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 Feb. 12, 2021
A debate in the
Philly suburbs on bringing more students back to classrooms is ‘as political as
the presidential election’
Along with a great Peter Greene piece on
charter funding reforms that could bring millions of dollars back to public
schools, today’s Roundup highlights ongoing COVID policy issues at the local,
state and federal levels. Have a great weekend and Happy Valentine’s Day!
All School Directors: PSBA Monthly Zoom Exchange Feb 18 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Join other PSBA-member school directors for cross-district networking
and discussion on education hot topics, legislative updates and advocacy
strategies. All School Directors: Monthly Exchange will be held via Zoom at
12:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, January through June.
Geographic-based breakout rooms will be utilized to allow for discussion among
school directors in the same regions of the state. Learn more or register: http://ow.ly/rW4F50DrrCq
Pa. education groups
urge Gov. Tom Wolf to prioritize school staff for COVID-19 vaccinations
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated 3:26 PM; Today 2:11 PM
Nine public
education advocacy groups are urging Gov. Tom Wolf to prioritize school staff
in the COVID-19 vaccination distribution Organizations representing educators,
support professionals, superintendents, business managers, principals,
intermediate units, career and technical school administrators, and school
boards said vaccinating the people they represent “is absolutely essential if
we are to reopen our state’s schools for in-person instruction and return to
normal operations when the 2021-22 school year begins.” In a letter to Wolf as well as Acting Health Secretary
Alison Beam and Acting Education Secretary Noe Ortega, they said prioritizing
school staff will make it safer to bring more students back to their
classrooms. “Unlike 26 other states, Pennsylvania’s vaccination plan does not
prioritize school staff members, even though school staff members and students
are in a uniquely dangerous position. For those who are delivering in-person
instruction, they are gathered in reasonably large groups every day,” the
letter states.
“The Wolf administration replied
Thursday that it will not accelerate vaccinations for school staff. Pennsylvania
is adhering to federal guidelines meant to “get vaccine out as efficiently as
possible in a way to prioritize health care workers and the most vulnerable to
serious illness,” said Lyndsay Kensinger, Wolf’s spokesperson. The Wolf
administration brushed off a similar request from Pittsburgh’s mayor earlier in the week.”
School groups to Gov.
Wolf: Vaccinate teachers ASAP
Lehigh
Valley Live By The Associated Press Updated Feb 11, 2021; Posted Feb 11,
2021
An unusual
coalition of education groups — from superintendents and school boards to
teachers unions — asked Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday to prioritize
school staff for the COVID-19 vaccine, calling it an “absolutely
essential” step toward reopening schools and keeping them open. Teachers and
other school staff had been higher up on the vaccine priority list until the
Wolf administration, following guidance from the federal government, made
people age 65 and older and younger people with serious medical conditions
newly eligible for the vaccine. That Jan. 19 decision set off a desperate
competition for scarce COVID-19 shots — and placed teachers and other
front-line essential workers, including first responders, prison guards and
grocery store workers, further back in line. More than 4 million people in
Pennsylvania are currently eligible for the vaccine, with teachers in the next
priority group. The education groups called
on Wolf to reverse course, contending
that “school staff members and students are in a uniquely dangerous position.” The
letter was signed by the leaders of two statewide teachers unions, the
Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Pennsylvania School
Boards Association and several other groups.
Your View: Why
Allentown schools receive far less than they need to meet student needs
By MICHAEL
FACCINETTO and REBECCA BODNAR THE MORNING CALL | FEB 11,
2021 AT 9:00 AM
Michael
Faccinetto is a fifth grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Allentown
and president of the Bethlehem Area School District Board of School Directors.
Rebecca Bodnar is principal of Central Elementary School.
In the
Allentown School District, where we both work, the lack of equitable funding
has affected our students for decades. The weighted school funding formula
developed in 2015 takes into account poverty and other factors but concerns
only new spending; a hold
harmless guarantee still distributed the vast majority of
education spending based on past levels of funding rather than current student
enrollment and needs. In Allentown, special education and charter tuition costs
have soared while funding slowly inches higher at a
rate that can’t keep up with rising mandated costs. A recent analysis found Allentown students are
shortchanged by $5,250 per pupil and districts such as ours with more students
of color and students in poverty are the furthest from adequate funding. COVID-19
exacerbated the effects of these funding inequities. Teachers in our district
worked quickly to master the basics of online instruction so they could
continue to serve their students. Many teachers saw only a small proportion of
their students connect on Zoom.
“The governor is proposing that charters
be paid in line with their actual costs, and that they be audited like any
other PA school. These are not particularly radical notions, but they would
bring millions of taxpayer dollars back to public schools.’
Here are the three major parts of the
proposal:
·
Right-size
Special Education Funding
·
Set
A State Cyber Charter Tuition Rate
·
Audit
Cyber Charter Schools
Pennsylvania Charter
School Funding Reform Long Overdue, On The Horizon.
Forbes by Peter Greene Senior Contributor Feb 11, 2021,11:31am EST
Governor Tom
Wolf’s budget proposal is out. In addition to attempting to fix basic
education funding problems, it aims to inject some common
sense into the commonwealth’s system of funding charter schools. Here are the three major parts of the proposal.
Right-size
Special Education Funding
Pennsylvania
public school funding organizes students with special
needs by tiers based on cost. A Tier 1
student might need a weekly hour of speech therapy or special adaptations in a
regular classroom—relatively inexpensive supports for the district. A Tier 3
student might require a full-time nurse, or a special outplacement paid for by
the district—pretty expensive requirements.
Charter
school reimbursement ignores those tiers, requiring public districts to pay
charter schools at a higher rate. This creates a big financial incentive for
charter schools to cherry pick students with inexpensive special needs while
avoiding those on the higher tiers.
For
example, in the
Chester Upland district, charter schools enrolled only students with
special needs in the $0 to $25,000 range, yet the district had to forward
$40,000 in taxpayer dollars for each student with special needs; the charter
ends up netting pure profit of $15,000 to $40,000 for each student. Another
Pennsylvania charter, now closed, may have over-identified students as having
Tier 1 special needs by as
much as 1,000%.
Wolf’s
proposal is that charter schools receive taxpayer dollars following the tiered
system, so that charters are paid at a rate in line with the services they are
providing. Charter parents are
complaining that special ed funding at their
schools will be cut in half; the counter-argument is that these have previously
been collecting twice the funding they actually needed.
OP-ED: Cyber charter
schools are the reassurance every parent, child and taxpayer deserve
York
Dispatch Opinion by Jim Hanak, Public Cyber Charter School Association February
11, 2021
Jim Hanak is
executive director of the Public Cyber Charter School
Association and CEO of Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School.
Since the
pandemic began, Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter schools have fielded more
than our typical barrage of negativity from school districts and their
advocates. Our approach is always to
embrace criticism as an opportunity to have equitable discussions about how to
best empower families to make the most informed decisions regarding the
education of their children. We craft our responses carefully with respect for
school districts and the role they play. We make full transparency a priority,
and we focus not only on the facts, but the facts in proper context. However, a
proper response to Eric Wolfgang’s recent op-ed requires something more.
Reassurance. Op-eds like Mr. Wolfgang’s often utilize fear tactics to stoke
opposition against cyber charter education. They talk of unjust use of taxpayer
dollars and “schools bleeding cash” at the hands of cyber schools. The last
thing anyone needs right now is more fear and worry. For 20 years and long
before COVID, Pennsylvania cyber charter schools were demonstrating our
uncompromised dedication to educational excellence by making sure our students
have the opportunity to learn and thrive. That’s why I’m writing to reassure
parents and taxpayers that cyber charter schools are here to help us move
forward from the COVID pandemic, not hold us back.
Inquirer by Maddie Hanna, Posted: February 12, 2021
One night in
late January, parent Monica Zeitz stood before the Wallingford-Swarthmore
School Board and read a petition signed by 331 people asking to fully reopen
the district’s schools. “We will definitely begin that conversation,” responded
David Grande, the board’s president, who announced earlier in the meeting that
the district would consider a plan to bring elementary students back to school
five days a week. Since then, debate has erupted over the district’s proposal.
Parents circulated petitions calling on the board to delay a vote, alarmed by
the prospect of adding more children to classrooms before vaccines are widely
available. Teachers signed another. Heated posts made the rounds on social
media. One woman said neighbors stopped her on the street, trying to change her
opinion. Zeitz, a physician, declined to speak with a reporter, though she
reappeared before the school board Monday night. “I’ve been called immoral and
despicable,” she told the board. While the Philadelphia School District
struggles to bring some students back to classrooms for the first time since March, a
different debate is playing out in its suburbs. Many schools already teaching
students in-person part-time are now grappling with how, and when, to reopen
fully — pushed by increasingly frustrated and vocal parents who say their children
are languishing in front of laptop screens and could be in schools that have seen little spread of the coronavirus so far. Others see
the demands as premature, worried that reducing spacing in classrooms could
endanger teachers and community members vulnerable to the virus.
It looks as if the
reopening timeline for Philly schools could depend on the school
Inquirer by
Kristen A. Graham, Updated: February 11, 2021- 5:49
PM
Superintendent
William R. Hite Jr. on Thursday doubled down on his assertion that Philadelphia
public schools are safe for children to return to in-person learning Feb. 22. “I
can confidently say that our schools are ready to open with the proper safety
protocols in place,” Hite said at a news conference at Nebinger Elementary in
South Philadelphia. “The time for reopening is now.” The district is in a
standoff with its teachers’ union, which has directed teachers not to report to
school buildings because of COVID-19-related safety concerns. A mediator is
weighing whether the district met the terms of its reopening agreement with the
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Susan E. Coffin, a Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia physician and infectious disease specialist who joined Hite, said
in-school instruction can resume safely, even inside old Philadelphia
buildings, if schools are vigilant about mask-wearing, social distancing, and
having staff and students stay home if they’re feeling ill or have known
exposures to COVID-19. “It is possible to have an in-person education during
this period,” Coffin said. “I think actually we’re entering a moment when it’s
more possible than ever.” Hite suggested one solution to getting teachers back
in buildings would be opening some schools and working on improving conditions
in others where there are problems. Philadelphia students have been out of
buildings since March.
PSEA president calls
on Chester and Delaware county officials to insist that county schools maintain
6 feet of social distance
PSEA Press
Release February 10, 2021
View the letter to Chester County Commissioners and Health Department
View the letter to Delaware County Council
HARRISBURG,
PA (Feb. 10, 2021) – PSEA President Rich Askey today urged Chester County’s
commissioners and Department of Health director and members of the Delaware
County Council to refuse any requests by county schools to waive current social
distancing rules and overcrowd classrooms during a pandemic. Chester County’s
current health guidelines, which Delaware County follows, clearly state that
where in-person learning is planned, schools must maintain 6 feet of physical
distance between students, staff, and faculty in school buildings. If space
limitations prevent that, schools are encouraged to explore other options, such
as hybrid or all virtual learning models. However, the guidelines state: “If
evidence exists that indicates improvements in COVID-19 cases, transmission,
deaths, hospitalizations, etc., schools may consult with the Chester County
Health Department about transitioning to in-person with less than 6 feet of
physical distance (3 feet as a minimum).” Chester and Delaware counties have
had a substantial level of COVID-19 community spread since November. Now is not
the time to ease up on social distancing rules that are keeping students, staff,
and their families safe in classrooms and learning spaces, Askey said. “Educators
and support professionals in Chester and Delaware counties want to be back in
their classrooms and schools with students,” Askey said. “But we cannot do this
safely by waiving current social distancing rules and overcrowding classrooms
and hallways.”
Letter to the Editor:
Follow pandemic guidelines in Radnor schools
Delco Times
Letter by Robert King, President, Radnor Township Educational Association February
11, 2021
To the
Times: Radnor Township School District is in the process of planning a return
of our elementary schools to all-day, in-person learning five days a week,
which ignores the advice of medical professionals and scientists, putting the
safety of students, staff, and their families at risk. According to
Pennsylvania’s public health guidelines, RTSD should remain in hybrid learning
as the school district’s incident rate remains near 80/100k cases. The data
also shows that the status of the wider community continues to be alarming with
Delaware County reporting an incident rate of 132.2/100K cases. Thankfully, the
local rate has been trending downward, but with the emergence of new more
transmissible and deadly variants of COVID-19, the members of RTEA are
compelled to ask why the District is rushing the process of fully opening our
elementary schools when all Radnor families have the option to send their
elementary children to school every day in a well-planned and
implemented hybrid program.
Hite offers school
tour to show Philadelphia is ready for hybrid reopening
Chalkbeat
Philly By Dale
Mezzacappa Feb 11, 2021, 9:24pm EST
As the
School District of Philadelphia and the teachers union wait for the results of
mediation, Superintendent William Hite defended the district’s urgency to begin
hybrid learning for the youngest students and raised the possibility of
extending the school year. Hite also suggested that some school buildings could
open to students, while others that may need to improve their ventilation
systems could remain closed. “Right now, this is an all or nothing
conversation,” he said Thursday at a press conference. “If there are schools
people are worried about, then let us mediate those schools. If it’s the 32
schools with fans in the windows, then let’s bring the others back and not hold
everybody to the same standard when we know we have schools that are safe to
take children today.”
As mediator decision
looms, Philly school officials try to quell reopening fears
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent February 11, 2021
At a Thursday
press conference, School District of Philadelphia officials defended their
plans to bring some pre-K through grade 2 students back into classrooms on Feb.
22. The event — which featured a tour of George W. Nebinger School in South
Philadelphia — comes as the district and the Philadelphia Federation of
Teachers meet with a mediator to determine if the district has met the
conditions of a memorandum the parties signed last fall. That memorandum lays
out the conditions that must be met for school buildings to safely reopen, and
includes guidelines around ventilation, cleaning, and protective supplies. Superintendent
William Hite said that the mediation sessions began Wednesday, about a week
later than he’d hoped. Hite said that the district invited a state mediator to
help bring “all sides” to the table and begin the hearings with
Dr. Peter Orris, who will rule on the actual issue.
Battle of the
'JERKs'? Virtual learning debate pits parents against teachers
Peg
Quann Bucks County Courier Times February 12, 2021
When a
Central Bucks School District educator who's a state teachers-union official
urged teachers to be on the lookout for "a jerk" on their local
school board ballot, parents weren't having it. They reclaimed the
word, turning it into a political action committee and a rallying cry, sending
their own message to the powerful teachers union. Just last weekend,
they stood proudly with signs that boldly proclaimed JERK, which they adopted
as their own with the acronym imploring teachers to “Just Educate ouR
Kids." They're even having T-shirts printed with the motto.
The
name-calling is a side show to the ongoing debate over education during the
COVID-19 pandemic, and the political battle brewing as school boards weigh
options to keep students and educators safe while meeting the educational and
work needs of all.
Philly schools chief
Hite mum on state of standoff with city teachers; stresses schools are safe
PA Capital
Star Special
to the Capital-Star By Chanel Hill February 12, 2021
PHILADELPHIA
— School District of Philadelphia superintendent William Hite held his
first in-person weekly press conference in almost a year Thursday due to the
novel coronavirus pandemic. During the presser, which was held at Nebinger
Elementary School in South Philadelphia, Hite reiterated that schools are safe
for children to return to in-person learning. “I can confidently say that our
schools are ready to open with the proper safety protocols in place,” Hite
said. District administrators have plans to transition to a hybrid learning
model — a mix of in-person learning and remote learning — starting Feb. 22 for
pre-k to second grade students. Students opting into hybrid learning will
attend school in person two days per week on their assigned days only — and
engage in digital learning the remaining three days. Families will also have
the chance to opt in at a later date once it’s safe to phase more students into
the school buildings. Families who opted into hybrid learning can choose to
return to 100 percent digital learning at any time. However, once they return
to 100 percent virtual learning, many factors will determine when and if they
can opt back into hybrid learning.
Amanda Gorman’s
poetry shows why spoken word belongs in school | Opinion
Penn Live Guest
Editorial by Kathleen
M. Alley, Mississippi
State University; Mukoma
Wa Ngugi, Cornell
University, and Wendy
R. Williams, Arizona
State University Updated Feb 11, 2021; Posted Feb 11,
2021
Editor’s
note: Not long after Amanda Gorman recited one of her poems at the inauguration
of President Joe Biden on Jan. 20, three of her forthcoming books skyrocketed
to three of the top four spots on Amazon. She was also selected
to recite
an original poem for Super Bowl LV. Here, three scholars of poetry explain why
the writings of the 22-year-old Gorman – who became the country’s national
youth poet laureate at age 17 – and her rise to fame represent a prime
opportunity for educators to use spoken word poetry as a lively way to engage
students.
During
my research
studying a diverse group of spoken word poets in Arizona, I learned that adolescents improved their
writing skills, academic performance, confidence and social skills through
writing and performing spoken word poetry. The poets used this medium to heal,
advocate for change and imagine new futures. I noticed that these brave young
writers often delivered stunning lines, such as, “If I sit long enough in a
dark room will I develop like film?” They used poetry to talk back to those who
wronged them. And they used this medium to speak out about injustice. As one
adolescent poet in the study wrote, “We live in a first-world country, yet
inner-city kids still go hungry.” Although spoken word poetry can benefit
adolescents in many ways, K-12 education has been relatively slow to embrace this medium. This is unfortunate,
because spoken word poetry and other creative
forms of writing such as songs, short films, animated
works and comics can help young people gain important skills necessary to
do college-level
writing.
A crisis of racist
anti-Asian speech surfaces at Lower Moreland High School
WHYY By Hannah Chinn February 12, 2021
Frustrated.
Disappointed. Embarrassed. Unsafe. Angry.
That’s how
students, parents, and community members have described their feelings to Lower
Moreland Township School District officials in public
comment submissions over
the past month. Their messages come in response to a string
of events that have followed the resurfacing of students’ anti-Asian hate
speech on social media — a flashpoint event that led to widespread concern over
racism in the classroom and outside of it. Now, the district says it’s working
to address those concerns. According to 2019
census data, Lower Moreland Township is 81.5% white,
13.6% Asian, and 3.2% Black, with a very small percentage of Latino residents.
The local high school reports
21% enrollment of students of color.
Erie School District
to join others in suing Juul, claiming vaping company targeted minors
Ed
Palattella Erie Times-News February 12, 2021
- Erie School Board approves filing of a
lawsuit against e-cigarette company Juul
- Like other suits nationwide, Erie suit
would claim Juul's marketing targeted minors
- Juul says it aims "to reset vapor
category in the U.S."
The Erie
School District is joining scores of public school districts and other
government entities nationwide in taking legal action over
underage vaping. The Erie School Board has authorized the district
to sue Juul Labs Inc., claiming the nation's largest electronic
cigarette company wrongfully marketed
its products — with their streamlined designs and fruity
flavors — to youth, spurring a vaping epidemic among students,
harming their health and adding to the district's costs. The School Board
at its monthly meeting on Wednesday night unanimously approved a with three law firms to pursue the litigation
against Juul, the first step in what will lead to the filing of a lawsuit in
what could be U.S. District Court in Erie.
Candidates line up
for GOP nomination for open Pa. Senate seat; Democrats still searching for one
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Updated 10:25 AM; Today 10:23 AM
Nine
candidates have stepped forward to indicate an interest in being the Republican
nominee for the 48th state senatorial district seat that will be filled
in a special election set to coincide with the May 18 primary, while local Democratic leaders await their
first candidate to announce. The predominantly Republican district represents
all of Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties, and the slate of
Republicans seeking their party’s nomination include residents from all three
counties. They are: Gregory Moreland, Larry Minnich, William Bering Jr.,
Christopher Gebhard, Kenneth Rummel, and Thomas Morrissey Jr., all from Lebanon
County; Maureen Roth from Dauphin County; and Thomas Ryan and Robert Harkins
from York County. Lebanon County GOP Committee Chairman Ed Lynch said no firm
date has been set for the Republican conferees to meet to select their party’s
nominee. Dauphin County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Rogette Harris said no
date has been confirmed for their nomination convention either. The seat became
vacant due to the Jan. 17 death of Dave Arnold from a form of brain cancer. Arnold had
served in the seat for about a year after being elected in a special election
last January to fill the seat vacated in September 2019 by Mike Folmer,
who resigned
after being charged with child pornography possession. Arnold’s term was due to expire Nov.
30, 2022, so his successor would serve out the remainder of his term.
Follow the Money:
2020 Pennsylvania Campaign Finance Summary
See who gave, who got
and how much in Pennsylvania in 2020
TransparencyUSA.org
https://www.transparencyusa.org/pa
Top 10 Individual
Donors in Pennsylvania in 2020
by Transparency
USA 09/29/2020
In
Pennsylvania, key state races are drawing the attention of prominent donors for
the 2020 election cycle. These individual donors — most of them with deep
pockets and C-suite titles — have been contributing large sums to the campaigns
and candidates involved in races across the Keystone State. Here is a look at
the top ten individual donors who are bankrolling candidates and campaigns in
Pennsylvania state-level politics this year:
https://www.transparencyusa.org/article/top-10-individual-donors-in-pennsylvania
PSBA sends General
Assembly new Closer Look on school district budgeting
POSTED
ON FEBRUARY 8, 2021 IN PSBA NEWS
As the
General Assembly begins the annual cycle of adopting a new state budget, PSBA
believes it is important that legislators are aware of process that school
boards undertake to develop and adopt their district budgets. PSBA recently
provided all members of the Senate and House of Representatives with its
new Closer Look publication that explains the process as
required under state law. PSBA also urged legislators to connect with their
local school schools and offered to assist in making those connections. Click here to read the Closer Look.
White House says it
will defer to CDC on reopening schools
WHYY By Associated Press Collin Binkley February 11, 2021
Facing
criticism that President Joe Biden has not acted aggressively enough on
reopening schools, the White House on Thursday said it’s aiming for a full
reopening but will defer to science experts on how to achieve it in the middle
of a pandemic. The White House drew criticism this week when it said schools
would be considered opened if they teach in-person at least one day a week.
Asked about it Thursday, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden hopes to get
students in the classroom five days a week as soon as it’s safe. Psaki did not
detail a timeline for that milestone, however, saying the administration will
act on new school guidance that’s expected to be released Friday by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://whyy.org/articles/white-house-says-it-will-defer-to-cdc-on-reopening-schools/
Biden Trims Ambitions
on School Reopening Pledge
As the White
House struggles to flesh out President Biden’s promise to reopen schools within
100 days, aides have found themselves steadily lowering expectations.
New York
Times By Erica L. Green Feb. 11, 2021
WASHINGTON —
President Biden appeared to give many educators and parents what they had been
seeking for nearly a year when he pledged in the first days of his White House
to reopen schools by his 100th day in office: a plan. But as the White House
struggles to turn the president’s lofty pitch into reality, Biden aides are
finding it rough going against new variants of the coronavirus, protests of
teachers’ unions, and the fears and frustrations of students and parents. In
the weeks since being elected, Mr. Biden has narrowed his calls for reopening
all schools to just elementary and middle schools. And in the past week, the
White House has sought to temper even those expectations, setting a reopening
benchmark of “the majority of schools” — or 51 percent. On Tuesday, in response
to questions about what “open schools” meant, the White House press secretary,
Jen Psaki, set the threshold of
more than 50 percent of schools offering in-person teaching at least one day a
week. On Wednesday, when asked why the threshold was so low — about half the
nation’s students are attending school in person, and a majority of districts
nationwide are offering at least some in-person learning already — Ms. Psaki
indicated it was a starting point, but said it was part of a “bold and
ambitious agenda.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/politics/biden-schools-reopening.html
Miguel Cardona Takes
Key Step Forward in Drama-Free Senate Committee Vote
Education
Week By Andrew Ujifusa — February 11, 2021 1 min
read
Education
secretary nominee Miguel Cardona speaks during a Senate Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the nomination on Feb. 3, 2021, in
Washington. Miguel
Cardona took a key step towards becoming U.S.
secretary of education Thursday when the Senate education committee reported
his nomination favorably to the full Senate. The Senate voted 17-5 in Cardona’s
favor. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the committee chairwoman, voted for Cardona
and cited his “clear qualifications.” And Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the
committee’s ranking Republican, also voted for Cardona, citing his experience
and priorities. “He’s stressed the need for students to be back in school, and
that’s now, finally, a bipartisan mission,” Burr said of Cardona. Next up for
Cardona is a final Senate confirmation vote.
Miles Davis - My
Funny Valentine 1964 Milan, Italy
YouTube
Runtime 12:01
Miles Davis:
Trumpet Wayne Shorter: Sax Herbie Hancock: Piano Ron Carter: Bass Tony
Williams: Drums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKEfyXPt91U&list=RDQKEfyXPt91U&start_radio=1
CHET BAKER - My Funny
Valentine
YouTube
Runtime 9:57
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOEIQKczRPY&list=RDQKEfyXPt91U&index=4
The 2021 PA
Educational Leadership Summit, hosted by the PA Principals
Association and the PA Association of School Administrators
(PASA), is being held from August 1-3 at the Kalahari Resorts and
Convention Center, Poconos.
PA
Principals Association Thursday, February 11, 2021 8:54 AM
PIL Hours
Available! See links below to register and for further information.
Click here for the informational flyer and details.
Virtual Town Hall on
education fair funding co- sponsored by Avon Grove Charter School and
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools set Feb. 24
West Chester
Daily Local by MediaNews Group February 6, 2021
WEST GROVE—There
will be a virtual Town Hall Meeting on Fair Funding in Education on Wednesday,
Feb. 24 at 7 pm. The public is invited. The Town Hall is being co- sponsored by Avon Grove Charter School and Pennsylvania
Coalition of Public Charter Schools. Topics include: problem solve fair
funding solutions; learn how public schools are funded in PA.; learn
about the differences between charter & district schools funding.
All are
welcome. RSVP Link - https://forms.gle/8of8ARxr7Zfdfmp97.
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/
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
NPE/NPE Action
Conference In Philly was rescheduled to October 23/24 due to concerns w/
COVID19.
Network for
Public Education
NPE will be
sending information to registrants very soon!
https://npeaction.org/2021-conference/
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
353 PA school boards have
adopted charter reform resolutions
Charter school funding reform continues to be
a concern as over 350 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.
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/
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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