Keystone State Education Coalition

Weekend Update: PSEA files civil rights complaint on behalf of Chester Upland students

2012-03-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

Daily postingsfrom the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 1500Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators,legislators, members of the press and a broad array of education advocacyorganizations via emails, website, Facebook and Twitter.

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

PSEA filescivil rights complaint on behalf of Chester Upland students

Published: Saturday, March 10, 2012

By JOHN KOPP jkopp@delcotimes.com@DT_JohnKopp

The Pennsylvania State EducationAssociation filed a federal complaint claiming the civil rights of Chester Upland School District’s700 special education students are being violated by funding cuts and statespecial education and charter school laws.
The complaint, filed Friday with the Department of Justice’s Office of CivilRights, alleges that state laws force Chester Upland to issue inflated paymentsto charter schools, thereby draining the district’s financial resources.
According to PSEA, Chester Upland is required to pay more than $24,528 for eachspecial education student who attends a charter school. That figure is nearlytwice the $13,458 per-student subsidy Chester Upland receives for its specialeducation students.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/03/10/news/doc4f5a84a23dec3657831429.txt

PRESS RELEASE: PSEA Files FederalComplaint To Protect the Civil Rights of Special Education Students in Chester Upland

PSEAPress release HarrisburgMarch 9, 2012

…..ChesterUpland is forced to pay $24,528 for each special education student who attendslocal charter schools, an amount nearly twice the $13,458 per student specialeducation subsidy the district receives for its own students. Enrollmentnumbers in at least one local charter school indicate that the charter schoolis identifying an unusually high number of students with mild disabilities andexperiencing a payment windfall.

http://www.psea.org/general.aspx?id=9211

Vahan Gureghian was Governor Corbett’s largest individualcampaign contributor and a member of his Education Transition Team. He owns Charter School ManagementCorporation, a private, for-profit company that contracts to manage the Chester Community Charter School’s finances. It owns the buildings, leases them to theschool, pays the teachers and, according to a 2008 report by the Inquirer, hadcollected $60.6 million in public funds since the school was started in 1999.

In 2006 the Philadelphia Inquirer filed a right-to-know request askingthe Charter School to produce a number of salary andcontract documents. While public schoolemployee compensation is public information, taxpayers have not had access toany information regarding the compensation of Mr Gureghian or his wife, who isgeneral counsel for Charter School Management Corporation.

In November, 2011 the Palm Beach FloridaDaily News reported that the Gureghians had purchased two beachfront lots for$28.9 million. Was this the “windfall”mentioned in the press release above? Wecan’t know, because that right-to-know request is still unresolved. While the Commonwealth Court recently ruled thatthe information must be disclosed, it is anticipated that the case will now goto the State Supreme Court.

Hereare a few earlier related postings:

Commonwealth Court says Chester Community Charter School must disclose salaries underRight-to-Know request

February 29,2012

http://www.pacourts.us/OpPosting/Cwealth/out/1427CD10_2-29-12.pdf

Charterschool should reveal deal, court says

February 17, 2006 By Dan Hardy INQUIRERSTAFF WRITER

http://articles.philly.com/2006-02-17/news/25409726_1_public-schools-state-appointed-board-ruling

Followthe Money: Contributions by Vahan Gureghian 1/1/07 - 5/31/11

GovernorCorbett’s stark naked school choice: some moving out, some moving in, January12, 2012

Lower Moreland directors oppose funding of charter schools

Published: Friday, March 02, 2012

Glenside News Globe Times Chronicle ByCaitlin Burns cburns@journalregister.com

The Lower Moreland School District Board of Directors passeda resolution to oppose the payment of public funds to charter schools andcyber-charter schools at its meeting Feb. 21.
The resolution stated “Whereas the Lower Moreland Township School Districtplaces a high value on academic achievement, financial accountability andoperational transparency for educating students at public expense,” as its mainreason for opposing charter and cyber-charter schools.
The resolution by the board stated six additional reasons for why it opposesusing tax dollars for funding charter and cyber-charter schools.

http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2012/03/02/glenside_news_globe_times_chronicle/news/doc4f4e71f188b87572651373.txt?viewmode=fullstory

While we are cutting public school funding for the secondyear in a row, somehow there is $11 million available for the Governor andLegislature to spend on Voter ID, even though “neither (Senator) Pileggi norany other senator cited a specific example of fraud.”

PoliticsPAcommented that, “Indeed, between 2002 and 2005, according to the Department ofJustice, 26 people in the United Stateswere convicted of voting fraudulently. That’s 0.065 voters per state, perelection.”

Take Action Now to Stop Costly Voter ID Bill: Call and Email Your StateRepresentative

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives mayvote as soon as next week on legislation that would enact a costly voteridentification law in the state. After proposing large cuts to education, childcare and homeless services, the Governor and Legislature want to spend $11million on a measure that will put up barriers to people who want to exercisetheir right to vote.

Tell your Houselawmakers to reject this costly Voter ID Bill (HB 934).

The state Senate approved the bill by a voteof 26 to 23 on Wednesday. It now heads back to the House for a concurrence votesince it was amended in the Senate. If passed by the House, it will go toGovernor Corbett's desk for a final signature. Learn more in this Philadelphia Inquirer article.

This could be our last chance to stop thisbill in the Legislature. Your action is essential!

Please email and call your House Representative today to tell him or her to oppose HB 934.

All-city performance makes case for keeping musiceducation in public schools

Philadelphia Inquirer by Annette John-Hall Posted: Fri, Mar. 9, 2012, 3:01 AM

The orchestra's overture swells into the opening notes of LeonardBernstein's haunting standard "Somewhere" from the award-winningBroadway musical West Side Story. Soon the harmonies of the choir seamlesslyfold in, and the cascade of sound seems to literally descend from the raftersof Verizon Hall.

If your view of the city's public school students has less to do withachievement and more to do with violence, deprivation, and underperformance,just go to an all-city concert.

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/annette_john-hall/20120309_Annette_John-Hall__All-city_performance_makes_case_for_keeping_music_education_in_public_schools.html

Lehigh County legislators, educationadvocate discuss public school funding

Published:Friday, March 09, 2012, 12:02 PM

LehighvalleyLive.com By PreciousPetty | The Express-Times
Three Lehigh County legislators and an educationadvocate agreed Thursday night that public schools need more support from thestate. They disagreed, however --sometimes along party lines -- about where to get the money and how to use it.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/index.ssf/2012/03/lehigh_county_legislators_educ.html

School districts gear up for PSSAtests; exams used to evaluate schools

Published:Friday, March 09, 2012, 10:51 AM

By BARBARA MILLER, The Patriot-News

While Keystone exams are slated toreplace PennsylvaniaSystem of School Assessment exams inhigh schools next year, midstate school districts aren’t taking them any lessseriously this year.

Letters to parents, individualmeetings with a teacher or principal, assemblies and incentives are among theefforts schools employ to help students score as high as possible on the PSSAs— in addition to teaching what students need to know.

Beginning in 2013, the biology,algebra I and literature Keystone exams will be implemented in high schools,said Tim Eller, Pennsylvania Department of Education spokesman.

But students in grades three througheight will continue to take PSSAs, Eller said.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/pssa_tests.html

Updated:Local option sales, income taxes could replace a portion of property taxes

Property tax reform debate will begin — again —Monday

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Property tax reformis something of a holy grail in state politics, but House Republicans aregetting ready to begin the crusade once again.

On Monday, the HouseFinance Committee willget its first look at new legislation from state Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, that proposes to givecounties and municipalities the option to shift some of their property taxburden to personal income or sales taxes.

http://paindependent.com/2012/03/updated-local-option-sales-income-taxes-could-replace-a-portion-of-property-taxes/

Sen. Tom Harkin:Fixing Economy Starts With Early Education

HuffingtonPost by Joy Resmovits and Saki Knafo First Posted: 03/ 8/2012 8:58 pm

When Sen. Tom Harkinasked a panel of education experts at a Thursday Senate committee hearing howthey would improve the country's public schools, he was surprised by what theydidn't say. A HarvardUniversity professor said he wouldimprove “assessments," a Stanford University economistmentioned teacher evaluations, and a public policy expert called for a nationalhigh school exam modeled on the French Baccalaureate.

Harkin (D-Iowa) saw anomission. “Early learning,” he said. “Are we doing enough in the early years toget kids ready for school?”

Experts almostinvariably answer no.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/senator-tom-harkin-early-childhood-education_n_1333215.html

Forty States Prohibit Public Funding toReligious Schools

Education Week State Ed Watch Blog By Sean Cavanagh on March 9, 2012 1:23 PM

by guest blogger Andrew Ujifusa

All but ten states have constitutions thatprohibit state funding from going to religious schools, a February study fromthe Education Commission of the States shows.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2012/03/forty_states_prohibit_funding_aid_to_religious_schools.html

Archbishop Chaput discusses Catholicschools' future with students

Catholic News Agency By Hillary Senour

Philadelphia,Pa., Mar 9, 2012/ 01:49 am (CNA).- After some closingsand mergers, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia met with students inan online and in-person forum to discuss the future of Catholic schools in thearchdiocese. Students from 17 Archdioceseof Philadelphia schools were present to offer commentary, ask questions andshow support for their institutions.

Archbishop Chaput saidthat the three most important parts of keeping Catholic schools in the Philadelphia archdiocesealive and well are the students, vouchers and benefactors. School choice in the form of vouchers, oropportunity scholarships, is essential for making a Catholic educationavailable to students who otherwise would not be able to afford it, ArchbishopChaput told students.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-chaput-discusses-catholic-schools-future-with-students/

Studies Find Charters Vary in Quality, Creativity

Education Week By Jackie Zubrzycki Updated March 7, 2012

Twenty-one years after Minnesotapassed the nation's first charter school law, researchers still disagree onwhether such independent public schools are any more effective than regularpublic schools.

There is one point on which critics and proponents can all agree: Thereare plenty of good charter schools out there, and plenty of bad ones. Much less is known, however, about howinnovative charter schools turned out to be.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/07/23biz-charter-side.h31.html?tkn=XOTF5F1r0in95XKk3xgd6zeH1c5gRbRsW6Gn&cmp=clp-edweek?intc=EW-BE0312-TWT

CBSNews.com March 8, 2012 3:08 PM

Obama, GOP governors share many views on education

WASHINGTON — Afunny thing is happening between President Barack Obama and many Republicangovernors when it comes to improving

America

's schools: They are mostlygetting along.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501704_162-57393613/obama-gop-governors-share-many-views-on-education/

Arcadia University's Education Department presents:

Panel: Unpacking the PA School Budget: WhatDoes This Mean for Me?

March29, 2012 from 5:30pm to 8pm at Arcadia University
Websiteor Map: http://www.arcadia.edu/direct…

Join us for a panel discussion thatwill delve into details of the Commonwealth's School Budget as announced by theGovernor in February 2012. This eventwill tell you how the budget will affect your schools, community, and children.

Host: Dr. Bruce Campbell,Coordinator, Educational Leadership Master's Program, Arcadia University

Moderator: Baruch Kintisch, Directorof Policy Advocacy and Senior Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Panelists:
Christopher McGinley, Superintendent, Lower Merion School District

Art Haywood, President, Board ofCommissioners, Cheltenham Township
Nofre Vaquer, Director, ARC of Philadelphia
Hiram Rivera, Executive Director, Philadelphia Student Union
Dale Mezzacappa, Contributing Editor, Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Dan Hardy, Contributing Editor, Philadelphia Inquirer
Please RSVP by March 12 to dressm@arcadia.edu

http://paschooltalk.org/events/unpacking-the-pa-school-budget-what-does-this-mean-for-me?xg_source=msg_mes_network

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Thelast day to REGISTER before the primary is March 26 , 2012. Make sure that you, your family, friends,neighbors and co-workers are all registered to vote in the April 24^thPennsylvania Primary. Ask your incumbentstate representative and state senator for their positions on publiceducation. Let them know how importantthese issues are to you. Forward thisreminder to any and all public education stakeholders.

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

The Governor’s proposal starts the process,but it isn’t all decided: our legislators can play an important role instanding up for our priorities. Last year, public outcry helped preventnearly $300 million in additional cuts. We heard from the Governor, andwe know where he stands. Now,we need to ask our legislators: what is your position on supporting ourschools?

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

PSBA Sample Board Resolutionregarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

As districts consider their preliminary budgets and we await theGovernor’s February 7^th budgetannouncement, the PA House Democratic Caucus has begun daily tracking of presscoverage on school district budgets statewide:

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

A New Mantra: “We need sustainable and equitable state funding for public education in Pennsylvania.”

2012-03-09T07:33:00.000-05:00

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

A New Mantra: “Weneed sustainable and equitable state funding for public education in Pennsylvania.”

Yinzercation Blog MARCH 7, 2012

I’m developing a newmantra. Though it’s a bit of a mouthful, it’s worth repeating regularly: “Weneed sustainable and equitable state funding for public education in Pennsylvania.” Allow meto take that statement apart and focus on it in reverse order.

http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/a-new-mantra/

Lehigh County residents voice concerns overeducation funding cuts

Nearly 200 attend Lehigh Countypanel talk with state legislators.

By Steve Esack, Of The Morning Call 11:08 p.m. EST, March 8, 2012

Nearly 200 residents crowded into a room at Lehigh Carbon Community College onThursday to hear local legislators and the public debate Gov. Tom Corbett'seducation priorities.

Residents outnumbered teachers — by a lot.

Residents spanned the economic and demographic spectrum. They were angryand concerned that Corbett, in his second year as governor, is crushing thestate's education system by reducing public schools funding by $900 million in2011-12 and $100 million in his 2012-13 budget proposal. Corbett's budgetproposal would also cut higher education funding by $1.4 billion, which comesafter a roughly 181/2 percent cut this fiscal year.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/parkland/mc-corbett-education-forum-20120308,0,132284.story

Yes, it’s Working! (andhere’s how we know)

Yinzercation Blog — MARCH 8, 2012

We’ve called ourlegislators, written them letters, and met with them; we’ve hosted houseparties, a teach-in, and public forums; we’ve held a rally in a snowstorm,published op-ed pieces, and submitted letters-to-the-editor. But is itworking?

The simple answer isyes. But to understand how it’s working, we have to piecetogether what is going on around the state.

http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/yes-its-working-and-heres-how-we-know/

PennsylvaniaPartnerships for Children’s March issue of CapitolWatch for Children

PennsylvaniaPartnerships for Children’s March issue of CapitolWatch for Children recaps theHouse and Senate budget hearings on issues that impact kids, explains thebenefits of Governor Corbett’s “Fostering Connections” budget proposal to helpolder foster youth, looks at proposed changes to child care subsidy regulationsand special education funding, and more.

CLICK HERE TO READ CAPWATCH.

Based on school reform pledges, Corbett earns gradeof 'F'

Phillyburbs.com Opinion By R. Paul Baumgartner March 8, 2012

Gov. Tom Corbett has completed over one year of his four-year term. A fewof his public education statements/pledges are as follows:

· Will makefunding our schools a top priority.

· Puttingstudents first means ensuring the resources intended to support their educationmake it to the schools and classrooms they attend.

· Will begin tocut the strings from Harrisburg,giving greater flexibility to districts to best achieve student learning goals.

· Enablingschools to focus on results and eliminating barriers that get in the way ofachieving them is critical to reforming our education system and making itstudent-centric.

· Believes ingreater control of resources at the school level, lessening state mandates toschools and directing resources to best achieve student-learning goals.

In his term to date, the governor’s performance is an “F” (failure) basedon his campaign pledges. Rather than make funding a top priority, Corbett cutpublic education over $840 million for the current school year. That reductionis being carried forward again for next year’s budget, with an additional $94million more in cuts.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/north_penn/based-on-school-reform-pledges-corbett-earns-grade-of-f/article_3518b644-2a74-522a-9e8a-199e18c36119.html

Stanford Centerfor Opportunity Policy in Education

LEADING RESEARCHERS GIVE VALUE-ADDED TEACHER ASSESSMENT AN "F"

Test scores largelyreflect whom a teacher teaches, not how well they teach.

Recent writings onvalue-added methods from SCOPE and others

Underpressure to meet Race to the Top requirements, moreand more states are adopting, or poised to adopt, "value-added"models (VAMs) of teacher assessment required by the federal competition. Inthis rush for compliance, important findings on the effectiveness of VAMs arebeing overlooked.
http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2012/03/leading-researchers-give-value-added.html

Restoring Civic Purpose in Schools

Education Week Commentary March By James E. Davis, H. Michael Hartoonian,Richard D. Van Scotter, & William E. White, March 6, 2012

Ask most social critics what ails America, and "low-performingpublic schools" will be high on the list. Pundits offer little supportingdata (as if the pronouncement were self-evident), but when they do, theyusually refer to test scores, not higher-level thinking skills, creativity, andresourcefulness—the tangible abilities that best serve a democratic society andmarket economy. K-12 schools, in effect, have become a scapegoat for a societyincapable of or unwilling to face deeper problems associated with our educationsystem.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/07/23vanscotter.h31.html?tkn=VNZFaao19vSqIps0FUp4EQ9TKGcNfEUPoO2A&cmp=clp-edweek

Growing Gaps Bring Focus on Poverty's Role inSchooling

Education Week By Lesli A. Maxwell, March 6, 2012

The fractious debate over how much schools can counteract poverty'simpact on children is far from settled, but a recently published collection ofresearch strongly suggests that until policymakers and educators confrontdeepening economic and social disparities, poor children will increasingly missout on finding a path to upward social mobility.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/07/23poverty_ep.h31.html?tkn=PWVFR%2Baao1m4%2B5ZCPMqe0A7tBQK962u%2FNq%2Fh&cmp=clp-edweek

NewData from Office for Civil Rights Reveals Vast Inequities in Our Nation’sSchools

WASHINGTON — The Campaign for HighSchool Equity — a coalition of leading civil rights and education advocacyorganizations focused on high school reform — points to newly released datafrom the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights as a tool todraw much-needed attention to severe inequities around teacher experience,disciplinary practices, and high school rigor that negatively impact studentsof color.

http://www.highschoolequity.org/media-room/news-releases/new-data-from-office-of-civil-rights-reveals-vast-inequities-in-our-nation-s-schools.html#fbid=P-CT8u24sj2

Ed "Reform" in Louisiana. Coming Soon to Your State?

Education Week Teacher in a Strange Land Blog By Nancy Flanagan March 7, 2012

What has happened down here is the winds have changed
The river rose all day; the river rose allnight.
Some people got lost in the flood. Somepeople got away all right.

Louisiana 1927, Randy Newman

Diane Ravitch's brilliant, must-read blog, Bobby Jindal vs. Public Education, caused me to pullout an e-mail I got from a teacher buddy in Louisiana a few weeks back. My friend is aNational Board Certified Teacher, with a long and distinguished career ineducation. She wasn't invited to Bobby Jindal's education summit--but a Teachfor America corps member she's mentoring was, and urged her to attend, sayingthat she'd learn about the exciting innovations planned for public education inLouisiana.

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/03/ed_reform_in_louisiana_coming_soon_to_your_state.html

Arcadia University's Education Department presents:

Panel: Unpacking the PA School Budget: WhatDoes This Mean for Me?

March29, 2012 from 5:30pm to 8pm at Arcadia University
Websiteor Map: http://www.arcadia.edu/direct…

Host: Dr. Bruce Campbell,Coordinator, Educational Leadership Master's Program, Arcadia University

Moderator: Baruch Kintisch, Directorof Policy Advocacy and Senior Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Panelists:
Christopher McGinley, Superintendent, Lower Merion School District

http://paschooltalk.org/events/unpacking-the-pa-school-budget-what-does-this-mean-for-me?xg_source=msg_mes_network

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Thelast day to REGISTER before the primary is March 26 , 2012. Make sure that you, your family, friends,neighbors and co-workers are all registered to vote in the April 24^thPennsylvania Primary. Ask your incumbentstate representative and state senator for their positions on public education. Let them know how important these issues areto you. Forward this reminder to any andall public education stakeholders.

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

LEADING RESEARCHERS GIVE VALUE-ADDED TEACHER ASSESSMENT AN "F"

2012-03-09T06:47:00.000-05:00

Stanford Centerfor Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE)

http://edpolicy.stanford.edu/

Test scores largelyreflect whom a teacher teaches, not how well they teach.

LEADING RESEARCHERS GIVE VALUE-ADDED TEACHER ASSESSMENT AN "F"

Recent writings on value-added methods fromSCOPE and others

Under pressure to meetRace to the Top requirements, more and more states areadopting, or poised to adopt, "value-added" models (VAMs) of teacherassessment required by the federal competition. In this rush for compliance,important findings on the effectiveness of VAMs are being overlooked.
Education researchers weighing in on this subject recently include LindaDarling-Hammond, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, Edward Haertel, and Jesse Rothstein.Their review of the research shows VAMs to be sorely lacking as a tool forevaluating teachers. Below are two articles, as well as links to other recentwriting on VAMs, explaining why test score gains are poor indicators of teachereffectiveness. The articles also share examples of the effects of VAMs wherethey have been used in the United States and illustrate effective ways to evaluateteachers that not only accurately assess teachers' effectiveness but improvepractice, remove poor teachers, and increase student achievement.

"Evaluating Teacher Evaluation"
EducationWeek via the Phi Delta Kappan | February 29, 2012
Article by Linda Darling-Hammond, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, Edward Haertel, andJesse Rothstein
This piece was originally presented in a briefing that was sponsored by the American Education Research Association (AERA)and the National Academy of Education (NAE).

Excerpt:Using VAMs for individual teacher evaluation is based on the belief thatmeasured achievement gains for a specific teacher’s students reflect thatteacher’s “effectiveness.” This attribution, however, assumes that studentlearning is measured well by a given test, is influenced by the teacher alone,and is independent from the growth of classmates and other aspects of theclassroom context. None of these assumptions is well supported by currentevidence.

"Value-Added Evaluation Hurts Teaching"
Education Week | March 5, 2012 Commentary by LindaDarling-Hammond

Excerpt:Most troubling is that [New York]city released [teacher value-added] scores while warning that huge margins oferror surround the ratings: more than 30 percentile points in math and morethan 50 percentile points in English language arts. Soon these scores will beused in a newly negotiated evaluation system that, as it is designed, willidentify most teachers in New Yorkstate as less than effective.

Audrey Amrein-Beardsley isassociate professor of education at Arizona State University; LindaDarling-Hammond is the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education at Stanford,Co-Director of SCOPE, former president of AERA, and member of NAE; Edward Haertel is Jacks FamilyProfessor of Education at Stanford University, Vice-President for Programs atNAE, and chair of the National Research Council's Board on Testing andAssessment; and Jesse Rothstein is Associate Professor of Public Policy andEconomics at UC Berkeley and in 2009-10 he was Senior Economist at the U.S.Council of Economic Advisers and then Chief Economist at the U.S. Department ofLabor.

NewYork Times - Mike Winerip: "Hard-Working Teachers,Sabotaged When Student Test Scores Slip." March 4, 2012.
READ ARTICLE >>

Teach for Us - Gary Rubenstein:"Analyzing Released NYC Value-Added Data." This three-partseries by Rubenstein offers a research-rich analysis of VAMs in New York. February, 2012
READ MORE>>

Economic PolicyInstitute - Problems with the use ofstudent test scores to evaluate teachers:Richard Rothstein, Helen Ladd, Diane Ravitch, EvaBaker, Paul Barton, Linda Darling-Hammond, Edward Haertel, Robert Linn, RichardShavelson and Lorrie Shepard discuss research on test-based incentives andstudent achievement. August 27, 2010.
READ MORE>>

Follow the Money: WALMART: Save More, Live Better, Eradicate Public Education: 159,049,864 reasons to shop someplace else.

2012-03-08T07:08:00.000-05:00

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March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Thursday, March 8^th,7:00 pm at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College, Community Services Center

All public education stakeholders areinvited to this special event. Join us on Thursday, March 8th at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College at 7PM for an evening with several keystate legislators from Lehigh County and othereducation experts who will help explain local impacts.

State Representatives and Senatorsrepresenting surrounding school districts have been invited to attend anddiscuss their positions on public education as they head into negotiations overnext year’s budget. This event will bemoderated by the League of Women Voters.

To RSVP: http://lehighcountyforum.eventbrite.com/

As Renaissance match process gets underway in Philly,intrigue begins

by Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks, March 7,2012

In a new twist on the District’s process for converting low-performingschools to charters, six pre-approved turnaround teams have publicly declaredat the outset of the Renaissance match process which schools they will – andwill not – be competing to manage.

http://www.thenotebook.org/blog/124583/renaissance-match-process-gets-underway-intrigue-begins

Here’s anotherstudy, funded by Gates and the Waltons (see below) that shows no significanteffects of attending a charter school managed by a Charter ManagementOrganization. That being said, why arethe Walton’s continuing to spend over $150 million per year funding this typeof education policy?

Thislongitudinal study is being conducted by Mathematica Policy Research and theUniversity of

Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE). Itwas commissioned by

NewSchoolsVenture Fund, with the generous support of the Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation

and the WaltonFamily Foundation. The study reported that, on average, there were nostatistically significant effects of attending a CMO-operated school on stateassessments in math, reading, science, or social studies among middle schoolyouth. There were also no statistically significant impacts on high schoolgraduation and college enrollment rates.

Charter-School Management Organizations: DiverseStrategies and Diverse Student Impact

By The National Study of Charter Management Organization (CMO)Effectiveness

What is the study about? The study examined the effect of non-profit charter-school managementorganizations (CMOs) on middle school academic achievement, rate of high schoolgraduation, and rate of post-secondary enrollment. Within eight geographicallydiverse states, the authors matched each charter school student with similarstudents attending conventional public schools. The sample included nearly14,000 students attending 68 middle schools operated by 22 CMOs and nearly3,000 students who attended 13 high schools operated by six CMOs.

What did the study report? The study reported that, on average, there were no statisticallysignificant effects of attending a CMO-operated school on state assessments inmath, reading, science, or social studies among middle school youth. There werealso no statistically significant impacts on high school graduation and collegeenrollment rates. The study reported substantial variation in both themagnitude and level of statistical significance of the impacts across theparticipating CMOs.

http://www.crpe.org/cs/crpe/download/csr_files/pub_cmofinal_Jan12.pdf

What if theWaltons spent their $150M per year on programs for poor kids that are actually effective,like early education and making sure that they are reading on grade level bythird grade?

Follow the Money:

WALMART: Save More, Live Better, Eradicate PublicEducation: 159,049,864 reasons to shop someplace else.

List of K-12 Education Reform and other education grants given by TheWalton Family Foundation in 2011. Total: $159,049,864

http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2012/03/follow-money-walmart-save-more-live.html

Lastyear (2010) the Waltons spent $157,220,283 in this same arena.

PRESS RELEASE BENTONVILLE, ARK., March 7, 2012

Today the Walton Family Foundation announced investments totaling morethan $159 million in education reform initiatives for 2011 – the largestsingle-year investment in education reform. Grants were made to organizationsand programs that empower parents, particularly in low-income communities, tochoose among quality, publicly funded schools for their children

http://wff.cotcdn.rockfishhosting.com/documents/065f36d2-ab19-4e81-af9d-ebb6982b0728.pdf

Postedat 09:17 PM ET, 03/07/2012

Who won millions inWalton Foundation grants in 2011

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss

The pro-charter WaltonFoundation handed out more than $159 million in 2011 in 16 metropolitan areasaround the country to promote school choice. It also committed to giving $49.5million to Teach for Americaover five years to double its teaching corps and $25.5 million over the sameperiod to the KIPP charter school network to double the number of students iteducates.

The foundation’sstrategy is clear from the grants: It is funding organizations that it thinkscan help scale charter schools quickly and rapidly increase the pool of voucherstudents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/who-won-millions-in-walton-foundation-grants-in-2011/2012/03/07/gIQAPMwwxR_blog.html

Posted at 10:48 AM ET, 03/07/2012

Ravitch: A war on publiceducation in Louisiana

By Valerie Strauss

This was written by education historian Diane Ravitch for her Bridging Differences blog, which she co-authors withDeborah Meier on theEducation Week website.The item was first published on March 6. In their blog, Ravitch and Meier exchange letters about what mattersmost in education. Ravitch, a research professor at New York University, isauthor of “The Death and Life of the GreatAmerican School System,” a critique of the flaws in the modernschool reform movement that she just updated.

By Diane Ravitch

I went to Lafayette, La.,last week to speak to the Louisiana School Boards Association. These men and women,representing their local schools from across the state, are trying to preservepublic education in the face of an unprecedented onslaught by Gov. Bobby Jindaland the state’s Republican-dominated legislature. Jindal has the backing of thestate’s corporate leaders, the nation’s biggest foundations, and some powerfulout-of-state supporters of privatization for his sweeping attack on publiceducation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/ravitch-a-war-on-public-education-in-louisiana/2012/03/07/gIQASrdvwR_blog.html

Arcadia University's Education Department presents:

Panel: Unpacking the PA School Budget: WhatDoes This Mean for Me?

March29, 2012 from 5:30pm to 8pm at Arcadia University
Websiteor Map: http://www.arcadia.edu/direct…

Host: Dr. Bruce Campbell,Coordinator, Educational Leadership Master's Program, Arcadia University

Moderator: Baruch Kintisch, Directorof Policy Advocacy and Senior Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Panelists:
Christopher McGinley, Superintendent, Lower Merion School District

http://paschooltalk.org/events/unpacking-the-pa-school-budget-what-does-this-mean-for-me?xg_source=msg_mes_network

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

Follow the Money: WALMART: Save More, Live Better, Eradicate Public Education: 159,049,864 reasons to shop someplace else.

2012-03-08T01:39:00.000-05:00

2011 Education Reform Grants
Below is a list of K-12 Education Reform and other education grants given by The Walton Family Foundation in 2011.
Read the announcement.
K-12 Education Reform and Other Education Grants Total: $159,049,864
Shape Public Policy:	Amount
50CAN, Inc	$1,800,000
Agudath Israel of America, Inc.	500,000
Agudath Israel of Illinois	100,000
Alliance for School Choice, Inc.	1,202,000
American Center for School Choice	40,000
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research	160,000
Americans for Prosperity Foundation	250,000
Arizona Charter Schools Association (ACSA)	200,000
Arizona School Choice Administration Corporation	400,000
Association of Missouri Charter Schools (AMCS)	447,901
Barry Goldwater Institute for Public Policy Research	200,000
Bellwether Education Partners	90,000
Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO)	796,000
Brookings Institution	200,000
California Charter Schools Association CCSA	3,250,000
Catholic Association of Latino Leaders Inc	150,000
Center for Education Reform	930,662
Charter School Partners	70,961
The Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF)	10,925,000
Colorado League of Charter Schools	588,826
Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC)	357,000
Colorado Succeeds	215,000
Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now Inc. (ConnCAN)	800,000
Editorial Projects in Education	150,000
Education Pioneers	1,043,119
Education Reform Now, Inc.	1,100,000
Education Trust, Inc.	300,000
EG West Institute for Effective Schooling (WIES)	20,000
Excellent Education for Everyone, Inc. (E3)	421,500
Families Empowered	400,000
Florida Charter School Alliance FCSA	159,743
Foundation for Excellence in Education FEE	1,550,000
Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Inc.	565,000
Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS)	717,721
Georgia Charter Schools Association Inc.	700,000
Georgia Family Education and Research Council, Inc.	350,000
GreatSchools Inc.	4,775,000
Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (HCREO)	100,000
Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)	1,038,784
Indiana Public Charter Schools Association, Inc.	380,000
Institute for Innovation of Public School Choice	388,763
Institute For Justice (IJ)	443,885
Institute of Public Charter Schools Innovation	45,000
International Education Foundation	475,000
LA Voice	100,000
Los Angeles Parent Union	1,200,550
Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools	679,202
Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative Inc.	5,000
MAPSA - Michigan Association of Public School Academies	744,002
Massachusetts Charter Public School Association (MCPSA)	200,000
MICAH Project	100,000
Milwaukee Chapter - Black Alliance for	75,000
Educational Options Inc. (MCBAEO)	75,000
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS)	1,815,810
National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation	166,667
New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association (NJCSA)	86,149
New Schools for New Orleans Inc.	542,000
New Voice Strategies	351,480
New York Charter Schools Association NYCSA	1,062,955
NewSchools Venture Fund NSVF	3,540,600
Oakland Community Organizations	200,000
Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools (OAPCS)	61,840
Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC)	625,000
People Acting in Community Together (PACT)	200,000
PICO National Network	200,000
Pioneer Institute, Inc.	162,800
Public Education and Business Coalition	100,000
Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA)	500,000
School Choice Indiana	200,000
School Choice Ohio	700,000
Stand for Children Leadership Center	1,136,016
Stand Up	200,000
Step Up for Students	1,233,760
StudentsFirst Institute	1,000,000
Success Charter Network	1,000,000
Tennessee Charter Schools Association	356,874
Texas Charter Schools Association	900,000
Thomas B. Fordham Institute	650,000
United Community Center, Inc.	70,000
United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF)	1,100,917
Shape Public Policy Total	$60,063,487

Create Quality Schools:	Amount
4.0 Schools	$467,667
8 Points Charter School, Inc.	220,000
Academy of New Media Middle School	220,000
Amani Public Charter School	220,000
Arts in Action Community Charter School	220,000
Better Learning Communities	30,000
Blackstone Valley Prep	500,000
Bridge Boston Charter School	250,000
Brighter Choice Foundation	900,000
Broome Street Academy Charter High School	220,000
Building Excellent Schools (BES)	2,546,400
Building Hope	1,618,000
Camino Nuevo Charter Academy	250,000
Catalyst Schools	30,000
Celerity Cardinal Charter School	250,000
Celerity Educational Group	60,000
Celerity Octavia Charter School	250,000
Celerity Palmati Charter School	250,000
Celerity Sirius Charter School	250,000
Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School	250,000
Charles School at Ohio Dominican University	30,000
Charter Fund, Inc. (CSGF)	22,900,000
Charter School Finaincing Partnership LLC CSFP	650,000
Christel House DORS	30,000
Christopher House	30,000
Cleveland Collegiate Preparatory School	220,000
College-Ready Academy High School #17	250,000
Colorado League of Charter Schools	28,500
Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC)	330,000
Columbus Collegiate Academy - West Campus	30,000
Community School for Creative Education	200,000
Cornerstone Health High School	220,000
Crescent City Schools Charter School	250,000
Damar Charter Academy	250,000
DC Preparatory Academy	250,000
DC Public Education Fund	108,459
Democracy Prep Harlem Charter School	250,000
Early College Academy of Leaders and Scholars	250,000
East Harlem Scholars Academy	250,000
Educational Enterprises, Inc.	450,000
Edward W. Brooke Charter School 2	250,000
Elements Academy	2,374
Empower College Prep	30,000
Erie Elementary Charter School	250,000
Exalt Education	6,000,000
Excel Academy Charter School - Chelsea	250,000
Excellent Education Development, Inc. (ExED)	250,000
Experiencia Academy Project Team	30,000
Extera Public School	250,000
FirstLine College Prep High School	250,000
Fortune School of Education	250,000
Franklinton Preparatory Academy	30,000
Glazer Elementary	250,000
Global Green USA	25,000
Goodwill Education Initiatives, Inc.	500,000
Green Dot Public Schools	500,000
Heketi Community Charter School	250,000
Heritage Preparatory Academy	220,000
Heron Bay Academy	250,000
Hope Christian School	495,000
IFF	2,190,000
Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA)	250,000
Jamaa Learning Center Charter School	220,000
KIPP Foundation	6,404,020
KNOVA Reynolds Public Charter School	250,000
Lake Charles Charter Academy	250,000
Latin Academy Charter School	220,000
LAYC Career Academy Public Charter School	250,000
Legal Prep Charter Academy	220,000
Liberty Collegiate	220,000
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)	6,783,114
Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee	59,000
MATCH Community Day Charter Public School	250,000
Milwaukee College Preparatory School of Wisconsin	367,000
Milwaukee Math and Science Academy	250,000
Milwaukee Scholars Charter School	250,000
Mind Trust	500,000
Minneapolis College Preparatory School	250,000
Minnesota School of Science	250,000
Monarch Montessori of Denver	30,000
Morris Jeff Community School	220,000
Nashville Preparatory Charter School	220,000
Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem	220,000
New York City Montessori Charter School	220,000
NewSchools Venture Fund NSVF	2,386,615
Orange School	30,000
Partners for Developing Futures	1,297,827
Preclarus Mastery Academy	220,000
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy	250,000
ReNEW-Reinventing Education	750,000
Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts	250,000
Robertson Charter School, Inc	30,000
Rocky Mountain Preparatory Charter School	250,000
Schools That Can Milwaukee, Inc.	175,000
Seeds of Health, Inc.	165,000.00
Seminole Heights Charter High School	200,000
Sims-Fayola International Academy Denver	30,000
South City Preparatory Academy Charter School	220,000
Summit Public School: Rainier	250,000
Synergy Kinetic Academy	250,000
Synergy Quantum Academy	250,000.00
Tennessee Charter School Incubator	300,071
The Excel Center	220,000
The GLOBE Academy	30,000
The Intown Academy	220,000
The Loving School	250,000
United Community Center, Inc.	231,000
University Charter High School	30,000
University YES East Academy	250,000
UNO Charter School Network	750,000
Veritas Preparatory Charter School	220,000
Vincent Academy	250,000
Woodmont Charter School -The Bay Area Charter Foundation Inc.	250,000
Zenith Academy East	2,500,000
Create Quality Schools Total	$71,510,047

Improve Existing Schools:	Amount
Achievement Network, LTD	$62,500
Arizona Charter Schools Association (ACSA)	310,000
Charter Board Partners (CBP)	68,200
Colorado League of Charter Schools	150,000
DC Public Charter School Board	601,193
DC Public Education Fund	1,967,871
Denver Center for International Studies at Ford Elementary	300,000
Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello	300,000
Denver Public Schools (DPS)	376,182
Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF)	219,382
Generation Schools Network	20,000
Grant Beacon Middle School	20,000
Green Dot Public Schools	500,600
Green Valley Elementary	300,000
Greenwood K-8	20,000
High Tech Early College	300,000
Hope Christian School	300,000
Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)	50,000
Indiana Department of Education	25,000
Lena Lovato Archuleta Elementary School	20,000
Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative Inc.	60,000
McGlone Elementary	300,000
National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA)	2,157,000
National Council of La Raza - NCLR	352,640
New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy (NOMMA)	50,000
New Teacher Project	2,941,239
Noel Community Arts School	300,000
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA)	82,500
Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools (OAPCS)	593,184
Teach for America (National)	12,572,500
University of Notre Dame	511,000
West Leadership Academy	20,000
Wisconsin Lutheran College	200,000
Improve Existing Schools Total	$26,050,991

Research and Evaluation	Amount
Hoover Institution, Stanford University	$374,304
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA)	97,600
University of Arkansas Foundation, Inc.	80,283
University of Notre Dame	250,000
University of Southern California	133,562
University of Washington Foundation -	54,590
Center on Reinventing Public Education	54,590
University of Wisconsin - Madison	435,000
Research and Evaluation Total	$1,425,339


K-12 Education Reform and Other Education Grants Total	$159,049,864

Call it whatever you want to Secretary Tomalis – here are 252 articles since January 23rd from newspapers all over Pennsylvania detailing shrinking school budgets, program cuts, staffing cuts and local tax increases.

2012-03-07T06:57:00.000-05:00

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Thursday, March 8^th,7:00 pm at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College, Community Services Center

To RSVP: http://lehighcountyforum.eventbrite.com/

Call itwhatever you want to Secretary Tomalis – here are 252 articles since January 23^rdfrom newspapers all over Pennsylvaniadetailing shrinking school budgets, program cuts, staffing cuts and local taxincreases.

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

Pa. Senate Education Committee unanimouslyapproves SB 1115,.billto overhaul special education funding distribution formula

By JANMURPHY, The Patriot-News Published:Tuesday, March 06, 2012, 2:27 PM

The Senate Education Committeeapproved legislation that would establish a12-member House-Senate commission to develop a distribution formula for newstate special education funding. Thebill, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh County, would direct thecommission to establish a formula that separates special education studentsinto three cost categories based on their need for services. More funds wouldbe allocated for students requiring higher levels of service.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/pa_senate_education_committee_1.html

Public education supporters ramp up rallies with call-ins

By Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Monday, March 05, 2012

As the state HouseAppropriations Committee today conducts a hearing on state education spending,parents, students and other taxpayers will be calling legislators and thegovernor to urge them to spend more on public education.

"It's a statewidecall to action," said Susan Gobreski, executive director of EducationVoters of Pennsylvania, which set the date for what she called a "prettybroad, grass-roots effort."

"Our big point hereis we want our legislators to find a way to sustainably and equitably fundpublic education," said Jessie Ramey of Point Breeze, parent of twoPittsburgh Colfax K-8 students and a founder of the blog Yinzercation.

Readmore: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12065/1214556-298.stm#ixzz1oN6rnCLT

Clymer wants gamblers to anteup for state pensions

Phillyburbs.com By GaryWeckselblatt Staff Writer Posted: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 10:00 am

State Rep. Paul Clymerhas never liked casinos. He was against giving them a home in Pennsylvania and felt they weren’t chargedenough of a fee to operate once they were allowed to set up shop. Now the Upper Bucks Republican is after themto help bail out the state’s underfunded pensions.

Clymer’s HouseBill 2225, introduced last week, wouldinstitute a $2 per patron admission fee for all casinos in the Commonwealth.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/clymer-wants-gamblers-to-ante-up-for-state-pensions/article_d602ca78-3c5c-50b5-a918-94df686ba

Pa. senators target school superintendent buyouts

MARC LEVY The Associated Press, March 6, 2012

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A bill designed to limit the taxpayer cost of buyoutsfor public school superintendents and expose the terms to greater public viewtook a first step in the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday in the wake of a coupleof heavily criticized payouts.

http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20120306_ap_pasenatorstargetschoolsuperintendentbuyouts.html

GuestColumn: Catholics need to fight for school choice

Delco Times CommentaryBy ARCHBISHOP CHARLES CHAPUT

Published: Monday, March 05, 2012 Specialto the Times

One of the best moments in therecent life of our church happened last Friday, Feb. 23, as students at West,Conwell Egan, Bonner Prendie and St. Hubert's learned that their high schools,originally slated to close, would remain open.
I made the judgment to keep these high schools open just a few hours before thepress conference announcing the final decision. That little "miracle"happened because a great many people - from the Blue Ribbon Commission, theOffice of Catholic Education, the individual school communities and Philadelphia's businessand philanthropic leadership -- worked heroically. They raised new money andcreated the seeds of a new education foundation to assist our archdiocesan highschools, and eventually all our archdiocesan schools.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/03/05/opinion/doc4f54e5c0b3055342207943.txt

Response to Guest Column: PA Constitution andVouchers

http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2012/01/pennsylvania-constitution-and-vouchers.html

Pittsburgh schools propose next round ofcuts

By Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Pittsburgh PublicSchools superintendent Linda LaneMonday night presented to the city school board her plan to save $10 million to$13 million. Her list includes cutting20 to 25 central office positions; eliminating middle school softball andbaseball; and closing night school and next year's summer school. It helps, butit doesn't solve it," Ms. Lane said, referring to the district's deficit.

Readmore: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12066/1214763-298.stm#ixzz1oLTOi9cr

“A resolution to be sent to all members ofthe state government of Pennsylvania urging that the Commonwealth’s GeneralAssembly “ensure that every student in Delaware County and Pennsylvaniacontinue to have access to public education without threat of school closureduring the academic year” was approved after discussion.”

Radnor School Board Passes Resolution to EnsureFunding of Public Education

Main Line Suburban Life by Alan Thomas February 29, 2012

http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2012/02/29/main_line_suburban_life/news/doc4f4e0bcb435de244417248.txt?viewmode=fullstory

The text of the board resolution is on pages 8-9 of this Feb. 28^thmeeting agenda posted on the Radnor SD website:

http://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/39/Bd%20Agenda%202-28-12%20rev.pdf

PSEA Response to Sec’yTomalis testimony before the House Appropriations Committee

From PSEA’s website March 5, 2012

PDE Secretary's testimony ignoresimpact of nearly $1 billion in public school cuts

Pennsylvania Dept. ofEducation Secretary Ron Tomalis’ testimony before the House AppropriationsCommittee on March 5 ignored the fact that school districts across Pennsylvania are cuttingprograms that work for their students because of nearly $1 billion in statefunding cuts.

PSEA President MikeCrossey pointed out that school districts across the state are increasing classsizes and cutting programs that work for students in response to Gov. TomCorbett’s unprecedented public school funding cuts, a reality that stands instark contrast to the Corbett administration’s claim that these cuts are reallyhistoric increases.

http://www.psea.org/general.aspx?id=9201

"These test scores largely reflect whom a teacherteaches, not how well they teach."

Value-Added Evaluation Hurts Teaching

Education Week Commentary By Linda Darling-Hammond, March 5, 2012

Here’s the hype: New York City’s“worst teacher” was recently singled out and so labeled by the New York Postafter the city’s education department released value-added test-score ratingsto the media for thousands of city teachers, identifying each by name.

The tabloid treatment didn’t stop there. Reporters chased down teacherPascale Mauclair, the subject of the “worst teacher” slam, bombarding her withquestions about her lack of skill and commitment. They even went to herfather’s home and told him his daughter was among the worst teachers in thecity.

Now the facts: Mauclair is an experienced and much-admiredEnglish-as-a-second-language teacher. She works with new immigrant students whodo not yet speak English at one of the city’s strongest elementary schools. Herschool, PS 11, received an A from the city’s rating system and is led by one ofthe city’s most respected principals, Anna Efkarpides, who declares Mauclair anexcellent teacher. She adds: “I would put my own children in her class.”

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/05/24darlinghammond_ep.h31.html?tkn=YWWFF11Lv7Z2uyCoHOXjHA0O1f25UHS2AQjG&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1

New AP Courses to Emphasize Critical Thinking and Research

Education Week College Bound Blog By Caralee Adams on March 5, 2012 5:47 PM

The College Board ispiloting two new Advanced Placement courses designed to focus on researchskills that admissions counselors say are too often missing in high schoolgraduates.

The new program for juniors and seniors,developed in collaboration with Cambridge International Examinations, will betested over three years in 15 to 18 high schools starting this fall, the College Boardannounced today.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2012/03/the_college_board_will_be.html

Roadblocks to Reading

Education Week Finding Common Ground Blog By Peter DeWitt on March 6, 2012 7:24 AM

In the recent issue of Educational Leadership (March 2012), DickAllington and Rachael Gabriel wrote an article called Every Child, Every Day.They laid out six simple steps that all educators can do to get studentsreading. These action steps take very few resources but they do take the effortof the teachers in the classroom, which ultimately involves a supportiveadministrator who will look past test scores and focus on what students reallyneed.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2012/03/roadblocks_to_reading.html

Thank President Obama for cutting DC voucher fundingout of the budget.

If you are so inclined, Americans United for Separation of Church andState has a website link to thank President Obama for cutting DC voucherfunding out of the budget.

http://au.org/content/action-thank-president-obama-for-cutting-dc-voucher-funding-out-of-the-budget

Arcadia University's Education Department presents:

Panel: Unpacking the PA School Budget: WhatDoes This Mean for Me?

March 29, 2012 from 5:30pmto 8pm at Arcadia University
Websiteor Map: http://www.arcadia.edu/direct…

Host: Dr. Bruce Campbell,Coordinator, Educational Leadership Master's Program, Arcadia University

Moderator: Baruch Kintisch, Directorof Policy Advocacy and Senior Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Panelists:
Christopher McGinley, Superintendent, Lower Merion School District

http://paschooltalk.org/events/unpacking-the-pa-school-budget-what-does-this-mean-for-me?xg_source=msg_mes_network

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

The Governor’s proposal starts the process,but it isn’t all decided: our legislators can play an important role in standingup for our priorities. Last year, public outcry helped prevent nearly$300 million in additional cuts. We heard from the Governor, and we knowwhere he stands. Now, weneed to ask our legislators: what is your position on supporting our schools?

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

“if any of us are confused about whether or not education funding has gone up or down since Gov. Corbett took office, we could just ask the students, the citizens, the school districts of Pennsylvania.”

2012-03-06T06:42:00.000-05:00

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Thursday, March 8^th,7:00 pm at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College, Community Services Center

To RSVP: http://lehighcountyforum.eventbrite.com/

No letup seen as Pa. school pension costs soar

By Dan Hardy Inquirer Staff Writer, Posted: Mon, Mar. 5, 2012, 3:01 AM

Passage of Pennsylvania's education budget for 2012-13 is months away andthe legislature likely will make significant changes to the spending plan Gov.Corbett proposed Feb. 7.

But it's almost certain that one very sizable proposed expense won'tchange: contributions to the Public School Employees' Retirement System(PSERS). Payments for 2012-13 from the state and school districts will risesteeply, by about 45 percent.

http://www.philly.com/philly/insights/in_education/20120305_No_letup_seen_as_Pa__school_pension_costs_soar.html

Legislature,state education secretary spar over Corbett's budget

Governoraccused of using 'budgetary gimmicks' that obscure $100 million in cuts toschool districts.

By Steve Esack, Of The MorningCall 6:35 p.m. EST, March 5, 2012

Budgetary semantics and spiralingpension obligations.

Those topics denominated athree-hour-and-15-minute House hearing Monday on Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed$8.2 billion spending plan for public education for next year.

The Republicans and Democrats onthe House Appropriations Committee agreed that Corbett's proposal reduced2012-13 spending by $100 million over current levels.

Education Secretary Ron Tomalisdisagreed.

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-house-education-hearing-20120305,0,1234625.story

“Rep. Steve Samuelson,D-Northampton, said, “I might want to suggest that if any of us are confusedabout whether or not education funding has gone up or down since GovernorCorbett took office, we could just ask the students ..., the citizens, ... theschool districts of Pennsylvania.”

Disagreement exists over whether Pa.Gov. Tom Corbett's budget increases or decreases funding for schools

By JAN MURPHY, ThePatriot-News Published: Monday, March 05, 2012, 4:14 PM

There’s a disagreement over whether Gov. TomCorbett’s 2012-13 state budget proposal includes an increase or decrease in spendingfor public schools.

State Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis told theHouse Appropriations Committee that it essentially comes down to what getscounted.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/disagreement_exists_over_wheth.html

Education funding skews toward wealthy districts longterm

Pottstown MercuryBy Evan Brandt

ebrandt@pottsmerc.com Posted: 03/04/12 12:01 am

Since 2008, school districts with a low income population and highproperty tax rate, like Pottstown, have absorbed up to 10 times more of the$1.5 billion in cuts to state education funding than wealthier districts,according to a study released in the shadow of a state budget proposal whichproposes even more cuts for Pottstown.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120304/NEWS01/120309835/education-funding-skews-toward-wealthy-districts-long-term&pager=full_story

Budget numbers often depend on whose numbers they are

Pottstown Mercury By Evan Brandt ebrandt@pottsmerc.com

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120304/NEWS01/120309834/budget-numbers-often-depend-on-whose-numbers-they-are

Legislator Agrees Cyber Funding Formula is Flawed

Milton Standard Journal By Tammy Burke, March 5^th, 2012

Mifflinburg – It isn’t just school superintendents who are troubled bythe idea of taxpayers footing for-profit enterprises to educate theCommonwealth’s children as it seems to be occurring with cyber charter schools.

http://www.standard-journal.com/articles/2012/03/05/news/doc4f54c045e104f224750457.txt

“To meet the progress benchmark this year,81 percent of students must score proficient or advanced in reading, a 9percent increase over last year's target. In math, 78 percent must scoreproficient or advanced in math, an 11 percent increase.”

Southern Lehigh 'bootcamp' aimed at boosting PSSA scores

Program isaimed at boosting standardized test scores

By MelindaRizzo, Special to The Morning Call 10:29a.m. EST, March 5, 2012

Southern Lehigh School Districthas developed a "boot camp" for high school juniors in an effort toincrease Pennsylvania System of School Assessment scores.
The reading and math PSSA boot camp begins this week ahead of the tests, whichrun from March 12-23.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/southernlehigh/mc-southern-lehigh-pssa-bootcamp-20120305,0,3742277.story

Cyber charter school tochange name, focus

By Rachel Weaver,PITTSBURGHTRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The AlleghenyIntermediate Unit's cyber charter school is changing its name and focus to putgreater emphasis on relevant subjects. Educatorsare scheduled to announce today that STREAM Academy will replace PALearners Online next school year, offering science, technology, research,engineering, arts and math courses.

Readmore: Cyber charter school to change name, focus - PittsburghTribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_785004.html#ixzz1oKSn4QXa

Black Students Face More Discipline, Data Suggests

New York Times By TAMAR LEWIN Published: March 6, 2012

Black students, especially boys, face much harsher discipline in publicschools than other students, according to new data from the Department ofEducation.

Although black students made up only 18 percent of those enrolled in theschools sampled, they accounted for 35 percent of those suspended once, 46percent of those suspended more than once and 39 percent of all expulsions,according to the Civil Rights Data Collection’s 2009-10 statistics from 72,000 schoolsin 7,000 districts, serving about 85 percent of the nation’s students. The datacovered students from kindergarten age through high school.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/education/black-students-face-more-harsh-discipline-data-shows.html?_r=1&ref=education

Arcadia University's Education Department presents:

Panel: Unpacking the PA School Budget: WhatDoes This Mean for Me?

March 29, 2012 from 5:30pmto 8pm at Arcadia University
Websiteor Map: http://www.arcadia.edu/direct…

Host: Dr. Bruce Campbell,Coordinator, Educational Leadership Master's Program, Arcadia University

Moderator: Baruch Kintisch, Directorof Policy Advocacy and Senior Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Panelists:
Christopher McGinley, Superintendent, Lower Merion School District

http://paschooltalk.org/events/unpacking-the-pa-school-budget-what-does-this-mean-for-me?xg_source=msg_mes_network

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

Districts say Corbett's budget jeopardizes future of school busing. School officials fear voters will have to choose between ending rides or raising taxes.

2012-03-05T07:54:00.000-05:00

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

Monday March 5^th– Call to Action – Take 5 minutes today.

Pleaseforward this information to any and all public education stakeholders.

Education Voters Pennsylvania,joined by several education advocacy groups, will hold a "Statewide Call to Action for Education"on Monday, March 5. Tellthe Governor and your state legislators "No more cuts toeducation!" For moreinformation on how you can participate, visit http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/call-to-action-for-public-education11/.

Action Alert: Special Education Votes in March

Make aphone call today to improve special education for students with disabilities inPennsylvania! Call or e-mail your state senator before March 6 and ask for a vote infavor of Senate Bill 1115. Even in thistough year, we are close to making historic progress for children with disabilities.

Summary of SB 1115: http://www.elc-pa.org/SB1115_HB704_BillSummary_2_27_12.pdf

Additionalinfo: http://reformspecialedfunding.org/2012/02/action-alert-special-education-votes-in-march/

Districtssay Corbett's budget jeopardizes future of school busing

Schoolofficials fear voters will have to choose between ending rides or raisingtaxes.

By Steve Esack, Of The Morning Call

11:38 p.m. EST, March 4, 2012

With state limits on how muchthey can hike taxes, school leaders say they will have no choice but to askvoters to go to the polls to choose between ending busing or raising propertytaxes above the caps. "Someday mostdistricts are going to referendum for budgets in general, not justtransportation. That day is going to come, and we are already talking about howto handle it," said Parkland Business Manager John Vignone.
The House will begin hearings Monday onCorbett's education funding proposals.

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-corbett-bus-money-20120304,0,4560973,full.story

Policy experts warn proposed statebudget hurts kids, taxpayers

By SaraK. Satullo | The Express-Times Published:Friday, March 02, 2012, 4:00 AM

Pennsylvania Gov.Tom Corbett's proposed budget and the current year's spending planrepresent a huge step backward in state education funding, according to statepolicy experts.
And the backlash will hit the wallets of citizens across the state when localschool districts in turn hike real estate taxes, said Ron Cowell, president ofThe Education Policy and Leadership Center, a nonpartisan Harrisburg based nonprofit.

"The state continues to shift the responsibility toschool districts," Cowell said.

Cowell, along with Sharon Ward, executive director of thePennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, on Thursday spoke about the impact of theproposed 2012-13state budget on Pennsylvania children and families during Moravian College's Family Policy Summit.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2012/03/post_213.html

“UC Berkeley professor Robert Reich saidit well, “Public education isn’t just a private investment. It’s a public good.Our young people—their capacities to think, understand, investigate, andinnovate—are America’sfuture” (Huffington Post). Finally, a system that provides widespread access tohigher education reinforces a societal commitment to social mobility andfairness (Huffington Post). It communicates that everyone has value andeveryone has a meaningful chance to succeed. There is no better antidote to snobbery.”

UCLA Themes in the News Week of Feb. 27-March 2, 2012

Snubbing Snobbery

By UCLA IDEA

“President Obama once said he wants everyone in America to goto college. What a snob.”

-Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum

Santorum is wrong. He insults not only the President, butalso all those who hold similar aspirations for America’s youth.

http://idea.gseis.ucla.edu/newsroom/our-ideas/themes-in-the-news

Midstate school districts again facetough budget choices

Published:Thursday, March 01, 2012, 11:44 PM Updated: Friday, March 02, 2012, 9:23 AM

By DAVID WENNER, ThePatriot-News
Beset by rising pension and operating costs as well as state fundingreductions, school districts across the midstate are once again findingthemselves in the midst of a tough budget cycle.

Most are projecting budget deficitsto one degree or another as they attempt to balance costs and revenue beforethe end of the fiscal year. Last year,several districts sought concessions from the unions that represent theirteachers, and it appears they are again reaching out to try to trim personnelcosts.

On Wednesday night, teachers in theCentralDauphin School District, the largest on the East Shore,met to discuss a proposal from the school board that would freeze theirsalaries for the second year in a row.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/midstate_school_districts_agai.html

Legislators, schooldirectors to meet March 15 at BLaST IU in Canton

The Daily review BYERIC HRIN (STAFF WRITER), Published: March 1, 2012

TROY - School officials inBradford, Sullivan, and Tioga counties will be able to share their concerns andinterests with area legislators in a county legislative meeting March 15 atBLaST Intermediate Unit in Canton. It's being sponsored by the PennsylvaniaSchool Boards Association.

The meeting is held eachyear, and gives school officials a chance to get face-to-face with arealegislators. At its last meeting, theTroy Area School Board was reminded about the upcoming session by board memberUrsula Fox.

Board member MichaelOlsyn said he was "absolutely" planning on attending. Others also expressedan interest in showing up.

District businessmanager Kirsten Bagley said registration was at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m.

According to SteveRobinson, Director of Publications and Public Relations for PSBA,

all legislators in thethree counties have been invited.

"The purpose of themeetings is to provide the opportunity for open, informal discussion betweenschool directors, superintendents, business managers and legislators aboutpublic school successes and the critical issues affecting public educationtoday," he said.

http://thedailyreview.com/news/legislators-school-directors-to-meet-in-canton-1.1279516

ChesterCommunity Charter School contracts with Charter School Management Company, aprivate firm, to manage and operate the state’s largest brick and mortarcharter school. Charter SchoolManagement Company is owned by Vahan Gureghian, who was Governor Corbett’slargest individual campaign contributor and a member of his educationtransition team.

Court says Chester Community Charter School required todisclose financial records

DelcoTimes by John Kopp, Published: Thursday, March 01, 2012

The CommonwealthCourt of Pennsylvania affirmed a ruling of the Delaware County Court of CommonPleas requiring Chester Community Charter School to disclosefinancial records requested by The Philadelphia Inquirer in January 2009.

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2012/03/01/news/doc4f5040512a23a752346815.txt

A Look At TheEducation Programs Of The Gates Foundation

Shanker Blog Posted by Ken Libby on March 2, 2012

Ourguest author today is Ken Libby, a graduate student studying educationalfoundations, policy and practice at the Universityof Colorado at Boulder.

The Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest philanthropic organizationinvolved in public education. Their flexible capital allows the foundation tochange course, experiment and take on tasks that would be problematic for otherorganizations.

The purposeof this post is to provide descriptive information about programmatic supportand changes between 2008 and 2010. These are the three years for whichinformation is currently available.

http://shankerblog.org/?p=5234

Viewpoints: For California schools, weneed less testing and more assessing

Sacramento Bee By LindaDarling-Hammond, Special to The Bee

Published: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 - 12:00 am

There is a saying that American students are the most testedand the least examined of any in the world. Nowhere is that more true than in California, wherestudents take 35 tests before they hit the SAT and AP exams.

How, and How Not, toImprove the Schools

New York Review of Books MARCH 22, 2012 by Diane Ravitch

Finnish Lessons: What Can the WorldLearn from Educational Change in Finland? by Pasi Sahlberg, Teachers College Press, 167 pp.,$34.95 (paper)

A Chance to Make History: WhatWorks and What Doesn’t in Providing an Excellent Education for All by Wendy Kopp with Steven Farr PublicAffairs, 229 pp., $25.99

In his 2012 State of theUnion address, President Barack Obama proposed that teachers should “stopteaching to the test” and that the nation should “reward the best ones” and“replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.” This all soundssensible, but it is in fact a contradictory message. The president’s signatureeducation program, called Race to the Top, encourages states to award bonusesto teachers whose students get higher test scores (they are, presumably “thebest ones”) and to fire teachers if their students get lower test scores(presumably the teachers “who just aren’t helping kids”). If teachers want tostay employed, they must “teach to the test.” The president recommends thatteachers stop doing what his own policies make necessary and prudent.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/mar/22/how-and-how-not-improve-schools/

National Education Writers Association - EDBEAT

EWA TRACKS EDUCATION COVERAGE FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012

Mayors and schoolchiefs from Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Yorktalk education reform

The mayors and school chiefs of the threelargest cities in the United Statesjoined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today in Washington, D.C.to share their views on school reform.

http://www.edbeat.net/2012/03/mayors-and-school-chiefs-from-chicago.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+edbeat%2FxDgI+%28Ed+Beat%29

Got 1000 channels and there’s stillnothing on TV? Here’s a link to the onehour video…..

USDepartment of Education March 2, 2012: Education Now - Cities at the Forefront ofReform

Education Secretary Arne Duncan joins mayors and superintendents from NYC, LA, &Chicago for a panel on education. Videoruntime 60:49

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20827546

Arcadia University's Education Department presents:

Panel: Unpacking the PA School Budget: WhatDoes This Mean for Me?

March 29, 2012 from 5:30pmto 8pm at Arcadia University
Websiteor Map: http://www.arcadia.edu/direct…

Host: Dr. Bruce Campbell,Coordinator, Educational Leadership Master's Program, Arcadia University

Moderator: Baruch Kintisch, Directorof Policy Advocacy and Senior Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Panelists:
Christopher McGinley, Superintendent, Lower Merion School District

http://paschooltalk.org/events/unpacking-the-pa-school-budget-what-does-this-mean-for-me?xg_source=msg_mes_network

March 5, 2012 10:00 AM PA HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

BUDGET HEARINGS:EDUCATION

Monday, March 5, 2012 10:00 AM Room 140 Main Capitol

10:00 AM Department of Education

1:00 PM State System of Higher Education

2:30 PM PHEAA

March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Thursday, March 8^th,7:00 pm at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College, Community Services Center

To RSVP: http://lehighcountyforum.eventbrite.com/

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

Legislators join Partners for Public Education forum calling for action on public school cuts

2012-03-02T06:49:00.000-05:00

Daily postingsfrom the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 1000Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators,legislators, members of the press and a broad array of education advocacyorganizations via emails, website, Facebook and Twitter.

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/state-budget/Budget_resolution-02212012.doc

Monday March 5^th– Call to Action - Mark Your Calendar!

Pleaseforward this information to any and all public education stakeholders.

Education Voters Pennsylvania,joined by several education advocacy groups, will hold a "Statewide Call to Action for Education"on Monday, March 5. Tellthe Governor and your state legislators "No more cuts toeducation!" For moreinformation on how you can participate, visit http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/call-to-action-for-public-education11/.

West Shore School District teachers offer pay freeze inexchange for saving programs

By MONICA VONDOBENECK, The Patriot-News Published: Thursday, March 01, 2012
Teachers in the West Shore School District said in a statement today that they arewilling to accept a pay freeze, "but need assurances that those sacrificeswill be put to good use."
That means restoring the librarians, middle school language program andhigh school Latin the district has proposed cutting in order to make up a $3.6million budget gap.
"The association genuinely believes that teachers and the school board canwork together to meet the needs of our district, our students and ourcommunity," said Monica McNelis, West Shore Education Associationpresident.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/west_shore_school_district_tea_1.html

“Ron Cowell, a former state legislator and director of the EducationPolicy and Leadership Center, said Pennsylvaniaranks 46 out of the 50 states in terms of state education funding on a percapita basis.”
Legislatorsjoin Partners for Public Education forum calling for action on public schoolcuts

By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Thursday, March 01, 2012

Three state legislatorsurged a crowd of about 150 at South Fayette High Schoolon Wednesday to make their voices heard in Harrisburg in order to reverse state cuts topublic education.

State Sen. Wayne Fontanaand state Reps. Jesse White and Nick Kotick, all Democrats, were speakers atthe first forum held by the Partners for Public Education, an organizationsponsored by the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association. Partners for PublicEducation works to inform residents of public school districts about theeffects of the $860 million in funding cuts to public schools last year and theadditional $100 million in cuts proposed in Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's2012-2013 budget.

Partners for Public Education Website: http://partnersforpubliced.org/

Action Alert: Special Education Votes in March

Make aphone call today to improve special education for students with disabilities inPennsylvania! Call or e-mail your state senator before March 6 and ask for a vote infavor of Senate Bill 1115. Even in this tough year, we are close tomaking historic progress for children with disabilities.

Summary of SB 1115: http://www.elc-pa.org/SB1115_HB704_BillSummary_2_27_12.pdf

Additionalinfo: http://reformspecialedfunding.org/2012/02/action-alert-special-education-votes-in-march/

Reform SpecialEducation Funding Website

There are approximately 40organizations supporting special education funding reforms in Pennsylvania

http://reformspecialedfunding.org/

The PennsylvaniaBudget and Policy Center

PBPChosted its annual Pennsylvania Budget Summit in Harrisburgon February 23, 2012

The summit provided an in-depth lookat the state and federal budget plans and what they mean for communities andfamilies across Pennsylvania. Agendas, bios, packet materials andPowerpoint presentations are posted on their website below.

http://pennbpc.org/2012-pennsylvania-budget-summit

Keystone State EducationCoalition is now a member of the Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign

The Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign is anunprecedented coalition of more than 30 statewide and regional education andadvocacy organizations representing hundreds of thousands of parents, students,educators, school board members, administrators, and other concerned citizensadvocating for adequate and equitable funding of Pennsylvania’s public schools.

http://www.paschoolfunding.org/

26 States Plus D.C. Apply for NCLB Waivers inSecond Round

Education Week Politics K-12 Blog By Michele McNeil on February 29, 2012 11:36 AM

Twenty six more states, plus the District of Columbia,are applying for waivers under the No Child Left Behind Act, which would freethem from many of the core tenets of the law in exchange for adopting keyreforms backed by the Obama administration. Already, 11 states have won thisnew flexibility.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/02/states_apply_for_waivers_in_se.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

Calif. Seeks Its Own Versionof an NCLB Waiver

Education Week Politics K-12 Blog By Michele McNeil on February 29, 2012 3:03 PM

By Sean Cavanagh

California is continuing to holdout on pursuing a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act, citing itsobjections to the Obama administration's requirements of states that want thatflexibility.

Instead, the state is considering asking federalofficials for its own brand of flexibility from the law—without having to meetthe administration's standards.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/02/calif_still_not_seeking_offici.html

Classroom-Based Assessment Should Replace 'No Child',Experts Say

US News By LAURA MCMULLEN, February 13, 2012

President Barack Obama announced last week that10 states will be exempt from the requirements of the highly-criticizedNo Child Left Behind legislation. In exchange, those states willhave to agree to a series of reforms. But some experts say the law should bescrapped completely for models that don't rely on standardized tests.

"It behooves us to take a careful look atthe policies at the heart of NCLB, because they have not worked, [and] if theyare not working, we need to change them," said Monty Neill, chair ofthe Forum onEducational Accountability (FEA), at the FEA House Briefing onAssessment last Thursday.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2012/02/13/classroom-based-assessment-should-replace-no-child-experts-say?s_cid=rss:high-school-notes:classroom-based-assessment-should-replace-no-child-experts-say

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 03/01/2012

What Florida is doing to its public schools

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss

This was written by Jean Clements,president of Florida’s Hillsborough CountyClassroom Teachers Association, representing more than 9,000 teachers andschool personnel.

By Jean Clements

Horace Mann calledpublic education the “great equalizer.” Quite simply, he believed that withouta strong system of public schools in this country, the elite would get aneducation while the middle class and poor would not.

This week, a vote by theFlorida State Board of Education makes it nearly impossible for public schoolsto be “great equalizers” in the Sunshine State. This vote, alongwith education legislation pending in the state capitol, together threaten thefuture of Florida’spublic schools. The state’s actions are “almost cataclysmic,” said Okaloosa County Superintendent AlexisTibbetts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/what-florida-is-doing-to-its-public-schools/2012/02/29/gIQADTYDjR_blog.html

March 5, 2012 10:00 AM PA HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

BUDGET HEARINGS:EDUCATION

Monday, March 5, 2012 10:00 AM Room140 Main Capitol

10:00 AM Department of Education

1:00 PM State System of Higher Education

2:30 PM PHEAA

March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Thursday, March 8^th,7:00 pm at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College, Community Services Center

To RSVP: http://lehighcountyforum.eventbrite.com/

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

At The Chalk Face - Education TalkRadio – Listen Anytime

Educated Educators Talking Education.

A new one hour talk show dedicated to education. Hosts Tim Slekar and Shaun Johnson cover thebiggest issues in education. Fromstandardized testing to No Child Left Behind.

http://www.wtdy.com/content/-THE-CHALK-FACE-91.html

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

Commonwealth Court says Chester Community Charter School must disclose salaries under Right-to-Know request

2012-03-01T06:26:00.000-05:00

Visit us onFacebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow uson Twitter at @lfeinberg

Monday March 5^th– Call to Action - Mark Your Calendar!

Education Voters Pennsylvania,joined by several education advocacy groups, will hold a "Statewide Call to Action for Education"on Monday, March 5. Tellthe Governor and your state legislators "No more cuts toeducation!" For moreinformation on how you can participate, visit http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/news/call-to-action-for-public-education11/.

Six years later…..

Commonwealth Courtsays Chester Community Charter School must disclosesalaries under Right-to-Know request

Chester CommunityCharter School(Charter School) appeals an order

ofthe Delaware County Court of Common Pleas (trial court) directing Charter

Schoolto produce a number of salary andcontract documents requested by a

newspaperreporter, Daniel Hardy, on behalf of The Philadelphia Inquirer. In

doingso, the trial court affirmed a decision of the Pennsylvania Office of Open

Records(OOR) that the records were subject to disclosure even though they were

inthe possession of a private party that had contracted with Charter School.

Discerning no error, weaffirm

http://www.pacourts.us/OpPosting/Cwealth/out/1427CD10_2-29-12.pdf

Here’s a few earlier related postings:

Charterschool should reveal deal, court says

February 17, 2006 By Dan Hardy INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The management contract betweenthe Chester CommunityCharter Schooland a for-profit charter-management company headed by Main Line lawyer and businessman Vahan H. Gureghian should be madepublic, Commonwealth Courthas ruled.

In its ruling, the court said Pennsylvania's charterschool law makes clear "that charter schools are generally governed bystatutes applicable to public schools," including the Right to Know Law.

The school has asked the court toreconsider. A decision on that request is expected within the next 60 days.

http://articles.philly.com/2006-02-17/news/25409726_1_public-schools-state-appointed-board-ruling

Followthe Money: Contributions by Vahan Gureghian 1/1/07 - 5/31/11

GovernorCorbett’s stark naked school choice: some moving out, some moving in

“Corbett is the first governor in statehistory to lump mandatory pension payments into what had been separate fundingstreams for regular education programming.”

Corbett's education spending hikecovers pensions, not books

Corbett touts boost but local officialssay mandated reimbursements don't count.

A Morning Call analysis of the state Department ofEducation's new website shows Gov. Tom Corbett’s $8.2 billion education budgetwould increase student-related spending by less than half a percent from thecurrent 2011-12 funding levels.

By SteveEsack andJohn L. Micek, Of The Morning Call, 9:34p.m. EST, February 29, 2012

It was meant to quietGov. Tom Corbett's critics who claimed his budget proposalwould eviscerate public education: an interactive website touting how he isbestowing the "largest amount of funding to public schools in statehistory."

But the stateDepartment of Education's new website,http://www.investinginpastudents.com,shows the vast majority of Corbett's $338.1 million, or 3.7 percent, increasein education spending would not go toward classroom learning as hisadministration claims.

It would go to coverthe state's mandatory increase in its share of public school employees'retirement payments, which originated in the Legislature's 2001 decision toincrease pensions for its members and all state employees.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pa-corbett-education-spending-229-20120229,0,2652371.story

Here’sthe PDE website incorporating the PSERS payments described above:

PA Department ofEducation Website

Governor Tom Corbett’s 2012-13 proposedbudget will provide Pennsylvania schooldistricts with more than $9.3 billion in taxpayer assistance, representing thelargest amount of state funding in Pennsylvaniahistory.

To see how much state taxpayer fundingwould be provided to your school district, select the district’s name in thedrop down menu below.

http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265

Here’sPSEA’s budget impact website:

PSEA: How state budget cuts will affect your district

Usethe drop-down menus to find out how proposed budget cuts would affect yourdistrict.

http://savepaschools.org/SaveOurSchools.aspx?ShowBudgetImpact=true

Someoneparticularly close to me attended Philly’s Thomas Creighton Elementary School, a K-8school, graduating in 1966…..

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Four more Phila.schools to become charters

Philadelphia Inquirer Philly School files Blog by Kristen Graham

Despite the fact that it’s nearly broke and in themiddle of a major organizational shakeup, the Philadelphia School District is moving forward with plans to turnfailing schools over to charter organizations. Four low-performing Philadelphia schoolshave been targeted — Cleveland, Creighton, and H.R. EdmundsElementary Schools, and Jones Middle School.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/school_files/Four-Phila-schools-to-.html

“It maybe easy, then, to say use this as an example of free-market capitalismimproving the education system. But you also have to wonder if theemphasis on turning a profit, rather than delivering an optimal education, wasn'tthe problem in the first place.”

Publicly Funded OnlineSchools: Education on the Cheap

The American Prospect by ABBY RAPOPORT FEBRUARY 28, 2012

Investors areincreasingly queasy about putting money into for-profit learning.

Publicly funded online schools run byprivate companies have been controversial with teachers groups and someeducation advocates since they started to take off a few years ago. But theconcept of educating kids by computer has a strong appeal—not just amonglawmakers but also among portfolio managers and investors. The two biggestcompanies offering online education—K12, Inc. and Connections Academy—areboth for-profit, and until recently K12 had been a stock-market favorite. Butan article this week on Seeking Alpha, a major investment website,casts doubt on the long-term profitability of K12 in light of poor studentresults.

http://prospect.org/article/education-cheap

How to Demoralize Teachers

Education Week Bridging Differences Blog By Diane Ravitch on February 28, 2012 9:30 AM

Dear Deborah,

Two weeks ago, New York state's highest court ruled thatthe New York City Department of Education could release for public scrutiny thevalue-added ratings of teachers of mathematics and English in grades 4-8.Rupert Murdoch's New York Post, joined by other media, hadfiled a "freedom of information" request to obtain the testing data,and the United Federation of Teachers opposed their release, saying that theratings contained many inaccuracies.

According to The New York Times, current schoolsChancellor Dennis Walcott had "mixed feelings" about the naming of names,but his predecessor, JoelKlein, had "championed" their release. A storyin the Columbia Journalism Review said that the city's department ofeducation had encouraged reporters to file "freedom of information"requests and responded with uncustomary speed when the requests were received.

The scores were released to the public lastFriday.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2012/02/how_to_demoralize_teachers.html

SUNDAY,FEBRUARY 26, 2012

Undermining Public Education, Hobbles Our Hope forthe Future

DigitalNotebook Blog by Evan Brandt

As the presidential campaign gears up and everycandidate is sure to use the word "jobs" in every sentence theyspeak, I am sometimes struck by the acknowledgement gap that exists between thewords "jobs" and "education."
Education, particularly public education, is a dirty word these days.

http://evan-brandt.blogspot.com/2012/02/public-education-hobbled-hope-for-our.html

March 5, 2012 10:00 AM PA HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

BUDGET HEARINGS:EDUCATION

Monday, March 5, 2012 10:00 AM Room140 Main Capitol

10:00 AM Department of Education

1:00 PM State System of Higher Education

2:30 PM PHEAA

March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Thursday, March 8^th,7:00 pm at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College, Community Services Center

To RSVP: http://lehighcountyforum.eventbrite.com/

TheEducation Committee of the League of Women Voters of Chester County

March 19^th LWV Chester County Public Meeting:The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public Education

PA AuditorGeneral Jack Wagner

MondayMarch 19^th 6:30 pmat Stetson Middle School, West Chester

Location: Stetson Middle School Auditorium
The Auditor General will speak to the publicfollowed by Q & A Session.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

March 26^th: Last day to register to vote in theApril 24^th PA Primary Election

You do have the power to change the direction ofeducation policy in Pennsylvania

Education Voters PA –Take action on the Governor’s Budget

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6041/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5430

At The Chalk Face - Education TalkRadio – Listen Anytime

Educated Educators Talking Education.

A new one hour talk show dedicated to education. Hosts Tim Slekar and Shaun Johnson cover thebiggest issues in education. Fromstandardized testing to No Child Left Behind.

http://www.wtdy.com/content/-THE-CHALK-FACE-91.html

PA House DemocraticCaucus Website

UPDATED DAILY –STATEWIDE PRESS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTBUDGETS

http://www.pahouse.com/school_funding_2011cuts.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pahouse.com%2fschool_funding_2011cuts.asp&utm_campaign=Crisis+in+Public+Education

Keystone State Education Coalition

Weekend Update: PSEA files civil rights complaint on behalf of Chester Upland students

PRESS RELEASE: PSEA Files FederalComplaint To Protect the Civil Rights of Special Education Students in Chester Upland

Hereare a few earlier related postings:

Charterschool should reveal deal, court says

February 17, 2006 By Dan Hardy INQUIRERSTAFF WRITER

Lehigh County legislators, educationadvocate discuss public school funding

Published:Friday, March 09, 2012, 12:02 PM

School districts gear up for PSSAtests; exams used to evaluate schools

Published:Friday, March 09, 2012, 10:51 AM

Updated:Local option sales, income taxes could replace a portion of property taxes

Sen. Tom Harkin:Fixing Economy Starts With Early Education

Forty States Prohibit Public Funding toReligious Schools

PSBA Sample Board Resolutionregarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

A New Mantra: “We need sustainable and equitable state funding for public education in Pennsylvania.”

Lehigh County residents voice concerns overeducation funding cuts

Nearly 200 attend Lehigh Countypanel talk with state legislators.

Recent writings onvalue-added methods from SCOPE and others

Growing Gaps Bring Focus on Poverty's Role inSchooling

NewData from Office for Civil Rights Reveals Vast Inequities in Our Nation’sSchools

Ed "Reform" in Louisiana. Coming Soon to Your State?

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

LEADING RESEARCHERS GIVE VALUE-ADDED TEACHER ASSESSMENT AN "F"

LEADING RESEARCHERS GIVE VALUE-ADDED TEACHER ASSESSMENT AN "F"

Recent writings on value-added methods fromSCOPE and others

NewYork Times - Mike Winerip: "Hard-Working Teachers,Sabotaged When Student Test Scores Slip." March 4, 2012.READ ARTICLE >>

Teach for Us - Gary Rubenstein:"Analyzing Released NYC Value-Added Data." This three-partseries by Rubenstein offers a research-rich analysis of VAMs in New York. February, 2012READ MORE>>

Follow the Money: WALMART: Save More, Live Better, Eradicate Public Education: 159,049,864 reasons to shop someplace else.

Follow the Money:

WALMART: Save More, Live Better, Eradicate PublicEducation: 159,049,864 reasons to shop someplace else.

Who won millions inWalton Foundation grants in 2011

Ravitch: A war on publiceducation in Louisiana

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

Follow the Money: WALMART: Save More, Live Better, Eradicate Public Education: 159,049,864 reasons to shop someplace else.

Call it whatever you want to Secretary Tomalis – here are 252 articles since January 23rd from newspapers all over Pennsylvania detailing shrinking school budgets, program cuts, staffing cuts and local tax increases.

Pa. Senate Education Committee unanimouslyapproves SB 1115,.billto overhaul special education funding distribution formula

By JANMURPHY, The Patriot-News Published:Tuesday, March 06, 2012, 2:27 PM

Clymer wants gamblers to anteup for state pensions

PDE Secretary's testimony ignoresimpact of nearly $1 billion in public school cuts

Value-Added Evaluation Hurts Teaching

New AP Courses to Emphasize Critical Thinking and Research

Roadblocks to Reading

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

“if any of us are confused about whether or not education funding has gone up or down since Gov. Corbett took office, we could just ask the students, the citizens, the school districts of Pennsylvania.”

March 8, 7 pm Lehigh CountyLegislative Forum on Public Education

Legislature,state education secretary spar over Corbett's budget

Governoraccused of using 'budgetary gimmicks' that obscure $100 million in cuts toschool districts.

By Steve Esack, Of The MorningCall 6:35 p.m. EST, March 5, 2012

Budgetary semantics and spiralingpension obligations.

Those topics denominated athree-hour-and-15-minute House hearing Monday on Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed$8.2 billion spending plan for public education for next year.

The Republicans and Democrats onthe House Appropriations Committee agreed that Corbett's proposal reduced2012-13 spending by $100 million over current levels.

Education Secretary Ron Tomalisdisagreed.

“Rep. Steve Samuelson,D-Northampton, said, “I might want to suggest that if any of us are confusedabout whether or not education funding has gone up or down since GovernorCorbett took office, we could just ask the students ..., the citizens, ... theschool districts of Pennsylvania.”

Disagreement exists over whether Pa.Gov. Tom Corbett's budget increases or decreases funding for schools

By JAN MURPHY, ThePatriot-News Published: Monday, March 05, 2012, 4:14 PM

There’s a disagreement over whether Gov. TomCorbett’s 2012-13 state budget proposal includes an increase or decrease in spendingfor public schools.

State Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis told theHouse Appropriations Committee that it essentially comes down to what getscounted.

Cyber charter school tochange name, focus

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

Districts say Corbett's budget jeopardizes future of school busing. School officials fear voters will have to choose between ending rides or raising taxes.

Monday March 5th– Call to Action – Take 5 minutes today.

Pleaseforward this information to any and all public education stakeholders.

Action Alert: Special Education Votes in March

Additionalinfo: http://reformspecialedfunding.org/2012/02/action-alert-special-education-votes-in-march/

Policy experts warn proposed statebudget hurts kids, taxpayers

By SaraK. Satullo | The Express-Times Published:Friday, March 02, 2012, 4:00 AM

Midstate school districts again facetough budget choices

Published:Thursday, March 01, 2012, 11:44 PM Updated: Friday, March 02, 2012, 9:23 AM

Legislators, schooldirectors to meet March 15 at BLaST IU in Canton

Court says Chester Community Charter School required todisclose financial records

Viewpoints: For California schools, weneed less testing and more assessing

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

Please consider bringing this sample resolution tothe members of your board.

Legislators join Partners for Public Education forum calling for action on public school cuts

PSBA Sample BoardResolution regarding the budget

NewYork Times - Mike Winerip: "Hard-Working Teachers,Sabotaged When Student Test Scores Slip." March 4, 2012.
READ ARTICLE >>

Teach for Us - Gary Rubenstein:"Analyzing Released NYC Value-Added Data." This three-partseries by Rubenstein offers a research-rich analysis of VAMs in New York. February, 2012
READ MORE>>

Monday March 5^th– Call to Action – Take 5 minutes today.

Monday March 5^th– Call to Action - Mark Your Calendar!

“Ron Cowell, a former state legislator and director of the EducationPolicy and Leadership Center, said Pennsylvaniaranks 46 out of the 50 states in terms of state education funding on a percapita basis.”
Legislatorsjoin Partners for Public Education forum calling for action on public schoolcuts