Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State
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PA Ed Policy Roundup for April 27, 2020
Register Today for PSBA
Virtual Advocacy Day 2020
MAY 11, 2020 • 9:00
AM - 4:30 PM
Info and Registration: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/
Blogger note: the latest update on potential property tax freeze
legislation is that two bills were referred to the State Government Committee on
Friday containing essentially the same language that failed to garner enough
support last week. They are HB2431 (Gleim) and HB1776 (Cox).
The committee is slated to meet today at the call of the chair.
Bucks County Courier Times By Chris English @CourierEnglish
Posted Apr 24, 2020 at 2:01 PM
An amendment to a larger piece of proposed
state legislation would have, if approved, prohibited any increase for 2020-21.
An amendment to a proposed state law that freezes school property taxes for
2020-21 at this year’s level has been pulled from the larger bill, a move applauded
by many Bucks County school officials. The amendment introduced by House
Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, to the Senior Citizen Tax Reduction
Incentive Act is described as on hold but not dead by his spokesman Michael
Straub. “Yes, we’re still working on it,” Staub said. “There has been no failed
vote yet. There’s still some work to do on both sides of the aisle.”
Straub said the amendment was meant to
provide more financial relief for state residents struggling with the economic
impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. “At a time when our unemployment rate is
skyrocketing, and every segment of our economy will feel the effects of the
pandemic, we at the very least would like to ensure property taxpayers won’t be
hit with an unfair hike,” he said. But in a joint letter to state legislators
representing Bucks County, county Intermediate Unit Executive Director Mark
Hoffman and the 13 superintendents of the county’s school districts said a
blanket freeze on property taxes for 2020-21 is not the answer.
“Adoption of this amendment at this time, and
so far into the budget year, would be disastrous for our school district
budgets,” the letter read. School district officials have been working on
budgets for several months, and the deadline for school boards to approve final
versions is June 30.
“To place limits beyond the already
established limits provided by Act 1 of 2006 on the allowable property tax
increase for school district budgets this late in the process will cause
severe, undue hardship throughout Bucks County schools,” the letter continued.
“School districts are very much aware that
every Pennsylvanian is suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19
crisis. Local control allows our school administrators and boards of school
directors to best respond to each community’s economic circumstances and need
“By every indication, this economic downturn will be much deeper
than in 2009. Without more federal relief, the impacts on schools could far exceed
the damage of the $1 billion state funding cut of 2011, which led to cuts in school
programs and the termination of 27,000 teacher and other school personnel jobs.”
Take Action: Tell your members of Congress to provide
more federal funding to school districts
Education Voters PA Published by EDVOPA on April
26, 2020
We recently joined our partners from the PA Schools
Work campaign in urging Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation to support
additional, significant, flexible funding for public K-12 education in the next
phase of emergency COVID-19 response legislation. This will be critical in
helping districts avoid mass layoffs and severe cuts in programs and services
that will harm students.
While we are grateful that Congress allocated
a COVID-19 emergency response package (the CARES Act) that will provide $13.5
billion to schools nationwide ($524 million to Pennsylvania’s schools), these
funds are just a fraction of the $79 billion that the federal government
provided to schools in 2009 during the Great Recession and not enough to
replace the funding schools anticipate losing in local revenues.
“One of the most evident lessons the COVID-19 crisis has been
teaching us is the vital role that public schools play in our communities —
especially those with a high level of students who live in poverty — and how
they serve as lifelines for thousands of society’s most vulnerable children.
Another lesson that has been laid bare is that we have vast, and unacceptable,
inequities in our society between the haves and the have-nots, especially when
it comes to education.”
Public school funding at risk during pandemic (opinion)
Opinion by SUSAN KNOLL | SPECIAL TO LNP |
LANCASTERONLINE April 25, 2020
Susan Knoll is a Lancaster city resident.
This op-ed was co-signed by these parents
within the School District of Lancaster: Megan Snell, Erik Anderson, Rachel
Anderson-Rabern, John Modern, Elizabeth Modern, Dan Ardia, Christian Kopchak,
Jenny Schulder Brant, Spike Brant, Michelle Gherardi, Amy Ruffo, Howard
Montgomery, Amy Lovell, Daniel Lovell, Enrique Sotomayor, Mary Sotomayor,
Lauren Finn, Leigh Moss, Jeremy Moss, Candace Roper, Heather Smith, Kelly
McIntyre, Beverly Fornoff, Anita Pilkerton-Plumb, Jessica Comp-Lewis, Laura
Kanagy, Carmalena Stoltzfus Iyengar, Raj Iyengar, Amy Mees, Susan Dodge, Laura
Shelton, Chatarina Eskered, Srirupa Dasgupta, Marianne Smith, Maria Mitchell, Guillaume
de Syon, Todd DeKay, Trella Dubetz, Meghan Oakley-Henning, Stephanie McNulty,
Pablo Jenik, Candy Graupera, Lauren Engle, Meagan Howell-Brogan, Sara Barton,
Maya Greenshpan, Marco Di Giulio, Liza Stover, Kayla Roberts, Lawrence Lerner,
Lisa Griffin, Jaime Blair, Jorge Mena-Ali, Heidi Leitzke, Julie Peachey,
Margaret High, Kris Sherer, Lucy Deren, Melissa Gehler, Beverly and Keith
Wilson, Lesley Colabucci, Jodi Hillard, Felisa Miller, William Matta, Sarah
Geissinger, Kirsten Hoover, Eric Hoover, Kari Stanley, Mara Clements, Shane
Clements, Tom Vafias, Auria Vafias, Danielle Painton, Gabriel Painton, Hiram
Martinez, Deborah Martinez, Jennifer Starliper, and Magdalen Hess.
In February, just before the COVID-19 crisis
rendered “normal” life obsolete, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a 2020-21 state budget
that included excellent news for public school students. The proposed budget
revealed a long-overdue $100 million increase in basic education funding, as
well as an additional $25 million for special education funding. Wolf also
vowed to stay the course on much-needed charter school funding reforms to save
school districts $280 million. The steps taken by Wolf since he was first
elected have helped begin to fix Pennsylvania’s broken school funding system.
The state provides just 38% of K-12 funding, which creates heavy reliance on
property taxes to fund education. This leaves the school districts that have a
majority of students in poverty with a vastly unfair share of the funding
burden. By proposing funding increases for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable
schools in his most recent budget, Wolf was continuing on a path toward their
revival. But now, in our current health crisis, many public school advocates
worry that the gains made will be moot, and that many legislators will look at
the money set aside for public education as up for grabs. Now more than ever,
it’s imperative for our governor and legislators to avoid that scenario at all
costs.
Pottstown board calls for charter school funding reform
Pottstown Mercury by Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com
@PottstownNews on Twitter April 24, 2020
POTTSTOWN — The school board unanimously
adopted a resolution Thursday night calling on the state legislature to enact
charter school funding reform. The resolution notes that "53 percent of
all students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are educated in underfunded districts
which demonstrates the fact that Pottstown students are not alone in the
disparities of educational resources throughout the Commonwealth." "The
current charter school funding formula was established in 1997 under the
state's Charter School Law and has not been changed in the 23 years since it
was first created; and the formula for regular education programs is unfair
because it is based on a school district's expenditures and not what it
actually costs to educate a child in the charter school," the resolution
also notes. Further, "13 out of 14 cyber charter schools are listed as
failing schools in the Commonwealth and no cyber charter school excels in
academic performance as listed on the future ready index; and whereas, the
latest data from the PA Department of Education shows that in 2017-18, total
charter school tuition payments (cyber and brick-and-mortar) were more than
$1.8 billion, with $519 million of that total paid by districts for tuition to
cyber charter schools," the resolution says.
“So I’ll just say this now: If your child with an IEP is in a
charter school and things are going well for you, congrats. No, really,
congrats. However, the data is very clear. By and large, Charter
Schools only accept minimally disabled students. The most prevalent disability
category in charter schools is SLD and Speech/Language–the two least expensive
categories. And don’t even get me started on Charter School results (or lack
thereof) which I won’t get into because that’s not what this post is about.”
When your Charter School Rejects your Child based upon
their IEP Needs.
A Day In Our Shoes Blog LAST UPDATED
ON APRIL 22, 2020 BY LISA
LIGHTNER
Charter Schools and IEPs-Special Education
Table of Contents
- Charter Schools and IEPs-Special
Education
Charter Schools and IEPs or Special Education
is a very misunderstood concept, even though the law is pretty clear. Some of
the confusion comes from the charter schools themselves. They send a consistent
message based on previous practice, and not necessarily on what is right or
legal. This post about Charter Schools and Special Education has been in my
head a while, but I’ve neglected to put it together for several reasons. One is
that whenever I post anything that says anything negative about charter
schools, I get a ton of hate e-mail. And even if it’s not hate email, I get a
bunch of e-mail and comments basically telling me that I am wrong. And that
their child with an IEP is in
a charter school and things are just fabulous. So since their situation is
spectacular, there can’t possibly be any truth to what I’m saying.
Carlisle Area School District says budget deficit
balloons to 4.55 million after COVID-19
Cumberlink/Sentinel byJoe Cress Apr 22,
2020
With two months left in the budget cycle,
there are more questions than answers as the Carlisle Area School District
copes with a possible deficit that could be more than double what it was just
weeks ago. Anticipated economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has
increased the projected shortfall for 2020-21 from $1.7 million in early March
to $4.55 million as of mid-April. Meanwhile, the school board is still
obligated to adopt a balanced budget for next year by the state deadline of
June 30. District administrators briefed board members last Thursday on the turn
of events. The goal was to prepare them for possible staff and program cuts,
Superintendent Christina Spielbauer said. “We have some tough decisions ahead.
We want to get the board to think about it and process the information. We will
be coming back to you at the beginning of May.” Board member Rick Coplen said
he anticipates rough weeks ahead not just for Carlisle but other school
districts across Pennsylvania. “This is shouting out at me,” Coplen said.
“There is no way we are going to get to $4.55 million in budget savings. I
don’t see any solutions except program deletions.
Pottstown School Board eyes 3.8% tax hike for 2020-21
POTTSTOWN — Current plans for the $65.8
million 2020-2021 Pottstown Schools budget call for a 3.8-percent tax hike. The
tax hike, the maximum allowed by the state cap, would help close a projected
budget shortfall of $1,138,808, according to a presentation made by Business
Manager Maureen Jampo at Thursday night's online school board meeting. In
addition to the tax hike, the budget plan calls for pulling an additional
$991,000 out of reserves to balance the budget. Jampo said the borough lost another $2.2
million in assessed property value in the past year, siphoning off $105,000 in
revenues from the next budget before calculations even began. The coronavirus pandemic also has thrown
a monkey wrench into the district's budget plans. Current projections call for earned income
tax revenues to be down by $220,000 over the current year. Further,
anticipating that cratering state tax revenues are likely to result in all
state aid remaining flat, Jampo removed another $144,846 from basic education
subsidy of the draft budget; as well as another $86,300 from the special
education subsidy line. On the upside, some costs which have dropped due to the
March 13 closure of all Pennsylvania public schools have allowed the district
to re-purpose some budget lines to purchase additional Chromebook computers for
students who don't have them.
“The virus has highlighted the academic disparity between
well-off schools and struggling ones and exposed a digital divide that
puts students in poorer districts at an even greater disadvantage.”
Allentown students at disadvantage in starting remote
learning Monday, weeks behind suburban peers
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO THE MORNING
CALL | APR 26, 2020 | 6:00 AM
The Allentown School District will begin
remote learning Monday — more than 40 days since students were last in a
classroom and weeks after many suburban districts moved to online learning. While
it’s been a challenge for school districts across the country to educate
students online during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s been even harder for
districts in dire financial straits like Allentown. More than 60% of
Allentown’s students do not have access to a computer at home, according to a
survey the district recently conducted. Administrators have spent the last
month scrambling to find laptops so students could have the tools they need to
learn. As a result, Allentown students, who already lag behind those from other
districts academically, have lost seven weeks
of learning, while their peers have progressed in
math and English lessons on iPads and Chromebooks. It’s a nearly two-month loss
that education officials fear will have serious repercussions for the region’s
most vulnerable students. Three-quarters of Allentown’s students live in
poverty and almost 90% are children of color. The Philadelphia School District,
which faces similar challenges, won’t start instructing students until May.
When coronavirus hit, schools moved online. Some students
didn’t.
Inquirer by
Maddie Hanna and Kristen A. Graham, Updated: April
27, 2020- 4:43 AM
Philadelphia teacher Jenifer Felix has tried
to reach her students and their families in myriad ways since the
coronavirus closed schools: with calls
and texts, through Facebook messages and Instagram stories. Her school,
Kensington Health Sciences Academy, prides itself on having close ties with
pupils. Still, as many as 25% of Felix’s students aren’t logging on or completing work because
they lack wireless internet, have to work, or care for family members. As the
pandemic has forced classes online, not all students have been able to follow.
Weeks after the interruption of in-person learning, some pupils still haven’t
logged in or communicated with teachers. “Our number-one concern is making
connections with students and families,” said Superintendent Richard Dunlap of
the Coatesville Area School District, where 15% of its more than 5,700 students
are unaccounted for. The transition to online learning has been a challenge for
schools, students, and families nationwide. But connecting all learners to
remote instruction poses particular hurdles for schools with concentrations of
needy students, whose families may be facing unemployment, food and housing
insecurity, and technology gaps.
"Oh my God. How are we going to do this?" City
schools across Pa. struggle to reach students, families during COVID-19 crisis
Harrisburg School District educators were
unable to connect with more than 1,800 families after schools were announced
closed across Pennsylvania.
Author: Matt Maisel (FOX43) Published: 1:49
PM EDT April 24, 2020 Updated: 4:47 PM EDT April 24, 2020
HARRISBURG, Pa. — When Governor Tom Wolf
announced all schools across Pennsylvania closed back on March 13, Harrisburg
School District's Chief Academic Officer Dr. Susan Sneath wasn't immediately
sure what the next steps were. "Oh my God," Sneath remembered
thinking. "How are we going to do this? How will we do this?" Facing
an unprecedented situation, Sneath and her team of administrators at Harrisburg
weren't sure how to continue education forward for the 6,575 students K-12 in
the district. They decided on a phone survey to find out how families in the
district best consume information. Every teacher was asked to contact
each child's family in their class. They asked about internet access, devices,
televisions, and cell phones. "We even asked if they had game systems
because we thought we might be able to reach kids through an XBOX or
Playstation," Dr. Snead said. Harrisburg educators made 5,498 calls,
according to data given to FOX43 by the Harrisburg School District. Teachers
only connected with 3,684 families. That's 1,814 the district could not reach. "That’s
pretty concerning," Sneath admitted. "Also understandable, because in
these tough times if a family runs out of minutes or data their cell phones
don’t work. "Do we feel we have been able to be in contact with everyone?
No, we haven’t." The dilemma Harrisburg is facing in reaching families and
educating children during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order is not dissimilar to
what many large, urban school districts are facing.
'I literally felt cut in half': Learning online not an
easy adjustment for Lancaster County families
Lancaster Online by ALEX
GELI | Staff Writer April 26, 2020
After two weeks of facilitating her
7-year-old daughter's online learning, Maribeth Bandzi’s patience ran out. Her
daughter, Madison, a first-grader at Letort Elementary School, stared out the
dining room window, watching the neighbors outside, conveniently ignoring the
reading exercise on the iPad behind her. Meanwhile, Bandzi’s son, 4-year-old
Logan, ran around the dining room table screaming, longing for the attention he
has lacked since his sister has been home from school. So Bandzi got up,
grabbed a pair of scissors and a cardboard box leftover from a Target delivery,
created a makeshift cubicle and plopped it on the table in front of a
distracted Madison, who instantly wanted to decorate it. That was Friday, April
17. It was perhaps the most stressful day in the Bandzi household since
at-home, online learning began because of the statewide schools shutdown, which
started in mid-March and will extend through the end of the current school
year. “I literally felt cut in half,” Bandzi, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom,
said days later as she reflected outside on her front porch. Bandzi isn’t
alone. Parents have taken on the often challenging and unpredictable role of
at-home tutor during the coronavirus pandemic. That’s often on top of other
responsibilities: looking after younger children, working 9 to 5 — either on
location or remotely — and caring for their own parents, many times elderly and
at-risk of contracting an infection.
W-B Area intensifies online learning, undecided on
graduation plans
Citizens Voice BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER / PUBLISHED:
APRIL 23, 2020
The Wilke-Barre Area School District increased
online instructional intensity this week and has not made any decisions about
high school graduation ceremonies. The last student day for the academic year
remains June 5, Superintendent Brian Costello said during a virtual school
board meeting Tuesday night. All schools in Pennsylvania closed March 16 in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Wilkes-Barre Area began online education
three weeks ago. Gov. Tom Wolf announced two weeks ago all schools will remain
closed for the rest of the academic year. “In regard to our graduation
ceremony, as the governor continues to provide new guidelines on how we will
begin to reopen beginning May 8, at this time, it is just too early for us to
make a decision on the type of ceremony we will be using,” Costello said. “I am
still hopeful and optimistic that we can have some form of a traditional
ceremony for our students and their families. ... even if that requires us to
provide some form of traditional ceremony at a later date.” The school district
is planning virtual events, including award ceremonies and senior specific
activities. “We understand these events will certainly not replace the
activities that were left unfinished this year,” Costello said. “It is a way
that we can make the best of the situation and continue to stay together as
one.” Regarding online instruction, the district has started monitoring and
documenting attendance and has implemented live sessions within classes,
Costello said. “The Wilkes-Barre Area School District has now increased the
intensity and focus of our efforts around instruction for all students at all
grade levels,” Costello said. Students in need of technology should contact
their school’s principal, Costello added.
What happens after remote learning? How schools can
prepare for the challenges in the next academic year. | Opinion
Laura Boyce, For The Inquirer Updated: April
27, 2020 - 4:38 AM
With Philly schools closed for nearly a third
of a school year, students face the prospect of a devastating “COVID-19 slide,” an
exaggerated form of the summer learning loss that leaves many of our most
vulnerable students behind when they return to school each fall. As former U.S.
Education Secretary John King warned, “The risk
is that in some schools next year, you are going to have a kid with parents who
were able to provide high-quality supplemental instruction at home, sitting next
to a kid who hasn’t received meaningful instruction since February.” New research suggests
that students will learn 30% to 50% less this school year than in a normal
year, and existing inequities will be widened for low-income students, students
of color, students with disabilities, and English language learners. On top of
that, teachers will be welcoming back students who have experienced
unprecedented trauma, lost loved ones, experienced economic insecurity, and
missed crucial socialization opportunities for months. We are potentially
facing a lost generation of students, whose learning could be irrevocably
derailed without a no-holds-barred academic recovery effort this fall that
allows them to make up more than a year’s worth of learning in one school year.
“The House Republicans aren’t the only caucus in the legislative
branches who see cost-cutting in order as the state could be staring at a
nearly $4 billion shortfall due to the coronavirus crisis. With the closure of
many businesses, the state is taking in much less money. More than 1.5 million
Pennsylvanians are applying for unemployment benefits.”
Pa. House Republicans freeze staff pay; other
cost-cutting measures in state government being considered
Penn Live By Jan
Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated Apr
25, 2020; Posted Apr 25, 2020
House Republican staffers who have a work
anniversary approaching will have to wait at least a year before they are
eligible to see their next pay raise. A memo recently issued to the chamber’s
GOP staffers delivered that news. It comes on top of a hiring freeze imposed by
the caucus earlier as part of ongoing belt-tightening measures. Citing the
detrimental impact COVID-19 has had on the economy, the memo states that no
caucus employee will be eligible for a salary increase for a one-year-period
beginning April 17. After that, the memo indicates the goal is to re-evaluate
caucus finances and hopefully return to its meritorious increment program that
awards up to 2.5% pay increases on work anniversary dates.
Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Guidance on
Special Education Evaluations and Re-Evaluations.
Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureaus
of Special Education and Early Intervention Special Education and Preschool
Early Intervention Evaluations & Virtual Assessment Guidance
Local education agencies (LEAs) and Preschool
Early Intervention (PS EI) programs must provide a free appropriate public
education (FAPE) consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of
eligible young children and students with disabilities and those individuals
providing education, specialized instruction, and related services to these
students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LEAs and PS EI may not be able to
provide all services in the same manner they are typically provided. Educational
and related services and supports may need to be adjusted accordingly. PDE
recognizes the physical and psychological well-being of students, families,
educators and communities are the immediate and overriding priority. There are
concerns about conducting evaluations during this turbulent time of crisis and
the inherent difficulty in ethically, validly, and reliably administering
certain types of measures virtually.
“On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic
Development (DCED), confirmed to a Tribune- Review reporter that drive-in
graduations are permitted, although drive-ins are not allowed to show movies as
they are still considered to be nonessential businesses. “A drive-in theater may
host these events, but only if social distancing requirements are enforced to
ensure the health and safety of attendees,” said Rachel Wrigley, DCED
spokeswoman.”
Burrell High graduation to be held at a closed drive-in
theater; other schools, drive-ins considering
Trib Live by MARY
ANN THOMAS | Sunday, April
26, 2020 12:01 a.m.
Plans for high school graduation ceremonies
at drive-ins are in works across the region, although there were initial
conflicting signals from state officials if such public ceremonies are legal
under covid-19 stay-in-place orders. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) turned down the
Starlight Drive-In in Center Township, Butler County, to hold an Easter
Service, while Easter services proceeded at the Riverside Drive-in Parks
Township, Armstrong County. More recently,
the Burrell School District got backing from two state lawmakers, Sen. Jim
Brewster, D-McKeesport and Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, to hold their June
11 graduation ceremony at Riverside Drive-In.
Pittsburgh Public Schools offers 4th-quarter grading
options, public input sought by noon Tuesday
Trib Live by PAUL
GUGGENHEIMER | Saturday, April 25,
2020 6:52 p.m.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent
Anthony Hamlet is looking for feedback from the broader school community on two
options for fourth-quarter grading guidelines. Two new options were developed
following school board input Wednesday to present changes to the grading
guidelines due to the covid-19 pandemic. In response to the state mandate that
“every school offer planned instruction at every grade level for all students,”
the district has developed two grading guideline options.
Mt. Lebanon School Board waives Keystone Exams
requirement
Post-Gazette by DEANA CARPENTER APR 25, 2020 12:00
AM
The Mt. Lebanon School Board voted April 14
to waive the requirement that graduating seniors must pass the Keystone Exams. Traditionally,
in order for students to be eligible for graduation, they must demonstrate
mastery on the algebra, literature and biology Keystone Exams. The Keystone
Exams are end-of-course assessments that assess proficiency in the subject
area. If students do not demonstrate proficiency on a Keystone Exam, they
typically would be allowed to turn in a project to raise the test score. However,
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board voted unanimously to waive both
requirements for graduation. Board members stated that students in the class of
2020 who have not demonstrated proficiency on one or more Keystone Exams and
have not successfully completed the supplemental instruction program or a
project-based assessment will still be eligible for graduation, provided that
all other graduation requirements have been met.
Is it true that Philadelphia students’ grades can only go
up, not down?
Some parents worry that if students believe
their grades can't drop, they will have less motivation to do the work.
The notebook by Dale
Mezzacappa April 24 — 1:08 pm, 2020
Since the rollout of the School District’s
online learning plan for the balance of the school year, students have been
getting conflicting messages about how grading will work. Superintendent William
Hite has said repeatedly that he doesn’t want students to be “negatively
impacted” for “things they can’t control,” such as a lack of online access, the
need to take care of siblings or other family members, or the need to keep a
job that is paying the household bills. Some principals have sent out the
message to students that grades can go up, but they can’t go down. Parents have
expressed concerns that students may lose motivation to do any work if they
feel that they cannot be “negatively impacted” as the District works through
its procedures and guidance for this unprecedented situation. The District
began formal online instruction on Monday, April 20, what it is calling
“enrichment and review,” and told teachers not to give out grades for that
work. Some teachers, to motivate students, said they would get extra credit for
completing assignments.
Heroes: Woodland Hills principal helped students get
technology for online learning
Trib Live by JOANNE
KLIMOVICH HARROP | Friday, April
24, 2020 4:39 p.m.
Phillip Woods needs no alarm clock. “I just
automatically wake up at 4 a.m. every day, because I have so much on my mind,”
said Woods, principal of Woodland Hills High School in Churchill. “I am
continuously thinking about our students and their families and our teachers
and our staff and our community. This is a time like we’ve never seen before.” When
the state ordered all schools to close for two weeks, starting March 16, Woods
formulated a plan. That changed on March 30, when Gov. Tom Wolf extended the
closures indefinitely. Then, on April 9, Wolf announced the closure
of all schools in Pennsylvania until the end of the academic year. “Everything’s
been changing so quickly you have to be ready to adapt,” he said. “You have to
make sure the students have all the tools they need to learn.” Woods, an
Aliquippa native, in late March started an initiative to get
laptops to all of his students. “My initial concern was for the seniors, and I
was worried they might not get enough days of instruction to graduate on time,”
he said. “So we started issuing laptops from the library, but the supply got
low.” He devised a fundraiser for Chromebooks as schools transitioned to
virtual instruction.
From establishing a routine to setting time aside for
family, here are tips for parents with kids learning at home
Parents have suddenly turned into quasi-teachers
during the coronavirus pandemic. Many school officials are attempting to ease
the burden on these parents by sharing tips on how to best navigate these
uncharted waters. Here’s some advice school officials from Columbia Borough,
Manheim Central and Warwick shared with LNP | LancasterOnline.
Create a feasible schedule. Schools
advise setting aside up to three hours a day, depending on the student’s age,
to complete their assignments.
Demonstrate flexibility. This
is new for everyone, so give your child – and their teachers – some grace. Be
patient, take breaks regularly, and ensure he or she is putting forth their
best effort.
Establish a routine. Create
a sense of normalcy by establishing a daily routine and a designated workspace
with limited distractions.
Communicate. Contact
teachers or administrators if you or your child is struggling. Teachers,
counselors and principals often have office hours set aside to answer
questions.
Celebrate small successes. Giving
feedback and praising your child when he or she accomplishes a task can go a
long way.
Protect relationships. Don’t
let the challenges of online learning create a wedge between you and your
child. You’re in this together. Make sure they know that.
Take time for family. When
they’re done with school for the day, do your best to create family memories
they will cherish, whether it’s playing a game, watching a movie or cooking a
meal together. That – not a book report – is what they’ll remember most from
this time.
As a member of the ‘corona class,’ I’ll miss out on the
end of senior year, but I’ll have stories to tell my grandkids
Public Source First-person
essay by Harrison Hamm | April 23, 2020
At the beginning of March, the coronavirus
still seemed to be a far-fetched threat. The idea that COVID-19 could knock
things down, or take things away, had to be impossible, especially for the
indestructible seniors at Fox Chapel High School. I’m one of those seniors. One
day at lunch, in early March, a friend of mine joked about what I would do if
COVID-19 forced us to stay home with all pro sports canceled. “Hammy, you’d
have nothing to do,” he laughed, and I laughed along with him. At that point, I
had no grasp of how real that would become. I write this now sitting at home,
just like everybody else, in the exact situation we joked about a little over a
month ago. Everything is indeed canceled. Pro sports went down around the same
day that school was suspended for us: Thursday, March 12. We lost our spring
break trips, sports events, senior prom, graduation — everything that everyone
looked forward to. There is no way to get any of it back. And yet we know that
a lot of people have it worse. People are dying in hospitals because they can’t
get ventilators. Corporations are laying people off, and small businesses are
failing. We young people will probably be fine if we catch the disease, and for
those of us in stable economic situations in Fox Chapel, we won’t be as
affected by this crisis as many across the world will be.
Covid-19 school closures ‘devastating’ for students who
rely on music classes 'to get them through the school day’
Washington Post By Valerie Strauss Reporter
April 26, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
Some subjects seem more easily translatable
to online lessons than othersfGaa, but for one group of students — budding
musicians who depend on their schools for instruments, mentorship and training
in ensembles, the closure of schools because of covid-19 has been especially
difficult. That’s the subject of this post by Sarah Robinson, a former public
school music educator who is the strategic partnership coordinator of the Grammy
Music Education Coalition for Music
Makes Us at Metro
Nashville Public Schools. This appeared on the
website of the Hechinger Report, a
nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation
in education. I was given permission to publish it.
6 Reasons Students Aren't Showing Up for Virtual Learning
Education Week By Peter DeWitt on April
26, 2020 8:05 AM
Many teachers, students, and parents are
proving to be remarkably resilient during this time when it comes to the
effects of the pandemic on school, education, and student learning. It is not
easy to teach in a physical classroom one day and turn it into a virtual
classroom the next. Most college and university teacher prep programs do not
have a course focusing on virtual teaching and learning (something they may
consider doing soon). Many teachers are still trying to replicate what
they do in a classroom, with what they are doing online. It's important to
shift that way of thinking and continue to adapt. Most of us will never feel as
confident or competent about how we teach virtually as we do when the students
are in front of us. This adaptation is not easy, but we have to start looking
at the parts of virtual teaching that are not working and let them go, and
begin looking at the places where we can go a little bit deeper. As I
comb through the countless teacher Facebook pages that have been created due to
the pandemic, I have learned a great deal about new tools and ways to engage
students, at the same time I am constantly reminded of just how much work teaching
is, and it's even more complicated when it all has to be done virtually. When
it comes to how teachers are meeting the needs of their students, there are a
few important aspects to keep in mind.
9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They
Reopen
NPR by ANYA KAMENETZ Heard
on All Things Considered April 24,
20207:04 AM ET
Audio runtime 3:29
Three-quarters of U.S. states have now
officially closed their schools for the rest of the academic year. While remote
learning continues, summer is a question mark, and attention is already
starting to turn to next fall. Recently, governors including California's Gavin
Newsom and New York's Andrew Cuomo have started to talk about what school
reopening might look like. And a federal government plan for reopening,
according to The Washington Post, says that getting kids back in
classrooms or other group care is the first priority for getting back to
normal. But there are still many more unknowns than guarantees. Among the
biggest, says Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education
Association, the nation's largest teachers union, is this: "Is it safe and
healthy for my kids to pack them into that classroom?" Here are nine key
ideas — drawn from interviews with public health experts, education officials
and educators around the country — for what reopening might look like.
PSBA Board Presidents Panels (Zoom) April 27, 28, 29 and
30 (depending upon the size of your district)
This annual event supports current and
aspiring school board leaders through facilitated discussion with colleagues in
leadership. 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.
Due to current social distancing
requirements, this annual program will shift from a series of in-person
regional events to a digital platform using Zoom Meetings. Participants of each
of the four sessions will meet in small groups using virtual breakout rooms.
Experienced facilitators will guide discussions on attendees’ unique
challenges, solutions and experiences related to board leadership during the
COVID-19 school closures.
This year’s program will be organized to
group together leaders from schools of similar enrollment sizes for relevant
conversation. Members may register for one or two nights to participate in all
of the topics offered. If your district's average enrollment is above 3,500,
you are invited to join the sessions on Tuesday, April 28 and/or Thursday,
April 30. If your district's average enrollment is below 3,500, opt to join the
sessions on Monday, April 27 and/or Wednesday, April 29.
Request@PSBA.org: PSBA establishes
channel to answer COVID-19 questions
POSTED ON MARCH 19, 2020 IN PSBA
NEWS
In light of statewide school closings and as
the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, PSBA is here to provide support to members
and answer questions regarding how schools will operate, meet instructional
requirements and provide services both now and in the future. Please send your
questions to request@psba.org with
your name, district and contact information. A member of PSBA staff will
respond directly or will funnel your inquires to the Pennsylvania Department of
Education. PSBA will act as your voice and ensure you receive the answers and
information you need to make decisions at this crucial time.
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.
PSBA Virtual
Advocacy Day 2020 MAY 11, 2020 • 9:00 AM - 4:30
PM
Now
more than ever before – Make your voice heard!
Join
us virtually to support public education!
All
public school leaders are invited to join us for our first ever Virtual
Advocacy Day on Monday, May 11, 2020 via Zoom. We need all of you to
help strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around reaching out to
your legislators to discuss the steps you have taken to deal with the pandemic
crisis and the steps legislators can take to provide schools the flexibility
and creativity needed to weather the storm. Mandate relief, budgeting flexibility,
charter funding reform and other legislative changes need to be considered to
give school district flexibility.
Info
and Registration: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/
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.
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