Monday, July 2, 2018

PA Ed Policy Roundup July 2: Wolf: state should push all basic ed money through the formula it adopted 2 years ago


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Wolf: state should push all basic ed money through the formula it adopted 2 years ago



Kudos to friend of the blog LWV PA's president (and former West Chester Area school board member) Susan Carty for her election to the League of Women Voters US Board of Directors!



“That way, members can tell constituents that (at some point) they voted for reform but the other chamber wouldn’t go along.”
Two Pa. House and Senate leaders (sorta) defend our lackluster legislature | John Baer
Philly daily News by John Baer, STAFF COLUMNIST  baerj@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 1, 2018 — 8:34 PM EDT
A key element in my unending criticism of our insulated, leaden legislature is that its leaders and separate chambers operate in silos of self-interest — to the detriment of democracy and the common good. Plus, leaders demonstrate little concern for the image of the institution, which consistently conveys this message to taxpayers: We do what we want, not what you want. Both flaws were evident last week when the legislature left the Capitol for the summer, displaying disdain for public-supported government reforms. Lawmakers fled after failing to agree on measures to give citizens direct, at-the-ballot-box say in reducing the legislature’s size, fighting gerrymandering, and allowing merit selection of state judges. Escape is part of their pattern. And here’s how they work it. When pressed for reforms, pretend to have interest. Then ping-pong bills back and forth between House and Senate until time runs out or bills get so laden with other stuff that they fall under their own weight.
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/pennsylvania-legislature-gerrymandering-redistricting-20180702.html

Gov. Wolf calls for drastic school funding shake-up in surprise announcement
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent June 29, 2018
Governor Tom Wolf called for a major change to the way Pennsylvania funds schools Friday, advocating for the state to distribute its largest pot of school money in a way that would benefit the majority of students in the state, but would likely cause deep cuts in many districts. During questions at press conference in Philadelphia, Wolf said the state should push all basic education money through the formula it adopted two years ago. The formula takes into account things like poverty, actual student enrollment and tax effort, and has only been used so far to distribute increases in state education funds since 2015 — only 8 percent of the total. Wolf’s remarks seemed unplanned, as the event of the day pertained to new money for lead paint abatement in the School District of Philadelphia. “We need a fair funding formula for all dollars going into public education,” Wolf said in response to a question from Keystone Crossroads. Wolf later affirmed that he was advocating for a complete formula-based distribution of dollars. “Yes. Yes,” he said. The revelation surprised advocates and opponents alike.
https://whyy.org/articles/gov-wolf-calls-for-drastic-school-funding-shake-up-in-surprise-announcement/

“Increasing mandated expenditures — especially pension costs — charter school tuition and special education costs continue to be among the biggest financial pressures districts said they face.”
Editorial: Financial pressure in school districts lead to tax hikes, staff cuts
TRIBUNE-REVIEW Editorial  Friday, June 29, 2018, 8:57 p.m.
As school districts plan for the coming year, the increasingly common challenge seems to have spread across the region.  School boards are reporting they'll need to raise taxes or cut staff — and sometimes they are in such a bind that plans are in place to both raise taxes and cut staff. As we reported a few weeks ago, at least 40 percent of the state's 500 school districts plan a tax hike for the coming year. On top of that, 80 percent of the districts could shift staff to new or altered points of responsibility — most certainly as part of an effort to reduce costs. Into the mix this year is an interest in boosting school security and counseling programs to help address school safety after a disturbing series of school shootings in the past year.
https://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/13813000-74/editorial-financial-pressure-in-school-districts-lead-to-tax-hikes-staff-cuts

School districts get fiscal shot in the arm with new budget
Nearly half of the spending increase is to feed the pension fund
Reading Eagle WRITTEN BY DAVID MEKEEL SUNDAY JULY 1, 2018 12:04 AM
The numbers look good, but they only tell part of the story.
Education was by far the biggest winner in the 2018-19 state budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Tom Wolf last week, hauling in more than $450 million in new funding. But nearly half of that, just over $223 million, will go to the underfunded pension program for school employees. And while school districts across the state saw increases in their basic and special education funding, and will eventually see small increases in their Ready to Learn Block grants, many will still face challenges with rising costs. “While we commend our Berks County state legislators for their continued commitment of education, many school districts will continue to struggle financially because these additional funds may not be enough to cover the increases school districts are projecting for contractual salary obligations, pension increases, medical increases, special education costs and charter school costs,” said Carl Blessing, assistant to the executive director at the Berks County Intermediate Unit.

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/school-districts-get-fiscal-shot-in-the-arm-with-new-budget

Wolf puts tax plans far behind him as he seeks a 2nd term
Hastings Tribune By MARC LEVY Associated Press Jul 1, 2018
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gone is the governor who had ambitious plans to overhaul Pennsylvania's tax structure and pump billions more into the state treasury to fix deficits and public school funding disparities. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat running for a second term, doesn't talk about that anymore. "Who's talking about raising taxes?" he questioned a TV reporter last month who asked Wolf about the prospect of raising taxes this year. Actually, Wolf does still talk about raising one tax: on Pennsylvania's booming natural gas industry, a tax that is politically popular and, according to the state's Independent Fiscal Office, one that would largely be paid by out-of-state customers. Otherwise, a governor who once challenged members of the Republican-controlled Legislature in a 2016 budget speech to confront the state's ticking fiscal time bomb or "find another job" now touts his efforts to save money and stresses the importance of focusing on areas of bipartisan agreement. Taxes? He's not talking about it. As Wolf shifts from governing to the campaign trail, he has secured roughly half of the education money he had initially set out as a goal — $2 billion over four years — and suggests he has dealt for good with an entrenched post-recession deficit he inherited.
http://www.hastingstribune.com/wolf-puts-tax-plans-far-behind-him-as-he-seeks/article_29bd7356-4309-573f-887e-675eba0a5260.html

Responsible Budgeting Protects Taxpayers, Leads to Surplus
City and State PA By: STATE REP. BRYAN CUTLER JUN 29, 2018 AT 3:04 PM
State Rep. Bryan Cutler is the Majority Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Since taking office in 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf has introduced and pushed 11 different tax hike proposals. In fact, his first budget proposal would have increased taxes by $12.5 billion over the last three years. This was unacceptable, so Republicans found a better way.   Last fiscal year, Wolf called again for new taxes to fill a $1.5 billion hole which he called a “structural deficit.” It is important to understand how that deficit occurred in the first place. The deficit was primarily caused by overestimating revenue growth in the 2016-17 fiscal year. When revenues were coming in lower than expected, instead of reducing spending by putting money into budgetary reserve like every governor before him, Wolf decided to spend more money. Wolf spent over what was appropriated and sought an additional $400 million in a supplemental request. House Republicans used one-time sources to make up for what should have been a one-time problem. The media and the Democrats mocked us for this approach, but we were right.    Thanks to our responsible budgeting, and a strong national tailwind from pro-growth policies and Republican tax cuts, we have General Fund tax revenue growth of over 4 percent driven mostly through increased sales tax income.
https://www.cityandstatepa.com/content/responsible-budgeting-protects-taxpayers-leads-surplus

How property taxes are crushing some communities
By Kathleen E. Carey, Delaware County Daily Times POSTED: 07/01/18, 7:42 PM EDT
The issue of how to appropriately fund education has been a decades-long conundrum that has seen well-attended school board meetings, lawsuits, rallies and even doses of frustration shared by all sides of the debate. Each year as school districts must craft their budgets, they are pitted like a sporting match against property owners, who carry one of the largest burdens in the country when Pennsylvania is compared to other states. According to PA Schools Work, the Keystone State ranks 47th in the country for providing 37 percent of basic education and 25 percent of special education costs to the districts. The bulk of the rest lie on local taxpayers, who find the ever burgeoning burden to be a challenge at the least. Chris Onesti grew up in a row home on Blanchard Road in Drexel Hill and he recalled his thoughts as he walked past the big, stone homes on the other side of Garrett Road. “I always thought, ‘Living in one meant you made it,’” he said. In 2011, his dream came true. He was able to buy a four-bedroom home on a 6,000-square-foot lot on Edmonds Avenue for $350,000. “I love my house,” Onesti said. “I’ve wanted this home. This is the home I always dreamt of owning.” But, now, each week, he has to confront some serious thoughts about being in this place.
http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20180701/how-property-taxes-are-crushing-some-communities

NINETY-SIX PERCENT OF PENNSYLVANIA’S TEACHERS ARE WHITE. DAMN.
Philby’s 7th Ward Blog BY SHARIF EL-MEKKI JUNE 29, 2018
Imagine a doctor knowing vital, life-saving information about your health, but not sharing it with you. It would be not only unacceptable, it would be grounds for dismissal. Choosing not to act, when the data shows that the health of an individual or communities is spiraling out of control is a dereliction of duty. Currently, our country has watched White students flee public schools, while the enrollment of students of color swells. The loss of Black teachers and the stagnation of Black students’ achievement levels has been largely ignored. Black student and Black teacher ratios are entrenched examples of inequity. Black communities, and other communities of color, have always asserted that representation matters. The mental health, academic performance, and feeling of safety and belongingness of students of color strongly correlates with who leads their classrooms and schools. John Hopkins University pointed out in their research that Black students had a 40 percent less chance of dropping out if they have just one Black teacher during their elementary school years. Knowing the risks that dropping out of high school places on our youth, any politician that isn’t making this one of their flagship priorities reveals they’re unfit to lead.
http://phillys7thward.org/2018/06/ninety-six-percent-pennsylvanias-teachers-white-damn/

Wolf to give $7.6 million toward $15.6 million school cleanup
Advocates worry that the work will be done too hastily and perhaps not up to standard.
The notebook Dale Mezzacappa June 29 — 4:59 pm, 2018
Gov. Wolf came to Philadelphia on Friday to announce that the state will invest $7.6 million toward a $15.6 million emergency cleanup over the summer to remove asbestos, lead, mold and other environmental hazards from 57 District schools. He was joined by several Philadelphia legislators, led by State Sen. Vincent Hughes, who pushed for a more aggressive response to the unfolding safety and health crisis in city schools, much of it the result of the District’s inability to keep up with the deteriorating condition of its aging buildings. Mayor Kenney and Council members Derek Green and Cindy Bass were also present for the announcement, held at Roosevelt Elementary School in Germantown. “The children of Philadelphia deserve clean and healthy classrooms,” Wolf said. “Their teachers deserve healthy workplaces, and parents deserve to feel confident that when they send their children to school in those buildings, they are going to be free of danger.” While congratulating each other for taking action, the officials also thanked the media for drawing focused attention to the issue. They were referring to an investigation by the Inquirer, whose dramatic presentation of toxic hazards in school buildings – complete with its own onsite testing to evaluate the effectiveness of cleanup efforts – finally spurred a mass response.

For Philly's new school board: Lessons from the SRC's 17 years
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer  @newskag |  kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: JULY 1, 2018 — 5:00 AM EDT
The state takeover of the School District of Philadelphia was sealed with a handshake on Dec. 21, 2001. “I’m delighted to say that we have a full partnership, and to that end, I believe we will give rise to the finest urban school system in the country,” then-Gov. Mark Schweiker, alongside Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street, said at a Convention Center lectern. The School Reform Commission was formed the next day, triggered by a formal declaration of fiscal distress in the school system. That prediction by Schweiker and Street never panned out: As the 17-year school governance experiment known as the SRC sunsets on Saturday, Philadelphia is not the nation’s premier big-city district by any measure. Instead, the new local Board of Education — appointed by Mayor Kenney — inherits a school system that’s endured years of financial pressure, labor strife, and crumbling infrastructure, but has also celebrated some academic victories and regained a measure of trust in Harrisburg. As the board takes over this month, the Inquirer and Daily News asked former SRC members to reflect on its impact on the city, its schools, and families. They agreed it leaves behind a complicated legacy, thrusting education to the forefront of people’s consciousness both in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, and mostly keeping it there, for better or worse. That was a double-edged sword.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/philadelphia-school-reform-commission-lessons-complicated-legacy-20180701.html

Thackston Charter will not appeal, board votes to dissolve at end of June
Lindsay C. VanAsdalan, York Dispatch Published 11:38 a.m. ET June 29, 2018 | Updated 11:40 a.m. ET June 29, 2018
The Helen Thackston Charter School Board decided not to appeal the court ruling ordering it to close by the end of June. At the board's meeting on Thursday, June 28, members voted unanimously in favor of a dissolution agreement. Most board members declined to comment after the meeting, but member Marcia Glover said simply, "We're sorry it's closing." Teachers will be informed by letter Friday, June 29, and students will have the opportunity to come to the school parking lot at 1:30 p.m. that day for a going-away party with hot dogs and refreshments. They can take T-shirts and water bottles as a goodbye gift from the school.
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2018/06/29/thackston-charter-not-appeal-votes-dissolve-end-june/744266002/

ESSA and Equity – One State’s Approach
Center for Education Equity By Beth Olanoff, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education June 2018
The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Education is to ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. The guiding principles of Pennsylvania’s state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are transparency, equity and innovation:

·         Transparency means multiple, transparent, and easy-to-understand indicators of school success;
·         Equity means equity in educational opportunity and achievement for all students; and
·         Innovation means innovation in teaching and learning in schools and classrooms.
Three strategies are key to achieving transparency, equity, and innovation for our students.
https://cee-maec.org/essa-and-equity-one-states-approach/

Pa. needs to get serious about STEM education. Here's how to make that happen | Opinion
Penn Live Guest Editorial By Jeff Remington Updated Jun 30, 8:30 AM; Posted Jun 30, 8:30 AM
As a practicing Pennsylvania classroom science teacher for more than 30 years and a National STEM Teacher Ambassador, I appreciate the good work Gov. Tom Wolf has done for STEM and education. His recent PennLive Op-ed "Pa. can build on apprenticeships, skills training and STEM education progress" points out how far we have come in preparing our students for STEM and the workforce. But we have a long way still to go. Pennsylvania's science and technology standards --the foundational science and technology education that is provided to every single Pennsylvania student starting in kindergarten -- were conceived in the 1990s and adopted in 2002. That was 16 years ago.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/06/invest_in_education_opinion.html#incart_river_index

“Four years ago, the Wilkinsburg district was racing toward insolvency, a candidate for state takeover. Worse, our secondary students lacked the quality educational materials, courses, faculty and extracurricular activities they deserved. As a school board, we admitted that we could not make it on our own; if we failed to find a qualified partner, our district could cease to exist.”
Wilkinsburg school district is bouncing back
High school student achievement has soared after the merger with Pittsburgh Public Schools, and K-6 is thriving
Post-Gazette Letter by EDWARD J. DONOVAN JUL 1, 2018 12:00 AM
Edward J. Donovan, chair and graduate program director of the Chatham University education department, is a member of the Wilkinsburg School District board of directors.
What is history? Our kneejerk definition notwithstanding, it is a mistake to confine history to the study of long-ago events, antiquities, or happenings that changed human affairs (for better or worse). History is made every day, from Wall Street to Main Street; the idea that couldn’t succeed but did, the business that couldn’t survive but thrived, the disease that couldn’t be stopped but was eradicated. That’s history. Our Pittsburgh metropolitan area has made its share of history, not just in manufacturing, technology and healthcare, but in the way everyday lives are lived and futures developed. Like few other communities, Pittsburghers roll up their sleeves to make things better for one another, and sometimes in the process we make history. The unique partnership between the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Wilkinsburg School District is one such example.
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2018/07/01/Wilkinsburg-school-district-is-bouncing-back/stories/201807010016

Tulpehocken school district bucks trend, lowers rates again
I-78 warehouses bolstered the district's finances.
Reading Eagle WRITTEN BY DAVID MEKEEL SUNDAY JULY 1, 2018 12:01 AM
At first glance, it seems like it could be a mistake. In an environment where school districts across Pennsylvania have for the past decade or more been struggling with finances, how could a small district in northwest Berks County be giving money back to taxpayers? Tax rates traditionally go up, not down. Not in the Tulpehocken School District. There, for the second year in a row, school board members recently approved a 2018-19 budget that reduces its the property tax rate. The rate was cut by 0.4 percent for 2017-18, and by 1.8 percent this time. The districts overall rate of 27.1 mills ranks sixth lowest of the county's 18 school districts. The secret, district officials say, is part belt-tightening and part luck of environment. "Out philosophy is, what is the stuff we need to educate kids and what is the stuff we want," said interim Superintendent Andrew D. Netznik.
At the same time, Netznik said, Tulpehocken has benefitted from a string of large warehouses that have been built in the district along the I-78 corridor. They have brought with them tax dollars, but not the increased strain on a school district that housing developments do. A few years ago, the district gave tax breaks to three warehouse projects through the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program, Netznik said. But since that time, the school board has changed its stance on such developments and instead have decided to lower the tax rate instead. "Their philosophy has been they would rather reduce the tax rate instead of doing LERTA because it not only benefits the big businesses but all small businesses and homeowners," Netznik said.
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/tulpehocken-school-district-bucks-trend-lowers-rates-again#.WzkqAxFx7BQ.twitter

Steel Valley school board passes $37 million budget for 2018-2019 with tax increase
Post-Gazette by ANNE CLOONAN JUN 29, 2018 12:03 AM
The Steel Valley school board passed a $37 million final budget for the 2018-2019 school year Thursday that will raise school real estate taxes by 0.728 mills. General fund expenses in the budget are projected to be $37,046,525, and revenues are expected to be $36,806,080. The district’s general fund fund balance will cover the difference of $240,445. In May, district business manager John Zenone said under the new budget, school real estate taxes for a home with an assessed value of $100,000 would increase by $72.84 a year. He said at the time that the tax hike was needed because of rising salary, charter school tuition and pension costs.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/06/29/Steel-Valley-school-board-passes-37-million-budget-2018-2019-tax-increase/stories/201806280210

Norwin School District raises real estate taxes by 3 percent
TRIBUNE-REVIEW by JOE NAPSHA  | Friday, June 29, 2018, 11:45 p.m.
Property owners in North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin will see their real estate taxes increase by 3 percent in the new school year because the Norwin School Board on Friday approved a 2.4-mill tax hike. Norwin's $70.9 million budget for the fiscal year beginning today will raise property taxes to 80 mills for those Norwin residents in Westmoreland County and by 0.32-mill, to 12 mills, for about 18 property owners living in Allegheny County but within the Norwin boundaries. A 2.4-mill increase will cost an extra $52 in school taxes for a property with a median assessed value of $21,630 in Westmoreland County, the district said. The school district receives about $390,000 from each mill of tax it levies. School officials had said a tax increase was necessary to cover a deficit that had been projected at $2.4 million in April. By cutting costs, the  district saved $796,000 since the preliminary budget was introduced in May. The district tapped into its fund balance for $533,000 to help balance the budget, leaving about $3.3 million at the end of the coming school year.
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/13817940-74/norwin-school-district-raises-real-estate-taxes-by-3-percent

Garnet Valley tweaks budget, but still raises taxes
Delco Times By Susan L. Serbin, Times Correspondent POSTED: 06/29/18, 8:30 PM EDT
CONCORD >> The Garnet Valley School Board wrapped up the 2018-19 general fund budget preparation by approving a slightly tweaked version. The total of $107,028,071 shaved off $172,137 from the proposed final plan passed in May. It also represented a reduction in the increase in expenditures from the current year, now at $3.2 million, or 3.1 percent. The real estate tax was only .01 percent less, now at 2.32 percent, but clearing the district’s Act I 2.4 percent index. The millage rate for Chester Heights and Concord is 32.4876 mills. Bethel’s rate is 32.8590 mills including .3714 mills for participation in Delaware County Community College. In Chester Heights and Concord, each $100,000 of assessed value would incur tax of $3,248.76, a $74.73 increase over the current year. In Bethel, each $100,000 of assessed value would incur tax of $3,285.90, a $75.31 increase.
http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20180629/garnet-valley-tweaks-budget-but-still-raises-taxes


NEA President: We Will Fight the 'Drop Your Membership' Campaigns, Post Janus
Education Week By Madeline Will on July 1, 2018 8:51 PM
Minneapolis  The potential consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 31 loom large here at the National Education Association's annual convention. Delegates are very much aware that their teachers' union is facing serious revenue and membership declines, now that "agency" or "fair share" fees are prohibited, and teachers must affirmatively opt into the union rather than opt out. The NEA is expecting a nearly 14 percent membership loss and a $50 million budget reduction over the next two years.  NEA President Lily Eskelsen García sat down with Education Week to talk about how the nation's largest teachers' union is bracing for the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision, and how she believes the union will regain its strength. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2018/07/lily_eskelsen_garcia_post_janus_drop_membership_campaigns.html


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.


Nominations for PSBA’s Allwein Advocacy Award due by July 16
PSBA Website May 14, 2018
The Timothy M. Allwein Advocacy Award was established in 2011 by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and may be presented annually to the individual school director or entire school board to recognize outstanding leadership in legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of public education and students that are consistent with the positions in PSBA’s Legislative Platform. In addition to being a highly respected lobbyist, Timothy Allwein served to help our members be effective advocates in their own right. Many have said that Tim inspired them to become active in our Legislative Action Program and to develop personal working relationships with their legislators. The 2018 Allwein Award nomination process will begin on Monday, May 14, 2018. The application due date is July 16, 2018 in the honor of Tim’s birth date of July 16.
Download the Application

https://www.psba.org/2018/05/nominations-allwein-advocacy-award/


SAVE THE DATE for the 2018 PA Educational Leadership Summit - July 29-31 - State College, PA sponsored by the PA Principals Association, PASA, PAMLE and PASCD.  
This year's Summit will be held from July 29-31, 2018 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA.

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!

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.

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