Friday, January 8, 2021

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Jan. 8: Dear Congress: You should never have to feel unsafe or need to hide under your desk. Sincerely, Every PreK-12 Student and Educator in America

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, 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.

 

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Keystone State Education Coalition

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Jan. 8, 2021

Dear Congress: You should never have to feel unsafe or need to hide under your desk. Sincerely, Every PreK-12 Student and Educator in America

 

 

Tweet from Michael Smith Supt @principalspage

Dear Congress: You should never have to feel unsafe or need to hide under your desk. Sincerely, Every PreK-12 Student and Educator in America

 

 

‘A terrible thing happened’: How teachers are explaining the Capitol insurrection to students

“We are watching history,” said Cherry Hill teacher Megan Langman. “We are studying history.”

Inquirer by Kristen A. GrahamMaddie Hanna, and Melanie Burney Updated  Jan 7, 2021

Teacher Katie Burrows-Stone started simply. “On Jan. 6, 2021, a terrible thing happened,” began a prompt she wrote for her students at Science Leadership Academy-Beeber in West Philadelphia. “Today, we are the people that lived through history that will be remembered, and because of that, our voices matter.” On the day after rioters stormed the Capitol, teachers across the country grappled with how best to help students make sense of what happened, often shelving previously written lesson plans to lead young people through content about American history happening in real time. As Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. watched the events unfold Wednesday, he thought about how tough it could be for his teachers to lead lessons on the interruption of the peaceful transfer of power: Many adults felt scared by what unfolded at the Capitol.

https://fusion.inquirer.com/education/capitol-riot-philadelphia-teachers-trauma-history-20210107.html

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Schuylkill County School District Business Managers Speak Out on Charter School Funding

Local school district business managers including those in Schuylkill County are speaking out on charter schools.
SKOOK NEWS Letter to the editor: Thursday, January 7, 2021

Schuylkill County’s Online News Service

Recently the United States Department of Education awarded a five-year $30 million grant to Pennsylvania Brick and Mortar Charter Schools to increase their academic success. All the while, many Pennsylvania Public Schools are cutting programs in order to continue to pay for charter school costs, some even becoming financially distressed due to this burden.

Our local state legislators have failed by not providing a fair funding for charter schools while draining public schools and increasing the burden of further expenditures on the local taxpayers. Contrary to the general public belief, charter schools are not free. Schuylkill County Public Schools pay tuition per student ranging from $10,000 to almost $30,000 per student.

During the 2018-2019 school year, Schuylkill County Public Schools paid nearly $11 million to charter schools that contributed to over $2 billion paid to charter schools during that year. While it is true some state money is allocated per student, state funding only provides for approximately half of the county schools’ budgets, with the remaining paid by their local taxpayers.

While most Schuylkill County Public Schools have struggled financially, in part to sky rocketing charter school costs, Commonwealth Charter Academy reported a $1,241,314 profit in 2018-2019.Additionally, their accumulated profits as of June 30, 2018 were nearly $38 million. To add insult to injury, during that year they spent nearly $8 million of local tax payer money on advertising, not education.

The financial rewards of these charter schools have increased dramatically during this pandemic with the average cyber charter school enrollment increasing by over 60%. Despite this fact, Commonwealth Charter Academy is scheduled to receive over $12.8 million in additional federal stimulus money allocated by our state legislators.

Public schools are the pillars of their local communities and are going bankrupt while politically driven charter schools have become very profitable big business. It is hard to fathom that as our local public schools begin looking at their budget cuts for next year, that our local state legislatures believe what they are doing is in the best interest of their constituents. The funding of these charter schools are not equitable and needs to be fixed this year.

https://www.skooknews.com/2021/01/letter-to-editor-schuylkill-county.html

 

Pa. encourages school districts to return younger students to the classroom

PA Capital Star By  John L. Micek January 7, 2021

(*This story was updated at 2:51 p.m. on 1/7/21 to include comment from Pennsylvania State Education Association President Rich Askey)

After months of strictly online or blended learning, officials at the state Department of Education are encouraging school districts in counties with a substantial level of community spread to return elementary school students, along with other “targeted populations” to the classroom for hybrid instruction. The new guidelines, which take effect Jan. 25,  are recommendations, not a mandate, and it’ll still be up to local school boards to make the final call, acting Education Secretary Noe Orgeta said Thursday during a joint conference call with state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. “We know students — particularly younger students — benefit from being in the classroom,” Ortega said. The state is continuing to recommend fully remote learning for middle and high school students in substantial spread counties. Through the end of December, officials said they had documented 52,917 cases of the virus among young people aged five to 18.

https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/pa-encourages-school-districts-to-return-younger-students-to-the-classroom/

 

State changes COVID safety recommendation on in-person learning for elementary students

Delco Times By David Mekeel dmekeel@readingeagle.com @dmekeel on Twitter Jan 7, 2021

Pennsylvania officials have changed their recommendation on whether schools should hold in-person classes in counties with a substantial risk of community spread of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the school year, the state Department of Education and Department of Health have said school districts in counties with a substantial risk of community spread of COVID-19 — the highest of three risk categories — should not hold in-person classes. At a press conference Thursday, Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega announced that guidance has been changed for the state's youngest learners. Starting Jan. 25, which Ortega said represents the typical start of schools' second semester, districts are encouraged to provide in-person classes for elementary school students — at least partially. The department is not calling for a return to full in-person learning, but for the use of a hybrid system with students learning partially in-person and partially virtually. The guidance also applies to target groups that benefit greatly from in-person instruction such as disabled students or English language learners, Ortega said.

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/state-changes-covid-safety-recommendation-on-in-person-learning-for-elementary-students/article_a713d4fb-a6a2-591e-a2a3-6d7e2a8c721f.html

 

Wolf Administration Updates Recommendations To Help Schools Safely Navigate COVID-19 During Second Semester

PA Dept. of Health/Dept. of Education Media Advisory 01/07/2021

Counties in the substantial level recommended to consider blended/hybrid learning for elementary school students
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) today provided school administrators and school boards with updated recommendations  as to which instructional models they should consider using based on the changing levels of community transmission of COVID-19 in their counties. Until now, the county designations aligned to three recommended instructional models: fully in-person, blended/hybrid, and fully remote. Starting January 25, the departments are providing a second recommendation for elementary schools in substantial level counties. In addition to remote learning, now there is an option for blended/hybrid learning for elementary students. Fully remote learning remains recommended for middle and high schools in the substantial level counties. K-12 schools may also consider bringing back targeted student populations for in-person instruction, regardless of what general instructional model they are utilizing. “The research on offering in-person instruction during COVID-19 continues to emerge,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “While it is impossible to eliminate the risk of disease transmission entirely within a school setting where community spread is present, recent studies have shown that when mitigation efforts, such as universal masking, physical distancing, and hand hygiene are followed, it may be safer for younger children, particularly elementary grade students, to return to in-person instruction.”

https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Education-details.aspx?newsid=1024

 

Pa. teachers union criticizes guidance calling for elementary students to go back to classrooms

Penn Live By Ron Southwick | rsouthwick@pennlive.com Updated 5:30 AM; Today 5:30 AM

Pennsylvania’s largest teachers union is criticizing new guidance from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration encouraging school districts to return elementary students to classrooms wherever possible. Rich Askey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, outlined a number of concerns about the new guidance for schools issued Thursday. He cited the high number of coronavirus cases around the commonwealth and a lack of state direction to ensuring the safety of students and staff. “There is nothing Pennsylvania educators want more than to be back in the classroom with their students,” Askey said in a statement. “But rushing students back at the height of a pandemic with no clear plan to enforce health and safety guidelines will set back our efforts to achieve that goal.”

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/01/pa-teachers-union-criticizes-guidance-calling-for-elementary-students-to-go-back-to-classrooms.html

 

'If they were Black'

Philadelphia Black Lives Matter activists say police brutalized them, while a white Capitol mob was ‘met with grace.’

Inquirer by Anna OrsoChris PalmerOona Goodin-Smith and Ellie Rushing, Updated: January 7, 2021- 10:22 PM

It’s been more than six months since the clouds of tear gas dissipated from her West Philadelphia block, but the terror of running from police as they shot her neighbors with rubber bullets is still fresh in Amelia Carter’s mind. And so, as she watched from a livestream as hundreds of mostly white, pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol building in Washington on Wednesday, the contrast hit Carter cold. The police were running from them. Over the summer in Philadelphia and across the country, record crowds protested and raged against police killings of Black people and for an end to systemic racism, and in many cases were met with tear gas, armored vehicles, baton-wielding riot cops, and mass arrests.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/a/insurrection-black-lives-matter-comparison-activists-philadelphia-20210107.html

 

“It’s a sign of the times that just being loyal to facts qualifies as an act of political courage, but Yaw’s December 28 open letter—“Let’s Get Things Straight”—is just that. I reached out to him because so few Republicans anywhere had, before Wednesday’s insurrection, risked the wrath of the president and his cult-like followers.”

CHARLOTTESVILLE COMES TO THE CAPITOL

A day after thugs waving confederate flags and wearing “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirts breached the Capitol, a talk with a Trump-supporting Republican state senator offers some hope

Philadelphia Citizen BY LARRY PLATT JAN. 08, 2021

Could it be a coincidence that the domestic terrorism visited upon the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday took place literally the day after the state of Georgia—Georgia!—elected a Black man and a Jew, respectively, to the United States Senate, making Chuck Schumer that body’s first-ever Jewish majority leader? Yes, as so much of the coverage has made clear, Wednesday’s riot was nothing less than a coup attempt fueled by the President and his enablers, an all-out assault on Democracy. We ignore threats to Democracy at our peril, as Philadelphia Congressman Brendan Boyle expressed so eloquently on the floor of the House around midnight on Wednesday:

I must concede, Madam Speaker, I have been naïve about one subject. I always just assumed our democracy would naturally endure. I never even questioned it until the last several years.

Two centuries ago, one of our Founding Fathers, cautioned against this. John Adams wrote, “Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”

I now realize the wisdom of his words. Never again, will I take for granted our democracy.

Boyle’s right, history proves there is nothing inevitable about self-government. But too few have seen the Capitol assault also as the explicit offspring of that horrid 2017 day in Charlottesville, proof that there is something long brewing in the American body politic, a toxic stew of racism and anti-semitism, a type of anti-Americanism cloaked in patriotic language, stoked by those who should know better.

https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/charlottesville-comes-to-the-capitol/

 

Patty Murray Set to Lead Senate Education Committee After Democratic Wins in Georgia

Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa — January 07, 2021  3 min read

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who helped write the Every Student Succeeds Act, is set to become the chairwoman of the Senate education committee following Democrats’ victory in two U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday. Murray, a former preschool teacher, has served as the ranking Democrat on the committee since 2015. She will replace Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who retired at the end of the last Congress and worked with Murray on writing ESSA as the committee chair. As the leader of the committee, Murray will have oversight over a variety of education issues, although her top priority will be addressing policy issues related to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on schools.

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/patty-murray-set-to-lead-senate-education-committee-after-democratic-wins-in-georgia/2021/01

 

Congress Could Go Big on COVID-19 Aid for Schools After Democrats Take Control

Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa — January 07, 2021  2 min read

With Democrats set to take control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate following the results of Georgia’s runoff elections, one major consequence for schools could be a big new relief package to help them deal with the coronavirus pandemic. In the COVID-19 aid package signed by President Donald Trump last month, public schools received $54.3 billion in dedicated aid. Yet even as they were negotiating that legislation, Democrats made it clear that they wanted to get another relief deal in motion after Jan. 20, when President-elect Joe Biden will take office. And top Democrats for education policy said schools still need a lot more emergency funding from Congress to handle the pandemic. Getting a big relief deal through Congress won’t be straightforward, since Democrats will only control the Senate due to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ ability to break any tie in a 50-50 Senate. Unless the filibuster is abolished, Republicans senators will be able to block major legislation. But there’s at least one avenue open to enact more COVID-19 relief, including aid to schools.

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/congress-could-go-big-on-covid-19-aid-for-schools-after-democrats-take-control/2021/01

 

Betsy DeVos resigns as Trump’s education secretary, says ’there is no mistaking the impact’ of his words

In a resignation letter Thursday, DeVos blamed President Donald Trump for inflaming tensions in the violent assault on the seat of the nation’s democracy.

Inquirer by Laura Meckler, Washington Post Updated  Jan 7, 2021

WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos submitted her resignation Thursday, citing the president’s role in the riot on Capitol Hill. “There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me,” she wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump. The behavior of the “violent protesters overrunning the U.S. Capitol was “unconscionable,” she wrote. “Impressionable children are watching all of this, and they are learning from us. I believe we each have a moral obligation to exercise good judgment and model the behavior we hope they would emulate,” she wrote. “They must know from us that America is greater than what transpired yesterday.” She said her resignation is effective Friday. The resignation, she said was “in support of the oath I took to our Constitution, our people, and our freedoms.”

https://fusion.inquirer.com/education/betsy-devos-resigns-trump-insurrection-riot-capitol-20210107.html

 

‘Good riddance’ and other reactions to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s resignation

Washington Post By Valerie Strauss Jan. 8, 2021 at 3:24 a.m. EST

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has turned in her resignation, effective Friday, and after four years of her highly controversial tenure, the reaction is coming in thick and fast. DeVos, a Michigan billionaire who called public schools a “dead end” before she became education secretary in 2017, was a hero to conservatives who wanted to expand charter schools, school vouchers and other alternatives to traditional school districts. Critics saw her as a longtime leader of the movement to privatize education who got the job despite having no experience as a teacher or even a public school student — and her departure is delighting them. For example, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teachers union in the country, had two words for her: “Good riddance.” DeVos and Weingarten had a mutually critical relationship: Weingarten accused DeVos of undermining public education and DeVos accused the teachers unions of wanting to maintain “the status quo” and caring only about their members.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/01/08/good-riddance-other-reaction-education-secretary-betsy-devoss-resignation/

 

Betsy DeVos Resigns a Day After Pro-Trump Mob Storms U.S. Capitol

Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa & Evie Blad — January 07, 2021  4 min read

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos submitted her resignation Thursday, just a day after a violent insurrection in Washington that attempted to stop Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Her departure from President Donald Trump’s administration followed a string of resignations from the upper ranks of the executive branch following the violence at the U.S. Capitol, including another Cabinet official, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. In a letter to Trump announcing her resignation, effective Jan. 8, DeVos told the president that he was culpable for the violence at the Capitol, telling him that “there is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation” and called his actions “the inflection point for me.” “We should be highlighting and celebrating your Administration’s many accomplishments on behalf of the American people,” DeVos told Trump in the letter. “Instead, we are left to clean up the mess caused by violent protestors overrunning the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to undermine the people’s business.”

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/education-secretary-betsy-devos-resigns-a-day-after-pro-trump-mob-storms-u-s-capitol/2021/01

 

Blogger note: Blackwater’s founder, Erik Prince is the brother of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

Shock And Dismay After Trump Pardons Blackwater Guards Who Killed 14 Iraqi Civilians

NPR by LAUREL WAMSLEY December 23, 20205:44 PM ET

On Tuesday, President Trump pardoned 15 people, including Dustin Heard (from left), Evan Liberty, Nicholas Slatten and Paul Slough, the four former government contractors convicted for a 2007 massacre in Baghdad that left more than a dozen Iraqi civilians dead. Among the pardons made by President Trump this week, the pardon of four former guards for Blackwater has been regarded by some as particularly galling. Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were convicted six years ago in the killing of 14 Iraqi civilians and the wounding of 17 others. Witnesses described how the American men ambushed the civilians unprovoked, firing on Baghdad's Nisour Square with heavy gunfire and grenade launchers. The massacre took place in 2007, when the four were working as guards for Blackwater, a private military contractor, on an assignment in Baghdad. They claimed they were fired on, but prosecutors said the Blackwater guards opened fire first. Slatten, whom prosecutors said started the shooting, was sentenced to life in prison.

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/23/949679837/shock-and-dismay-after-trump-pardons-blackwater-guards-who-killed-14-iraqi-civil

 

Do you know any of these people from the US Capitol riot? Police release photos

Penn Live By Becky Metrick | bmetrick@pennlive.com Updated Jan 07, 2021; Posted Jan 07, 2021

In the wake of a riot during the certification of electoral votes at the U.S. Capitol, D.C. Metro police are asking for help with identifying those who invaded the grounds, causing damage, injury and death. Earlier Thursday, police released a document showing all of the people who have been arrested for “unrest” violations since last spring, when protests and rallies first began in the wake of the death of George Floyd. The document included several dozen names of people who have been arrested in yesterday’s riot, including Pennsylvania residents. A Schuylkill County man is one of the four people who died during the riot. One woman was shot by law enforcement while she was entering the Capitol, and the other three died from “medical emergencies” according to police. The department is offering up to a $1000 reward for anyone who provides information that can lead to an indictment. Police ask that anyone who can identify any of the people in the photos or who has knowledge of the riot is asked to contact police at 202-727-9099. Tips can also be texted to the department’s tip line, at 50411.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/01/do-you-know-any-of-these-people-from-the-us-capitol-riot-police-release-photos.html

 

Allentown School District removes teacher who took part in Washington, D.C., protest from duties

By ANDREW SCOTT THE MORNING CALL | JAN 07, 2021 AT 10:51 PM

Allentown School District on Thursday temporarily relieved a teacher who took part in the Electoral College protest that erupted into deadly violence Wednesday in Washington, D.C., pending a formal investigation, the district said in a Thursday letter. The letter from Superintendent Thomas Parker does not identify the teacher by name, or where they work. “We understand that many members of our community are upset by the image,” the letter states. “At the same time, the district has an obligation to respect the First Amendment rights of our staff and students. “Because of the emotion and controversy stirred by the events of January 6, 2021, the teacher has been temporarily relieved of his teaching duties until the School District can complete a formal investigation of his involvement,” the letter states.

https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-allentown-school-suspends-teacher-over-protest-20210108-xkf4wttyezhnzf2xii6khbthxa-story.html

 

Hempfield School District social worker dies of COVID-19

Lancaster Online by HURUBIE MEKO | Staff Writer Jan 7, 2021 Updated 15 hrs ago

A Hempfield School District social worker has died of COVID-19 complications, the district announced Thursday afternoon. Candice Highfield, who worked at the district for 13 years, was a social worker and a home and school visitor. Superintendent Michael J. Bromirski announced Highfield’s death in a letter posted on the district’s website. “Dr. Highfield always looked for opportunities to support and advocate for students and families, and her passion and impact extended far beyond Hempfield. Many staff, students, and families interacted with her, and we know that the grief from her passing will be widespread,” Bromirski said. As of now, the district is not closing or canceling classes, a district spokesperson said Thursday.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/hempfield-school-district-social-worker-dies-of-covid-19/article_eecdbbf4-512c-11eb-b41a-bb774679e7c2.html

 

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is eyeing a run for Senate in 2022

Pennsylvania’s open-seat Senate race is already considered one of the most competitive in the country and will help determine which party controls the chamber after the midterm elections.

Inquirer by Chris Brennan January 8, 2021

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman says he is taking “a serious look” at another run for the U.S. Senate in 2022, an ambition he plans to share with supporters on Friday. “The 2022 cycle in Pennsylvania is going to be one of the most, if not the most, important races,” Fetterman told The Inquirer in a brief interview Thursday. Pennsylvania’s open-seat Senate race is already considered one of the most competitive in the country and will help determine which party controls the chamber after the midterm elections. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, announced in October that he won’t seek a third term or run for governor in 2022.

https://fusion.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-pennsylvania-2022-senate-race-20210108.html

 

PDE issues guidelines for pupil transportation subsidy changes for 2020-21

POSTED ON JANUARY 8, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS

The PA Department of Education (PDE) has issued guidelines pursuant to Act 136 of 2020, which creates a modified calculation of the Pupil Transportation Subsidy for school year 2020-21, payable in the 2021-22 fiscal year. The guidelines were developed in consultation with PSBA, the PA Association of School Business Officials and the PA School Bus Association. As called for under Act 136, the guidelines include the following information:

  • Clarification of statutory requirements and options regarding school district-owned transportation services and contracted transportation services
  • Definition of the term “variable costs”
  • List of variable costs eligible to be included in the process outlined in School Code (Section 1501.8(m.1))

https://www.psba.org/2021/01/pde-issues-guidelines-for-pupil-transportation-subsidy-changes-for-2020-21/

 

PSBA Spring Virtual Advocacy Day - MAR 22, 2021

PSBA Website January 2021

All public school leaders are invited to join us for our spring Virtual Advocacy Day on Monday, March 22, 2021, via Zoom. We need all of you to help strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around contacting legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Registrants will receive the meeting invitation with a link to our spring Virtual Advocacy Day website that contains talking points, a link to locate contact information for your legislator and additional information to help you have a successful day.

Cost: Complimentary for members

Registration: Registration is available under Event Registration on myPSBA.org.

https://www.psba.org/event/psba-spring-virtual-advocacy-day/

 

PSBA Webinar: New Congress, New Dynamics

JAN 14, 2021 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The 2020 election brings significant changes to the 117th U.S. Congress. How will the newly sworn-in senators and representatives impact public education? What issues will need to be addressed this session? To become an effective legislative advocate you’ll need to understand the new players and dynamics. Our experts will profile key new members, discuss what big trends you can expect and highlight the issues that will be debated over the next two years.

Presenters: Jared Solomon, senior public advisor, BOSE Public Affairs Group
John Callahan, chief advocacy officer, PSBA

Cost: Complimentary for members.

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CQkk1Sd0QmOhdJ3VmlSzGg 

https://www.psba.org/event/new-congress-new-dynamics/

 

Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform

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

 

337 PA school boards have adopted charter reform resolutions

Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 330 school boards across the state have adopted a resolution calling for legislators to enact significant reforms to the Charter School Law to provide funding relief and ensure all schools are held to the same quality and ethics standards. Now more than ever, there is a growing momentum from school officials across the state to call for charter school funding reform. Legislators are hearing loud and clear that school districts need relief from the unfair funding system that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars to charter schools.

The school boards from the following districts have adopted resolutions calling for charter funding reform. 

https://www.psba.org/2020/03/adopted-charter-reform-resolutions/

 

Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then Call for Charter Change!

PSBA Charter Change Website:

https://www.pacharterchange.org/

 

The Network for Public Education Action Conference has been rescheduled to April 24-25, 2021 at the Philadelphia Doubletree Hotel

 

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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