Thursday, March 28, 2019

PA Ed Policy Roundup March 28: F&M Poll PA Voters Top Priorities: (1) increasing state education funding (2) reducing local property taxes


Started in November 2010, 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

F&M Poll PA Voters Top Priorities:
(1) increasing state education funding
(2) reducing local property taxes



In the episode of PSBA  #VideoEDition, learn more about Advocacy Day, April 29th 2019 and the importance of public education advocacy in this conversation with PSBA Advocacy Ambassador @rickadavand Advocacy Coordinator Jamie Zuvich.
Watch it here: https://t.co/VpxWHazXmW



Blogger note: H.R.1878, bicameral, bipartisan legislation, would establish a 10-year plan towards fully funding the target 40% federal share of investments in IDEA. Thus far, PA Congressmen Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15) have signed on to cosponsor the bill.
NSBA Supports the Bipartisan IDEA Full Funding Act
NSBA Newsroom March 26, 2019   
As part of Public Schools Week, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif) announced the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would guarantee Congress’ commitment to fully fund IDEA. The National School Boards Association (NSBA) showed their support for this bi-partisan legislation that calls for the full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Both Senators introduced this version of the IDEA Full Funding Act today on the Senate floor. Their announcement can be found on Senator Van Hollen’s website and Congressman Huffman’s website. In January, NSBA launched an initiative urging Congress to reauthorize and fully fund IDEA. The grassroots effort if lead by five principles:
  1. High expectations and accountability, not bureaucratic procedures, deliver positive outcomes for students with disabilities.
  2. Effectively serving students with disabilities and their families is a shared financial responsibility.
  3. Positive engagement and collaboration with families helps students with disabilities succeed.
  4. The success of students with disabilities depends on access to effective teachers and other special education professionals.
  5. Expand supports directed at the youngest students with disabilities will place more learners on an earlier path toward academic and life success.
For more information on NSBA’s IDEA campaign click here. To read NSBA’s letter of support to Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Huffman click here.
https://www.nsba.org/newsroom/nsbawire/nsba-supports-bipartisan-idea-full-funding-act

Twenty-three percent of state voters said increasing state education funding was their top priority — the highest ranked. Ranked second, at 21 percent, was reducing local property taxes and third at 19 percent was improving infrastructure.
Pennsylvania voters support Wolf, remain lukewarm on Trump in new F&M poll
PA Capital Star By  Stephen Caruso March 28, 2019
A little more than three months into his second term, Pennsylvania’s careful and deliberative Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, is looking good to Keystone State voters. That’s according to a new Franklin & Marshall College poll released Thursday that shows a majority of state voters polled (51 percent) believe Wolf, of York County, is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as chief executive of the nation’s fifth-largest state. “Wolf is benefiting from the general improvement in the national and state economy,”  Franklin & Marshall pollster G. Terry Madonna told The Capital-Star. “People, personally, in their finances, are doing better and think they are going to be doing better in the future.” Halfway through his first term, volatile Republican President Donald Trump is holding steady, having neither improved nor damaged his standing with voters in a state that helped put him in the White House in 2016. Just one in three respondents to the new poll (34 percent) say Trump is doing an “excellent” or “good” job — a figure unchanged from recent F&M polls.
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/pennsylvania-voters-support-wolf-remain-lukewarm-on-trump-in-new-poll/

March 2019 Franklin & Marshall College Poll SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Prepared by: Center for Opinion Research Floyd Institute for Public Policy Franklin & Marshall College
Page 22: PRIORITY. State lawmakers are currently discussing many problems and issues. Which of the following issues do you think should be the top priority for state lawmakers to address?
Increasing state funding for public education 23%
Reforming the state’s tax system to reduce local property taxes 21%
https://www.fandm.edu/uploads/files/503040077590675717-f-m-poll-release-march-2019.pdf

Blogger note: Total cyber charter tuition paid by PA taxpayers from 500 school districts for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 was over $1.6 billion; $393.5 million, $398.8 million, $436.1 million and $454.7 million respectively. Over the next several days we will continue rolling out cyber charter tuition expenses for taxpayers in education committee members, legislative leadership and various other districts.
In 2016-17, @SenatorScarnati’s school districts in had to send over $10.7 million to chronically underperforming cybers that they never authorized. #SB34 (Schwank) or #HB526 (Sonney) could change that.
Links to additional bill information and several resources have been moved to the end of today’s postings
Data Source: PDE via PSBA

Austin Area SD
$2,875.00
Bradford Area SD
$416,092.34
Brockway Area SD
$149,942.34
Brookville Area SD
$248,130.96
Cameron County SD
$467,303.38
Canton Area SD
$219,358.83
Clarion-Limestone Area SD
$274,246.66
Clearfield Area SD
$847,317.65
Coudersport Area SD
$261,597.67
Dubois Area SD
$781,498.59
Forest Area SD
$326,168.02
Galeton Area SD
$367,370.95
Jersey Shore Area SD
$729,876.96
Johnsonburg Area SD
$259,139.74
Kane Area SD
$146,979.43
Keystone Central SD
$1,077,260.40
Northern Potter SD
$67,549.21
Northern Tioga SD
$423,039.27
Oswayo Valley SD
$75,472.38
Otto-Eldred SD
$170,310.95
Port Allegany SD
$140,633.48
Punxsutawney Area SD
$1,066,764.18
Ridgway Area SD
$223,709.93
Smethport Area SD
$337,873.37
Southern Tioga SD
$650,426.40
Saint Marys Area SD
$256,147.70
Wellsboro Area SD
$472,963.79
West Branch Area SD
$323,061.45
             Total:
$10,783,111.03

Feds tell Pennsylvania to overhaul alternative education programs
The agreement recognizes disparities regarding students with disabilities and English learners, but doesn't address racial disparities, the Education Law Center says.
The notebook by Dale Mezzacappa March 27 — 3:27 pm, 2019
Six years after the original complaint was filed by the Education Law Center, the U.S. Department of Justice has worked out an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Education that recognizes discriminatory practices in the state’s vast “alternative education” complex for students who have disciplinary infractions. The Justice Department found that students with disabilities are disproportionately sent to these programs. In an investigation triggered by the Education Law Center (ELC) complaint, the Justice Department also found that these programs, known as AEDYs (Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth), do not provide required services to English learners. But the finding did not address the issue of racial disparities, even though that was a major part of the original complaint. In 2013, for instance, there were 35 districts, including Philadelphia, in which the proportion of African American students in AEDYs exceeded their districtwide share by 25 percentage points or more.

Unacceptable condition of Philly’s school buildings sends a tragic signal to students | Opinion
Jerry Jordan and Vincent Hughes, For the Inquirer Updated: March 27, 2019 - 9:45 AM
In large cities and in small towns, in coastal states and middle America, in locales “red” and “blue," communities benefit when their public schools thrive and they suffer when their schools struggle. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania — home to the birthplace of our nation — which also has the unfortunate distinction as having the most inequitable school funding system in the entire country. In the Keystone State, education equity is too often determined by a child’s zip code, and our poorest school districts are in the midst of a facilities crisis that has literally poisoned our schoolchildren and put their lives in danger. That’s why we have joined the Fund Our Facilities Coalition, a group of elected officials, labor organizations, and community groups, to present a commonsense approach to ensuring that every child — in our state and across the country — has the opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential in healthy schools. Together, with Philadelphia Delegation Chair Rep. Jason Dawkins; City Council President Darrell L. Clarke; City Council members Helen Gym, Cherelle L. Parker, Mark Squilla and Derek Green; State Sen. Larry Farnese; Pennsylvania State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler; Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding; and David Masur of the Philadelphia Healthy Schools Initiative, we formed the Fund Our Facilities Coalition with a laser focus: securing the funding we know is necessary to make sure that our school buildings are safe, clean, and comfortable.
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-school-building-coalition-safety-20190327.html

New Upper Darby schools will cost homeowners $3,000 each over next 30 years
Delco Times By Kevin Tustin ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com March 28, 2019
UPPER DARBY — A report on financing two major construction projects in the Upper Darby School District shows an over $3,000 cost to each homeowner  spread out approximately 30 years. This was the finding of RBC Capital Markets who presented Tuesday night the financial implications on how much it will cost to issue bonds worth $106.8 million to fund a proposed $24.3 million project to renovate and put an addition on at Aronimink Elementary School, and a proposed $65 million new middle school in Clifton Heights. About $15 million would also go toward other capital improvement projects throughout the district. When included as part of the district's debt services, the cumulative financial impact of the bonds on an average assessed home in the district of $75,000 would cost $3,332 through 2052. The figure includes the paying off of six bonds that have already been issued totaling $23 million through 2027.
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/new-upper-darby-schools-will-cost-homeowners-each-over-next/article_790332f4-50cb-11e9-83c7-8b06376e51eb.html

SB115: Bill would require hands-only CPR training for high school students
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Posted Mar 27, 5:37 PM
Legislation that would ensure every student graduating from a Pennsylvania public school would have the fundamental life skill of knowing how to resuscitate some who suffered a cardiac arrest passed the state Senate on Wednesday. By a 45-0 vote, the measure now goes to the House for consideration. If Senate Bill 115 is enacted, Pennsylvania would join 38 other states that have passed laws or adopted curriculum requiring hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for high school students. The state’s academic standards require schools to provide CPR instruction by grade 12. What this bill would do is direct the state Department of Education to develop a model curriculum that schools can use – or they can develop their own – that provides instruction in the updated science and techniques of hands-only CPR. It also must include information on automated external defibrillators.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/03/bill-would-require-hands-only-cpr-training-for-high-school-students.html

“It is important to note that the presentation of the president’s budget is just one part of the budget process – immediately after it is released, negotiations begin on Capitol Hill,” Special Olympics Pennsylvania spokeswoman Nicole Jones said today. “Special Olympics has experienced the proposed elimination of our funding before and, thanks to the phenomenal support of our bipartisan Congressional champions, was able to successfully advocate for and ensure continued funding for critical Special Olympics programming in the U.S.”
Special Olympics Pa. could face major funding cut under Trump’s education budget plan
Penn Live By Steve Marroni | smarroni@pennlive.com Updated 9:17 PM; Posted Mar 27, 2:53 PM
The House Appropriations subcommittee yesterday grilled Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on proposed cuts to special education programs, including the elimination of all federal funding for the Special Olympics. “What is it that we have a problem with, with children who are in special education?” Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan asked her in the hearing on Capitol Hill, NBC News is reporting. That would be an $18 million shortfall for the Special Olympics. "I think that the Special Olympics is an awesome organization, one that is well supported by the philanthropic sector as well," DeVos responded. Despite the tense hearing, officials at Special Olympics Pennsylvania aren’t worried. Not yet, anyway.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/03/special-olympics-pa-could-face-major-funding-cut-under-trump-administrations-proposed-education-budget.html

Philly school board set to decide: Should all high schools use metal detectors?
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: March 28, 2019- 5:00 AM
The Philadelphia school board is slated to decide a tough topic Thursday night: Should every high school in the city require students to pass through metal detectors? All 49 Philadelphia district high schools have the scanning equipment, but three don’t use it. A proposed board policy would shift that, effectively requiring Science Leadership Academy, Science Leadership Academy at Beeber, and the Workshop School to use their metal detectors. Amir Curry, a senior at SLA Beeber, thinks that metal detectors criminalize students and have no place in his West Philadelphia magnet school. “SLA Beeber students do not view this policy as a safeguard of their health and safety," said Curry, a member of the Philadelphia Student Union, a youth group against the policy change. “To SLA Beeber students, this policy … is a clear violation of their power, voice and autonomy.”Walking through metal detectors, SLA senior Zoey Tweh said, “sets the tone for students. It sets up a relationship between the school and the students that says, ‘We don’t trust you.’ ” Tweh, an officer with UrbEd, a student-led advocacy group, said each school should be able to set its own metal-detector policy.
https://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-schools-metal-detectors-safety-policy-20190328.html

“The legislation consisting of three bills would ban possession and use of certain semi-automatic weapons, including assault rifles, ammunition and accessories from within city limits. A third bill would permit courts to temporarily remove guns from a person deemed to be a public threat.”
Pittsburgh’s controversial gun legislation passes first hurdle
Trib Live BOB BAUDER   | Wednesday, March 27, 2019 12:13 p.m.
Pittsburgh City Council gave initial approval Wednesday, March 27, 2019, to gun-control legislation introduced in wake of the 2018 synagogue massacre, an effort certain to be challenged in court by Second Amendment advocates who point out that state law doesn’t allow municipalities to regulate firearms. The legislation would place restrictions on military-style assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle that authorities say was used in the Oct. 27 rampage at Tree of Life Synagogue that killed 11 and wounded seven.
Pittsburgh’s controversial gun ban passed its first hurdle Wednesday with a 6-3 preliminary approval vote by City Council. Council members Darlene Harris, Theresa Kail-Smith and Anthony Coghill voted against the three bills, citing among other things a state law that prohibits municipalities from regulating firearms. Council is expected to schedule a final vote on all of the bills for Tuesday. The three dissenters warned that Pittsburgh would face expensive lawsuits filed by gun rights groups that could drag on for years. Members who supported the bills said they were willing to accept the potential cost of defending the legislation if it can reduce gun violence that has plagued the city and America.
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburghs-controversial-gun-legislation-passes-first-hurdle/

Your View by Sen. Kamala Harris: The teacher pay gap is a national failure. Here's how to fix it.
Morning Call Opinion by Kamala D. Harris Special to The Washington Post March 27, 2019
We must acknowledge this simple truth: We are a country that claims to care about education, but not so much about the education of other people's children. At the most fundamental level, our children are being raised by two groups of people: families and teachers. Yet, we fail to pay teachers their value. The United States is facing a teacher pay crisis. Public school teachers earn 11 percent less than professionals with similar educations. Teachers are more likely than non-teachers to work a second job. In 30 states, average teacher pay is less than the living wage for a family of four. Strikes by teachers in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Oakland, California, and Denver underscore the fact that this crisis is not bound by region or ideology. Instead, they reflect our national failure to value educators and pay them what they deserve.
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi-kamala-harris-teacher-pay-20190327-story.html

Erie school nurse says she loves her job, but the salary is ‘like a nightmare’
WHYY/Keystone Crossroads By Ed Mahon, PA Post March 27, 2019
This story originally appeared on PA Post.
Bridgette May worked as a critical care nurse in a hospital for three years. But the night and weekend shifts took a toll. She felt like a zombie during the day. May, a single parent, decided to switch to a job that would allow her to spend more time with her kids. She became a certified school nurse — a move that required her to complete coursework and take on more student loans. And after five years as a school nurse, she still struggles to pay the bills. Her salary in the Erie City School District is under $45,000 a year. She was one of about 40 educators who traveled to the state Capitol on Tuesday to push for an increase in minimum salaries for educators across the state. To make ends meet, May works at after-school programs and picks up some hospital shifts. She said she loves the job and feels like she makes a difference. But she said the salary is “like a nightmare.” She’s thought about leaving and becoming a nurse practitioner — a job that typically pays more than $100,000 a year.
https://whyy.org/articles/erie-school-nurse-says-she-loves-her-job-but-the-salary-is-like-a-nightmare/

Spring-Ford resisting call for teen sleep survey
Pottstown Mercury by Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com @PottstownNews on Twitter March 28, 2019
ROYERSFORD — With the Phoenixville School Board changing school start times in January and Owen J. Roberts taking another look, Spring-Ford is the next school district being urged to take similar steps. But it will be an uphill climb if the reception sleep study activists have received lately is any indication. Last month and again Monday, Kate Doyle, an Upper Providence resident and Evans Elementary School parent, appeared before the school board to urge cooperation with a teen sleep study arranged through the Montgomery County Board of Health. "Ultimately, it's a health issue," said Doyle who cites data showing sleep deprivation may be a contributing factor to teen car crashes. Doyle is also a member of the Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition that has representatives from more than 20 school district communities across five counties in southeastern PA; and is also a co-leader of the Montgomery County chapter of the national Start School Later organization. But school board President Tom DiBello continues to voice his opposition to moving school start times.
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/spring-ford-resisting-call-for-teen-sleep-survey/article_37f252fe-50cb-11e9-a178-9716c58eddcd.html

Manheim Central awarded $1.4M state grant for energy-efficient high school renovation
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer March 27, 2019
Manheim Central School District has been awarded a nearly $1.4 million state grant for incorporating environment-friendly elements into its $35 million high school renovation. The project, which was approved by the board in November 2018, includes rooftop solar panels, high-efficiency ventilation, dense roofing and wall insulation, and energy-efficient windows, water and lighting fixtures. It's expected to reduce energy consumption by about 1.3 million kilowatt hours and reduce water consumption by nearly 335,000 gallons annually.  Manheim Central was the lone grant recipient in the county.  Projects from Allegheny, Chester, Columbia, Crawford, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland and Philadelphia counties also received support.  The funding comes from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which approved 11 clean and renewable energy projects totaling just over $12 million this week. 
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/manheim-central-awarded-m-state-grant-for-energy-efficient-high/article_1a24fa9c-509e-11e9-a3c8-fba0c14ebaf5.html


‘You Can’t Put It Behind You’: School Shootings Leave Long Trail of Trauma
New York Times By Patricia Mazzei and Miriam Jordan March 28, 2019
PARKLAND, Fla. — Kelly Plaur is still having nightmares almost every night. In the mornings, she recounts them to her mother, though the theme is usually the same: the horror she witnessed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year when a gunman opened fire in her classroom, killing two students and injuring four others. A few weeks ago, Ms. Plaur, 18, had to withdraw from the paramedic training program she had started after she was overcome with anxiety while transporting a gunshot victim. Even the sight of certain window blinds can put her on edge, reminding her of the bullet holes that pierced the classroom blinds on the day of the rampage. “Little things trigger me that I wouldn’t think would trigger me,” she said. For young people like Ms. Plaur, more than a year after the school massacre in Parkland, Fla., that killed a total of 17 people, life remains fraught with traumatic memories, an enduring byproduct of the nation’s epidemic of gun violence.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/us/parkland-shooting-suicides-newtown-mental-health.html

Millions of your tax dollars have disappeared into NJ's flawed charter school experiment
Jean Rimbach and Abbott Koloff, North Jersey Record March 27, 2019
A series in five parts
1.     Part One
2.     Part Two
3.     Part Three
4.     Part Four
5.     Part Five
CASHING IN ON CHARTER SCHOOLS: PART ONE
NJ taxpayers are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to construct and renovate charter school buildings, but the public doesn't own them.
School buildings that are paid for with millions of dollars in public money but owned by private groups. Inflated rents, high interest rates and unexplained costs borne by taxpayers.
And tax dollars used to pay rents that far exceed the debt on some school buildings.
This is the world of charter school real estate in New Jersey.
Where public money can disappear in a maze of intertwined companies.
Where businesses and investors can turn a profit at taxpayer expense.
And where decisions about millions in tax dollars are made privately, with little public input and little to no oversight by multiple state agencies.
https://www.northjersey.com/in-depth/news/2019/03/27/nj-charter-schools-nj-tax-money-disappearing/2139903002/

Feds Spent Hundreds of Millions on Charters That Shut Down or Never Opened, Report Says
Education Week Charters and Choice Blog By Arianna Prothero on March 27, 2019 12:46 PM | 
The federal government has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to charter schools that have shuttered or have never opened, according to an analysis by the Network for Public Education. The U.S. Department of Education has also largely ignored potential problems flagged over the years by its own internal investigator, such as not providing enough guidance or oversight to grantees, according to the report. The issues highlighted in the report by the Network for Public Education span both the Trump and Obama administrations and were raised during Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' testimony before the House education committee on Tuesday. The Charter Schools Program currently gives $440 million to state departments of education and charter management organizations in part to help them launch new charter schools. There are several different kinds of grants under the program, but the report focuses on the expansion and seed money grants that go directly to charter schools or to states to allocate to charter schools. The Network for Public Education, which advocates for traditional public schools and opposes charter schools, analyzed federal data and found that 1,129 charter schools out of more than 3,700 that received federal grant money between 2006 and 2014 were either closed down or were considered "prospective schools" and had not yet opened.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/charterschoice/2019/03/feds_spent_millions_on_charter_schools_that_shut_down_or_never_open_report_says.html


University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Announces Public Event: Poverty’s Impact on Early Literacy featuring Donna Cooper, Johnstown, PA— April 2nd 2019
The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown welcomes Executive Director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, Donna Cooper on April 2nd, 2019 at 6 PM to speak on the topic of “Poverty’s Impact on Early Literacy.” All are welcome to attend this public event as Donna Cooper and many other guest respondents will be in attendance. This panel of local experts include The University of Pittsburgh’s faculty members, Michael Vuckovich and Dr. Jackie Myers, as well as CEO of United Way of the Laurel Highlands, Bill McKinney and Director of Nurse-Family Partnership of Blair County, Lisa Ritchey. Topics to be discussed will range from Poverty’s Impact on Early Literacy, personal experiences within school systems, United Way’s goal on eliminating the literacy gap, and also how nurses are going into the homes of mothers in poverty helping them develop. The event will be held at the John P. Murtha Center located at the UPJ Campus. This event will begin at 6 PM and end around 8 PM. Pre-Registration through Google Forms is encouraged, but not required. All are welcome to walk-in the night of April 2nd to enjoy this meaningful event. 

Delco Students for Education Meeting Sat, March 30, 2019 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: William Penn School District - Administration Building, 100 Green Avenue – Annex, Lansdowne, PA 19050
Sponsored by Rafi Cave, Yeadon Borough Councilman, The Urban League of Philadelphia & PA Schools Work, the nonpartisan statewide campaign to support equitable public education funding in Pennsylvania.
It's no secret Delco schools are underfunded. Join your peers and education advocates to learn what you can do to work for change in your school community. Ask questions, hear from experts, and meet State Representative Joanna McClinton. Includes breakfast & giveaways!! Don't miss out.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/delco-students-for-education-tickets-58603126529

The League of Women Voters of Delaware County and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit present: EPLC 2019 Regional Training Workshop for PA School Board Candidates (and Incumbents) April 27th 8am – 4:30pm at DCIU
Ron Cowell of The Pennsylvania Education Policy and Leadership Center will conduct a regional full day workshop for 2019 Pennsylvania School Board Candidates.
Date & Time: Saturday, April 27, 2019, 8am to 4:30pm
Location: Delaware County Intermediate Unit, 200 Yale Ave. Morton, PA
Incumbents, non-incumbents, campaign supporters and all interested voters are invited to participate in this workshop. Registration is $75 (payable by credit card) and includes coffee and pastries, lunch, and materials. For questions contact Adriene Irving at 610-938-9000 ext. 2061.
To register, please visit http://tinyurl.com/CandidatesWksp

PSBA: Nominations for the Allwein Society are welcome!
The Allwein Society is an award program recognizing school directors who are outstanding leaders and advocates on behalf of public schools and students. This prestigious honor was created in 2011 in memory of Timothy M. Allwein, a former PSBA staff member who exemplified the integrity and commitment to advance political action for the benefit of public education. Nominations are accepted year-round and inductees will be recognized at the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference, among other honors.

PSBA: 2019 State of Education report now online
PSBA Website February 19, 2019
The 2019 State of Education report is now available on PSBA.org in PDF format. The report is 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. Data reported comes from publicly available sources and from a survey to chief school administrators, which had a 66% response rate. Print copies of the report will be mailed to members soon.

PSBA Members - Register for Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg Monday April 29, 2019
All PSBA-members are invited to attend Advocacy Day on Monday, April 29, 2019 at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. In addition, this year PSBA will be partnering with the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) to strengthen our advocacy impact. The focus for the day will be meetings with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. There is no cost to attend, and PSBA will assist in scheduling appointments with legislators once your registration is received. The day will begin with a continental breakfast and issue briefings prior to the legislator visits. Registrants will receive talking points, materials and leave-behinds to use with their meetings. PSBA staff will be stationed at a table in the main Rotunda during the day to answer questions and provide assistance. The day’s agenda and other details will be available soon. If you have questions about Advocacy Day, legislative appointments or need additional information, contact Jamie.Zuvich@psba.org  Register for Advocacy Day now at http://www.mypsba.org/
PSBA members can register online now by logging in to myPSBA. If you need assistance logging in and registering contact Alysha Newingham, Member Data System Administrator at alysha.newingham@psba.org or call her at (717) 506-2450, ext. 3420

PSBA Board Presidents’ Panel
Learn, discuss, and practice problem solving with school leader peers facing similar or applicable challenges. Workshop-style discussions will be facilitated and guided by PSBA experts. With the enormous challenges facing schools today, effective and knowledgeable board leadership is essential to your productivity and performance as a team of ten.
Locations & Dates
Due to inclement weather, some dates have been rescheduled. The updated schedule is below.

Pennsylvania schools work – for students, communities and the economy when adequate resources are available to give all students an equal opportunity to succeed.
Join A Movement that Supports our Schools & Communities
PA Schools Work website
Our students are in classrooms that are underfunded and overcrowded. Teachers are paying out of pocket and picking up the slack. And public education is suffering. Each child in Pennsylvania has a right to an excellent public education. Every child, regardless of zip code, deserves access to a full curriculum, art and music classes, technical opportunities and a safe, clean, stable environment. All children must be provided a level chance to succeed. PA Schools Work is fighting for equitable, adequate funding necessary to support educational excellence. Investing in public education excellence is the path to thriving communities, a stable economy and successful students.
http://paschoolswork.org/

Annual PenSPRA Symposium set for March 28-29, 2019
Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association Website
Once again, PenSPRA will hold its annual symposium with nationally-recognized speakers on hot topics for school communicators. The symposium, held at the Conference Center at Shippensburg University, promises to provide time for collegial sharing and networking opportunities. We hope you can join us. Plans are underway, so check back for more information.
http://www.penspra.org/

2019 NSBA Annual Conference Philadelphia March 30 - April 1, 2019
Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Registration Questions or Assistance: 1-800-950-6722
The NSBA Annual Conference & Exposition is the one national event that brings together education leaders at a time when domestic policies and global trends are combining to shape the future of the students. Join us in Philadelphia for a robust offering of over 250 educational programs, including three inspirational general sessions that will give you new ideas and tools to help drive your district forward.
https://www.nsba.org/conference

Save the Date:  PARSS Annual Conference May 1-3, 2019
Wyndham Garden Hotel, Mountainview Country Club
Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools
https://www.parss.org/Annual_Conference


PSBA Tweet March 12, 2019 Video Runtime: 6:40
In this installment of #VideoEDition, learn about legislation introduced in the PA Senate & House of Representatives that would save millions of dollars for school districts that make tuition payments for their students to attend cyber charter schools.
http://ow.ly/RyIM50n1uHi 

PSBA Summaries of Senate Bill 34 and House Bill 526

PSBA Sample Board Resolution in Support of Statewide Cyber Charter School Funding Reform

PSBA Sample Board Resolution in Support of Senate Bill 34 and House Bill 256

How much could your school district and taxpayers save if there were statewide flat tuition rates of $5000 for regular ed students and $8865 for special ed.? See the estimated savings by school district here.
Education Voters PA Website February 14, 2019


Has your state representative cosponsored HB526?

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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