Wednesday, September 16, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for September 16, 2020: As virtual school year begins, frustrated parents are pushing school boards to reconsider


Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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PA Ed Policy Roundup for September 16, 2020
As virtual school year begins, frustrated parents are pushing school boards to reconsider


Congrats to district #294 @MontAreaSD for passing the charter funding reform resolution! @lynn_kohler@RepBryanCutler @ScottFMartin We need charter funding reform! https://t.co/z2ZVsi5a1J


Why are cyber charter tuition rates the same as brick and mortar tuition?
Taxpayers in Senate Ed Committee Member Daylin Leach’s school districts paid over $6.3 million in 2018-2019 cyber charter tuition. Statewide, PA taxpayers paid over $600 million for cyber charter tuition in 2018-2019.

Colonial SD
$491,424.00
Lower Merion SD
$1,012,428.52
Norristown Area SD
$2,787,998.23
Radnor Township SD
$203,136.09
Haverford Township SD
$329,425.27
Upper Merion Area SD
$912,749.65
Wissahickon SD
$592,215.17

$6,329,376.93
Source: PDE via PSBA

Philadelphia district launches equity initiative
Chalkbeat Philly By Dale Mezzacappa  Sep 15, 2020, 6:59pm EDT
Superintendent William Hite announced Tuesday the launch of an equity coalition, a comprehensive initiative to end racist practices in the Philadelphia School District, with plans to confront issues ranging from selective admissions policies to educators’ implicit bias. The coalition “is an organized effort to uproot systems of inequity,” Hite said in a briefing for reporters. The initiative will begin with committees made up of educators and other district employees, and it will eventually include parents, students, and community members. “We are starting this effort with a laser focus on race and racism, because...it is the root to all systems of oppression,” said Sabriya Jubilee, the district’s director of planning who is helping to lead the initiative. The equity coalition will focus on a wide array of problems, including the racial achievement gap, selective admissions policies, teacher diversity, and the underrepresentation of Black and Latino students in advanced courses. It also will look at issues related to special education students, immigrants and English language learners, gifted programs, and LGBTQ students. Hite said that this will be a planning year for the coalition and that any policy changes — including in the admissions process for selective schools — will not take place until next school year. District leaders also announced the creation of an office of equity within the central administration.

As virtual school year begins, frustrated parents are pushing school boards to reconsider
Inquirer by Maddie HannaKristen A. Graham and Melanie Burney, Posted: September 16, 2020
In classrooms, Anna Mauro’s daughter is positioned in the front of the room to ensure she can make eye contact with a teacher and stay engaged. On Zoom, Mauro’s daughter has been struggling to log on — let alone speak up when she has a question. By 1 p.m. each afternoon last week — four hours into her six-and-a-half-hour virtual school day — the typically social fourth-grader was asking Mauro if school was over yet. “It’s extremely frustrating,” said Mauro, who has been sitting in the same bedroom as her daughter during the school day, trying — and failing — to complete her own work while navigating her daughter’s technical issues. During one morning last week, Mauro had helped her daughter access different online resources four times by 9:30 a.m. Later that morning, the teacher spent 45 minutes helping students log in; ultimately, 16 of 20 kids were connected, Mauro said. Her daughter wasn’t one of them. The school year has just begun in area districts that have opened virtually amid the ongoing pandemic. But across the region, many parents are adamant that online instruction isn’t working for children or families — and pleading with school boards to consider bringing students back to school as soon as possible, in particular younger children and those with special needs.

Unionville Chadds-Ford School officials told discouraging data paints grim picture for return to in-person education
West Chester Daily Local by Fran Maye fmaye@21st-centurymedia.com September 16, 2020
The chart shows a troubling trend for Chester County, while Delaware County is keeping its coronavirus positivity numbers in check.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — A leading expert on infectious disease told Unionville-Chadds Ford School directors Monday night that if the current coronavirus positivity trend continues in Chester County, it will be some time before students return to the classroom. Dr. Salwa E. Sulieman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist affiliated with several hospitals in the region, said modeling studies show a marked increase in cases over the next four weeks in Chester County. "If cases continue to increase or stay at this high rate in Chester County over the next two weeks, virtual instruction will need to stay," she said. "We want to get our kids back to school safely, but the numbers unfortunately are discouraging. I hope we have better news in the coming weeks." During the week of Aug. 14, the coronavirus positivity rate in Chester County was just 2.5 percent, but has spiked to 6.5 percent the week of Sept. 4. It's a stark contrast to nearby Delaware County, where the rate was 4.3 percent the week of Aug. 14, and 4.4 percent the week of Sept. 4. Sulieman told school directors that the 20 to 29 age bracket has risen dramatically in past weeks in testing positive for coronavirus, and she called them "spreaders." The Unionville- Chadds Ford School District, a 77-square-mile area encompassing seven townships and serving more than 4,000 students, has had very low numbers, both in rate of coronavirus infection and deaths. "But we need to look at the community spread," Sulieman said. "That is what's reflective of what's going on. There has not been stability, if fact there has been an increase. Stability for Chester County has not been good over the last four weeks, and certainly not the last week."

Bald Eagle Area School District to close elementary building, following rise in COVID-19 cases
Centre Daily Times BY MARLEY PARISH SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 02:54 PM
Two days after identifying its first documented COVID-19 case, the Bald Eagle Area School District has confirmed a second and identified a potential third in Wingate Elementary. Superintendent Scott Graham announced that an adult tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday, and after being notified of additional cases Tuesday, Wingate Elementary will be closed for at least two weeks, beginning Wednesday. The closure will last until Sept. 30, and Graham hopes to reopen Oct. 1. “There are no positive cases in any of the other district schools,” Graham wrote in an update posted on social media. “Therefore, all other schools will remain open for in-person instruction.” All school sports will continue as planned, and students enrolled at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology will continue to attend classes. “As I have stated before, we continue to monitor this situation and should cases arise in other buildings, we will make decisions based on the specific circumstances,” Graham told families. “As always, I will keep you updated.”

Warwick is sixth Lancaster County school district to report COVID-19 case
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer September 15, 2020
An individual at John Beck Elementary School in the Warwick School District has tested positive for COVID-19. District administration notified families in a letter Tuesday. Warwick joins Lampeter-Strasburg, Manheim Central, Donegal, Conestoga Valley and Elizabethtown Area school districts, as well as La Academia Partnership Charter School, with cases of COVID-19. Conestoga Valley High School, which has three reported cases, and Donegal Intermediate School, which has two reported cases, are closed to students this week. "Our thoughts are with the individuals impacted by this," Warwick's letter states. "To preserve each individual’s right to privacy, no further details are able to be provided. Please know that the District is taking every possible step to mitigate the risk to our school community." People who were in close contact with the individual who tested positive have been advised to quarantine for two weeks, the letter states. Students or staff who return to school will be screened by the school nurse upon their return.

Lampeter-Strasburg reports first case of COVID-19
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer September 15, 2020
A student or staff member at Martin Meylin Middle School in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District has tested positive for COVID-19. District Superintendent Kevin Peart notified families in a letter Monday. Lampeter-Strasburg joins Manheim Central, Donegal, Conestoga Valley and Elizabethtown Area school districts, as well as La Academia Partnership Charter School, with cases of COVID-19. Conestoga Valley High School, which has three reported cases, and Donegal Intermediate School, which has two reported cases, are closed to students this week.

Mt. Lebanon School District planning on moving toward hybrid instruction
Post Gazette by DEANA CARPENTER SEP 15, 2020 1:50 PM
The Mt. Lebanon School Board is asking parents to fill out a survey on whether they want their children to transition to hybrid instruction or continue remote learning via the district’s cyber academy. The results, which the board hopes to have by Thursday, will be taken into consideration at the members’ Sept. 21 meeting, when a motion to adopt the hybrid model will be voted on. Superintendent Tim Steinhauer said remote-learning classes, which started Aug. 31, could shift to the hybrid model Oct. 5. Mr. Steinhauer said the survey results also will help to determine staffing needs at both the cyber academy and for in-person instruction. Because COVID-19 numbers in Allegheny County and Mt. Lebanon are trending toward the bottom of the incident rate and percent positive rate, Mr. Steinhauer said he felt “more comfortable” recommending the hybrid approach. But if local incidence rates increase, he said, the district may have to move back to fully remote instruction.

Central Dauphin School District looking to bring students back into the classroom; offer nasal swabs to prevent spread of COVID-19
Penn Live By Jana Benscoter | jbenscoter@pennlive.com Updated Sep 15, 2020
UPDATE: This story has been changed to reflect that Central Dauphin School District students could be offered in-classroom lessons or online-only courses starting next month, not the hybrid model. Central Dauphin School District is hoping to let students go back into the classroom full-time soon.  The district is considering a move from its current hybrid model to the traditional, five-day in-person lessons next month. In addition, a nasal swab will be offered to students and staff that show symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Students and families that want to continue remote learning will be allowed to instead of in-classroom learning five days a week through the district’s online CORE program. The hybrid model would go away altogether. “We will be working with Quest Diagnostics to be able to do nasal swabs with parents' consent,” the district’s physician, Amy Zellers, said at Monday night’s school board meeting. The tentative date for students who want to return to in-classroom learning is Oct. 13. There are many moving variables that could interrupt those plans though, Superintendent Norman J. Miller said at the beginning of the school board meeting. The district needed the time to prepare for the transition, school board members said. They unanimously approved the plan for consideration. The final vote on the matter will take place on Oct. 5.

Wolf hits back after judge rules against virus restrictions
Beaver County Times By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press September 15, 2020
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf vowed Tuesday he wouldn't heed the “irresponsible demands” of President Donald Trump and Republicans in the state legislature concerning the coronavirus response, hitting back hard after a federal judge appointed by Trump ruled many of Wolf's pandemic shutdown orders were unconstitutional. In unusually sharp language, the Democratic governor accused Trump and Republicans who control the legislature of promoting conspiracy theories and spreading misinformation about the virus and the status of the Pennsylvania economy, which he said is reopened despite the mitigation measures he has imposed. “I believe the vast majority of Pennsylvanians understand what we had to do in the beginning was necessary to buy the time to keep people safe before we got the capacity we needed to address this virus," Wolf said. "And the vast majority simply don’t buy into the conspiracy theories or fear mongering from the president or from the Harrisburg Republicans about this virus.”

“The number of newly issued in-state teaching certificates has dropped by 71% in the past 11 years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.”
Langerholc cosponsors bill to aid teacher shortage
Johnstown Tribune Democrat by Joshua Byers JBYERS@TRIBDEM.COM September 16, 2020
Legislation cosponsored by state Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Richland Township, to aid with Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage has been introduced to the state senate. Senate Bill 1325 proposes a simplification of the process for out of state teachers to receive their state certification and is also sponsored by state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington. Pennsylvania residents teaching in other states and individuals who’ve recently moved to Pennsylvania would be allowed to continue to pursue a teaching career because of this bill. “At a time when schools are in dire need of experienced teachers, this legislation will provide a pathway to permit new commonwealth residents who have that experience to fill that need,” Langerholc said in a Tuesday release. Qualified individuals include those who have “completed any state-approved educator preparation program from an accredited institution of higher education.” Those who have are then eligible for a “comparable in-state instructional certification.” Anyone with a valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or has a qualifying score on similar content tests toward the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s certification requirements also would be eligible.

SSD furloughs underscore state politics
Scranton Times Tribune BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD September 16, 2020
It is obvious that the Scranton School District cannot overcome its financial distress without fair funding from the state government.
There is no joy in the Scranton School Board’s vote to furlough 218 employees, but there is no doubt that it was a responsible decision based on well-documented facts. The district was trailing smoke well before the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its financial distress. Part of that was due to a series of school boards ignoring the district’s declining financial well-being and borrowing large sums of money to pay routine operating costs. But those poor decisions came within the broader context of the state government’s failure to fairly fund the Scranton School District. Multiple analyses, undisputed by the state government, now have demonstrated that the district has been underfunded by scores of millions of dollars. Yet the state has precluded the district from including restoration of the shorted state funding in its recovery plan. The Wolf administration recently has provided the district with several one-time grants to marginally mitigate the damage, but only a long-term resolution to provide fair funding will give the district even a chance to get on sound financial footing. The district has sued the state to provide fair funding, and the case could be heard by Commonwealth Court late this year. Democratic state Rep. Mike Carroll of Avoca put it bluntly and correctly: “The solution must start in Harrisburg with fair and adequate basic education funding for Scranton. ... Any further tax increases, layoffs or closures simply relieve pressure on the state and postpone the inevitable — the state must provide the funding necessary or the school district cannot continue to operate.” This a fight that should have been fought long ago. Several iterations of the school board and administrations failed to recognize the short funding for years. But now, no lawsuit should be necessary to ensure fair funding. The Wolf administration and the Legislature should recognize the unfair distribution of education funds and correct it.

“In a series of posts on Twitter, the executive director of the state’s Office of Open Records questioned why the district has a Zoom account with a 100-person capacity. Starting at $600 per year, the district could increase attendees to 500 or more. “It’s a tiny investment to ensure that the public can attend and participate in agency meetings,” Erik Arneson wrote.”
Technical issues with Scranton School Board meeting lead to transparency concerns
Times Tribune BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL STAFF WRITER Sep 15, 2020 Updated 2 hrs ago
Technology problems limited the number of people able to view most of Monday night's Scranton School Board meeting.
Technical difficulties prevented many people from watching Monday’s Scranton School Board meeting, including employees directors voted to furlough. The circumstances surrounding the meeting and subsequent vote raise numerous transparency issues, experts said Tuesday. “It’s heartbreaking that someone whose job was on the line was unable to see the decision being made,” said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. “Illegal or not, it’s just wrong.” With the school board still holding virtual meetings because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials conduct the meetings through Zoom and then livestream the meeting on YouTube. The Aug. 31 meeting was viewed more than 5,000 times on YouTube. On Monday night, the district was unable to connect with YouTube, and the district’s Zoom account had a 100-person limit. That left most people unable to view a majority of the meeting. The Sunshine Act, the state’s open meetings law, requires governing bodies to allow public participation in meetings. While speakers who signed up in advance were still able to comment, participation also means being able to view the meeting live, Melewsky said. About two hours into the three-hour meeting, the district was able to post a live stream of the meeting on Facebook. The district uploaded the full video of the meeting to YouTube early Tuesday morning.

Principal leader says Hite is “pausing” mass teacher transfer based on enrollment
Chalkbeat Philly By Dale Mezzacappa  Sep 15, 2020, 8:50pm EDT
Superintendent William Hite told principals Tuesday that he would not transfer teachers out of schools in October if fewer students show up than planned for, but instead wait at least until in-person school resumes and enrollment can be more accurately assessed. The annual practice of moving teachers, known to educators as “leveling,” is dreaded among principals, parents, and teachers. Although it is meant to adjust teacher assignments to match actual student head counts instead of projections, it can throw schools into turmoil if one or more teachers leave and others are moved around. For decades, the district’s administration has maintained the reallocation of teachers is necessary to make efficient use of resources. Robin Cooper, president of the the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, or CASA, said that Hite confirmed his intentions in a Zoom call with principals. Hite said that some movement might occur in “extreme circumstances,” but he assured principals that mass movement of regular education teachers would not occur, according to Cooper and one principal who was interviewed by Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

District names new executive director for office of curriculum, instruction in Philadelphia
Chalkbeat Philly By Bill Hangley Jr.  Sep 15, 2020, 7:18pm EDT
Philadelphia School District officials have named a replacement for an academic official who departed suddenly after press reports revealed she had held two jobs simultaneously for two separate school districts. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson, former head of the district’s special education services, has been tapped to replace Tracy Ocasio as the district’s new executive director for the office of curriculum and instruction. “This is a permanent move,” not a temporary or acting”replacement, said district spokesperson Monica Lewis. The newly filled position is a critical one for academic achievement and student progress. Ocasio played what officials have called a “significant” role in developing virtual learning plans and other curriculum supports for the new school year. Philadelphia officials have declined to comment on how much work, if any, she left unfinished before departing. Despite inquiries from Chalkbeat, Philadelphia officials have declined to weigh in on whether Ocasio was properly vetted, how she managed to hold two positions for months, or whether her double employment or sudden departure compromised any lesson plans, professional development or student support. Lewis said the district won’t be commenting further on the matter.

Hite answers Philly principals' no-confidence petition; district launches equity work
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Posted: September 15, 2020- 12:12 PM
Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. on Tuesday suggested a petition from the city principals' union asserting it has no confidence in his leadership was a distraction, saying the school system needs to focus on getting students through the pandemic. Officials from the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, the union representing 650 Philadelphia principals and other administrators, recently circulated a petition declaring it had lost faith in Hite, whom it accused of leadership failures in several key areas. The message came from CASA leadership and was not subject to a vote from principals. It was an unprecedented step from a union whose members are traditionally slow to criticize the school system publicly. “There are going to be lots of things that I do as a leader that individuals disagree with,” Hite said at a news briefing about a district equity coalition Tuesday. “I respect those disagreements. I respect our principals, because they’re doing significant work on a daily basis in our schools.” Hite will meet with principals in a town-hall meeting Tuesday but the focus will be on the work, not on the petition, he said.

Top Pa. Republican’s campaign sues journalists over public records costs
Inquirer by Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA, Posted: September 16, 2020
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.
HARRISBURG — The campaign committee of the state Senate’s top Republican is suing a publication of LNP Media Group and two journalists who uncovered questionable spending by the lawmaker and other politicians. Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati’s campaign filed the suit on Aug. 10 in magisterial district court in his home county of Jefferson, seeking $6,070 from The Caucus, Caucus Bureau Chief Brad Bumsted, and Spotlight PA reporter Angela Couloumbis. Scarnati’s campaign alleges the trio owes $5,070 for work an accounting firm conducted to produce public records the journalists requested during an investigation into his and other lawmakers' campaign spending. The campaign also wants $1,000 for attorneys' fees and court costs. Should it prevail, the suit could make it easier for politicians to hide their campaign spending from the public, while at the same time have a chilling effect on investigative reporting, media experts said.

Philly Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and his wife have asked the court to throw out the federal corruption case against them
Inquirer by Jeremy Roebuck, Updated: September 15, 2020- 7:11 PM
Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and his wife have urged a judge to toss the federal bribery case against them, arguing that prosecutors failed to allege that they explicitly struck a deal with leaders of a South Philadelphia nonprofit accused of paying them off. The push, outlined in a new filing this week, comes amid the couple’s efforts to fend off the allegations against them before they are due to stand trial next year — and it offers the first glimpse of what their defense might look like once the case is presented to a jury. Federal prosecutors in January charged Johnson, 46, and his wife, Dawn Chavous, 40, with accepting more than $66,750 between 2013 and 2014 from two executives at Universal Companies, a community development charity and charter-school operator founded by music producer Kenny Gamble. Hiding the bribes in the form of a consulting contract to Chavous, prosecutors say, the executives — former CEO Abdur Rahim Islam and ex-CFO Shahied Dawan — bought the councilmember’s protection when disputes over properties it owned came before Council or other city boards.

Fourth Senate employee tests positive for COVID-19
PA Capital Star By  Elizabeth Hardison September 15, 2020
Another Pennsylvania state Senate employee has tested positive for COVID-19, the Capital-Star has learned, making it the fourth case to emerge in the chamber in the past eight days. Senate leaders were notified Tuesday that an employee on the security force had tested positive for the disease, said Kate Flessner, a spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, who oversees human resources and administration for the majority Republican caucus. The individual is the fourth Senate employee – and the second security guard – who has tested positive for COVID-19 since Labor Day weekend. The Capital-Star reported last week that the other two patients worked in the Senate Secretary’s office. It is unclear if the recent cases are the result of transmission in the state Capitol building. Flessner previously told the Capital-Star that the three employees who reported positive tests last week had not been in the Capitol since Sept. 4. But all eight employees in the Secretary’s office were forced to quarantine when the Senate returned to Harrisburg on Sept. 8.

After 175 years, Scientific American makes first presidential endorsement: Joe Biden
York Dispatch by DAVID BAUDER The Associated Press September 15, 2020
NEW YORK — Even though Scientific American had never endorsed a presidential candidate in the magazine's 175-year history, its top editor said Tuesday there was little internal debate over a decision to back Democrat Joe Biden. Editor-in-Chief Laura Helmuth said President Donald Trump's administration was much worse for the scientific community than the magazine had feared. The magazine's endorsement was posted online Tuesday, a day after Trump questioned the science of climate change in relation to the California wildfires. Helmuth said the timing was coincidental and the editorial was written during the past two months. Scientific American said that “the evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has basically damaged the United States and its people because he rejects evidence and science.” The editorial by senior editor Josh Fischman sharply condemned Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The magazine criticized Trump for seeking cutbacks in scientific funding and hobbling the U.S. response to climate change. Biden, the magazine said, “has a record of following the data and being guided by science.”


PSBA Fall Virtual Advocacy Day: OCT 8, 2020 • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sign up now for PSBA’s Virtual Advocacy Day this fall!
All public school leaders are invited to join us for our fall Virtual Advocacy Day on Thursday, October 8, 2020, via Zoom. We need all of you to help strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around contacting legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Registrants will receive the meeting invitation with a link to our fall Virtual Advocacy Day website that contains talking points, a link to locate contact information for your legislator and additional information to help you have a successful day.
Cost: As a membership benefit, there is no cost to register.
Registration: School directors can register online now by logging in to myPSBA. If you have questions about Virtual Advocacy Day, or need additional information, contact Jamie.Zuvich@psba.org.

Save The Date: The PSBA 2020 Equity Summit is happening virtually on October 13th.
Discover how to build a foundation for equity in practice and policy.

PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference October 14-15 Virtual
Registration is now open for the first ever virtual School Leadership Conference! Join us for all-new educational sessions, dynamic speakers, exhibitors, and more! Visit the website for registration information: https://t.co/QfinpBL69u #PASLC20 https://t.co/JYeRhJLUmZ

What to expect at this year’s School Leadership Conference
POSTED ON AUGUST 31, 2020 IN PSBA NEWS
At the 2020 PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference on October 14-15, you'll encounter the same high-quality experience you've come to expect, via new virtual platform. Hear world-class speakers and relevant educational sessions, and network with exhibitors and attendees — from the comfort of your home or office on any internet-enabled device.
The virtual conference platform is accessible via a unique link provided to each registrant about a week before conference. No additional app downloads are required. The intuitive 3D interface is easy to use and immersive — you'll feel like you're on location. Registrants will be able to explore the space a day before conference starts. Highlights include: 
  • Virtual exhibit hall 
  • Interactive lobby area and information desk 
  • Virtual auditorium 
  • Digital swag bag 
  • Scavenger hunt 
This year, conference is completely free to attend! Be among the first 125 to register, and receive a special pre-conference swag bag, sent to your home. Click here for more information about how to register.

Adopt the resolution against racial inequity!
School boards are asked to adopt this resolution supporting the development of an anti-racist climate. Once adopted, share your resolution with your local community and submit a copy to PSBA. Learn more: http://ow.ly/yJWA50B2R72

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.

293 PA school boards have adopted charter reform resolutions
Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 290 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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