. Secretary of Education Pedro
Rivera said the state plans to apply for a waiver to the federal law that
mandates annual testing if the feds makes those waivers available
All Pa. school districts closing for 2 weeks over
coronavirus fears
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer Mar 13,
2020
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all
public schools in the state to close for the next two weeks as the state seeks
to curb an outbreak of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. The order — which
came as confirmed cases in the state reached 41, none of which are in
Lancaster County — applies to the state's 500 public school districts,
plus brick-and-mortar charter schools. Cyber charter schools will be considered
on a case-by-case basis, Wolf said, and private schools are encouraged to
close. It capped off a frenetic Friday afternoon that began with Lancaster
County school districts initially announcing they would shut down for a week
starting Monday. Schools are now expected to reopen March 30. One-by-one
starting around 2 p.m. Friday, school districts began announcing plans to close
school and cancel activities. A statement posted 45 minutes later by School
District of Lancaster confirmed 16 county school districts made the
choice. Shortly after SDL's announcement, Wolf made his.
Fact Sheet: Impact of COVID-19 on Assessments and
Accountability under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
U.S. Dept. of Education March 12, 2020
This fact sheet discusses the potential
implications of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on State assessment
and accountability systems. This fact sheet also addresses other considerations
regarding the use of Federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). We know that you are doing all in your power to
support your districts and schools to ensure the health and well-being of
students and educators. Like you, we are closely monitoring the situation
around the country and will provide additional information as warranted. We
encourage you to review information from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), which can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s
(Department’s) COVID-19 website at: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus. In particular,
the CDC has issued interim guidance to help K-12 schools and childcare programs
plan for and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students and staff. See
Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools
to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/specific-groups/guidance-for-schools.html.
Wolf orders restaurants to close dine-in facilities in 5
counties as coronavirus tightens grip on Philadelphia region
Inquirer by Anna Orso and Erin McCarthy, Updated: March 15, 2020- 11:09 PM
News about the coronavirus is changing
quickly. Go to inquirer.com/coronavirus for
the latest information
Public officials on Sunday said the
Philadelphia region should expect another week of increasingly stringent
policies as health authorities grappled with how to confront the new
coronavirus that may be spreading through people who aren’t showing symptoms. On
Sunday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all bars and restaurants in
Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, Delaware and Allegheny Counties to end dine-in
service for two weeks starting Monday. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he will
unveil plans Monday to close all schools. Many churches were empty. And the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended canceling or postponing all
gatherings of 50 people or more, across the county, for the next eight weeks.
For now, COVID-19 waits outside the door of much of rural
Pennsylvania
KRIS B. MAMULA Pittsburgh Post-Gazette kmamula@post-gazette.com MAR 15,
2020
The new coronavirus that has been seeding
sickness around the globe knocks outside the door in many rural parts of
Pennsylvania, places like Fayette County, where Spotto Ace Hardware has been a
fixture in Connellsville for generations. “We’re trying to keep things in
perspective,” said manager Sam Spotto, 55, whose grandfather opened the store
82 years ago. “I’m not seeing anything extreme yet, but that could change.” Anything
extreme includes a rush to buy things like disinfectant wipes, he said, though
sales of the wipes at his store ticked up in recent weeks. About two weeks ago,
N95 face masks, usually worn to protect workers’ lungs during dusty cleanups,
sold out and so did Mr. Spotto’s supplier. The masks provide some protection
against viruses. As of Thursday afternoon, there were no reported COVID-19
cases in Western Pennsylvania. By Saturday, there were three — two in Allegheny
County and one in Washington County. By Sunday at noon, that number increased
slightly to four — three in Allegheny and one in Washington. Mr. Spotto, like
other business owners in Connellsville, is keenly aware of the virus’ spread as
he considers what’s ahead for his store and for Fayette County.
Pittsburgh Public Schools activates emergency response
plan amid school closures
Trib Live by TEGHAN SIMONTON | Sunday, March
15, 2020 8:39 p.m.
Pittsburgh Public Schools has activated its
emergency response plan because of the state-ordered closure during the
covid-19 outbreak, the district announced Sunday. “As a large urban district,
we have to be prepared for any public safety crisis. Fortunately, significant
planning has been underway in anticipation of the need to close school to stop
the spread of covid-19,” district Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said in a
statement. Student meals will still be available at 54 school locations, as
well as the district’s two alternative schools and stand-alone Early Childhood
Education Centers. According to a news release, meals will be distributed
between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, until March 20. Food service
workers will be on-site from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday this week.
The district will evaluate student participation in the first week of closure,
to determine regional sites for the second week. The district will also provide
optional grade-level activity packets starting Wednesday. The packets will be
available on Schoology, the district’s online education portal.
Philadelphia public schools’ breakfast, lunch pickup
locations during coronavirus closure announced
Inquirer by Sean Collins Walsh, Updated: March 14, 2020-
2:15 PM
An inaccurate map had circulated on social
media recently, Hite said. He cautioned residents against misinformation from
nonofficial sources during the coronavirus pandemic. The city also will be
opening 50 locations, in recreation centers and other city-owned facilities,
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday to “provide safe spaces where
students can drop-in for activities.” The locations will serve meals at 3 p.m. Managing
Director Brian Abernathy also announced Saturday that the Free Library of
Philadelphia will close to the public at the end of the day. All Free Library
locations will be closed through March 29, at which point officials will
reevaluate.
Starting Monday, meals available at 30 Philly schools and
50 recreation sites
Designated rec centers will be open from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Libraries will be closed to the public.
the
Notebook March 14 — 12:56 pm, 2020
City and District officials Saturday released
a list of 30 schools and 50 recreation sites at which families can access meals
for the two weeks that schools will be closed. Breakfast and lunch will be
available for pickup at schools between 9 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through
Friday. In addition, recreation facilities and gyms will be open between 10
a.m. and 6 p.m. Children under 18 can come for some organized activities and
receive a meal. Officials stressed that these centers “are not a day care
substitution,” but a place for children to stay occupied and have a meal. Libraries
will close to the public at the end of today, said Managing Director Brian
Abernathy. At a briefing, City Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas
Farley said that there are now four positive novel coronavirus cases in the
city, and that of the 15 test results yesterday, 12 were negative and three
positive. He could not say how many test kits are available, but said the
number is increasing and that in addition to Quest and LabCorp, CHOP and the
University of Pennsylvania Hospital have some testing capacity. He could not
say how the supply compares to the demand.
Here is where school meals will be available in Lehigh
Valley during coronavirus closures
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO and MICHELLE MERLIN THE MORNING
CALL | MAR 14, 2020 | 9:33 AM
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday
that all school districts will shut down for two weeks because of the
coronavirus that continues to spread across Pennsylvania, Many students and
families are dependent on the meals that schools provide. The state said
federal officials granted approval for schools to serve meals and
snacks at no-cost to low-income students. Here’s where students can receive meals. The
Morning Call will update this information as more districts post their
locations:
Three Pa. special elections will go on as planned Tuesday
despite the coronavirus
Inquirer by Gillian McGoldrick of LNP |
LancasterOnline, Updated: March 14, 2020
This story was produced as part of a joint
effort between Spotlight
PA, LNP
Media Group, PennLive, PA
Post, and WITF to
cover how Pennsylvania state government is responding to the coronavirus.
HARRISBURG — Despite concerns over the
coronavirus, a special election in Bucks County will go on as planned Tuesday,
a top state House official has announced. Both Gov. Tom Wolf and local
officials had called for the special election in the 18th House District to be
postponed, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the county rose to three. On
Saturday, Wolf expanded a voluntary shutdown of nonessential businesses to the
area. “We are concerned with both being able to staff that election as well as
people’s comfort with being able to come out and vote, given the situation and
the social distancing recommendations," Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair of
the Board of Bucks County Commissioners, said Saturday. But in a statement,
House Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) said the Bucks County special
election as well as two others — one in Westmoreland County and the other in a
district that includes parts of Butler and Mercer Counties — would go on as
planned.
A plumber and a funeral director face off in a bellwether
special election
WHYY By Katie
Meyer March 16, 2020
Voters in District 18 of the Pennsylvania
House of Representatives, will choose between Republican K.C. Tomlinson (left)
and Democrat Harold Hayes in a special election Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Harold Hayes says that in the last few months
he’s walked so many miles knocking on doors, he’s lost over twenty
pounds. Hayes, who usually goes by Howie, is running in a special election for
an open State House seat in the 18th District, in Bucks County. On
Tuesday, voters there will decide who they want representing them in
Harrisburg: Harold Hayes, a union plumber and Democrat, or Republican K.C.
Tomlinson, a local funeral director. Their pick won’t just affect the district.
It could help determine control of the House — and be a key indicator of which
way Pennsylvania will swing in November.
Coronavirus school closures raise many questions such as
what happens with the PSSAs
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO and ANDREW WAGAMAN THE MORNING
CALL | MAR 15, 2020 | 6:00 AM
Hours after Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all
public schools will close for two weeks as the coronavirus spreads across
Pennsylvania, Jennifer Ortiz contacted her daughter’s second grade teacher for
some reading and math activities. “My daughter is already a little behind in
math and reading, and I thought about her getting further behind without being
in school,” she said. Ortiz, of Allentown, understood the governor’s decision
and was relieved that her daughters, 7-year-old Gianna and 5-year-old Isabella,
would be home safe with her. But she wondered what effects academically the two
weeks would have on the girls. During the closure, she’ll have Gianna work on
lessons that her Sheridan Elementary School second grade teacher provided. School
districts will not require any formal lessons to be completed because
superintendents understand that not every child has access to a computer or
internet at home. But districts across the Lehigh Valley will provide families
with online activities and workbooks that students can access for enrichment.
Unanimous: All 18 of Pa’s U.S. House members vote for
COVID-19 relief package
By Allison Stevens Capital-Star Washington
Bureau| John L. Micek March 14,
2020
WASHINGTON — In a
rare display of unity, all 18 members of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation joined
with a majority of their colleagues to approve an emergency stimulus package to
combat the coronavirus pandemic after President Donald Trump signaled his
support for the bill. The early Saturday vote authorizes a multi-billion
dollar package aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by a
new coronavirus, and mitigate its economic effects as fears of recession loom. The
bill — the Families First Coronavirus Response Act — passed 363-40, with overwhelming bipartisan support. The
40 votes against the bill were all Republicans. The House’s only independent
lawmaker, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, voted “present” on the bill. Another 26
lawmakers did not vote. Passage came hours after President Donald Trump
declared a national emergency over
the pandemic, freeing up as much as $50 billion to help the country weather the
pandemic and waiving restrictions on health providers and facilities. The House
bill would provide free access to tests for the virus, including for those
without health insurance. It would also give workers affected by the virus paid
family and sick leave, boost unemployment benefits, strengthen government food
programs for children, older people and those with low incomes and help states
meet expenses for Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced changes to allow
schools to serve free and reduced lunches to children outside of
school. Pennsylvania was one of nine states approved by the department to
serve meals outside of a group setting, the USDA said. “We are working to
ensure children who are affected by school closures continue to get fed,”
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement Thursday. “We intend to
use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve those
affected by the outbreak.”
CDC awards $17 million in COVID-19 funding to
Pennsylvania
DANIEL MOORE Post-Gazette Washington Bureau MAR
12, 2020 7:22 PM
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has
awarded nearly $17 million to Pennsylvania, and an additional $3.5 million to
Philadelphia, to help confront the widening threat of COVID-19, the novel
coronavirus that has sickened more than 1,000 nationwide, including 21 people
in Pennsylvania. Yet Pennsylvania state health officials on Thursday were still
waiting for its portion of the federal dollars and determining how to dole it
out. “We know that the federal government is moving quickly on
this, but since it is coming from them, we don’t have a timeframe,” said Nate
Wardle, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Some of the
funding will be used for lab equipment, protective clothing for health
workers and overtime pay, Mr. Wardle said, while some will be provided to the
state’s 10 county and municipal health departments as part of their
responses. Mr. Wardle said state officials were still working through how
much to distribute to the local departments.
Key Education and Community Organizations Come Together
in Support of School Closures Ordered by Gov. Wolf
HARRISBURG, PA (March 13, 2020) –
Leaders of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Pennsylvania Association of
School Administrators (PASA), Pennsylvania Association of School Business
Officials (PASBO), Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania
State Education Association (PSEA) and the Pennsylvania Principals Association
issued the following statement today supporting and praising the decisive
actions of Gov. Tom Wolf in ordering the closure all Pennsylvania schools in
order to assist in containing the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. The spread of
coronavirus across Pennsylvania, the United States, and across the globe is
unprecedented and has required difficult decisions to be made. The immense
challenges presented by this virus have forced difficult and necessary
decisions to ensure the health and welfare of the commonwealth’s citizens. Together,
our organizations present unified support and appreciation for the governor’s
leadership and actions in safeguarding the health and well-being of
Pennsylvania’s students, school staffs and their families and communities.
Letter to the Editor: More needs to be done on education
Delco Times Letter by Renee Burgos, Lynn
Oberfield, and William Oberfield, Providence Friends Meeting, Media March 14,
2020
To the Times: We applaud the editorial that
appeared last week about funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. It was
heartening to see the deep concern on the part of the Delaware County Times for
the adequate and equitable funding of education. However, there is more to say.
House Bill 961 directs all Pennsylvania state education funds through a fair
funding formula. This balanced formula, recommended by the bipartisan Basic
Education Funding Commission (BEFC), removes politics from state school funding
decisions, directing money to school districts based on objective factors, such
as student enrollment, the needs of the student population, and school district
wealth and capacity to raise local revenues. At present, this formula is used
for “new appropriations” only, which amounted to a mere 11% of the state’s
basic education budget in 2019-20. Delaware County communities are hurt by the
lack of an equitable system for funding education. We thank Reps. Kirkland,
Davidson, Zabel, O’Mara, Vitali, Donatucci, Quinn and McClinton for
co-sponsoring this legislation. We’re still waiting for Reps. Delloso, Krueger
and Barrar to stand with us for the children of Delaware County and all of
Pennsylvania. We encourage Delco residents to write, call, or visit their Pa.
state representative and ask them to champion the passage of HB 961, leaving a
legacy of fair education funding.
Doubts raised about school active-shooter drills
ANDREW GOLDSTEIN AND LAUREN LEE Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette MAR 15, 2020 12:16 AM
Schools across the nation increasingly have
introduced active-shooter training over the past two decades to the point that
the practice has become nearly as universal as fire drills. According to the
gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, 95% of American
public schools had drilled students on some form of lockdown procedures in the
event of a shooting by the 2015-16 school year. Although the practice is widely
accepted in the U.S., some have started to question the way the drills are
performed as well as their effectiveness in preventing gun violence in
schools. A white paper released in February by Everytown for
Gun Safety and the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions identified concerns
about active-shooter drills, noting that the drills could risk
traumatizing participants. The report added that there was “scant
evidence” that the training was effective at preventing deaths in school
shootings. The white paper laid out six recommendations intended to improve
school safety while making active-shooter training less traumatic for students
and teachers.
Public School Is a Child’s Right. Should Preschool Be
Also?
Some Democrats, including Bernie Sanders, say
the government-financed care and education of children should start at birth
instead of at kindergarten.
New York Times By Claire Cain Miller March 15, 2020
In the United States, the chance that a child
attends a high-quality preschool — which research has shown sets them on a more
successful life path — often depends on whether the parents can afford it. But
what if government-funded care and education of children started soon after
birth? There’s a growing movement to do so, particularly among Democrats. But
they differ on how far they want to go. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders
pushed universal birth-to-kindergarten plans during the race for the Democratic
nomination. Joe Biden has said he would work with states to provide pre-K at age 3, but he has not offered
details, and has not proposed universal
child care. Mr. Sanders, who says his plan would
help fight family poverty, suggested that he would challenge Mr. Biden on the
issue in the debate on Sunday. The Sanders and Warren proposals — she introduced a bill last
June — would raise taxes on the very
wealthy, then give the money to existing and new child care providers, via
state or local agencies, as long as they met quality and teacher compensation
standards. Every child would be guaranteed a spot.
School Closures for Coronavirus Could Extend to the End
of School Year, Some Say
Education Week By Madeline Will on March
15, 2020 12:26 PM
UPDATED: As national fears swell over the
coronavirus outbreak, more than a dozen governors called for school closures on
Sunday. Now, more than 30 states, plus the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have closed schools for at least two or
three weeks. Some officials have predicted even longer shutdowns that
could stretch through the end of the school year. "This may
not peak until the latter part of April or May, so we've informed the superintendents
while we've closed schools for three weeks, the odds are that this is going to
go on a lot longer, and it would not surprise me at all if schools did not open
again this year," said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, on CNN's State
of the Union. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered public schools in
New York City to close until April 20, despite Mayor Bill de Blasio's
concerns over the impact of an extended closure.
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.
Info and registration: https://www.psba.org/2020/01/board-presidents-panel/
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 May 11th
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 May 11th:
Charter Reform
Cyber Charter Reform
Basic Ed Funding
Special Ed Funding
PLANCON
For more
information: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/
These meetings will be converted to digital meetings. Details
will be forthcoming.
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
- Wednesday,
March 18, 2020 — Section 7, PSBA
Headquarters, 400 Bent Creek Blvd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
- Tuesday,
March 24, 2020 — Section 1, General McLane
High School, 11761 Edinboro Rd, Edinboro, PA 16412
- Tuesday,
March 24, 2020 — Section 4, Abington
Heights School District, 200 East Grove Street, Clark Summit, PA 18411
- Wednesday,
March 25, 2020 — Section 3, Columbia-Montour
AVTS, 5050 Sweppenheiser Dr., Bloomsburg, PA 17815
- Wednesday,
March 25, 2020 — Section 6, Bedford County
Technical Center, 195 Pennknoll Road, Everett, PA 15537
- Thursday,
March 26, 2020 — Section 2, State College
Area High School, 650 Westerly Pkwy, State College, PA 16801
- Monday,
March 30, 2020 — Section 5, Forbes Road
Career & Technology Center, 607 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146
- Monday, March 30, 2020 — Section 8, East Penn School District, 800 Pine St, Emmaus,
PA 18049
- Tuesday, April 7, 2020 — Section 5, Washington School District, 311 Allison
Avenue, Washington, PA 15301
- Tuesday, April 7, 2020 — Section 8, School District of Haverford Twp, 50 East Eagle
Road, Havertown, PA 19083
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.
Rescheduled: Join us for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg to support public
education Monday May 11, 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
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!
Network for Public Education 2020 Conference in Philly Rescheduled
to November 21-22
NPE Website March 10, 2020 7:10 pm
We so wanted to see you in March, but we need
to wait until November!
Our conference will now take place on November
21 and 22 at the same location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please
read the important information below.
Registration: We will be rolling over our
registration information, so there is no reason to register again. You will
be automatically registered for the November dates. If you cannot attend in
November, we ask that you consider donating your registration to absorb some of
the costs associated with rescheduling the conference. If you feel you cannot
make such a donation, please contact: dcimarusti@networkforpubliceducation.org.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.