Friday, January 22, 2021

PA Ed Policy Roundup for January 22: Ten Months in, COVID Focus Shifting to Vaccinations

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 January 22, 2021

Ten Months in, COVID Focus Shifting to Vaccinations

 

 

342 locally elected school boards have now adopted charter reform resolutions. Has your district?

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

 

 

During the 2018-19 school year approximately 86% of the children in the Commonwealth’s public schools did not receive adequate funding according to state law. That’s why we’re taking the state to court.

Fund Our Schools PA Website

William Penn School District et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Education et al.

The Education Law Center of Pennsylvania, the Public Interest Law Center and O’Melveny filed suit in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in 2014 on behalf of six school districts, two statewide organizations, and a group of parents against legislative leaders, state education officials, and the governor for failing to uphold the General Assembly’s constitutional obligation to provide a "thorough and efficient" system of public education. A trial will take place in PA Commonwealth Court in the coming months. Read up on the case throughout this website, or check out our documentation in full:

https://www.fundourschoolspa.org/students-vs-pennsylvania-department-of-education

 

Biden announces executive actions meant to help reopen schools

WHYY/NPR By Anya Kamenetz Elissa Nadworny January 21, 2021

President Biden has called reopening schools a “national emergency” and said that he wants to see most K-12 schools in the United States open during his first 100 days in office, which would be between now and April. On Thursday he announced he would sign several executive actions, including measures meant to push the process along. These come after actions signed on Wednesday geared toward improving college access and providing relief for student loan borrowers. Here are the details of Thursday’s actions, as announced by the White House:

https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/biden-announces-executive-actions-meant-to-help-reopen-schools/

 

Biden Launches New Strategy to Combat COVID-19, Reopen Schools

Education Week By Evie Blad — January 21, 2021  5 min read

President Joe Biden launched a new, more centralized strategy to combat COVID-19 and reopen schools Thursday, formalizing pledges he made during the campaign and the transition. Biden has set a goal of “getting a majority of K-8 schools safely open” in the first 100 days of his administration. The 200-page federal plan, and executive orders he signed Thursday, call for “sustained and coordinated” efforts with the cooperation of states and new resources, guidance, and data for schools as they continue to respond to the pandemic. Biden’s school reopening pledge comes as states and districts around the country take a patchwork of approaches. While many school districts have held in-person learning with modifications like mask wearing a social distancing, some large urban school districts have remained in or switched back to remote learning amid new surges in virus rates.

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/biden-launches-new-strategy-to-combat-covid-19-reopen-schools/2021/01

 

Lack of COVID vaccines has Delco school districts fuming

Delco Times by Pete Bannan Pbannan@21st-Centurymedia.com January 22, 2021

As schools in Delaware County struggle to complete a full year of teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a ray of hope that normalcy could return with plans for a mid-February rollout of vaccinations for staff and faculty. That hope has now hit a roadblock. The 15 School Districts in Delaware County, working with the Chester County Health Department and the Delaware County’s COVID Task Force, had a tentative plan for faculty and staff to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus at four school-based vaccination sites located in Garnet Valley, Radnor, Ridley, and Upper Darby. The sites would be opened concurrently throughout three to four weekends beginning as early as Feb. 13. A number of events intervened to make that date now unlikely, say county officials. On Tuesday, new guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health added two additional categories of eligible individuals to Phase 1A vaccinations. Under the state’s new categories, all individuals 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus, are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. Rosemary Halt, director of the Covid-19 Task Force for Delaware County said the new categories changed the numbers substantially, doubling or tripling the number of eligible residents in Phase 1A, while school personnel are currently in Phase 1B of the vaccination roll out plan.

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/lack-of-covid-vaccines-has-school-districts-fuming/article_aae729ac-5c17-11eb-83ff-cfd9fbe8a3b4.html

 

Bucks, Montco officials: Without quicker supply, it could take year to vaccinate first phase

Marion Callahan Bucks County Courier Times January 22, 2021

When it comes to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout across Pennsylvania, frustrations are high.  Officials are frustrated, as the state qualifies more people for vaccine when there is not enough to go around.  Pennsylvania Medical Society leaders are frustrated that front-line health care workers — who were supposed to be at the front of the line — may be left out as the pool of eligible recipients more than doubles with the addition of those 65 and older.Consumers are frustrated that they simply can’t get it, and don't know where to turn. "It is very frustrating that the federal and state governments keep identifying more and more citizens who are priorities for the vaccine without providing the vaccine or even any dates for possible deliveries," said Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Commissioners. "There are clearly supply chain issues that are beyond the control of county governments, but we are being left to explain this to a public that is growing increasingly frustrated," Marseglia said. "The federal and state governments need to tell the truth to citizens: they do not have anywhere near an adequate supply of vaccines." On Tuesday state health officials added millions more Pennsylvanians immediately eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, moving residents over 65 and those with high-risk medical conditions to the front of the line along with health care providers, emergency medical workers, and long-term care residents and employees. Bucks County officials said Tuesday's announcement "widened the already large gap between the number of eligible residents and the available supply of vaccine." In Montgomery County, Commissioner Valerie Arkoosh estimates that 250,000 additional people now qualify to be in the first-priority group.

https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/01/20/bucks-county-vaccine-rollout-supply-frustation/4227451001/

 

COVID vaccine hard to come by in Beaver County

Despite 12 additional distribution sites in Beaver County, appointments to receive a COVID vaccination are scarce.

Daveen Rae Kurutz Beaver County Times January 20, 2021

Sis Thompson just wants to see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren — and not through a glass door.  That's why she's called everywhere she can to try to find a slot to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Thompson, 78, of Big Beaver, hasn't left her home since March other than for medical appointments and can't wait for the day she can see and hug her six granddaughters and 10 great-grandchildren.  "I can't wait to get it," she said. "I don't care if it makes me feel tired, sore or whatever. The most important thing to me is to be able to spend some time with my granddaughters and great-grandchildren again." One day after state officials expanded the first phase of vaccine distribution to include Pennsylvanians 65 and older and those age 16 to 65 with a series of health issues, vaccine slots in Beaver County are near impossible to come by. Heritage Valley Health System announced plans this week to offer vaccination appointments beginning later this month to residents 65 and older.  In total, there are 12 sites in Beaver County where Pennsylvanians can conceivably receive a vaccine, according to a map on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Predominantly pharmacies, none had appointments available Wednesday afternoon, with several websites stating that the pharmacy hasn't received enough vaccine to offer appointments. 

https://www.timesonline.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/01/20/covid-vaccine-hard-come-beaver-county/4229933001/

 

Dahlkemper: Not enough COVID-19 vaccine in Erie for all Phase 1A people

GoErie by David Bruce Erie Times-News January 19, 2021

Pennsylvania on Tuesday added hundreds of thousands — perhaps millions — of people to Phase 1A of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, but it doesn't mean most of them will soon be receiving shots. Though a couple of county hospitals expanded their vaccination programs Tuesday to specific groups, most of the people in Phase 1A will have to wait, Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper said. "It's going to take quite a while for all of the people in Phase 1A," Dahlkemper said. "There just isn't the supply, nor the manpower, nor the systems to handle that type of vaccination." Pennsylvania health officials announced Tuesday that the state is expanding its first vaccine priority group to include residents 65 and older, and those 16 and older with high-risk medical conditions. But COVID-19 vaccine remains in short supply.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/01/19/covid-19-daily-update-coronavirus-cases-erie-county-and-statewide/4210045001/

 

Lackawanna County teachers begin receiving vaccines

Times Tribune BY KATHLEEN BOLUS STAFF WRITER Jan 21, 2021 Updated 33 min ago

The 134 staff members from the Mid Valley School District on Wednesday were among the first large group of educators in Lackawanna County to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  Abington Heights School District staff also had the option to receive the vaccine Wednesday. And on Saturday, more than half of Forest City Regional's employees and bus contractors and drivers who requested to be included in the district's vaccination plan will receive their first doses at a clinic sponsored by the Wayne Memorial Community Health Center, said Superintendent Jessica Aquilina, Ed.D. "We've all mastered the idea of being socially distanced but our job is interacting with kids in large numbers. We want to protect the kids, which is ultimately going to protect their families and the community," said Cynthia Weiss, a high school math teacher at Forest City who will receive the vaccine. 

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/lackawanna-county-teachers-begin-receiving-vaccines/article_36a0cd4f-9fa6-57d5-b6da-fff52318146d.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

 

Philly teachers union wants all staff vaccinated before students return to school

WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent January 21, 2021

Union leadership in Philadelphia is pushing back on plans to reopen schools, implying that it will resist any attempts to bring students back into the classroom before school staff are fully vaccinated. In a Thursday letter to district leaders obtained by WHYY Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan said that “it seems foolish to attempt a reopening without…vaccination.” The district recently implied it would unveil a reopening plan in January. But PFT pushback could derail those plans. During negotiations for a new contract, the PFT and district leaders agreed to a memorandum of understanding that would govern school reopening. The PFT letter suggests that the union wants to amend that agreement because of several contextual changes.

https://whyy.org/articles/philly-teachers-union-wants-all-staff-vaccinated-before-students-return-to-school/

 

Ciresi Named to House Education, Policy Committees

Digital Notebook Blog by Evan Brandt Thursday, January 21, 2021

Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by the office of State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist.

State Rep. Joe Ciresi, has been appointed to serve on the House Education Committee as part of his committee assignments for the 2021-22 legislative session. “As a school board member for 12 years and in my first term as a legislator, it’s clear that education has been a top priority of mine,” Ciresi said. “I am grateful to be given the opportunity to serve on the Education Committee and look forward to working on many important priorities, including achieving real fair funding for education, charter school reform, comprehensive education reform, cost savings and shared services, and more.” During the 2019-20 legislative session, Ciresi worked with Gov. Tom Wolf to craft a comprehensive charter school reform bill and introduced legislation to incentivize cost-saving shared services for school districts (H.B. 2760), extend budget deadlines for school districts during state budget impasses (H.B. 1227) and the COVID-19 pandemic (H.B. 2482), and create a Student Bill of Rights for Off-Campus Housing (H.B. 2761).

http://evan-brandt.blogspot.com/2021/01/ciresi-named-to-house-education-policy.html

 

Superintendents' forum: A resolution for resilience

Reading Eagle Opinion by Dr. Jill Hackman Executive Director, Berks County Intermediate Unit January 21, 2021

We view the beginning of a new year as a fresh start, an opportunity to work toward new goals and a time to refocus our efforts on our health and well-being. Oftentimes, as we reflect on what we would like to accomplish in the year ahead, our resolutions are centered on our physical health. However, our physical and mental health are so closely connected; this can be a fitting time to commit to making our mental health a priority. It impacts how we feel, think, and react to everyday situations; how we cope with stress and how we relate to others in our lives. Like physical health, mental health is important in every stage of life.  In working to keep our own cups full as parents, educators, and caregivers, we can also support mental and emotional well-being and encourage resilience in our children and others we care about. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of resilience is “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to change.” There are many circumstances that can cause anxiety in children and adults, but we cannot assume the stressors are the same or that everyone will react similarly. Change is an essential part of growth; learning how to positively respond to change is essential for life-long success. The Berks County Intermediate Unit offers student programs focused on promoting the importance of building resilience in children to give them tools to help them cope with difficult situations. In addition, the BCIU provides training in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Informed Practices, School Climate, and Social and Emotional Learning for educators to support students. Resilient children tend to be happier, more motivated and engaged and adopt a more positive attitude when challenges occur.

https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/columnists/superintendents-forum-a-resolution-for-resilience/article_44792376-5994-11eb-80a0-f74157aa1171.html

 

Get Philly’s kids back in classrooms as soon as possible, Kenney and City Council tell School District

“Our children are suffering the most without in-person access to their teachers, classmates and extracurricular activities," Kenney said.

Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham Published Jan 21, 2021

City students urgently need to be back in classrooms as soon as it’s safe, Mayor Jim Kenney and members of City Council told Philadelphia’s school board and Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. on Thursday. COVID-19 has kept 120,000 Philadelphia School District pupils out of school buildings since March, and there’s not yet a target date for any students to return. Every Philadelphian has struggled with the pandemic, the mayor said, but no one has been hit harder than the poor. Many children enrolled in the district live below the poverty line. “Our children are suffering the most without in-person access to their teachers, classmates, and extracurricular activities,” Kenney said. “We must now embrace the next challenge facing our city — helping students return to school safely and as quickly as possible.”

https://fusion.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-board-hite-reopening-20210121.html

 

Questions, concerns raised after school board floats plan to extend PPS remote learning

ANDREW GOLDSTEIN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette agoldstein@post-gazette.com JAN 21, 2021 4:34 PM

Members of a group of more than 70 local organizations concerned with equitable learning in the Pittsburgh Public Schools during the COVID-19 pandemic want to know why the school board might extend its fully remote learning model into the spring. The Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative said it will urge the school board to provide transparency as well as a rationale for introducing legislation that would delay the start of in-person instruction in the district until early April. “The communication about what the expectations are for getting back to open for some populations of children are just nonexistent, or it’s muddled, or it’s inconsistent,” said James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools, the organization that spearheaded the collaborative. “We’re looking for greater clarity.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/01/21/PPS-pittsburgh-public-schools-plan-extend-remote-learning-questions-concerns-education/stories/202101210121

 

Does reopening schools cause COVID-19 to spread? It’s complicated | Opinion

Penn Live By The Conversation Scott A ImbermanMichigan State UniversityDan GoldhaberUniversity of Washington, and Katharine O. StrunkMichigan State University Updated Jan 21, 2021; Posted Jan 21, 2021

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea: We found that schools can reopen for in-person instruction without further spreading COVID-19 in nearby communities if the number of people with the disease is relatively low. But if there are more than 21 cases per 100,000 people, COVID-19 spread may increase. To reach this conclusion, we used data from September through December 2020 in Michigan and Washington states – both of which allowed districts to decide whether or not to offer in-person schooling at that time – to analyze how these different instructional decisions affect COVID-19 case rates. It’s hard to figure this out because other factors, such as social distancing and the use of masks, could be to blame. So it might appear that going to school in person makes COVID-19 spread, but really it is due to safety habits – or the lack thereof – especially if those same communities are more likely to send students back to school in person. We tried to address this concern by including information in our statistical analyses on such practices as mask-wearing in a community and how a county voted in 2016. Political preference was an important factor to consider, because Republicans appear less likely than Democrats to comply with COVID-19 safety measures. Republicans are also more likely to encourage in-person instruction during the pandemic. Despite our findings, coronavirus very likely does transmit in schools to some degree. But the spread of COVID-19 there may simply reflect what’s going on in the surrounding community. Kids and educators may be just as safe in school buildings – or possibly even safer – than they would be elsewhere.

https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/01/does-reopening-schools-cause-covid-19-to-spread-its-complicated-opinion.html

 

“Banko said that because of the pandemic, the district has seen a $500,000 increase in its cost for cyber charter schools, pushing it over $2 million. Enrollment in the schools has increased by another 40 to 60 students.”

New Kensington-Arnold considers property tax increase to address ‘bleak’ financial picture

Trib Live BRIAN C. RITTMEYER   | Thursday, January 21, 2021 5:00 p.m.

New Kensington-Arnold School District’s financial picture for the coming school year looks “bleak,” with officials considering raising taxes and burning through the district’s reserves but still facing a deficit, according to Acting Superintendent Jon Banko. “We’ve been about as fiscally responsible as we possibly could be,” Banko said. “We closed two schools, we’ve reduced our faculty, we’ve done a lot of things to keep the budget under control.”Property owners in New Kensington-Arnold could see their school property taxes go up nearly 7% for next school year. At the same time, the district’s preliminary budget shows it spending more than $1 million than it would take in, depleting its reserves and ending the 2021-22 school year in the red with a nearly $400,000 deficit. “It’s looking bad, but it’s not any different than it has been the last four or five years,” Banko said. “We still want to be able to provide the best education possible.” In a legal ad, the district said it might need to increase property taxes by more than its state-imposed inflation limit, which is 4.4%.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-arnold-considers-property-tax-increase-to-address-bleak-financial-picture/

 

PSBA Issues Legislative Victory Report

POSTED ON JANUARY 21, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS

PSBA has issued its 2019-20 legislative Victory Report that highlights the advocacy efforts and accomplishments of the association and our members during the two-year session of the General Assembly. The association advocated for greater state funding and won passage of critical new laws focusing on safety issues as well as prioritizing the needs of schools and students during the pandemic. PSBA also worked to fight new mandates and to defeat proposals that were bad public policy, including voucher programs and restrictions on assessment appeals, and heightened its call for reforms to the charter school law. PSBA provided regular legislative updates and special reports and offered various opportunities and assistance for members to connect with their legislators. Read the report.

https://www.psba.org/2021/01/psba-issues-legislative-victory-report/

 

“The Susquehanna Foundation is deeply invested in reforming education through school choice, bolstering charter options and providing tuition vouchers for low-income families. Yass actively sought to influence education reform locally when he and business partners Arthur Dantchik and Joel Greenberg threw millions behind Pa. Sen. Anthony Williams’ unsuccessful gubernatorial and mayoral bids.”

Who is Jeffrey Yass? The Philly-area billionaire whose cash supported election challengers

A look at his philanthropic history reveals consistent support for organizations connected to extremism and white supremacy.

Billy Penn by Layla Jones January 21, 2021

It’s understandable if you hadn’t heard of Bala Cynwyd billionaire Jeffrey Yass before this month.

Often referred to as secretive or “stealthy and mysterious,” he owns Susquehanna International Group, a powerful financial and tech trading firm just across the Philly border on City Avenue. Poker is considered a big part of their corporate culture, and the firm reportedly holds a $15 billion stake in TikTok. CEO Yass was recently linked to conservative political action committee Club for Growth in a report from British news outlet The Guardian. What’s Club for Growth? The PAC threw substantial support behind electing Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. The two senators were leaders of the movement to challenge certified electoral votes for President Biden, elevating the unfounded claims of voter fraud that helped incite the pro-Trump insurrection at the Capitol in early January.

https://billypenn.com/2021/01/21/jeffrey-yass-philadelphia-billionaire-election-challengers-political-background/

 

State Supreme Court denies Dover's appeal; some students will go to Northern York

Shelly Stallsmith York Daily Record January 20, 2021

More than a couple hundred students will be trading in their Dover red and white for the purple and white of Northern York. That became official on Wednesday when the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announced it would not hear an appeal that could have kept Washington Township a part of Dover Area School District. The state department of education and Dover have been fighting the secession of the township to Northern York School District for nearly 10 years. The fight went to the state Supreme Court after Commonwealth Court ruled in June that “the Pennsylvania State Board of Education incorrectly interpreted standards and should have approved the transfer.” Ralph McGregor, president of the Washington Township Education Coalition, said that approximately 73 percent of the township’s taxpayers signed a petition to leave Dover Area School District and join Northern York.

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2021/01/20/pa-supreme-court-wont-hear-dovers-appeal-keep-township-students/4240279001/

 

Central Valley adds all-day kindergarten, despite concerns about cost

Dani Fitzgerald Beaver County Times January 21, 2021

CENTER TWP. –– All-day kindergarten will be a reality at Central Valley in the coming years.

The school board was split during Thursday evening’s voting meeting, which took approximately an hour and a half for public comment and discussion surrounding the implementation of all-day kindergarten. The board voted 5-4 in favor of implementing all-day kindergarten beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. School board members Thomas Mowad, Joe O'Neill, Dr. Nick Unis and George Zaritski voted against the measure. Comments were also conflicting Thursday night. Most residents who spoke said they like the idea of all-day kindergarten, but don’t feel now is the right time. Several residents believe more discussion should have been held with the community before the board voted.

https://www.timesonline.com/story/news/education/2021/01/21/central-valley-adds-full-day-kindergarten/6666322002/

 

Rural Schools Have Battled Bad Internet, Low Attendance and Academic Decline Through the Pandemic. Now the Push Is On to Return Students to Classrooms — Safely

This piece is part of a collaborative pandemic reporting project led by the Institute for Nonprofit News and member newsrooms. (See more rural case studies at The 74)

The74 by Peter Cameeron January 21, 2021

Andy and Amy Jo Hellenbrand live on a little farm in south-central Wisconsin where they raise corn, soybeans, wheat, heifers, chickens, goats, bunnies, and their four children, ages 5 to 12. For the entire fall semester, the quartet of grade school students learned virtually from home, as their district elected to keep school buildings closed. That has put a strain on the family, as well as the childrens’ grades and grammar. “I definitely feel like they’re falling behind,” said Amy Jo Hellenbrand. “You just notice certain things as far as their language and how they talk. You’re constantly correcting them.” As the first full semester for U.S. schools during the pandemic comes to an end, education experts and parents alike are concerned about its effects on children’s academic progress. From the Mexican border to the Upper Midwest, Oregon to Virginia and on Native American reservations across the West, that anxiety is magnified in rural areas, which are far less likely to have access to high-speed or even consistent internet in a time of extensive virtual schooling.

https://www.the74million.org/article/rural-schools-have-battled-bad-internet-low-attendance-and-academic-decline-through-the-pandemic-now-the-push-is-on-to-return-students-to-classrooms-safely/

 

Free Market Facts and School Choice

Forbes by Peter Greene Senior Contributor Jan 19, 2021,03:32am EST|634 views

Last week in the New York Times, Timothy Snyder, historian and Yale professor, became one more writer trying to make sense of the perils of post-truth America. The essay is long and thoughtful about the power of big lies to tear down a country and build up totalitarian government, and it works its way, in part, to this conclusion:

America will not survive the big lie just because a liar is separated from power. It will need a thoughtful repluralization of media and a commitment to facts as a public good. 

Treating facts as a public good doesn’t just involve the media. It also involves public education. The idea of facts as a public good runs counter to the philosophy of school choice, which starts with the premise that schools provide a private service for parents, not society at large, and that those parents should be able to pick and choose. For Betsy DeVos, giving parents their choice of schools in a free market system of education was a major policy goal, and many other choice advocates share her belief in such a system.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2021/01/19/free-market-facts-and-school-choice/?sh=2acb063c6a9b

 

What the Capitol riot means for civics education

Fordham Institute by Dale Chu 1.21.2021

Still reeling from the assault on the Capitol and the subsequent impeachment effort against Former President Trump, the education sphere’s attention has understandably returned to the need to resuscitate the teaching of civics and history. If schools did a better job of grounding our students in the principles of a free society and a basic understanding of U.S. history, laws, and institutions, the thinking goes, the body politic might be less susceptible to the inflamed passions animating today’s self-destructive behavior. Calls for addressing America’s civic ignorance are nothing new, but they’ve taken on heightened urgency in the dark shadow of sedition and insurrection. Sadly, Americans’ thumbless grasp of civics and history is well documented and nearly a cliché. According to the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, as of 2018, fewer than one in three adults could pass the U.S. Citizenship Test (the old, easier version). A survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that only a quarter of Americans can name all three branches of government—a task that my daughter, who is in kindergarten, has already mastered. And the National Assessment of Educational Progress reminds us that students’ knowledge of civics remains dismal and underwhelming. Indeed, former talk show host Jay Leno famously made a mockery of all of this in his “Jaywalking” segments, where ordinary Americans provided cringeworthy responses to questions from the nation’s naturalization exam.

https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/what-capitol-riot-means-civics-education

 

When will snow geese migrate to Middle Creek in 2021? Here's what you should know

Lancaster Online by MICKAYLA MILLER | Website Producer January 22, 2021

As February approaches, one question is on the minds of many wildlife enthusiasts. When will the snow geese flock to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area? Every year, hundreds of thousands of talkative snow geese and other winter birds flock to Middle Creek, an area nestled on the border of Lancaster and Lebanon counties in Kleinfeltersville. During 2020's peak, upward of 125,000 snow geese made a mid-migration pit stop at Middle Creek. The geese typically start to show up in late January, with more and more gathering until the usual peak time of mid-February to early March, said Lauren Ferreri, Middle Creek manager. 

https://lancasteronline.com/sports/when-will-snow-geese-migrate-to-middle-creek-in-2021-heres-what-you-should-know/article_93fdab6e-5c06-11eb-a04b-fffe7d9d6eaa.html

 

Billie Holiday - Good Morning Heartache

YouTube Runtime 3:05

Billie Holiday recorded Good Morning Heartache #onthisday in 1946

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdFrzL3qOGE

 

 

PA School Funding Lawsuit Overview for the Lehigh Valley Community

Jan 27, 2021 07:00 PM

Join attorneys from the Public Interest Law Center and Education Law Center for an overview of Pennsylvania's historic school funding lawsuit and learn how you can help support the school funding Pennsylvania's children need.

Registration:

https://krc-pbpc-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsdeqprzwoGtcpyrCS8bfh4Qet_qvthfjL

 

Do you know someone who is interested in learning more about the role of a school board director?

PSBA will host free sessions covering the core considerations for candidates who are contemplating running for school board:

http://ow.ly/eCSl50D7ABH

 

PSBA: Upcoming PA budget recap webinar Feb. 3rd

POSTED ON JANUARY 15, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS

On Tuesday, February 2, Gov. Tom Wolf will present his 2021-22 state budget proposal before a joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives. Following the governor’s budget address, the Senate and House appropriations committees will convene hearings beginning March 15 on specific components of the proposal. The PSBA Government Affairs team will be providing members with complete coverage of the governor’s budget proposal, budget details and resources for school boards on February 3 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Claim your spot for the budget recap here.

https://www.psba.org/2021/01/gov-wolf-to-present-budget-address-february-2/

 

PA SCHOOLS WORK: New Tools for Public Education Advocates in PA

Thu, Jan 21, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST

PA Schools Work partner Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials will hold a digital workshop to roll out their new suite of tools on their Data Dive website to show parents, educators, and public education advocates how they can use the site (including interactive data maps and graphic visualizations) when talking to other members of their community, legislators, media, etc. Don't miss this first-look at these innovative tools for PA public school advocates!

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register

 

Attend the NSBA 2021 Online Experience April 8-10

NSBA is pleased to announce the transformation of its in-person NSBA 2021 Annual Conference & Exposition to the NSBA 2021 Online Experience. This experience will bring world-class programming, inspirational keynotes, top education solution providers, and plentiful networking opportunities. Join us on April 8-10, 2021, for a fully transformed and memorable event!

https://www.nsba.org/Events/NSBA-2021-Online-Experience

 

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/

 

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

 

342 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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