Wednesday, October 28, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for October 28, 2020 PA law requires that the state calculate how much schools are underfunded each year. That number? 4.6 billion dollars.

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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If any of your colleagues would like to be added to the email list please have them send their name, title and affiliation to KeystoneStateEdCoalition@gmail.com

 

 

Keystone State Education Coalition

PA Ed Policy Roundup for October 28, 2020

PA law requires that the state calculate how much schools are underfunded each year. That number? 4.6 billion dollars.

 

Follow the Money: Which candidates have received Students First PAC money leading into this election?

Blogger note: in an October 27th Spotlight PA article Matt Brouillette, treasurer for the Commonwealth Leaders Fund – funded primarily by donations from the Students First PAC (Yass, Dantchik, Greenburg) said that the group decides to get involved in races where there’s the greatest opportunity to elect someone who will support expanded charter schools and more tax credits that fund tuition at private schools. Here’ s list of candidates that have received 5 or 6 digit contributions from the group and/or its other related PAC, the Commonwealth Children’s Choice Fund:

John DiSanto

Scott Martín

Chris Dush

Rob Mercuri

Heidelbaugh for Attorney General

Devlin Robinson

Carrie Lewis Delrosso

Milou Mackenzie

Andrew Lewis

Doug Mastriano

Jason Silvis

Craig Williams

Valerie Gaydos

Larry Yost

Source: https://www.campaignfinanceonline.pa.gov/Pages/CampaignFinanceHome.aspx

 

Voter Voices: Independent-minded Erie Republican wants president who's a leader, ethical

GoErie by Matthew Rink Erie Times-News October 27, 2020

This is one in a series of profiles of members of the Erie Times-News community voter panel, a diverse and representative group of registered voters in election-critical Erie County who applied and were randomly selected in January.

Pamela Lenz remembers tagging along with her mom to Erie County Republican Party meetings as a young girl. Her mother was a local committeewoman, immersed in GOP politics, and she would later work in Erie County's Voter Registration office. Like many other Erie County residents, her father worked as a supervisor at General Electric. He, too, was a Republican. Lenz, 64, adopted her parents' political stripes when she became old enough to vote. "In some ways, it was like if you grow up a Catholic or Protestant, you end up being Catholic or Protestant because your family is," Lenz said.  But the McKean Township resident and registered Republican hasn't always backed her party's nominee. She won't this year, either. "I just believe that you should make a decision based upon the merits of the people who are running for office," she said. "And so it doesn't really matter to me if I am Republican or Democrat or independent. It just always seems to me like you should listen and go with the best ideas if they're going to benefit the people in the best manner." She's turned off by President Donald Trump's behavior and what she says is a lack of leadership.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/27/voter-voices-republican-wants-leadership-president/5927030002/

 

Blogger note: this article includes a searchable table showing per-student shortfalls for each of the state’s school districts

Pa. schools need an additional $4.6 billion to close education gaps, new analysis finds

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Maddie Hanna of The Philadelphia Inquirer | Oct. 27, 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 newsletters.

Pennsylvania’s public school children are being shortchanged by $4.6 billion — and those in the poorest school districts, who have fallen the furthest behind, are owed the most, according to a new analysis commissioned by advocates seeking to overhaul the state’s education funding system. The conclusions, based on state data over the past decade, depict widening gaps in education spending between affluent and poor communities — and divides in academic performance. Public schools in Philadelphia, Reading, and Upper Darby are among those shortchanged by at least $5,000 per student, according to the analysis, while some districts, including Radnor, Abington, Hatboro-Horsham, and even Pittsburgh are sufficiently funded. At the same time, students in the poorest districts have the lowest standardized test scores and highest dropout rates, while students from low-income families in Pennsylvania’s highest-spending districts perform better on state measures and graduate from college at higher rates. The funding gap may be even greater, the report says — noting rising costs for schools, and more rigorous state standards for students. The analysis, prepared for a Commonwealth Court judge, is the latest salvo in a yearslong legal battle to address school funding inequities, one that could intensify as the case moves toward trial.

https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/10/pa-public-school-funding-analysis-philadelphia-reading-lancaster/

 

Pennsylvania sets record for largest daily increase of new covid-19 cases

Trib Live by ZACH BRENDZA   | Tuesday, October 27, 2020 12:15 p.m.

Pennsylvania reported 2,751 new covid-19 cases Tuesday, per the state Department of Health.

New coronavirus cases in the state represent the largest daily increase to date, according to the state. The coronavirus death toll in Pennsylvania continued to grow as 23 new deaths were reported. All 23 deaths reported Tuesday are from October. Totals for cases and deaths in the state now stand at 198,446 and 8,696, respectively. https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-sets-record-for-largest-daily-increase-of-new-covid-19-cases/

 

Merion Elementary Closed Due To Positive Coronavirus Case

Merion Elementary School will have fully remote learning through Nov. 6 after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus.

By Max Bennett, Patch Staff Oct 27, 2020 9:29 am ET| Updated Oct 27, 2020 4:51 pm ET

MERION, PA — A Lower Merion School District elementary schools is moving to a fully virtual learning model after a member of that school community tested positive for the coronavirus. Merion Elementary School Principal Toby J. Albanese said in a letter to families that the school will be going to fully remote learning until Friday, Nov. 6. Albanese said the move comes after a staff member was confirmed to have a case of coronavirus Sunday.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/ardmore/merion-elementary-closing-due-positive-coronavirus-case

 

Danville Middle School student positive for COVID-19

Daily Item October 27, 2020

A student at Danville Area Middle School has tested positive for COVID-19 according to an alert sent out today from the district. According to the alert from Superintendent Ricki Boyle, the student was in school on Monday. Contact tracing has been completed and parents of students who must quarantine have been notified, Boyle said. The school will remain open, Boyle said. "We appreciate the quick call from the parents enabling the school to quickly determine what actions need to be taken," Boyle wrote. The middle school is the third Danville school to have at least one positive COVID-19 case. The primary school went full remote for a week earlier this month following some confirmed cases, while the high school has used a staggered schedule with students in school every other day since September.

https://www.dailyitem.com/coronavirus/danville-middle-school-student-positive-for-covid-19/article_b0a7c0d4-1871-11eb-bfba-73291e65951d.html

 

Many Berks school districts bypassing state advice for 'substantial spread' coronavirus counties

Pottstown Mercury By David Mekeel dmekeel@readingeagle.com @dmekeel on Twitter Oct 27, 2020

There has been a resurgence of COVID-19 this fall across Pennsylvania. The state's daily number of new coronavirus cases has lifted back to levels seen at the early stages of the pandemic and beyond. The last three weeks have seen more than 1,000 cases each day, and Tuesday's 2,751 cases were the highest total of the pandemic by about 500.  Berks County has seen its numbers trend upward as well, hitting triple digits in new cases the past four days. The 131 new cases reported Tuesday were the most since April 23. Berks has the fourth most cases per 100,000 people in the state. The uptick has been reflected in a metric used by the state Department of Education to provide recommendations to school districts on how to handle instruction: in person, virtually or a mix of the two. The tool used by the state measures the risk of community spread of COVID-19, placing counties in one of three categories. Last week, for the second week in a row, Berks fell into the worst category: substantial. The state recommends that schools in counties with "substantial spread" should not have children in classrooms, instead using a fully virtual model for instruction. However, that is just a guideline and local districts are free to make their own choices. Several districts in Berks said the county's designation isn't going to alter their current plans.

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/coronavirus/many-berks-school-districts-bypassing-state-advice-for-substantial-spread-coronavirus-counties/article_f46e0247-8279-59b9-b4da-f87937ff0c95.html

 

UPDATE: Positive coronavirus case reported at West End Elementary; school to close for two days

Meadville Tribune October 27, 2020

West End Elementary School will close for the rest of the week after a staff member tested positively for COVID-19. In a post on the Crawford Central School District's Facebook page, the district announced that they were informed late Tuesday morning about the positive test from a therapeutic support staff worker. The school will be closed Wednesday and Thursday as a result, while Friday was already scheduled as an in-service day. Students are to attend remotely for Wednesday and Thursday.

https://www.meadvilletribune.com/coronavirus/update-positive-coronavirus-case-reported-at-west-end-elementary-school-to-close-for-two-days/article_72ac094c-1881-11eb-9904-fb394c10e4b5.html

 

Paradise Elementary School closes for nearly two weeks because of COVID-19

Teresa Boeckel York Daily Record October 27, 2020

An elementary school in the Spring Grove Area School District will be closed for nearly two weeks because of the number of coronavirus cases, according to a letter from the district. Paradise Elementary School is closed Tuesday through Friday, Nov. 6, the district said.  Students will have distance learning while the school is closed. In-person learning is expected to resume on Monday, Nov. 9.

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/10/27/paradise-elementary-school-spring-grove-area-school-district-closes-covid-19-coronavirus/6051214002/

 

Seneca Valley School District Reports 6 Active Coronavirus Cases

The cases landed some students in quarantine.

KDKA CBS Pittsburgh By Nicole Ford October 27, 2020 at 5:57 pm

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) – As more school districts continue to report positive COVID-19 cases, we are learning of a potential exposure at Seneca Valley School District. “They’ve been very upfront, very open, very lengthy emails and detailed about what the next steps are and they will be in touch with us privately immediately if there is any concern with my specific son,” said Amy Simmons, whose son attends Seneca Valley School District. As those cases tick up in Butler County, more parents are getting those calls about close contact exposure.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/10/27/seneca-valley-school-district-coronavirus/

 

New COVID-19 case confirmed at Central Dauphin High School

Penn Live By Sean Adams | sadams@pennlive.com Updated Oct 27, 2020; Posted Oct 27, 2020

A student in the Central Dauphin School District has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the district. On October 26, the district sent letters home to families at the Central Dauphin High School that one of the students at the school had been confirmed to have been infected. “This individual was last present in the school building on Tuesday, October 20, 2020,” the letter reads. “We have engaged in tracing this student’s exposure both to students and employees at Central Dauphin High School.”

https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/10/new-covid-19-case-confirmed-at-central-dauphin-high-school.html

 

KCSD has two more positive cases

The Express by CHRIS MORELLI CMORELLI@LOCKHAVEN.COM OCT 27, 2020

MILL HALL — Five cases in 10 days. Those are the growing numbers as the Keystone Central School District has had five COVID-19 cases reported in the last 10 days. On Monday, two more cases were announced on the district’s website. One of the cases is a staff member at Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven who had tested positive for the deadly virus. The second is a student at the district’s Career and Technical Center located at the Central Mountain High School complex. In the news release, KCSD superintendent Jacquelyn Martin said that schools will stay open “as long as we can do so safely” but parents should be prepared for possible school closures with “little advance warning.” Just last Friday, KCSD reported a second case at Central Mountain High School and an initial case at Central Mountain Middle School. All of those positive cases involve students.

https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2020/10/kcsd-has-two-more-positive-cases/

 

West Mifflin Area High School to close for 10 days due to spike in COVID-19 cases

 Post Gazette by DEANA CARPENTER OCT 27, 2020 4:26 PM

Beginning Wednesday, students who attend West Mifflin Area High School will be learning remotely for 10 days due to a spike in COVID-19 cases at the school. “The high school is experiencing an increase in positive cases among staff members,” Superintendent Jeffrey Soles said in a letter emailed to parents. West Mifflin Area High School has three staff members who have confirmed cases of COVID-19. The district also has multiple staffers quarantining, on leave and/or calling in sick.

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/10/27/West-Mifflin-Area-High-School-to-close-for-10-days-due-to-spike-in-COVID-19-cases/stories/202010270134

 

New Kensington-Arnold going to all remote instruction for 1 week

Trib Live by BRIAN C. RITTMEYER   | Wednesday, October 28, 2020 4:23 a.m.

New Kensington-Arnold School District will change from in-person to remote instruction for all students the week of Nov. 2, the school board decided Tuesday. The state Department of Education has recommended that Westmoreland County districts move to fully remote instruction to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. On Tuesday, the county reported the most new covid-19 deaths since May, according to the state Department of Health. The county had 72 new covid-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total case count to 4,169 with 88 deaths.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-arnold-going-to-all-remote-instruction-for-1-week/

 

Ears on the Philly Board of Education: October 22, 2020

Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools by Diane Payne October 26, 2020 

This month’s Board of Education Action Action Meeting featured administration PowerPoints that again failed to reflect the experiences and needs of those on the ground.  Many of the seventy-four registered speakers testified to this lack.  The Hite administration now requires Pre-K to Grade 2 staff to return to buildings on November 9th to prepare for the return of students on November 30th–in spite of still incomplete ventilation reports.  COVID’s main form of transmission is through the air.  People of color are statistically more likely to contract and to die from the illness.  Many older District buildings with asbestos, mold and lead were unsafe for children and adults  before COVID.  Now staff, students, families, and community members are being asked to trust that the District gets this right.  The neglect of the District has caused the illness and impending death of one teacher (that we know of) from mesothelioma.  Failure this time will have immediate and devastating consequences.

https://appsphilly.net/2020/10/26/ears-on-the-board-of-education-october-22-2020/

 

 

Our Kids need you! PA Parents Demand Action Virtual Rally - 10/29 at 4 pm

PCCY - With just days before the big election, it has never been more important to VOTE  for lawmakers that support children’s issues than right now. At the PA Parents Demand Action virtual rally, parents, students and community members will be demanding that Washington pass a funding package and Harrisburg uses it to fund K-12 education, child care, pre-k and children’s issues first! We are putting lawmakers on notice that a failure to invest in our children at all levels this year and next, will harm our children, our families and Pennsylvania’s economy. We are watching, speaking out and holding them accountable.

Join us for the Virtual Rally on 10/29 at 4pm and invite all of your friends!  Register here via zoom now: http://bit.ly/MomsRally 

 

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.

https://philaedfund.org/event/education-first-compact-from-pre-k-to-fifth-grade-early-literacy-as-dropout-prevention/

 

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

 

310 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.

The school boards from the following districts have adopted resolutions calling for charter funding reform. 

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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