Vouchers Friday March 4th

Voucher bill is a sham to skirt law

Allentown Morning Call, Paul Carpenter

6:51 p.m. EST, March 3, 2011

There is no way the proposed state school voucher legislation can do anything but damage the public school system.  There also is no way the measure can do anything but further enrich the operators of private and parochial schools, nearly all of which are operated by the politically powerful Roman Catholic Church.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/carpenter/mc-paul-carpenter-vouchers-20110303,0,7673538.column

 

Vouchers violate state constitution

Centre Daily Times – Opinion, Robert Speel

Robert Speel is an associate professor of political science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
March 4, 2011 12:32am EST

There is another movement afoot in the General Assembly to establish a school voucher program in Pennsylvania in which low-income students in poorly performing public schools could use their school’s per-pupil state subsidy as a voucher to attend a private school, including sectarian schools run by religious groups. There is debate over whether school vouchers are sound public policy or not. But the state constitution is clear: School vouchers for religious schools are unconstitutional in Pennsylvania unless the constitution is amended.
Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/03/04/2559849/vouchers-violate-state-constitution.html##ixzz1Fe0P3HTq

Vouchers are constitutional under U.S. and Pa. law

Patriot News OP/ED Published: Thursday, March 03, 2011, 9:05 AM  

Richard D. Komer is a senior litigation attorney at the Institute for Justice. Recently, he testified before the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in Philadelphia on the proposed voucher legislation

Pennsylvania’s General Assembly is now considering a proposal that would empower parents whose children are trapped in failing public schools to choose, if they so desire, to enroll their child in a private school and receive a scholarship, or voucher, to help pay the tuition.

While the debate swirls around the state, one fact is certain: School vouchers, as proposed by the Legislature, are absolutely constitutional under the federal and Pennsylvania state constitutions

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/03/vouchers_are_constitutional_un.html

Editorial: Vouchers put spotlight on education

Delaware County Daily Times Opinion Thursday, March 3, 2011

Pennsylvania is once again about to get a crash course in education vouchers.
Here is the CliffsNotes version of the debate. A bill proposed by what might appear to be the state Senate’s version of the Odd Couple — Republican Sen. Jeff Piccola of Dauphin County and Democrat Sen. Anthony Williams, who represents West Philly and a slice of Delaware County, would use state funds to subsidize “a choice” for lower-income families when it comes to where their kids are educated.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/03/03/opinion/doc4d6f1438275ca681745965.txt

Chi schools chief: Our students aren’t ‘failing’

Delaware County Daily Times Thursday, March 3, 2011

By LAURA WISELEY Times Correspondent

UPPER CHICHESTER — They’re straight-A students, actors, athletes, scientists and technology buffs.
And they sure don’t look like they’re “persistently failing” to Chichester School District Superintendent Barbara DiMarino.
“It’s such a harsh label,” DiMarino said of the designation, recently applied to Chichester High School by supporters of a controversial school voucher bill that would require taxpayers to subsidize the education of public school students from low-income families who want to attend state charter, private and parochial schools. “Especially for a school district that has such great students, teachers and administrators.”

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/03/03/news/doc4d6f15799d79b746882505.txt?viewmode=default

It’s all about the kids?/NYT: Teachers Wonder/ WAPO: My name is Luke and I refuse to take your test

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It’s all about the kids, but we’ll gladly accept the $850M too, as long as there are no strings attached.

The Voucher bill approved by the Senate Education Committee this week goes light years beyond Senator Williams' stated goal of providing options for poor minority students trapped in failing schools. 

At the Senate Education Committee meeting on March 1^st, Minority Chairman Andy Dinniman noted a “conservative estimate” that SB1 would cost $850 million in year three, when SB1 would provide vouchers to any poor student, even if they are already attending a private or parochial school and even if they happen to be living in Upper Saint Clair, Mount Lebanon, Lower Merion, Radnor or Tredyffrin Easttown, arguably the top school districts in the state.

Under SB 1, voucher recipient schools would reap the benefits of public tax dollars diverted from local school districts without any of the burden of public accountability or regulation.

Voucher proponents are already busy planning their intensive lobbying efforts with the Senate Appropriations Committee:

REACH Foundation

PA Catholic Conference

Commonwealth Foundation

BAEO

Keystone Christian Education Association

If you have not already contacted your State Senator and State Representative regarding SB1 please consider doing so today.

Link to Senate Appropriations Committee Member information:

SB1 will next be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  If your senator is on the committee please consider contacting them.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/cteeInfo.cfm?cde=3&body=S

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Teachers Wonder, Why the Scorn?

New York Times

By TRIP GABRIEL, Published: March 2, 2011

The jabs Erin Parker has heard about her job have stunned her. Oh you pathetic teachers, read the online comments and placards of counterdemonstrators. You are glorified baby sitters who leave work at 3 p.m. You deserve minimum wage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/education/03teacher.html?_r=1&ref=tripgabriel

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 03/ 2/2011

March Madness: 'My name is Luke and I refuse to take your test'

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog, By Valerie Strauss

This was written by Timothy D. Slekar, head of the Division of Education, Human Development and Social Sciences at Penn State Altoona, and a parent. This appeared on The Huffington Post.

By Timothy D. Slekar

"I'm inviting you to join a real conspiracy, call it an open conspiracy, with real consequences on millions of real lives. I know that sounds megalomaniacal, but be patient. If we pull this off, a great many will bless us, although the school industry few will curse us. This is about a project to destroy the standardized testing industry... This adventure is called 'The Bartleby Project.'" John Taylor Gatto. (Weapons of Mass Instruction, New Society Publishers 2008)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/guest-bloggers/a-father-agonizes-should-his-s.html

March 2, 2011

Senate Education Committee Passes SB 1 with 8-2 Vote

PSBA Coverage and roll call vote:

http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/03/from-psba-senate-education-committee.html

SB1 Vote Reactions, Video and Press Coverage

http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/03/sb1-reactions-video-and-press-coverage.html

There Are No Silver-Bullets in Education Reform

E.D. Kain, Forbes.com Blog, February 28, 2011

http://blogs.forbes.com/erikkain/2011/02/28/there-are-no-silver-bullets-in-education-reform/

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 03/ 1/2011

Jon Stewart's hysterical defense of teachers

By Valerie Strauss, Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog

Jon Stewart (finally) did a hysterical bit on Monday night’s “Daily Show” about the preposterous attacks on the nation’s public school teachers, who have been accused by school “reformers” of being lazy, greedy and lousy at their jobs. Stewart hasn't done much on the issue of education reform in the past, but this week he is diving in -- last night with his attack on teacher attackers, and on Thursday night with a visit by education historian Diane Ravitch to talk about what she calls our “national insanity” over school reform.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/laugh-and-cry/jon-stewart-hystericals-defens.html

SB1 Reactions, Video and Press Coverage

Statement from PSBA on the passage of SB 1 from the Senate Education Committee, 3/1/2011

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association is disappointed in today's action by the Senate Education Committee to approve SB1, legislation that calls for the use of tax dollars to pay a student's tuition to attend a nonpublic or private school. The association remains opposed to SB 1, noting that it creates a system that is unaccountable, unaffordable, unpopular, unproven and unconstitutional

Read more: http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=1667

Piccola & Williams Applaud Committee's Endorsement of SB 1

HARRISBURG – The Senate Education Committee took a historic and monumental step today as it endorsed legislation sponsored by Chairman Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin/York) and Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) reigniting the debate on school choice in Pennsylvania by giving parents the right to choose the best school for their child, regardless of school district or residential zip code

Read more: http://piccola.org/press/2011/0311/030111.htm

Link to video (1:58) of March 1^st Senate Education Committee Meeting and text of 3 amendments adopted:

http://piccola.org/education/2011/030111/agenda.htm

Posted on Tue, Mar. 1, 2011

Pa. school voucher bill passes key committee

By Adrienne Lu, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A controversial proposal to allow school vouchers in Pennsylvania cleared a key legislative committee on Tuesday.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20110301_Pa__school_voucher_bill_passes_key_committee.html

State plan for school vouchers advances

By Jodi Weigand
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Wednesday, March 2, 2011

It likely will be at least another month before the full Senate takes up the first school voucher bill to begin moving through the state Legislature in nearly a decade.

Read more: State plan for school vouchers advances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_725231.html#ixzz1FRHFn7AC

School vouchers clear first hurdle

Senate panel advances bill, but fight is just starting on school choice, which could cost $1 billion a year

By John L. Micek, ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL HARRISBURG BUREAU

10:45 p.m. EST, March 1, 201

A bill that would allow some parents to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to send their children to the school of their choice has cleared its first legislative hurdle. But Tuesday's vote by a state Senate panel portends a protracted and emotional fight.

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-school-vouchers-vote-20110301,0,353998.story

Link to Senate Appropriations Committee Member information:

SB1 will next be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  If your senator is on the committee please consider contacting them.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/cteeInfo.cfm?cde=3&body=S

From PSBA - Senate Education Committee Passes SB 1 With 8-2 Vote

Here’s a link to the roll call vote:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/RCC/PUBLIC/listVoteSummary.cfm?sYear=2011&sInd=0&chamber=S&cteeCde=23&theDate=03/01/2011&rNbr=64

From: PSBA's Office of Governmental and Member Relations
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 12:57 PM
Subject: Senate Education Committee Passes SB 1 With 8-2 Vote

Tuition Voucher Bill Passes With 8-2 Vote More Info March 1, 1011 Senate Education Committee Moves Voucher Bill With 8-2 Vote This afternoon, March 1, the Senate Education Committee voted to approve SB 1, the taxpayer-funded tuition voucher bill introduced by Senators Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin), committee chairman, and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia). The bill was approved with a vote of 8-2, with Senators Jim Ferlo (D- Allegheny, Armstrong, Westmoreland) and Daylin Leach (D-Delaware, Montgomery) opposing the bill. The bill was moved out of the committee following a lengthy discussion on a number of amendments relating to issues of funding and costs, constitutional impediments, measures of academic success and mandated religious instruction. Discussion in favor of the bill was dominated by Senators Piccola and Williams. Concerns about the bill were raised by Senators Dinniman (minority chairman of the committee), Ferlo and Leach, who each offered amendments addressing various points. It was acknowledged by the minority chair that the cost of the voucher program under SB 1 would reach $1 billion by the third year. Nevertheless, only three amendments were adopted, none of which substantively change the provisions of SB 1. The committee approved three amendments, offered by Sen. Piccola, that: * Prohibit athletic recruiting of opportunity scholarship recipients by either school districts or participating nonpublic schools. * Require participating nonpublic schools to be nonprofit entities that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and to make their written policies. regarding such matters as academics, extracurricular activities, admissions, tuition, religious studies and discipline available upon the request of parents seeking to enroll their children in the school. * Make technical amendments to the bill to clarify the following: (1) eligibility of students to participate in years 1 and 2; (2) definition of "persistently lowest achieving school"; (3) reimbursement of transportation expenses; (4) manner of awarding vouchers; (5) funding of program by appropriations and moneys in the excess scholarship fund; (6) transitional funding for students currently attending public schools; (7) timing of EITC applications; and (8) division of EITC funds among scholarship organizations and educational improvement organizations. Among the amendments that were rejected by the committee are those that would: * Require voucher recipients attending a participating nonpublic school to take the PSSA or any successor tests implemented for public school students to comply with federal law. It also required the Department of Education to determine whether each participating nonpublic school is making adequately yearly progress and to annually publish aggregate data on academic performance for voucher students tested, except where the number of students tested is so low as to make their identities known. * Require nonpublic schools to administer an assessment or a nationally normed standardized test in the same subject areas that are part of the PSSA state assessments in grades 3 - 8 and 11. The Department of Education must publish a listing of recognized nationally normed tests that may be used by a participating nonpublic school, and to report test scores. * Require a participating nonpublic school to provide voucher recipients the ability to opt out of religious instruction or ceremonies. * Clarify that nonpublic schools could not discriminate against students with disabilities regarding admissions. * Require each school district to include with its annual property tax bill a notice stating the estimated costs of complying with SB 1. * Remove language of SB 1, which deals with the reduction of student aid to a school district in the second year of the program due to a voucher recipient enrolling in a participating nonpublic school. * Eliminate Year 3 of the voucher program and increases the total available credits to the EITC program in 2013-2014 fiscal year from $100 million to $150 million. * Clarify that voucher funds received by a participating nonpublic school may be subject to audit in accordance with law. * Require a participating to return the full amount of the voucher when the recipient is expelled by or requested or directed to withdrawal by the participating nonpublic school. * Reduce the contribution deduction percentage for business firms making an EITC donation from 75% to 65% for an annual donation and 90% to 80% for a two year commitment. The bill will now move to the full Senate for further consideration and, if passed, move to the House Education Committee.

Public Meeting in Pittsburgh on March 15th - State Funding for Public Education: Progress or Retreat?

State Funding for Public Education: Progress or Retreat?

A Public Meeting featuring Ron Cowell,

President of the Education Policy and Leadership Center

Will there be enough money for the public schools in the Pennsylvania budget? There is a renewed interest in vouchers. What impact will any changes have on our schools?

Ron Cowell, former Chair of the Pa House Education Committee, will address funding for public education in general, Governor Corbett's proposed budget, and related legislation which has been introduced. These issues are important.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 - from 5:00 PM to 7:45 PM

CAPA High Theatre, 111 9th Street

in the downtown Cultural District

A light supper will be served free to all at this meeting

Co-sponsors for this meeting are:

League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

A+ Schools

Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers,

The Consortium for Public Education

The Black Political Empowerment Project

For further information call the LWV office at 412-261-4284 or email info@pgh.lwv.org

SB1 - A Taxpayer Funded Bailout of Struggling Parochial Schools?

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SB1 – A Taxpayer Funded Bailout of Struggling Parochial Schools?

Over the past several years market forces have resulted in the closing of many parochial schools due to changing demographics and subsequent reduced demand (see Dan Hardy’s article in today’s Inquirer, below).  At the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing held in Philadelphia last week, Mary Rochford, School Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, testified that there are presently over 13,000 empty seats in Philadelphia’s Catholic schools and another 19,000 empty seats in the five suburban counties.  

Meanwhile, at the same hearing, Philadelphia School District Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery estimated that Philadelphia's public schools could lose $40 million in state funding next year if SB 1 is passed.  SB1 would drain critical resources from students and schools that can least afford it.

 To my knowledge, there is no data demonstrating that any private or religious schools are more effective than traditional public schools when they have a school population of students in poverty that is over 80%, like the 144 schools associated with SB1.

While SB1 has been positioned as a vehicle to help families that cannot afford tuition escape failing public schools, year three of SB1 would provide vouchers to any poor student, even if they are already attending a private or parochial school and even if they happen to be living in Upper Saint Clair, Mount Lebanon, Lower Merion, Radnor or Tredyffrin Easttown, arguably the top school districts in the state.

Pennsylvania Constitution Article §15.

 Public school money not available to sectarian schools.

“ No money raised for the support of the public schools of the  Commonwealth

 shall be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian school.”

FYI, here’s a link to the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference’s website, advocating for SB1:

http://www.pacatholic.org/catholic-education/school-choice-vote-in-senate-education-committee/

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Posted on Tue, Mar. 1, 2011

Archdiocese will close seven elementaries

By Dan Hardy, Inquirer Staff Writer

The Philadelphia Archdiocese announced Monday that seven small parish elementary schools - four in Philadelphia and three in Bucks County - will close at the end of this school year.  The announcement continues a longtime trend of declining numbers in the area's Catholic schools, reflecting the shrinking of church membership.

Parish elementary school enrollment in the archdiocese has fallen 18 percent during the last five years; high school enrollment has dropped 20 percent.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20110301_Archdiocese_will_close_seven_elementaries.html

As you read this posting about Wake County’s efforts, keep in mind that the average percent of students on subsidized lunches for the 144 schools associated with Pennsylvania’s Senate Bill 1 is 80.8%, vs. a statewide average for all school of 39.1%.

Seeking Integration, Whatever the Path

By MICHAEL WINERIP

NY Times, Published: February 27, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — For decades, the Wake County Public School System — the nation’s 18th largest — has been known as a strong academic district committed to integration.  From the 1970s to the 1990s, that meant racial integration.

In 2000, after courts ruled against using race-based criteria, Wake became one of the first districts in the nation to adopt a system of socioeconomic integration. The idea was that every school in the county (163 at present) would have a mix of children from poor to rich. The target for schools was a 60-40 mix — 60 percent of students who did not require subsidized lunches and 40 percent who did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/education/28winerip.html?_r=1&ref=education

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog Posted at 5:00 AM ET, 03/ 1/2011

Ravitch: 'A moment of national insanity'

I'm beginning to think we are living in a moment of national insanity. On the one hand, we hear pious exhortations about education reform, endlessly uttered by our leaders in high political office, corporate suites, foundations, and the media. President Obama says we have to "out-educate" the rest of the world to "win the future."

Yet the reality on the ground suggests that the corporate reform movement --- embraced by so many of those same leaders, including the president --- will set American education back, by how many years or decades is anyone's guess. Sometimes I think we are hurtling back a century or more, to the age of the Robber Barons and the great corporate trusts.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/diane-ravitch/ravitch-a-moment-of-national-i.html?wprss=answer-sheet