Friday, February 7, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb 7: Thank you .@GovernorTomWolf for your strong leadership on long overdue charter reform that will benefit our students and taxpayers.


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PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb 7, 2020
Thank you .@GovernorTomWolf for your strong leadership on long overdue charter reform that will benefit our students and taxpayers.



.@PSBA .@PASA .@PAIU school leaders - this is the best shot we've had for charter reform in 20 years. Come meet your legislators in their Capitol offices for Advocacy Day on March 23rd. Register at http://mypsba.org
Info: https://psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/



Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform
PSBA Website POSTED ON FEBRUARY 3, 2020 IN PSBA NEWS
In this legislative session, PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.
Resolution for charter funding reform (pdf)
Link to submit your adopted resolution to PSBA

A 120-page proposal is being introduced as House Bill 2261 by Rep. Joseph Ciresi (D-Montgomery), and Senate Bill 1024, introduced by Senators Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny). Ask your legislator to sign on as a cosponsor to House Bill 2261 or Senate Bill 1024.
Governor’s charter reform proposal
PSBA Website February 6, 2020
On February 4, 2020, Gov. Wolf highlighted the need for charter reform as part of his 2020-21 state budget plan. The spending plan includes $280 million coming from projected savings gained from proposed charter school funding reforms. In conjunction with the call for charter funding reforms, the governor’s office announced that legislation to enact comprehensive changes is being introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives. In the same way that PSBA worked with the Senate and House of Representatives on their charter proposals, the association is pleased to be working very closely with the Governor to develop his plan to achieve significant charter reforms. Savings through charter funding reform: The 2020-21 budget proposes comprehensive Charter School Law reform that will save school districts across the commonwealth an estimated $280 million per year. This would be accomplished by:
  • Applying the special education formula to all charter schools (estimated to save $147 million annually)
  • Establishing a statewide cyber charter tuition rate of $9,500 per student per year (estimated to save $133 million annually)
  • Improving the redirection process. Currently, if a school district does not pay the tuition for its resident students who attend a charter school or there is a dispute between a school district and a charter on tuition payments, the charter school may petition PDE to reconcile the dispute through the redirection process. The budget proposal provides clarification on the redirection process, including the basis for reported expenditures and the deductions included in the tuition rate calculation, to increase fairness, accountability, and transparency.
Comprehensive charter reform package
A 120-page proposal, introduced as House Bill 2261 by Rep. Joseph Ciresi (D-Montgomery), and Senate Bill 1024, introduced by Senators Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny). The legislation includes these components:
https://www.psba.org/2020/02/governors-charter-reform-proposal/

Radio Times: School choice takes center stage
WHYY Radio Times with Marty Moss Coane February 6, 2020 Audio Runtime: 49 min
Guests: Mark Gleason, Donna Cooper
School choice was front and center at President Trump’s State of the Union address. During the speech, Trump singled out Philadelphia 4th grader, Jeniyah Davis, and awarded her an “opportunity scholarship” to attend a private school. The President even called out Governor Wolf for vetoing a bill that would increase school voucher funding. Vice President Pence continued to push the White House’s school choice agenda, including tax credits for donations to private and religious school scholarship funds, when he visited a West Philadelphia school on Wednesday. This hour, the debate around expanding school choice and what it means for public schools in Pennsylvania. Our guests are MARK GLEASON, executive director of the Philadelphia School Partnership and DONNA COOPER, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth.
https://whyy.org/episodes/school-choice-takes-center-stage/

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association Responds to the Governor’s 2020-2021 Budget 
Tuesday, February 4,2020 [Mechanicsburg, PA] - On behalf of the 4500 locally elected officials it represents, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) responds to Governor Wolf’s proposed 2020-21 state budget on particular key issues that will impact our public schools.  
“PSBA appreciates Governor Wolf’s increase of $100M to the Basic Education Funding (BEF) subsidy.  This investment continues to drive the future of Pennsylvania by investing in our students. The Governor has also targeted a $25M increase into much needed special education services of which the student need grows every year. Additionally, we are highly pleased that he has given his attention and consideration to the charter funding equation that is presently in a state of dire imbalance,” stated PSBA Chief Executive Officer, Nathan Mains.  
On the topic of charter funding reform; we are glad the Governor is pushing to address the special education tuition formula that currently results in overpayments to charter schools. Although the General Assembly revised the special education funding formula in 2014 to more accurately target special education resources for students identified with high, medium and low needs, this formula was applied only to school districts and not to charter schools. This system overpaid charter schools more than $100 million in 2014-15 and this creates an incentive for charter schools to over–identify children for special education services. 
https://www.psba.org/2020/02/psba-responds-to-the-governors-2020-2021-budget/

PSBA to air ‘Budget Talk’ with Governor Wolf on Tuesday
PSBA Website February 5, 2020
On Tuesday, February 11 at noon, PSBA will air an exclusive, members-only, 30-minute budget talk with Gov. Wolf and CEO Nathan Mains.
Registration is required, but there is no cost. Register now on myPSBA.
https://www.psba.org/2020/02/submit-your-questions-for-psbas-budget-talk-with-governor-wolf/

Comprehensive Charter School Law Reform Savings By School District
PA Department of Education Website
As part of his 2020-21 Proposed Budget, Governor Wolf is seeking comprehensive Charter School Law reform to help ensure all public schools in our commonwealth are providing high-quality education to every child. This reform will make another $280 million available for school districts. Estimated Charter School Reform Savings (Excel)
https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Charter%20Schools/CharterPolicyReform/Pages/LegisProposal.aspx

Estimated Distributions of the 2020/21 Proposed Basic Education Funding (BEF) and Special Education Funding (SEF) Appropriations; Estimated Charter Funding Reform Savings By School District
PA House Appropriations Committee (D) February 4, 2020 via Education Voters
http://educationvoterspa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-21-Budget-Day-SD-Printout-BEF-SEF-Charter.pdf?link_id=0&can_id=beaf112b5c8cf0c98629aa8e9fe10a1a&source=email-icymi-an-unprecedented-and-powerful-statewide-movement-is-building-in-pa&email_referrer=email_717359&email_subject=what-gov-wolfs-budget-proposal-means-for-your-schools

“Currently, the tuition paid to cyber schools varies from district to district and ranges from $7,700 a year to $21,000. Under Wolf’s plan, cyber student tuition would be set at $9,500 per student. Officials representing traditional public schools have complained the tuition paid to cyber schools exceeds the actual cost of educating students in the online programs. The move to a uniform tuition rate would save local school districts $133 million a year. “Public funds have been paid to charter schools in a manner that does not represent the actual cost it takes to run these programs,” said Nathan Mains, chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania School Board Association. “We commend the Governor for pushing for charter change and to address the overwhelming concerns of school districts.” Wolf’s proposed rate is still higher than traditional school officials believe is appropriate, but the move to set a uniform rate is welcome, said Mark DiRocco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.”
School officials welcome Wolf’s charter reform plan
Meadville Tribune By John Finnerty CNHI News Service February 6, 2020
HARRISBURG — Traditional public school leaders are welcoming Gov. Tom Wolf’s call for the Legislature to pass comprehensive reform of the state’s law governing charter schools, a plan Wolf says will save local school districts $280 million. “Our charter school system is in desperate need of reform," Wolf said in his budget address on Tuesday. "It’s time to close the loopholes, it’s time to establish real standards, and it’s time to level the playing field.” Charter officials blasted the plan, saying they’d been seeking a compromise with the governor since August when he announced his intention to propose charter reforms. “The governor’s actions show that this ‘reform’ plan is only to appease his political allies, who want nothing more than see charter schools close and reinstate school districts’ monopoly on public education,” said Ana Meyers, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Public Charter Schools. “Charter school students and their families are not second-class citizens. These parents pay their taxes and their children attend a PA-designated public school. There is no reason why charter school students deserve less financial support than their district peers.” Wolf’s plan would change the way charters are paid for teaching special education students and it would use a uniform tuition rate for all cyber charter schools.
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/news/school-officials-welcome-wolf-s-charter-reform-plan/article_b9c042b9-6748-5ce4-99de-1a1082c757d1.html

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf’s charter school reform plan re-ignites firestorm with advocates, parents
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated Feb 06, 9:37 AM; Posted Feb 06, 5:30 AM
Gov. Tom Wolf picked a friendly venue when he went to a Carlisle Area School District school on Wednesday to pitch his $200 million college scholarship proposal. Had he chosen to walk into a charter school to promote his plan, the scene could have gotten ugly. Charter school parents are outraged over what they are calling his “slash and burn” charter school reforms unveiled as part of Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposal. They also were put off by references to their kids’ schools in his budget address. “Some are little more than fronts for private management companies, and the only innovation they’re coming up with involve finding new ways to take money out of the pockets of property taxpayers – like setting up sham online schools or exploiting a loophole in special education funding,” Wolf said. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Pubic Charter Schools’ Facebook page was filled with fuming parents reacting to the governor’s remarks.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/pa-gov-tom-wolfs-charter-school-reforms-re-ignites-firestorm-with-advocates-parents.html

Wolf’s budget: $3.8 million in savings for Erie schools
GoErie By Ed Palattella Posted at 12:03 AM February 7, 2020
Governor’s proposed changes to charter school funding would let Erie School District, most others in county keep money. Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 2020-21 budget could deliver big savings to the Erie School District. Changes to charter school funding included in Wolf’s proposal would allow the Erie School District to keep $3.8 million in revenue instead of sending it to charter schools, according to state Department of Education data. Eleven of Erie County’s 12 other school districts also would receive financial boosts under Wolf’s plan, but none would benefit as much as the 11,000-student Erie School District, the region’s largest public school system with the most charter school students. The North East School District would be the only Erie County district that would lose money, by having to spend $31,400 more of its own funds. “It is a very positive move,” Erie schools Superintendent Brian Polito, referring to the $3.8 million, said at the Erie School Board meeting on Wednesday. “We are hoping it stays in the budget process.”
https://www.goerie.com/news/20200207/wolfs-budget-38-million-in-savings-for-erie-schools

Charter, public school funding is unjust
Post Gazette Letter by Ira Weiss FEB 7, 2020 12:00 AM
The writer, a lawyer, represents several school districts in Western Pennsylvania.
The Jan. 31 editorial “Funding Charter Schools” addressing charter school funding is spot on. In 1997, Gov. Tom Ridge and his cadre of anti-public education advisers created the Charter School Law, injecting a slow-acting toxin into the public education system. Over 20 years later, this law, intended to weed out so-called “bad districts,” is siphoning resources from districts that need them most. Both charter and public schools are funded on a “per pupil cost,” yet charters pay much less in salary and benefits than public schools, whose employees are paid under binding union contracts that provide salaries and benefits greater than what charter schools pay employees.
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2020/02/07/Charter-public-school-funding-is-unjust/stories/202002050124

Blogger note: Rep. Saylor is House Majority Appropriations Committee Chair
Wolf budget calls for more spending, more debt and more taxes
York Daily Record Opinion by Stan Saylor Published 1:44 p.m. ET Feb. 6, 2020
State Rep. Stan Saylor is a Republican from Windsor Township.
This past Tuesday, Governor Tom Wolf outlined his vision for the upcoming state budget to a joint session of the General Assembly.  His budget proposal shows that his administration has already overspent the current budget, which was signed into law in June, by nearly $600 million.  On top of that the governor is seeking an additional $1.5 billion in new spending for next year’s budget.  Over 80% of that new spending is for welfare benefits in the Department of Human Services. What we heard on Tuesday was very similar to the governor’s budget address last year - it is long on aspiration and short on details.  This budget proposal is more of the same - more debt and more spending.  Most importantly this budget proposal doesn’t address some of the serious structural issues we face, such as the consistent refrain from this administration of overspending.
https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/2020/02/06/wolf-budget-calls-more-spending-more-debt-and-more-taxes/4680757002/

“Also related to Pennsylvania public education, Wolf wants $435 million in new investments, starting with a $100 million increase in the fair funding formula and also including a $25 million increase for special education. In our view, that approach may be an improvement — but it's not a sufficient one. As we have stated repeatedly, the fair funding formula enacted in 2016 must be fully implemented as soon as possible. In October we noted that less than $700 million of the $6.7 billion for basic education is flowing through the formula. That means that some of our schools — including those in the School District of Lancaster and Conestoga Valley School District — are seriously underfunded. Chronic underfunding harms both students and taxpayers, because when school districts must meet ever-increasing costs, school boards are forced to raise property taxes. And then the brunt of the burden falls on the shoulders of those who can least afford those hikes — senior citizens and homeowners with low incomes. We need a bipartisan push in Harrisburg to fix these inequities in education funding.”
Some of Gov. Wolf's budget proposals make good sense, but we need fiscal sanity too [opinion]
THE LNP | LANCASTERONLINE EDITORIAL BOARD February 7, 2020
THE ISSUE: Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf presented his budget proposal to the Republican-controlled General Assembly on Tuesday, calling it a “blueprint for unleashing a new wave of prosperity for our commonwealth.” Some of Wolf’s priorities include a new program for college scholarships, full-day kindergarten at all public schools, and spending $1 billion to clean up environmental hazards, including asbestos and lead, in aging public schools. “Including nearly $600 million in supplemental cash for the current fiscal year, Wolf is seeking authorization for another $2.6 billion in new spending, or 7.6% more,” The Associated Press reported. This is Wolf’s sixth budget proposal, so he’s no longer a stranger to the process. And he’s seemingly learned to choose his battles following acrimonious impasses in his first term that left lawmakers and other Pennsylvanians bruised. There’s much to unpack regarding Wolf’s proposals, the initial Republican response, and the necessary and healthy debates we must have between now and passage of the 2020-21 fiscal budget. (And we hope it’s a budget that’s passed on time, before the start of the fiscal year July 1.) For today, we want to focus on a few of Wolf’s initiatives that we believe make good sense for Pennsylvania.
https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/some-of-gov-wolf-s-budget-proposals-make-good-sense/article_fe5534d8-4937-11ea-9d6e-d3162a5df5b7.html

Pennsylvania school property tax reform was on the horizon last year. Here’s why it’s languishing in Harrisburg
By FORD TURNER THE MORNING CALL | FEB 06, 2020 | 6:33 PM
Despite widespread acknowledgement that increasing school property taxes are helping to force many Pennsylvanians out of their homes, the latest effort in Harrisburg to reform the tax system is taking a lot longer than one central figure hoped. Last fall, Republican state Sen. David Argall of Schuylkill County said he hoped the House or Senate would have a floor discussion of the complex, emotional issue before Christmas. Months later, there has been no House or Senate discussion in Harrisburg. And, as the roughly 250 lawmakers left Harrisburg on Wednesday with no sessions scheduled until mid-March, it appeared there may have been no behind-the-scenes “head counts” of Democrats and Republicans to see what sort of reform they might support. Such head counts were the next logical step in a lengthy tax reform-discussion process that began last summer, Argall said in December. Last year, Argall coordinated a group of more than 15 lawmakers including Democrats and Republicans from both House and Senate to hash out a property tax plan. They met repeatedly and in December issued a slate of five possible options to deal with the problem. They cut property taxes by up to $8.5 billion statewide using a variety of approaches, mostly involving increases of sales or personal income taxes.
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-school-tax-reform-20200206-h2nb4ja6abhdxjd6hudzbyrl4m-story.html

Trump, Pence put Pennsylvania at the center of their school-choice push
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent February 5, 2020
West Philadelphia isn’t exactly a Republican stronghold, but it’s suddenly at the center of the Trump administration’s push to expand school choice. In his State of the Union address, President Trump referenced Janiyah Davis, a fourth-grader from West Philly who, the president said, has been unable to get into the private-school of her choice. Vice President Mike Pence followed up Wednesday by visiting a Catholic school in West Philadelphia to tout a pioneering Pennsylvania program that uses tax breaks to incentivize donations to private schools. Appearing alongside U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Pence said Pennsylvania was “leading the way on school choice.”
https://whyy.org/articles/trump-pence-put-pennsylvania-at-the-center-of-their-school-choice-push/

Six Things To Know About The Trump-DeVos-Cruz ‘Education Freedom’ Plan
Forbes by Peter Greene Senior Contributor Feb 4, 2020, 02:41pm
The early buzz says that Donald Trump will use a chunk of his State of the Union Address to plug a voucher-style program that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has been pushing for months under the name “Education Freedom.” The Houston Chronicle reports that Ted Cruz pitched the plan to Trump; Cruz has taken the lead on trying to turn DeVos’s dream into actual legislation. If you haven’t been following DeVos’s school choice initiative, here are a few basic takeaways to help follow what Trump is talking about.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/02/04/six-things-to-know-about-the-trump-devos-cruz-education-freedom-plan/#1a35ab5613a2

Blogger note: Rep. Harris (D-186, Philadelphia) serves as Minority Whip
State Rep. Jordan Harris, representing Point Breeze, Grays Ferry, Grad. Hospital and part of SW Philly, received $100,000 from pro-charter Students First PAC on 12/16/19.
Three of six neighborhood schools in his district are currently run by charter school company Universal Companies
Tweet from Philly Power Research @ResearchPhilly February 6, 2020
From City of Philadelphia Campaign Finance Filing System:
https://apps.phila.gov/campaign-finance/pdf/v2/eyJmaWxlTmFtZSI6IlN0dWRlbnRzIEZpcnN0IFBBQyAvIDcgQW5udWFsIFJlcG9ydCIsImZSZXBvcnQiOjMwMjZ9

As reports of asbestos in Philly schools pile up, teachers union calls for ‘rapid-response’ team in the district
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: February 5, 2020
Hundreds of reports of damaged asbestos inside city schools languish unresolved, despite Philadelphia School District promises that it would take quicker action to address environmental hazards in its aging buildings, union officials said Wednesday, unveiling a plan they say could help address the backlog. The union representatives rolled out their proposal as their national leader joined the chorus highlighting concerns about the city’s schools. Many districts with old buildings must cope with asbestos, but the Philadelphia issue is particularly egregious, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten said.  “What more evidence do we need that we have a public health crisis that needs to be solved in the City of Brotherly Love?” said Weingarten, standing with teachers, parents, and students outside Hopkinson Elementary in Juniata, the latest Philadelphia school closed because of damaged asbestos.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/asbestos-philadelphia-school-hopkinson-pft-union-weingarten-hite-20200205.html

Despite tax hike, Daniel Boone preliminary school budget shows deficit
Pottstown Mercury By Denise Larive For MediaNews Group February 7, 2020
BIRDSBORO — Despite adopting a 2020-2021 preliminary budget that raises taxes to the maximum amount allowed by Act 1 — a 5.3 percent tax increase — the Daniel Boone Area School District will show a deficit of $164,720 unless expenses are reduced. The school board unanimously adopted a preliminary budget of $61,499,323, with 33.2643 mills, which includes the special education exception of .60220 mills. That is almost a 2-percent increase from the preliminary budget approved in November by the previous board. (School board reorganize in December when newly-elected members are sworn-in). Business Manager Kathleen Haines said without the 33.2643 tax increase, expenses exceed revenue by $1,980,265. The yield from 33.2643 mills would be revenue of $1,815,545, leaving the deficit of $164,720. Board President Julia Olafson said the board’s hard work begins now to reduce expenses and balance the budget.
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/local/despite-tax-hike-daniel-boone-preliminary-school-budget-shows-deficit/article_76fff148-4951-11ea-8e68-8b1000e16ca8.html


Five compelling reasons for .@PSBA .@PASA .@PAIU school leaders to come to the Capitol for Advocacy Day on March 23rd:
Charter Reform
Cyber Charter Reform
Basic Ed Funding
Special Ed Funding
PLANCON
Register at http://mypsba.org
For more information: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/

PSBA Sectional Meetings
Hear relevant content from statewide experts, district practitioners and PSBA government affairs staff at PSBA’s annual membership gathering. PSBA Sectional Advisors and Advocacy Ambassadors are on-site to connect with district leaders in their region and share important information for you to take back to your district.
Locations and dates

Sectional Meetings are 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (across all locations). Light refreshments will be offered.
Cost: Complimentary for PSBA member entities.
Registration: Registration is now open. To register, please sign into myPSBA and look for Store/Registration on the left.
https://www.psba.org/2019/10/sectional-meetings-2020/

Allegheny County Legislative Forum on Education March 12
by Allegheny Intermediate Unit Thu, March 12, 2020 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT
Join us on March 12 at 7:00 pm for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit's annual Allegheny County Legislative Forum. The event will feature a discussion with state lawmakers on a variety of issues impacting public schools. We hope you will join us and be part of the conversation about education in Allegheny County.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/allegheny-county-legislative-forum-on-education-tickets-86600874547

Join us for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg to support public education Monday March 23, 2020!
All school leaders are invited to attend Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) are partnering together to strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around meetings with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Click here for more information or register at http://www.mypsba.org/
School directors 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

Register now for Network for Public Education Action National Conference in Philadelphia March 28-29, 2020
Registration, hotel information, keynote speakers and panels:
https://npeaction.org/2020-conference/

PARSS Annual Conference April 29 – May 1, 2020 in State College
The 2020 PARSS Conference is April 29 through May 1, 2020, at Wyndham Garden Hotel at Mountain View Country Club in State College. Please register as a member or a vendor by accessing the links below.

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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