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.
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Keystone
State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for October 23, 2020
Some
districts downshifting due to rising COVID numbers
Why are cyber
charter tuition rates the same as brick and mortar tuition?
Taxpayers in House Ed Committee Member Carol Hill-Evans’s school
districts paid over $8.7 million in 2018-2019 cyber charter tuition. Statewide, PA taxpayers paid over $600 million for cyber charter
tuition in 2018-2019.
|
Dallastown Area SD |
$1,395,962.31 |
|
York City SD |
$5,798,404.56 |
|
West York Area SD |
$1,514,486.00 |
|
|
$8,708,852.87 |
Source: PDE via
PSBA
As coronavirus numbers keep climbing, Wolf weighs
‘targeted’ restrictions
Inquirer by Anthony R. Wood, Erin McCarthy and Rob Tornoe, Updated: October 22, 2020-
8:47 PM
With Pennsylvania’s coronavirus case numbers
higher than they have been in any daily report since the onset of the pandemic,
Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday said that he would consider stiffening restrictions
on a “targeted” basis but that he had no plans to issue another sweeping
stay-at-home order. At least for now. Asked directly at a news briefing if such
an order was in play, Wolf responded with an emphatic “No.” But after a pause:
“Well, who knows, there’s a chance. We have done everything in Pennsylvania to
make sure that doesn’t happen.” The state reported 2,063 new coronavirus cases
Thursday; that would qualify as the highest one-day total since the onset of the
pandemic, but the figure did come with a caveat.
PPG Editorial: Opening the schools
THE EDITORIAL BOARD Pittsburgh Post-Gazette OCT
22, 2020 5:42 AM
Pittsburgh area school districts are bringing
students back to in-person instruction, even as some schools temporarily close
down due to coronavirus cases. Seven months into the pandemic, schools are
demonstrating more nimbleness in their virus responses and prioritizing the
well-being of students and teachers alike. Research has indicated time and
again, however, that moving students back into a physical learning environment
is crucial for their development. Looking to the data, transmission rates of
the virus at in-person school districts around the country have been
exceptionally low, well below 0.2% in many cases. This flies in the face of
predictions that schools would be hotbeds for spreading COVID-19.
Pittsburgh Public Schools move forward with in-person
learning in November
Trib Live by TOM DAVIDSON | Thursday,
October 22, 2020 11:19 a.m.
Pittsburgh Public Schools are poised to begin
a hybrid form of in-person learning on Nov. 9. The district is making the move
despite a fall rise in covid-19
cases in Pennsylvania that was
expected. The surge in cases, at least in Allegheny County, doesn’t mean the
district should not move forward with its plans to reopen using the hybrid
model, district physician Dr. Martin Gregorio told board members Wednesday. Pittsburgh
Public is following its state-mandated plan for
how it will educate students during the covid-19 pandemic and it is now
prepared for students and staff to return to buildings, Superintendent Anthony
Hamlet said.
Allentown School District to remain virtual through
January because of rising COVID-19 numbers
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO THE MORNING
CALL | OCT 22, 2020 AT 11:14 PM
The Allentown School District’s 16,000
students will continue to learn virtually through at least the end of January
because of rising COVID-19 numbers. On the same day that Pennsylvania saw its
highest number of positive coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, the
school board Thursday night unanimously approved the district’s plan to
continue online learning for the second marking period, which ends Feb. 1.
Allentown, the region’s largest district, started the school year online. Before
the board voted, parents, teachers and staff spoke for more than an hour during
public comment about returning to school. While educators said they wanted to
stay virtual, many parents said they want their children to return to the
classroom.
Surge in Berks coronavirus cases scuttles Boyertown's
plans for in-person classes
Pottstown Mercury by Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com
@PottstownNews on Twitter October 23, 2020
BOYERTOWN — An increase in the rate of
coronavirus infections in Berks County has scuttled the Boyertown Area School
District's plans to expand in-person instruction for its younger students next
week. During an Oct. 13 meeting, the school board had decided it was safe for
students in grades K through 5 to return to in-person instruction five days a
week and had planned to do so starting Oct. 26. Currently, all Boyertown
students learn online on Wednesdays. Half of the district's students are in
class two days a week and take classes online three days a week. On the
alternative two days of the week, the other half of the district's students get
in-person instruction. Although Boyertown's return plans called for no change
to the upper grades, it was decided at the Oct. 13 meeting that the elementary
grades would return to class five days a week. Late last week, the district
even sent home a survey to get a handle on how many students would be returning
to class. But coronavirus concerns can undo the best-laid plans and a week
after the school board decided to move forward, and a week before the change
could be put into effect, the district had to reverse course again.
Neshaminy superintendent recommends delaying full-time
in-person choice
Chris English Bucks
County Courier Times October 22, 2020
The Neshaminy School District is not yet
ready to start a full-time, in-person instructional choice, Superintendent Rob
McGee recommended late Thursday afternoon in an email to parents and students. The
recommendation, which can be viewed on the district website, neshaminy.org,
states the 'all-in' choice should not start Nov. 2 as was originally hoped for.
The school board will discuss the recommendation at its Tuesday night live
meeting at Maple Point Middle School in Middletown. Neshaminy started a hybrid
option Oct. 5 where half the students attend schools two days a week, half
attend on another two days and all students take online instruction three days
a week, while also maintaining an all-virtual choice for students who wanted it.
The district should stay with those options at least through Nov. 30 for grades
kindergarten through four, and through January for all other grades, McGee
recommended. "There's additional risk for moving too fast, which has the
potential to set us back to all online," he wrote. "From my seat, I
am not confident we can bring students grades kindergarten through 12 back to
school in early November maintaining the level of safety, organization and
quality that is the community's expectation of us. "In addition to
increases of COVID-19 cases in the Commonwealth, nation and world, Lower Bucks
County has yet to see the full impact of schools reopening."
Pennsbury approves phased return to school for students
Anthony DiMattia Bucks
County Courier Times October 22, 2020
After a push by parents, some
Pennsbury students will begin to return to schools by next month. Under a
proposal approved by the school board Wednesday, students
will return to the classroom under a hybrid model as part of a phased plan that
will include younger learners returning next month followed by other
students in December and February. First up to go back will be
students in pre-kindergarten to second grades and those in specialized
learning classrooms, who will return Nov. 12. Specialized
learners will be in school four days per week. Next will be grades third
though eighth, which will return Dec. 7. The move will bring seventh
and eighth grades back nearly a month earlier than a plan revealed last week. In a
separate vote, the board voted to bring high school students back by Feb.
4 or earlier subject to the administration creating a revised scheduling
plan.
Old Forge School Board votes to go fully virtual
If the community spread of COVID-19 remains
"substantial" next week, students will return to fully remote
learning
Times Tribune BY FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY STAFF WRITER Oct 22,
2020
Students in the Old Forge School District
will return to fully virtual instruction Wednesday if the spread of COVID-19 in
Lackawanna County remains “substantial,” though school officials have yet to
decide if the decision will lead to the suspension of sports. The board of
education informally voted 6-2 during an emergency virtual meeting Thursday to
revert to remote instruction from Old Forge’s current hybrid model. Board
President Alisha Hudak and Director John Petrini voted to remain hybrid.
Although Director Christopher Thomas was absent, he emailed school officials
saying he wanted the district to remain hybrid, Hudak said. Under the
district’s hybrid model, most students had two days of in-person instruction
and three days of virtual instruction. “I thought that it was a really good
conversation tonight. There are no wrong answers,” Hudak said following the
meeting, adding, “I personally would’ve liked to take it week-by-week and look
at our local numbers.” State officials moved Lackawanna County from the
“moderate” tier of community transmission to the substantial tier — its highest
tier — on Monday. With substantial community spread, the state urges districts
to operate virtually but recommended that schools wait to take action until the
county receives the substantial designation for two straight weeks. Lackawanna
County will likely remain in the substantial category next week, leading to the
transition to fully virtual learning.
COVID-19 cases send Millcreek school back to remote
learning
GoErie by David Bruce Erie
Times-News October 20, 2020
Belle Valley Elementary School will offer
only remote learning for the next six school days after two COVID-19 cases were
reported Tuesday at the Millcreek Township school. One confirmed case and one
probable one both involve staff, Millcreek Township School District spokeswoman
Katie Maccaglia said. In-person learning will resume Oct. 29, district
Superintendent Ian Roberts said in a letter to families. The
district reported five active COVID-19 cases in the district.
The other three cases are spread among enough different schools that
they will remain open for in-person learning, Maccaglia said. The
district's policy is to stop in-person classes if the number of cases reaches
or surpasses 1% of the school's population.
COVID-19 poses new challenges for school bus companies,
drivers
ANDREW GOLDSTEIN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette agoldstein@post-gazette.com OCT 23,
2020 5:30 AM
Education officials have focused much of
their attention in recent months on getting students back into the classroom
amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the many challenges is how to actually get
students to school in the first place. School bus companies and districts with
their own fleets are facing a driver shortage this year as unsteady work,
health concerns and other issues have exacerbated a problem that existed before
COVID-19. “We’ve had drivers for obvious reasons look for other employment and
not return,” said Todd O’Shell, vice president of ABC Transit. “We had
some other people that because of underlying health conditions decided not to
come back based on the recommendation of their medical professional. We also
have some drivers who are caring for elderly family members who did not return
because of the risk.” The companies and districts are openly recruiting school
bus drivers with offers of full-time pay and benefits while working in a safe
environment.
Philadelphia school buildings will not reopen if they
don’t meet health, safety measures, Hite says
Superintendent made declaration at
board’s monthly action meeting at which he presented his latest reopening
update
Chalkbeat Philly By Dale Mezzacappa Oct
22, 2020, 9:37pm EDT
Superintendent William Hite promised
Philadelphia board of education members and the public on Thursday that school
buildings will not open “for in-person learning unless we have confidence that
every health and safety measure is met.” Hite made the statement at the board’s
monthly action meeting at which he presented his latest reopening update, including
more details on the district’s ventilation inspections and results for city
schools. The district is planning for hybrid learning, a mix of virtual and
in-person classes, to start Nov. 30 for 32,000 students in pre-kindergarten
through second grade. Staff and teachers are scheduled to return on Nov. 9 to
prepare. Some parents and teachers questioned the plan, but there was nowhere
near the same level of outrage and opposition that occurred in July, when Hite
proposed opening schools in September using a hybrid model.
School board gets details on Philly reopening, earful
from public
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: October
22, 2020- 10:17 PM
With the Philadelphia School District gearing
up for a late November return to in-person learning for some students, the
school board heard details Thursday about building readiness — and got an
earful about the proposed reopening plan. Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.
said that school buildings were on track to be able to accommodate up to 32,000
prekindergarten through second-grade students two days a week beginning Nov.
30. But less than half of district schools have had ventilation capacity
checked to date, and of those, 25 buildings currently have ventilation systems
that would render them nonoperational. In some cases, the district will bring
in fans to circulate air to bolster ventilation systems. School staff may need
to unplug refrigerators and coffee pots, officials said, to accommodate the
equipment that could be needed to keep adequate air flow in buildings where
electrical power is an issue. With a stock of old buildings and a shaky history
of building maintenance, the school system has a daunting job getting buildings
ready, officials said.
But the district “will not be opening any
schools for in-person learning unless we’re confident that every health and
safety condition has been met," school board president Joyce Wilkerson
said.
Some parents, teachers, and members of the
public were skeptical.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-school-district-reopening-plan-board-20201022.html
‘I’m very worried’ — Virtual high school admissions:
Nothing like the real thing
Some fear high school selection will be yet
another means through which the pandemic exposes and exacerbates inequities,
putting this year’s eighth graders at a permanent disadvantage.
Chalkbeat Philly By Dale Mezzacappa Oct
22, 2020, 9:22am EDT
Two years ago, Tanya Lopez’s son Christopher,
then in eighth grade, thought he knew exactly where he wanted to attend high
school: Central. Science Leadership Academy-Beeber was on his list, but not
under heavy consideration. Then he visited the two schools. He found Central,
with more than 2,400 students, too big and intimidating, his mom said. At
SLA-Beeber, with an enrollment of just 600, he visited classes and shadowed
students. He and his mom spent time talking to the principal, Chris Johnson,
about the school’s project-based approach and its philosophy. Christopher
changed his mind on the spot, and is now a sophomore at SLA-Beeber. “He’s
incredibly happy,” Lopez said. It is high school selection time in
Philadelphia, a period of decision-making for students and families that can
have a profound effect on their futures. But this year some fear that high
school selection will be yet another means through which the pandemic exposes
and exacerbates inequities, putting this year’s eighth graders at a permanent
disadvantage.
Staff, students at Philly ‘access centers’ juggle
academic needs with COVID concerns
WHYY By Emily Rizzo October 23, 2020
Bellowing calls of “Mask on!” reverberate
through the rooms of Vogt Recreation Center in Tacony, one of 77 Philadelphia
access centers serving as a safe space where children with working parents can
log on to virtual school. With 44 K-6 kids to watch over at Vogt, the anxiety
of COVID-19 spread
is tangible. Staff constantly remind students to pull their masks up over their
noses. “[The students] don’t want to wear a mask,” said Debbie Darroyo, Vogt’s
recreation leader. The access centers, which have 2,105 students enrolled
citywide, are supposed to follow safety guidelines set by the Department of
Public Health. Staffers should take everyone’s temperatures, administer symptom
questionnaires, and regularly sanitize surfaces. All students are to sit at
least six feet apart. Even with these procedures in place, Darroyo knows
there’s a lot she can’t control. She’s been trying to keep her personal immunity
up by eating well and exercising, just in case there’s an outbreak. “[The
students] go away from here and I don’t know who they’re with. They might be
away in the weekend, they might go to a state where they’re not supposed to be.
I don’t know that,” Darroyo said. With the School District of Philadelphia set
to begin offering some in-person classes after Thanksgiving, these city-run
access centers provide a glimpse into how staff and families have been
navigating bringing students together during the pandemic.
Avon Grove Charter School ranked among best in nation
West Chester Daily Local by MediaNews Group October
22, 2020
WEST GROVE — Avon Grove Charter School has
been ranked in the top 15 percent of Charter Schools in America and in the top
2 percent of best public high school teachers in the country, according to
rankings released this week by Niche, used by thousands of educational
institutions to evaluate performance. In addition, Avon Grove Charter School
ranks second for having the best public high school teachers in Chester County.
“This year’s Niche rankings are a testament to the hard work of our teachers,
staff and administrators over the last year and during a global pandemic,"
said Bryan Brutto, chief academic officer. "Our school is blessed with a
devoted staff, supportive community, and amazing students who all contribute to
the ongoing success and academic excellence at Avon Grove Charter School.”
More than 110 COVID-19 cases have been reported at
Lancaster County schools. Here's where they are [update]
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer October 22,
2020
More than 100 cases of COVID-19 have been
reported at Lancaster County schools so far into the 2020-21 school year. The
cases come from 16 school districts, plus a brick-and-mortar charter school in
Lancaster city and the county's career and technology center. And that might
not be all.
2 students, employee in Milton schools COVID-19 positive
Daily Item by Justin Strawser jstrawser@dailyitem.com October 22,
2020
MILTON — Two students and an employee at
Milton Area School District have tested positive for COVID-19. Milton Area
Superintendent Dr. Cathy Keegan confirmed on Thursday that the district received
notice of one positive COVID-19 case of a student who attends Milton Middle
School, one positive case of a student who attends J.F. Baugher Elementary, and
one positive COVID-19 case of an employee who works in the Milton Middle
School. The schools will remain open, said Keegan. The elementary student and
employee were last in their assigned school buildings on Oct. 2 while the
middle school student was last in the building on Oct. 5, said Keegan.
Over 70 people to quarantine after 2 positive COVID-19
cases at St. Louise de Marillac Catholic School
LAUREN LEE Pittsburgh Post-Gazette OCT 22,
2020 8:06 PM
Around 70 people will quarantine for two
weeks after a second person tested positive for COVID-19 at the St. Louise
de Marillac Catholic School in Upper St. Clair. According to a press release
Thursday, 23 students from an eighth grade homeroom and nearly 50 people
involved with the school’s football program will quarantine for 14 days and
resume classes remotely. The school stated the two people who tested positive
are not experiencing serious symptoms and are recovering at home.
Parents Are Worried About Schools. Are the Candidates?
The pandemic has made education a top issue
for many voters. But you wouldn’t know that from the candidates’ stump
speeches.
New York Times By Abby Goodnough Oct. 22, 2020
Communities large and small are battling over
whether and how to reopen schools closed
since March. Superintendents are warning of drastic budget cuts on the horizon,
teachers’ unions are calling for standardized tests to be canceled for a second
straight year and millions of children are learning remotely, with little
evaluation of the impact on their academic growth. Yet for months now, the
extraordinary challenges of schooling during the coronavirus pandemic have not
been a dominant campaign theme for either President Trump or his opponent,
former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. That is partly because states and
local districts have a larger role than the federal government in funding and
running schools. But with so many families deeply affected by the pandemic’s
upending of school routines and potentially lasting impact on childhood
learning, the lack of thoughtful focus on the issue has frustrated parents and
educators alike.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/schools-election-coronavirus.html
What's the connection between reading early and high
school dropout rates? Learn with us at the Education First Compact on 11/5.
Philadelphia Education Fund Free Virtual
Event Thursday November 5, 2020 9:00 am - 10:30 am
From Pre-K to Fifth Grade: Early Literacy as
Dropout Prevention
It’s long been understood that literacy is
the gateway to learning. No doubt you’ve heard the maxim: In grades
K-3, a student must learn to read, so that in grades 4-12 they can read to
learn.
In the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2014
report, “Double Jeopardy,” researchers also found a link between 4th
grade reading proficiency and high school completion rates. Astonishingly,
they discovered that students with low levels of proficiency were four times as
likely to drop out of high school. In Philadelphia, the struggle to improve
upon rates of early literacy is a collaborative one. At the center of
these local efforts are the School District of Philadelphia, the Children’s
Literacy Initiative, and various community partners engaged through
Philadelphia’s Read By 4th Campaign. Join us for the November Education First
Compact to probe such questions as: What lessons has been learned prior to and
during COVID? What adjustments are being made during this period of distance
learning? What challenges remain? And, most importantly, what role can the
larger Philadelphia community play in the effort?
Panelists:
- Caryn
Henning, Children’s Literacy Initiative
- Jenny
Bogoni, Read By 4th Campaign
- Nyshawana
Francis-Thompson, School District Office of Instruction and Curriculum
Host: Farah
Jimenez, President and CEO of Philadelphia Education Fund
Schedule: 9:00 – 9:45am
Presentation
9:45 – 10:15am Q & A
Attendance is free, but registration is
required.
Tell your legislators that school districts need their
support
POSTED ON OCTOBER 12, 2020 IN PSBA
NEWS
If you missed Advocacy Day, it's not too late
to reach out to your legislators and ask for their support for public schools
during this challenging school year. Take Action to
send a letter to your members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The letter
addresses the need to support our schools and help to control our costs so that
districts may better serve their students. Among the most important areas of
concern are limited liability protections; broad mandate relief; delay in new
state graduation requirements delay; the need for broadband expansion; and
charter school funding reform. Now, more than ever, it is vital that
legislators hear from school districts.
https://www.psba.org/2020/10/tell-your-legislators-that-school-districts-need-their-support/
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.
Resolution for charter funding reform (pdf)
Link
to submit your adopted resolution to PSBA
305 PA school boards have
adopted charter reform resolutions
Charter school funding reform continues to be
a concern as over 300 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.
https://www.psba.org/2020/03/adopted-charter-reform-resolutions/
Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then
Call for Charter Change!
PSBA Charter Change Website:
https://www.pacharterchange.org/
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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