Wednesday, October 7, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for October 7: Trump: No More COVID-19 Aid, Including Billions for Schools, Until After I Win

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

Visit us on Facebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

 

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 7, 2020

Trump: No More COVID-19 Aid, Including Billions for Schools, Until After I Win

 

Why are cyber charter tuition rates the same as brick and mortar tuition?

Taxpayers in House Ed Committee Member Joshua Kail’s school districts paid $6 million in 2018-2019 cyber charter tuition. Statewide, PA taxpayers paid over $600 million for cyber charter tuition in 2018-2019.

 

Avella Area SD

$198,620.91

Beaver Area SD

$421,451.29

Blackhawk SD

$735,706.72

Burgettstown Area SD

$672,658.72

Central Valley SD

$856,099.40

Hopewell Area SD

$982,651.02

McGuffey SD

$908,560.48

South Side Area SD

$366,509.68

Trinity Area SD

$857,742.04

 

$6,000,000.26

Source: PDE via PSBA

 

Gov. Wolf eases gathering restrictions with formula tied to capacity limits

Post Gazette by CHRIS HARLAN   | Tuesday, October 6, 2020 10:52 a.m.

Gov. Tom Wolf increased gathering-size limits for events statewide Tuesday, revealing a new formula that’s based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity rather than the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions previously imposed. Indoor events are limited to 10% to 20% of capacity, depending upon the venue’s size, and outdoor events can admit 15% to 25%. The largest venues are capped at 3,750 individuals indoors and 7,500 outdoors. The move clears the way for spectators at interscholastic, college and professional sporting events. School districts can allow additional fans at football games, volleyball matches and all other fall contests when the new restrictions take effect Friday. The Pittsburgh Steelers announced plans to admit fans Sunday at Heinz Field for the first time this season. The state’s gathering limit counts players, coaches, staff and all other game-day workers toward the overall total, so the Steelers will allow 5,500 fans. The team will randomly select from among its season-ticket holders for this week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

https://triblive.com/sports/gov-wolf-eases-gathering-restrictions-with-formula-tied-to-capacity-limits/

 

Local coaches, venue officials welcome 'definitive' crowd guidelines

Johnstown Tribune Democrat By Mike Mastovich mmastovich@tribdem.com October 7, 2020

Mike Hogan welcomed news of Gov. Tom Wolf increasing gathering-size limits for events across the state on Tuesday. The coach of the two-time defending state champion Northern Cambria High School girls volleyball team is pleased that parents once again will be able to attend their daughters’ games. “It’s really nice that the parents now can make plans, make arrangements, set their schedule and – for crying out loud – go watch their kid play volleyball,” Hogan said. “It’s nice to have that locked in for hopefully a couple more weeks.” Previous Wolf guidelines limited gatherings to 25 people indoors and 250 outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total of 25 at volleyball matches included players, coaches and officials – which left no room for spectators. Parents and a few other fans received a reprieve for a match or two after a federal judge ruling that tossed statewide pandemic limits on crowd size late last month, but Wolf appealed that decision and the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court granted him a stay last week, putting the 25/250 limits back into play. Tuesday’s amended guidelines state that indoor events are limited to 10% to 20% capacity, depending on the venue’s size. Outdoor events may permit 15% to 25% of capacity.

https://www.tribdem.com/coronavirus/local-coaches-venue-officials-welcome-definitive-crowd-guidelines/article_4d04c652-0819-11eb-af54-8780abb3c305.html

 

Despite diversity gains, Pa. Legislature remains overwhelmingly white, male institution | Wednesday Morning Coffee

PA Capital Star By  John L. Micek October 7, 2020

Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Despite some inroads over the last few years, Pennsylvania’s 253-member General Assembly remains an overwhelmingly white and male institution, though its membership is growing slightly younger as the Baby Boomers move into their retirement years. According to data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, a clearinghouse for state lawmakers, 91 percent of Pennsylvania’s Legislature’s membership is white. Statewide, whites make up 81 percent of the commonwealth’s population, according to 2019 Census data. While Blacks make up 12 percent of the state’s population, based on Census data, they are 9 percent of the Legislature’s membership, according to the NCSL data, which compares the chamber’s membership in 2015 to its membership in 2020. Hispanics and Latinos make up 1 percent of the chamber’s membership, compared to the statewide rate of 7.8 percent, based on 2019 Census data. And while women make up 51 percent of the commonwealth’s population, they’re 27 percent of the Legislature’s membership. That’s an increase from 2015, when they comprised 18 percent of the Legislature’s membership, according to the NCSL data. But it’s still a profound gap.

https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/despite-diversity-gains-pa-legislature-remains-overwhelmingly-white-male-institution-wednesday-morning-coffee/

 

Despite new virus cases, Philadelphia schools ‘committed’ to November reopening, district says

Chalkbeat Philly By Johann Calhoun  Oct 6, 2020, 8:04pm EDT

Despite an increase in confirmed cases of coronavirus in Philadelphia, district officials said on Tuesday they still are “committed” to reopening schools in November, after the first marking period. District officials announced in late July that the school year would have an all-virtual start, with a tentative reopening date of Nov. 17. At the time, Superintendent William Hite said that date was just a target for a “phased in” return to in-person learning. In a statement on Tuesday, district officials said they “remain committed to beginning this transition in November after the first marking period and are in constant communication with public health experts.” On Tuesday, the city’s health department reported a “substantial increase” in daily case counts of COVID-19. Dr. Thomas Farley, Philadelphia’s health commissioner, said the numbers were a reason for concern. Since Monday, 250 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the city, bringing Philadelphia’s numbers to 37,812 since the beginning of the pandemic.

https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2020/10/6/21505109/philadelphia-schools-committed-to-november-reopening-district-says

 

In a contract stalemate, Philly teachers exploring limiting work to school hours only

Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: October 6, 2020- 9:24 PM

Working under an expired contract, a month into a challenging school year, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is testing the waters of a potential “work to rule” action that would see city teachers work only during contracted hours. That means that lesson planning, grading, reaching out to families and all the other tasks educators complete before and after school, at night and on weekends would change drastically. “This should be seen as a refusal to do ‘extras,'” PFT President Jerry Jordan said in an email sent to members and obtained by The Inquirer. Should the action be undertaken, teachers would need to complete all such work during the single prep period allotted during the school day. The work-to-rule action is not a lock; members have until Thursday to weigh in. But Jordan’s exploration of the idea makes it clear that a settlement is not imminent and that the PFT is seeking to exert pressure on the Philadelphia School District.

https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-pft-contract-teachers-work-to-rule-20201006.html

 

Propel Schools teachers, staff push to organize labor union

LACRETIA WIMBLEY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette lwimbley@post-gazette.com OCT 6, 2020 12:07 PM

Teachers and other staff of the Propel charter schools say they are trying to organize a labor union to give them a voice on workplace safety and students’ learning environment. The Pennsylvania State Education Association has been helping certified professional staff members from the charter network in the Pittsburgh area to organize since August. The Propel staff formally informed Propel Schools CEO/Superintendent Tina Chekan of the organizing efforts Tuesday, according to Matt Edgell, the PSEA’s western region advocacy coordinator. “This is less about wages and benefits and more about wanting a seat at the table,” Conor McAteer, a lead labor organizer for Propel workers, said in a statement. “If we are truly going to have a culture of dignity at Propel, we as educational professionals need a strong voice regarding issues like fair and just practices for students and staff.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/10/06/Propel-Schools-organize-labor-union-pittsburgh/stories/202010060106

 

Legitimate or 'side hustle'? Lancaster school board members question merits of sports-centered charter school proposal

Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer October 6, 2020

School District of Lancaster board members expect to vote on an application for a soccer-infused charter school in the city later this month. The proposed charter school’s fate, however, may already be sealed. Several Lancaster school board members on Tuesday denounced the application over its apparent lack of community support, lackluster curriculum and questionable budget. The proposed charter school, called the AFCLL Academy Charter School, would serve students in grades five through eight and focus on educating children through sports, particularly soccer. Its plan is to serve about 100 students starting in August 2021, with the hopes of doubling enrollment in five years. Applying for the school is a group led by AFC Lancaster Lions pro soccer club founder Brian Ombiji. The board is expected to vote on the application at its Oct. 20 meeting.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/legitimate-or-side-hustle-lancaster-school-board-members-question-merits-of-sports-centered-charter-school/article_aca5c50c-0837-11eb-a592-371622096f16.html

 

How much Pa. state budget money is headed to your school district? Here's 2020-21 estimate

Jasmine Vaughn-Hall York Daily Record October 6, 2020

Pennsylvania's state budget includes over $6.7 billion worth of funding to support school districts' basic education in 2020-21. There was no formula run for the 2020-21 fiscal year as allocations were legislated to be identical to the 2019-20 fiscal year. A proportioned share of the state budget is based on "the school district’s student-weighted average daily membership multiplied by its median household income index and its local effort capacity index (tax situation)," according the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  A series of weight categories include the concentrated poverty average, the average daily membership of the school districts' most recent three years, and at least five other similar factors.  Critics have argued the need for a new Basic Education Funding formula. In March 2019, state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, introduced House Bill 961, which "would require that 100 percent of state funds for public schools immediately be distributed through the fair funding formula. It also would acknowledge that significantly more funding is required to ensure each school district has enough resources to educate its students." Here's a look at the estimated Basic Education Funding for public schools in York, Adams, Franklin, and Lebanon counties for 2020-21: 

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/10/06/school-funding-how-much-of-pennsylvania-budget-is-going-to-central-pennsylvania-school-districts/3531059001/

 

Nearly 60 Lackawanna Trail students to quarantine after teacher tests positive for COVID-19

Times Tribune BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL STAFF WRITER Oct 6, 2020 Updated 5 hrs ago

Nearly 60 Lackawanna Trail students must quarantine after their teacher tested positive for the coronavirus. Officials at the junior-senior high school learned of the test result Tuesday morning and alerted parents that children in that classroom must quarantine for 14 days and needed to leave school immediately. The teacher was last in class Friday, Superintendent Matthew Rakauskas said. The district also identified several teachers and aides who must quarantine, he said. If the school has another positive case in the next 14 days, the school will close for between three and five days. The district also had an elementary center teacher test positive for COVID-19 last month. Those students, who also quarantined, did not report any positive cases. The Wyoming County district’s latest case comes nearly a month after its schools fully reopened. Of Lackawanna County school districts, six of 10 now offer hybrid instruction: Abington Heights, Dunmore, Mid Valley, North Pocono, Old Forge and Riverside. Lakeland plans to start hybrid learning Oct. 13 and Carbondale, Scranton and Valley View could all make that transition in November. In hybrid instruction, students generally attend school twice a week and learn from home the other days. The groups alternate to allow for smaller class sizes and social distancing. North Pocono reported its first positive COVID-19 case Friday — a staff member at the high school. The district determined there was no close contact at the school with that person, so no one at the school needed to quarantine, Superintendent Bryan McGraw said. Mid Valley reported one case last week, a student at the secondary school. The student’s sibling had to quarantine.

Dunmore, Old Forge and Riverside, which started hybrid instruction four to six weeks ago, have no reported cases. Abington Heights, also with no cases, began its hybrid model Monday.

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/nearly-60-lackawanna-trail-students-to-quarantine-after-teacher-tests-positive-for-covid-19/article_a3706a0e-0b7f-5458-b923-b56aa99de011.html

 

Elizabethtown Area elementary school closed for a week due to COVID-19 infections

Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer October 6, 2020

An Elizabethtown Area School District elementary school will be closed through Columbus Day due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. After closing abruptly on Monday, East High Street Elementary School will remain closed to students and staff until Tuesday, Oct. 13, as the district responds to three known COVID-19 infections within the school. All students will learn remotely. The district broke the news about Monday’s closure in a letter posted to its website on Sunday evening, stating there were two confirmed two COVID-19 cases and one presumptive case at the school. “The decision to transition to online learning now for ALL East High students was not made lightly,” Sunday’s letter states. “We recognize the impact it will have on our families who have a child attending the school.”

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/elizabethtown-area-elementary-school-closed-for-a-week-due-to-covid-19-infections/article_30c7e0b6-0736-11eb-8a3a-9b6ee6dce251.html

 

Covid-19 presumptive positive at Sara Lindemuth/Anna Carter Primary School

ABC27 News by: WHTM Staff Posted: Oct 6, 2020 / 05:43 PM EDT / Updated: Oct 6, 2020 / 06:18 PM EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Susquehanna Township School District says that there is a presumptive positive at the Sara Lindemuth/Anna Carter Primary School. District leaders say that a ‘School Closure Decision Matrix’ was used, which is based on guidance from the state Health Department and Center for Disease Controls to determine next steps. As a result, the district has decided to remain open. The person who is presumed-positive is expected to follow isolation protocols before returning to school.

https://www.abc27.com/news/local/covid-19-presumptive-positive-at-sara-lindemuth-anna-carter-primary-school/

 

Another Karns City High School student tests positive for COVID-19

Butler Eagle Staff Report October 6, 2020 News Extra

Another Karns City High School student tested positive for COVID-19 prompting school district officials to consider temporarily closing the high school. Superintendent Eric Ritzer said the district was notified Tuesday of the most recent positive test. Oct. 2 was the last day the student was in the school. The district and Pennsylvania Department of Health have begun contact tracing and the school cleaning remains ongoing, he said. He also said the administration is working with the school board and health department about a possible temporary closure of the high school. On Friday, the district announced it was notified that day that a high school student tested positive for the virus. The student was last in the building Sept. 24. A Chicora Elementary School student tested positive on Sept. 16 and was expected to return to classes the following week along with classmates who came in contact with the student.

http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20201006/NEWS12/710069752

 

COVID-19 case reported at Towanda Elementary School

MyTwinTiers.com by: George Stockburger Posted: Oct 6, 2020 / 10:02 AM EDT / Updated: Oct 6, 2020 / 10:04 AM EDT

TOWANDA, Pa. (WETM) – A person associated with Towanda Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter posted by the school district.

The Towanda Area School District would like to make you and the public aware that an individual associated with the Towanda Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19. We are working with the Department of Health with this situation. Due to our safety protocols and the decision of the family involved to self-quarantine last week, we are able to keep our schools open. We will continue to monitor the situation with the Department of Health and make any adjustment necessary. Please help us by continuing to remain vigilant during this difficult time. Screen your children each morning, keep them home if they are sick, and communicate with us early regarding any potential COVID-19 situations relating to your family.

This is at least the second case of COVID-19 connected to the Towanda Area School District.

https://www.mytwintiers.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-case-reported-at-towanda-elementary-school/

 

Dover goes online at high school after three positive COVID-19 tests

Ron Musselman York Dispatch October 6, 2020

The Dover Area School District announced Monday three people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the high school, which will be closed for the rest of the week in order to deep clean. “During this time, there will be no high school athletics or high school extracurricular activities,” school officials stated in a news release. High school students are scheduled to return to the building Monday, Oct. 12, the release said. In the meantime, they will receive online instruction.

https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2020/10/06/dover-goes-online-high-school-after-three-positive-covid-19-tests/3634678001/

 

UPDATE COVID-19 case confirmed at Milton Middle School; 41 new cases in Valley

The Daily Item Oct 5, 2020

Milton Area School District became the fifth Valley school district to report a positive COVID-19 case when district officials reported one middle school student had tested positive on Monday. The news came on a day when the state Department of Health (DOH) announced another 672 COVID-19 cases, including 41 in the Valley. Most of the local cases are in Montour County, where an outbreak at a nursing home accounted for 18 of the Valley's new cases. A separate countywide database of long-term care facilities shows 22 new cases at nursing homes in the county. Statewide there were 11 new deaths on Monday, including one in Union County. It is the seventh death in that county — the first since Sept. 1 — and 89th in the Valley. In a letter to district officials, Milton Superintendent Cathy Keegan confirmed a middle school student tested positive on Sunday. The district's protocols were put into place, including building a timeline of the case, contact tracing and discussions with the DOH about who needs to quarantine and whether schools should remain open.

https://www.dailyitem.com/coronavirus/update-covid-19-case-confirmed-at-milton-middle-school-41-new-cases-in-valley/article_9ac428c0-0723-11eb-9edc-83e63ee75274.html

 

GLSD announces positive COVID-19 test for student at Mountain View Elementary

Latrobe Bulletin October 6, 2020

Greater Latrobe School District Superintendent Dr. Georgia Teppert in a letter posted to the district’s website Monday announced school officials were notified a student at Mountain View Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19. The district immediately notified the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which provided guidance and protocols. “Mountain View Elementary School will remain open for school,” Teppert’s letter reads. “If a parent or guardian chooses to have their student(s) remain at home and participate in online instruction, they must notify their homeroom teacher(s).”

https://www.latrobebulletinnews.com/covid19/glsd-announces-positive-covid-19-test-for-student-at-mountain-view-elementary/article_a108996f-a3f5-5825-b209-9f0e8767a8f0.html

 

Spring-Ford School District sets plan for in-person classes

West Chester Daily Local Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com @PottstownNews on Twitter Oct 7, 2020 Updated 35 min ago

The Spring-Ford Area School District has released this timeline for bringing students back into school buildings.

The Spring-Ford School District is pressing ahead with plans to return students to the classroom by Nov. 12. Last week, the board unanimously adopted the plan for students in grades kindergarten through 6th and Monday night, the plan for grades 7-12 was adopted by a vote of 7-2. Board members Tom DiBello and Clifford Jackson voted against the plan for the upper grades. More than 250 people participated or watched Monday's meeting online. Families in the lower grades must choose between virtual or in-person education for all five days. That choice must be made by Thursday, Oct. 8. Families in the upper grades will choose between all virtual or a hybrid model with two days in-person on either Mondays and Thursdays; or Tuesdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will remain online learning for all students in grades 7-12.

https://www.dailylocal.com/news/spring-ford-school-district-sets-plan-for-in-person-classes/article_ff3a7c13-1d64-51df-b311-583391ee1690.html

 

Blogger note: PA Students First PAC’s Jeff Yass has been a major contributor to the Commonwealth Leaders Fund.

“Individuals and entities have reached out to me, wanting to support my campaign,” DeFoor said. One group taking an interest is Commonwealth Leaders Fund, a conservative political action committee that has spent between $21,000 and $28,000 on Facebook ads to tout DeFoor since last week. The PAC has also spent almost $1.2 million this year to help Republican Heather Heidelbaugh in her bid to deny Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro a second term.

Nina Ahmad spent big to win the Pa. auditor general primary. Now she’s tied with an opponent with much less money.

Inquirer by Chris Brennan, Posted: October 2, 2020

Clout today explores how difficult and expensive a statewide race in Pennsylvania can be for a candidate with not much name recognition. Nina Ahmad, a former deputy mayor from Philadelphia, spent almost $500,000 of her own money to win the six-candidate Democratic primary for state auditor general. That was after she spent more than $650,000 in a failed 2018 bid for lieutenant governor. What did she get for dipping into her bank account to the tune of more than $1 million? A Monmouth University Poll last month showed her statistically tied with the Republican nominee, Dauphin County Controller Tim DeFoor. Ahmad led DeFoor by 43% to 41%, with 12% of registered voters in the poll undecided, and a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.  DeFoor, who ran unopposed in his primary, has raised a little more than $23,000 this year and had just under $17,000 in the bank as of mid-September, according to campaign finance reports filed last week.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/pennsylvania-auditor-general-nina-ahmad-tim-defoor-20201002.html

 

“The Network for Public Education is following 37 districts in New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut that reopened — either hybrid or full time. Of the 23 districts that responded to our inquiry regarding remote learners, the average rate of students who opted to not attend in person was 21 percent. Percentages ranged from 6 percent of the school population to 50 percent. Larger percentages of students of color are associated with higher remote rates. Superintendent Joe Roy said he has been carefully examining patterns among the 25 percent of students whose families chose remote learning in his district in Bethlehem, Pa.”

Going back to school: The good, the bad and the ugly

Washington Post By  Valerie Strauss Reporter Oct. 6, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

Going back to school during the coronavirus pandemic has elicited a jumble of emotions for teachers, students and parents, who have both wanted to see kids back in school buildings but also have feared the risk of contracting covid-19. This post reports on the experiences of people who have returned to school for the 2020-2021 school year in various school districts. It was written by Carol Burris, an award-winning former principal and now executive director of the Network for Public Education, a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports traditional public school districts. The organization has been tracking 37 school districts in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania, representing more than 195,000 students plus thousands of staff in areas with county covid-19 rates ranging from 0 percent to 5.9 percent. All school districts require the wearing of masks, and Pennsylvania schools have active sports programs. The districts studied were in counties that had low coronavirus rates and required wearing masks.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/10/06/going-back-school-good-bad-ugly/

 

How can students learn online if they don’t know the language? This city tackled the issue

Gabriel Campanario / The Seattle Times Oct. 5, 2020 at 5:00 am

Meet the Reyes Acosta family.  Gabriela Acosta and her husband, Rodrigo Reyes, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, from Central Mexico in 2013. Before a pandemic burst onto the scene, life was hard enough: Six kids. Navigating a world whose dominant language isn’t theirs. Now, Gabriela isn’t working. Her husband’s job is unstable. Add to that a new complication to maneuver: An unexpectedly online school system. Though the effect is hard to quantify, experts and educators say that distance learning likely worsened existing educational disparities. They worry that the country’s already disadvantaged students, including those who are learning to speak English, have fallen further behind. To Gabriela Acosta, 29, the campus closures and the financial stress “felt like a sudden, overwhelming loss of control,” she said in Spanish. But the Reyes Acostas were lucky: They had a school system that quickly overshot its budget on live translation. Teachers and social workers focused on communicating often and helping them. And district educators aimed to affirm the value of students’ native languages while trying to help them learn English.

https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/how-can-students-learn-online-if-they-dont-know-the-language-this-city-tackled-the-issue/

 

Trump: No More COVID-19 Aid, Including Billions for Schools, Until After I Win

Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa on October 6, 2020 3:56 PM

President Donald Trump has declared that he won't agree to a new coronavirus relief package before the Nov. 3 election, a potentially big setback for schools and educators who've hoped for months for additional aid from Washington. In a series of tweets Tuesday, Trump said he told administration officials involved in coronavirus talks with Congress to stop negotiating with lawmakers. He said that "immediately after I win," he would restart talks to pass a relief bill focused on "hardworking Americans and Small Business." He also attacked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., by saying she had not engaged in COVID-19 relief talks in good faith.  Trump did not say what he planned to do if he loses the presidential election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden. If he loses the election, his defeat could remove a key motivation for agreeing to a deal. And that might leave schools without the assurance of more federal relief as they start their spring terms.

https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/10/trump-no-new-coronavirus-aid-election-blow-schools.html

 

 

The PSBA 2020 Equity Summit is happening virtually on October 13th.

Discover how to build a foundation for equity in practice and policy.

Learn more: https://t.co/KQviB4TTOj

 

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.

https://www.psba.org/2020/08/what-to-expect-at-this-years-school-leadership-conference/

 

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

 

296 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.

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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