Tuesday, September 30, 2014

PA Ed Policy Roundup Sept 30: 'Circuit Riders' begin campaign to change PA school funding

Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 3500 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Superintendents, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, 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 and LinkedIn

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
The Keystone State Education Coalition is pleased to be listed among the friends and allies of The Network for Public Education.  Are you a member?


Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for September 30, 2014:
'Circuit Riders' begin campaign to change PA school funding



KEYSTONE EXAMS: Not Just Another Standardized Test
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s NEW High School Graduation Requirement
Join the Radnor, Haverford, Chester County, Lower Merion & Narberth Leagues of Women Voters October 7 @ 7:00 pm in Radnor



More than 850 superintendents, school business managers and school directors have registered to attend tonight's virtual town hall on basic education funding at statewide intermediate units.  Are you one of them?
"The group says about 34 percent of school funds come from the state, down from a high of 54 percent in 1974. The national average is 44 percent."
…."Hopefully, the folks in Harrisburg who are responsible for going through this budget exercise every year will see that enough people are interested in this, and a broad enough array of people are advocating for this, that we'll actually be able to see it happen"
'Circuit Riders' begin campaign to change school funding
KATHY BOCCELLA, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERTuesday, September 30, 2014, 1:08 AM
With school funding a hot issue in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race, an alliance of state education leaders is starting a campaign to build support for changing the way the state pays its school bills.  During the yearlong campaign, which begins with a televised meeting Tuesday night at 29 intermediate units, 11 "circuit riders" - mostly retired superintendents - will attempt to build support among current superintendents, business managers, and school board members for a movement for education-funding changes, said Jim Buckheit, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.

PA BASIC EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:00 AM
(public hearing on funding issues related to rural school districts)
Clarion University Gemmell Student Center Clarion, PA

"A new funding formula that responds to student needs and ensures adequacy in every community would be a good start. A lawsuit is imminent and may force the state’s hand.  ….That’s not just a Pennsylvania problem. The United States is unusual among industrialized countries in having it backward: We spend the fewest education dollars on the neediest students. If we want to spend tax dollars wisely and get results, we need to flip that script."
Editorial: Pa.'s flipped priorities
By the Notebook on Sep 29, 2014 11:28 AM
It’s hard to overstate the deplorable conditions facing Philadelphia school children again this fall: another year of bare-bones education, overcrowded classrooms, and gaps in essential services like counseling and nursing.  But Philadelphia is by no means the only Pennsylvania district to see budgets slashed and the jobs of teachers, librarians, nurses, and counselors eliminated. Districts across the state are reeling from four years of austerity. Here’s how some were responding this summer:

SB76: Pa. Senate leader: No vote on property tax reform this year
Pottstown Mercury By Andrew Staub, PA Independent POSTED: 09/25/14, 4:43 PM EDT
HARRISBURG >> Proponents of eliminating school property taxes cheered a win last week, but it might have been a hollow victory.  Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester, recently told a Delaware County business group Senate Bill 76, which would eliminate the unpopular tax, “will not become law” even though it cleared a key committee vote, according to a Chadds Ford Live report from over the weekend.  While not a direct quote, the website reported Pileggi said the legislation was the “subject of intense interest that lacks traction.” It’s a strong sign the much ballyhooed legislation might have reached its apex as the end of the legislative session draws closer.

"As a requirement of the grant, awardees must offer students a variety of enrichment opportunities that they might not receive at school or at home.  Grantees are permitted to provide cultural, social or artistic activities to students, and services to their families.  The 64 grantees represent eight geographical areas of Pennsylvania and include 14 community-based organizations, 21 school districts, 12 charter schools, five intermediate units, three faith-based organizations, six nationally affiliated service organizations, and three institutions of higher education."
Governor Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett Announce $23.1 Million in Funding to Enhance Academic Opportunities for At-Risk Students
PDE Press Release September 29, 2014
Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett today announced that $23.1 million in funding has been awarded to 64 school districts and community-based organizations in 29 counties across the state.  This funding will support educational resources in local communities to increase student academic achievement – a cornerstone of what the Governor believes will ensure students are prepared for postsecondary success.  Through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program, the organizations will use these funds to establish or expand community learning centers to provide students, who attend high-poverty, low-performing schools, with additional high-quality academic opportunities.  “These grants will provide educational opportunities that are focused on complementing, supplementing and enhancing the work being done in the classroom by teachers and students,” Gov. Corbett said.  “We know that at-risk students need additional educational resources to be academically successful and this funding will support these efforts.”

Pa. districts and community groups get $23 million to support at-risk youth
23 grantees are from Philadelphia
the notebook By David Limm on Sep 29, 2014 06:13 PM
The Pennsylvania recipients of a major federal grant program aimed at supporting at-risk youth were announced today by Gov. Corbett and his wife, Susan.
Sixty-four school districts and community-based organizations across the state will receive $23 million in three-year 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants. The grants will help support out-of-school time programs that give academic support to students from underperfoming schools and high-poverty areas, who are at risk of dropping out or disengaging from school. 
More than a third of that money will go to 23 grantees based in Philadelphia, a mix of community organizations and charter schools. (See the list of Philadelphia grantees below.)

Corbett announces funding for programs for at-risk students
Trib Live By Megan Harris Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, 2:00 p.m.
Gov. Tom Corbett announced $23.1 million in state funding for social and artistic activities in high-poverty, low-performing schools on Monday, including nine in Western Pennsylvania.  Among the 64 winners were the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, the Consortium for Public Education, Youth Places, the Private Industry Council and school districts serving McKeesport Area, Penn Hills, Pittsburgh, United and Jeanette City.  The funding supports educational resources in local communities to increase student academic achievement through the federal 21st Century Community.
Wolf must lead on York city school reform (YDR opinion)
York Daily Record editorial UPDATED:   09/29/2014 11:41:22 PM EDT
When Tom Wolf visited the YDR editorial board back in March, we asked him what he thought of the possibility that the York city school district could be taken over by charter school operators if the district's internal reform plan failed.  "I don't know how you do that," he said, "I'm not saying that's wrong. I just don't know how you do that."  In the ensuing months, we've seen how you go about doing that. You put out a request for proposals. You interview the charter school operators that put in bids. You narrow it down to a couple. And you visit schools the finalists operate.
All that has happened in recent weeks.

Corbett trails Wolf in yet another poll: Monday Morning Coffee
Penn Live By John L. Micek | jmicek@pennlive.com  on September 29, 2014 at 9:09 AM, updated September 29, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
If there's one great surprise to come out of this year's race for the state's top spot, it's learning that just about everyone and their dog runs a polling operation.  From Franklin & Marshall to Muhlenberg and Harper, from PPP to Magellan, you can't swing a dead cat around here without someone bothering a registered or likely voter for his or her opinion.
So let's throw one more onto the heap, shall we?  A Mercyhurst University poll of 479 registered voters conducted from Sept. 15 through Sept. 24 gives Democrat Tom Wolf a 43 percent to 28 percent lead over Republican Gov. Tom Corbett with 22 percent undecided.

DN Editorial: Nicotine patch
Philly Daily News Editorial POSTED: Monday, September 29, 2014, 3:01 AM
THERE WAS celebration locally last week when Gov. Corbett signed the bill allowing Philadelphia to increase the tax on cigarettes by $2 a pack.  Mayor Nutter praised the governor and the Legislature for finally taking action. Schools Superintendent William Hite added his thanks. No one did high-fives, but there was a sense of satisfaction over a mission accomplished.  The situation reminds us of the title of the 1960s novel Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me.

Lehigh Valley vo-techs preparing for high-tech manufacturing jobs
By Sara K. Satullo | The Express-Times  on September 28, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Three years ago, the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School shut down its precision machining program.  Enrollment was at an all-time low, the instructor had retired and the program was facing costly modernization upgrades.  The vo-tech shut down the program for a year, brought in a new instructor and began replacing its equipment.  "We gutted the program," said Brian Williams, the school's executive director.  Now in its second year after the overhaul, the reset seems to have worked: the program is expected to have almost 50 students enrolled come November.   "I'm happy to see (Bethlehem's lab) reopen again," said Robert Heffentrager, a precision machining instructor at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. "Manufacturing needs more people."

"One condition stated that the school cannot teach anything that opposes the teachings of the Catholic Church.  "That's unacceptable from this board's standpoint," President Michael Faccinetto said."
Lehigh Valley Dual Language charter school makes case for second location
By Adam Clark,Of The Morning Call September 29, 2014
Losing students by the week because it doesn't have enough space, the Lehigh Valley Dual Language Charter School made another plea to the Bethlehem Area School District on Monday for permission to open a second location.  Parents and representatives of the charter spoke before the Bethlehem Area School Board during a two-hour hearing, explaining the impact on students and insisting the school's plan for a second location is solid.

Palmer: Private donors pushing to maintain current enrollment
SOLOMON LEACH, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER LEACHS@PHILLYNEWS.COM, 215-854-5903 POSTED: Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 3:01 AM
THE FOUNDER of Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School told concerned parents, faculty, staff and supporters last night that a group of private donors is talking with the district in an effort to keep the school open at its current enrollment level through the academic year.  Walter Palmer, the embattled charter's founder and chief executive officer, said talks with Superintendent William Hite and the School Reform Commission began Friday and continued over the weekend. He would not name the donors, but said he hopes to have an answer in the next 10 days.

Easton Area School District to pay attorneys' fees in 'I (heart) Boobies!' case
By Kurt Bresswein | The Express-Times  on September 29, 2014 at 9:24 PM, updated September 29, 2014 at 9:26 PM
The Easton Area School District agreed in a settlement to pay attorneys' fees in the "I (heart) Boobies!" case, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.  The district will pay $385,000 in three installments, due in 30 days, Jan. 1 and July 1, Mary Catherine Roper, senior staff attorney for the ACLU branch, said Monday night.  The U.S. Supreme Court in March rejected the district's appeal in its effort to prevent students from wearing the breast-cancer awareness bracelets.  In deciding not to hear the case, the justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling from August 2013 striking down a ban on the bracelets.
The precedent set by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit -- that the bracelets worn by students represent a protected form of free speech -- applies to the states the court covers: Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  

"Districts serving more needy student populations require smaller classes and more intensive supports if their students are expected to close the gap with their more advantaged peers – or strive for common outcome goals. Even recruiting similarly qualified teachers in higher need settings requires higher, not the same or lower compensation. Districts serving high need populations require a) more staff – more specialized, more diverse and even more of the same (core classroom teacher) staff, of b) at least equal qualifications. That means they need more money (than their more advantaged neighbors) to get the job done. If they so happen to have substantially less money, it’s not a matter of simply trading off those lower class sizes for higher salaries or vice versa. If you have neither, you can’t do the tradeoff."
Anatomy of Educational Inequality & Why School Funding Matters
School Finance 101 by Bruce Baker Posted on September 13, 2014
There continues to be much bluster out there in ed reformy land that money really isn’t all that important – especially for traditional public school districts. That local public schools and districts already have way too much money but use it so inefficiently that any additional dollar would necessarily be wasted. An extension of this line of reasoning is that therefore differences in spending across districts are also inconsequential. It really doesn’t matter – the reformy line of thinking goes – if the suburbs around Philly, Chicago or New York dramatically outspend them, as long as some a-contextualpoorly documented and often flat out wrong, blustery statement can be made about a seemingly large aggregate or per pupil spending figure that the average person on the street should simply find offensive.
Much of this bluster about the irrelevance of funding is strangely juxtaposed with arguments that inequity of teacher quality and the adequacy of the quality of the teacher workforce are the major threats to our education system. But of course, these threats have little or nothing to do with money? Right? As I’ve explained previously – equitable distribution of quality teaching requires equitable (not necessarily equal) distribution of resources.
…..Well, here’s what actual research and data show:

"Question: What will be different five years from now if the current plans go forward?Yong Zhao: It’s always dangerous to predict the future. But if history is any indication, judging from the accomplishment of NCLB and Race-to-the Top, I would say that five years from now, American education will still be said to be broken and obsolete. We will find out that the Common Core Standards, after billions of dollars, millions of hours of teacher time, and numerous PD sessions, alignment task forces, is not the cure to American’s education ill. Worse yet, we will likely have most of nation’s schools teaching to the common tests aligned with the Common Core. As a result, we will see a further narrowing of the curriculum and educational experiences. Whatever innovative teaching that has not been completely lost in the schools may finally be gone. And then we will have a nation of students, teachers, and schools who are compliant with the Common Core Standards, but we may not have much else left."
Yong Zhao: Will the Common Core Create World-Class Learners?
University of Oregon professor Yong Zhao’s 2009 book Catching Up or Leading the Way sent a jolt through our educational system. He questioned the use of tests and “accountability” from the unique perspective of someone educated in China, now living – and raising children – in the USA. His next book, World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students, is due out soon, so I asked him to share some thoughts about some current issues.

“We’re calling on Harvard to support and provide the resources for people who want want to have lifelong careers in public education, not people who want to teach for a couple of years and then go to law school or business school,” said Blake A. McGhghy ’17, a SLAM member who spearheaded the Harvard branch of the campaign."
Harvard Student Activist Group Calls on University President Faust To Sever Ties with Teach For America
Harvard Crimson By MARIEL A. KLEIN 2 days ago
A dozen members of the Student Labor Action Movement assembled outside Massachusetts Hall on Friday afternoon to deliver a letter to University President Drew G. Faust, imploring Harvard to cut ties with Teach For America if it does not make several key changes to its program by Oct. 8.
The effort is part of a larger national movement started by United Students Against Sweatshops that criticizes Teach For America, a nation-wide program that recruits college graduates to teach in low-income communities for at least two years, for undermining the quality of public education.
Chanting "education not privatization," Gabriel H. Bayard '15 and Hannah L. McShea '18 protest Teach For America on Friday, Sept. 26 outside Massachusetts Hall.

Atlanta Cheating Scandal: Are School Testing Stakes Too High?
Education Writers Association Educated Reporter Blog by Emily Richmond SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
In Atlanta this week, opening arguments are underway in a racketeering trial where prosecutors will argue that public school educators engaged in a massive conspiracy to cheat on high-stakes tests.  From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s coverage of Monday’s opening arguments:
“This conspiracy was cleverly, cleverly disguised and the purpose of the conspiracy was this – to illegally inflate test scores and create a false, false impression of academic success for many students in the Atlanta Public School system,” said prosecutor Fani Willis. “It was done to those students’ detriment.”
The defense is expected to argue that a corrosive environment where boosting test scores had become the sole priority, and that teachers and administrators were motivated by fear –rather than personal gain – when they changed students’ answer sheets on statewide exams. 
Some of the most damning charges have been laid at the feet of 67-year-old Hall, a former national Superintendent of the Year, who is alleged to have fostered a work environment where dishonesty was rewarded.

Education key topic in this week’s debates
MSNBC By Michael LaRosa 09/26/14 01:32 PM
The issue of education has become a potent political weapon during this campaign season and that was reflected in the third week of 2014 debates. 
While Republicans are largely trying to make the midterm election a referendum on President Obama, painting their Democratic opponents as nothing more than puppets of the administration and its “failed” policies, Democrats running for governor this year are successfully navigating the waters of the “all politics is local” strategy.   Democratic gubernatorial candidates Tom Wolf in Pennsylvania, Paul Davis in Kansas, and Wendy Davis in Texas are underscoring cuts to education in their efforts to set themselves apart from their Republican opponents. Democrat Mike Ross, in a tight race for governor of Arkansas, argues in support of Common Core national education standards and, along with Davis of Texas, is pushing for universal pre-kindergarten.  
GOP governors are facing fierce criticism for what their opponents call massive cuts to education over the last four years, and Democrats are now seizing on the opportunity to hold their rivals accountable. 


How to Register to Vote - Deadline is October 6th
PA Department of State
Once you know you are eligible to vote, the next step is to register. In Pennsylvania, you can register in person, by mail and at various government agencies. Below you will find information about how to register, as well as links to voting registration forms and applications.

Upcoming PA Basic Education Funding Commission Meetings*
PA Basic Education Funding Commission  website
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 11 AM, Clarion University
Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 10 AM, Perkiomen Valley
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11 AM, Pittsburgh
* meeting times and locations subject to change

Health Issues in Schools: "Mom I can't find the Nurse"
October 21, 2014 1:00 -- 4:00 P.M.
United Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, 19103
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia 
Philadelphia has one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country. We need more nurses in Philadelphia's schools to aid children suffering from this and other health issues. Join us to discuss Pennsylvania laws governing nursing services.
Tickets: Attorneys $200       General Public $100      Webinar $50   
"Pay What You Can" tickets are also available
Click here to purchase tickets

LWV Panel:KEYSTONE EXAMS Not Just Another Standardized Test Oct 7th Radnor
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s NEW High School Graduation Requirement
Join the Radnor, Haverford, Chester County, Lower Merion & Narberth Leagues of Women Voters October 7 @ 7:00 pm in Radnor
In partnership with your area schools’ Parent Organizations and supported by your area School Districts
Moderator: Susan Carty, President, League of Women Voters of PA
Panelists Will Include:
Pennsylvania State Senator, Andy Dinniman
Lower Merion School District Board of Directors Member, Lori Actman
Conestoga High School
Principal, Dr. Amy Meisinger
Education Lawyer, Josh Kershenbaum, Esq.
Additional Panelists To Be Announced
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM Radnor Municipal Building, 301 Iven Ave., Radnor
Questions? Please Call 610-446-8383 or e-mail katederiel@verizon.net

What About the Schools? A Community Forum on the Next Governor's Education Agenda Oct. 15 7:00 pm WHYY Philly
Pennsylvania's public schools, especially in Philadelphia, are in dire straits. Many hope that the upcoming gubernatorial election will help shine a light on the state's education issues. But how will Harrisburg politics and financial realities limit the next governor’s agenda for education?
Join Research for Action, WHYY, and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey for an interactive community forum designed to suggest an education agenda for the next administration—and to assess the politics of achieving it.  Hear from local educators about what they see as priorities for the schools, and from seasoned policy practitioners on the political realities of Harrisburg.  Then, make your voice heard. Discuss your thoughts and perspectives with other event guests and interact with the panelists. You’ll come away from this spirited discussion with a more nuanced view of the politics of education in both Philadelphia and at the state level.
Admission
This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required.
When
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Where
WHYY, Independence Mall West, 150 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19106
Contact
Questions? Call 215-351-0511 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Save the date: Bob Herbert book event! Pittsburgh October 9th
Yinzercation Blog September 17, 2014
Save the date – you don’t want to miss this! We are hosting the national launch of Bob Herbert’s new book, Losing Our Way: An Intimate Portrait of a Troubled AmericaYou might remember Mr. Herbert as the award winning and longtime columnist for the New York Times. This book is especially exciting for us because Bob came to Pittsburgh several times to interview parents and teachers in our local grassroots movement and wound up writing three chapters on our fight for public education!
Date:    Thursday, October 9, 2014  Time:    5:30 – 6:30PM, moderated discussion and Q&A.
Doors will open at 5 with student performances.  Followed by book signing.
Location:    McConomy Auditorium, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh 15213.  Free parking in the garage.
Hosted by:    Yinzercation (we are profiled in the book!)
Moderator:    Tony Norman, columnist and associate editor,Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PUBLIC Education Nation October 11
The Network for Public Education will hold a historic event in one month's time
 
PUBLIC Education Nation will deliver the conversation the country has been waiting for. Rather than featuring billionaires and pop singers, this event will be built around intense conversations featuring leading educators, parents, students and community activists. We have waited too long for that seat at someone else's table. This time, the tables are turned, and we are the ones setting the agenda.   This event will be livestreamed on the web on the afternoon of Saturday, October 11, from the auditorium of Brooklyn New School, a public school. There will be four panels focusing on the most critical issues we face in our schools. The event will conclude with a conversation between Diane Ravitch and Jitu Brown.  

Please join us for a symposium on:
“Funding Pennsylvania's Public Schools: A Look Ahead”
This event is co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics and the Temple University Center on Regional Politics.
When: Friday, October 3, 2014, 8:30 am to 12 pm
Where: Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh in Green Tree, PA
Session I:  "Forecasting the Fiscal Future of Pennsylvania's Public Schools"
A panel of legislators and public officials will respond to a presentation by Penn State Professor William Hartman and Tim Shrom projecting the fiscal trajectory of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts over the next five years and by University of Pittsburgh Professor Maureen McClure discussing the implications for school finance of an aging tax base.
Session II: "Why Smart Investments in Public Schools Are Critical to Pennsylvania's Economic Future"
Following an address by Eva Tansky Blum, Chairwoman and President of the PNC Foundation, a panel of business and labor leaders will discuss the importance of public school funding reform to the competitiveness of regional and state economies. 
We look forward to your participation!

Pennsylvania Arts Education Network 2014 Arts and Education Symposium
The 2014 Arts and Education Symposium will be held on Thursday, October 2 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, PA.  Join us for a daylong convening of arts education policy leaders and practitioners for lively discussions about the latest news from the field.
The Symposium registration fee is $45 per person. To register, click here or follow the prompts at the bottom of the page.  The Symposium will include the following:

Register Now – 2014 PAESSP State Conference – October 19-21, 2014
Please join us for the 2014 PAESSP State Conference, “PRINCIPAL EFFECTIVENESS: Leading Schools in a New Age of Accountability,” to be held October 19-21 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa.  Featuring Keynote Speakers: Alan November, Michael Fullan & Dr. Ray Jorgensen.  This year’s conference will provided PIL Act 45 hours, numerous workshops, exhibits, multiple resources and an opportunity to network with fellow principals from across the state.

PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference (Oct. 21-24) registration forms now available online
PSBA Website
Make plans today to attend the most talked about education conference of the year. This year's PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference promises to be one of the best with new ideas, innovations, networking opportunities and dynamic speakers. More details are being added every day. Online registration will be available in the next few weeks. If you just can't wait, registration forms are available online now. Other important links are available with more details on:
·         Hotel registration (reservation deadline extended to Sept. 26)
·         Educational Publications Contest (deadline Aug. 6)
·         Student Celebration Showcase (deadline Sept. 19)
·         Poster and Essay Contest (deadline Sept. 19)

Voting for PSBA officers and at-large representatives opens Sept. 9; closes October 6th
PSBA Website 9/8/2014
The slate of candidates for 2015 PSBA officer and at-large representatives is available online. Photos, bios and videos also have been posted for candidates. According to recent PSBA Bylaws changes, each member school entity casts one vote per office. Voting will again take place online through a secure, third-party website -- Simply Voting. Voting will open Sept. 9 and closes Oct. 6. One person from the school entity (usually the board secretary) is authorized to register the vote on behalf of the member school entity and each board will need to put on its agenda discussion and voting at one of its meetings in September. Each person authorized to cast the school entity's votes received an email on Aug. 13 and a test ballot was sent to them on Aug. 28. In addition, a memo from PSBA President Richard Frerichs will be mailed in the coming days to all board secretaries and copied to school board presidents and chief school administrators.

January 23rd–25th, 2015 at The Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia
EduCon is both a conversation and a conference.
It is an innovation conference where we can come together, both in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas — from the very practical to the big dreams.

Monday, September 29, 2014

PA Ed Policy Roundup Sept 29: Why the kids who most need arts education aren’t getting it

Daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 3500 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Superintendents, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, 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 and LinkedIn

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
The Keystone State Education Coalition is pleased to be listed among the friends and allies of The Network for Public Education.  Are you a member?


Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for September 29, 2014:
Why the kids who most need arts education aren’t getting it



KEYSTONE EXAMS: Not Just Another Standardized Test
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s NEW High School Graduation Requirement
Join the Radnor, Haverford, Chester County, Lower Merion & Narberth Leagues of Women Voters October 7 @ 7:00 pm in Radnor



DId you catch our weekend postings?
PA Ed Policy Roundup Sept 28: Quadrillion to one: no fallout; no charges for Gureghian managed CCCS

PA BASIC EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:00 AM          
 (public hearing on funding issues related to rural school districts)
Clarion University Gemmell Student Center Clarion, PA

"I have continued those reform efforts by authorizing a Basic Education Funding Commission to consider the input of educators, parents, legislators and other stakeholders in agreeing on what a truly fair funding formula should look like. In my second term, I look forward to reviewing their recommendations and implementing, with their guidance, what would be landmark reforms to how we fund our schools."
The race for governor: How Tom Corbett would address 3 pressing Pennsylvania issues
Trib Live By Tom Corbett Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, 9:00 p.m.
Through hard work, innovation, strong leadership, a commitment to smaller government and lower taxes, the Corbett-Cawley administration is succeeding in building a stronger Pennsylvania.
When I was sworn into office in 2011, our commonwealth faced unprecedented challenges. Our budgets were increased to unsustainable levels and too often tax increases were the first place state government went looking for new revenue to fulfill its desire for wasteful spending. To compound issues, public school funding had been cut and replaced with one-time federal stimulus money. Unemployment was as high as 8.7 percent while businesses were leaving in search of states with lower taxes.
"Currently, charter school funding is based on a school district's per-student cost, which includes funds associated with services not provided by charter schools. The Pennsylvania Auditor General's Office estimates that more accurate funding formulas could save taxpayers and local districts at least $365 million each year.  Right now, Pennsylvania is one of only three states in the entire country that does not use a fair funding formula for distributing state education dollars to local school districts. I believe that rather than creating educational winners and losers based on ZIP codes, taxpayers deserve a funding formula that is equitable, transparent and holds local school districts accountable for how they spend state and local tax funding."
The race for governor: How Tom Wolf would address 3 pressing Pennsylvania issues
Trib Live By Tom Wolf Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, 9:00 p.m.
For nearly two years, I have traveled the commonwealth talking with workers, business owners and struggling families about the need for a fresh start to get Pennsylvania moving again, fully fund our public schools, revitalize the state's stagnant economy and rebuild the middle class.
I believe we can build a better Pennsylvania — where a dynamic economy will offer opportunities for everyone. But too often policymaking is about the next deal or reacting to the latest crisis. Pennsylvania's sluggish economy is reflective of how this type of politics in Harrisburg is failing us. It's time we think ahead.
Wolf and Corbett square off on school funding - Wolf
Responses of candidate Tom Wolf
By thenotebook on Sep 24, 2014 12:52 PM
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, is running for re-election against challenger Tom Wolf, a Democrat, on Nov. 4.
The Notebook invited both candidates to submit a 1,000-word response answering our six questions about key education issues, with a focus on funding. The Wolf campaign submitted a response. The Corbett campaign declined the invitation to respond, but the Notebook has compiled other published statements from Corbett on these issues.

Wolf and Corbett square off on school funding - Corbett
Statements of Gov. Tom Corbett
By thenotebook on Sep 24, 2014 01:00 PM
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, is running for re-election against challenger Tom Wolf, a Democrat, on Nov. 4.
The Notebook invited both candidates to submit a 1,000-word response answering our six questions about key education issues, with a focus on funding. The Wolf campaign submitted a response. The Corbett campaign declined the invitation to respond, but the Notebook has compiled other published statements from Corbett on these issues.

During debate, Corbett hits on a new strategy
By Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer POSTED: September 28, 2014
"Where's the beef?"
That was the question underdog candidate Walter Mondale borrowed from a Wendy's ad to skewer front-runner Gary Hart and his airy "new ideas" in a 1984 presidential debate.
In the same vein, underdog Tom Corbett paced the stage in last week's first debate of the Pennsylvania governor's race, demanding that Democrat Tom Wolf provide details of his promises to make the state's personal income tax fairer to the middle class and to increase state funding on education.

Here are addresses of campaign websites where Gov. Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf have posted policy proposals.
Corbett
Wolf

Big, inconsistent classes at Phila. schools
KRISTEN A. GRAHAM, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Friday, September 26, 2014, 1:08 AM
One Philadelphia school solved overcrowding by placing first, second, and third graders in a single classroom. Another is using a different substitute every week to teach Spanish. Elsewhere, there are reports of class sizes of 35, 36 - and more.  Oversize classes are not unheard of at the beginning of the year in Philadelphia, where student mobility often makes planning tough. But in the past, the school system was able to hire more staff to ease crowding.
"In previous years, we carried a couple of hundred extra teachers, but we just don't have that luxury anymore," said Naomi Wyatt, the district's human resources chief. "We have to be a little bit more conservative about bringing folks in full-time until our numbers are final."
So Danny Allen Jr., a freshman at Central High, has had a rotating cast of substitutes for Spanish I, and could until late October, when the district's "leveling" process is complete, adjusting staffing to reflect actual enrollment.

Pittsburgh mayor’s school panel still hunts for mission on system overhaul
By Robert Zullo and Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette September 29, 2014 12:00 AM
Three months after it was assembled and about two months before it is supposed to deliver a report on public education in Pittsburgh, Mayor Bill Peduto’s education task force is still searching for its mission as it prepares for its third meeting tonight.  Curtiss Porter, the mayor’s chief education and neighborhood reinvestment officer, said the 21-member task force, which the mayor and city council convened to address school closings and make recommendations on improving the school system, is still trying to find its footing. But Mr. Porter noted that he expects the collaboration among city politicians, teachers, parents, nonprofits and school board members, among others, to be a positive step forward.

Plans proceeding for Chromebooks at Haverford High School
Delco Times By LOIS PUGLIONESI, Times Correspondent POSTED: 09/28/14, 11:15 PM EDT
HAVERFORD — Plans for providing all Haverford High School students with Google Chromebooks by Fall 2015 are advancing smoothly, according to a recent presentation by school district Technology Director Jane Greenspun and Haverford High School Principal Jeffrey Nesbit.
School directors approved an initiative named 1:World in May, so that all high school students would have 24/7 use of these compact, rapid activation/Internet access computers. Chromebooks will allow students to conduct research in the classroom and work collaboratively in real time. School officials also found their affordable price, just under $300, manageability and automatic update system attractive.  Greenspun noted the initiative began with a soft rollout last year, when the district purchased 250 Chromebooks and stationed them in the high school library to be shared among departments.  Officials also introduced Google Drive last year, which provided students and staff access to “Cloud” data storage. Also introduced was Canvas, an online management system. The entire wireless network at the high school was upgraded in preparation, Greenspun said.

Education Law Center Joins New School Funding Campaign
Aug. 28, 2014 – The Education Law Center has joined a statewide coalition of more than 40 organizations representing educators, business and labor leaders, faith-based organizations, civic and child advocacy groups who want to address one of Pennsylvania’s most important and challenging issues: the funding of its public schools.  “We have to address the school funding crisis,” said Rhonda Brownstein, ELC Executive Director. “All of our students deserve an opportunity to learn and should have the resources necessary to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”  While the campaign plans to formally launch this fall, the coalition behind the effort already has begun examining the issues that impact school funding and formed a governing body chaired by Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, a statewide children’s advocacy organization.
“While there has been plenty of discussion over the years about how Pennsylvania funds its public schools, there hasn’t been consensus among the many groups that have a vested interest in our kids and schools,” Benso said. “This campaign will be unprecedented in the various voices it listens to and represents.”  Kathy Manderino, a former state lawmaker, has been named campaign manager for the new campaign.


Why the kids who most need arts education aren’t getting it
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss September 29 at 5:00 AM  
Though the benefits of art education are very real (see here for a list of 10), it is one of the big, unfortunate casualties of the high-stakes testing era, with its laser focus on math and English Language Arts — especially in schools with big populations of students who live in poverty. Just how effective a good arts program can be was shown by Michael Sokolove, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, in his book titled “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town and the Magic of Theater,” about an elite high school theater program in a blue-collar Pennsylvania town. The book will be issued in paperback on Oct. 7. Here’s a piece by Sokolove on saving arts education.


How to Register to Vote - Deadline is October 6th
PA Department of State
Once you know you are eligible to vote, the next step is to register. In Pennsylvania, you can register in person, by mail and at various government agencies. Below you will find information about how to register, as well as links to voting registration forms and applications.

Upcoming PA Basic Education Funding Commission Meetings*
PA Basic Education Funding Commission  website
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 11 AM, Clarion University
Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 10 AM, Perkiomen Valley
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11 AM, Pittsburgh
* meeting times and locations subject to change

Health Issues in Schools: "Mom I can't find the Nurse"
October 21, 2014 1:00 -- 4:00 P.M.
United Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, 19103
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia 
Philadelphia has one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country. We need more nurses in Philadelphia's schools to aid children suffering from this and other health issues. Join us to discuss Pennsylvania laws governing nursing services.
Tickets: Attorneys $200       General Public $100      Webinar $50   
"Pay What You Can" tickets are also available
Click here to purchase tickets

LWV Panel:KEYSTONE EXAMS Not Just Another Standardized Test Oct 7th Radnor
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s NEW High School Graduation Requirement
Join the Radnor, Haverford, Chester County, Lower Merion & Narberth Leagues of Women Voters October 7 @ 7:00 pm in Radnor
In partnership with your area schools’ Parent Organizations and supported by your area School Districts
Moderator: Susan Carty, President, League of Women Voters of PA
Panelists Will Include:
Pennsylvania State Senator, Andy Dinniman
Lower Merion School District Board of Directors Member, Lori Actman
Conestoga High School
Principal, Dr. Amy Meisinger
Education Lawyer, Josh Kershenbaum, Esq.
Additional Panelists To Be Announced
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM Radnor Municipal Building, 301 Iven Ave., Radnor
Questions? Please Call 610-446-8383 or e-mail katederiel@verizon.net

What About the Schools? A Community Forum on the Next Governor's Education Agenda Oct. 15 7:00 pm WHYY Philly
Pennsylvania's public schools, especially in Philadelphia, are in dire straits. Many hope that the upcoming gubernatorial election will help shine a light on the state's education issues. But how will Harrisburg politics and financial realities limit the next governor’s agenda for education?
Join Research for Action, WHYY, and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey for an interactive community forum designed to suggest an education agenda for the next administration—and to assess the politics of achieving it.  Hear from local educators about what they see as priorities for the schools, and from seasoned policy practitioners on the political realities of Harrisburg.  Then, make your voice heard. Discuss your thoughts and perspectives with other event guests and interact with the panelists. You’ll come away from this spirited discussion with a more nuanced view of the politics of education in both Philadelphia and at the state level.
Admission
This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required.
When
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Where
WHYY, Independence Mall West, 150 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19106
Contact
Questions? Call 215-351-0511 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Save the date: Bob Herbert book event! Pittsburgh October 9th
Yinzercation Blog September 17, 2014
Save the date – you don’t want to miss this! We are hosting the national launch of Bob Herbert’s new book, Losing Our Way: An Intimate Portrait of a Troubled AmericaYou might remember Mr. Herbert as the award winning and longtime columnist for the New York Times. This book is especially exciting for us because Bob came to Pittsburgh several times to interview parents and teachers in our local grassroots movement and wound up writing three chapters on our fight for public education!
Date:    Thursday, October 9, 2014  Time:    5:30 – 6:30PM, moderated discussion and Q&A.
Doors will open at 5 with student performances.  Followed by book signing.
Location:    McConomy Auditorium, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh 15213.  Free parking in the garage.
Hosted by:    Yinzercation (we are profiled in the book!)
Moderator:    Tony Norman, columnist and associate editor,Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PUBLIC Education Nation October 11
The Network for Public Education will hold a historic event in one month's time
 
PUBLIC Education Nation will deliver the conversation the country has been waiting for. Rather than featuring billionaires and pop singers, this event will be built around intense conversations featuring leading educators, parents, students and community activists. We have waited too long for that seat at someone else's table. This time, the tables are turned, and we are the ones setting the agenda.   This event will be livestreamed on the web on the afternoon of Saturday, October 11, from the auditorium of Brooklyn New School, a public school. There will be four panels focusing on the most critical issues we face in our schools. The event will conclude with a conversation between Diane Ravitch and Jitu Brown.  

Please join us for a symposium on:
“Funding Pennsylvania's Public Schools: A Look Ahead”
This event is co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics and the Temple University Center on Regional Politics.
When: Friday, October 3, 2014, 8:30 am to 12 pm
Where: Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh in Green Tree, PA
Session I:  "Forecasting the Fiscal Future of Pennsylvania's Public Schools"
A panel of legislators and public officials will respond to a presentation by Penn State Professor William Hartman and Tim Shrom projecting the fiscal trajectory of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts over the next five years and by University of Pittsburgh Professor Maureen McClure discussing the implications for school finance of an aging tax base.
Session II: "Why Smart Investments in Public Schools Are Critical to Pennsylvania's Economic Future"
Following an address by Eva Tansky Blum, Chairwoman and President of the PNC Foundation, a panel of business and labor leaders will discuss the importance of public school funding reform to the competitiveness of regional and state economies. 
We look forward to your participation!

Pennsylvania Arts Education Network 2014 Arts and Education Symposium
The 2014 Arts and Education Symposium will be held on Thursday, October 2 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, PA.  Join us for a daylong convening of arts education policy leaders and practitioners for lively discussions about the latest news from the field.
The Symposium registration fee is $45 per person. To register, click here or follow the prompts at the bottom of the page.  The Symposium will include the following:

Register Now – 2014 PAESSP State Conference – October 19-21, 2014
Please join us for the 2014 PAESSP State Conference, “PRINCIPAL EFFECTIVENESS: Leading Schools in a New Age of Accountability,” to be held October 19-21 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa.  Featuring Keynote Speakers: Alan November, Michael Fullan & Dr. Ray Jorgensen.  This year’s conference will provided PIL Act 45 hours, numerous workshops, exhibits, multiple resources and an opportunity to network with fellow principals from across the state.

PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference (Oct. 21-24) registration forms now available online
PSBA Website
Make plans today to attend the most talked about education conference of the year. This year's PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference promises to be one of the best with new ideas, innovations, networking opportunities and dynamic speakers. More details are being added every day. Online registration will be available in the next few weeks. If you just can't wait, registration forms are available online now. Other important links are available with more details on:
·         Hotel registration (reservation deadline extended to Sept. 26)
·         Educational Publications Contest (deadline Aug. 6)
·         Student Celebration Showcase (deadline Sept. 19)
·         Poster and Essay Contest (deadline Sept. 19)

Voting for PSBA officers and at-large representatives opens Sept. 9
PSBA Website 9/8/2014
The slate of candidates for 2015 PSBA officer and at-large representatives is available online. Photos, bios and videos also have been posted for candidates. According to recent PSBA Bylaws changes, each member school entity casts one vote per office. Voting will again take place online through a secure, third-party website -- Simply Voting. Voting will open Sept. 9 and closes Oct. 6. One person from the school entity (usually the board secretary) is authorized to register the vote on behalf of the member school entity and each board will need to put on its agenda discussion and voting at one of its meetings in September. Each person authorized to cast the school entity's votes received an email on Aug. 13 and a test ballot was sent to them on Aug. 28. In addition, a memo from PSBA President Richard Frerichs will be mailed in the coming days to all board secretaries and copied to school board presidents and chief school administrators.

January 23rd–25th, 2015 at The Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia
EduCon is both a conversation and a conference.
It is an innovation conference where we can come together, both in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas — from the very practical to the big dreams.