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Editorial: Close equity gaps in Pa. schools
Blogger note: Submissions this week: Red Lion SD #258; Milton
Area SD #259 and Blackhawk SD #260. Has your school board adopted a resolution
on charter school funding reform yet?
PSBA: Over 250 PA school boards adopt charter reform
resolutions
Our view: Close equity gaps in Pa.
schools
GoErie By the Editorial Board Posted
at 12:03 AM June 18, 2020
Pedro Rivera said recent events have made him
more committed to pushing for change.
The killing of George Floyd and its ripple
effects have led to unprecedented soul-searching and dialogue among Americans. The
depth and breadth of anger and concern in Erie were evident in the large and
diverse turnout at the peaceful protest march downtown on June 6. It was a
ringing rebuke of Erie’s past and a call to action for its present and future. Erie
schools Superintendent Brian Polito said his participation in that march was
among events locally and nationally that served as “a wake-up call” for him. He
responded by accelerating the push for racial equity prescribed by the Erie
School District’s strategic plan. Recent events apparently have also galvanized
Pennsylvania’s top educator, Education Secretary Pedro Rivera. That’s welcome,
because our educational system is one of the most powerful mechanisms for
advancing racial and social justice. In an opinion piece this week for LancasterOnline
in his hometown, Rivera wrote that he, too, has been reflecting on how to turn
this national awakening into action throughout the state. “Education is an
institution rife with historic inequities in resourcing, inequities in
discipline and inequities in opportunity,” he wrote. “These structures must be
dismantled.” Much of what Rivera cites as needed matches Polito’s agenda for
Erie schools – including more educators of color; more and better staff
training on how to recognize and eradicate bias, much of it implicit, in
schools and classrooms; and a focus on inequitable discipline for minority
students. The state, like the Erie School District, must deepen and speed up
its response to such issues.
Public school education must better address race, racism
and anti-racism [editorial]
THE LNP | LANCASTERONLINE EDITORIAL BOARD Jun
17, 2020
THE ISSUE: “More than 500 Manheim Township
alumni and students signed a letter sent to the district Thursday imploring it
to better educate students about race following the death of George
Floyd,” LNP | LancasterOnline’s
Alex Geli reported in Saturday’s edition. The
letter called for a less racially biased curriculum, mandatory anti-racism
training for faculty, school assemblies to address racism and the hiring of
more teachers of color. Superintendent Robin Felty responded promptly with a
lengthy statement outlining the district's diversity efforts.
We find it especially notable that Manheim
Township students from across many generations signed this letter. Individuals
who identified “as past and future Manheim Township graduates, from 1967 to
2024” joined the call to address the curriculum and other key issues within the
district, Geli reported. That’s an impressive range — nearly six decades. It is
a further sign of the nationwide urgency for this moment to be different.
For the widespread outrage over the death of George Floyd and systemic racism
in the U.S. to lead to meaningful, fundamental changes. Changes to make America
more just, more equal. That means within the realm of education, too. In fact,
it may be crucial that change starts there.
“School district payments to charter schools have increased by
229% over 11 years and now exceed $2 billion. In 2018-19, 6 ½ cents of every
dollar school districts spent went to charter school payments — more than
double what the rate was 10 years earlier.”
OP-ED: Potential train wreck coming for public education
in Pa.
York Dispatch by Richard Robinson,
Springettsbury Township June 17, 2020
Richard Robinson is a resident
of Springettsbury Township and a member of the York Suburban school board.
Who ever said “Every cloud has a silver
lining” sure knew what he/she was saying. Take COVID-19. What an opportunity
to keep driving public schools in Pennsylvania up to the edge of a cliff and
over it. We all know the pandemic is causing a drop in tax revenue for the
state. According to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials,
this could mean a decrease of anywhere from $850 million to $1 billion, but
who’s counting? At the same time, Pennsylvania charter schools are entitled to
over $70 million in federal education stimulus funds this fiscal year to help
them get through the financial crisis without experiencing any loss in revenue.
What? Thanks to Pennsylvania’s current charter school funding formula,
overpayments to charter schools continue while school districts face critical
funding challenges that have been accelerated by COVID-19. How is this possible
you may ask?
Guest Column: It's time for Pa. to act on cyber charter
school funding reform
Delco Times By Lawrence A. Feinberg Times
Guest Columnist June 17, 2020
With the anticipated loss of revenue facing school
districts due to COVID-19, now, more than ever, the Pennsylvania legislature
must grab the bull by the horns and reform the way that cyber charter schools
are funded. Cyber charters may be a great fit for some highly motivated,
self-disciplined students or those with very involved parents or guardians. But
overall, by any measure, after 20 years the state’s cyber charters have
consistently underperformed. Generally speaking, cyber students are not
learning, and taxpayers are paying twice what they reasonably should, with the
excess funds being taken away from all the other students remaining in a school
district when a parent chooses to send their child to a cyber charter. Responding to parents’ concerns about
returning to school buildings in September, cyber charters will be spending
your tax dollars on advertising, trying to convince parents that the education
they offer is better than what your student might receive if they stay in their
own district. Despite the impression those ads may give, your child will not be
sitting in front of a screen facing a live teacher all day, and many cyber
charters require that a parent be involved as a coach. Our school districts have pivoted quickly to
offer remote learning, are planning to expand and strengthen programs for the
fall and can offer everything cybers offer, plus closer personal attention,
rigorous learning, a full range of extracurricular activities and no break if
the students choose to return to in-person instruction.
'Are we trying to bite off more than we can chew?' School
officials air concerns over reopening in the fall
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer June 17,
2020
To safely reopen in the fall, schools might
need a bit more help.
School officials told state lawmakers during
a House Education Committee hearing Wednesday that they could use additional
guidance and funding if they resume in-person instruction in the fall. They
discussed the challenges that lie ahead, particularly related to social
distancing, and the need for more support. "The solutions that are
being generated have a price tag," said Joe Scheuermann, a math teacher at
Hempfield Area High School in Westmoreland County and president of the
district's teachers union. Officials — administrators, a school board
member and a teacher, none of whom worked in Lancaster County — pleaded
for reforms such as cyber charter school funding and requested more financial
support to help offset some of the costs incurred by the coronavirus pandemic. The
state approved level funding for schools in the 2020-21 fiscal year, but
schools are projected to lose a substantial amount of local revenue and incur
additional costs for social distancing measures, such as additional
busing, and pay for supplies like masks and hand sanitizer.
Pa. charter, private schools concerned about money and
challenges of reopening in the fall
Lawmakers on the Pa. House Education
Committee held a hearing with school officials Wednesday. School leaders talked
with lawmakers about the challenges of getting ready for the fall amidst the
coronavirus pandemic.
By Julia Shanahan | For PennLive Updated Jun
17, 2020; Posted Jun 17, 2020
As public and nonpublic K-12 schools grapple
with reopening plans and the need for additional state funding, state lawmakers
said they are concerned that schools will not have the capabilities to adopt
ambitious coronavirus mitigation policies. Officials from Pennsylvania public
charter schools and faith-based schools testified before the state House
Education Committee on Wednesday. Ultimately, school leaders are concerned they
won’t have enough funding to implement flexible mitigation strategies that can
be adjusted throughout the year. Lawmakers are concerned with the complexity
and logistics of some proposed reopening plans.
Pennsylvania’s primary election results are finally in.
Here’s what they mean for November.
Inquirer by Jonathan Tamari, Jonathan Lai and
Julia Terruso, Posted: June 18, 2020- 5:00 AM
Pennsylvania’s primary election results are
finally in. Here’s what they mean for November.
Pennsylvania Democrats showed up. Despite a
sleepy presidential race, the coronavirus pandemic and historic protests
against systemic racism, more than 1.57 million Democrats voted for president
in the state’s primary election this month, down about 6.5% from the 2016
primary. By comparison, the Republican vote fell 29%. The Pa. primary wasn’t a
disaster. But it showed there’s work to do before November. The surprisingly robust
Democratic showing was fueled by a surge of voting by mail in the last
statewide contest before November’s general election, when the state could
determine the presidency. Democrats returned more than 1 million mail ballots,
compared to about 397,000 for Republicans. Overall, Democrats cast about
440,000 more votes for president than Republicans did in the June 2 contest,
despite neither party having a competitive presidential primary.
Teachers union launches $1 million ad supporting HEROES
Act
PA Capital Star By Cassie Miller June 17,
2020
The American Federation of Teachers has
launched a $1 million ad campaign, urging the U.S. Senate to pass the HEROES
Act, or the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, which
would provide an additional $3 trillion in funding for COVID-19 relief
efforts. The 30-second ad called
“Essential,” shows essential workers, such as first responders, food service
workers and teachers, equipped with face shields, masks and gloves, going about
their jobs in the midst of the pandemic. “We can’t afford to forfeit our
future,” the ad says, urging viewers to contact their senators and support the
HEROES Act. In addition to running in Pennsylvania, similar ads are also
running in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North
Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
In confronting pandemic, a new challenge for charter
schools
Some state guidance, but little
oversight for an independent sector responsible for 70,000 students in the
city.
The notebook by Bill
Hangley Jr. June 17 — 9:38 am, 2020
It was graduation day, but even as tears of
happiness ran down Sheldon Bullock’s face, his proud father couldn’t forget one
thing: a diploma alone won’t stop the coronavirus. “It’s 110,000 people dead.
And it disproportionately affects African Americans and Latinos. So you’ve got
to be on point,” said Sheldon Bullock, Sr., as he stood on the crowded sidewalk
outside Mastery Shoemaker Charter School. “I tell my son, be smart. Put the
damn mask on.” On this rainy Thursday, such worries weren’t at the front of
this father’s mind. Instead, he beamed with pride and gratitude. The family had
nothing but praise for Shoemaker, a 7-12 school of about 700 students. “These
people have been so good to him, even in his darkest days,” said Bullock. “Everybody
pushed me, and I love everyone here for it,” said his son, wiping away tears. But
even amidst the smiles, the elder Bullock couldn’t forget that the virus can
lurk anywhere – including this bustling celebration. Mastery did right by his
son in the classroom, Bullock said, but the charter school could have handled
this last day a little better – even if that meant telling a bunch of happy
graduates to stop hugging each other. “Somebody should have said, ‘Social
distancing, remember it!’” said the elder Bullock. Outdoor transmission of the
virus appears rare. But the scene outside Shoemaker that day speaks to the challenge
that Mastery and all schools face as they prepare for a September like no
other.
Greensburg Salem students protest music program cut as
school board debates budget
Trib Live by JEFF
HIMLER | Wednesday, June 17,
2020 9:11 p.m.
Greensburg Salem students on Wednesday
protested a proposed cut to the elementary music program outside the middle
school while district officials inside the building moderated a virtual school
board meeting featuring a debate about those and other planned cuts. Ryann
Shirey, 16, of Greensburg, who will be a junior member of the marching band,
argued that the district’s plan to eliminate instrumental instruction for
elementary band members during the school day will have a damaging effect on
band programs in higher grades. “It will cause a decrease in the number of our
band members,” she predicted. “In a few years, our entire band program is going
to be just about nothing.”Shirey formed a Facebook group, Student Advocates For
Arts in Education, and collected 1,018 signatures opposing the music cutback in
a door-to-door petition campaign. She garnered more than 13,000 additional
signatures from across the country for a similar online petition.
West Leechburg residents discuss what to do about
repeated Leechburg Area tax increases
Trib Live by MADASYN
LEE | Wednesday, June 17,
2020 10:35 p.m.
West Leechburg residents will sign a petition
asking the Leechburg Area School District not to raise their property taxes
this year and will look into the option of potentially being absorbed into
Allegheny Township. These are some of the solutions borough residents came up
with to address an ongoing taxing situation at the district. Tammy Jo Capozzoli
of West Leechburg organized a residents-only meeting Wednesday night at the
borough fire hall. She was motivated by the fact the school board voted to approve
a preliminary 2020-21 budget that includes yet another tax increase to West
Leechburg residents. At least 125 people came to the meeting. “We are here
tonight as a community to gauge what you as residents want,” Capozzoli told the
crowd. “This is just for educational (purposes) and to get us moving toward a
better future.” The board’s preliminary budget called for a 6.7% tax increase
in West Leechburg and no increase to Leechburg and Gilpin. Because Leechburg
Area spans two counties, a complex formula intended to equalize taxes is used.
No tax increase in Parkland final budget; unfilled
positions cut, fund balance used to plug deficit
By KAYLA DWYER THE MORNING
CALL | JUN 17, 2020 | 12:38 PM
Parkland School District is not raising taxes
in its final 2020-21 budget, citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic’s
impact on taxpayer incomes. Like in districts across the state and
country, that impact to the tax base translates to a significant anticipated
hit to the school district’s bottom line. In May, the proposed final budget
allotted $11.2 million from the district’s fund balance to plug the budget
hole. In a workshop meeting Tuesday, administrators presented a final budget
that narrowed the deficit another $2.5 million, partly through reducing staff
positions, instructional materials and professional development costs while
accounting for money received through the CARES act. The district is now
proposing allocating $8.7 million from the fund balance to balance the $192.4
million budget, leaving just over $30 million remaining in the fund balance.
The board will vote on the budget at its next meeting Tuesday.
Scranton schools to purchase laptops for all students
Scranton Times Tribune BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL STAFF WRITER Jun 17, 2020
Scranton students can expect to have their
own district-issued laptop to use this fall.
With plans still uncertain for school this
fall, the district will use much of its $5.3 million in state and federal
emergency aid to ensure all 10,000 students have their own computer to use at
home. "This is an unprecedented time, but it's a time we all have to come
together to solve the issues," Chief Recovery Officer Candis Finan, Ed.D.,
said during a virtual Financial Recovery Advisory Committee
meeting Wednesday. As the district faces a potential revenue loss of $6.4
million because of the coronavirus pandemic, leaders must plan for education in
the fall, whether students learn from home, in a classroom or a combination of
both. By September, the district plans to spend about $2.9 million of the
federal stimulus and state grant funding to purchase about 10,000
Chromebooks. The money must be used to offset the costs of
pandemic-related expenses, such as technology and cleaning supplies, and
not just used to fill a budget deficit. The district also plans to use money
for a cyber learning platform for elementary school students, similar to one
used now by older grades. The special education department will receive 200
iPads to use with its students. Other purchases likely will include backpack
sanitation sprayers, infrared monitors and thermometers.
Philly general board hearing Thursday likely to focus on
school officers and reopening plans
The open public hearing is one of two
required by the City Charter each year.
The notebook by Dale
Mezzacappa June 17 — 6:28 pm, 2020
The Philadelphia Board of Education is
holding an open public hearing Thursday afternoon, one of two that it is
required by the City Charter to conduct annually on general topics. The
three-hour meeting, which starts at 4 p.m., has no agenda except hearing from
speakers. Student activists plan to renew their calls for police-free schools.
Many others have registered to air their concerns about the conditions under
which schools will resume in the fall, said Board President Joyce Wilkerson.
People can also send comments and concerns to the board in writing. Altogether,
39 people have registered to speak, said board spokesperson Janice Hatfield. Regarding
the role of police in schools, Wilkerson said that students have already had an
impact on the District’s thinking. She cites the hiring of former Deputy Police
Commissioner Kevin Bethel, known for his work nationally to transform how
police relate to young people, to supervise a cadre of more than 350 school
security officers.
PSBA Webinar: Intersections – Addressing This Moment
JUN 18, 2020 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
This webinar invites PA district leaders to
discuss the context of national protest related to the deaths of George Floyd
as well as other unarmed black men and women who have died. It will explore the
intersection of racism, protest and public schools with a panel of Pennsylvania
public school leaders.
Panelists:
- Dr.
Khalid Mumin, superintendent, Reading School District
- Dr.
Seria Chatters, director of equity, State College School District
- Dr.
Scott Eveslage, assistant superintendent, Lower Merion School District
Moderator:
Dr. Heather Bennett, director of school
equity services, PSBA
Cost: Complimentary
for members.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R0JG0OCzROSRn0WuWQqshA
Apply Now for EPLC's 2020-2021 PA Education Policy
Fellowship Program!
Applications are available now for the 2020-2021 Education
Policy Fellowship Program.
The Education Policy Fellowship Program is
sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center
(EPLC). The 2020-2021 Program will be conducted in briefer, more
frequent, and mostly online sessions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The content
will be substantially the same as the traditional Fellowship Program, with some
changes necessitated by the new format and a desire to reduce costs to sponsors
in these uncertain fiscal times.
The commitment of EPLC remains the same. The
Fellowship Program will continue to be Pennsylvania's premier education policy
leadership program for education, community, policy and advocacy leaders! The
Fellowship Program begins with two 3-hour virtual sessions on September 17-18,
and the Program ends with a graduation event in June 2021.
The application may be
copied from the EPLC web site, but it must be submitted by mail or scanned and
e-mailed, with the necessary signatures of applicant and sponsor.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of
the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact EPLC Executive
Director Ron Cowell at 412-298-4796 or COWELL@EPLC.ORG
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 250 PA school boards adopt charter reform
resolutions
Charter school funding reform continues to be
a concern as over 250 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.
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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