Susq Poll: Education tops list of voters' concerns/ Ed bills head to Senate/ Charter Schools have a friend/Charters denounce grad rate calcs

SUSQUEHANNA POLL

Education tops list of voters' concerns

By Mike Wereschagin
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

For the first time in three years, economic worries aren't the top concern among people in Pennsylvania, a poll finds.

A month after Gov. Tom Corbett proposed cutting state spending for public education by $1 billion, education rose to the top of voters' list of concerns, according to a Susquehanna Polling & Research survey. Twenty-three percent of people said education is their top concern, compared with 19 percent who cited the economy or jobs.

Read more: Education tops list of voters' concerns - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_730877.html#ixzz1IjrvqPx4


BUDGET CUTS: TAKE ACTION TODAY

Click here for links to quickly and easily contact 7 key legislative leaders and your own state legislators on the budget

Education bills head to Pa. Senate

By Amy Crawford
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A package of bills designed to free school districts from certain state mandates moved one step closer to becoming law on Tuesday, when the Senate Education Committee recommended 17 of the 18 bills for a full Senate vote.

The batch of bills, sponsored by the committee's Republican and Democratic chairs and several other Republicans, includes legislation that would permit school districts to furlough teachers for economic reasons. Other bills concern requirements for certain employee certifications, reports by districts to the state, and continuing education for teachers.

Read more: Education bills head to Pa. Senate - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_730867.html#ixzz1IjtAtQAW


Charter schools have a friend in the governor's office

Corbett wants to expand the role of charter schools in the state, but public schools say it's at their expense.

By Devon Lash, OF THE MORNING CALL

11:01 p.m. EDT, April 5, 2011

Under the governor's plan to expand charter schools inPennsylvania, taxpayers could lose their ability to say no to new charters while still having to foot the bill.

Rather than having home districts approve new charter schools, Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal — fleshed out last week when Senate Bill 904 was introduced — would create an independent state agency to consider applications for new charter schools and charter renewals. Cyber schools would also move under its purview.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-education-charter-schools-corbett-20110404,0,5065879.story

 

New Pa. graduation rate calculation denounced

By Jodi Weigand
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Charter and cyber school officials say a revised state formula to calculate graduation rates is unfair because it assumes students earn diplomas in four years, and students who struggle academically or socially might need more time to complete their education.

Read more: New Pa. graduation rate calculation denounced - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_730856.html#ixzz1IjtdbZ3s


Tredyffrin Resident Christine Johnson Says NO to SB 1 . . . Making your Voice Count!

PSBA's List: Pa. schools adopt wage freezes

http://www.psba.org/news-publications/headlines/details.asp?id=1767

PSBA's List: Pa. schools adopt wage freezes

As of 4/5/2011

Below is a list of school entities known to have adopted a wage freeze for 2011-12 budget. If your entity is not listed but has adopted a freeze, send updates to webmaster@psba.org:

ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF and TEACHERS

• Central Dauphin SD (Dauphin Co.)
• Hempfield SD (Lancaster Co.)
• Penn Manor SD (Lancaster Co.)
• South Williamsport Area SD (Lycoming Co.)
• Southern York SD (York Co.)
• Upper Adams SD (Adams Co.)
• Warwick SD (Lancaster Co.)

ADMINISTRATORS and TEACHERS

• Easton Area SD (Northampton Co.)
• Lower Dauphin SD (Dauphin Co.)
• SD of the City of York (York Co.)
• West Middlesex SD (Mercer Co.)

ADMINISTRATORS and STAFF

• Altoona Area SD (Blair Co.)
• Belle Vernon Area SD (Westmoreland Co.)
• Conestoga Valley SD (Lancaster Co.)
• Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center
• Manheim Central SD (Lancaster Co.)

ADMINISTRATORS ONLY

• Allentown SD (Lehigh Co.)
• Dallastown (York Co.)
• Delaware Valley (Pike Co.)
• Eastern Lancaster Co. SD (Lancaster Co.) *Administrators and Supervisors
• Elizabethtown Area SD (Lancaster Co.)
• Ephrata Area SD (Lancaster Co.)
• General McLane SD (Erie Co.)
• Hollidaysburg Area SD (Blair Co.)
• Lampeter-Strasburg SD (Lancaster Co.)
• Lancaster Co. Career & Technology Center
• Lancaster-Lebanon IU13
• Middletown Area SD (Dauphin Co.)
• Northeastern SD (York Co.)
• Oley Valley SD (Berks Co.)
• Richland SD (Cambria Co.)
• Seneca Valley SD (Butler Co.) *Administrators, Supervisors and Confidential Secretaries
• South Eastern SD (York Co.)
• Southern Tioga SD (Tioga Co.)
• Spring Grove Area SD (York Co.)
• Titusville Area SD (Venango Co.)
• Towanda SD (Bradford Co.)
• Tuscarora IU 11
• Tyrone Area SD (Blair Co.)
• Upper Merion Area SD (Montgomery Co.)
• Westmont Hilltop SD (Cambria Co.)
• West Shore Area SD (York Co.)
• Wyoming Area SD (Luzerne Co.)
• York Suburban (York Co.)

Save Full-Day K and sign up for Early Childhood Education Action Day, April 12th

About | Donate

In Governor’s Corbett’s proposed budget, he eliminates the Accountability Block Grant, a state program that has supported full day Kindergarten for 62,000 students and Pre-K for 3,500 students. Early education is critical in a child’s education, enabling them to be better prepared academically and helping to close the achievement gap.  Pre-K and Full day Kindergarten also enable parents to work and reduces employee absenteeism. Click here to contact your legislator and urge them to restore funding to the Accountability Block Grant.  Early Childhood Action Day. April 12th Last year, over 500 advocates filled the capitol rotunda calling for continued support for high quality, early childhood programs – Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Child Care Works and Keystone STARS. Our voices could be heard throughout the capitol gaining the attention of policymakers and staff! We have a new governor and many new members of the state legislature. This year more than ever, Pennsylvania policymaker are facing choices about how to allocate resources. We need you in Harrisburg on April 12 to help secure Investments in early learning programs. Register today. Join us in Harrisburg on April 12 for Early Childhood Action Day by clicking here. Please join us and help us carry the message that early childhood education is one of the wisest investments our state can make. Click here to forward this email to your friends. Thank you for your continued efforts and support. Sincerely, Susan Gobreski Executive Director

Results show Wisconsin voucher students test poorly

Results show Wis. voucher students test poorly

Washington Examiner, By: SCOTT BAUER 03/29/11 1:01 AM, Associated Press

Students who received vouchers to attend private or religious schools in Milwaukee performed worse on statewide reading and math tests than their counterparts in public schools, according to test scores released Tuesday that could play an integral role in whether the program expands statewide.

The results, released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, show that while scores statewide are improving, voucher students are nowhere near their public school counterparts — even in the Milwaukee public schools they left.

Currently, only low-income students in Milwaukee can receive a voucher from the state. Gov. Scott Walker wants to expand the program to all of Milwaukee County and phase out the low-income qualifying ceiling. Some Republican lawmakers are talking about making the program statewide, arguing the option should be available for students unhappy in public schools.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/03/results-show-wis-voucher-students-test-poorly#ixzz1IaAv1sjT

Cleveland students hold their own with voucher students on state tests

By Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer 

Published: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 9:37 AM 

The push is on to expand school voucher programs in Ohio, but new state data suggests that students who attend private schools with the help of taxpayer-funded vouchers don't necessarily fare better academically than the children they leave behind.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/02/cleveland_students_hold_own_wi.html

Posted on Tue, Apr. 5, 2011
Elmer Smith: Victory Academies: A plan we can all be for
By Elmer Smith, Philadelphia Daily News
Daily News Opinion Columnist
STATE SENS. Vincent Hughes and Anthony Hardy Williams can usually be found in the same foxhole when the shooting starts in Harrisburg.
When they do disagree, they tend to seek middle ground. Even when they can't work it out, the tiff rarely spills out into the public arena.
This time, it's different. They're on opposite sides of a wide philosophical gulf on the issue of school vouchers. There is no middle ground.
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/elmer_smith/20110405_Elmer_Smith_.html

Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog Posted at 10:45 PM ET, 04/04/2011
Vouchers, vouchers everywhere
By Valerie Strauss
Public education is facing enough obstacles these days without another one, courtesy of the Supreme Court. But on Monday, in a 5-4 vote, the court issued a ruling that supports an Arizona program that permits public money to be used for private schools, which are mostly religious.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/vouchers-vouchers-everywhere/2011/04/04/AFf3v6fC_blog.html

PA School Districts Brace for Big Cuts
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4^th 2011
By Dan Hardy and Adriene Lu
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110404_Pa__school_districts_brace_for_big_cuts.html?page=1&c=y

In the article below, it is unfortunate that Mr. Trombetta and Mr. Barker felt the need to paint all public schools with the same brush - as failing.  Here is the annual AYP status of Mr. Trombetta's PA Cyber School, the state's largest cyber charter, from PDE's website:

2003: Warning
2004: Made AYP
2005: Warning
2006: School Improvement I
2007: Making Progress
2008: School Improvement II
2009: Making Progress in School Improvement II
2010: Made AYP

PUBLISHED: MARCH 30, 2011 12:01 AM EST
Digital technologies must change failed public education model

GOERIE.COM OPINION BY JAMES BARKER AND NICK TROMBETTA, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Only a break with the past and an embrace of the present will give us the public education system we all need and want -- and our children deserve.

As local, state and national headlines remind us daily, our current model of public education is in a steep decline. Developed in response to the needs of the Industrial Revolution, it served our nation well through most of the 20th century. In recent decades, however, it has grown increasingly outmoded. Despite extraordinary reform measures, which have proved extraordinarily expensive yet exasperatingly ineffective, we merely have been prolonging the inevitable: public education, as we have known it, cannot be sustained.

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011303309987

BUDGET CUTS: TAKE ACTION TODAY

Click here for links to quickly and easily contact 7 key legislative leaders on the budget

Voucher Update/Budget

Voucher Update: PA House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on SB1 in Harrisburg Thursday 4/7 10:00 am at the Capitol; Full Senate may vote last week of April.

On Thursday, April 7, 2011 beginning at 10:00 am, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee will host a hearing on Senate Bill 1: the Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act.  The location is The Capitol, Room 418 Main Capitol Building 

The latest scuttlebutt on SB1 is that the Senate Appropriations Committee may vote the bill out of committee during the second week of April with the full Senate considering SB1 during the last week of April.

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader April 1, 2011
School voucher pros, cons debated

Democratic Policy Committee hearing addresses public funding of private schools.

By Christopher J. Hughes chughes@golackawanna.com
Go Lackawanna Editor

SCRANTON – Public and parochial schools had their say on proposed legislation before the state Senate regarding school vouchers during a Democratic Policy Committee hearing Thursday at Marywood University.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/School_voucher_pros__cons_debated_04-01-2011.html

When a school district goes under

What happens when a community no longer can afford to fund its schools? An Allegheny County town is finding out.

Darrin Youker , Reading Eagle 4/3/2011

School districts across Berks County are facing tough financial times, mired in multimillion dollar deficits that could necessitate deep staffing cuts.
Few predict next year's budgeting process will be any better.
In fact, a few have asked what will happen if a school district goes broke and can no longer afford to keep its doors open.
The answer to that question lies in the Duquesne City School District, located in a cash-strapped former steel town along the Monongahela River.

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=299011

Posted on Mon, Apr. 4, 2011

John Baer: Could 'stashed' funds help Pa. schools in crisis?

By John Baer, Philadelphia Daily News Political Columnist

I'M NEITHER a product of nor an apologist for public education. I understand how expensive and ineffective it can be. And urban education's worse, plagued by poverty, uninvolved parents, unyielding unions and overpaid administration.

But a close look at proposed state cuts to the Philadelphia School District and poorer districts suggests disproportionate targeting for suffering. And a look at money that most districts keep tucked away in special accounts suggests that maybe big cuts aren't really needed. 

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20110404_John_Baer__Could__stashed__funds_help_Pa__schools_in_crisis_.html

COMMENTARY: Gov. Corbett unwilling to engage voters about his proposed education cuts

Harrisburg Patriot News, Published: Sunday, April 03, 2011, 6:46 PM

By Laura Vecsey 

Gov. Tom Corbett's first budget has put the funding of education from kindergarten to graduate school in the crosshairs of a profound, bitter debate. 

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/commentary_gov_corbett_unwilli.html

Pocono Record March 31, 2011

Pa. school districts grapple with potential cuts

By KATHY MATHESON

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Teachers. Kindergarten programs. Art and music classes.

School officials across Pennsylvania say all that and more is on the chopping block in light of the governor's proposed $1 billion reduction in education funding.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110331/NEWS90/110339926/-1/rss01

Even the area's wealthier school districts are scrambling
By Jodi Weigand
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Monday, April 4, 2011

The financial problems facing Western Pennsylvania school districts don't discriminate.

Districts with the lowest property values have well-documented budget deficits, but the 10 on the high end have shortfalls as well, averaging more than $3.5 million.

Read more: Even the area's wealthier school districts are scrambling - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_730556.html#ixzz1IYC4pAZT

BUDGET CUTS: TAKE ACTION TODAY

Click here for links to quickly and easily contact 7 key legislative leaders on the budget

PN: Senator proposes rescue plan for state's struggling schools/ Senate Ed Committee plans vote on Mandate Relief Bills Tuesday, April 5th, including Furlough Bill/ Budget Take Action/ MCALL: ASD Cuts

Senator proposes rescue plan for state's struggling schools

Published: Saturday, April 02, 2011, 12:00 AM

By JAN MURPHY, The Patriot-News 

State Sen. Vincent Hughes isn't willing to rescue only a handful of students from the state's worst-performing schools. 
He wants to save all of them.
The Philadelphia Democrat plans to introduce legislation on Monday that focuses on fixing the state's 144 worst performing schools. They are all among the bottom 5 percent of the state's schools. 

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/senator_proposes_rescue_plan_f.html

Senate Education Committee plans to vote on Mandate Relief Bills on Tuesday, April 5th, including Furlough Bill

This includes Senate Bill SB61 (Folmer) which would provide for economic furloughs (similar to HB855).

Click here for a link to the meeting agenda that provides a brief summary of each of the 18 bills:

http://piccola.org/education/pdf/2011/bill-summary.pdf

BUDGET CUTS: TAKE ACTION TODAY

If you have not already done so, don't wait to take action on the budget.

Send this link to any public education stakeholders today to easily contact these legislative leaders:

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati
House Appropriations Chairman William Adolph
House Speaker Samuel Smith
House Majority Leader Michael Turzai
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi
and Governor Tom Corbett, all with one mouse click.

 One of my PTO contacts sent it to his list yesterday and it triggered over 150 hits on the website.  If just 10 or 20 of you could do the same…….

Click here for links to quickly and easily contact key legislative leaders on the budget

ASD chief walks conflicting course

As secretary of education, he championed teachers. Now he's cutting their jobs.

By Steve Esack, OF THE MORNING CALL

11:04 p.m. EDT, April 1, 2011

"We need more teachers in our district."

So said Allentown School District Superintendent Gerald Zahorchak on Thursday night to an anxious crowd of 700 parents, students, teachers and staff who filled South Mountain Middle School's auditorium.

Then, seemingly in the next breath, Zahorchak asked the school board to cut 247 teaching jobs — 17 percent of the teaching staff — as part of its motion to approve his program of studies for the next school year.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-teacher-cuts-0402-20110401,0,5386519.story

Budget/Vouchers/NAACP Rally Date Changed to April 26th

Editorial: Corbett bullying poor school districts

Delco Times, Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011

Ron Tomalis, meet Charlotte Hummel.
Tomalis is Gov. Tom Corbett's nominee to be secretary of education. Hummel is president of the William Penn School Board.
Tuesday, speaking before the state Senate Appropriations Committee, Tomalis admitted that the cuts proposed by his boss would likely have a more adverse effect on the state's poorest districts.
He should try telling Hummel something she doesn't know already.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/03/31/opinion/doc4d93e4f8b214e288197565.txt

Pennsylvania Legislature finishes hearings on Corbett's budget proposal

Patriot News, Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 4:34 PM 

The Pennsylvania Legislature is winding up three weeks of hearings on Gov. Tom Corbett's $27.3 billion budget plan.

Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee fired pointed questions Thursday at Charles Zogby, the governor's top budget adviser, about proposed deep cuts in education and other issues during a hearing that lasted more than three hours.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/03/pennsylvania_legislature_finis.html

If you have not already done so, don't wait to take action on the budget

Send this link to any public education stakeholders today to easily contact these legislative leaders:

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati
House Appropriations Chairman William Adolph
House Speaker Samuel Smith
House Majority Leader Michael Turzai
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi
and Governor Tom Corbett, all with one mouse click.

 One of my PTO contacts sent it to his list yesterday and it triggered over 150 hits on the website.  If just 10 or 20 of you could do the same…….

BUDGET CUTS: TAKE ACTION TODAY

Click here for links to quickly and easily contact key legislative leaders on the budget

School voucher proposal doesn't add up

Patriot News Opinion, Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 5:53 AM

By Chuck Mundy

There are questions you should be asking your state representatives/ senators regarding Senate Bill 1, the "Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act," aka the educational voucher program. 

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

Has your board passed a resolution opposing SB1 yet?

Click here for a PSBA sample board resolution opposing SB1: Sample Resolution

Camp Hill school board opposes vouchers

Patriot News, Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 12:33 PM

By Allison Dougherty 

Senate Bill 1, Pennsylvania's school-voucher bill, doesn't have the support of the Camp Hill Board of School Directors.

Voting 7-1, with one member absent, the board on March 21 adopted a resolution prepared by the Pennsylvania School Board Association opposing the voucher bill.

http://www.pennlive.com/west-shore/index.ssf/2011/03/camp_hill_school_board_opposes_vouchers.html

NAACP Rally Date Changed to April 26th

Please note that the NAACP Harrisburg Rally on Education has been rescheduled from Friday, April 22 to Tuesday, April 26^th.