Tuesday, July 31, 2018

PA Ed Policy Roundup July 31: Wolf, Wagner continue dueling over school funding


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, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

Wolf, Wagner continue dueling over school funding


“It's sort of fascinating to watch Wagner, who's clearly been no friend to public education since entering public life four years ago, try to position himself as a champion of public education. He continues to support school choice bills and remains a vocal critic of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. But as we note above, public schools are an issue near and dear to most Pennsylvania voters' hearts. And to win them, Wagner will have to at least make a show of coming to the middle. Wolf, meanwhile, can credibly (and accurately) point out that he's gotten almost halfway to his goal of a $2 billion education funding increase during his four years at the helm. Wagner, who consistently voted against those increases will still have to explain that opposition.”
Wolf, Wagner continue dueling over school funding | Monday Morning Coffee
Penn Live By John L. Micek jmicek@pennlive.com Updated 8:18 AM; Posted 8:18 AM
Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican rival Scott Wagner kept up their duel over state support for public education over the weekend -- reminding us that there is no third rail issue more third railier, so to speak, than this one. In case you're tuning in late, Wagner has spent the last couple of weeks pouncing on some awkwardly phrased remarks Wolf made in Philly last month, where he noted that he'd like to see funding for all 500 school districts channeled through a funding formula approved to bipartisan acclaim about three years ago. That formula is designed to favor poorer and growing districts by taking into account such variables as a district's poverty level; its student enrollment, and the local tax effort.  Immediately moving into that formula - 
which Wagner falsely accusedWolf of wanting to do - would result in a $1.2 billion shift from about 357 schools (mostly rural) to urban and growing districts. Wolf, who has steadily increased state support for public schools in each of his four years in office, has stressed that he doesn't support an immediate shift - despite what Wagner claims is some muddying of the waters by some senior administration staffers.

https://www.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2018/07/wolf_wagner_continue_dueling_o.html

School district surpluses a mix of moderately healthy to dangerously low
Times Leader By Mark Guydish - mguydish@timesleader.com July 27, 2018
Are local school districts hording money or saving too little? A new analysis suggests most districts have reserves within a recommended range but below a state maximum, though a few are clearly operating without a net. The Temple University Center on Regional Politics looked at the fund balances, or reserves, of public school districts, charter schools and career and technical centers from 2016-17. The study focused on the “unassigned” fund balance, money available for immediate use without restrictions, as opposed to reserves restricted by outside forces such as debt terms or assigned for special purposes by the district such as construction projects. The policy brief also compared 2016-17 balances state-wide to funds in 2012-13, and to operating expenditures. Comparison to expenditures is a common yardstick. The brief notes that “the financial industry suggests an unassigned fund balance between 5 percent and 10 percent of total operating expenditures,” and that state law limits school districts unassigned fund balances to no more than 8 percent of total operating expenditures. The state law is different for districts with expenditures of $19 million or less, increasing the maximum for every $1 million below that threshold.
https://www.timesleader.com/news/713068/school-district-surpluses-a-mix-of-moderately-healthy-to-dangerously-low

“Depending on what numbers used, the state Employees’ Retirement System and Public School Employees’ Retirement System have between about $66 billion and $89 billion in unfunded liabilities. Basically, the money needed to pay thousands of pensions isn’t there.”
Pennsylvania looking for ways to reduce pension liability
By Katie Meyer, WITF July 30, 2018
A Pennsylvania state commission is trying to figure out how to cut costs in the state’s two largest, heavily indebted pension funds. Depending on what numbers used, the state Employees’ Retirement System and Public School Employees’ Retirement System have between about $66 billion and $89 billion in unfunded liabilities. Basically, the money needed to pay thousands of pensions isn’t there. That’s nothing new. But what is new is a commission of lawmakers and state officials that is working to come up with a plan to pay down the debt. Pennsylvania State Treasurer Joe Torsella has estimated that in the last 10 years, the state has wasted roughly $5.5 billion on payments to investment managers whose high-risk funds didn’t pay off. One of his main goals is making those investment fees more transparent. “The real message this morning was about alignment,” he said after a Monday hearing. “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. And if you don’t know what it is, then you don’t know if the interests of the beneficiaries of the plan and the taxpayers are aligned with the interests of the managers.”
https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-looking-for-ways-to-reduce-pension-liability/

“We applaud Rep. Smucker for his work to help remedy this problem and Congress for putting aside its usual partisan sniping to pass the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The fact that H.R. 2353, authored by Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson, received unanimous support on both sides of the aisle is a welcome sign that our representatives in Washington can govern effectively, if they put their minds to it. It also means both Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, appreciate the value of career and technical education in the modern economy.”
Editorial: Passing career and technical education bill a smart move by Congress
Lancaster Online by THE LNP EDITORIAL BOARD July 31, 2018
THE ISSUE: Last week, the U.S. House and Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Lloyd Smucker, to strengthen and improve career and technical education to help Americans obtain the skills needed to compete for good-paying jobs. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 1984, which provided federal support to state and local vocational programs.  Passage of this bill, which awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, has been a major priority for Smucker.
For evidence that trained workers are increasingly in demand in today’s economy, we need look no further than Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. This year’s graduating class of 401 was recruited by 1,285 employers for 3,250 positions — many with starting salaries in the $50,000-$60,000 range, or even higher, LNP’s Heather Stauffer reported. Think that was an aberration? In 2017, Thaddeus Stevens President William E. Griscom said at commencement that 1,152 companies visited campus to recruit 415 graduates for 2,552 jobs. In an April 2017 LNP column, Lancaster Chamber CEO Tom Baldrige noted that Lancaster County has “a clearly documented workforce shortage” and faces a “pending workforce crisis.” He wrote of the need to educate students of all ages for both current jobs and jobs of the future, and advocated a greater appreciation of “the vast opportunities in the skilled trades.”
https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/passing-career-and-technical-education-bill-a-smart-move-by/article_3037d04e-942d-11e8-8bdf-5f5bccf3c954.html

“Statewide, the share of new voters under 30 (the cut-off TargetSmart chose) increased by 16 percent  — more than anywhere in the country. Youth in Allegheny County and Philadelphia helped drive that increase, but rural counties like Clarion, Juniata, and Westmoreland saw big jumps as well. In Berks County specifically, people under the age of 30 accounted for just under 50 percent of new voters before Parkland. After? More than 70 percent.”
‘Young and naive’? Inside Pennsylvania’s nation-leading youth voter surge
Registered voters in Pa. under 35 now outnumber those over 64.
Billy Penn by COLIN DEPPEN AND SARAH ANNE HUGHES JUL 30 2018  ·  11:00 A.M.
Rose Strauss is 18 years old. She’s also “young and naive,” according to Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor Scott Wagner, who made that comment after Strauss asked a question about climate change at a recent Montgomery County town hall. Gillian Herzog is also 18. Call her naive at your own risk: She’s one of a growing number of young Pennsylvanians who are not only planning to vote this November, but are encouraging their peers to do so as well.  Registered voters aged 34 and under in the commonwealth currently outnumber those over 64, according to July statistics from the Pa. Dept. of State. That younger cohort accounts for 22 percent of the state’s population — but 25 percent of people registered to vote. And their ranks in the electorate are growing.
https://billypenn.com/2018/07/30/young-and-naive-inside-pennsylvanias-nation-leading-youth-voter-surge/

Young and naive: GOP candidate says climate change 'important' after clash with teen
Candy Woodall, York Daily Record Published 12:51 p.m. ET July 28, 2018 | Updated 3:19 p.m. ET July 30, 2018
Three words said by a Republican candidate for governor in Pennsylvania have started a national fight.  That fight largely began on social media, where a video of Scott Wagner calling an 18-year-old environmentalist "young and naive," has been viewed and shared more than 5 million times. The fight has continued on social media with people across the country, including former Vice President Al Gore, saying they are proudly young and naive, too --  if young and naive means believing in climate change and holding leaders accountable.  Saturday, that fight hit the streets. Participants knocked on 1,000 doors during the Young and Naive Rally: Our Time to Rise at Acker Park in Exton, where John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and Gov. Tom Wolf's running mate against Wagner, will be a guest speaker.  "Our goal is telling Scott Wagner we are a movement of people ready to fight back and take action on climate change," said Rose Strauss, the 18-year-old woman Wagner called "young and naive" after she asked him a question during a town hall meeting earlier this month near Philadelphia. “We’re taking his ‘young and naive’ comment and turning it into a rallying cry."
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/07/28/gop-candidate-scott-wagner-who-called-teen-young-and-naive-says-climate-change-important/854652002/

Trombetta sister gets probation for helping former cyber school founder hide stolen taxpayer money
TORSTEN OVE Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tove@post-gazette.com JUL 30, 2018 12:44 PM
Six years after a dozen federal agents first showed up at her house, Elaine Trombetta Neill was sentenced Monday to probation for helping her brother, Nicholas Trombetta, hide part of the $8 million he stole from the online charter school he founded. U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed a term of two years on Neill, of Center in Beaver County, and ordered her to pay $30,223 in restitution to the IRS. She'll also have to perform 75 hours of community service. Neill, 61, could have received a prison term of 18 months to two years but cooperated with federal authorities investigating her brother, who was sentenced last week to 20 months behind barsNeill helped Trombetta shift stolen money to a shell corporation, one2one Enterprises, she created. "At the end of the day it was all about money," said Judge Conti.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/07/30/Trombetta-sister-elaine-neill-sentenced-probation-cyber-school-stolen-taxpayer-money/stories/201807300084?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1532969676

Elaine Trombetta, sister of charter school founder who stole $8M in school funds, gets probation
Trib Live by NATASHA LINDSTROM  | Monday, July 30, 2018, 9:27 p.m.
The Beaver County woman who helped her brother hide some of the $8 million he stole from PA Cyber Charter School in a far-reaching tax fraud and evasion conspiracy has been sentenced to two years of probation, federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh said Monday. Elaine Trombetta Neill, sister of PA Cyber founder and former CEO Nick Trombetta, also must perform 75 hours of community service and pay $30,223 for her conviction of filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. The Aliquippa woman pleaded guilty to the charge nearly five years ago. Her sentencing was postponed so she could cooperate with investigators — in accordance with the then-private plea bargain she had struck — through the prosecutions of Nick Trombetta, 63, of East Liverpool, Ohio, and his accountant, Neal Prence. Last week, U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti sentenced Nick Trombetta to 20 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in August 2016 to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service from collecting income taxes, siphoning $8 million from the charter school he created to spend on houses, a plane and other luxuries.

KIPP Prep alum works on Capitol Hill as part of fellowship
Chentese Stewart-Garner says the experience made her more interested in policy.
The notebook by Sam Haut July 30 — 11:57 am, 2018
For the fourth year in a row, the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools’ Federal Policy Fellowship sent eight KIPP alumni to work as summer interns on Capitol Hill. One of them was Chentese Stewart-Garner, a graduate of KIPP Philadelphia Preparatory Academy in North Philadelphia. The program offers the fellows resources to cover living and business expenses for the summer, including housing as a cohort in the dorms at George Washington University, a Metrocard to use for public transportation, business attire, a bi-monthly paycheck, and field lessons. Students accepted into the program must submit at least eight applications, at least three of them to members of Congress from their home area. KIPP staffers help fellows refine their resumes and prepare for interviews on Capitol Hill. Stewart-Garner worked on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee under Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. Stewart-Garner graduated from Gettysburg College in May with a major in sociology and a minor in education. She was at the beginning of a three-year teaching residency program sponsored by KIPP in one of their D.C. schools.
http://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/07/30/kipp-prep-student-works-on-capitol-hill-as-part-of-fellowship/

Go Outside and See Mars!
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center July 30, 2018
35.8 million miles is definitely not what most of us would consider “close.” But in planetary terms, close is definitely relative! On July 31, Mars will be 35.8 million miles from Earth, which is the closest it has been to Earth in 15 years. What does this mean for sky watchers? It means the Red Planet will appear super bright, and with its orange-red color, will be hard to miss in the nighttime sky. From July 27-30, the point in Mars’ orbit will come closest to Earth, and will be closest to Earth before sunrise Eastern Time on July 31. What defines a “close approach?” The minimum distance from the Earth to Mars is about 33.9 million miles and does not happen very often. Because Earth and Mars have elliptical orbits and are slightly tilted to each other, all close approaches are not equal. When Mars slowly approaches what astronomers call opposition, it and the Sun are on opposite sides of the Earth. Earth and Mars align in opposition about every two years (fun fact: this is why most NASA missions to the Red Planet are at least two years apart – to take advantage of the closer distance). Opposition to Mars is at its closest to the Sun every 15 to 17 years, when excellent views of the Red Planet from Earth can occur. This is what is happening on the early morning hours of July 31.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/2018/07/30/go-outside-and-see-mars/?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=NASA&utm_campaign=NASASocial&linkId=54936515


Become a PSBA Advocacy Ambassador
PSBA Website July 18, 2018
PSBA is seeking applications for three open Advocacy Ambassador positions. This is a part-time, 9-month (September 2018-May 2019) independent contractor position with a monthly stipend and potential renewal for a second year. The individuals should have previous experience in day-to-day functions of a school district — on the school board or in a school leadership position. The purpose of the PSBA Advocacy Ambassador program is to facilitate the education and engagement of local school directors and public education stakeholders. Each Advocacy Ambassador will be an active leader in an assigned section of the state and is kept up to date on current legislation and PSBA positions based on the association’s Legislative Platform and Priority Issues to accomplish advocacy goals.  The current open positions are for PSBA Section 1; Sections 3 and 4; and Section 8.  (see map).  Advocacy Ambassadors are independent contractors who serve as liaisons between PSBA and their state legislators, and who also work with local school officials in their section to advance PSBA’s public education advocacy mission. To complete the application process and upload required documents go to PSBA’s Career Gateway to create an account and apply. Career Gateway questions can be directed to Michelle Kunkel at 717-506-2450, x-3365.  Questions and information regarding the specific duties of the Advocacy Ambassador position should be directed to Jamie Zuvich at 717-506-2450, x-3375. The deadline to submit cover letter, resume and application is August 10, 2018.
All other required documents must be submitted upon successful application.
https://www.psba.org/2018/07/become-an-advocacy-ambassador/

Apply Now for EPLC's 2018-2019 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program!
Applications are available now for the 2018-2019 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).  The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC). 
With more than 500 graduates in its first eighteen years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.  State Board of Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants.
Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization. The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 13-14, 2018 and continues to graduation in June 2019.
Applications are being accepted now.
Click here to read more about the Education Policy Fellowship Program.
The application may be copied from the EPLC web site, but must be submitted by mail or scanned and e-mailed, with the necessary signatures of applicant and sponsor.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact EPLC Executive Director Ron Cowell at 717-260-9900 or cowell@eplc.org.

2nd Annual National Black Male Educators Convening, Oct. 12-14, Philly
Teacher diversity works. Increasing the number of Black male educators in our nation’s teacher corps will improve education for all our students, especially for African-American boys.Today Black men represent only two percent of teachers nationwide. This is a national problem that demands a national response. Come participate in the 2nd National Black Male Educators Convening to advance policy solutions, learn from one another, and fight for social justice. All are welcome. Register to attend. Nominate a speaker. Propose a workshop. Sponsor the event.

Save the Dates PASA/PSBA School Leadership Conference – Hershey, Oct. 17-19, 2018 
Mark your calendar! The Delegate Assembly will take place Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.
Housing now open!

“Not only do we have a superstar lineup of keynote speakers including Diane Ravitch, Jesse Hagopian, Pasi Sahlberg, Derrick Johnson and Helen Gym, but there will be countless sessions to choose from on the issues you care about the most. We will cover all bases from testing, charters, vouchers and school funding, to issues of student privacy and social justice in schools.”
Our Public Schools Our Democracy: Our Fight for the Future
NPE / NPE Action 5th Annual National Conference
October 20th - 21st, 2018 Indianapolis, Indiana
We are delighted to let you know that you can purchase your discounted Early Bird ticket to register for our annual conference starting today. Purchase your ticket here.
Early Bird tickets will be on sale until May 30 or until all are sold out, so don't wait.  These tickets are a great price--$135. Not only do they offer conference admission, they also include breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Please don't forget to register for your hotel room. We have secured discounted rates on a limited basis. You can find that link here. Finally, if you require additional financial support to attend, we do offer some scholarships based on need. Go here and fill in an application. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Please join us in Indianapolis as we fight for the public schools that our children and communities deserve. Don't forget to get your Early Bird ticket here. We can't wait to see you.


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


Monday, July 30, 2018

PA Ed Policy Roundup July 30: Funding formula only works with a large increase in state support


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, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg

Funding formula only works with a large increase in state support


Early childhood investments pay off in societal benefits
Trib Live Commentary by WILLIAM MULLEN AND GUY RESCHENTHALER | Sunday, July 29, 2018, 7:33 a.m.
William Mullen is sheriff of Allegheny County. Guy Reschenthaler is a Republican state senator representing the 37th district.
In this election year, we are hearing a lot of debate on issues like state budget structural deficits, rising costs of social services, workforce skills gap, cost of education — the list goes on and on. For many of these issues, the old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” rings true. This “ounce of prevention” can come in the form of ensuring more Pennsylvania children have access to high-quality early childhood education. The state budget recently passed in Harrisburg includes a $25 million expansion for high-quality pre-K. While the 2018-19 budget grew by 1.7 percent, the pre-K funding increased by 11 percent. According to a report from the anti-crime organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Pennsylvania’s future prison population can be trimmed down considerably — while yielding significant savings for every child served in societal benefits over their lifetimes — with this investment that will allow access to thousands more at-risk children. This is believable when you consider that Pennsylvania’s state and local governments spend roughly $3.2 billion per year incarcerating adults (about $43,000 per inmate in the state corrections system).
https://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/13915310-74/early-childhood-investments-pay-off-in-societal-benefits

Watchdog Report: Lehigh Valley school districts answer call to add armed security
Michelle Merlin and Sarah M. Wojcik Of The Morning Call July 28, 2018
In March, barely a month after the mass shooting at Parkland, Fla., high school, two parents appeared before the Southern Lehigh School Board with an urgent plea. “I speak on behalf of a lot of parents who are very concerned with the safety of our kids. I don’t feel safe with the measures the district has in place,’’ parent Nicole Lisicky said. “There has to be something done soon, especially in the high school and middle school. There are hundreds of kids in these halls, and the way it is, someone can easily get in here,’’ parent Caren Richards added. All across the Lehigh Valley, parents and school officials were having similar discussions in the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 students and staff members dead and an equal number injured.  It was a topic they have tackled many times, spurred by what a Los Angeles Times analysis found to be more than 180 school shootings with injuries or deaths between December 2012, when 26 students and staff were gunned down in Newtown, Conn., and May. Many school districts in Lehigh and Northampton counties took action, including Southern Lehigh, which is seeking a grant to add a second armed officer to patrol its five schools. A Morning Call analysis, drawn from Right to Know requests and interviews, found that since the Florida shooting, school districts in the two counties have formed their own police departments, added officers, bought new technology and held active shooter training.
http://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-school-security-armed-guards-20180613-story.html#nt=oft12aH-3gp2

It turns out that guns do kill people, new study concludes | Analysis
Penn Live By John L. Micek jmicek@pennlive.com Updated Jul 28, 8:48 AM; Posted Jul 28, 7:30 AM
By Christopher Ingraham
A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open underscores an often overlooked factor in gun-policy debates: When it comes to lethality, not all guns are created equal. Analyzing data on hundreds of shootings in Boston from 2010 to 2014, Anthony Braga of Northeastern University and Philip Cook of Duke University found that on a bullet-per-bullet basis, shootings committed with a large-caliber firearm are much more likely to result in a fatality than those with a smaller-caliber gun. Caliber is a measure of the diameter of the bullets fired by a particular gun. The study analyzed data on 221 gun homicides and 1,012 nonfatal shootings that happened in Boston between 2010 and 2014. On first glance, the numbers provided a confirmation of the depressing demographics of shooting cases: "Most gunshot victims and survivors were young minority men with prior court arraignments," Braga and Cook found. "Most attacks occurred in circumstances where gangs or drugs played an important role." Most occurred outdoors in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/07/it_turns_out_that_gun_do_kill.html#incart_river_index

To Stop School Shootings, Fla. Will Merge Government Data, Social Media Posts
Education Week By Benjamin Herold July 26, 2018
As part of their efforts to prevent school shootings, Florida lawmakers mandated the creation of a centralized database that will combine individual-level records from the state’s law-enforcement and social-services agencies with information from people’s personal social media accounts. The provision, tucked within the 105-page law passed in March following the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, marks a potentially dramatic increase in the state’s collection and sharing of data on individuals. While the new database could have big consequences for individual privacy and civil liberties, proponents described it as necessary to ensure public safety. “What we saw after the Parkland tragedy is that there were clear [warning signs] that didn’t end up being followed through on or processed,” Fla. state senator Bill Galvano, a Republican who authored the bill, said in an interview. “It was very important that we create within our school system the opportunity to report the information that is out there, so that things are being captured and you don’t have one group knowing something and not sharing it with another group.”
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/07/26/to-stop-school-shootings-fla-will-merge.html

“Wolf hammers Wagner for saying schools get too much money and have too many teachers. And for saying Wolf wants to cut funding to most districts with a formula to help larger and poorer districts. He doesn’t. Wolf always pushed for more school funding, and consistently and clearly says the formula in question only works with a large increase of state support.”
Gov. Wolf's plan to drive Scott Wagner wild | John Baer
Philly Daily News by John Baer, STAFF COLUMNIST  baerj@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 29, 2018 — 2:31 PM EDT
This just in: Mild-mannered Gov. Wolf authorized his minions to mess with Scott Wagner’s mind. Shedding his image as the Mr. Rogers of Pennsylvania politics, Wolf, I’m betting, said something like, “Drive him nuts. Shouldn’t take much. He’s already halfway there.” At least that’s my working theory. It’s based on swarms of daily, sometimes hourly, campaign emails, fund-raising emails, and Democratic Party emails tagging Wagner over and over as, among other things, anti-education, anti-women’s rights, and anti-transparency for refusing to release his tax returns. It’s endless: Wagner is “lying” about Wolf’s record; Wagner uses “deceptive tactics”; Wagner is “hiding from the people” on taxes. Wolf even has Democrats at either end of the state — Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa of Pittsburgh; Philly Sen. Vincent Hughes — demanding Wagner’s tax returns “immediately.” (As if Wagner, or anyone, might say, “Well, if those guys want them …”) And there’s a second Wolf TV ad calling Wagner “the very worst of Harrisburg,” which — as I noted a couple weeks back after the first one aired — just ain’t so. Historically and presently, Harrisburg offers way worse than Wagner. Doesn’t matter. Wolf wants Wagner in the pit of misery. It’s the only explanation. The incessant, repetitive barrage can’t be aimed at voters. Who sees such stuff other than campaign principals and political nerds? What is its impact in the dead of summer in a 24/7 news cycle owned by President Trump?
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/gov-wolfs-plan-to-drive-scott-wagner-wild-20180730.html

Casey touts Democratic plan for infrastructure at West Philly school
The notebook by Lijia Liu July 27 — 4:51 pm, 2018
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey highlighted the Senate Democrats’ proposal to invest $1 trillion in infrastructure on Friday, speaking at James Rhoads Elementary School in West Philadelphia. The plan sets aside $50 billion for school building repairs and construction. “We believe that by spending $50 billion across the nation to invest in our schools, we’re not only going to improve the physical climate, but we’re going to help advance education itself,” Casey said. Senate Democrats indicated that funding for the proposal would come from rolling back the Trump administration’s tax cuts, though some are skeptical that this would be possible with a Republican majority in Congress. Casey, who is running for re-election, also urged Republican lawmakers to devote more resources to improving schools. “I hope they would join us in investing in our schools so that our kids can literally learn more now and earn more later,” he said. His remarks come at a time when the School District is conducting a $15.6 million project in 57 District schools to clean up lead, mold, and other toxic materials over the summer.
http://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/07/27/casey-touts-democratic-plan-for-infrastructure-at-west-philly-school/

“Local Black educators concerned with the paucity of Black male teachers and the impact that shortage has on the academic performance of African-American boys in the classroom took notice recently when the University of Illinois at Chicago announced plans to invest about $1 million in an initiative to recruit and train male elementary education majors of color in the same fashion that universities recruit student athletes. There are currently no local universities making this type of financial investment in such an initiative.”
Black male teachers are rare, but even one makes a big difference
Philly Tribune Staff Report Jul 28, 2018
Hilderbrand Pelzer III, the principal at Laura H. Carnell School in the lower Northeast, did with Travien Bryson what he always does with Black male substitute teachers — he honed in. To someone like Pelzer, a career educator, Bryson is a diamond waiting to be molded. Going into his seventh year at Carnell, Pelzer had just one Black male teacher on his staff of 60 last year and he won’t return this fall. “I’m always keeping an eye open for Black men, encouraging them to give the profession a try,” Pelzer said. “You try to give all teachers the support they need, but you particularly want to make sure that Black men have the support they need because you don’t want to lose them.” His work has paid off. Coupled with Bryson’s desire to make a difference and Pelzer’s persistence, the 43-year-old Bryson, who has worked most recently in truancy and as the assistant musical director at the Philadelphia Clef Club, will begin his new career at Carnell this fall as a fifth-grade teacher. “I’m going to take the plunge at last,” said Bryson, who has been certified to teach for 15 years. “Something just hit me and I said, ‘I need to do this.’ I didn’t feel like I was a change agent in truancy. Going in and out of schools, I noticed that I saw very few people who looked like me. “Mr. Pelzer talked with me often; he showed a lot of interest in me,” Bryson continued. “I feel this is where I need to be right now.” Nationwide, just 2 percent of public school teachers are African-American men, while students of color make up about half the nation’s public school enrollment from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, according to the U.S. Department of Education. As recently as 2013, just 59 percent of Black males graduated from high school on time, compared with 65 percent of Latino males and 80 percent of white males, according to the Schott Foundation for Public Education.
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/black-male-teachers-are-rare-but-even-one-makes-a/article_66919f7e-330b-5512-a815-0f15e2b2749a.html

“At the national level, the Urban Institute did find one area of exception to the general trend of disproportionately white enrollment: Historically black colleges and universities, and other institutions that serve larger shares of undergraduates of color. “We found that the minority-serving institutions are sort of doing more than their fair share, which makes sense,” Lindsay said. “So a (school) district with a serious lack of teachers of color maybe ought to try recruiting there.”
Washington state’s colleges lead the nation in training more teachers of color, study finds
In Washington state, the race and diversity of undergraduates studying to become teachers largely reflects the demographics of the colleges and universities that house them.
By Neal Morton Seattle Times staff reporter Originally published July 21, 2018 at 5:00 am Updated July 22, 2018 at 4:35 pm
At colleges and universities across the U.S., students training to become teachers are disproportionately whiter than the rest of the undergraduates on campus, new research has found. But that’s not the case in Washington state, where teachers in training look more like the increasingly diverse students they serve. Why does this matter? For students of color, having a teacher who looks like them makes a big difference in their success in school. Black male students who qualify for subsidized meals, a common barometer for poverty, are 39 percent less likely to drop out of high school if they have even one black teacher in grades 3-5, research has shown. But are colleges of education helping diversify the next generation of teachers? That’s the question researchers at the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based moderate-to-liberal-leaning think tank asked of all states. The federal government regularly tracks the demographics of students attending four-year colleges and universities. Using that data, the Urban Institute compared the racial breakdown of each college with the relative diversity of their teaching programs, and published their findings earlier this week.
https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/washington-states-colleges-lead-the-nation-in-training-more-teachers-of-color-study-finds/

National study takes hard look at Pa. school district consolidations
ELIZABETH BEHRMAN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Lbehrman@post-gazette.com JUL 29, 2018  
12:17 AM
When the Center and Monaca school districts successfully negotiated a merger almost a decade ago, state leaders hailed it as an example for other Pennsylvania school districts to follow.  Then-Gov. Ed Rendell used it to call for other district consolidations across the state, and his Education Department called it an “indispensable roadmap” for future proposals.  But despite that hopeful praise, the formation of the Central Valley School District remains the only successful and voluntary school district merger in Pennsylvania, nearly 10 years after the deal was finalized. According to a report last week released by EdBuild, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that studies school funding and equity issues across the country, state policy surrounding mergers and consolidations is to blame.  The report, “Stranded: How states maroon districts in financial distress,” highlights the Midland Borough School District in Beaver County, just down the road from Central Valley, as an example of how Pennsylvania’s policy — or lack of policy — made it an insurmountable challenge for the district to merge with a neighbor, ultimately forcing the school board to send its high school students for years to a district in Ohio.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/07/29/Pennsylvania-school-district-mergers-Wilkinsburg-Midland-Central-Valley-Pittsburgh/stories/201807240020

Norwin junior gives Pa. Board of Education a student's perspective
Trib Live by JOE NAPSHA  | Sunday, July 29, 2018, 3:03 p.m.
A Norwin High School junior will have a voice on policies affecting fellow students across Pennsylvania in her role as a student representative on the state education board — the first Westmoreland County student to serve on that board. Ashley Svec, 16, of North Huntingdon, is the junior representative on the Pennsylvania Board of Education’s Council of Basic Education. “I was really honored and excited to be chosen,” said Svec, who was appointed to the board in April. The 21-member board, which has a council on basic education and one focused on higher education, works with the state Department of Education, policymakers and educators in reviewing, developing and adopting regulations that govern significant components of basic education and higher education. Although she is a non-voting member, Svec sees her role as providing a student’s perspective to the adult board members, some of whom graduated years ago. The board meets every other month. Svec attended meetings in May and July.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/13915918-74/norwin-junior-gives-state-board-a-students-persepctive

Eureka! Pennsylvania's first traveling math lab to serve K-6 students starting in September
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer July 29, 2018
It’s not often parents witness their children racking their brains on a mathematics problem over the summer — especially in Cynthia Brooks’ case. “It’s pretty hard to keep them engaged,” the Manheim Township mother said of her two kids, Teagan and Charlie. “I think 10 minutes is kind of the max.” But on Thursday, she watched in awe as her 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son kept themselves occupied by piecing together squares, trapezoids and triangles to form different shapes. “I bet (they) could stay on there for more than 10 minutes if they had to,” Brooks said as her children finished their puzzles with help from some friends. The activity was part of a preview held Thursday night at the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 for a new nonprofit outreach program dedicated to helping elementary-aged kids improve their math skills through interactive, hands-on exhibits. Archie’s Math, an idea brought to life by Jim Bunting, a retired advertising executive who founded the Lancaster Science Factory in 2008, is a traveling math lab offering 20 exhibits that challenge kids on topics such as binary numbers and the Pythagorean Theorem.
Starting in September, the math lab — named after Archimedes, the mathematician who discovered the value of pi — will serve kids in kindergarten through grade six in the Lancaster, Lebanon, York and Harrisburg regions.

Editorial: PIAA's current playoff system isn't fair and needs to be reformed
Lancaster Online by THE LNP EDITORIAL BOARD July 29, 2018
THE ISSUE: Following another school year in which private, parochial and charter schools dominated and won many of the PIAA postseason championships — particularly in high-interest sports such as football and basketball — frustrated officials from the state’s traditional public schools gathered in State College last week to discuss changes and reforms they would like to see the PIAA enact. These included radical alternatives that the traditional public schools might pursue if the PIAA fails, in their estimation, to adequately address their concerns. In advance of that meeting, the PIAA fast-tracked the approval of some reforms, ostensibly to quell the growing unrest among some of the traditional public schools. Not all of the stakeholders, however, are convinced those actions were sufficient. In PIAA parlance, traditional public schools are known as “boundary” schools; the private, charter and parochial schools are referred to as “nonboundary” schools.
First, some perspective. We understand in this contentious year — beset by partisan politics, immigration firestorms, fragile foreign affairs and near-daily crises dominating our news landscape — that sports are just that: games. But youth sports are an important part of the fabric of American and Lancaster County lives: packed Friday night football games; boys and girls shooting hoops using a rim attached to the side of a country barn; swimmers and runners diligently and quietly doing their daily training so they might someday achieve glory. In this context, there are Pennsylvania public school officials and coaches who want to make sure their student-athletes are getting a fair shake. We agree that’s a good and worthwhile discussion to have. Tuesday’s meeting in State College drew more than 250 of those concerned officials. About 30 percent of the state’s 500 public school districts were represented, one organizer said. That’s a significant portion of motivated individuals spending a full weekday in July to support student-athletes. It certainly caught the PIAA’s attention.
https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/piaa-s-current-playoff-system-isn-t-fair-and-needs/article_f98eaba6-91db-11e8-ba6f-27229a50366a.html

“After making his mark at the Reinvestment Fund, Mr. Nowak in 2011 was named executive director of the William Penn Foundation, the philanthropic powerhouse established by Otto Haas, a founder of the Rohm & Haas chemical-manufacturing company, and his wife, Phoebe, in 1945. Mr. Nowak’s tenure there lasted just 18 months, with foundation officials citing “differences in approach” over the implementation of a new strategic plan for the organization. News stories at the time said Mr. Nowak was viewed as too outspoken and aggressive at an institution known for its reserve and caution. On his watch, the foundation also attracted controversy by funding a multimillion-dollar plan to restructure the ailing Philadelphia School District by adding charter schools.”
Jeremy Nowak, 66, prominent Philadelphia investor, advocate, commentator
by Chris Palmer & Diane Mastrull - Staff Writers Updated: JULY 28, 2018 — 6:30 PM EDT
Jeremy Nowak, 66, a prominent civic investor, advocate, and commentator who founded the Philadelphia-based Reinvestment Fund, later led the William Penn Foundation, and chaired boards of organizations including the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Mastery Charter Schools, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, died Saturday at Lankenau Medical Center of complications from a heart attack. Mr. Nowak, of Lower Merion, suffered the heart attack July 11, said Jessica Cohen-Nowak, 31, his daughter. She was among the relatives with him when he died. A passionate and relentless advocate for Philadelphia, Mr. Nowak had most recently been serving as a distinguished visiting fellow at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation and running a consulting business. Last year, he cowrote a book about urban development, titled The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism, and had begun traveling the country to speak with mayors about the ideas it promoted — a project his daughter said he considered his “new adventure.” His coauthor, Bruce Katz, called Mr. Nowak “a giant in community development financing, known throughout the U.S. and the world.” His dedication to solving complex community problems earned him recognition from some of the city’s most important officials during his decades at the center of civic life. Ed Rendell, the former governor and Philadelphia mayor, said he spoke to Mr. Nowak almost weekly when he led the city, calling him a “brilliant adviser and trusted by everyone.” “He understood what community development needed as well as anybody I ever met,” Rendell said Saturday.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/crime/jeremy-nowak-philadelphia-obituary-reinvestment-fund-william-penn-foundation-drexel-university-20180728.html

“A blue historical marker opposite the house reads:
John W. Coltrane (1926-1967)
A pioneering African-American jazz musician, composer, saxophonist. Coltrane used African and Indian elements to create a distinctive style which at first shocked audiences but ultimately gained wide acceptance.”
A jazz legend’s Philadelphia home fading away
WHYY By Peter Tobia July 27, 2018
A historical marker on 33rd Street identifies the home of jazz great John Coltrane, but the house itself stands vacant and neglected.
The sound of jazz coming from the car radio at twilight convinces me to turn onto Broad Street and head to North Philadelphia. As I approach Cecil B. Moore Avenue, the nuances in the musical compositions become clearer, making me smile in appreciation. I drift for a moment, thinking of dimly lit clubs on back alley streets. Small tables for two, drinks, warm affection, easy conversation. Smiles exchanged and connections forged in the warm glow and then silence. Until the musicians step onto the stage … Then my daydream yields to the sounds of traffic. I park the car, walk a block and find the address: 1511 N. 33rd St., the house where John Coltrane lived from 1952-1958.
https://whyy.org/articles/a-jazz-legends-philadelphia-home-fading-away/


Become a PSBA Advocacy Ambassador
PSBA Website July 18, 2018
PSBA is seeking applications for three open Advocacy Ambassador positions. This is a part-time, 9-month (September 2018-May 2019) independent contractor position with a monthly stipend and potential renewal for a second year. The individuals should have previous experience in day-to-day functions of a school district — on the school board or in a school leadership position. The purpose of the PSBA Advocacy Ambassador program is to facilitate the education and engagement of local school directors and public education stakeholders. Each Advocacy Ambassador will be an active leader in an assigned section of the state and is kept up to date on current legislation and PSBA positions based on the association’s Legislative Platform and Priority Issues to accomplish advocacy goals.  The current open positions are for PSBA Section 1; Sections 3 and 4; and Section 8.  (see map).  Advocacy Ambassadors are independent contractors who serve as liaisons between PSBA and their state legislators, and who also work with local school officials in their section to advance PSBA’s public education advocacy mission. To complete the application process and upload required documents go to PSBA’s Career Gateway to create an account and apply. Career Gateway questions can be directed to Michelle Kunkel at 717-506-2450, x-3365.  Questions and information regarding the specific duties of the Advocacy Ambassador position should be directed to Jamie Zuvich at 717-506-2450, x-3375. The deadline to submit cover letter, resume and application is August 10, 2018.
All other required documents must be submitted upon successful application.
https://www.psba.org/2018/07/become-an-advocacy-ambassador/

Apply Now for EPLC's 2018-2019 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program!
Applications are available now for the 2018-2019 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).  The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC). 
With more than 500 graduates in its first eighteen years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.  State Board of Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants.
Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization. The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 13-14, 2018 and continues to graduation in June 2019.
Applications are being accepted now.
Click here to read more about the Education Policy Fellowship Program.
The application may be copied from the EPLC web site, but must be submitted by mail or scanned and e-mailed, with the necessary signatures of applicant and sponsor.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact EPLC Executive Director Ron Cowell at 717-260-9900 or cowell@eplc.org.

2nd Annual National Black Male Educators Convening, Oct. 12-14, Philly
Teacher diversity works. Increasing the number of Black male educators in our nation’s teacher corps will improve education for all our students, especially for African-American boys.Today Black men represent only two percent of teachers nationwide. This is a national problem that demands a national response. Come participate in the 2nd National Black Male Educators Convening to advance policy solutions, learn from one another, and fight for social justice. All are welcome. Register to attend. Nominate a speaker. Propose a workshop. Sponsor the event.

Save the Dates PASA/PSBA School Leadership Conference – Hershey, Oct. 17-19, 2018 
Mark your calendar! The Delegate Assembly will take place Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.
Housing now open!

“Not only do we have a superstar lineup of keynote speakers including Diane Ravitch, Jesse Hagopian, Pasi Sahlberg, Derrick Johnson and Helen Gym, but there will be countless sessions to choose from on the issues you care about the most. We will cover all bases from testing, charters, vouchers and school funding, to issues of student privacy and social justice in schools.”
Our Public Schools Our Democracy: Our Fight for the Future
NPE / NPE Action 5th Annual National Conference
October 20th - 21st, 2018 Indianapolis, Indiana
We are delighted to let you know that you can purchase your discounted Early Bird ticket to register for our annual conference starting today. Purchase your ticket here.
Early Bird tickets will be on sale until May 30 or until all are sold out, so don't wait.  These tickets are a great price--$135. Not only do they offer conference admission, they also include breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Please don't forget to register for your hotel room. We have secured discounted rates on a limited basis. You can find that link here. Finally, if you require additional financial support to attend, we do offer some scholarships based on need. Go here and fill in an application. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Please join us in Indianapolis as we fight for the public schools that our children and communities deserve. Don't forget to get your Early Bird ticket here. We can't wait to see you.


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