Tuesday, February 23, 2021

PA Ed Policy Roundup February 23, 2021 After 10+ years and 2,928 daily postings, the PA Ed Policy Roundup has come to the end of its run.

 Keystone State Education Coalition

PA Ed Policy Roundup February 23, 2021

After 10+ years and 2,928 daily postings, the PA Ed Policy Roundup has come to the end of its run.

 After 10+ years and 2,928 daily postings, the PA Ed Policy Roundup has come to the end of its run.

Primarily carried out on a volunteer basis, our goal has been to promote public discussion among all stakeholders around the myriad issues connected to public education in Pennsylvania. Our “North Star” has been to support the mission of public education, creating informed American citizens.

Thank you for enabling me with your enthusiastic support, encouragement, participation and content contributions over the years.

For over twenty years I have been closely following the issues and concerns surrounding charter and cyber charter funding and accountability along with their impact, especially upon students in our most underfunded school districts. Charters certainly have a place in our education landscape but there are critical issues, particularly funding, which have been exacerbated this past year with the impacts of COVID-19.

 I have been given the opportunity to focus my time, energy and advocacy efforts on building statewide support for the development and enactment of legislation that would provide regulatory and funding changes to Pennsylvania’s 23-year-old Charter School Law.

 This morning, PSBA announced the launch of the Keystone Center for Charter Change. I have been appointed to be the director of this new endeavor.

 Here is a link to this morning’s announcement:

PSBA Announces the Launch of the Keystone Center for Charter Change

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) announced today, the launch of the Keystone Center for Charter Change. PSBA has long advocated on behalf of its membership—the public school districts of the commonwealth—for change to Pennsylvania’s flawed and outdated Charter School Law.

“PSBA is pleased to continue this important work in support of our public school districts, with this initiative,” stated Nathan Mains, PSBA chief executive officer. “Additionally, it is my distinct honor to announce Mr. Lawrence A. Feinberg as the director of the new Keystone Center for Charter Change,” highlighted Mains. “His background as a board president and a more than 20-year veteran as school board director for Haverford Township School District, along with his many other involvements in public education advocacy will provide the impactful leadership needed for the initiative. We look forward to continuing the work that PSBA has focused on over numerous years, with the additional framework and support of the Keystone Center for Charter Change to see it through,” Mains added.

More here: https://www.pacharterchange.org/2021/02/23/psba-announces-the-launch-of-the-keystone-center-for-charter-change/

 

I am excited and honored to accept this new role. Much of what I have been personally committed to and devoted my time to over these years has led up to the work that will be carried out through the center.

 I look forward to raising awareness statewide and informing the legislative dialogue to bring about substantive change, working with PSBA staff, the members of the Center’s residency program and advisory board.

To that end, tomorrow morning, instead of the PA Ed Policy Roundup you will see our first daily “PA Charter Change Roundup”.

 These new daily emails will be archived and searchable at the center’s dedicated website: PACharterChange.org.

 Visit us on Facebook at: pacharterchange

Follow us on Twitter at: @pacharterchange

And on LinkedIn at Keystone Center for Charter Change

 You can reach me in my new role as the director of the Keystone Center for Charter Change at: larry.feinberg@psba.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

 I will continue to follow and tweet about other major issues like fair funding, budgets, the school funding lawsuit, equity, COVID/reopening, recruiting and retaining minority educators and standardized testing on my personal Twitter account @lfeinberg, however I will remain focused on the core mission of the Keystone Center for Charter Change utilizing the PA Charter Change communication avenues. I invite you to stay connected!

 Thank you and warmest regards,

 Larry Feinberg

Friday, February 19, 2021

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb. 19, 2021: Charter School Funding – Examining the 25% Myth; Same as it ever was – 2021 edition of Voucher Bill

Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org

Visit us on Facebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

 

If any of your colleagues would like to be added to the email list please have them send their name, title and affiliation to KeystoneStateEdCoalition@gmail.com

 

Keystone State Education Coalition

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb. 19, 2021

Charter School Funding – Examining the 25% Myth;

Same as it ever was – 2021 edition of Voucher Bill

 

 

Happy Friday! PA Ed Policy Roundup will take a pause for a few days. Look for a brand new newsletter coming out next Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

 

 

“If I could pick a topic to add just one more thing about in my last article, it would be school funding, especially in the areas of cyber charter schools and special education. Through the years both have cost school districts an enormous amount of money and have impacted taxpayer dollars.”

Superintendents' forum: Just one more thing

Reading Eagle Opinion By Dr. Robert Pleis Twin Valley School District February 18, 2021

This is my last article for this column. On March 31, I am retiring from public education after 35 years of service. Writing for the superintendents' forum has been an enjoyable experience and an opportunity not only for me but for my superintendent colleagues in Berks County to share their thoughts and opinions about education priorities and issues. It is hard to believe that we have been writing articles monthly for the past nine years. Thank you to the Reading Eagle for your willingness to partner with us in this endeavor, and I hope it will continue for a long time. When looking through the history of articles written for this column, you can see patterns emerge on particular topics that were important and at the forefront of discussion. For example, many of the articles written during the 2012-2013 school year dealt with standardized testing, classroom practices and the emerging impact of technology in education. In 2013-2014 there was an emphasis on school safety and student needs such as relationship-building and addiction issues.

Then, of course, there is no surprise that articles this school year dealt with one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, the COVID-19 pandemic. Though you would expect articles to reflect the times, some topics have come up year after year, including school funding, standardized testing and school property taxes.

https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/columnists/superintendents-forum-just-one-more-thing/article_a82931ee-6f89-11eb-802c-6746380dec0f.html

 

Frustrations over cyber charter schools continue in Towanda

Towanda Daily Review By SAMANTHA LATOS Staff Writer Feb 18, 2021

TOWANDA BOROUGH – Officials at the Towanda Area School District are frustrated that the district funds local cyber charter schools out from its allotted budget for the 2020-2021 school year. The district has a budget of $500,000 for this school year and the cyber charter schools cost about $32,000 per month, according to Superintendent Dennis Peachey. He related that charter schools generally see the worst academic performance in Pennsylvania and that remote learning plays a factor. “There’s no truancy laws with virtual learning,” Peachey said during Tuesday night’s board meeting. He said that so far this school year, 54 Towanda district students have been enrolled in different cyber charter schools. There are currently 37 of these students in cyber charter schools including 25 from the high school and 12 from elementary. This trend in lowering numbers is headed in the right direction, according to Peachey. “We’ve had 17 withdraw and come back, or left the district and went to another district and they can be another cyber charter school kid from a different district,” he said.

https://www.thedailyreview.com/news/local/frustrations-over-cyber-charter-schools-continue-in-towanda/article_968740b8-107d-532f-a560-45ac4b249731.html

 

Charter School Funding – Examining the 25% Myth

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 17, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS Video Runtime 1:04

Do charter schools really receive 25% less funding per student than school districts? In 2018-19, Pennsylvania school districts in total spent over $2 billion in mandated payments to charter schools. And yet, as the need for charter school funding reform builds momentum, charter school advocates maintain that the system disproportionally benefits school districts. Is this an accurate statement? To unlock the 25% myth, it is important to understand the revenue and the reasons surrounding charter school funding issues. Watch this video on the PA Charter Change website to learn more, and advocate for charter change!

https://www.psba.org/2021/02/charter-school-funding-examining-the-25-myth/

 

Chartiers Valley School Board eyes charter school application

Post Gazette by DEANA CARPENTER FEB 18, 2021 4:55 PM

The Chartiers Valley School Board is set to vote Tuesday on an application for a new charter school that Superintendent Johanna Vanatta said falls short of state criteria. Dogwood Charter School filed an application with the district in November and plans to locate its school in the Chartiers Valley School District. Like any new charter school in the state, Dogwood is required by law to apply for a charter through a school district. At a Feb. 9 school board meeting, Ms. Vanatta told the members the application did not meet the state’s four-pronged criteria. She said charter school applications are evaluated by school boards based on criteria including, but not limited to, the following: demonstrated sustainable support for the charter school plan by teachers, parents and other community members and students; capability of the charter school applicant to provide comprehensive learning experiences to students pursuant to the adopted charter; the extent to which the application considers information requested as outlined in charter school law such as finance, facilities and food services; and the extent to which the charter school may serve as a model for other public schools.

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/west/2021/02/18/Chartiers-Valley-School-Board-eyes-charter-school-application/stories/202102120032

 

New Philly Charter Application: Pride Academy Charter School

Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools by Diane Payne

Every application for a new charter school represents an attempt to further the failed experiment on our city’s children.  Pride Academy Charter’s application  does not provide any assurance that this school would offer an educational experience significantly  different from the many existing charter schools that fail to meet basic standards in operation, achievement, and finance. The District, facing a dire financial future, cannot afford any more charter schools. The Board should reject the application from Pride Academy Charter.  The Charter School Office Report included 31 pages of detailed and critical analysis of the many deficiencies in this application.  With few exceptions, most sections in the CSO report cited a dearth of supporting evidence in an application heavy on lingo but short on specifics.  Although the sub-headings of the CSO report are too numerous to list and include all aspects of the application, the Board must consider the CSO’s analysis of the lack of expertise, background, and community connections of both the sole founding member (who is also the proposed school leader) as well as the proposed board members.  It is hard to imagine how to get past this single deficiency when entrusting the lives and education of real students as well as the appropriation of citizens tax dollars let alone the laundry list of documented CSO critiques.  

https://appsphilly.net/new-charter-application-pride-academy-charter-school/

 

Blogger note: here’s a link to on the ground advocacy in the Coatesville Area School District

Take Action to Stop Unfair Charter School Costs

Dear Parents, Staff & Community Members of the Coatesville Area School District:
Recently, Governor Wolf proposed his budget for 2021-2022. The details of his proposed budget can be found here. What he has proposed is favorable to the Coatesville Area School District, should this budget be approved. We encourage our families to contact your local legislators to explain how important fair funding is to our district, and public schools in general. To view Governor Wolf discuss his budget, please click here. The governor’s plan proposes comprehensive Charter School Law reform that will save school districts across the commonwealth an estimated $229 million per year. This package of policy and budget initiatives promotes accountability for their academic performance and financial management, and meeting the same standards Pennsylvanians expect from traditional public schools.
This plan outlines two major issues that if changed, would help CASD immensely:
Applying the Special Education Formula to All Charter Schools: Currently, school districts receive funding for special education students through a four-tiered Special Education Funding formula, with funding increasing as the student’s need for special education services increases. Special education tuition payments to charters, however, are calculated based on the outdated assumption that all school districts have a special education population of 16 percent, regardless of the level of services to students. The governor’s plan applies the four-tiered Special Education Funding formula to all charters to better align Special Education Funding with actual costs of providing services to special education students. This was a recommendation from the bipartisan Special Education Funding Commission and will save school districts an estimated $99 million annually.
Establishing a Statewide Cyber Charter Tuition Rate: Currently, cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania charge school districts between $9,170 and $22,300 per student per year. For comparison, the typical tuition rates at Intermediate Units to provide a comparable online education is around $5,400 per student per year. The governor’s plan establishes a statewide cyber tuition rate of $9,500 per student per year, and will better align tuition with the actual costs of providing an online education. This reform will save school districts an estimated $130 million annually.
These changes would specifically save the CASD $13.8 million annually, and increase our general education budget by 2.8%, and special education budget by $28.6%.

https://www.votervoice.net/WannerAssoc/campaigns/63917/respond

 

Register now for PSBA’s Virtual Advocacy Day this spring!

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS

All public school leaders are invited to join us for our spring Virtual Advocacy Day on Monday, March 22, 2021, via Zoom. We need all of you to help strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around contacting legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Registrants will receive the meeting invitation with a link to our spring Virtual Advocacy Day website that contains talking points, a link to locate contact information for your legislator and additional information to help you have a successful day. Register now on myPSBA!

https://www.psba.org/2021/02/register-now-for-psbas-virtual-advocacy-day-this-spring/

 

Blogger note: We expect SB1, the 2021 version of Vouchers, to be introduced soon. For you nostalgia buffs, here’s what this looked like last time around….

Vouchers - Reprise 2011: Senator zeroes in on school choice legislation in 2011

JAN MURPHY, The Patriot-News  Published: Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 10:27 PM     Updated: Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 10:35 PM

With both gubernatorial candidates supporting government-funded grants to parents to use at any school they choose for their children, Sen. Jeffrey Piccola hopes to grease the skids to make it a reality soon after the victor takes his oath of office. The Dauphin County Republican, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, is planning a daylong hearing on Oct. 13 in the North Office Building Hearing Room 1 in the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg on the topic of school choice.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/09/senator_zeroes_in_on_school_ch.html

 

Here’s cosponsorship memo for SB1:

Senate of Pennsylvania Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

COSPONSORSHIP MEMORANDUM

Posted:             February 3, 2021 03:18 PM

From:                Senator Scott Martin and Sen. John DiSanto, Sen. Jake Corman

To:                    All Senate members

Subject:            Excellence in Education for All (EEA)

In the near future, we intend to introduce legislation in the form of Senate Bill 1, to be known as “The Excellence in Education for All Act." The goal of this comprehensive legislation is to allow parents in communities all across the Commonwealth to be directly involved in helping determine the best approach for the success of their child’s education. This legislation would provide additional resources for our most vulnerable students, while ensuring all families have equal access and maximum flexibility in schooling options. All students deserve an excellent education. No matter a child’s ZIP code, educational needs, or parental income, each child should have access to the best schools and quality teaching to afford them the potential to succeed and the opportunities they deserve. Now more than ever, we’re seeing that in order to best prepare the next generation, we cannot take a one size fits all approach to education. There is no denying that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for increased educational opportunities. As we look to the future and life after the pandemic, in order to best serve the education needs of all students we must provide opportunities to parents when choosing the educational options that work best for their children.  Specifically, the key components of the legislation would include:

Education Opportunity Accounts for PA’s most vulnerable students

Expansion of the existing EITC/OSTC tax credit scholarship programs

Charter school reforms and innovations

Equal access to the best public education, regardless of ZIP code

Protections for coronavirus learning pods

We ask that you consider co-sponsoring this important legislation.

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20210&cosponId=34538

 

Some Philly parents are getting worried their kids are ‘never going to be in school’

“We need to come up with a solution, and just saying, ‘This other district has more resources’ is not a solution,” said parent Lexi Peskin.

Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham Published Feb 18, 2021

John’a Little works overnights, finishing her shift just before 6 a.m.

By 8:05, she’s sitting next to her son, helping him log on to his laptop for first grade at Shawmont Elementary in Roxborough. Samir is bright but needs help staying on track for virtual school, so Little spends her day with him. Little does her best, and catches catnaps when she can, but she’s exhausted all the time, and worried that her boy is missing too much by not being in the same room with his teachers. Samir is one of 9,000 Philadelphia students scheduled to return to Philadelphia School District schools on March 1, though reopening is up in the air amid a standoff between the district and city teachers, who say schools aren’t yet safe for return. While parents, educators, union officials, and advocates have been organized, vocal, and clear on their position that schools aren’t ready to reopen, those on the other side say their voices are being drowned out. They point to other schools’ reopening as evidence that it can be done. They say that children are suffering with buildings closed and that the strain of virtual learning on families, especially those of essential workers and those in vulnerable communities, is a problem.

https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-reopening-parents-20210218.html

 

Radio Times: Reopening Philadelphia’s schools

WHYY Radio Times Air Date: February 18, 2021 10:00 am Listen 49:00

In-person learning was set to resume in the Philadelphia School District on Monday. But ongoing disagreements between the school district and the teachers union over safety have forced the start date to move again, now to March 1st.  The majority of teachers are voicing opposition to returning to schools over safety concerns, while many parents would like to see their kids return to normal in-person learning and the socializing that remote classrooms cannot provide. Today on the show we look at the district’s plan to reopen and what health experts say about COVID risk and schools. We’ll talk with SUSAN COFFIN, an infectious disease physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who has written guidance for school reopening, school parents SHAKEDA GAINES, and TAKENIA GOODMAN, and kindergarten teacher KATE SANNICKS LERNER.

https://whyy.org/episodes/reopening-philadelphias-schools/

 

Largest Pa. teachers’ union calls for members to be prioritized in COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Teachers are slated to be next in line for the vaccine in the 1b classification of the state's rollout.

WITF by Julia Agos FEBRUARY 18, 2021 | 11:52 AM

(Harrisburg) — While some teachers’ unions are taking a hardline approach on members getting vaccinated before they head back into the classroom, the commonwealth’s largest educators’ coalition is taking a more flexible stance. The group wants teachers to be prioritized​ for the COVID-19 vaccine but, notes it’s not a prerequisite for returning to full-time, in-person learning. Teachers are slated to be next in line for the vaccine in the 1b classification of the state’s rollout, along with clergy and postal workers. But, PSEA spokesman Chris Lilienthal says the association sees a way to start vaccinating teachers now — without upending the whole process. They are recommending the state set aside a portion of the vaccine allotment for educators. “While it may take a number of weeks to occur, we think there is a way to have this running on a parallel track along with everything else,” Lilienthal said

https://www.witf.org/2021/02/18/largest-pa-teachers-union-calls-for-members-to-be-prioritized-in-covid-19-vaccine-rollout/

 

“Pennsylvania has one of the largest funding gap in the country between low-wealth and high-wealth school districts. Pennsylvania is also ranked 44th in the share of funding that comes from the state, leaving local taxpayers to take on rising costs. As a result, underfunding is widespread–affecting urban, rural, and suburban districts–and it reproduces the same fundamental inequalities brought about by the history of residential segregation in our commonwealth. We are representing six school districts suing Pennsylvania legislative leaders to challenge this inequitable system.”

PENNSYLVANIA’S SCHOOL FUNDING LAWSUIT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Public Interest Law Center Website

This year has shown us the essential importance of public schools. But in Pennsylvania, thousands of students go without basic educational needs because of where they live. School districts and parents are going to court to change that status quo, and trial is coming soon.

Join us for a free online webinar to learn the latest updates on the case, the potential impact of the Governor’s budget proposal, the root causes of underfunding and funding disparities, and how you can join the movement for public schools. Co-hosted by the Education Law Center-PA

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Time: 12-1 p.m.

Place: Online via Zoom REGISTER HERE

 

The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts

Inquirer by Cynthia Fernandez, Posted: February 18, 2021

HARRISBURG — When Pennsylvania passed a new formula to distribute money for public schools in 2016, it was hailed as a major step toward equity and away from an arbitrary system built on decades-old enrollment data. “Prior to today, Pennsylvania was one of only three states in the nation without a fair funding formula,” Gov. Tom Wolf said at the time. “We still have a lot of work to do in order to restore funding, but we are now closer to resolving the inequity in Pennsylvania’s school funding distribution.” But nearly five years later, many of the disparities it aimed to address remain.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-education-tom-wolf-budget-funding-formula-hold-harmless-20210218.html

 

Advocates gearing up for fair education funding push

Pottstown Mercury by Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com @PottstownNews on Twitter February 19, 2021

As debate begins over Gov. Tom Wolf's budget, which includes a massive infusion of funding for public schools, advocates for fair school funding are gearing up their efforts to build support, seeing this as perhaps their best chance to gain ground on the issue. One of those groups, named PA Schools Work, held an online tutorial Tuesday on the issue, and how it would be affected by Wolf's budget plan. First some basics: Pennsylvania currently ranks 47th in the nation for state funding for public schools.

Fair Funding Formula Failure: On a "dollar-per-student" basis, the state's current funding also favors districts with dwindling white student populations over districts with growing non-white populations. To remedy that, Harrisburg adopted a "fair-funding formula" in 2016 aimed at leveling the educational playing field, increasing funding for districts based on things like community poverty and the number of English-language learners in a given district. But that intention is undermined annually by the fact that the formula only applies to a small portion of the state's education funding. This year, it's 11 percent.

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/advocates-gearing-up-for-fair-education-funding-push/article_439ac2ce-7150-11eb-8e2a-ebb0a9e81ea1.html

 

Bethlehem NAACP calls for full return to in-class learning; school district says hybrid learning is still safer

By ANDREW SCOTT THE MORNING CALL | FEB 18, 2021 AT 6:32 PM

The NAACP’s Bethlehem chapter called Thursday for Bethlehem Area School District to take immediate steps to return to full-time in-person classes, saying online learning during the pandemic is stunting students’ academic growth. But the school district says its hybrid plan is still the safest way to learn. “Bethlehem Area School District students, especially our Black and Brown students, suffer serious academic losses and negative social consequences every day that the pandemic is used to defend continuation of ‘virtual’ educational strategies,” Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee wrote in a letter. “Because schools have not yet returned to full-time classroom instruction, educational efforts merely limp along as the publicly-educated children of Bethlehem suffer permanent academic deterioration.” The letter says returning to five-day, in-person classes will require all district employees get vaccinated; temperature checks of employees, students and visitors on a daily basis; and that buildings are regularly sanitized to ensure everyone’s safety. Since August, the school district has been using a hybrid model for most of the student body. Those students are split into two groups, which alternate between socially distanced, in-person learning one day and online instruction the next.

https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-bethlehem-naacp-request-to-school-district-20210218-qplytoxkcbe33hv73rrp4j3q5q-story.html

 

Covid report card: A look at first semester cases in Allegheny, Westmoreland school districts

Trib Live by MEGAN TOMASIC   | Friday, February 19, 2021 5:55 a.m.

Since the start of the school year, districts in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties have been impacted by the covid-19 pandemic, forcing schools to close and students to partake in remote learning to help curb the spread of the virus. The chart below reflects the number of covid cases reported by school districts in both counties during the first semester. How cases were counted varies by district. Some reflect positive cases reported during remote learning and holiday breaks, while others only include cases from when students and staff were in school buildings. For example, Greensburg Salem, which reported 58 cases during the first semester, only reported cases that were in school buildings. If cases were included outside of school buildings, an additional 15 students who may have been positive could be added to that total, Superintendent Gary Peiffer said. He noted those 15 cases could not be confirmed.

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/covid-report-card-a-look-at-first-semester-cases-in-allegheny-westmoreland-school-districts/

 

‘They see me as a role model’: Black teachers improve education outcomes for Black students

WHYY By Sojourner Ahébée February 19, 2021

In second grade, Noah Reilly was assigned to do an immigration project. He and his classmates had to write short papers about their ancestors’ journeys to the United States and make dolls that represented their families’ stories. But Noah had a feeling his doll would look different. “My mom said that I would probably be the only one with this [doll], and I was the only one,” Noah said. For his project, Noah wanted to tell the story of his mother’s family, who are Black. He is a multiracial child who attends a school in the suburbs of Philadelphia where Black children make up only 5% of the student population. Noah’s teacher was white. “I think it was hard for the teacher to understand why the project was an issue, that not everyone has an immigration story,” said Monet Reilly, Noah’s mother. “There were obviously a large group of people who came here as slaves. And not as willing immigrants.” Reilly said the project forced her to discuss slavery with Noah, something she wasn’t ready to do. And despite several attempts to raise concerns with his teacher, she was met with general dismissiveness. “She told me, ‘Well, you know the Irish came here as slaves too,’ as if that somehow made it better that I had to explain to my then 7-year-old what slavery was and why it not the same as immigration,” Reilly said. At the time, Black teachers made up only 1% of Noah’s school district. Reilly said that if there had been more teachers of color in his school, someone could have looked at the project and been able to intervene earlier.

https://whyy.org/segments/they-see-me-as-a-role-model-black-teachers-improve-education-outcomes-for-black-students/

 

Teacher bridges global divide for Philadelphia students with African-centered curriculum

Chalkbeat Philly By Johann Calhoun  Feb 17, 2021, 8:48pm EST

Aminata Sy is the founder and president of African Community Learning Program in Philadelphia.

How do teachers captivate their students? Here, in a feature we call How I Teach, we ask great educators how they approach their jobs.

Aminata Sy aims to bring learning skills from her native Africa to West Philadelphia. The Senegalese native runs the African Community Learning Program, known as ACLP, and teaches students who are from various countries on the continent about their culture. She’s currently a graduate student at American University. While working on her degree at the University of Pennsylvania, Sy created ACLP as an after-school program for early learners, many of whom did not speak English. She wanted to reverse learning practices for Black students from the African diaspora. Her students have hailed from Senegal, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Sudan, and Sierra Leone. “I noticed that many students from the African continent struggled in the city’s public schools,” Sy said. “We grew from my basement to the Blackwell Library on 52nd Street to Paul Robeson High School — teaching students a culturally responsive African-centered curriculum.” As the program increased in size so did its offerings. Last year Sy launched the ACLP Future Scholars Program offering an African-centered culturally responsive college preparatory curriculum.

https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2021/2/17/22288530/teacher-bridges-global-divide-for-philadelphia-students-with-african-centered-curriculum

 

Quakertown teachers agree to three-year contract with school district

Peg Quann Bucks County Courier Times February 13, 2021

Teachers, counselors and nurses in the Quakertown Community School District have reached a tentative three-year agreement with the district. The 333 staff members who belong to the Quakertown Community Education Association voted last weekend to accept the contract. The new contract will take effect after the current five-year contract expires on June 30. Its terms provide for annual salary increases of 1.5, 1.0 and 1.5 percent.    A first-year teacher will make $47,667 while a teacher at the top of the scale will make $106,463. In the last year of the new contract, a first-year teacher will make $49,781 while a teacher at top of the scale will earn $111,184. District spokesman Gary Weckselblatt said the compensation package will average a maximum cost to the district of $1.8 million but the actual amount is expected to be less due to attritional savings.

https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/02/13/quakertown-community-school-district-teachers-agree-three-year-pact/4444806001/

 

6 Big Questions Superintendents Are Asking About the CDC Guidance

Education Week By Stephen Sawchuk — February 17, 2021  7 min read

Superintendents continue to wrestle with the finer points about opening schools and how to put into action the lengthy guidance released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Close to 400 district leaders today attended a conference call hosted jointly by federal officials and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, to press the CDC for more information. The guidance suggests many schools can open with proper precautions. It puts a particular emphasis on masking and physical distancing among five key virus mitigation strategies, which also include hand-washing, cleaning and disinfecting, and contact tracing and isolation for exposed staff and students. But superintendents looking for the how-to guide of their dreams will be disappointed. The CDC guidelines are not a mandate, and decisions about reopening and how to use the guidelines are still in the hands of local district leaders and health agencies, said Greta Massetti, a senior scientist at the CDC. She took questions alongside Donna Harris-Aikens, senior advisor for policy and planning at the U.S. Department of Education.

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/6-big-questions-superintendents-are-asking-about-the-cdc-guidance/2021/02

 

Join Education Voters for "PA School Funding and Advocacy 101" for an overview of school funding issues, an update on the school funding lawsuit and more.

Education Voters PA February 2021

Click HERE to register for one of our webinars.

Fri, Feb 19, 12:00pm–1:00pm EST

Tue, Feb 23, 7:00pm–8:00pm EST

Questions we will answer include:

  • How are schools funded in PA?
  • Who decides how much funding my local schools get?
  • What is the Basic Education Funding Formula (fair funding formula)?
  • Why does Pennsylvania have the widest funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts of any state in the country?
  • How are charter schools funded and how can the current system be reformed?
  • How can I most effectively advocate for the school funding students in my district and throughout Pennsylvania's need and deserve?

We will also provide a brief update on Pennsylvania's school funding lawsuit, which is scheduled to go to trial this year. (Visit www.FundOurSchoolsPa.org to learn more!) And we'll have plenty of time for Q&A. I hope that you'll join us and/or share this invitation with people in your network who are interested in learning more and getting involved.

 

Virtual Town Hall on education fair funding co- sponsored by Avon Grove Charter School and Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools set Feb. 24

West Chester Daily Local by MediaNews Group February 6, 2021

WEST GROVE—There will be a virtual Town Hall Meeting on Fair Funding in Education on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 pm. The public is invited. The Town Hall is being co- sponsored by Avon Grove Charter School and Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools. Topics include: problem solve fair funding solutions; learn how public schools are funded in PA.;  learn about the differences between charter & district schools funding.

All are welcome. RSVP Link - https://forms.gle/8of8ARxr7Zfdfmp97.

 

PSBA Spring Virtual Advocacy Day - MAR 22, 2021

PSBA Website January 2021

All public school leaders are invited to join us for our spring Virtual Advocacy Day on Monday, March 22, 2021, via Zoom. We need all of you to help strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around contacting legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Registrants will receive the meeting invitation with a link to our spring Virtual Advocacy Day website that contains talking points, a link to locate contact information for your legislator and additional information to help you have a successful day.

Cost: Complimentary for members

Registration: Registration is available under Event Registration on myPSBA.org.

https://www.psba.org/event/psba-spring-virtual-advocacy-day/

 

Attend the NSBA 2021 Online Experience April 8-10

NSBA is pleased to announce the transformation of its in-person NSBA 2021 Annual Conference & Exposition to the NSBA 2021 Online Experience. This experience will bring world-class programming, inspirational keynotes, top education solution providers, and plentiful networking opportunities. Join us on April 8-10, 2021, for a fully transformed and memorable event!

https://www.nsba.org/Events/NSBA-2021-Online-Experience

 

The 2021 PA Educational Leadership Summit, hosted by the PA Principals Association and the PA Association of School Administrators (PASA), is being held from August 1-3 at the Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center, Poconos

PA Principals Association Thursday, February 11, 2021 8:54 AM

PIL Hours Available! See links below to register and for further information.

Click here to register today!

Click here for the informational flyer and details.

 

NPE/NPE Action Conference In Philly was rescheduled to October 23/24 due to concerns w/ COVID19.

Network for Public Education

NPE will be sending information to registrants very soon!

https://npeaction.org/2021-conference/

 

Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform

In this legislative session, PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.

Resolution for charter funding reform (pdf)

Link to submit your adopted resolution to PSBA

 

358 PA school boards have adopted charter reform resolutions

Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 350 school boards across the state have adopted a resolution calling for legislators to enact significant reforms to the Charter School Law to provide funding relief and ensure all schools are held to the same quality and ethics standards. Now more than ever, there is a growing momentum from school officials across the state to call for charter school funding reform. Legislators are hearing loud and clear that school districts need relief from the unfair funding system that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars to charter schools.

The school boards from the following districts have adopted resolutions calling for charter funding reform. 

https://www.psba.org/2020/03/adopted-charter-reform-resolutions/

 

Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then Call for Charter Change!

PSBA Charter Change Website:

https://www.pacharterchange.org/

 

Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization that I may be affiliated with.

 


Thursday, February 18, 2021

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb. 18, 2021: The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts

Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org

Visit us on Facebook at KeystoneStateEducationCoalition

Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

 

If any of your colleagues would like to be added to the email list please have them send their name, title and affiliation to KeystoneStateEdCoalition@gmail.com

 

Keystone State Education Coalition

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb. 18, 2021

The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts

 

 

All School Directors: PSBA Monthly Zoom Exchange Feb 18 12:30 - 1:30 PM

Join other PSBA-member school directors for cross-district networking and discussion on education hot topics, legislative updates and advocacy strategies. All School Directors: Monthly Exchange will be held via Zoom at 12:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, January through June. Geographic-based breakout rooms will be utilized to allow for discussion among school directors in the same regions of the state. Learn more or register: http://ow.ly/rW4F50DrrCq

 

 

Dover Area School District calls need for charter school law reform 'urgent'

Erin Bamer York Dispatch February 17, 2021

Dover Area School District officials are calling on state legislators to reform Pennsylvania's charter school law to reduce expenses for school districts.  The school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a resolution requesting the reform as part of the meeting's consent agenda. The resolution argues that the current law for charter school funding is unfair to school districts and calls the need for reform "urgent." "School districts are struggling to keep up with growing charter costs and are forced to raise taxes and cut staffing, programs and services for their own students in order to pay millions of dollars to charter schools," the resolution said.  School districts pay charter schools tuition for each student enrolled in a charter within the district. Dover spokesperson Bradly Perkins said his district pays charter schools about $12,000 per regular education student and nearly $27,000 per special education student.  The resolution said existing charter school law is unfair because districts pay charter schools based on the district's tuition rate instead of what the charter needs to educate the student. The debate over charter school funding has increased over the past year as enrollment spiked for cyber charter schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2021/02/17/dover-area-school-district-calls-need-charter-school-law-reform-urgent/6779511002/

 

Charter School Funding – Examining the 25% Myth

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 17, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS Video Runtime 1:04

Do charter schools really receive 25% less funding per student than school districts? In 2018-19, Pennsylvania school districts in total spent over $2 billion in mandated payments to charter schools. And yet, as the need for charter school funding reform builds momentum, charter school advocates maintain that the system disproportionally benefits school districts. Is this an accurate statement? To unlock the 25% myth, it is important to understand the revenue and the reasons surrounding charter school funding issues. Watch this video on the PA Charter Change website to learn more, and advocate for charter change!

https://www.psba.org/2021/02/charter-school-funding-examining-the-25-myth/

 

Blogger note: this piece includes an embedded table: Which school districts benefit from hold harmless, and which don't

The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts

Inquirer by Cynthia Fernandez, Posted: February 18, 2021- 5:00 AM

Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG — When Pennsylvania passed a new formula to distribute money for public schools in 2016, it was hailed as a major step toward equity and away from an arbitrary system built on decades-old enrollment data. “Prior to today, Pennsylvania was one of only three states in the nation without a fair funding formula,” Gov. Tom Wolf said at the time. “We still have a lot of work to do in order to restore funding, but we are now closer to resolving the inequity in Pennsylvania’s school funding distribution.” But nearly five years later, many of the disparities it aimed to address remain. Part of the issue: Only a fraction of state education funding actually goes through the formula, designed to help poor and underfunded districts. Most of the public school subsidy is distributed using an approach called “hold harmless,” which guarantees districts never lose state funding regardless of enrollment changes. An average shrinking district saw funding increase by $3,200 per student over the past three decades, according to a January report from Public Citizens for Children and Youth, a nonprofit led by a member of former Gov. Ed Rendell’s cabinet. Per-pupil funding in an average expanding district, meanwhile, has grown by just $1,000. More than 80% of the state’s Black, Hispanic, or Latinx students attend growing school districts, according to the report. But the hold harmless policy is not solely to blame for the inequities in the state’s system. Pennsylvania ranks 47th in the nation for the share of K-12 public education funding that comes from the state, a path that began after the state stopped reimbursing school districts for 50% of their costs in the 1980s.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-education-tom-wolf-budget-funding-formula-hold-harmless-20210218.html

 

Advocates Gearing Up for Fair School Funding fight

Digital Notebook by Evan Brandt Wednesday, February 17, 2021

As debate begins over Gov. Tom Wolf's budget, which includes a massive infusion of funding for public schools, advocates for fair school funding are gearing up their efforts to build support, seeing this perhaps as their best chance to gain ground on the issue. An advocacy group named PA Schools Work held an on-line tutorial Tuesday on the issue, and how it would be affected by Wolf's budget plan. First some basics:  Pennsylvania currently ranks 47th in the nation for state funding a public schools. To make that embarrassing statistic worse, the state's funding also currently favors districts with dwindling white student populations over districts with growing non-white populations. To remedy that, Harrisburg adopted a "fair-funding formula" a few years back aimed at leveling the educational playing field based on things like community poverty and the number of English-language learners in a given district. But that act of fairness is undermined annually by the fact that the formula only applies to a small portion of the state's education funding. This year, it's 11 percent.  Another arcane relic of legislative action is something called "hold harmless," which means no district, even if it is losing population, will ever get less state funding than the year before.

http://evan-brandt.blogspot.com/2021/02/advocates-gearing-up-for-fair-school.html

 

'A perfect storm': How quarantines, staff shortages and a shrinking substitute teacher pool have complicated in-person learning

Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer February 18, 2021

One day in early December, Ephrata High School math teacher Kris Miller took a rather peculiar approach in class. He had his students read an article from a recent edition of Scholastic News. “Could You Clone Your Pet?” the headline read. Miller then went around the room and asked students to share their pets’ names and decide whether they’d consider cloning them. After all, who doesn’t want their pet to live forever? “Charice? No,” Miller said, uncharacteristically fumbling on the student’s name. “Charis,” the student said, correcting him. “Charis. Darn it,” Miller said.

“I used to have, um, three cats, but now I only have two because one of them died,” Charis said.

“Oh, that’s sad,” Miller said. “Did you ever think about cloning your cat?” “No,” Charis said.

It’s not every day Miller has such a discussion with his students. That’s because, on this day, Miller wasn’t teaching math. He was teaching fourth-grade at Highland Elementary School.

It was part of a temporary volunteer initiative at Ephrata Area School District to recruit high school teachers to fill empty classrooms at the elementary and middle school level. The district was facing a higher amount of teacher quarantines due to holiday gatherings and out-of-state travel.

While teacher quarantines and staff shortages were of heightened concern around the holidays, it’s been a nagging issue for all Lancaster County school districts this pandemic-plagued school year as administrators think of every possible way to keep school buildings open.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/a-perfect-storm-how-quarantines-staff-shortages-and-a-shrinking-substitute-teacher-pool-have-complicated/article_fd59e67e-715d-11eb-b65e-73179128b1be.html

 

Philly’s school reopening was pushed back again

Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Posted: February 17, 2021- 10:51 AM

The Philadelphia School District has pushed back its reopening date for a third time.

Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Wednesday 9,000 prekindergarten through second grade students won’t return on Feb. 22 as planned but will instead go back March 1 amid an ongoing building safety dispute between the district and its teachers union. Students had been scheduled to return Monday. The news left him “deeply disappointed,” the superintendent said. Hite maintains that schools are safe but said he will not bring children back to classrooms that aren’t ready for them. Teachers were due back Feb. 8 but, at the direction of Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan, refused to report to school buildings and have been working from home. City school buildings have been closed since March.

https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-reopen-covid-hite-council-20210217.html

 

Philadelphia school reopening delayed again — this time until March 1

Teachers union says district ‘made right decision’; still no word from mediator

Chalkbeat Philly By Johann Calhoun and Dale Mezzacappa  Feb 17, 2021, 10:44am EST

The Philadelphia school district has pushed back reopening of schools for a third time, with a new target date for early grades set for March 1, Superintendent William Hite announced Wednesday. The one-week delay for prekindergarten to second grade is the latest twist in the district’s third attempt to reopen school buildings, which have been closed since last March. Hite said he was “deeply disappointed” to make the decision, which was due to the ongoing mediation between the district and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. “I believe we all agree on reopening schools,” Hite said. “The dispute has been how can we do that safely and the district needs to address that.”

https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2021/2/17/22287334/philly-school-reopening-delayed-again-this-time-until-march-1

 

City Council grills Hite on reopening as return to classrooms stuck in limbo

WHYY By Emily Rizzo February 17, 2021

Members of city council pressed School District of Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite on issues of public trust during a hearing Wednesday on school reopening plans. The Children and Youth and Education committees hosted the hearing after Hite announced earlier in the day that a return to classrooms for city children would be delayed until March 1 amid a dispute with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Testimony from Hite and other district officials lasted almost two hours, as councilmembers raised concerns about safety and transparency. Councilmember Helen Gym told Hite she’s heard “consistent articulation of a deep-seated lack of trust that the district has not made itself immediately available to ordinary families.” She said families need a “real place” for “questions to be asked and answered,” especially regarding health and safety issues.

https://whyy.org/articles/city-council-grills-hite-on-reopening-as-return-to-classrooms-stuck-in-limbo/

 

Philly schools should not reopen until all staff can be guaranteed a COVID vaccine | Expert Opinion

Rhea Powell, For the Inquirer Posted: February 17, 2021 - 11:55 AM

Rhea Powell is an internal medicine physician in Philadelphia.

As a physician and a parent of elementary-aged children, I was eager to read the recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on strategies schools can use to lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC guidance is an important step toward reopening schools, and I applaud their attention to masking, physical distancing, and maintaining healthy facilities. The CDC recommendations describe vaccination of school staff as an important additional layer of COVID-19 prevention, yet they stop short of deeming it essential for in-person school. But here in Philadelphia, vaccination of school staff is critical for a safe and successful school reopening. Philadelphia schools face many challenges to implementing the mitigation strategies recommended by the CDC, particularly those related to maintaining healthy facilities. Our school buildings were already in urgent need of repair before the pandemic, and now we have an emergent need: to ensure that schools can support educational activities without exacerbating the toll that COVID-19 takes on our community. Unfortunately, there are no quick or easy solutions to create healthy school facilities in Philadelphia. Fixing our schools requires huge investments in infrastructure for public education.

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-schools-reopening-teachers-vaccine-support-staff-20210217.html

 

Ciresi appointed to Special Education Funding Commission

Rep. Joseph Ciresi News Release   February 17, 2021 | 2:52 PM

HARRISBURG, Feb. 17 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, was recently appointed to the Special Education Funding Commission, a position recommended by Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Phila., and approved by House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster. 

The SEFC, which was established in 2013, reviews and makes recommendations regarding special education funding in the commonwealth. Its focus over the last two years has been reviewing the formula that directs state funding to school districts in Pennsylvania that have the greatest need for additional resources based upon the cost of each special education student. 

“I am truly honored by this appointment and offer my gratitude to Leader McClinton and Speaker Cutler for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving in the best interest of our state’s special education students and teachers,” said Ciresi, who was appointed at the beginning of this 2021-22 legislative session to serve on the House Education Committee, as well. 

“Ensuring fair funding of education is one of my top priorities as a legislator, and my background as a school board member for 12 years has given me insight on education policy in general and special education in particular. I am ready to get to work to ensure those school districts with the greatest special education needs are recognized and funded fairly, since having access to fair resources is what our students deserve.” 

https://www.pahouse.com/Ciresi/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=118466

 

Blogger note: Arthur Dantchick is a partner of Jeff Yass and steady contributor to candidates supporting school privatization efforts.

“Kerr, though she identified herself as a "pragmatic Democrat," did not oppose vouchers, and saw support from conservative and pro-voucher groups. She accepted a $15,000 contribution from Arthur Dantchik, a Pennsylvania-based donor who backs school choice.”

Wisconsin primary election results: Kerr and Underly advance in DPI race

Rory Linnane Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In the primary race for state superintendent of schools, former Brown Deer superintendent Deborah Kerr and Pecatonica superintendent Jill Underly declared victories Tuesday night, pitting them against each other in the general election April 6. In Milwaukee, four candidates will advance to the general election for two contested seats on the school board. With some absentee ballots yet uncounted, Aisha Carr and Dana Kelley led in District 4; and Alex Brower and Jilly Gokalgandhi led in District 5. Brower and Kelley ran on a socialist slate together backed by the teachers union. 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/02/16/wisconsin-primary-kerr-and-underly-advance-superintendent-race/6772776002/

 

PIAA notebook: Board passes motion requiring all participants to wear masks for state playoffs

STEVE ROTSTEIN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette srotstein@post-gazette.com FEB 17, 2021 6:48 PM

The PIAA board of directors addressed a number of topics during Wednesday’s Zoom meeting, including one pressing issue that’s been on everybody’s minds going into the postseason — mask enforcement. For the upcoming PIAA postseason tournaments for all winter sports, teams will be required to complete and submit a COVID-19 screening form and face covering certification form prior to competing. The screening form will ask participants whether they’ve experienced any recent COVID-19 related symptoms, and the certification form will allow schools to list any players who have been granted medical exemptions to play without wearing a mask. PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said the forms will not be required for playoff games at the district level, but will be available for any schools that wish to use them. “It provides communication between the schools so they know who has taken the exception, and also that they have pre-screened all their athletes,” Lombardi said.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2021/02/17/piaa-notebook-bob-lombardi-mask-mandate-covid-19-screening-form-face-covering-certification-state-playoffs-giant-center-cumberland-valley/stories/202102170152

 

Tentative contract agreement reached, Mars school district and teachers union say

Post Gazette by Sandy Trozzo, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.First Published February 17, 2021, 10:24pm

The Mars Area School Board and Mars Area Education Association have reached a tentative agreement, according to a joint statement issued by John L. Kennedy, board president, and Joe Graff, president of the teachers’ union, Wednesday night. The statement said that both parties will finalize the contract language for ratification votes within the next couple of weeks. The teachers’ union planned to strike Friday if an agreement was not reached by then. The two sides had held 18 bargaining sessions, including a 5.5-hour session Tuesday night.

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/02/17/Mars-school-district-teachers-union-tentative-contract-agreement-strike-deadline/stories/202102170165

 

Is it safe to open schools? Yes, but ...

Washington Post By Laura MecklerKarin Brulliard and Brittany Shammas Feb. 17, 2021 at 7:32 p.m. EST

For months, school districts throughout the country have struggled with whether and how to reopen buildings that, in some cases, have been shuttered for nearly a year. With bullish talk and promised support, President Biden raised expectations that reopenings would accelerate this spring. The stakes are enormous. Going back is frightening for many teachers and parents, especially with coronavirus rates remaining at high levels and new variants of the virus emerging. And yet the negative consequences of all-remote learning are significant, too. Children are forfeiting academic progress and struggling emotionally. Some parents are unable to work while their children are at home. But sorting out the science of the matter has been complicated for administrators and parents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weighed in last week with a detailed set of guidelines that answered many questions but raised others.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/02/17/covid-schools-open/

 

 

Join Education Voters for "PA School Funding and Advocacy 101" for an overview of school funding issues, an update on the school funding lawsuit and more.

Education Voters PA February 2021

Click HERE to register for one of our webinars.

Fri, Feb 19, 12:00pm–1:00pm EST

Tue, Feb 23, 7:00pm–8:00pm EST

Questions we will answer include:

  • How are schools funded in PA?
  • Who decides how much funding my local schools get?
  • What is the Basic Education Funding Formula (fair funding formula)?
  • Why does Pennsylvania have the widest funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts of any state in the country?
  • How are charter schools funded and how can the current system be reformed?
  • How can I most effectively advocate for the school funding students in my district and throughout Pennsylvania's need and deserve?

We will also provide a brief update on Pennsylvania's school funding lawsuit, which is scheduled to go to trial this year. (Visit www.FundOurSchoolsPa.org to learn more!) And we'll have plenty of time for Q&A. I hope that you'll join us and/or share this invitation with people in your network who are interested in learning more and getting involved.

 

Virtual Town Hall on education fair funding co- sponsored by Avon Grove Charter School and Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools set Feb. 24

West Chester Daily Local by MediaNews Group February 6, 2021

WEST GROVE—There will be a virtual Town Hall Meeting on Fair Funding in Education on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 pm. The public is invited. The Town Hall is being co- sponsored by Avon Grove Charter School and Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools. Topics include: problem solve fair funding solutions; learn how public schools are funded in PA.;  learn about the differences between charter & district schools funding.

All are welcome. RSVP Link - https://forms.gle/8of8ARxr7Zfdfmp97.

 

PSBA Spring Virtual Advocacy Day - MAR 22, 2021

PSBA Website January 2021

All public school leaders are invited to join us for our spring Virtual Advocacy Day on Monday, March 22, 2021, via Zoom. We need all of you to help strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around contacting legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Registrants will receive the meeting invitation with a link to our spring Virtual Advocacy Day website that contains talking points, a link to locate contact information for your legislator and additional information to help you have a successful day.

Cost: Complimentary for members

Registration: Registration is available under Event Registration on myPSBA.org.

https://www.psba.org/event/psba-spring-virtual-advocacy-day/

 

Attend the NSBA 2021 Online Experience April 8-10

NSBA is pleased to announce the transformation of its in-person NSBA 2021 Annual Conference & Exposition to the NSBA 2021 Online Experience. This experience will bring world-class programming, inspirational keynotes, top education solution providers, and plentiful networking opportunities. Join us on April 8-10, 2021, for a fully transformed and memorable event!

https://www.nsba.org/Events/NSBA-2021-Online-Experience

 

The 2021 PA Educational Leadership Summit, hosted by the PA Principals Association and the PA Association of School Administrators (PASA), is being held from August 1-3 at the Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center, Poconos

PA Principals Association Thursday, February 11, 2021 8:54 AM

PIL Hours Available! See links below to register and for further information.

Click here to register today!

Click here for the informational flyer and details.

 

NPE/NPE Action Conference In Philly was rescheduled to October 23/24 due to concerns w/ COVID19.

Network for Public Education

NPE will be sending information to registrants very soon!

https://npeaction.org/2021-conference/

 

Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform

In this legislative session, PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.

Resolution for charter funding reform (pdf)

Link to submit your adopted resolution to PSBA

 

358 PA school boards have adopted charter reform resolutions

Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 350 school boards across the state have adopted a resolution calling for legislators to enact significant reforms to the Charter School Law to provide funding relief and ensure all schools are held to the same quality and ethics standards. Now more than ever, there is a growing momentum from school officials across the state to call for charter school funding reform. Legislators are hearing loud and clear that school districts need relief from the unfair funding system that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars to charter schools.

The school boards from the following districts have adopted resolutions calling for charter funding reform. 

https://www.psba.org/2020/03/adopted-charter-reform-resolutions/

 

Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then Call for Charter Change!

PSBA Charter Change Website:

https://www.pacharterchange.org/

 

Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization that I may be affiliated with.