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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for June
27, 2014: Budget
Dance Continues in Harrisburg
Update on Senate Bill 1085, Charter School
In the audio listed below, Senator Smucker discusses his
amendment A8429 to SB1085 charter reform bill prior to the Senate voting 42-8 to approve that amendment
yesterday. The amended bill is on the
Senate calendar for third consideration today.
The amendment:
·
Does not address the pension double dip issue
·
Does not provide a reduction in cyber charter
funding
·
Does not include provisions for direct state
funding of charters
·
Does not include provisions for a Funding
Advisory Commission
·
Does not include language prohibiting enrollment
caps on charters
·
Does not include language expanding charter
school authorizers, including institutions of higher education
·
Expands and clarifies provisions regarding
charter authorizer accountability that requires school boards to submit an
annual report on the performance and status of charter schools it has
authorized, with sanctions against school boards for failure to provide
oversight/intervention of low performing charters. New provisions require
PDE to develop a plan for sanctions by Nov. 30, 2014 and send the
plan to the General Assembly for approval before the sanctions can go into
effect.
While the issue of allowing university authorizers has been
strongly pushed by proponents, it has not been abandoned. Sen. Smucker
has introduced Senate Resolution 414, which directs the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of alternative
methods of authorizing charter schools and regional charter schools, to be
completed by Nov. 30, 2014. The LBFC will study a variety of alternative
authorizers including higher education authorizers, statewide authorizers and
multiple charter organizations. SR414 is listed for consideration by the Senate
Education Committee this morning.
mp3 audio runtime 3:32
Senate Education Committee
Meeting Friday, June 27, 2014 9:30 AM Room
8E-B East Wing
Senate Resolution 414; Prime Sponsor: SENATOR
SMUCKER
A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee to conduct a study of alternative methods of authorizing charter
schools and regional charter schools.
Senate Bill 1450; Prime Sponsor: SENATOR
FOLMER
An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),
known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing
for implementation of scores from Keystone Exams.
The current plan for Pennsylvania
By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com on June 26, 2014 at 9:47 PM, updated June
26, 2014 at 11:21 PM
Frustrated by legislative stalemates on public pension reform
and a proposed liberalization of alcohol sales law, leaders of the
Republican-controlled Pennsylvania
legislature hit a reset button of sorts Thursday. It could mean a surrender on top GOP priorities
in exchange for a no-new-taxes budget that is passed on time and that addresses
at least some of Gov. Tom Corbett's spending priorities, if not at full
strength. First, a quick recap.
Severance tax on natural
gas less likely as state budget talks continue
TribLive By Brad
Bumsted Thursday, June 26, 2014, 9:09 p.m.
HARRISBURG — The temperature in the Legislature for a severance tax on natural gas cooled considerably on Thursday, as Senate Republicans look at putting together a state budget without new tax revenue despite a $1.4 billion deficit.
HARRISBURG — The temperature in the Legislature for a severance tax on natural gas cooled considerably on Thursday, as Senate Republicans look at putting together a state budget without new tax revenue despite a $1.4 billion deficit.
“They (Republicans) told us they're heading down a path of
passing a budget without new revenue,” said Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa,
D-Forest Hills. “It's possible,” said
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman, R-Centre County
"If Philadelphia Democrats aren't going to be there for
what needs to be done, then nobody's going to be there for them," said
state Budget Secretary Charles Zogby. "And they can go home and tell their
constituents why they couldn't get money for the school district."
Will Philly delegation 'play
ball' on budget to win dollars for city schools?
WHYY Newsworks BY KEVIN
MCCORRY JUNE 26, 2014
Facing a $66 million budget shortfall that threatens to turn
schools into "empty shells," the Philadelphia
school district has turned its pleas for additional funding to Harrisburg .
But lawmakers there are grappling with a $1.4 billion hole in
their own budget – making the district's budget woes but one of many
legislative pieces being maneuvered on the capitol chessboard. With mere days remaining before the state's
June 30 budget deadline, the halls of the state capitol are a buzz with
politicking and strategy. Education
advocates lobbying on behalf of Philadelphia
school children have a wish list:
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett
calls for an up-or-down vote on pension reform legislation
By on
June 26, 2014 at 3:13 PM, updated June 26, 2014 at 4:16 PM
This post has been updated with a comment from the Tom Wolf
campaign.
Gov. Tom Corbett
stepped out of the Capitol's conference rooms Thursday to double down on his
appeal for significant reform to Pennsylvania's major public pension plans. Gov. Tom Corbett calls for a vote on pension reform billsSaying the pension problem
that Pennsylvania
Diane Ravitch's Blog By dianeravitch June 26, 2014 //
A small group of
activists is conducting a sit-in in Governor Tom Corbett’s office in Harrisburg to demand a restoration of $1 billion in
budget cuts to public schools.
Those of us who remember the 1960s recall that this tactic was
frequently used by civil rights groups and anti-war activists to draw attention
to their cause. It was effective in encouraging others to become involved and
active.
"The district has cut more than 400
positions over the past four years."
Allentown schools' final
budget raises taxes, cuts teachers
5.85 percent tax hike, 62 teaching positions eliminated.
By Adam Clark,
Of The Morning Call 10:51 p.m. EDT, June 26, 2014
Another budget. Another gaping deficit. Another crop of Allentown teachers forced
to search for a new job.
Allentown School District's recurring financial nightmare
continued Thursday as school directors voted 6-3 to authorize a final budget
that eliminates a total of 86 positions, raises taxes 5.85 percent and taps
reserves for $2.3 million. The budget
was passed after an amendment spared two high school assistant principal
positions originally slated to be cut, bringing the total number of job
eliminations to 62 teachers,12 clerical positions, 10 paraprofessionals and two
administrators. The district has cut more than 400 positions over the past four
years.
Now, school officials will wait, watch and wonder if the
impending state budget will have any substantial effect on the district's
bottom line. There's a chance for more
money if the district qualifies, as it has for the past two years, for special
bonus funding formulas designed to get extra cash to the state's most
distressed schools.
But there's also the possibility for less money if the
Legislature reduces Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed Ready to Learn block grant,
which Allentown
is using to pay for 40 teaching positions.
Even if the district gets additional funding, Superintendent
Russ Mayo will be cautious about recommending restoring positions, he said.
Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-schools-0626-20140626,0,7058259.story#ixzz35pkZjRN4
"Wherever poor children are
concentrated, academic outcomes tend to be considerably lower, schools tend to
perform significantly less well and our ability to change that is
limited," Noguera said. "It's limited because we as a nation have chosen
to focus narrowly on achievement and ignored all the other social and
psychological issues that accompany poverty."
Failing in slow motion: How
poverty impacts the classroom in Columbia
Lancaster Online By JEFF HAWKES | Staff
Writer Posted: Thursday, June 26, 2014 7:30 am |Updated: 5:39
pm, Thu Jun 26, 2014.
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series
examining the financial sustainability of the Columbia Borough School District and
the impact of its struggling schools on the students, teachers, residents and
businesses of the proud river town. A six-page special section is being
published in this week’s Sunday News.
Success for high-poverty schools starts with social services,
experts say.
Before- and after-school programs, nutritious meals, eye exams,
medical and dental care — all are examples of supports that can help poor
children have a shot at becoming great students, said Pedro Noguera, a New York University
Blaming educators for so-called "failing" schools may
be unfair when comprehensive social services are absent.
PA Supreme Court declines to
rule on District's move to impose workrules
the notebook By Dale
Mezzacappa on Jun 26, 2014
06:09 PM
The Pennsylvania Supreme
Court has declined to rule on whether the School Reform Commission has the
absolute right to unilaterally impose workrules on the teachers' union in the
absence of a contract. The opinion offered
no explanation for the decision. Chief Justice Ron Castille wrote alengthy dissent, concluding that due to the District's dire
financial position, the court was "duty-bound to engage in the review
requested here." He was joined in the dissent by Justice Max Baer. The non-decision favors the union, since it
will make it easier for them to file grievances and legal challenges to
District actions that violate the terms of the expired contract.
At White House Maker Faire,
Workshop students showcase the car they built
By Cathy Quero on Jun
25, 2014 04:24 PM
Students from the
Workshop School in West Philadelphia took the fast lane to 1600 Pennsylvania
Ave. last week as one of six groups and individuals to attend the first-ever
White House Maker Faire to showcase the race car they built that runs on doughnut
oil. “I never thought that I would get
to meet the president and build a race car,” said Taliya Carter, a rising 10th
grader at Workshop and one of 15 students who worked on building the car. “It
was so cool. We worked hard on it.”
Using a kit from Factory Five, a company that specializes in affordable,
build-it-yourself race car kits, the students modified a sports car to not only
make it faster, but also to enable it to run on cooking oil. The oil, left over
from making fried chicken and doughnuts, was donated by Federal Donuts. The
biodiesel car is fuel-efficient as well, able to go 100 miles on one gallon of
fuel, according to Workshop School founder and principal Simon Hauger.
Teachers say they
still want to work toward agreement on contract
By Angie Mason amason@ydr.com @angiemason1 on Twitter UPDATED: 06/25/2014 11:57 PM
Some York City School
Board members said Wednesday that they had little choice but to start the
process of pursuing charter operators for district schools. The school board, with only member James
Sawor dissenting, approved issuing a request for proposals from outside
operators to run one or more district schools starting in 2015-16. The district is following a financial
recovery plan that calls for internal reform, with steep salary and benefit
cuts from employees, but includes an alternate path - bringing in charter
operators — if that didn't work. David Meckley, chief recovery officer, has
said that without a collective bargaining agreement reflecting the recovery plan,
internal reform won't work financially.
"We don't want charters, but we have no other choice," said
board President Margie Orr. "How long does it take for two entities to
come together and agree on some things to help this district move along?"
Diane Ravitch's Blog By dianeravitch June 26, 2014
The state-operated school district of Philadelphia Philadelphia . The Education
Law Center
reports: “In March, Philadelphia ’s state-operated school district
filed an extraordinary legal complaint with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The
lawsuit asks the Court to approve changes in school staffing levels and the way
teachers are transferred and laid off, effectively nullifying portions of a
collective bargaining agreement between the Philadelphia School
District Philadelphia ’s school children must endure
after 17 years of direct state control over their education.
Will Anyone Stop Charter
School
Education Opportunity Network Blog by Jeff Bryant June 25, 2014
When politicians and
pundits take to the barricades to defend “wonderful charter schools,” is this
what they’re thinking of?
A recent article in
a Minnesota newspaper reported about a change in state
law that could imperil the existence of a charter school that serves a student
body sorely in need of heroic efforts. According to the reporter, “Nine out of
10 of the school’s 275 high schoolers meet the legal definition of ‘highly
mobile,’ meaning they do not have stable housing; 109 are flat-out homeless.
Some couch-surf. Some sleep in cars, some in bus stations. Often they spend the
night in small groups, for safety. Poverty – a given – is usually the least of
their worries. To teens forced to support themselves, a diploma is a life
raft.” The schools founder and chief
operator is quoted: “We have kids who are one credit away from graduating … We
are one of the first consistent things in their lives.” A compelling story for sure and likely one
example, among others,
that was in the minds of most in Congress when the US House of Representatives
recently passed controversial
legislation to expand federal funds for more charter schools without
placing any substantial new regulations on those schools.
…..In the
Quaker State, charter schools have long competed for funds with traditional
public schools on an uneven playing field that exempts them from serving the
full range of student abilities and revealing financial details of their
operations to the public.
Join the Notebook!
Become a Member!
The Notebook invites all of our readers
to join
us now, as members by signing up on our "Donate"
page. Our reporting depends on the continued generous support and
contributions from our growing Notebook membership. In
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Pre-K for PA has supporters
all over the greater Philadelphia
We need your help -- join an upcoming phone bank. Join
a fun gathering of like minds in Philadelphia
and Conshohocken on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. We are
calling fellow Pre-K for PA supporters to build local volunteer teams.
Call a Pre-K Friend in Philly:
UnitedWay Building 1709 Ben Franklin Parkway
Wed July 9, 5-7 PM
Wed July 30, 5-7 PM
United
Wed July 9, 5-7 PM
Wed July 30, 5-7 PM
Call a Pre-K Friend in Mont Co:
Anne's House242 Barren
Hill Road
Wed July 16, 5-7pm
Wed July 30, 5-7pm
Anne's House
Wed July 16, 5-7pm
Wed July 30, 5-7pm
RSVP: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51084/c/10476/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=9390
Monday, June 30 Statewide
Call to Action for Public Education
Education Voters PA
It is hard to imagine, but the PA House advanced a state budget
in Harrisburg
that is far worse for public schools than the budget Governor Corbett
proposed earlier this year.
The PA House is calling to eliminate the $241 million increase
in state funding for proposed Ready to Learn Block grants and replace this with
a paltry $70 million increase in Basic Education Funding.Under the House
budget, PA school districts would lose about 70% of the increases in state
funding they were expecting to receive this year, funding that they were
relying on to balance their budgets.
The House budget is irresponsible and unacceptable. It
does not call for a shale tax or a cigarette tax. Instead, it relies on
the sale of state liquor stores (which the Senate has so far not supported),
gimmicky sources of one-time funding, and the suspension of selected tax
credits to balance the budget.
Budget negotiations are just beginning. While the budget
is still fluid and negotiations are taking place, advocates must speak out
loudly and with one voice in support of responsible funding for public schools
this year. If we don't speak up, public education will likely receive
little more than scraps in the budget this year.
Mark your calendar for Monday, June 30th – and do 3
things in 10 minutes to make a difference!
EPLC Education Issues
Workshop for Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff, and Interested Voters - Harrisburg
Register Now! EPLC will again be hosting
an Education Issues Workshop for Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff,
and Interested Voters. This nonpartisan, one-day program will take place
on Thursday, July 31 in Harrisburg. Space is limited. Click here to learn more about workshop and
to register.
PSBA opens nominations for
the Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award
The nomination process is now open for the Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award. This award may be presented annually to the individual school director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform. Applications will be accepted until July 16, 2014. The July 16 date was picked in honor of Timothy M. Allwein's birthday. The award will be presented during the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference in October. More details and application are available on PSBA's website.
The nomination process is now open for the Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award. This award may be presented annually to the individual school director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform. Applications will be accepted until July 16, 2014. The July 16 date was picked in honor of Timothy M. Allwein's birthday. The award will be presented during the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference in October. More details and application are available on PSBA's website.
Education
Policy and Leadership Center
Click
here to read more about EPLC’s Education Policy Fellowship Program, including:
2014-15 Schedule 2014-15 Application Past Speakers Program Alumni And More
Information
2014 PA Gubernatorial Candidate Plans for Education
and Arts/Culture in PA
Education Policy and Leadership Center
Below is an alphabetical list of the 2014
Gubernatorial Candidates and links to information about their plans, if
elected, for education and arts/culture in Pennsylvania. This list will be updated, as more
information becomes available.
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