Showing posts with label School Funding/Budgets; ACT 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School Funding/Budgets; ACT 1. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

PA Ed Policy Roundup Oct. 25: “in PA, only 18% of Latino & 17% of African-American 4th-graders scored at or above proficient in reading”

Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Wolf education transition team members, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup Oct. 25, 2017:



Poverty and limited educational opportunities put immigrant and minority children at a disadvantage: study
A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that children of color and children in immigrant families in Pennsylvania continue to face barriers in their educational development and other areas.
Penn Live By Ivey DeJesus idejesus@pennlive.com Updated on October 24, 2017 at 6:33 AM Posted on October 24, 2017 at 6:30 AM
Children of color and those of immigrant families continue to face disproportionate disadvantages from poverty, limited educational opportunities and family separation. That's according to a new report out Tuesday from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which shows that children of color and children from immigrant families in Pennsylvania continue to face barriers  to healthy child development and educational parity. These factors, the authors point out, are exacerbated by policies that limit resources and threaten to rip families apart. The report - entitled the 2017 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children - for example finds that in Pennsylvania, only 18 percent of Latino and 17 percent of African-American fourth-graders scored at or above proficient in reading. It finds that 92 percent of all Pennsylvania babies are born at a healthy birth weight, a critical factor in the healthy development of children. But among African-American babies -- only 87 percent are born at a healthy weight. 

Report Shows Wide Disparities in Opportunities for PA Kids
A new report says greater investment in high-quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs would help ensure children's later school success.
Public News Service October 25, 2017
HARRISBURG, Pa. - There are wide and persistent disparities in opportunities for African-American and Latino children in Pennsylvania, according to a new report. The 2017 "Race for Results" report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that white children in Pennsylvania ranked 20th in an index by state of key indicators for kids' education, health and family stability, but African-American children ranked 32nd and Latino children 48th. Joan Benso, president and chief executive of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, pointed to what she called the state's broken school-funding system as a major factor in the differences. "The disparities for children that are English-language learners and often low-income, as well as the disparities of children who are African-American and tend to be concentrated in communities of poverty, is that much more egregious than it is for white children statewide," she said. Among the report's findings are that only 18 percent of Latino and 17 percent of African-American fourth-graders in Pennsylvania scored at or above proficiency in reading. This year's report also includes data on children of immigrants. Nationally, said Laura Speer, associate director for policy reform and advocacy at the Casey Foundation, one in four of these children lives below the federal poverty line.  "Only 47 percent of kids in immigrant families live in households with sufficient income," she said, "even though the majority of immigrant parents are in the workforce." The report said there are almost 320,000 children in immigrant families in Pennsylvania. 

“A study (pdf) of low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia, for example, found a ratio of one book for sale for every 300 children.”
Reprise May 2011: A Book in Every Home, and Then Some
New York Times BY DAVID BORNSTEIN  MAY 16, 2011 9:30 PM May 16, 2011 9:30 pm
Fixes looks at solutions to social problems and why they work. When we imagine people without books, we think of villagers in places like Afghanistan. But many families in the United States have no children’s books at home. In some of the poorest areas of the country, it’s hard to find books for sale. A study (pdf) of low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia, for example, found a ratio of one book for sale for every 300 children. Tens of millions of poor Americans can’t afford to buy books at all. Tapping a vast potential market of young readers too poor to buy books. At Fixes, we like to highlight creative ways that markets can be harnessed to extend access to vital services like electricity, credit, or water. Today, I’m focusing on a nonprofit organization called First Book, which is spearheading a new market mechanism that is delivering millions of new, high quality books to low-income children through thousands of nonprofit organizations and Title I schools.

“Fewer than half of Philadelphia fourth graders now read at grade level. But a citywide, multiagency, multimillion-dollar campaign aims to change that, doubling the number of children who hit that goal by 2020.”
Reprise Feb 2017: How Philly plans to get more kids reading by fourth grade
Mayor Kenney, who was honored as a “Reading Hero,” made it clear: the goal is “one of the most crucial priorities” of his administration.
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer  @newskag |  kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: FEBRUARY 23, 2017 — 5:14 PM EST
Fewer than half of Philadelphia fourth graders now read at grade level. But a citywide, multiagency, multimillion-dollar campaign aims to change that, doubling the number of children who hit that goal by 2020. About 100 people gathered Thursday at City Hall to talk about the goals, progress, and promise of Read by 4th, an effort of the School District, the city, and the Free Library. Mayor Kenney, who was honored as a “Reading Hero,” made it clear that the goal is “one of the most crucial priorities” of his administration. With a push from Kenney, the city has invested millions in pre-kindergarten programs and on community schools, which embed social services in school buildings to help eliminate barriers to academic success. A controversial tax on sugary beverages is to pay for the programs.  The Read by 4th campaign aims to boost early literacy by improving the quality of reading instruction in city schools, addressing barriers to student attendance, promoting summer reading to ward off learning loss, and working with parents to help strengthen students’ reading skills. William R. Hite Jr. has made the goal a centerpiece of his superintendency. But a few years ago, getting 80 percent of fourth graders reading on target seemed “almost an impossible feat,” he said.

Blogger note: Many thanks to Pennsylvania public education stakeholders who reached out to their state senators regarding SB2 over the past several days. Your advocacy makes a difference.
SB2: School 'voucher' bill fails to make it out of Senate committee by one vote
Morning Call by Steve Esack and Jacqueline Palochko Contact Reporters Call Harrisburg Bureau October 24, 2017
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
A school choice bill that is being closely watched by both sides of the issue failed to make it out of a state Senate committee by one vote on Tuesday. The bill, similar to how vouchers work, would allow parents in the lowest performing schools to use their child’s state per-pupil expenditure to pay for for private schools, tutors, standardized tests, textbooks and special education services. Under the bill, the money would go into an education savings account — ESA — that would be controlled by the state Treasury and unused money could roll over to the next school year. The bill died in the Senate Education Committee in a 6-6 tie, meaning it won’t go on to the Senate for a full vote. But it first appeared as if it narrowly passed in a 6-5 vote. It came to light later in the day that a proxy no vote had not been counted.

SB2: Controversial school choice legislation defeated on a tie vote in Senate committee
Penn Live By Jan Murphy jmurphy@pennlive.com Posted on October 24, 2017 at 3:46 PM
School choice legislation gaining traction across the nation hit a roadblock in the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. At the committee meeting, it appeared a bill, sponsored by Sen. John DiSanto, R-Dauphin County, that would establish education savings accounts narrowly passed by a 6-5 vote. Afterward, it came to light that a proxy vote by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-Bucks County, opposing the bill had not been counted. Committee executive director Lee Derr said as a result, the vote was struck and it's as if the bill, and the amendment to it that the committee approved, didn't happen. "There was a dispute over the timing" the proxy was received, Derr said. "Rather than argue, we try and have a collegial relationship with folks so we effectuated the proxy as he desired." The bill will remain in committee for now, Derr said. He added that he anticipated that DiSanto will work with Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, on changes to the legislation in hopes of flipping Williams' negative vote on the bill to an affirmative one. Williams, a school choice proponent, voted against the bill because he said he wasn't involved in its drafting and wasn't prepared to vote on a bill without an understanding of how it impacted his constituents' interests. 

SB2: Education savings accounts: 'dangerous scheme' or 'critical lifeline'?
Trib Live bt NATASHA LINDSTROM  | Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, 6:48 p.m.
A controversial proposal to let Pennsylvania parents send their children to private schools on the taxpayer dime faltered Tuesday in the state Senate soon after the bill appeared to advance. Senate Bill 2 outlines a plan that would make Pennsylvania the seventh state to offer education savings accounts , or ESAs. Under the bill, parents or guardians could apply for ESAs for children in grades K-12 if they live within the boundaries of a public school ranked in the bottom 15 percent in the state. Any household could apply, regardless of how much money they make. Shortly before noon Tuesday, the bill by Sen. John DiSanto, R-Dauphin County, appeared to clear the Senate Education Committee on a 6-5 vote. But hours later, the committee struck down the vote after learning that Republican Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-Bucks County, had tried to send a proxy on his behalf but the proxy mistakenly missed the vote.
The committee plans to take up the proposal again in coming weeks.

“A Keystone Crossroads analysis of enrollment data found that there are currently more than 220,300 such students in nearly 400 schools spread across 44 of the state’s 67 counties. So, potentially, that means $1.7 billion dollars could be taken away from public schools, possibly forcing the need for further school closures and consolidations.”
SB2: New Pa. plan could help 220k students attend private school, putting a fifth of the state public school budget at risk
WHYY By Kevin McCorry August 15, 2017
A powerful coalition of Pennsylvania lawmakers is promoting a forthcoming education savings account (ESA) bill that would allow hundreds of thousands of students in the state to use public money to pay for private school tuition. The proposal could dramatically alter the state’s K-12 education landscape, potentially siphoning away about a fifth of the state’s overall support for public schools. With this savings account plan, funds currently allocated for support of public schools would be deducted from state coffers and made directly available to parents to help cover the cost of a list of education-related expenses including private school tuition, textbooks, industry certifications, and tutors. “The people of the United States have decided to fund education in a public manner, but they have not given the government authorization to decide where children go to school,” said John DiSanto, R-Dauphin County, the bill’s lead sponsor. “The world’s changing.”
The plan aligns with the priorities set forth by President Donald Trump and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Eligibility would be limited to parents who have a student currently attending a public school who live within the catchment of a public school deemed by the state to be in the bottom 15 percent of quality based on standardized tests.

SB2: Tuition voucher bill could cost school districts $500 million
PSEA Website October 24, 2017
On Oct. 24, state Senate Education Committee members voted on a tuition voucher bill that could cost school districts more than $500 million. However, due to a procedural issue, the bill has been returned to the committee, where it could be voted again at any time. The plan would redirect state subsidy dollars for use at non-public schools. Students who attend public schools that score in the lowest 15 percent on state math and reading standardized tests would be eligible. “It’s extremely disappointing that state senators think voting on tuition voucher schemes should be a priority for the General Assembly,” said PSEA President Dolores McCracken. “This bill could cut more than $500 million from school districts that need state funding the most. “For many of these school districts, the losses would end up being more than the 2011 state funding cuts that threw our public schools into crisis.” If it becomes law, the voucher bill would siphon more money from Pennsylvania's most financially needy school districts than those districts lost when lawmakers cut nearly $1 billion in state funding in 2011.

Fights Over Transgender Coverage Could Delay PA CHIP Reauthorization
WESA By KATIE MEYER • 6 HOURS AGO
A Senate committee has moved a bill to reauthorize Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program—or CHIP. CHIP has existed for decades in Pennsylvania. But this time, the bill is controversial. It includes a component that would prohibit the state from insuring transgender kids’ transition surgeries and related needs, like counseling. In August 2016, the commonwealth’s longstanding policy to not cover reassignment surgeries and associated services changed, when the Obama administration issued a rule saying Medicaid and CHIP couldn’t exclude or limit coverage for gender confirmation-related services. But the Trump administration stopped enforcing that rule. And now state lawmakers have to decide whether coverage should continue. Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vince Hughes said right now, he’s focused on making sure CHIP reauthorization isn’t affected. “Potentially we could be disrupted by something I think is completely unnecessary and clearly, clearly, has discriminatory aspects to it,” he said. The component of the bill being debated is an amendment introduced by Armstrong County Republican Donald White, who said in a statement that it’s “inappropriate” for the CHIP program’s “limited resources to be used for sex change procedures.”

Still at-odds with House, Senate assembles new gambling plan
WITF Written by Katie Meyer, Capitol Bureau Chief | Oct 23, 2017 6:51 PM
 (Harrisburg) -- This week the state Senate is expected to consider a budget proposal that's already been approved by the House, and leaders say the borrowing-heavy plan might be the only avenue to finding consensus. But disagreements remain on a key component of the revenue package: how to expand gambling. Many House members have long wanted to legalize remote video gaming terminals--or VGTs-- in bars and taverns. They argue illegal terminals already exist, and should be regulated. But in the Senate, leaders have been blunt. Republicans and Democrats both say the terminals are off the table. Senate Republican Leader Jake Corman said an alternative might be creating small, so-called ancillary casinos--though he sees hurdles there too. "One thing I'm looking for in that is some sort of local input," he said. "For a casino to pop up in someone's community, I think the community should have some sort of input." Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa also said that even with ancillary casinos, the legislature might not be able to come up with the $265 million dollars the House earmarked for gaming revenue.

Pennsylvania House passes fiscal code, keeping progress toward state budget closure on track
Penn Live By Charles Thompson cthompson@pennlive.com Updated on October 24, 2017 at 11:51 PM Posted on October 24, 2017 at 9:03 PM
The Pennsylvania state House has passed a key bill in the deficit-patch being crafted to complete the $32.0 billion 2017-18 state budget. The so-called fiscal code, often characterized as the operator's manual to the state budget because it sets parameters for disbursement of certain appropriations, passed Tuesday on a 109-75 vote. House passage came on a bipartisan vote, with 67 Democrats and 42 Republicans voting yes. The code bill now goes to Gov. Tom Wolf's desk. Wolf's Press Secretary J.J. Abbott said the governor supports many aspects of the omnibus bill, but needs to review it in its entirety before acting on it. The bill is considered critical to the budget because it carries at least $500 million in one-time fund transfers that are a big part of the package being cobbled together to close a $2.3 billion state deficit.

State lawmakers optimistic a budget deal is within reach
Trib Live by WES VENTEICHER  | Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, 6:15 p.m.
State legislators are homing in this week on a revenue package that favors borrowing and transferring funds over imposing new taxes to close a $2.2 billion budget gap and end a four-month stalemate. Disagreement persisted Tuesday between the House and Senate over proposals to expand gambling to bring in needed revenue, but some officials in Harrisburg expressed optimism that an agreement is within reach. The House reconvened Tuesday, and an agreement could come as early as Wednesday. “Knocking wood, we do hope to get something finalized this week,” House Republican spokesman Steve Miskin said. “I think everybody's working toward that and trying to work together to get legislation to the governor's desk.” House Republicans want to legalize and tax the thousands of video gambling terminals that Pennsylvania State Police say bars and convenience stores are illegally operating. The Senate prefers proposals to expand casino-style gambling and legalize internet gaming.

“The SRC is expected to consider, and approve, a resolution to begin the process of dissolution at its next meeting, on Nov. 16. The Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, currently Pedro Rivera, would have to approve the action by the end of this year in order for a new Board of Education to be in power before the next gubernatorial election — hedging against fears that a Republican governor hostile to Philadelphia's interests and to increased education spending may defeat Gov. Wolf.”
Kenney administration is moving to set up transition from SRC to local control
"Friends of" groups are being asked to suggest names for a nominating committee and for a new nine-member Board of Education.
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa October 24, 2017 — 6:15pm
The Kenney administration is actively seeking suggestions from various education stakeholders in the city, including "friends of" school groups, for people to serve on a 13-member nominating committee that will vet potential Board of Education members as the movement toward local control for the Philadelphia School District picks up steam. An email from Jeff Hornstein, president of the umbrella group Friends of Neighborhood Education (FONE), to colleagues around the city confirms a planned timeline for dissolving the School Reform Commission before the beginning of the next school year in September and installing a local Board of Education to take over governance of the District.  The Notebook obtained a copy of the email. If the SRC is dissolved, governance of the District will revert to what it was before the state took over city schools in 2001, which was a nine-member Board of Education appointed by the mayor. At the Nov. 2 City Council meeting, City Hall sources said, a resolution will be offered to amend the city charter to require Council approval of any mayoral appointees to a new school board. Under the current charter, Council approval is not required for school board nominees. Changing the charter would also require voters' approval of a ballot question; an election could be held in the spring.

District is adding support staff for English learners
More teachers and bilingual counseling assistants have been hired. Bilingual psychologists will be next.
The notebook by Greg Windle October 24, 2017 — 5:13pm
Superintendent William Hite joined City Council members and advocates at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Northeast Philadelphia to celebrate the hiring of new staff for English learners and the expansion of services for immigrant students and families across the District. “Diversity is our strength,” Hite said. “We will always celebrate the differences of our young people and their families and ensure members of our school communities have the opportunity and the right to access a free public education that develops their fullest potential.” The District’s population of English learners has grown to more than 14,000 students, speaking 126 languages. And 14 percent of all Philadelphians are immigrants. “Real investment in language access and multilingual supports for students and families is critical for the success of Philadelphia’s school community,” said City Council member Maria Quinones-Sanchez. “We all benefit from the cultural richness and diversity that new Philadelphians bring to our city, and no child or parent should be unable to access our education system due to a language barrier.”

Lawsuit seeks removal of Lower Merion school board
Inquirer by Kathy Boccella, Staff Writer  @Kathy_Boccella |  kboccella@phillynews.com Updated: OCTOBER 24, 2017 — 12:10 PM EDT
A lawyer who successfully sued the Lower Merion School District for exaggerating multimillion-dollar budget deficits to justify large tax increases now wants the court system to remove the entire school board and force the return of $300,000 it paid to lawyers. Arthur Wolk of Gladwyne filed the lawsuit Friday in Montgomery County Court on behalf of 18 residents calling for the removal of the nine board members and the appointment of substitutes, which is permitted under the Pennsylvania School Code. Wolk maintains the board has not followed the orders of Judge Joseph Smyth, who in August 2016 ruled that the district withdraw a 4.4 percent tax increase for the 2016-17 school year. The district fought that ruling, but its appeal was dismissed; the district is now seeking a hearing before the state Supreme Court. In the meantime, the 4.4 percent tax increase remains in effect. “It was clear to us that the school board was not changing its practices in spite of the other lawsuit,” Wolk said in an interview. “They continue to violate the law, and they continue to be arrogant about it.” In a brief statement, the school district said its lawyers had not yet had a chance to discuss the most recent suit with the school board.

Auditor General DePasquale Says Audit of Scranton School District Shows Extreme Dysfunction, Serious Financial Instability
Poor contract oversight, excessive spending put district on road to possible state financial recovery status
PA Auditor General’s website October 24, 2017
SCRANTON (Oct. 24, 2017) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said his recent performance audit of the Scranton School District, Lackawanna County, shows serious financial instability and an extreme level of board and administrative staff dysfunction rarely observed in school district audits. “The Scranton School District is in self-inflicted financial and operational distress,” DePasquale said. “There is way too much finger pointing going on in this district, and no one is taking responsibility for anything.  “Unless the district makes significant operational changes and reverses the current state of its financial affairs it may well be placed in Financial Recovery Status which means loss of local control of district operations,” he said. The 107-page audit report, which covers July 2012 through June 2016, contains nine findings and 38 recommendations for improvement.

Guest Column: Funding for CHIP should be reauthorized as soon as possible
Delco Times By Ryan Costello, Times Guest Columnist POSTED: 10/24/17, 7:52 PM EDT
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6, represents parts of Berks, Chester, Lebanon, and Montgomery counties, and is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. 
For two decades, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has offered vital services to families across the country, including right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In fact, Pennsylvania launched statewide CHIP in 1992 and it has been recognized as the model for federal CHIP, which launched five years later in 1997. CHIP provides affordable and comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage for children under 19 whose families do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot access insurance through a private plan. By filling this gap in insurance coverage, CHIP has lowered the number of uninsured children significantly, and provides peace of mind and invaluable health coverage for many families, including in our community. I have heard concerns from constituents regarding the availability and longevity of CHIP funding, as the deadline to reauthorize the program was the end of September. The exhaustion of resources varies by each state, and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) projects Pennsylvania’s funds will be depleted in February 2018. There is longstanding bipartisan commitment to the policy of CHIP, but currently, there are a variety of perspectives in Congress as how to pay for CHIP. While the funding is not expected to be used before this deadline, I have been urging a swift resolution to reauthorize the program.

The Polarizing Pick to Be Betsy DeVos' Right-Hand Man
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Alyson Klein on October 24, 2017 5:12 PM
Mick Zais, President Donald Trump's nominee to fill the No. 2 spot at the U.S. Department of Education, has some big things in common with his would-be boss, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. They're both believers in school choice and a smaller foot-print for the federal government in K-12. They both like the idea of a slimmer bureacracy. And they're both politically polarizing. As state chief in South Carolina from 2011 to 2015, Zais cut about 10 percent of the staff at the state department of education. He championed a tax-credit scholarship for students in special education, charter schoool legislation, and an expansion of virtual schooling. He fought against the Common Core State Standards. And he was reluctant to take federal Race to the Top and education jobs funding, even at the height of a protracted recession.  Some South Carolina school choice proponents say Zais brought a fresh perspective to the state's schools. But he had a strained relationship with many educators and their advocates. They describe him as aloof, ideological, and largely ignorant of the day-to-day operations of school districts.


Webinar: Get the Facts on the Proposed Constitutional Amendment
OCT 31, 2017 • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Registration Required
Recently passed through the General Assembly as House Bill 1285, Joint Resolution 1 proposes to amend the constitution by authorizing the General Assembly to enact legislation allowing local taxing authorities (counties, municipalities and school districts) to exclude from property taxation up to the full assessed value of each homestead/farmstead property within the taxing jurisdiction. If approved, what does this change mean for schools in PA? In this complimentary webinar, learn about the legislative history, facts and implications of the amendment so you can make the decision that is right for you on Nov. 7.
Presenters include:
·         Nathan Mains, PA School Boards Association;
·         Hannah Barrick,  PA Association of School Business Officials
·         Jim Vaughan,  PA State Education Association
·         Mark DiRocco, PA Association of School Administrators
None of the organizations sponsoring this webinar have a position on the ballot question. The objective of the webinar is purely information based and to separate fact from fiction.
Register online here:  GoToWebinar.com
https://www.psba.org/event/webinar-proposed-constitutional-amendment/

Cyber Charter School Application; Public Hearing November 20
Pennsylvania Bulletin Saturday, October 14, 2017 NOTICES - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Department of Education (Department) has scheduled one date for a public hearing regarding a cyber charter school application that was received on or before October 2, 2017. The hearing will be held on November 20, 2017, in Heritage Room A on the lobby level of 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126 at 9 a.m. The hearing pertains to the applicant seeking to operate a cyber charter school beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. The purpose of the hearing is to gather information from the applicant about the proposed cyber charter school as well as receive comments from interested individuals regarding the application. The name of the applicant, copies of the application and a listing of the date and time scheduled for the hearing on the application can be viewed on the Department's web site at www.education.pa.gov. Individuals who wish to provide comments on the application during the hearing must provide a copy of their written comments to the Department and the applicant on or before November 6, 2017. Comments provided by this deadline and presented at the hearing will become part of the certified record. For questions regarding this hearing, contact the Division of Charter Schools, (717) 787-9744, charterschools@pa.gov.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education Cyber Charter School Application for Commonwealth Education Connections Cyber Charter School 2017
Charter School Application Submitted: September 27, 2017

Delaware County Leaders Announce Groundbreaking Supreme Court Decision for Public Education Wed. Oct 25th 9:00 am Lansdowne
Community leaders, education advocates, parents to read from landmark ruling
Lansdowne (Oct 18, 2017) – On Wednesday, October 25th, Delaware County civic organizations, school districts will be joined by parents and advocates from across Delaware County to hail the landmark ruling by the PA Supreme Court (William Penn v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of Ed) that school districts and parents the opportunity to prove the case that the current method of funding school violates the education funding and equal protection clauses of the Pennsylvania constitution.
Reversing a precedent more than 20 years old, the Supreme Court has announced that the Commonwealth Court must hear the plaintiffs cases against the governor, the legislature, and the PA Department of Education.
WHAT:              Press conference and live reading to announce the PA Supreme Court Decision
WHO:               Rafi Cave, School Board Vice President, William Penn School District
Michael Churchill, Esq., Public Interest Law Center
Lawrence A. Feinberg, Co-Chair, Keystone State Education Coalition
Jane Harbert, Superintendent, William Penn School District
Jennifer Hoff, School Board President, William Penn School District
Shirlee Howe, Education Coordinator (Montco and Delco Counties), PCCY
Tomea Sippio-Smith, Education Policy Director, PCCY
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, Esq., Public Interest Law Center
WHEN:             Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 9-10AM
WHERE:           Penn Wood High School, Green Avenue Campus
                        100 Green Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050
RSVP to shirleeh@pccy.org or call 215-563-5848 x34.
Seventh Annual Pennsylvania Arts and Education Symposium, November 2, 2017 Camp Hill
The 2017 Pennsylvania Arts and Education will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg Convention Center in Camp Hill.  See the agenda here.
Early Bird Registration ends September 30.
https://www.eplc.org/pennsylvania-arts-education-network/


Support the Notebook and see Springsteen on Broadway
The notebook October 2, 2017 — 10:57am
Donate $50 or more until Nov. 10, enter to win – and have your donation doubled!
"This music is forever for me. It's the stage thing, that rush moment that you live for. It never lasts, but that's what you live for." – Bruce Springsteen
You can be a part of a unique Bruce Springsteen show in his career – and support local, nonprofit education journalism!  Donate $50 or more to the Notebook through Nov. 10, and your donation will be doubled, up to $1,000, through the Knight News Match. Plus, you will be automatically entered to win a pair of prime tickets to see Springsteen on Broadway!  One winner will receive two tickets to the 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, show at the Walter Kerr Theatre. These are amazing orchestra section seats to this incredible sold-out solo performance. Don't miss out on your chance to see the Boss in his Broadway debut. Donate to the Notebook today online or by mail at 699 Ranstead St., 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
http://thenotebook.org/articles/2017/10/02/springsteen-on-broadway

Registration now open for the 67th Annual PASCD Conference  Nov. 12-13 Harrisburg: Sparking Innovation: Personalized Learning, STEM, 4C's
This year's conference will begin on Sunday, November 12th and end on Monday, November 13th. There will also be a free pre-conference on Saturday, November 11th.  You can register for this year's conference online with a credit card payment or have an invoice sent to you.  Click here to register for the conference.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/PASCD-Conference-Registration-is-Now-Open.html?soid=1101415141682&aid=5F-ceLtbZDs

Register for New School Director Training in December and January
PSBA Website October 2017
You’ve started a challenging and exciting new role as a school director. Let us help you narrow the learning curve! PSBA’s New School Director Training provides school directors with foundational knowledge about their role, responsibilities and ethical obligations. At this live workshop, participants will learn about key laws, policies, and processes that guide school board governance and leadership, and develop skills for becoming strong advocates in their community. Get the tools you need from experts during this visually engaging and interactive event.
Choose from any of these 10 locations and dates (note: all sessions are held 8 a.m.-4 p.m., unless specified otherwise.):
·         Dec. 8, Bedford CTC
·         Dec. 8, Montoursville Area High School
·         Dec. 9, Upper St. Clair High School
·         Dec. 9, West Side CTC
·         Dec. 15, Crawford County CTC
·         Dec. 15, Upper Merion MS (8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m)
·         Dec. 16, PSBA Mechanicsburg
·         Dec. 16, Seneca Highlands IU 9
·         Jan. 13, A W Beattie Career Center
·         Jan. 13, Parkland HS
Fees: Complimentary to All-Access members or $170 per person for standard membership. All registrations will be billed to the listed district, IU or CTC. To request billing to an individual, please contact Michelle Kunkel at michelle.kunkel@psba.org. Registration also includes a box lunch on site and printed resources.

Save the Date! NSBA 2018 Advocacy Institute February 4-6, 2018 Marriott Marquis, Washington D.C.
Registration Opens Tuesday, September 26, 2017


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Thursday, June 8, 2017

PA Ed Policy Roundup June 8: Rising pension costs, higher charter school payments eating up increases in property tax revenue

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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup June 8, 2017:


School districts reaching a 'tipping point' on being able to deliver quality education
Penn Live BY JAN MURPHY  jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated on June 7, 2017 at 3:35 PM Posted on June 7, 2017 at 3:15 PM
The bleak picture painted by a recent statewide survey on the 2017-18 school district budget outlook looks a lot like ones produced from the same survey done in the past few years.  In the 332 school districts that responded to the survey, budgetary challenges are causing seven in 10 districts to look at property tax increases for next year. In many cases, that is accompanied by furloughs, program cuts, delayed textbook purchases, postponed maintenance projects, and dipping into reserve accounts.  "Given where we are in state budgets and given the amount of mandated costs we have, we can't do anything different than we've done over the course of the last seven state budgets," said Jay Himes, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, which sponsored the annual survey along with the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.  Property tax increases are being eaten up by rising pension costs, special education spending, and higher charter school tuition payments, Himes said. That often leaves districts with only the increases in state subsidies to pay for the other expenses districts incur.

How Pennsylvania school districts are trying to balance the books for next year: By slashing staff, hiking taxes
Ellwood City Ledger By Katherine Schaeffer Calkins Media Jun 6, 2017
As Pennsylvania’s school districts prepare to approve final budgets for the 2017-18 school year, many have confronted the need to raise taxes and make cuts to personnel or programs “just to keep their heads above water,” according to a report released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. The findings, based on May survey responses from about two-thirds of the commonwealth’s school districts, show that school boards and administrators have chosen to take such measures in attempt to keep pace with rising state-mandated costs and inadequate state funding. The report's release comes a little more than three weeks ahead of the state’s June 30 deadline for school districts to adopt general-fund budgets for the 2017-18 school year.

Blogger note: Please consider asking your state senator to cosponsor legislation being proposed by Senators Browne and Vulakovich that would establish a Charter School Funding Advisory Commission.  This would be similar to the Basic Education Funding Commission and Special Education Funding Commission, both of which did good bipartisan work.
Cosponsorship MEMORANDUM Posted: April 25, 2017 03:46 PM
From:                Senator Patrick M. Browne and Sen. Randy Vulakovich
To:                    All Senate members
Subject:            Charter School Advisory Commission
In the near future, Senator Vulakovich and I will introduce legislation to establish a Charter School Advisory Commission to review and make recommendations concerning charter and cyber charter school funding.  This commission will consist of members of all four caucuses, including the majority and minority chairs of the Appropriations and Education Committees, two members appointed by the House and Senate majority leaders and one member appointed by the House and Senate minority leaders and the Secretary of Education.
The commission shall be charged with examining all current laws, regulations and executive policy statements which determine funding for charter and cyber charter schools in the Commonwealth.  The commission shall issue a report with its findings and recommendations, no later than eighteen months from the effective date of the legislation. The Charter School Advisory Commission will operate in a similar manner to the Special Education and Basic Education Funding Commissions and the Public School Construction and Reconstruction (PLANCON) Advisory Committee.  I hope that you will join us as a co-sponsor of this important legislation.

Budget crunch: Pa. faces possible $3 billion shortfall
Inquirer by Angela Couloumbis, Harrisburg Bureau  @AngelasInk |  acouloumbis@phillynews.com Updated: JUNE 7, 2017 6:35 PM
HARRISBURG —  And so it begins.  It’s budget crunch time in the Pennsylvania Capitol, and the state treasurer and auditor general ratcheted up the normal yearly pressure Wednesday with a warning: The state’s strapped.  “If this were a household,” Treasurer Joseph M. Torsella told reporters, “we would be living on our credit card for eight months out of the year.”  In a letter to legislators, he and Auditor General Eugene A. DePasquale projected that state government may have to borrow as much as $3 billion for operating expenses between this July, when the new fiscal year begins, and next April.  That projection, of course, assumes that lawmakers and the administration don’t agree on ways to raise state revenues. Expect public grandstanding and backroom deal-making until June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Pennsylvania may need outside lending help to prop up budget
WITF Written by The Associated Press | Jun 7, 2017 11:45 AM
 (Harrisburg) -- Pennsylvania's state treasurer and auditor general are warning lawmakers the state government's worsening long-term deficit may require it to borrow money from an outside lender to prop up routine budgeted operations.  The letter, delivered to lawmakers today, says the commonwealth may need to borrow as much as $3 billion between July and next April. The letter comes as Democratic Governor Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature eye a projected $3 billion deficit through July 1, 2018. That's almost 10 percent of the state's approved budget.  In recent years, the state has drawn on a low-interest credit line from the state treasury.  But Treasurer Joe Torsella and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale say there may not be enough money in the treasury's long-term investment fund to meet the state's needs in the coming year.

“House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, said the vote was an important step before budget negotiations heat up this month. It was not clear whether it would garner support from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf or the Republican-controlled state Senate, which passed a much narrower gambling bill last month. But Reed said that there is little support in the House for the money-raising alternative, a tax increase.”
Pa. House OKs biggest gambling expansion in years
Delco Times By Marc Levy, The Associated Press POSTED: 06/08/17, 5:02 AM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa. >> The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Wednesday night passed sprawling gambling legislation, unveiled just hours earlier, to expand casino-style gambling to the internet, airports, bars and elsewhere in a move that could shape how the state government deals with its deficit-riddled finances this summer.  The bill was marshaled by Republican majority leaders toward the floor vote, a last-ditch move to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from taxes and license fees to help prop up, if temporarily, the state’s threadbare treasury. The bill represents perhaps Pennsylvania’s biggest gambling expansion since it legalized casinos in 2004, a law that made it the nation’s No. 2 commercial casino revenue state.  It passed narrowly, 102-89, less than a year after similar legislation failed in the House. The vote capped years of unsuccessful efforts by some lawmakers to bring legal gambling to bars.

McCarter, Sturla seek to amend the way cyber charter schools are funded
PAHouse.com   June 7, 2017 | 2:55 PM
HARRISBURG, June 7 – At a Capitol news conference today, state Rep. Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery, and House Democratic Policy Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, called attention to legislation that would amend the Public School Code to change the way cyber charter schools are funded.  Their bill — H.B. 1206 — seeks to cap the amount of funding unaffiliated cyber charter schools receive for students who live in an area in which the school district or an intermediate unit operates its own cyber charter school. Under their proposal, unaffiliated cyber charter schools would receive either the per-student funding amount of the school district cyber school program or the intermediate unit cyber school program, whichever figure is higher.  “The actual cost of cyber charter education has dropped dramatically in the 20 years since Pennsylvania’s charter school legislation was passed, whereas our reimbursement formula for cyber charters, which is still based on the cost of a brick-and-mortar education, has not, and the Pennsylvania taxpayer has shouldered the burden,” McCarter said.  Sturla added: “I want all Pennsylvania kids to have access to exceptional educational opportunities and to do that, we need to have fair, reasonable and accountable reimbursement practices in place. The proposal by Representative McCarter and myself is a fair and reasonable approach that makes sure cyber charters aren’t receiving more than what it costs to provide an educational experience to students.”

Inside and outside the classroom, after-school programs work: Another View
PENNLIVE OP-ED By Laura Saccente, Ryan Aument, John Yudichak, Bernie O'Neill and Jake Wheatley Updated on June 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM Posted on June 7, 2017 at 7:30 AM
Laura Saccente is the director of the the Pennsylvania Statewide/Afterschool Youth Development Network and the Pennsylvania Afterschool Caucus; State Sen. Ryan Aument, a Republican, represents the Lancaster County-based 36th Senate District; Sen. John Yudichak, a Democrat, represents the Luzerne County-based 14th Senate District; Rep. Bernie O'Neill, a Republican, represents the Bucks County-based 29th District, and Rep. Jake Wheatley, a Democrat, represents the Allegheny County-based 19th House District. They write from Harrisburg.
The President's 2018 fiscal budget eliminates federal funding for after-school programs, saying there is no evidence of their impact.  That is not the case here in Pennsylvania, where after-school programs are a proven, high yield investment in our kids, our communities and our economy.  Every one dollar invested in after-school programs saves at least THREE DOLLARS by increasing kids' earning potential, improving kids' performance at school and reducing crime and juvenile delinquency.   At the end of a typical school day, learning and growth do not stop for the 40,000 Pennsylvania youths enrolled in approximately 460 high quality, school based and community powered after-school programs that are funded in part by the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program - the one the president wants to end.

Pennsylvania has some of the most unfair congressional districts in the country.
Fair Districts PA Website
Gerrymandered district lines weaken the power of our votes—and politicians are working behind closed doors to keep it that way. We all pay the price.

Deborah Gordon Klehr, executive director of the Education Law Center, spoke about the battle for equity in public education.  Klehr said the lawsuit about school funding asks the court to enforce the state constitution’s education clause, which requires that the General Assembly provide a thorough and efficient system of public education.  “It also asks the court to enforce the equal protection provisions of our state constitution. Pennsylvania schools remain one of the most inequitably funded in the country,” Klehr said.
On behalf of six school districts and six parents, the plaintiffs' lawyers have argued that the General Assembly and governor are evading their constitutional responsibility. The state counters that school funding is a legislative responsibility and that the courts have no jurisdiction in the matter. Last year, the Commonwealth Court dismissed the suit on those grounds, and the plaintiffs appealed that ruling to the state Supreme Court in September. The Philadelphia District is not among the plaintiffs, but it filed an “amicus” brief in support of their position, and several of the parents in the case live in the city.
Both Klehr and Jennifer Clarke, executive director of the Public Interest Law Center, said the work of the Notebook was instrumental in getting the word out about the funding case and other critical issues facing Philadelphia’s schools.
In Pennsylvania, state contributions to public schools rank 46th out of 50 states. The state is also No. 1 in the gap in funding between the wealthiest and poorest school districts. As a result, local districts disproportionately rely on local taxes to fund their schools.
A decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is pending.”
Notebook honors student journalists and lawyers working for fair education funding
The notebook by Michael Vinci June 7, 2017 — 5:56pm
The Philadelphia Public School Notebook hosted its 13th annual celebration and student journalism award ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the University of the Arts.   This year’s event also honored the lawyers from the Education Law Center, the Public Interest Law Center, and New York law firm O’Melveny & Myers, who are working on Pennsylvania’s landmark education funding lawsuit.  Business leaders and elected officials mingled with students, parents, and educators at the event. In addition to the ceremony and speakers, a silent auction with a large number of items took place. All proceeds benefit the Notebook.  Science Leadership Academy took the award for best school news website. The Parkway Press of Parkway Center City High School won first place for school news for its series of articles about upheavals and transitions in the school. Second place went to Ebony Graham, and third place to Ellery Schiller, both Masterman students.

Staff at Innovative Arts Academy Charter School say special education needs not being met
Sarah M. Wojcik Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call June 7, 2017
Staff at the Innovative Arts Academy Charter School told trustees and administrators Wednesday night that the school was failing to meet the needs of the special needs students in their care. Principal Douglas Taylor, who specialized in special education during his teaching career, disputed the allegations levied at the meeting and said afterward that this was the first time he'd heard such complaints from staff.  Ann Tarafas, a special education teacher at the Catasauqua charter school that serves sixth- through 12th-graders, said the school was failing to follow through on the promise in its charter to meet the needs of students with individual education programs. These special plans are provided for students who need extra support in the classroom.  Tarafas, one of two special education teachers at the career-focused school, said the faculty is not equipped to provide the necessary services for students under their care. She said better staffing and resources are necessary for the school to properly fulfill its obligations.
"I am doing the best that I can," Tarafas said. "The state has told me we are not in compliance. I'm not making it up. I have no reason to make it up. I am trying my hardest."

“Should the SRC schedule a meeting in which it plans to decide on renewals of 23 charter schools with less than a week’s notice?
The district’s budget shows that it will spend $894 million — about one-third of the budget — on charters next year. Shouldn’t the SRC allow enough time for those paying the tab to read the reports? They may want to ask why schools that have met none of the standards are being recommended for renewal.”
School Reform Commission still a destructive agency
Inquirer Opinion by Lisa Haver Updated: JUNE 7, 2017 — 8:32 PM EDT
Lisa Haver is a retired teacher and co-founder of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools.
In April, the Inquirer/Daily News conducted a reader survey on whether City Council should hold hearings on Council’s $17 million budget.  No surprise that most who responded voted “Yes.” Taxpayers want to know how elected officials are spending their money, and they want to have their say about it.  Most Philadelphians probably feel the same about appointed officials, especially those who hold the purse strings on a budget that totals almost $3 billion. The School Reform Commission, after 16 years of everything but reform, continues to earn its reputation as the city’s least transparent, most destructive governmental body, second only, perhaps, to the Philadelphia Parking Authority.  My reader survey would ask these questions:

“Most of the accelerated and transition schools are run under contract by outside providers. The biggest is Camelot, which works with school districts in seven states to provide accelerated and transition programming. Camelot favors a tight structure for students, with constant supervision, from the classroom to the hallway, and a strict behavioral system that allows students to rise in rank and earn privileges.”
Where students can take a different approach
Accelerated schools offer a chance to gain credits more quickly. Other District options aim to fit children’s varying circumstances.
The notebook by Greg Windle June 7, 2017 — 1:30pm
At age 20, Dylan Hill will finally graduate high school this summer.  After three years at Tacony Academy Charter, he had accumulated only half the credits he needed, so he tried the cyber school route, enrolling first in Pennsylvania Cyber Charter –– drawn by its ads and what his friends told him – and then Agora Cyber Charter.  He says he spent a nightmarish two years fruitlessly trying to enroll in the right courses and get teachers to pay attention to him, as well as find and update his transcript. After this five-year odyssey, he found One Bright Ray, which runs three of the Philadelphia School District’s “accelerated schools,” designed to re-engage students and lead them on a path to their diplomas.  In one year there, he has accumulated enough credits to graduate.  “Teachers are down to earth with the students and give us one-on-one attention more often,” Hill said. “They make you actually want to come to school and learn.”  The journey of Jeffrey Martinez, 17, has been shorter. He will graduate in June after three years in high school.  Martinez had first tried one of the District’s new innovative schools, the U School, which counts on students to take more control over their own education. It wasn’t a good fit for him.  “I felt I needed to be handled by more strict rules,” he said.

Penn State doctoral student among 12 selected for NASA astronaut program
Centre Daily Times BY LORI FALCE lfalce@centredaily.com June 7, 2017
There are 12 new astronaut candidates in the United States, and one of them is a Nittany Lion.
On Wednesday, NASA announced it had picked a dozen people to explore strange new worlds — or at least to go into orbit around the planet — from a pool of applicants that has more than doubled since it’s previous record.  Zena Cardman is a newly minted pick for NASA’s 2017 class of astronauts. She is also a Penn State doctoral student in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, studying the reactions between rocks and microbes.  Cardman was one of more than 18,300 people who let NASA know they want to go to space. The last record was 8,000 in 1978, just three years before the launch of the first space shuttle mission in 1981.


Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 31 - June 6, 2017
FairTest Submitted by fairtest on June 6, 2017 - 3:00pm 
Intense controversies over testing continue at the state and local levels.  Many legislatures and school boards are responding to the demands of grassroots assessment reformers by eliminating some standardized exams and reducing the stakes attached to their scores.

Education Budget Hearing Exposes Chasm Between GOP and Trump
Nearly every GOP member of the Senate appropriations subcommittee criticized aspects of the education spending plan.
US News and World Report By Lauren Camera, Education Reporter | June 7, 2017, at 3:04 p.m.
President Donald Trump's education spending plan faces continued criticism. (EVAN VUCCI/AP)
When Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos testified before a Senate appropriations subcommittee Tuesday regarding the president’s budget proposal, her remarks that private schools must follow federal law if they receive federal funding received the lion’s share of attention.  But the hearing, during which nearly every GOP members criticized aspects of the spending plan, also exposed just how far apart the Trump administration’s education agenda is with that of Republicans in Congress, perhaps foreshadowing how likely – or not – the White House is to achieve any of its policy priorities.  GOP leadership was quick to call the budget blueprint “dead on arrival” when the administration unveiled it last month, and chairman of the appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., followed suit at the start of the hearing.  “This is a difficult budget request to defend,” he said in opening remarks. "It's likely that the kinds of cuts proposed in this budget will not occur."  What followed, however, was a systematic rebutting of the spending plan by Republican members who argued that the administration’s proposal to ax education funding by more than $9 billion and eliminate dozens of federal education programs would undermine the most underserved and disadvantaged students in their state.

When Do Voucher Programs Allow Private Schools to Discriminate Against Students?
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Andrew Ujifusa on June 7, 2017 11:28 AM
It's one of the bigger topics in federal education policy right now: What are the federal laws governing discrimination when it comes to private schools? And what's Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' position on the issue?   In a Senate budget hearing Tuesday, DeVos repeatedly told lawmakers that, "Schools that receive federal funds must follow federal law, period." But she also said that the U.S. Department of Education won't be issuing decrees to schools about discrimination, leaving the future of LGBT students, for example, unclear under any federal voucher program.  But what's the lay of the land right now in state voucher programs? We've got you covered. We took a look at those programs along with our colleague Arianna Prothero of the Charters and Choice blog in a story this week. The short answer? Aside from explicit prohibitions on racial discrimination, there aren't many anti-bias guardrails in states' vouchers. As we reported in the story, researchers have found that, "Not a single state protects LGBT students within its voucher law's anti-discrimination language."  Defenders of DeVos' position have argued that it's not the job of the Education Department to make a legal determination of which groups of students are covered by federal anti-discrimination laws. During the hearing, for example, Sen. Roy Blunt, D-Mo., noted that it's up to Congress and the courts to reach such a resolution. 


Principal Advocacy Day at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 19, 2017 at The Capitol in Harrisburg
PA Principals Association Website Wednesday, June 7, 2017 10:03 AM
The PA Principals Association is holding its second annual Principal Advocacy Day at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 19, 2017 at The Capitol in Harrisburg, PA. Once again, a rally in support of public education and important education issues will be held on the Main Rotunda Steps from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Visits with legislators will be conducted earlier in the day. More information will be sent via email, shared in our publications and posted on our website closer to the event.
To register, send an email to Dr. Joseph Clapper at clapper@paprincipals.org before Friday, June 9, 2017.
Click here to view the Principal Advocacy Day Save The Date Flyer.

Apply Now for EPLC's 2017-2018 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program!
Education Policy and Leadership Center
Applications are available now for the 2017-2018 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).  The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC). Click here for the program calendar of sessions.  With more than 500 graduates in its first eighteen years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.  State Board of Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants. Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization.  The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 14-15, 2017 and continues to graduation in June 2018.

Nominations for PSBA Allwein Advocacy Award due by July 16th
The Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award was established in 2011 by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and may be presented annually to the individual school director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform.  In addition to being a highly respected lobbyist, Timothy Allwein served to help our members be effective advocates in their own right. Many have said that Tim inspired them to become active in our Legislative Action Program and to develop personal working relationships with their legislators.  The 2017 Allwein Award nomination process will begin on Monday, May 15, 2017. The application due date is July 16, 2017 in the honor of Tim’s birth date of July 16.

Pennsylvania Education Leadership Summit July 23-25, 2017 Blair County Convention Center - Altoona
A three-day event providing an excellent opportunity for school district administrative teams and instructional leaders to learn, share and plan together
co-sponsored by PASA, the Pennsylvania Principals Association, PASCD and the PA Association for Middle Level Education
**REGISTRATION IS OPEN**Early Bird Registration Ends after April 30!
Keynote speakers, high quality breakout sessions, table talks on hot topics, and district team planning and job-alike sessions will provide practical ideas that can be immediately reviewed and discussed at the summit and utilized at the district level.
Keynote Speakers:
Thomas Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools, a project of the Alliance for Excellent Education
Kristen Swanson, Director of Learning at Slack and one of the founding members of the Edcamp movement 
Breakout session strands:
*Strategic/Cultural Leadership
*Systems Leadership
*Leadership for Learning
*Professional and Community Leadership 
CLICK HERE to access the Summit website for program, hotel and registration information.

Save the Date 2017 PA Principals Association State Conference October 14. 15, 16, 2017
Doubletree Hotel Cranberry Township, PA

Save the Date: PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference October 18-20, Hershey PA



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