Tuesday, November 10, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Nov. 10, 2020: Top Biden Aide Talks Reopening Schools, Education Funding, Charters and More

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 Nov. 10, 2020
Top Biden Aide Talks Reopening Schools, Education Funding, Charters and More
  
“The district’s cyber academy costs under $3,000 per student per year as opposed to the $15,000 to $30,000 per student the state mandates that school districts pay commercial cyber schools. This money can come from only one place: the taxpayers. The legislature has essentially handed unelected, unaccountable, private entities the power to tax.”

Letter: Charter schools are taking taxpayers' money

Pocono Record Letter by Merlyn Clarke, Stroudsburg Area School Board member, Stroud Township November 4, 2020

Stroudsburg School District was billed $1,062,105 for cyber school tuition payments for the month of September. Do the math: this translates to over $10,000,000 for the 10-month school year. And of course, it could go higher. Stroudsburg is no exception. These amounts are unconscionable. The district’s cyber academy costs under $3,000 per student per year as opposed to the $15,000 to $30,000 per student the state mandates that school districts pay commercial cyber schools. This money can come from only one place: the taxpayers. The legislature has essentially handed unelected, unaccountable, private entities the power to tax. The charter school funding law is nothing short of governmental malfeasance. It is past time for the legislature to do something about this obscenity. School districts should not be forced into bankruptcy, and the public should not be forced to pay for these rent seeking, poor performing enterprises that enrich the operators, use taxpayer money to advertise and, yes, use taxpayer money to lobby the legislature to keep this racket going. When will the legislature take action?

https://www.poconorecord.com/story/opinion/letters/2020/11/04/letter-charter-schools-taking-taxpayers-money/6126737002/

 

Blogger note: PDE is scheduled to hold the second of two public (virtual) hearings on new cyber charter school applications this week.

PA Department of Education Cyber Charter School Application (Virtual) Hearing Agenda for Thursday, November 12, 2020 9:00 A.M.

Executive Education Cyber Charter School

https://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/Charter%20Schools/Public%20Hearing%20Agendas/2020%20Public%20Hearings/Executive%20Education%20Charter%20School%20Hearing%20Agenda.pdf

 

“Twenty-four more Southern Tioga students opted to go with a cyber charter school this year, compared to last year. The increased cost was almost $271,000”

COVID-19 puts financial strain on school district

Tioga Publishing By Halie Kines hkines@tiogapublishing.com Nov 4, 2020

BLOSSBURG — The coronavirus has had a huge financial impact on the Southern Tioga School District, the board learned during the Nov. 2 special voting board meeting. With an increase in Cyber Charter schools, MyCyber Campus, substitute services, technology and personal protective equipment, the district is expecting to be over budget by more than $600,000. In anticipation of increased costs, the school board voted to budget more than it would in “normal years” to these areas, making the total financial impact more like over $1 million. Twenty-four more Southern Tioga students opted to go with a cyber charter school this year, compared to last year. The increased cost was almost $271,000, but the estimated increase above the budgeted amount is $47,963. These numbers are very fluid and constantly changing.

https://www.tiogapublishing.com/coronavirus/covid-19-puts-financial-strain-on-school-district/article_3ecd19ee-c54e-57cb-8e23-c6f5e934c1bb.html

 

Top Biden Aide Talks Reopening Schools, Education Funding, Charters and More

Provides on-the-record comments in pre-election webinar

Education Writers Association  NOVEMBER 9, 2020 ERIK ROBELEN

President-elect Joe Biden has a far-reaching education agenda that begins with actions to help schools reopen for in-person instruction, as well as plans to reverse key Trump administrative actions and more. In a recent, on-the-record webinar, the Biden campaign’s national policy director, Stef Feldman, fielded questions from the Education Writers Association and its members from around the country. Below are key excerpts from that wide-ranging, one-hour conversation on October 22, 2020. Journalists and others are welcome to quote from the transcript here, though we ask that you cite the EWA webinar as the source. You can also watch the full video.

On some issues, Feldman declined to make firm commitments. For example, she stopped short of saying whether a Biden administration would grant states a waiver for a second year of statewide testing required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. “This is an important question that a Biden/Harris transition team would have to look at,” she said. “In some ways, the answer to this question depends on how much progress we can make in supporting our schools and getting them back up and running.”  Feldman also reiterated that Biden would nominate “a former public school educator” to be his secretary of education, but declined to clarify whether this would be someone with experience in K-12 or higher education. Some of Biden’s agenda items that require congressional approval will likely face a tough road, especially if Republicans retain control of the U.S. Senate. Democrats must win run-offs in two U.S. Senate races from Georgia to achieve a 50-50 split. If that happens, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris could provide a tie-breaking vote. 

Feldman’s comments, which are drawn both from her opening remarks and in response to audience questions, are organized by topic. They include:

https://www.ewa.org/blog-educated-reporter/top-biden-aide-talks-reopening-schools-education-funding-charters-and-more#Charter%20Schools

 

With election results unresolved, General Assembly delays internal leadership elections

PA Capital Star By Stephen Caruso November 9, 2020

With a number of key legislative races still undecided amid the slow count of mail-in ballots, some of the internal elections to decide who will lead the four partisan caucuses in the House and Senate have been delayed. A week after each election, state lawmakers traditionally return to the Capitol to pick which of their colleagues will manage internal affairs ranging from, staffing to parking spaces, as well as dictate policy and strategy for the next two years. These votes are held in private. But elections for House and Senate Democrats, as well as Senate Republicans, have been pushed back until at least Thursday to give time for winners to be decided in a half dozen or so races and join their colleagues in picking leadership. House Republicans still intend to move ahead with their elections on Tuesday. The biggest question marks are among the House Democrats, whose longtime leader is among the races still uncalled. 

https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/with-election-results-uncertain-general-assembly-delays-internal-leadership-elections/

 

Here’s what GOP in Pa. are saying about Biden’s victory and Trump’s refusal to concede

WHYY By Katie Meyer  Sam Dunklau November 9, 2020

As Joe Biden was declared the winner of Pennsylvania and the presidency, and President Donald Trump began issuing a sustained string of tweets falsely declaring himself the true victor in the election, Republicans in Pennsylvania had to quickly decide how to react. Some responses, such as from U.S. Sen Pat Toomey, have been fairly boilerplate, saying lawsuits and inquiries into the election results should be allowed to play out. “Democracy succeeds only when all sides can trust that the election process is fair and transparent,” said Toomey, who also criticized Trump’s rhetoric in recent days. “Given the extremely close result, the American people must be assured that the process is being conducted with integrity.” Others have taken a more defiant approach, including several rank-and-file members of the House Republican Caucus who are calling for Pennsylvania’s electoral college votes to be put on hold until the results of a “legislative-led election audit.”

https://whyy.org/articles/heres-what-gop-in-pa-are-saying-about-bidens-victory-and-trumps-refusal-to-concede/

 

As COVID-19 cases rise, Pa. doesn’t plan statewide school closure but is advising some to go remote

Penn Live By David Wenner | dwenner@pennlive.com Updated Nov 09, 2020; Posted Nov 09, 2020

Pennsylvania’s health secretary said Monday that COVID-19 is spreading at a troubling rate, but the state has no plans for a statewide shutdown of schools similar to last spring. However, the level of COVID-19 spread in many counties has the state advising local schools to shift toward remote learning or even cease classroom instruction. “We absolutely do not plan to have a general school closure as happened in spring, but we might continue to make adjustments to our recommendations to schools,” Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Remember, all the guidance and recommendations are just that. They are not orders and there is local control in Pennsylvania and those decisions are being made by local authorities.” The latest recommendations from the state call for schools to shift entirely to remote learning if the weekly COVID-19 incidence rate in their county is more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents, or the rate of positive COVID-19 tests is more than 10%. As of Monday, 38 counties are above that threshold: Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Clarion, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Tioga, Union, Venango, Wyoming. That’s about a dozen more than a week ago. The Wolf administration said the state education and health departments will be talking with local officials about the implications of the levels of coronavirus transmission.

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/coronavirus/2020/11/as-covid-19-cases-rise-pa-doesnt-plan-statewide-school-closure-but-is-advising-some-to-go-remote.html

 

As Pa. cases rises, Biden calls for Americans to wear masks. Will it make a difference? | Tuesday Morning Coffee

PA Capital Star Commentary By  John L. Micek November 10, 2020

Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

True to his word, President-elect Joe Biden pushed the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to the front of his embryonic administration’s agenda on Monday morning, as he announced the 13-member task force he’s formed to fight the worst public health threat in a century. “It doesn’t matter who you voted for, where you stood before Election Day,” Biden said in a brief remarks before the TV cameras, where he did not take questions. “It doesn’t matter your party, your point of view. We can save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months.” He added: “Not Democratic or Republican lives — American lives,” the New York Times reported. Biden’s remarks came as the United States cruised past 10 million COVID-19 cases and 238,000 deaths. And in the state of his birth, Pennsylvania, health officials announced 6,311 new cases of COVID-19 between Sunday and Monday. The tally brought the total of confirmed cases in the Keystone State to 234,296 cases in all 67 counties since the start of the pandemic. Thus far, 9,024 Pennsylvanians have died of the disease.

https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/as-pa-cases-rises-biden-calls-for-americans-to-wear-masks-will-it-make-a-difference-tuesday-morning-coffee/

 

“We have experienced operational challenges including a shortage of bus drivers that significantly impacts our district this week. As you may know, bus companies have been struggling nationwide to adequately staff their buses and during these times even more so."

Busing issues force Coatesville schools to go all virtual

West Chester Daily Local by Fran Maye fmaye@21st-centurymedia.com November 9, 2020

COATESVILLE — Coatesville Area School District will remain in virtual instruction for the week of Nov. 9 through Nov. 13, Tomas Hanna, superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District announced. "Our in-person special education students who have already been attending school will still have in-person learning and bus transportation this week," Hanna said in a statement released Sunday night. "We have experienced operational challenges including a shortage of bus drivers that significantly impacts our district this week. As you may know, bus companies have been struggling nationwide to adequately staff their buses and during these times even more so." Some parents are upset the decision was made so late.

https://www.dailylocal.com/news/coronavirus/busing-issues-force-coatesville-schools-to-go-all-virtual/article_53d812f6-228e-11eb-9025-3fe67dde9f30.html

 

Proposed Scranton School District budget includes 3.9% tax increase

Times Tribune BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL STAFF WRITER Nov 9, 2020 Updated 48 min ago

Scranton property owners could see school taxes increase 3.9% for next year under a proposed spending plan approved by the Scranton School Board. That tax increase — the maximum allowed by the state — still leaves the district with a $4.1 million shortfall for 2021. The board originally passed a proposed preliminary budget in August that called for a 16% tax increase, but the state rejected the district’s application to go above the Act 1 index of 3.9%. The district’s financial recovery plan calls for taxes to increase to at least the index rate each year. With an increase of 3.9%, or 5.4 mills, the owner of a property assessed at $10,000 would pay an additional $54 next year. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value. The district’s total millage rate would rise to 142.9 mills. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, much uncertainty surrounds the $170 million budget. From revenue shortfalls to savings from virtual learning, many line items could change.

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/proposed-scranton-school-district-budget-includes-3-9-tax-increase/article_0abd534f-23ec-572c-bc82-bb7a336715d9.html

 

Standoff brews between Philly school district and teachers over return to classrooms

WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent November 10, 2020

The School District of Philadelphia and its staff appear headed toward a school-reopening standoff. The district, so far, is pushing ahead with plans to bring some school staff back to classrooms in one week so that they can prepare to reopen schools on November 30 for students in grades pre-K-2. The teachers union opposes the plan, and there’s no sign of either side yielding as COVID-19 cases spike in the city. “I don’t believe we should gamble with the lives of students and staff,” said Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Asked what the union would do if the district goes through with a plan to bring staff back next Monday, Jordan said simply: “We’re looking at all our options.” The district’s original plan was to bring some staff back into buildings on November 9. That was pushed back to November 16 — a delay caused by logistical hiccups, Superintendent William Hite told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

https://whyy.org/articles/standoff-brews-between-philly-school-district-and-teachers-over-return-to-classrooms/

 

Are schools going remote now that Lancaster County has reached 'substantial' community transmission? Not quite

Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer November 10, 2020

Lancaster County has reached the “substantial” level of community transmission of COVID-19, according to an update to the state’s weekly early monitoring dashboard. Now what? The short answer: Not much. Despite the spike in cases here, officials from several Lancaster County schools contacted Monday afternoon said no sudden changes in instructional models are planned. Those school officials were from Donegal, Elizabethtown Area, Ephrata Area, Hempfield and Lampeter-Strasburg. Offcials from other districts did not immediately respond to a request for comment. School leaders had a phone call with the Pennsylvania Department of Education Monday to discuss next steps. During the call, state education officials said schools can wait to see if Lancaster County remains at the substantial level next week to decide whether they should shift to remote instruction.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/are-schools-going-remote-now-that-lancaster-county-has-reached-substantial-community-transmission-not-quite/article_94051000-22d3-11eb-a8e5-27bcd68e0d14.html

 

“In Lawrence County, the Mohawk Area, Shenango Area and Wilmington Area school districts all recently moved to a virtual learning model.”

More schools may close as COVID-19 numbers rise in counties north of Pittsburgh

ANDREW GOLDSTEIN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette agoldstein@post-gazette.com NOV 9, 2020 6:37 PM

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb across Pennsylvania, Allegheny County has managed to stay at a level where state health and education officials believe it is safe for students to return to school for some in-person classes. But case numbers updated Monday show several counties to the north are close to or have reached the point where the state recommends schools move into a fully remote model of instruction. “Ultimately, school leaders and school boards make decisions best suited for their communities at the local level,” said Kendall Alexander, a spokesperson for the state Department of Education.  The state recommends schools go remote when the county they are in has at least a two-week period at a “substantial” transmission level, meaning an incidence rate of more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents, or a positivity rate of greater than 10%. As of Monday, Lawrence, Armstrong and Indiana counties have been at a substantial transmission level for at least two weeks, according to the state.  Butler and Indiana counties reached the substantial level for the last reported seven-day period, Oct. 30 through Nov. 5.

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/11/09/education-schools-districts-closures-COVID-19-numbers-rise-health-north-Pittsburgh-western-pennsylvania/stories/202011090109

 

“Also during Thursday’s meeting, board president Donna Yozwiak said the school district will lose more than $12 million to cyber charter schools, an education option whose popularity has increased during the COIVD-19 pandemic. “I have asked all the board members to advocate to our legislators for them to take action for charter cyber reform,” Yozwiak said. Employees have been asked — “voluntarily” — to do the same, and parents are being encouraged to join the efforts.”

COVID-19 data trends, upcoming holidays suggest time isn't right for 5-day school

Kathryne Rubright Pocono Record November 9, 2020

At Thursday night’s Pleasant Valley school board meeting, Superintendent Lee Lesisko said some parents have been asking about their children returning to school five days a week. But COVID-19 cases are climbing — new records for additional cases were set four times last week, on Nov. 3, 5, 6 and 7 — and while two experts from St. Luke’s University Health Network didn’t tell the board what to do, they did highlight data trends and other concerning factors. Monroe County currently has “moderate” transmission levels, said Rajika Reed, senior network director of epidemiology and strategy. The Pennsylvania Department of Education recommends blended learning or fully remote learning in counties with moderate transmission. Pleasant Valley students are on a hybrid model that includes two days per week in the classroom.

https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/2020/11/09/pleasant-valley-continue-hybrid-model-cases-rise-holidays-near/6226014002/

 

Central Dauphin School District scales back in-person instruction: Report

Penn Live By Wallace McKelvey | WMckelvey@pennlive.com Updated Nov 09, 2020; Posted Nov 09, 2020

Central Dauphin School District will once again scale back in-person instruction following the announcement Monday that a middle-school student tested positive for COVID-19, according to a WHTM report. The issue has been a particularly contentious one, with the school board voting last month to phase in a return to five-day in-class instruction. For now, at least, that intention has been reversed. WHTM reported Monday that the entire Middle School and the 5th grade at South Side Elementary has switched back to virtual learning until Nov. 17.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/11/central-dauphin-school-district-scales-back-in-person-instruction-report.html

 

North Hills reports 6 new covid cases, no instructional changes planned

TRIBUNE-REVIEW by TONY LARUSSA   | Monday, November 9, 2020 3:48 p.m.

Six more positive covid cases have been reported in the North Hills School District on Monday, according to officials. The new cases bring the active total to 18 — 12 students and six staff members, according to an online tracker created by the district. Because of the time frame for when the students and staff were last in the buildings and when they began experiencing symptoms, no changes to the hybrid form of instruction being used are required. The high school temporarily switched to online-only instruction last week after the covid cases were detected.

https://triblive.com/local/north-hills/north-hills-reports-6-new-covid-cases-no-instructional-changes-planned/

 

Kiski Area High School reports another coronavirus case

Trib Live by TEGHAN SIMONTON   | Monday, November 9, 2020 5:24 p.m.

A student at Kiski Area High School tested positive for coronavirus, the school district said Friday. The high school will remain open. According to a letter to district families, the Department of Health was contacted and is identifying close contacts of the student. Kiski Area reported at least seven infections among students and staff since the beginning of the school year, but none have resulted in building closures or a return to fully remote learning.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/kiski-area-high-school-reports-another-covid-case/

 

Emmaus and Parkland high schools to be closed this week because of coronavirus cases

By CHRISTINA TATU THE MORNING CALL |NOV 09, 2020 AT 7:42 PM

Both Emmaus and Parkland high schools will be closed for several days because of coronavirus cases at the two schools. Parkland High School will be closed for the remainder of the week and Emmaus High School will be closed until next Tuesday. Parkland School District was notified by the Pennsylvania Health Department on Monday that four people tested positive for the virus, a notice on the school’s website said.

https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-parkland-emmaus-high-school-coronavirus-20201110-3e2t4uv7pvdz7oybkwi2vc5v2m-story.html

 

Nazareth schools send alert of 2 new COVID-19 cases as closure continues for week

By Nick Falsone | For lehighvalleylive.com Updated Nov 09, 2020; Posted Nov 09, 2020

Nazareth Area School District has received confirmation of two new COVID-19 cases, one at Lower Nazareth Elementary School and the other at Nazareth Area High School, according to an alert sent out Monday afternoon by Nazareth Area Superintendent Dennis Riker. The alert says the district was notified of the cases on Sunday and Monday, but can’t release additional information due to privacy laws. The district initiated Pennsylvania Department of Health protocols immediately after being notified, the alert says.

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2020/11/nazareth-schools-send-alert-of-2-new-covid-19-cases-as-closure-continues-for-week.html

 

Millcreek delays 'full-time' return to school for K-5 students until January

GoErie by Valerie Myers Erie Times-News November 9, 2020

The Millcreek Township School Board has put the brakes on plans for elementary students to return to school in-person four days a week on Nov. 30. School directors on Monday night unanimously accepted schools Superintendent Ian Roberts' recommendation to delay that return until Jan. 4. "As a community, in Erie County, we are now experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases," Roberts said in making his recommendation to the board. "And the Millcreek School District is a microcosm of that." The spread rate of the virus is "substantial," according to health department metrics, Roberts said. The recommendation to delay four-day face-to-face instruction also is based on parent and teacher survey responses and Erie County Department of Health recommendations that the district provide protective workspace shields for elementary students when they do return to classes full-time, Roberts said.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/2020/11/09/millcreek-school-district-delays-full-time-return-school/6229834002/

 

Fort Leboeuf School District goes virtual after probable positive COVID-19 cases

YourErie Posted: Nov 9, 2020 / 04:54 PM EST / Updated: Nov 9, 2020 / 07:16 PM EST

Area school districts are closely watching the rising COVID numbers and superintendents are doing what they think is best for students and their safety. Fort Leboeuf High School for example have now returned to online learning for the next two weeks. Superintendent Rick Emerick took that action after finding four probable positive cases in the schools.

https://www.yourerie.com/health/coronavirus/fort-leboeuf-school-district-goes-virtual-after-probable-positive-covid-19-cases/

 

Sugar Valley Rural Charter School closed today for deep cleaning

North Central PA by NCPA Staff November 9, 2020

Loganton, Pa. – After announcing on Saturday that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School will be closed today for deep cleaning. The school was informed that a staff member tested positive for the virus on Nov. 7, CEO Tracie Kennedy said in a letter to SVRCS families. Families of students who were in close proximity to the teacher for 15 minutes or more will be contacted to discuss quarantine plans, Kennedy said on Saturday.

https://www.northcentralpa.com/news/sugar-valley-rural-charter-school-closed-today-for-deep-cleaning/article_0c8fd406-2216-11eb-8955-63c34afb1378.html

 

With school switching to virtual learning, Warwick forfeits District 3 football title to Governor Mifflin

Lancaster Online by JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer November 9, 2020

Warwick's football season is over. The Warriors, slated to play in the District Three Class 5A championship game on Friday against Governor Mifflin, have pulled out of the game because of multiple COVID-19 cases in the school district. Governor Mifflin will receive the victory via forfeit and advance to the state playoffs. "With our school moving to virtual for the entire week due to COVID cases, we felt it was the most appropriate course of action," Warwick athletic director Ryan Landis said in a release. "With the number of active cases at our high school growing to 14, we felt the decision to go virtual and stop all in-season and out-of-season extra-curricular activities was our safest course of action for our students and beyond our community."

https://lancasteronline.com/sports/with-school-switching-to-virtual-learning-warwick-forfeits-district-3-football-title-to-governor-mifflin/article_9a173008-22c5-11eb-bcc2-739a05bf0f73.html

 

Sen. Joe Gruters Proposes Private Vouchers For Florida Families Opposed To Masks At School

WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | By Kerry Sheridan Published November 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM EST

According to Gruters, it's not "anti-mask legislation," but rather aims to "empower families to make decisions that are best for their children."

Republican state senator Joe Gruters says he plans to introduce legislation to grant private school vouchers to parents who don’t want their children to wear masks in school, even as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida and across the nation. In a Facebook post last month, the Sarasota lawmaker said the “Face Freedom” scholarships would be structured like HOPE scholarships, which are designed to help children who have been bullied move to another school. “With families, not elected officials and bureaucrats, being the best decision makers for their children, I believe that all families should have choice in education - From deciding which academic programs best fit the needs of their children to whether they believe their child should or should not be forced to wear a mask in school all day,” Gruters wrote in the post, dated October 29. “Additionally, by giving families options, this would force School District bureaucrats to 'face freedom' as a key consideration when implementing blanket mask mandates.” Gruters won re-election to his state Senate seat on November 3. He did not respond to WUSF’s requests for comment. The state legislative session starts in March, so any such law, if passed, would not take effect until next school year.

https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/education/2020-11-09/sen-joe-gruters-proposes-private-vouchers-for-florida-families-opposed-to-masks-at-school

 

 

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

 

315 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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