Wednesday, May 27, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for May 27, 2020: PA House passes stopgap budget measure in close vote, sending it to Senate


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PA Ed Policy Roundup for May 27, 2020
  
Blogger note: This is the work in process budget that to the best of my knowledge, was passed by the House 103-99 last evening. It is expected to be passed by the Senate this week. Education budget lines are listed on pages 5 & 6.
Just a few observations/comments:
·         Both the Basic Education and Special Education Funding lines are flat funded. That indicates that there will be no progress on funding the state’s Fair Funding Formula which only applies to new money.
·         This budget provides for a $74 million increase in the state’s share of PSERs funding; school districts will have a corresponding PSERs obligation.
·         The budget shows a $94 million cut in pupil transportation.
·         The budget shows a $178 million cut in Early Intervention.
·         Because of COVID closures, casino revenue was down $300 million, so the property tax and rent rebate program will be underfunded.
·         School districts continue to grapple with uncertain but anticipated additional expenses associated with reopening: the impact of social distancing, transportation, supplies, etc.
PA 2020-21 Interim Budget State General Fund Appropriations
PA House Republican Appropriations Committee - Proposed State Budget tracking run

John Callahan, chief advocacy officer for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said schools were relieved not to see a cut in aid, given the circumstances. That certainty will help school boards assemble their budgets as they grapple with how to bring students safely back to school buildings in August amid fears of the coronavirus, Callahan said. 
….Schools are not out of the woods yet: casino shutdowns during the pandemic will mean a gap of $300 million in taxes on gambling receipts for schools that must be back-filled, said Rep. Matt Bradford, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.  
Pa. House narrowly passes short-term budget with no tax increases
Penn Live By Marc Levy | The Associated Press Posted May 26, 2020
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state government began advancing a temporary, no-new-taxes budget plan Tuesday that maintains current spending levels while budget makers watch to see how badly coronavirus-related shutdowns damage tax collections and whether the federal government sends another aid package to states. Officials in the House and Senate Republican majorities said that they expected to wrap up votes on a roughly $25.8 billion package this week. The main budget bill squeaked by the House, 103-99, just hours after it was unveiled Tuesday. Every Democrat and six Republicans opposed it. Senate votes were expected this week. The $25.8 billion package would carry full-year money for many public school budget lines, as well as for state-supported universities, debt service and school pension obligations. But much of the rest of the state's operating budget lines would be funded through Nov. 30, the last day of the two-year legislative session, Senate and House officials said. Many public schools officials breathed a sigh of relief at the news that they were spared a massive cut in aid amid projections of a multi-billion dollar shortfall, after taking a hit of more than 10% in state aid nine years ago during the recession. An early deal on a budget also avoids a long, drawn-out budget fight between Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature. Such fights have marked two of Wolf's past five budgets.

PA Capital Star By Stephen CarusoElizabeth Hardison May 26, 2020
Like in an old western standoff, masked lawmakers stared each down across the half-empty benches of the Pennsylvania House floor Tuesday evening, as the chamber voted on a temporary, $25 billion budget that aims to buy the state time to triage the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The vote was tied, 101-101. While most Republicans had voted yes, eight of their most conservative colleagues were a no — as was every House Democrat In the balance was a temporary, $25 billion budget that authorized five months’ worth of funding for most state agencies, and 12 months of funding for K-12 and higher education — the result of a deal hammered out between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and GOP leaders in both the House and Senate. Despite the close call, House Republicans won out Tuesday, and the proposal cleared the lower chamber before heading to a bipartisan welcome in the Senate.  But the accelerated measure pushes off tough decisions until a lame duck session after the November election, giving lawmakers more time to assess the damage to state revenue collections and to await another round of stimulus cash that many hope may be forthcoming from Congress.

“Under the proposal, lawmakers would freeze funding for the next five months at current levels for all state programs. The one exception to the five-month plan: education. Dollars for early childhood and special education, as well as for public schools and higher education, would be flat-funded through the end of the next fiscal year. That would guarantee, at least, that schools — which over the last six years under Wolf have seen funding boosts every year — will not see cuts in state funding.”
Facing nearly $5 billion shortfall, Pa. lawmakers plan to pass short-term budget
Inquirer by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Charlotte Keith, Updated: May 26, 2020- 6:17 PM
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.
HARRISBURG — With the true financial fallout from the coronavirus still unknown, and the prospects for recovery uncertain, the Pennsylvania legislature is on track this week to approve a temporary, five-month spending plan that does not raise taxes and keeps funding level for all state departments. The move comes as a new independent analysis predicts the state will lose nearly $5 billion in revenue through June of next year, setting the stage for a larger fight in the fall over how to finish the budget. Republicans who control both chambers said approving a temporary budget will allow officials to get a clearer picture of the strain placed on Pennsylvania’s finances by the state’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Democrats in both chambers, as well as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, have signaled that they agree with the unorthodox plan to pass the budget in waves, which will allow the state to meet a July 1 deadline for passing a spending plan while buying some time to figure out how deeply revenues will be affected. “All of us are struggling to know exactly what the financial situation is going to look like over the course of the whole next fiscal year,” Wolf said Tuesday, during the administration’s daily briefing. “So we are going to do some unusual things.” Jennifer Kocher, spokesperson for Senate Republicans, said, “We think it’s the responsible thing to do.” The state House on Tuesday passed the measure, 103-99. It now goes to the state Senate for consideration.

On FRIDAY, MAY 29 at 11:00 a.m. PCCY IS HOSTING A PHILADELPHIA TEEN TOWN HALL VIA ZOOM.
Congressman Dwight Evans will join State Lawmakers from Philadelphia to hear from students experiencing firsthand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their education. Please join us for this virtual TEEN TOWN HALL VIA ZOOM allowing students a platform to discuss challenges facing their public schools during COVID-19 shutdown. Decisions on stimulus legislation and budgets are being made now and all voices matters! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER VIA ZOOM – After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.  You can also CLICK HERE TO SET A REMINDER TO JOIN LIVE VIA FACEBOOK.

West York school board scraps textbook over climate change portions
Lindsay C VanAsdalan, York Dispatch Published 4:09 p.m. ET May 26, 2020 | Updated 6:45 p.m. ET May 26, 2020
The West York Area school board voted down a textbook May 19 after members said its teaching of climate change constituted left-wing "indoctrination." The text, "Rubenstein: The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography, 13th edition," is published by Pearson, and it represented an anti-capitalist extension of the environmental movement, said board member Lynn Kohler. "I believe this falls into the indoctrination category of pushing a particular political belief," Kohler said at the board's May 19 action meeting. The book was slated to be used in the district's advanced placement human geography course.  Climate change and globalization are highly political and not universally accepted, Kohler said. But there's widespread agreement among climate scientists that climate change is fact and is either exacerbated or directly caused by human industrial behavior. NASA regularly studies the planet's increasingly warming oceans. And, in 2019, a report published by the U.S. Department of Defense said climate change is among the most pressing threats to U.S. and global stability.  The textbook's adoption was shot down in a 5-4 vote, with board members Kohler, Todd Gettys, Brandy Shope, Courtney Dennis and George Margetas voting against it. Jeanne Herman, Suzanne Smith, Douglas Hoover and Donald Carl voted to approve it. Gettys said approving it would be an endorsement of its ideas, and both he and Kohler agreed it could be offered as an independent study. In that case, students would have to buy their own books, so they would not be funded by taxpayer money. 

The pictures say it all: How South Korean schools are reopening
Washington Post By Valerie Strauss May 26, 2020 at 1:13 p.m. EDT
South Korea began reopening schools recently after closing them several months ago to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus during a worldwide pandemic — and it is employing new social distancing and prevention measures in an attempt to continue to keep the country’s death rate from covid-19 remarkably low. In late February, South Korea had more diagnosed covid-19 patients than any country other than China. A swift and tough program of contact tracing, isolation and other measures contained the virus. South Korea reports that fewer than 300 people have died of covid-19. The country has been slowly reopening schools in the past week, and these pictures show how some of them are trying to keep students and teachers from contracting the disease.

Planning amidst uncertainty
With few guidelines and plenty of concerns, officials and advocates prepare for a September like no other.
The notebook by Bill Hangley Jr. May 26 — 9:05 am, 2020
This is the first article from our May print edition, focused on educating in a pandemic. 
As the nation’s coronavirus outbreak enters its third month, whether and how Philadelphia’s public schools can re-open in September remains unknown. But as the national response to the pandemic takes shape, the nature of the environment in which that decision must be planned and executed is becoming clearer. At one end: a White House that steadfastly refuses to set national policy or endorse clear guidelines. At the other: thousands of Philadelphia public school students whose lives have been dramatically disrupted, and whose needs in September will be greater than ever. In between: the full, sprawling array of public, private and nonprofit entities, each with its own interests and responsibilities, that make up Pennsylvania’s public education community. In Philadelphia, this group – which includes city, state and school district officials, as well as advocates, lawmakers and service providers of all shapes and sizes – is just beginning to face the question of September. Many of the spring’s most urgent problems are now being addressed, and officials say they can now start planning for a safe and effective re-opening – and not a moment too soon. “There’s a lot of timeline preparation, runway that we need,” said Naomi Wyatt, chief of staff for the School District of Philadelphia, at the May 14 meeting of the board’s finance and student achievement committees. “We’re feeling the pressure …. if we’re allowed to open but we can only have 15 students in a room, what would we need to plan?” District officials say they’ll be looking to public health officials when it comes to the big decisions about when to reopen and how to do it safely.

6,000 Philly educators weighed in on reopening schools in September with the pandemic still in play. Here’s what they said.
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: May 26, 2020- 6:22 PM
Ahead of a likely in-person September return to school, more than 6,300 Philadelphia educators weighed in on what reopening school might look like. School-based staff — who expressed concern about reopening under any circumstances before a COVID-19 vaccine is developed — overwhelmingly believe a hybrid model will work best when the 2020-21 school year opens. Many support a staggered schedule where groups of students return on various days of the week; most believe the Philadelphia School District must make provisions for immunocompromised staff and students to work and learn remotely. And while some teachers think bringing children back into brick-and-mortar locations in September is of utmost importance, others were less sure. “Teachers WILL die if schools reopen too early,” one teacher wrote in the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers survey compiled this month and released Tuesday. “Students WILL get exposed and potentially [suffer] long-term consequences of the virus we don’t yet know enough about.” Opening schools amid COVID-19 will be tricky for schools around the world, but large districts that educate significant numbers of low-income children face specific hurdles, said Jerry Jordan, PFT president. “We had challenges before there was a pandemic — concerns about basic things, like building cleanliness, soap, hand sanitizer. There has been a shortage of cleaners,” said Jordan. The union sent the survey to its 13,000 members — including teachers, classroom assistants, nurses, counselors, and other school workers — to gauge concerns and ideas as school and city officials plan the eventual return to buildings; 6,325 responded.

20% of teachers probably will not return to classrooms if schools reopen this fall, poll finds
Inquirer by Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, Updated: May 26, 2020- 5:33 PM
Twenty percent of U.S. teachers say they are not likely to return to their classrooms this fall if schools reopen - and most parents and educators believe school buildings will open, according to polls published Tuesday. The polls - one taken of K-12 teachers and the other of parents with school-age children - found that 73% of parents and 64% of teachers said they believe children will eventually make up for learning lost because of the disruption of school during the crisis. And 63% of parents and 65% of teachers said they believe school buildings in their areas will reopen this fall. The findings came in USA Today-Ipsos polls published Tuesday. The newspaper and Ipsos, a global research and marketing firm, conducted two polls at the same time from May 18-2 and said that "credibility intervals," which are similar to margins of error, are plus- or minus-5 percentage points for the teachers survey and 5.6% for the survey of parents with school-age children. It is not possible to know how school districts would be affected if 1 in 5 teachers do not show up to reopened schools, because schedules and attendance expectations will be different in the fall to comply with social distancing requirements.

Kids need to go to school online. Why isn’t the internet a public utility?
Philadelphia, home of Comcast, ranks near the bottom of U.S. cities in internet connectivity.
The notebook Commentary by Devren Washington May 26 — 8:52 am, 2020
Devren Washington is a senior policy organizer at Movement Alliance Project. Devren focuses on building power in marginalized communities to bring equity and inclusion to the people who need it most. With a focus on digital justice, he uses his experience as a founding member of the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund and organizer with Black Lives Matter Philadelphia to organize directly impacted communities around issues pertaining to technology, surveillance, and internet access. 
When the coronavirus landed in Philly, we at Movement Alliance Project worried about the health and safety of our communities, especially around the key issue of connectivity as life moved online. Knowing that Philadelphia has the second-worst broadband access rate of any big city in the United States, primarily because of poverty, we moved fast for changes in access. We pushed Comcast — the biggest internet provider in the nation and our Philadelphia neighbor — to make their program free, stop turning off service for nonpayment, open public WiFi and expand data. But after the school district closed and struggled to offer online education, we saw the dire implications become a grim reality. The digital divide is a public health crisis, especially in the poorest large city in the country. Our students, the unemployed, medically vulnerable, non-English speakers, and undocumented folks need access to the internet to receive vital information from our local and state governments and to access social services and community resources. The public utility of the internet is especially clear now during the pandemic when most of the city’s official communications and resources are accessible only online. The School District of Philadelphia did raise funds, with the help of Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts and his $5 million donation, to get students laptops. But Comcast not stepping up to offer more help on connectivity means the district is rushing to purchase expensive wireless hotspots for the one in five district students who don’t have broadband access at home. At a time when the city budget proposal suggests a shocking cut of over $600 million, why is the district expected to spend millions of dollars for wireless hotspots, while also attempting to cut a billion dollars from its budget over the next few years?

Coronavirus pandemic presents unique challenges for kindergarten education
Trib Live by TEGHAN SIMONTON   | Monday, May 25, 2020 4:50 p.m.
Students of all ages have been adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic, but educators say the stakes are especially high for kindergartners and preschool-aged children. “Imagine being 5 and this is your world. What will be ‘normal’ to this generation of kindergartners?” said Michilene Pegher, principal of Minadeo Elementary in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. In addition to being concerned about the potential long-term impact of this school year’s extended closure, districts preparing for an uncertain fall opening are grappling with the challenges of getting children registered and prepared for kindergarten, a process that is normally done in person. Lagging sign-up rates are making it difficult to make plans for class sizes, staffing, room assignments and supplies. Pegher said she has been encouraging parents to go online to register their children for kindergarten and distributing packets to help the parents prepare their children, including simple activities such as pointing out numbers, letters and words on road signs while driving and reading to children often. But face-to-face interaction at school is still vital at this stage in a child’s education, Pegher said. If schools don’t reopen in the fall, Pegher worries about the loss the region’s youngest learners will experience. She said little lessons such as learning how to share, line up together or operate on a school schedule play a big role in children’s development. “The social and emotional part is very important, and if we don’t go back, I wonder what the long-term effects of that will be,” she said.

Scranton School District faced with uncertainties amid coronavirus pandemic
Scranton Times Tribune BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL / PUBLISHED: MAY 27, 2020
No one knows what the Scranton School District will look like this fall.
Like educators from around the country, leaders must deal with evolving safety guidelines and financial uncertainty when preparing for a hopeful return to in-person classes in three months. “We will plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Superintendent Melissa McTiernan said during Tuesday night’s virtual Scranton School Board work session. With schools closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the district has developed a trauma-informed reentry plan, which takes into account the emotional well-being of students and staff. “Our communities, families, staff and students need us now more than ever,” said Charles Sumner Elementary Principal Meg Duffy, who presented the plan to the board. “How we approach re-entry says everything about who we are as a school district.” The plan includes the opportunity for parent engagement, reintroducing expectations and small group sessions for kids experiencing difficulties. The loss of normalcy and routine has left some students feeling isolated and depressed, and experts worry about separation anxiety and other issues when children eventually return to the classroom. The district also continues to consider the potential loss in tax revenue due to the pandemic. The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials estimates the district could lose $4.7 million in local tax revenue next year. One state house bill would freeze property taxes for next year — which could derail the recovery plan. Another bill would extend the property tax discount period for 30 days and eliminate any penalties for six months after the issuance of tax bills, Business Manager Patrick Laffey said. Just eliminating those penalties could amount to a nearly $50,000 loss for the district. “Even $50,000 impacts us,” Chief Recovery Officer Candis Finan, Ed.D., said.

East Penn teachers, administrators take pay freeze to help district through COVID financial strain
By MICHELLE MERLIN THE MORNING CALL |MAY 26, 2020 | 10:43 PM
The teachers and administrators in the East Penn School District opted to take a pay freeze next year to help the district cope with the financial strain of the coronavirus. District officials for weeks have been trying to shave about $6 million from next year’s budget. They anticipate less revenue than originally expected because of COVID-19-related job losses reducing the amount of taxes the district will receive. The pay freezes will save the district about $1.6 million, according to a presentation at a board meeting Tuesday. “We are incredibly fortunate to be part of an educational community in which our professional staff as well as our administrators truly have joined us as partners in education,” said Superintendent Kristen Campbell. “They care about the quality of the services they offer our students, and equally as important, they’re committed to preserving those high quality programs through all means that are available.” The district is looking at other savings, including the reduction of staff through attrition, the reduction of building and department budgets, the restructuring of debt and other changes. Part of their plan also includes reducing the number of clubs at the high and middle schools. Hundreds of teachers voted last week overwhelmingly to take the pay freeze, said Susan Arnold, the president of the East Penn Education Association. The move is expected to save the district about $1.4 million and means teachers will forego a 1.3% pay increase and step movement (although those who get degrees will still get a bump). Administrators are also taking a pay freeze, district officials said at the meeting Tuesday night. Arnold said teachers had to choose between the freeze and getting rid of programs, which would have allowed the district to furlough staff. She said the vote shows teachers are committed to the district’s educational program.

Mahanoy Area holds line on taxes in budget
Hazelton Standard Speaker by FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE / PUBLISHED: MAY 27, 2020
MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area school board adopted its operating budget for the 2020-21 school year on Thursday, holding the line on taxes and maintaining all its employees and programs. In a workshop session prior to the meeting, Jack Hurst, business administrator, said the total budget for the year is $19,226,823. The tax plan calls for a real estate tax of 51.3 mills, an occupation tax of $130, a real estate transfer tax of 0.5%, earned income tax, an occupational privilege tax of $5 and an amusement tax of 5%.

Bristol Township Schools serve about 1,000 meals a day
Bucks County Courier Times By Peg Quann @pegquann Posted May 26, 2020 at 12:43 PM
Meals are available at four district schools for any child age 18 and younger..
Bristol Township School District Food Service Department has been serving an average of 1,000 meals per day to students since Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf mandated school closures in March. “Our goal is to make sure all children have access to healthy food during the closure and meals are offered to all students,” said Superintendent Melanie Gehrens. Any child age 18 or younger is eligible for meals, even those who attend private or charter schools. The meals are provided through the Emergency Meal Plan eligibility program from the state. Information on the district’s response to the coronvirus crisis is available on its website at bristoltwpsd.org. Monday through Friday, cafeteria workers spend about four hours each day preparing 500 breakfasts and 500 lunches. The administrators, cafeteria workers, lunch monitors and teachers assist with distribution from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Truman High School, Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School, Brookwood Elementary School and Keystone Elementary School. School Board President James Morgan also volunteers every day to distribute meals. The custodial staff clean and disinfect the buildings each day, and maintenance workers and bus drivers have also assisted in driving supplies and distributing meals. “This has really been a team effort to make all of these meals possible,” said Gehrens. “I am especially proud of the Thursday before spring break; we served over 5,500 meals to make sure students had food for the break.” The meals will continue through the end of the school year and possibly longer if the district sees the need. A decision on summer meal delivery hasn’t been made as yet, said district spokeswoman Kellie Dietrich. The district has been following guidelines from the CDC and the Department of Health (DOH) to keep staff, students and the community safe.

APPS: Eyes on the Philly Board of Education: May 28, 2020
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools by Karel Kilimnik May 26, 2020 appsphilly.net 
For years, APPS members urged the SRC to take a more public role in advocating for Philadelphia’s public school students. We told them we would help fill the buses for any trip they organized to Harrisburg.  Unfortunately, to no avail.   We are happy to say that the Board of Education has stepped up to become vocal advocates for the students and families they have been entrusted to represent.  The Board has created a prominent “Fund Our Schools” page on its website.The website provides guidance in ten languages for contacting elected officials, including a template for letters. The message: We cannot repeat the devastation caused by the massive budget cuts of the past from which we have still not recovered. We cannot carry out the layoffs and elimination of necessary resources which will cause untold harm to our students. It will take a village to keep our District whole as the economic crisis unfolds.

How Hard Are CDC Guidelines To Follow
Curmuducation Blog by Peter Greene Friday, May 22, 2020
So now everyone is freaked out about the CDC "guidelines" as reported on that blue meme that was going around. This, of course, was the point-- to sell the idea that public schools will be like prisons, so everyone should pull their kids out. Because in the spirit of never letting a crisis go to waste, there are folks from your neighbor with the tin hat all the way up to the US Secretary of Education who see the pandemic as one more chance to dismantle public schools.  So the blue list was framed, worded, and occasionally misrepresented in order to create maximum outrage. Mission accomplished. Let's look instead at the actual CDC guidelines. I won't lie-- as I pointed out when they were just a few suggestions, they are not particularly awesome. But let's take a look-- Just how big a challenge do schools face when it comes to re-opening in the fall? You can see two versions of the same info, either here on the CDC website, which is more recent, or here on the leaked document starting on page 47. I'm going to use the leaked document and try to pick up some details that are on the website, which is a little more listlike. It's worth noting that the recommendations are, in fact, phrased as recommendations It's important to note that the "considerations" are not even phrased as "recommendations" let alone mandates, and that the phrase "if feasible" turns up a lot. The CDC is presenting things to consider, not rules that schools must follow. The whole re-opening America document is organized around the idea of three phases. One-- school is closed. Two-- Open with enhanced social distancing. Three-- Open with distancing measures.

“Akbar, a 42-year-old native of Philadelphia, graduated from J.R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Penn State University. Akbar worked for 14 years at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School in mentoring and service learning. He is now a senior associate at Grovider, a consulting firm that supports organizations in developing learning and development strategies. He also is the lead facilitator of Universal Companies’ BoysToMen program and an assistant basketball coach at Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School.”
Philly’s newest school board member has a background helping young people
By Chanel Hill  Special to the Capital-Star May 26, 2020
Chanel Hill is a reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune, where this story first appeared. 
PHILADELPHIA — For Ameen Akbar, his new role on the Board of Education for the School District of Philadelphia is an opportunity to continue his work helping young people while ensuring that they also receive the quality of education they deserve. “Being a public school student and working with teachers, community members, and thousands of young people for the last 25 years gave me a unique perspective into the education system,” said Akbar, who has worked as a mentor, basketball coach and consultant in developing learning strategies. “I always wanted to translate those real stories and experiences by contributing to conversations at the school district level.” Mayor Jim Kenney appointed Akbar to the school board earlier this month, with City Council’s approval. Akbar was one of 27 candidates nominated by the Educational Nominating Panel. Akbar replaced departing board member Wayne Walker and will serve a four-year term. “Ameen has dedicated his career to listening to young people and supporting them to pursue their full potential,” Kenney said in a written statement.

Pennsylvania Wants YOU to Give Standardized Tests to Your Kids at Home
Gadfly on the Wall Blog by Steven M. Singer May 23, 2020 stevenmsinger 
multi-million dollar corporation wants to make sure Pennsylvania’s children keep getting standardized tests. Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) and the state Department of Education are providing the optional Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) assessments for use in students’ homes. Students are not required to take the CDT in the Commonwealth unless their district decides to give it. The test is encouraged by the state as a way of telling how students will do on the required tests. With this new option, parents finally can give multiple choice standardized tests to their own children on-line. Which is kind of hilarious because no one really asked for that. In fact, many parents, teachers and students breathed a sigh of relief when the requirement that students take high stakes assessments was waived this year nationwide. With the Coronavirus pandemic closing most school buildings and students transitioning to on-line classes created from scratch by their teachers, there hasn’t been much time for anything else. But the folks at DRC, a division of CTB McGraw-Hill, have been busy, too. The Minnesota-based corporation sent out an email written by Matthew Stem, Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to district contacts from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia encouraging the use of this newly available online CDT.

History made: Easton school board approves girls wrestling program
By TOM HOUSENICK THE MORNING CALL | MAY 26, 2020 | 8:34 PM
A historic step was taken Tuesday night by a historic Lehigh Valley wrestling program. Easton Area School Board unanimously approved the start of a girls wrestling program in the 2020-21 season during its virtual meeting. “I think it’s awesome that we’re able to be the first to start this,” rising senior Cameron Nunez said, "to get it rolling for the Lehigh Valley. Easton is the second Pennsylvania school to approve a girls wrestling program. J.P. McCaskey in Lancaster was the first in mid-March. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the state’s governing body for high school athletics, requires a minimum of 100 schools supporting a program before it will consider sanctioning the sport. There are 22 states that sanction girls wrestling and 83 colleges with women’s teams. “Easton School District’s proposal to officially add a girls wrestling program sets a great example for other schools across the state,” Leah Wright, a media liaison for Sanction PA, said in a statement.

DeVos to Release Rule Cementing COVID Aid Push for Private School Students
Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa on May 26, 2020 9:20 AM
The dispute over how much coronavirus aid private school students should receive intensified over Memorial Day weekend, following U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' announcement that she would soon propose a rule to "resolve" the issue.  In a May 22 letter to a group representing state education leaders, DeVos announced that the U.S. Department of Education would issue a proposed rule on the subject in the next few weeks, and that her department would invite public comments on the issue. And she reiterated her position that a relief package passed by Congress in March was designed by lawmakers to benefit all private school students within local school district boundaries, not just certain private school students. She said she hoped this process would settle the disagreement before the start of the next school year.  But DeVos also seemed intent on taking her state counterparts down a peg. In her letter, she took direct aim at the state leaders' motives as well as their understanding of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Yet in a response to DeVos the same day, the state chiefs' group's executive director declined to back down. 

Federal Appeals Court Appears Divided on Transgender Rights in Gavin Grimm Case
Education Week By Mark Walsh on May 26, 2020 3:04 PM
A federal appeals court appeared divided Tuesday on whether federal law requires a school district to allow a transgender high school student to use restrooms consistent with his gender identity. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, in Richmond, Va., heard about 45 minutes of online arguments in the long-running case of Gavin Grimm, who is now a 20-year-old college student but whose suit asks the Gloucester County, Va., school district to pay nominal damages and to change his school records to reflect his change in gender identity. "There was clearly nothing in the record that suggest Congress, when it enacted [Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972], was thinking of a transgender person" when it barred discrimination "based on sex," said Judge Paul V. Niemeyer. "Isn't this better for Congress to answer?" At issue is a policy adopted by the Gloucester County school board in 2014 that limited male and female locker rooms and restrooms to the "corresponding biological genders" and said students with gender identity issues would be offered "an alternative appropriate private facility."

Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 20 -26, 2020
FairTest Submitted by fairtest on May 26, 2020 - 1:27pm 
What a week! 
  • The University of California Regents voted unanimously to phase out ACT/SAT admissions test requirements. 
  • High school students and their allies sued the College Board for administering defective, on-line Advanced Placement Exams. 
  • And, many states began considering proposals to extend their suspensions of high-stakes K-12 tests into the next school year.
As news reports demonstrate, FairTest was at the center of all these major initiatives.  You can help make more assessment reform victories possible by contributing today:

How to watch the SpaceX astronaut launch
Post Gazette by THE NEW YORK TIMES MAY 27, 2020 4:01 AM
On Wednesday, NASA is preparing to send two of its astronauts to orbit aboard a spacecraft built by SpaceX, the rocket company founded by Elon Musk. It will be the first time since the retirement of the space shuttles in July 2011 that NASA astronauts launch from American soil on an American rocket to the International Space Station. And unlike for astronaut launches in the past, when NASA ran the show, this time SpaceX will be in charge of mission control. Here’s what you need to know about the launch.
When is the launch and how can I watch it?
The launch is scheduled to take place at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:33 p.m. ET.
NASA will stream the launch live on its website, YouTube and other platforms, starting at noon.
We’ll also provide a live video stream on NYTimes.com closer to launch time, and you can join our live briefing for updates about the mission and answers to more questions.


Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform
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.

Over 230 PA school boards adopt charter reform resolutions
Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 230 school boards across the state have adopted a resolution calling for legislators to enact significant reforms to the Charter School Law to provide funding relief and ensure all schools are held to the same quality and ethics standards. Now more than ever, there is a growing momentum from school officials across the state to call for charter school funding reform. Legislators are hearing loud and clear that school districts need relief from the unfair funding system that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars to charter schools.
The school boards from the following districts have adopted resolutions calling for charter funding reform. 

Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then Call for Charter Change!
PSBA Charter Change Website:

The Network for Public Education Action Conference has been rescheduled to April 24-25, 2021 at the Philadelphia Doubletree Hotel


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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