Wednesday, April 19, 2017

PA Ed Policy Roundup April 19: HB97 Charter Reform voted out of Committee; on Calendar for Consideration by House Today

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, Wolf education transition team members, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, 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
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup April 19, 2017:
HB97 Charter Reform voted out of Committee; on Calendar for Consideration by House Today


The Annual State of Education Report
AT A GLANCE - The Annual State of Education report surveyed chief school administrators from school districts, career and technical centers and intermediate units, as well as pulling data from public sources. It is intended to be a barometer of not only the key indicators of public school performance but also the challenges schools face and how they are coping with them.

HB97 Charter reform law voted out of House committee, more revisions likely
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa and Greg Windle April 18, 2017 — 5:30pm
The Pennsylvania House Education Committee voted out of committee Tuesday a charter school reform bill that makes significant changes in what the state’s Auditor General called“the worst charter school law in the United States.”  The bill, HB 97, the subject of fierce lobbying, is likely to be further revised as it moves forward.  Legislators, including its sponsor, Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland), called it “a work in progress” as they continue to face detailed concerns from both charter proponents and skeptics about different parts of the legislation.  It passed out of the committee by a vote of 17-10, largely but not entirely on party lines, with most Republicans in favor and most Democrats opposed. Since Philadelphia has half the charter schools statewide, any changes would have the biggest impact here.  The charter law has not been significantly revised since it was enacted 20 years ago. During that time, more than 160 charter schools have been established across the state, educating more than 130,000 students.

HB97 Charter school reform in Pa. is back on the table for consideration
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com    Email the author | Follow on Twitter on April 18, 2017 at 1:03 PM, updated April 18, 2017 at 1:04 PM
Once again, state lawmakers are trying to tackle reforms to the 20-year-old charter school law that opened the door to public school choice in Pennsylvania.  This law, which led to the creation of 162 brick and mortar charter schools and 14 cyber charter schools, has proven to be controversial from the outset. Time has not changed that, which is why legislative sessions come and go and reforms to this embattled law never reach the governor's desk.  On Tuesday, the House Education Committee revived the issue for the first time in the legislative session that began in January by approving a charter school reform bill. Among other changes, it would establish an advisory commission to examine and recommend a new way of funding these independent public schools that serve more than 134,000 students.   The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland County, won committee approval by a 17-10 near-party line vote, although some of the affirmative votes came from Republican members who indicated their support was conditioned on more work being done to address concerns they hold.

HB97: Pa. Legislature tries again to reform maligned charter school law
Morning Call by Steve Esack Contact Reporter Call Harrisburg Bureau April 18, 2017
Pennsylvania Legislature tries again to reform nearly 20-year-old charter school law
Pennsylvania's charter school law will turn 20 this year, and the efforts to reform it are nearly as old.  Those efforts started anew Monday. The House Education Committee voted 14-10 for a bill supporters say will save taxpayers $27 million and improve oversight, but opponents say doesn't go far enough to improve spending and academic accountability at 176 charter schools.  "This is not a perfect piece of legislation," said Rep. David Hickernell, R-Lancaster, committee chairman. "I've never seen one in 14 1/2 years in the Legislature."  The 1997 law mandates that one or more local elected school boards can hold a hearing on a request to open a charter school, which then is governed by an appointed board that must adhere to state laws defining the roles of public officials. Another law, passed a few years later, created cyber charters under approval of the State Department of Education.  All charters are funded through local property taxes on a per-pupil basis, minus deductions for transportation and other expenses charter schools do not have for those children.  In the nearly two decades since Gov. Tom Ridge signed the law, school boards have complained that they do not have enough oversight of charters. In response, charters say districts have too much oversight of their independent operations.  In June 2012, the state auditor general's office issued a report that found taxpayers were overcharged $365 million annually to pay for the 162 charter schools at the time.
House Bill 97, sponsored by Rep. Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland, aims for a middle ground. It is similar to another bill that failed last year.

House Democrats to unveil Pa. charter school reform package Wednesday 
Rep. Roebuck Media Advisory April 18, 2017 
HARRISBURG, April 18 – House Democrats will hold a news conference Wednesday to unveil a package of charter school reform bills designed to treat all Pennsylvania public schools – both traditional and charter – and their students equally under law.
The news conference will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 19 in the Capitol Media Center. Media coverage is invited.  Live video of the event is also expected to be available on www.pahouse.com. Members of the media may also listen to the news conference by calling 717-787-9903 through 9910.
Speakers are expected to include:
·         Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee
·         Rep. James Roebuck, D-Phila., Democratic chairman of the House Education Committee
·         Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne
·         Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer
 The House is scheduled to consider a Republican charter school bill (H.B. 97) and Democratic amendments to it later on Wednesday.

Letter to House Education Committee From Education Law Center
Re: Oppose HB 97 Charter School Reform Date: April 17, 2017
Deborah Gordon Klehr, Executive Director, Kristina Moon, Staff Attorney, Yvelisse B. Pelotte, Staff Attorney
The Education Law Center is a non-profit legal advocacy and educational organization dedicated to ensuring that all of Pennsylvania’s children have access to a quality public education. We are not pro or anti charter school. We are advocates for vulnerable student populations. A responsible charter school law must empower local governing bodies to strategically control charter growth as a tool to increase quality options and improve our system of public education for all communities. The charter school law should not force blind expansion on already burdened systems and compel the loss of neighborhood schools options. With forty-two years of experience in public education advocacy, we write to urge you to oppose HB 97, the purported charter reform legislation scheduled for vote, with no debate, on April 18, 2017. Unfortunately, this bill falls far short because, like its predecessors,1 it fails to adequately address the significant problems presented by charter schools across the Commonwealth with regard to equity, transparency, and quality of education. This bill should not be passed without major revision.

HB97 on House Calendar for Today

PA House Education Committee Roll Call Vote on HB97 Charter Reform Bill April 18, 2017

Please Vote No: House Bill 97 does not provide real charter school reform
The PA House of Representatives is preparing to fast-track another charter school proposal. House Bill 97 (Rep. Reese, R-Westmoreland) was introduced this week and is scheduled for vote by the House Education Committee next Tuesday, April18. Once passed out of the committee, House Bill 97 will move to the House floor so it is important to reach out to all House and Senate members now to make them aware of your position on the proposal.
Tell your legislator to vote "No" on House Biill 97. Here are some of the reasons why -
·         School districts won't get a fair trial: House Bill 97 stacks the Charter School Appeal Board (CAB). The CAB would move from 6 to 9 members with only one of the three new members representing traditional public schools.
·         Lack of accountability and oversight: The bill expands the terms for charter school approval and extensions from 3 to 5 years to 5 to 10 years. This will leave longer periods of time with charters going unchecked by their authorizers.
·         Commission misses the mark: The proposed Charter School Funding Commission created in House Bill 97 goes way beyond addressing funding issues with charter schools and dives into charter authorization and a performance matrix. A true Charter School Funding Commission should focus solely on funding issues.
Once again, the stage is being set to rush through another comprehensive charter bill under the guise of “reform.” Tell your legislators to vote NO on House Bill 97.  

Education Voters PA on HB 97: Charter Reform that is Not Worth the 20-Year Wait
Education Voters PA Website Posted on April 17, 2017 by EDVOPA
It has been 20 years since the law that established charter schools in PA was enacted. Significant flaws in this charter school law have surfaced over the past two decades and legislators are now making what appears to be a serious effort to improve it.  On Tuesday, April 18th, the House Education Committee will begin fast-tracking HB 97, comprehensive charter school reform legislation. Unfortunately, HB 97 is a tremendous disappointment.  Call your state lawmakers now. Tell them that HB 97 is NOT charter reform that was worth the 20-year wait.  HB 97 increases transparency and holds charter schools to similar standards as other publicly funded entities. These are important and necessary changes to the law. Unfortunately, however, these changes aren’t enough to make HB 97 a bill lawmakers should support in its current form.
Lawmakers must substantially change HB 97 in order to address critical funding and academic performance issues, ensure that charters will serve all students equitably, and  ensure that communities are able to plan and exercise appropriate fiscal and academic oversight over their public education system(s).  Call your state legislators to urge them to work toward charter school reform that will  address all of the significant problems in the current charter law and improve PA’s system of public education for all students.

PennCAN on HB97: Charter Reform Legislation Overview
PennCAN website Publish date: April 2017
HB97 is a comprehensive charter reform bill. It reflects years of compromise and negotiation with all of the major education stakeholders. Over time, all of the controversial provisions have been stripped away (e.g. independent authorizers, direct pay) so all that remains are commonsense policies that meet the needs of both charter schools and traditional public schools.

Commonwealth Foundation on HB97: Charter Reform Nears Goal-line
Commonwealth Foundation Apr 17, 2017 James Paul
·         Charter reform bill is, on the whole, a win for thousands of students served by charter schools
·         Union leaders and special interests will rally against legislation
·         Regrettably, bill cuts funding for cyber charters and fails to create independent authorizer
Charter school reform is advancing in Harrisburg. Long in the works, HB 97 (previously HB 530) is a sweeping bill that includes several important revisions to Pennsylvania’s charter school law. The legislation will be considered in the House Education Committee this week.  As we wrote in August, it is vital that Pennsylvania do right by its charter families.  HB 97 strengthens charter school accountability. The bill mandates greater financial disclosure, increases transparency, and prevents potential conflicts of interest between school administrators and vendors. Unfortunately HB 97 imposes cuts on cyber charters and fails to create an independent charter school authorizer. Overall, however, there are many things to like in the legislation. 

How to fix public school funding in Pa. (column)
York Daily Record Opinion by Joel Sears Published 1:05 p.m. ET April 18, 2017
Joel Sears is a former member of the York Suburban School Board.
The cost of K-12 education in Pennsylvania is at an all-time high. At $15,000 per student per year, we rank fifth highest in the U.S. Unfortunately, the funding system is characterized more by distortions than by the ideals of equity and adequacy, and it’s getting worse.
The most recent attempt by the General Assembly to create a fair funding formula left many of us wondering if anything meaningful would happen. Would the new formula be implemented or go the way of so many other noble attempts that gather dust on a shelf in the basement of the Pennsylvania Department of Education?  The press releases led us to believe that the impossible had finally been achieved and equity was right around the corner. But, if you read the fine print, you found that the new allocation scheme only applies to “new” money. To put that in context, during the first year of implementation, $200 million would be distributed according to the new formula. Unfortunately, the remaining $6 billion would be distributed by the old “hold-harmless” formula, which guarantees that school districts cannot receive less money than they received in a prior year – regardless of changes in their student populations or demographics.

“With the state facing a $3 billion budget deficit, Spicka believes there are real threats to public education that need immediate attention.  "Making sure that we don't have to go through another round of cuts, making sure that our kids can get a quality education," she added. "That is what the Senate Education Committee should be focusing on, not trying to find a way to get guns in public schools."
PA Senate Committee to Vote on Guns in Schools
Public News Service April 18, 2017
HARRISBURG, Pa. – On Wednesday the state Senate's education committee is set to vote on a bill to allow school personnel to carry loaded weapons in public schools.   Senate Bill 383 is labeled as "providing for protection and defense of students." It would empower school districts to establish a policy to allow personnel who have a concealed-carry permit and training to have access to firearms in public school buildings.   Susan Spicka, executive director of Education Voters of Pennsylvania, says they looked for evidence that arming school personnel increases student safety, and found none.  "The National School Safety Security Services advises against it," she said. "Every state study that has been done about school safety has not recommended it."   Republican State Sen. Donald White, the sponsor of the bill, says it would provide another option to improve the safety and security of children, teachers and school staff.  But according to Spicka, there has been at least one experience in Pennsylvania that shows bringing guns into school can increase risk.
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-04-18/education/pa-senate-committee-to-vote-on-guns-in-schools/a57315-1

PA: Let's Arm Teachers?
Curmuducation Blog by Peter Greene Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Apparently it's education crazy season in Harrisburg, with one ill-advised ed bill after another. But fear not-- at least one PA legislator wants some of us to start packing heat in school.  Senate Bill 383 intends to amend the school code, with the intent of "providing for protection and defense of pupils.  Sponsor Donald C White, who was an insurance salesman back before his 2001 election, explains the reasoning here: 
In the aftermath of a number of tragic school shootings, the debate continues across the country on how we can better protect our children. While most of this discussion surrounds whether or not more gun control measures are needed, I believe we must look at all options when it comes to improving the safety and security of our children, teachers and school staff....

Pa. Senate leader balks at using gaming and booze revenue to close Pa. budget gap
Inquirer by Karen Langley, HARRISBURG BUREAU  @karen_langley |  klangley@post-gazette.com Updated: APRIL 18, 2017 — 8:01 PM EDT
HARRISBURG – House Speaker Mike Turzai’s office boasted that he would lead an effort to “free the wine,” and some of his GOP colleagues continue to look at expanding gambling as a way to fill a looming budget shortfall.  But in the upper chamber, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) argued that legislators should not be relying on “addictive products” to pay the state’s bills.  With 2½ months to go before the end of the fiscal year, Pennsylvania legislators returned to the Capitol on Tuesday touting ideas about how to raise the money, but not on how to arrive at a consensus.  A House committee approved two Turzai bills, one that would allow all grocery stores to obtain permits to sell wine and could bring in $119 million, and another to sell the state's wholesale alcohol business.  Gov. Wolf, a Democrat, opposes the bills, and they appear likely to run into trouble even if they reach the Republican-controlled Senate.  In an interview, Corman noted that the state in recent years had made significant changes to alcohol policy, such as allowing wine to be sold in certain grocery stores.  "I can't imagine we're going to do any more liquor expansion," Corman said. "Maybe something around the edges, but certainly nothing overly significant."

Let's drain the Legislature's slush fund and use it to pay for pensions: Dan Truitt
PennLive Op-Ed    By Dan Truitt on April 18, 2017 at 7:30 AM, updated April 18, 2017 at 7:31 AM
Last month, the Legislative Audit Advisory Committee voted to accept the audit report on the Legislature's spending of its 2015-2016 appropriation.   In essence, the report is simply a reaffirmation of data that is already available to the public in one way or another.   So, the report itself and its acceptance by the Legislature are unremarkable.   However, the report confirms that the Legislative slush fund now stands at more than $118 million and it's time for the legislature to return those lapsed funds to the tax payers.   Defenders of the slush fund are quick to say it's not a "slush fund", it's a "surplus" and it is needed to ensure the Legislature's independence in the event of a budget impasse. 

How do you get Philly teens to and through college?
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer  @newskag |  kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: APRIL 18, 2017 — 6:44 PM EDT
Khalesha Baldwin is the poster child in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where she grew up: the smart, motivated kid who got a scholarship to college after earning good grades at Central High.  But there were a few hitches when she got to Drexel University: She had no money for books, and she felt completely unprepared for the world of higher education.  “I’m not dumb, but there were things I just didn’t know,” said Baldwin. “I found myself so far behind, with academics and because of lack of resources.”  Baldwin got help and is now a successful junior at the school. But her case is emblematic of the struggles of many Philadelphians, and one reason why just one in four city residents holds a college degree, far fewer than in most other large U.S. cities.

Suspension-Limiting Bill Aims To Keep Students In School
WESA  By MARK NOOTBAAR  April 17, 2017
Misbehaving students in Kindergarten through fifth grade would no longer be given out-of-school suspensions under a measure introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  House Bill 715 would require districts to find alternative disciplinary methods for elementary students for anything other than offenses that put the health of students or teachers at risk.  “There are other ways to deal with this,” said Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny), the bill’s co-sponsor. “Restorative practices ways to deal with this in a way that is fair to the student, helps the student academically, and, in the long term, is a better process to control behavior and improve behavior.”  Pittsburgh Public Schools has been accused by education advocacy groups of using out-of-school suspensions too frequently -- handing out more than 8,000 during the 2015-16 academic year.  In its 2016-17 student conduct manual, PPS has three levels of misbehavior and accompanying “recommended disciplinary action.” The guidance does not specify interventions by grade level.

Move to end suspensions of young students gains steam in Pennsylvania
By Molly Born / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette April 19, 2017 12:00 AM
A proposal in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to end out-of-school suspensions for most elementary students comes as Pittsburgh Public Schools is exploring a plan of its own for its youngest learners.   The bill, sponsored by state Reps. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, and Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, would compel districts to use “restorative practices” — which allows students to make things right post-conflict while staying in school — or other approaches to “prevent the recurrence of the behavior that led to” getting kicked out of school.   ​​”When you’re 10 and under, you’re really not responsible for your own actions—you’re really still dependent on an adult,” Mr. Wheatley said, citing the story of girl he said was suspended in second and third grades for being habitually late. “We shouldn’t punish kids when adults fail.”  Nancy A. Hubley, Pittsburgh director of the Education Law Center, said she’s observed that increasingly, educators are finding ways to support students “to make academic progress not depriving them of education.” And she said national momentum to ditch suspensions for at least some kids appears to have reached Pennsylvania’s two biggest cities. 

Norwin school board: More than 120 attend meeting to oppose possible teacher, program cuts
Trib Live by JOE NAPSHA  | Monday, April 17, 2017, 9:39 p.m.
The Norwin school board Monday was confronted with a large contingent of more than 120 teachers, parents and students concerned about possible teacher layoffs and opposed to cuts in music and arts programs.  Faced with a $3.3 million budget deficit in the upcoming school year that would be partially offset by an anticipated 2.41 mill tax hike in 2017-2018, the board has not made a decision on layoffs or cuts. The board has until June 30 to pass a budget.  “We want to disrupt as few students as possible with any changes we make,” board President Robert Perkins said after listening to about 10 people who voiced opposition to cuts and fee increases for organizations that use school facilities.  Perkins previously said the district does not intend to eliminate any programs, nor does he want to limit participation. He said the board would review the recently adopted fee increases for fields and facilities.

3 more Boyertown High School students join transgender lawsuit against district
By Eric Devlin, The Mercury POSTED: 04/18/17, 5:26 PM EDT | UPDATED: 8 HRS AGO
BOYERTOWN >> Three high school students have been added to a federal lawsuit against the Boyertown Area School District over its bathroom and locker room policy for transgender students, the Alliance Defending Freedom and Independence Law Center announced Tuesday.  Attorneys with the Independence Law Center filed an amended complaint in the case Tuesday to add the new students to the suit.  “Schools shouldn’t be robbing students of their legally protected personal privacy,” said Randall Wenger, chief counsel for the Independence Law Center, in a statement. “The children joining with the original student who filed this suit shouldn’t be forced into emotionally vulnerable situations like this when they are in the care of their schools. It’s a school’s duty to protect and respect the bodily privacy and dignity of all students. In this case, school officials are clearly ignoring that duty.”  The lawsuit was originally filed last month by the parents of an unidentified 11th-grade male student who objected after seeing a female who identifies as a male undressing in the high school boys locker room.  The Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based conservative Christian organization, is co-counseling the student and his family in the suit, along with the Independence Law Center, a Pennsylvania-based pro-bono legal organization dedicated to advancing civil rights.  Two weeks ago, the American Civil Liberties Union joined the legal dispute on the school district’s side. Reggi Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said in a statement at the time the district “did the right thing in affirming and respecting their students’ gender identity.”

Philly teacher now fund-raising for banner plane to shame SRC and mayor
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer  @newskag |  kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: APRIL 18, 2017 — 2:10 PM EDT
He’s at it again.
The Philadelphia educator who raised thousands to place a billboard on I-95 shaming the School Reform Commission, superintendent, and mayor for the lack of a Philadelphia Federation of Teachers contract is asking for donations again.  This time, George Bezanis’ sights are set on a banner plane that would fly a pro-contract message during the NFL draft, when hundreds of thousands of people are expected to crowd Center City. The draft is scheduled for April 27 to 29.  Bezanis, a teacher at Central High, has raised more than $800 to date via a crowdfunding site. Once he raises $1,300, he can put a plane in the air for an hour. If he raises $2,000, the plane can circle the Ben Franklin Parkway for several hours.  Donors will determine what message the plane will tote. Those who chip in get to choose from among 10 possible messages, from the more tame “Philly Teachers Should Always Be the #1 Pick” to the pointed “City Hall Hearts Sports But Hates Our Teachers.”  “Some of those are pretty embarrassing,” Bezanis said of the choices, which he culled from social media. “It’s a shame that I have to basically shame the city and the School District into trying to get us a fair contract.”


13 Questions That Scare Charter School Advocates
Communities need to know what they're being sold.
By Alan Singer / The Huffington Post April 18, 2017
The Network for Public Education is challenging the Trump/DeVos anti-public school agenda. According to NPE, “DeVos and her allies have worked for decades pushing charters, vouchers and neo-vouchers such as education tax credits. DeVos even supports virtual charter schools that have a horrific track record when it comes to student success.”  This campaign picks up urgency as Arizona just passed legislation providing its entire student population with vouchers to attend private, for-profit, and religious schools. The law is modeled on Trump/DeVos proposals.  The public is often confused by the Trump/DeVos assault on public schools because they frame it as promoting “choice.” In response, The Network for Public Education prepared a thirteen-point question/answer toolkit to expose the lies and distortions of charter school, voucher, and tax credit advocates. The full toolkit is available online. This report excerpts key items from the toolkit.

What's Missing From Some State ESSA Plans?
Education Week Politics K12 Blog By Alyson Klein on April 18, 2017 8:14 AM
UPDATED - Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states get to decide what goals to set for student achievement, how to gauge schools' academic progress and quality, and more. (Explainer on the law here.)   But in some of the 12 plans that have already been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, elements are still to be determined. Some states didn't completely spell out their student achievement goals. Others didn't say exactly how much each individual factor would count toward schools' overall ratings. And others proposed school quality indicators they didn't fully explain. (Much of the up-in-the-air information concerned student achievement goals. More on those here.)  The blank spots in state plans could set up an interesting test for U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has made local control a watchword for the department, but also said she is not going to rubber-stamp all plans. Will she approve plans despite the blanks? Reject the plans?  There are some middle-ground options too, including approving plans conditionally, or allowing states to add the missing information during the typical bureaucratic back-and-forth over plan details. The department also could decide to ask states to flesh out their plans before starting the peer review process.

Why high school exit exams are a waste of time
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss April 18 at 2:45 PM 
Not too long ago more than half of U.S. states required that students pass an exam to graduate from high school. That is changing, with a number of states dropping their exit exams — but a good number still require them, and that, this post explains, is a big and unnecessary problem for many students.  This was written by Stan Karp, a veteran educator and an editor of Rethinking Schools Magazine, which is now marking its 30th anniversary. The publication is produced by the Rethinking Schools organization, a nonprofit that began in the Milwaukee area by teachers who wanted to improve education in their own classrooms but also help shape public school reform across the country. Along with the magazine, Rethinking Schools publishes educational materials for use in all 50 states, Canada and other countries. Its focus is on balancing classroom practice and educational theory while addressing current policy issues, such as funding equity, school choice and school-to-work issues.


PSBA Advocacy Forum and Day on the Hill APR 24, 2017 • 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Join PSBA and your fellow school directors for the fourth annual Advocacy Forum on April 24, 2017, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Hear from legislators on how advocacy makes a difference in the legislative process and the importance of public education advocacy. Government Affairs will take a deeper dive into the legislative priorities and will provide tips on how to be an effective public education advocate. There will be dedicated time for you and your fellow advocates to hit the halls to meet with your legislators on public education. This is your chance to share the importance of policy supporting public education and make your voice heard on the Hill.
“Nothing has more impact for legislators than hearing directly from constituents through events like PSBA’s Advocacy Forum.”
— Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Senate Appropriations Committee chair
Registration:

PSBA Spring Town Hall Meetings coming in May!
Don’t be left in the dark on legislation that affects your district! Learn the latest from your legislators at PSBA Spring Town Hall Meetings. Conveniently offered at 10 locations around the state throughout May, this event will provide you with the opportunity to interact face-to-face with key lawmakers from your area. Enjoy refreshments, connect with colleagues, and learn what issues impact you and how you can make a difference. Log in to the Members Area to register today for this FREE event!
  • Monday, May 1, 6-8 p.m. — Parkway West CTC, 7101 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale, PA 15071
  • Tuesday, May 2, 7:30-9 a.m. — A W Beattie Career Center, 9600 Babcock Blvd, Allison Park, PA 15101
  • Tuesday, May 2, 6-8 p.m. — Crawford County CTC, 860 Thurston Road, Meadville, PA 16335
  • Wednesday, May 3, 6-8 p.m. — St. Marys Area School District, 977 S. St Marys Road, Saint Marys, PA 15857
  • Thursday, May 4, 6-8 p.m. — Central Montco Technical High School, 821 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
  • Friday, May 5, 7:30-9 a.m. — Lehigh Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Dr, Schnecksville, PA 18078
  • Monday, May 15, 6-8 p.m. — CTC of Lackawanna Co., 3201 Rockwell Avenue, Scranton, PA 18508
  • Tuesday, May 16, 6-8 p.m. — PSBA, 400 Bent Creek Boulevard, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
  • Wednesday, May 17, 6-8 p.m. — Lycoming CTC, 293 Cemetery Street, Hughesville, PA 17737
  • Thursday, May 18, 6-8 p.m. — Chestnut Ridge SD, 3281 Valley Road, Fishertown, PA 15539
For assistance with registration, please contact Michelle Kunkel at 717-506-2450 ext. 3365.

SAVE THE DATE LWVPA Convention 2017 June 1-4, 2017
Join the League of Women Voters of PA for our 2017 Biennial Convention at the beautiful Inn at Pocono Manor!

Save the Date 2017 PA Principals Association State Conference October 14. 15, 16, 2017
Doubletree Hotel Cranberry Township, PA

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.