PAESSP Updates

Quality Early Learning Can Avert Lifetime Damage Caused by Extreme Childhood Stress

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 8:49:09 AM EDT

Quality early learning programs can improve the health and lifetime success of children exposed to extreme stress in their early years.

In childhood, fleeting stress can be positive, helping children build resilience and problem-solving abilities. Other stress is tolerable if supportive adults help buffer the effects. In the early years, different parts of the brain develop the circuitry for vision and such executive functioning skills as working memory, problem solving, and planning. Problems in those areas are easier to correct if caught early because of the brain’s plasticity. That’s when positive reinforcement, such as the sound of an adult reading aloud or babbling back and forth, can encourage the brain to strengthen its circuitry. But plasticity can have a flip side, when stresses derail healthy development, and the lack of positive reinforcement causes the brain to prune away the unused connections – even those that would have facilitated such positive activities as reading and problem-solving.

An intriguing study from University of Wisconsin, asking children to spot the point in photo arrays where happy expressions changed to fearful and sad, showed that children who had experienced early life adversity were likelier to sense the signs of looming anger. The “constant activation of alarms” is a hallmark of toxic stress, causing more wear and tear on the heart and reducing neural connections when the brain should be building new ones.

As adults, children exposed to toxic stress are prone to such adverse health outcomes as greater likelihood of heart attacks and out-of-control eating. But the effects can be minimized if children are exposed to nurturing, stable, and engaging environments.

In the scale of life, positive experiences can outweigh the negative, tipping the child’s scale toward good outcomes. But some children are more sensitive to stress than others. Moving the fulcrum on the scale affects its disposition toward the positive or negative, and the accumulation of positive experiences and coping skills can shift the fulcrum to help children achieve positive outcomes.

Capabilities that help to promote brain development and resilience include focusing attention, planning ahead, behavior regulation, controlling impulses, adjusting to new circumstances, and problem-solving so that children learn to recognize difficulties and brainstorm ways of dealing with them.

These are all particularly good things to focus on because they’re positive. The child will use circuits to do these things again and again and again, and those circuits will be strengthened, but they’ll also shift the fulcrum. If children learn these skills, they will be much more sensitive to positive things in their life and much more able to deal with negative stresses.

Stable, caring adult relationships, such as those found in quality early learning programs, make a world of difference in the developing child’s ability to cope with stress. They help children build mastery of executive functioning skills and self-regulation. A community that offers structure such as this can help children no matter what is going on in their personal lives.

SOURCE: Dr. Judy Cameron, Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Science Outreach, University of Pittsburgh, as shared at the PA Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) Summit of April 15, 2015, in Harrisburg, PA. For more information and the full recording of Dr. Cameron’s presentation see the PA ELIC website: http://pa-elic.org/events/economic-summit/2015-summit/

Put Kids First, Not Gas Companies

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 11:06:58 AM EDT

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 19, 2015 12:00 AM.

Contact your Senators NOW!

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 11:15:24 AM EDT

Congress has finally taken significant action to enact a full reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – also known as the No Child Left Behind Act – that will provide teachers and principals with the support they need to offer a high quality education for every student.

This afternoon, the Senate will vote on final passage of the Every Child Achieves Act (S.1177). We are asking you to send an email to your senators now to let them know that you support S.1177 because it will ensure that students and all educators will be better off than under the current No Child Left Behind-test-and-punish laws and regulations.

While the bill is not perfect, it represents a bipartisan comprised renewal of the law that is important for the nation’s education system. NAESP, in collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the American Federation of School Administrators, were pleased to see several of our recommendations included in the bill the Senate will vote on:

The elimination of Adequate Years Progress (AYP) measures and the 100 percent proficiency requirements
Clarification of the term “School Leader” as the principal of an elementary, middle, or high school
Inclusion of use of funds in Title II for a “School Leader Residency Program”
Updated school leadership focused activities to improve the recruitment, preparation, placement, support, and retention of effective principals and other school leaders in high-need schools
The removal of the unworkable school turnaround models that are required under the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program regulations
The continued disaggregation of subgroup data and reporting
Allowable use of local Title II funds to develop induction and mentoring programs that are designed to improve school leadership and provide opportunities for mentor principals and other educators who are experienced, effective, and have demonstrated an ability to work with adult learners, as well as provide “personalized” professional development for educators
Includes coordinated services and alignment with early childhood education, as well as use of funds to support professional development for principals in leading Pre-K-3 alignment in their learning communities

As a leader in your school and in your community, your voice is extremely powerful in this debate. Please take a moment to take action and send an email to your senators in Congress to urge them to vote YES on passage of S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act. While a sample letter has been provided for you, we strongly urge you to personalize the letter where possible.

Click here to send a letter to your senator.

Thank you for your leadership and advocacy in improving public school education for all children.

Sincerely,

The NAESP Advocacy Team

Principals Support the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177)

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 10:02:21 AM EDT

Congress has taken significant action to enact a full reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

Earlier this month, the Senate began consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177) to renew the outdated law. We are asking you to send an email to your senators to let them know that you support S. 1177 because it will provide teachers and principals with the support they need to offer a high quality education for every student.

While the bill is not perfect, it represents a bipartisan comprise of the laws renewal that is important for the nation's education system. NASSP, in collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the American Federation of School Administrators, we're pleased to see several of our recommendations included in S. 1177, and specifically support the following provisions of the bill:

The elimination of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measures and the 100 percent proficiency requirements
Clarification of the term "School Leader" as the principal of an elementary, middle, or high school
Inclusion of use of funds in Title II for a "School Leader Residency Program"
Updated school leadership-focused activities to improve the recruitment, preparation, placement, support, and retention of effective principals and other school leaders in high-need schools
The removal of the unworkable school turnaround models that are required under the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program regulations
The continued disaggregation of subgroup data and reporting
Allowable use of local Title II funds to develop induction and mentoring programs that are designed to improve school leadership and provide opportunities for mentor principals and other educators who are experienced, effective, and have demonstrated an ability to work with adult learners as well as provide "personalized" professional development for educators

As a leader in your school and community, your voice is extremely powerful in this debate. Please take a moment to send an email to your senators in Congress, and urge them to consider the voice of principals in the reauthorization of ESEA. While a sample letter has been provided for you, we strongly urge you to personalize the letter where possible.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/HAnIIHdZKOI5CgPMl5FMhw

2014-2015 Assessment Information

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 9:57:14 AM EDT

This week, the State Board of Education approved the new PSSA cut scores for our students as the next step in a process that began several years ago. Now, as we prepare to receive official student and district PSSA data in the coming weeks it is important to remember a few things:

1. The PA Core Standards that were adopted in 2013 were expected to be much more rigorous.

2. The PSSAs in English Language Arts and Mathematics administered this past spring were comprised solely of the new, more challenging standards.

3. Our new, more rigorous standards have resulted in lower standardized test scores, particularly in Mathematics.

It is important to note that these anticipated results represent a snapshot in time of student progress on a more rigorous assessment. The PA Core standards that were adopted in 2013 set the bar high, purposefully, in order to better prepare our students to be college and career ready when they graduate, and be successful in the 21st century work force. Our students haven't changed, but the assessment has.

At PDE we understand there are secondary impacts of these scores, and we're committed to helping you --- the state's educators, school administrators and stakeholders -- in improving student achievement and communicating the new assessments and the results in your communities. Further, I assure you that we understand that standardized test results should not be the sole indicator of a student's or school's success, and will be part of a larger conversation on accountability and how we best serve our students.

You can see the new PSSA cut scores and preliminary impact data by visiting PDE's website: http://www.education.pa.gov/, under the K-12 tab: Assessment and Accountability. We [PDE] will be reaching out again in a few weeks with additional materials you may find useful in your discussions around this year's results.

--Pedro A. Rivera, PA Secretary of Education

Congress Might Finally Overhaul No Child Left Behind. Here's What That Means For Kids

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:28:02 AM EDT

The No Child Left Behind Act, a George W. Bush-era law that expired in 2007, may finally be on its way to becoming fully defunct. On Tuesday, the Senate debated its version of a No Child Left Behind rewrite, called the Every Child Achieves Act. Later this week, the House of Representatives is set to do the same with its version, called the Student Success Act. It is currently unclear where a final bill may land, but civil rights groups, politicians and teachers unions agree -- it is time for an update. The No Child Left Behind Act, a 2002 bipartisan law enacted by Bush, emphasizes standardized tests and penalties for bad scores. Since 2011, the Obama administration has offered waivers to states, allowing them to elude some of the law's most stringent requirements. Amid this patchwork of state waivers, previous attempts to overhaul the law have failed. This time around, Congress appears determined to make something work. Here are three things you should know about the Senate and House bills that are up for debate.

Click here for full article.

Source: The Huffington Post By Rebecca Klein 07/07/2015 7:57 pm EDT Updated: 07/07/2015 10:59 pm EDT.

NSBA Applauds Lawmakers for Promising Movement Toward No Child Left Behind Rewrite

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:25:36 AM EDT

The National School Boards Association (NSBA) commends the U.S. Congress for taking up the outdated No Child Left Behind law. As debate commenced today for floor action of the Senate’s Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177), NSBA sent a letter to all 100 U.S. Senators urging their strong support for moving forward on a final bill that restores community ownership to local school districts, maximizes authorized funding for Title I, and advances academic achievement among all students. During the Senate floor action, key amendments were introduced for debate and consideration. NSBA is pleased that Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced a bipartisan amendment focused on strengthening local governance. NSBA worked closely with Senator Fischer and Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Angus King (I-ME), who co-sponsored the amendment, to assure that S. 1177 includes strong support for local autonomy in managing school administration, budget development and related operations that support school district responsibilities for student achievement. Additionally, the White House released a Statement of Administration Policy affirming the President’s intent not to veto the final Senate bill.

Click here for full article.

Source: NSBA Press Release, July 7, 2015.

BEF Formula Explained in New PSBA Video

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 9:25:07 AM EDT

Math not your thing? Confused by the proposed formula proposed by the Basic Education Funding Commission? You're not alone. PSBA has produced a short video to help explain the formula and how it works with a real example.

Source: PSBA Daily Edition, July 8, 2015.

Editorial: Budget Deals Must Be Reached Before Standoff Does Substantial Harm

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 9:24:29 AM EDT

Harrisburg's budget impasse isn't just a partisan staring contest threatening to hobble the commonwealth and those who count on it. There are principles at stake. Unfortunately, they include the principles that fossil fuels should be tax-free and the government should own all the liquor stores.
Click here for article.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, July 8, 2015.

Act II in Pennsylvania Budget Theatre Opens, Quietly

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 2:13:57 PM EDT

Gov. Tom Wolf and top Republican legislative leaders resumed their on-again, off-again talks on Pennsylvania's delayed state budget Monday. While there was plenty of action, it was hard to see any discernible progress.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, July 7, 2015.

With Hundreds of Volunteers, School Districts Scrambling to Comply with Background Check Law

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 2:13:21 PM EDT

School districts across the Lehigh Valley are plodding ahead to comply with a new background check law that has been mired in confusion over who, among the hundreds of volunteers, requires clearances. A bill that passed the Legislature last month is supposed to bring clarity to the requirements that cover anyone who works with children. But even with the changes, educators say the new mandate is a major undertaking.

Click here for article.
Source: Allentown Morning Call, July 6, 2015.

Senate to Begin Overhaul of No Child Left Behind Act

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 2:03:05 PM EDT

The Senate today begins debate on a sweeping overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act, which set national education standards but quickly became unpopular with teachers and parents because of its emphasis on standardized testing.

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 7, 2015.

Campaign for Fair Education Funding Issues Statement on Governor?s Veto of Budget Bill

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 10:02:01 AM EDT

HARRISBURG (JULY 1, 2015) – In response to Governor Wolf’s veto of the FY2015-16 budget bill passed by the legislature, The Campaign for Fair Education Funding today called on the governor and General Assembly to come together to fix the state’s flawed basic education funding system.

“We’re disappointed that all sides could not reach agreement on a timely budget,” said Charlie Lyons, spokesperson for the Campaign. “We urge them to now come together in good faith and in a bipartisan way to enact a fair funding formula and to pass a budget with sufficient basic education dollars to address the impact of prior cuts and move Pennsylvania toward the goal of ensuring that all students have an opportunity for success no matter where they live.”

“The bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission, which unanimously approved strong recommendations for a new school funding formula, is an example of what can be accomplished when the Governor’s Office and legislators work together,” Lyons added. “We hope they will now approach the budget negotiations in the same spirit and quickly reach agreement on a budget that is good for all of Pennsylvania’s students.”

“Our Campaign members will continue to serve as a resource for all parties as they work to ensure that every student, in every school, has access to the resources they need to meet state academic standards,” said Lyons.

The campaign is made up of more than 50 member organizations representing educators, labor, business leaders, faith-based organizations, child advocates, charter schools, traditional public schools, with representatives from rural, urban and growing school districts. Learn more about the Campaign for Fair Education Funding at www.fairfundingpa.org.

# # #

Source: Campaign for Fair Education Funding Press Release, July 1, 2015.

Pennsylvania Principals Lead with Service

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 9:59:09 AM EDT

(Harrisburg, Pa.) — A group of principals from across Pennsylvania will spend time this summer “giving back” to the community. Members of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP), the only professional organization to solely serve principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders in Pennsylvania, work tirelessly on a daily basis to make a difference in the life of a child and to ensure that every child receives a quality education. In order to do that, it is crucial to support the communities where these children live and go to school.

Click here for the full press release.

How Are You Recharging This Summer?

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 9:55:56 AM EDT

Click here for blog post. Dr. Bill Ziegler is principal of Pottsgrove High School in Pottsgrove, PA. Follow him on Twitter @drbillziegler.

Gov. Tom Wolf Vetoes Republican Budget

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 9:28:09 AM EDT

After a whirl of activity Tuesday, the Republican majorities of the Pennsylvania House and Senate sent the governor a GOP-crafted budget, along with legislation to disband the state system of wine and liquor sales and end defined-benefit pensions for most future state and public school workers. Shortly after 9 p.m., Gov. Tom Wolf undid their planning on the budget.

Click here for the article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 30, 2015; ; PSBA Daily EDition, July 1, 2015.

Bill on Cyber Bullying Sent to Wolf

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 9:26:08 AM EDT

A bill that would make cyber bullying of children a punishable crime is awaiting Gov. Wolf's signature.

Click here for article.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, July 1, 2015; ; PSBA Daily EDition, July 1, 2015.

New Bill Would Modify Background Checks

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 9:24:43 AM EDT

Changes to child-protection laws mandating background checks that passed in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal may be among the few bills Gov. Wolf signs this budget season.

Click here for the article.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, July 1, 2015 ; PSBA Daily EDition, July 1, 2015.

Changes to Child Abuse Clearance Law Pass Legislature

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 9:11:14 AM EDT

A bill to exempt more people who work with children from background checks has passed the Legislature and has been sent to Gov. Tom Wolf.

Click here for the article.

Source: LancasterOnline, June 30, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, July 1, 2015.

Campaign for Fair Education Funding: More Needed in State Budget for Basic Education Funding

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 8:21:36 AM EDT

The Campaign for Fair Education Funding [today] said that the FY2015-16 state budget passed by the General Assembly does not provide the state dollars needed to begin closing the funding gap between the state’s poorest and wealthiest districts, which is the widest disparity of any state in the country. Nor does it appropriate enough to prevent more teacher and other staff layoffs, academic program cuts, and local property tax increases.

Click here for full press release.

Source: Campaing for Fair Education Funding Press Release, June 30, 2015.

Tell Your Legislators to Vote YES for a New School Funding Formula

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 9:51:01 AM EDT

These next few days are critical in the budget-making process, and one of the most important issues to be decided is funding for basic education. Legislators will be working over the weekend to craft a budget to meet the June 30 deadline, and the decisions made in these hours could impact your school district greatly.

Your help is needed right now to make sure that all of the work done over the past year by the bi-partisan legislative Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) and public school stakeholders to develop a new funding formula is not lost. We need to ensure that every legislator hears from school officials on this issue.

Contact your members of the Senate and House of Representatives and tell them to support the recommendations of the Commission as set under Senate Bill 910 (Sen. Smucker, R-Lancaster) or House Bill 1390 (Rep. Saylor, R- York).

Timing is important! Please take a moment right now to make a phone call, send an email or text message, or use the prepared letter available by clicking on “Take Action” at the top right corner of this alert. When you click on the link, the letter is at the bottom of the web page that appears. After completing the address information required, the letter will automatically be emailed from you to your legislators. Please note: the prepared letter is editable so that you can add information about the impact on your district, if you wish.

What is the new formula?

The new formula will benefit school districts, children and parents by using factors reflecting student and community differences such as poverty, local tax effort and capacity, and rural and small district conditions. The recommendations also maintain hold harmless by distributing new money through the formula using a base year, protecting those affected districts from redistribution of existing funds.

Using the formula with Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget, the administration plans to provide a $410 million increase in 2015-16 for all school districts, and an additional $400 million in 2016-17. It restores cuts to the most at-risk students and levels the field for the poorest districts. The goal is to provide sufficient funding to all school districts.

Click here to read the full report of the BEFC.

Advantages of the new formula

* It meets the needs of all school districts, and every district receives an increase.

* It is fair, predictable and transparent. It allows school districts to plan more accurately for each school year’s budget.

* It will help to close the gap between poor and affluent districts, with the poorest 25% of districts receiving 55% of new funds.

* It considers districts with high enrollments of English language learners, districts with growing enrollments, and those rural and small districts with more sparse populations.

* It takes into account several student-based factors, with weights assigned to each category to help determine the degree to which each factor drives up the cost of educating a student.

* It helps school districts by including a weight for charter school enrollment (students attending both brick and mortar, and cyber charters).

* Poverty will no longer be measured using free and reduced lunch poverty indicators. Instead, it will be measured by federal census data by school district and updated annually. Further, factors for poverty will include separate weights for levels of poverty.

* It considers local tax effort and capacity, and district wealth. It replaces aid ratio as a measure of local wealth with a Median Household Income Index using federal census data.

The recommendations follow months of extensive study and talking with a wide-range of experts and advocates in the education field as well as parents, from urban, suburban and rural school districts throughout the state. The lack of a reliable funding formula in Pennsylvania has led the state’s property owners down a road of enduring tax increases. This new formula will ultimately help the taxpayers. This has been a bi-partisan effort, and it deserves to be enacted.

Thank you for your advocacy efforts -- every message sent is important!

Source: PSBA Legislative Alert, June 26, 2015.

Update on Campaign for Fair Education Funding

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 8:53:25 AM EDT

On Sunday, the House passed a budget that includes an increase in the Basic Education Funding line item of $100 million. There is some dispute that, coupled with other school funding changes in the budget, the increase is actually only $8 million. However, even if the increase was $100 million, it would not be enough.

The Campaign for Fair Education Funding wants legislators to: increase basic education funding by at least $410 million to help restore past funding cuts, targeted at bringing districts back to the 2010 funding level as base year; and begin implementation of the new funding formula as unanimously adopted by the Basic Education Funding Commission.

Click here for a leave behind for legislative visits that explains the Commission’s proposed formula. Click here for a one pager, “Please fix our school funding system.”

Click here for a new action message to legislators, it includes a sample Tweet and Facebook post for legislators.

Effective Principals Key to Teacher, Student Success

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 9:29:26 AM EDT

Effective principals are critical in building a culture of high-quality teaching and learning, according to a new paper released [today] by the National Governors Association (NGA).

School principals manage the staff and help build the school community. Their quality affects every aspect of learning, from the strength of the teachers to the health of the school environment. As state leaders continue to raise expectations by implementing college- and career-ready standards and other reforms, governors and state policymakers can make decisions to support developing high-quality principals.

Improving Educational Outcomes: How State Policy Can Support School Principals to Lead Change examines actions governors and state policymakers can take to focus on improving principals’ training, maintaining their ongoing professional development and better evaluating their performance.

“Principals serve as linchpins to our schools’ and communities’ success,” said Delaware Gov. Jack Markell. “Governors are well-positioned to ensure their training, development and performance is supported when crafting our education policy agendas.”

Governors and policymakers can employ a variety of strategies to support principals’ and schools’ success, including:

Providing guidance and resources for designing and implementing performance-evaluation systems that reflect higher education standards;
Preparing and certifying the next generation of principals to enable them to lead schools in which all students can meet the higher standards; and
Identifying and tracking key measures of educational performance and making strategic changes when those measurements indicate lagging performance.

To learn more about the NGA Center for Best Practices Education Division, please visit http://www.nga.org/cms/center/edu.

Source: NGA Press Release, June 25, 2015.

Don?t Miss Tuesday, June 30, 8 p.m. #FairFundingPA Chat on Twitter

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 11:54:57 AM EDT

You are invited to join the next monthly Twitter chat with Pennsylvania’s major education leadership organizations on Tuesday, June 30 at 8 p.m. They will discuss details of the recommendations for a fair, school funding formula made by the General Assembly’s Basic Education Funding Commission. Use hashtag #FairFundingPA to participate and follow the conversation.

Click here for more information and how to participate.

New School Funding Formula Passes First Hurdle in Senate

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 9:28:27 AM EDT

The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve legislation that provide for a new funding formula designed to more equitably distribute state dollars to school districts.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, June 23, 2015.

House Passes Bill Ending Seniority-Based Teacher Layoffs

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 9:26:58 AM EDT

The state House voted on Tuesday to end seniority-based teacher layoffs in Pennsylvania and tie those decisions to job performance evaluations. By a narrow vote of 100-91 that drew no support from any Democratic member, the chamber approved a bill that its sponsor, Rep. Steve Bloom, R-North Middleton Twp., said ensures "the very best teachers remain in the classroom" in the event layoffs are necessary.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, June 23, 2015.

Sabres Rattle Over Dueling Pa. State Budget Priorities... But Meetings are Continuing

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 9:25:45 AM EDT

Public exasperation is starting to show at the state Capitol with the slow progress of Pennsylvania's budget talks. Gov. Tom Wolf, frustrated with what he increasingly sees as a Republican obsession with privatizating liquor sales, said Tuesday he told GOP leaders the budget talks "can't be held hostage to booze."

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, June 23, 2015.

PAESSP Joins Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:34:51 PM EDT

Through an amazing grant opportunity offered by the Food Research and Action Center, NAESP Foundation and several other groups, recently joined the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom to bring the Breakfast in the Classroom program to Pennsylvania school districts.

Breakfast in the Classroom takes the traditional school breakfast approach and improves it by moving it to the classroom. Breakfast is available to every child, no matter the family's income level, making it possible for all children to participate. There are more than 25 million children in our nation's schools, many of whom come to school hungry. What happens next is heartbreaking. Their attention spans shorten. Their energy levels plummet. Their productivity wanes. Learning suffers. Lives suffer. It's time to start a movement to change that. The solution? Breakfast in the Classroom. It's a fact: eating breakfast at school helps children learn. Studies show that children who eat breakfast at the start of their school day have higher math and reading scores.

In addition, a number of PA organizations are working to increase breakfast participation in Pennsylvania and to do so, they are sponsoring the Second Pennsylvania School Breakfast Challenge to help highlight the importance of school breakfast and offer incentives to schools that make meaningful changes to increase student access to school breakfast: http://www.hungercoalition.org/breakfast.

PAESSP will continue to promote the Breakfast in the Classroom program in our publications, website, broadcast emails and at the annual conference. Other Pennsylvania partners include: Public Citizens for Children and Youth, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania.

With generous funding from the Walmart Foundation, grants are available to start a Breakfast in the Classroom program in your school district and/or school. For more information, contact Etienne Melcher at EMelcher@frac.org.

If you require more information about the partnership and/or the Breakfast in the Classroom program, please check out the links below:

Website: http://breakfastintheclassroom.org/
FRAC's Breakfast for Learning brief: http://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/breakfastforlearning.pdf

FRAC's School Breakfast Scorecard with PA stats: http://frac.org/pdf/School_Breakfast_Scorecard_SY_2013_2014.pdf

New School Funding Formula on the Move But When Will it Take Effect?

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 10:17:38 AM EDT

An overhaul of the way Pennsylvania funds its 500 school districts could begin to move in the state House and Senate as soon as next week. And, while Republican and Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf seem to embrace the recommended funding formula approved on Thursday by the Basic Education Funding Commission, the GOP and Wolf disagree on one thing: when to start using it.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, June 19, 2015.

Editorial: What Will Blow Up the Budget? One Word - 'Pensions'

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 10:10:14 AM EDT

Just 90 words in a letter from a mid-level program analyst in the Department of Labor and Industry to a handful of state human service providers warning of the mere possibility of a failure to pass a 2015-16 budget by July 1 is all that it took last week to raise the specter of the disruptions of Commonwealth funding crises of the past.

Click here for editorial.

Source: Pennlive.com, June 21, 2015.

Basic Education Funding Commission Report Released Today

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 3:07:05 PM EDT

The Basic Education Funding Commission, created through Act 51 of 2014, released its long-awaited report on a new formula for distributing basic education funding to Pennsylvania schools today. Click on the link below for the full report.

basiceducationfundingcommission.pasenategop.com/files/2014/08/final-report-2015.pdf

F&M Poll: Pennsylvania Voters Want Action on Education Funding, Property Taxes

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:07:31 AM EDT

Most of Pennsylvania’s registered voters are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana.

About half (49 percent) support Gov. Tom Wolf’s death penalty moratorium, versus 37 percent who oppose it. And they want action on increasing education funding and property tax reform.

Those are some of the findings of the latest Franklin & Marshall College poll, released Thursday.

F&M political scientist G. Terry Madonna, who directs the poll, said he wanted to gauge public sentiment on some of the main issues before the state Legislature.

Click here for article.

Source: Lancaster Online, By TIM STUHLDREHER, Staff Writer, Thursday, June 18, 2015 6:00 am.

Measure Tying Teacher Layoffs to Job Performance Narrowly Survives Preliminary Test in Pa. House

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:05:29 AM EDT

A bill permitting Pennsylvania school districts to tie future teacher layoffs to job performance evaluations narrowly survived an early-round vote in the state House Wednesday. The 95-94 vote on an amendment drafted by House Education Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-Red Lion, left the bill's immediate future anything but a slam dunk, as supporters try to rally the votes needed for final passage. The bill essentially adds budget shortfalls to the list of reasons a district can lay off classroom teachers, and administrators - when using that reason - would be required to first eliminate affected personnel with "failing," or "needs improvement," ratings.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, By Charles Thompson, June 17, 2015 at 9:35 PM, updated June 17, 2015 at 10:36 PM.

House Passes Revisions to State's Background Checks Law

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:04:09 AM EDT

Pennsylvania House members voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to exempt more people from a state law that requires background checks for those who work with children. The 180-9 vote sent the Senate the proposal to limit the checks for adult volunteers and employees at schools, child care facilities and similar places to those who have direct and routine interaction with children.

The more vigorous checks were enacted last year as part of the Legislature's response to the child sex abuse case against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and scandals involving church clergy. Some lawmakers said they hoped the Senate will remove a provision that exempts school or university workers who do not interact with students or prospective students who are less than 16 years old.

Click here for the article.

Source: Pennlive.com, By PennLive staff and wire reports, June 17, 2015 at 7:22 PM.

Lawmakers Work to Correct 25-Year School Funding Disparity

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 8:17:46 AM EDT

In theory, Pennsylvania school districts whose communities are similar economically are supposed to receive about the same amount of money per student from the state. But, with politics muscling in on how public school aid was distributed in the last two decades, officials have long complained about gaping disparities in public school aid.

Some communities now get half as much per-student aid as those with similar economic circumstances.

On Thursday, a panel of lawmakers and top advisers to Gov. Tom Wolf is set to recommend a way to close the gap, an effort that comes as Wolf is seeking the biggest one-year boost in public school aid in the state's history.

An Associated Press review of state data shows per-student funding differences can be great.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Associated Press, By Marc Levy, June 17, 2015.

Basic Education Funding Commission to Release Report Thursday, June 18th at 10 a.m.

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 9:18:47 AM EDT

The Basic Education Funding Commission, Co-Chaired by Senator Pat Browne (R-16 Lehigh) and Representative Mike Vereb (R-150 Montgomery), will meet on Thursday, June 18^th at 10 a.m. to consider recommendations and a funding formula and release its report to the General Assembly and the public. The Basic Education Funding Commission was established through Act 51 of 2014 to develop a new formula for the distribution of state funding for basic education to Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts. The 15-member commission has undertaken a comprehensive study of a number of factors, held 15 hearings over the past 11 months and heard from a wide-range of experts and advocates in the education field, as well as parents, before arriving ultimately at a consensus on a new formula. The meeting will be held in the Majority Caucus Room of the House of Representatives. The recommendations of the commission will not go into effect, however, without legislation approved by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor. Barring any unforeseen technical difficulties, the hearing will stream live on www.pasenategop.com and www.pahousegop.com.

Click here for more.

Source: PA Senate Republican website, June 16, 2015; PA Education Policy Roundup, June 17, 2015.

Educators Say Senate Vote to Delay Keystone Exams as Graduation Requirement is 'Good First Step'

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 9:17:49 AM EDT

School districts across Pennsylvania, in a panic over what to do with the students who fail the Keystone Exams, were handed a lifeline this week when the state Senate agreed to place a moratorium on making the tests a graduation requirement.

Click here for article.

Source: Allentown Morning Call, June 16, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, June 17, 2015.

School Districts Across Pa. Anticipate Tax Increases, Staff and Program Cuts

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 9:08:58 AM EDT

If school budgets were television shows, 2015-16 would be filled with reruns of past episodes. Facing such pressures as significant hikes in pension costs and increases in charter school tuition and health care costs, 71% of Pennsylvania districts that responded to a recent survey said they plan to raise taxes. Additionally, 41% indicated they plan to cut staff by eliminating positions, furloughing employees or instituting a hiring freeze and 23% plan to cut programs.

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 16, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, June 17, 2015

Pa. Senate Approves Delay in Keystone Exams

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 8:42:49 AM EDT

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday that would delay by two years a requirement that high school students pass Pennsylvania's Keystone exams to graduate. Under the plan, the proficiency tests - in algebra 1, biology, and literature - will not go in effect for incoming freshmen until the 2018-19 school year.

Click here for article.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, June 16, 2015; PSBA Daily Edition, June 16, 2015.

Budget Negotiators Have Defined Pennsylvania's 'Structural Deficit' at $1.2 Billion

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 8:41:40 AM EDT

Pennsylvania's budget negotiators appear to have reached a qualified agreement in their quest to hammer out a new spending plan for state government. Not the agreement. But an agreement, and that's some progress. The agreement in question is — at least as confirmed by several legislators and senior staffers Monday — that the state needs $1.2 billion to cover one-time revenue sources tapped this fiscal year, plus major mandated costs looming for the next.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, June 15, 2015; PSBA Daily Edition, June 16, 2015.

Pa. Education Commission 'Tweaking' Report on Funding Schools

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 8:30:20 AM EDT

Putting more taxpayer money toward education is a fundamental piece of Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed budget, and this week, a special commission is expected to introduce a formula for distributing education funding to schools.

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 15, 2015; PSBA Daily Edition, June 16, 2015.

New Rating System Finds Nearly All Pennsylvania Teachers are Qualified

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 10:33:37 AM EDT

In the first year of many school districts using a new statewide teacher evaluation system, a greater portion of teachers was rated satisfactory than under the old system. In figures released by the state Department of Education, 98.2 percent of all teachers were rated as satisfactory in 2013-14 — the highest percentage in five years — despite a new system that some thought would increase the number of unsatisfactory ratings.

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 15, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, June 15, 2015.

Schools, Lawmakers Tackle Truancy

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 10:28:57 AM EDT

A “one-size fits all” approach to truancy may not be an effective way to deal with absenteeism within a particular school district, according to East Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Sharon Laverdure.

Click here for article.

Source: Pocono Record, June 13, 2015; PSBA Daily Edition, June 15, 2015.

Last Chance to Apply for $3,500 Arts Education Grant!

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 10:01:49 AM EDT

Apply now for a grant to strengthen arts education in your school! You can win $3,500 from Crayola and NAESP.

Sponsored by Crayola and NAESP, the Champion Creatively Alive Children grant program helps educators integrate the arts across the curriculum to build students' 21st century skills.

Up to 20 schools will receive grants to implement, document and share results of an innovative arts-infused project. Each winning school receives $2,500 and $1,000 worth of Crayola products.

Apply online before the June 22 deadline.

http://www.naesp.org/champion-creatively-alive-children-0

Join PAESSP for Principals' Lobby Day 2015 - Tuesday, June 23 at The Capitol - Deadline Extended!

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 9:45:16 AM EDT

PAESSP Members: Join us at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, for the first annual Principals' Lobby Day! Deadline to register has been extended: Thursday, June 18, 2015.

To register for Principals' Lobby Day, please contact Stephanie Kinner (with your name and school district) at kinner@paessp.org by Thursday, June 18, 2015 (deadline has been extended). Upon registration, you will be sent further details regarding the event.

Also, June 23rd is All for Education Day in Harrisburg. PAESSP will join with parent, education advocacy, faith and labor organizations as well as school, municipal and community officials at the Capitol to hold a press conference and rally at 12:00 p.m. in the Main Rotunda. We must speak up for the importance of funding our schools, fairly and at sufficient levels so all students have an opportunity to learn.

Click here to view the Lobby Day flyer (includes important issues to discuss with your legislators).

If you do not know your legislator/s, click here.

PA's Office of Child Development and Early Learning Approves GrapeSEED for Early Childhood Education

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 8:55:48 AM EDT

The GrapeSEED program is now officially aligned with the Pennsylvania Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards for Early Childhood in the key learning area of Language and Literacy Development.

Click here for more.

Pa. Governor Waives Fees for Volunteers Seeking Background Checks

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 8:44:39 AM EDT

After several legislators expressed concerns that new requirements for background checks would be cost-prohibitive and unfair to volunteers who work with children, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that some of the fees will be waived starting July 25. Fees for child-abuse clearances and criminal background checks will be waived, saving volunteers who work with children $16 in clearance fees.

Click here for the article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 10, 2015.

Pennsylvania Education Funding Commission Extends Report Deadline

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 9:14:06 AM EDT

The state Basic Education Funding Commission, which is charged with developing a fair funding formula for Pennsylvania, needs more time to finish its report. According to the legislative action that created it, the 15-member commission was to have produced a report by today. But Tuesday afternoon, the commission said it was extending the deadline a week. In a phone interview, state Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, a co-chair of the panel, said commission members have been working together, but it has proved challenging to synthesize information gathered amid the transition from the administrations of former Gov. Tom Corbett and current Gov. Tom Wolf.

“We’re going to take another week,” he said. “We’re going to give every effort to get there.”

He continued, “All the members of the commission have been working fluidly together. We all understand the goal is to provide for a fair funding formula for the commonwealth.”

The report will be a recommendation, not a final decision. The final formula will be up to the Legislature and Mr. Wolf.

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Eleanor Chute and Karen Langley, June 10, 2015 12:00 AM; PSBA Daily EDition, June 10, 2015.

SB880: Graduation Testing Requirement Could Be Delayed

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 9:06:28 AM EDT

The Senate Education Committee moved a bill Tuesday that would delay the use of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement and project-based assessment until 2018-2019. "Changes will need to be made to the graduation requirement. There are unintended impacts, or consequences, of the graduation requirement as it's currently laid out" said the bill's sponsor, committee Chairman Lloyd Smucker, who voiced concerns that some students who failed to pass their Keystone Exams were held back in remediation classes until they do. "The project-based assessment is not working," said Smucker, a Lancaster County Republican. Sen. Andy Dinniman, the ranking Democrat on the committee who supports the bill, said he was "astounded" at the opposition that came from the school districts. "They felt 26 hours of testing is destructive to education and destroying the curriculum," said Dinniman, D-Chester County.

Click here for article.

Source: PennLive.com, by Madison Russ on June 09, 2015 at 4:09 PM; PSBA Daily EDition, June 10, 2015.

Pa. Panel Votes to Soften Background-Check Law

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 9:41:10 AM EDT

After complaints from schools, youth groups and others, a state House committee voted overwhelmingly Monday to lessen the scope of a new Pennsylvania law that requires background checks for all those who work or volunteer with children.

Click here for the article.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, June 9, 2015.

Senate Confirms Pedro Rivera as Education Secretary

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 8:32:10 AM EDT

Last week, the Senate unanimously confirmed the governor’s appointment of Pedro Rivera as education secretary. Click on the links below for more.

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/06/03/Pennsylvania-Senate-approves-Wolf-s-nominations-for-education-DEP-and-insurance-commission-posts/stories/201506030248

http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/three_more_wolf_cabinet_office.html#0

http://www.wgal.com/news/pedro-rivera-confirmed-as-pa-secretary-of-education/33385176

http://www.witf.org/news/2015/06/3-more-of-wolfs-cabinet-nominees-get-confirmed-by-senate.php

Call to Action Day ? It?s Time for a Fair Budget for PA?s Students!

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:18:26 AM EDT

Next Monday, June 15, PAESSP will be participating in a statewide "Call to Action for Public Education Day!”

The message is simple: Harrisburg’s top priority this year must be enacting a new system that provides sufficient funding for public schools so every child has an opportunity to learn. In addition, state funding MUST be driven out to districts using a formula that is based on the real costs of delivering services to students.

WHEN: Monday, June 15 – Save the date!

WHAT: Call to Action for Public Education – Support fair and sufficient funding for PA’s schools!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Click here for instructions, and here for resources to use as talking points.

It is incredibly important for legislators to hear that people are paying attention and that we are spreading the word about what is happening to our schools!

Thank you for your participation. Let’s make our voices heard on June 15!

Octorara School Board, Union Disagree on Fact-Finder's Report

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 1:37:49 PM EDT

This is the last week of school for students in the Octorara Area School District, but the school board and teachers' union still have some unfinished business. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on May 20 issued a formal fact-finding report with recommendations for a new collective bargaining agreement after 21 months of negotiations between the school board and union failed.

Click here for article.

Sources: LancasterOnline, June 2, 2015; PSBA Daily Edition, June 3, 2015.

Three Takeaways from State House Hearing on Pension System Reforms

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 1:34:37 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania House's State Government Committee held the first of two days of scheduled hearings on the Senate-authored public employee pension reform bill Tuesday. The sessions are significant mostly because there were no such hearings in the Senate, which fast-tracked the bill last month in an effort to get it passed before the primary election recess.

Click here for article.

Sources: Pennlive.com, June 2, 2015; PSBA Daily Edition, June 3, 2015.

State Budget: Wolf, GOP Leaders Talks Begin to Lay a Foundation

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 1:30:41 PM EDT

A day after House Republicans sent a message to Gov. Tom Wolf that they are not on board with his $29.9 billion spending plan or the tax package he proposed to support it, GOP leaders from both legislative chambers met behind closed doors at the budget table with the governor.

Click here for full article

Sources: Pennlive.com, June 2, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, June 3, 2015.

Wolf, Lawmakers Must Solve Pennsylvania Pension Crisis Now

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 9:45:15 AM EDT

PAESSP recently participated, along with several other education groups, in a meeting with the LNP Editorial Board (Lancaster newspaper) regarding the Pennsylvania pension crisis. The article (link) appears below.

THE ISSUE

Pennsylvania’s two large pension funds — for teachers and state employees (the latter including state lawmakers, on the theory that they work) — are significantly underfunded. According to their own reports, they have a combined $53 billion in unfunded liabilities. In a March report, the National Association of State Retirement Administrators put the two funds at only 41 percent of annual required contribution, second-worst in the nation.

Five representatives of groups that speak for public school administrators and school board members told the LNP Editorial Board on Monday that Pennsylvania’s pension crisis must be addressed as part of this year’s budget.

“If you increase basic education (funding from the state to Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 50 percent), in the absence of solving the pension crisis, it’s going to be gobbled up by pension costs,” said Joseph Clapper, assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. Clapper, who retired after eight years as superintendent of the Quaker Valley School District about a year ago, said he understands this, having worked on his final budget just 10 months ago.

Click here for the full article.

Source: LancasterOnline, Posted Wednesday, June 3, 2015 6:00 a.m., The LNP Editorial Board.

Keystone Exam Project-Based Assessment Service

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 8:46:30 AM EDT

Beginning with the graduating class of 2017, Pennsylvania’s Chapter 4 regulations require that students demonstrate proficiency in Algebra I, Biology and Literature. For students who are unable to demonstrate proficiency via the Keystone Exams, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has developed a project-based assessment system (PBA) that is aligned with the modules for each Algebra I, Biology and Literature Keystone Exam. Successful completion of a PBA aligned to the Keystone Exam or Keystone Exam module on which a student did not demonstrate proficiency shall satisfy the state graduation requirement.

Midwestern Intermediate Unit (MIU) will host the Project-Based Assessment Tutoring this summer at its central office in Grove City, PA. Program features include:

Cohorts for all modules of Algebra, Biology and Literature will run concurrently.
On-site tutors support learners throughout each module to maximize the learning experience.
A repository of support materials available on site.
Four day sessions held in MIU IV’s conference rooms.
Students complete PBA requirement under the supervision of MIU IV’s certified, highly qualified PBA tutors.
MIU IV provides materials, technology and staff support.

Three on-site summer cohorts are available as folllows:

Summer Session #1 cohort is June 22-25, 2015
(enrollment window May 4 - June 12)
Summer Session #2 cohort is July 13-16, 2015
(enrollment window July 1 - July 10)
Summer Session #3 cohort is August 10-13, 2015
(enrollment window is July 27 - August 5).

Online registration is available at: www.miu4.org/keystone.pba.

The cost of Keystone Project-Based Assessment Service is as follows: $150 per student/per module.

Please contact Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV if you need additional information to register students: Dr. Cathleen J. Cubelic at 724-458-6700, x 1227; or cathleen.cubelic@miu4.org.

West Chester School District Superintendent Pressures State to Re-evaluate Keystone Exams

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 9:59:14 AM EDT

Pennsylvania school students are wrapping up a month of standardized testing, and one local district superintendent is now advocating an end to at least one of those tests.

Click here for article.

Source: CBS Philly, June 1, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, June 1, 2015.

Register Now for Principals? Lobby Day 2015

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 9:56:35 AM EDT

Join PAESSP on June 23, 2015 for its first annual Principals’ Lobby Day. Meet with legislators at the Capitol and make your voice heard on important issues! Click here to view the Lobby Day flyer (includes important issues to discuss with your legislators).

To register for Principals' Lobby Day, please contact Stephanie Kinner at kinner@paessp.org by Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Upon registration, you will be sent further details regarding the event.

Also, June 23^rd is All for Education Day in Harrisburg. PAESSP will join with parent, education advocacy, faith and labor organizations as well as school, municipal and community officials at the Capitol to hold a press conference and rally at 12:00 p.m. in the Main Rotunda. We must speak up for the importance of funding our schools, fairly and at sufficient levels so all students have an opportunity to learn.

If you do not know your legislator/s, click here.

Cyber Schools Would Have to Check Truancy Under Pennsylvania Bill

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 2:48:12 PM EDT

What began as a conversation between two local children’s advocates recently made its way to the state House of Representatives in the form of a bill to address truancy in charter and cyber charter schools. The legislation, introduced last month by state Rep. Dom Costa, D-Stanton Heights, would require such institutions to enforce compulsory attendance laws for their students.

Click here for article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 1, 2015.

School Board Calls for Drastic Measure to Highlight Pension Crisis

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 2:44:05 PM EDT

The Quakertown Community School Board (Bucks Co.) recently called for all school boards to participate in an act of civil disobedience by violating state law and withholding their September pension payment to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) as a way to highlight the pension issue. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) understands the frustration Quakertown Community and all other school entities are experiencing with the gridlock in solving the pension crisis. Below is a link to a letter from PSBA President William LaCoff and Executive Director Nathan Mains explaining why PSBA cannot support such actions and outlining the ramifications of doing so.

Letter to Quakertown Community School Board and legal opinion for Michael I. Levin, PSBA legal counsel

Source: PSBA Daily Edition, June 1, 2015.

CATS System

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 1:35:58 PM EDT

As you know, the Career and Technical Education System (CATS), serves as the official record of a school entity’s approved career and technical education program and is used to verify the data which forms the basis for the Secondary Career and Technical Education Subsidy calculation. As the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) reviews the information submitted in CATS, there are noticeable inconsistencies between the information in CATS and the information found in the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS).

Over-reporting students - One example/possible scenario:

In some instances, schools hold approval to operate a two-year program or programs, but are delivering programs to three grade levels and are seeking the Secondary Career and Technical Education Subsidy for each of those grade levels. If, for example, schools are actually operating a three-year program when the school only holds approval to operate a two-year program, the school must either seek approval for a three-year program or change its delivery practices. This holds true for all delivery models: one-year, two-year, three-year and four-year. Simply stated, the information in CATS must reflect the actual delivery at the school level.

Under-reporting students - One example/possible scenario:

In some instances, schools who hold approval to operate a four-year program are delivering the program to only three grade levels. Again, this holds true for all delivery models: one-year, two-year, three-year and four-year. The information in CATS must reflect the actual delivery at the school level.

Please review the information submitted into the CATS system and, based on your review, make any revision or seek new program approvals, as appropriate. For funding purposes, ensure that the number of years noted in the CATS system is equal to the number of years the program is being delivered at the school.

Please direct any questions about the above information to Lee Burket, PDE’s bureau director for Career and Technical Education, at lburket@pa.gov or 717-787-5530.

Carroll To Propose Moratorium on Keystone Exams as Graduation Requirement

Fri, 29 May 2015 10:08:38 AM EDT

State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Lackawanna, will introduce an omnibus Public School Code bill that would establish a moratorium on Keystone Exams being used as a requirement for graduation. Carroll said this suspension would benefit students and their families, while offering much-needed relief to school districts that face significant financial and educational obstacles to fully implement the graduation requirement. "It has become ever more apparent to me that the linkage of Keystone exam passage to graduation is riddled with problems and that more thought is required to assess students with a wide range of abilities," said Carroll, a member of the House Education Committee. "A one-size-fits-all approach seldom works in the real word and the Keystone exam requirement is no exception."

Click here for article.

Source: http://www.pahouse.com, Press Release, May 28, 2015.

Pa. Must Change Public School Funding

Fri, 29 May 2015 10:05:25 AM EDT

Pennsylvania's school funding system is broken, and students in classrooms across the state are paying the consequences. Recent cuts in state funding, combined with the fact that the state does not have a predictable, sustainable and fair basic education funding system to distribute dollars where they are needed, have put our students at a disadvantage. There should be no question that money matters. Data shows that student performance in our state has tracked with state funding levels. A study comparing changes in state test scores with changes in state funding between 2003 and 2011 found that performance in the 50 lowest-achieving districts increased by 50 percent, on average, as basic education funding to those districts increased by about 40 percent. By contrast, as state school funding levels fell between 2011 and 2014, leading many schools to cut programs, lay off teachers and increase class sizes, student performance lagged among all students, but particularly for those facing additional challenges.

Click here for the article.

Source: Erie Times-News, By Frederick C. Johnson Contributing writer, May 28, 2015.

Fair Distribution, Not Simply More Money, the Answer for Pa. Schools

Fri, 29 May 2015 10:02:30 AM EDT

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Pennsylvania schools are the most inequitably funded in the entire country, with poorer school districts receiving 33.5 percent less in education funding than more affluent school districts across the state. The Commonwealth Foundation’s School Spending Database, which breaks down education expenditures per student by school district, and School Tax Database, which breaks down local education revenue by county, support this data. These discrepancies have not only garnered negative attention nationally, embarrassing legislators in Harrisburg, but also have spurred members of the General Assembly and policymakers in the governor’s office to address these egregious variations across the state. For the most part, their efforts have focused on changing the way Pennsylvania finances education, with the intention of increasing funding for schools. Unfortunately, the current proposals do not appear to go far enough to redress the current problem. They seem only to increase funding for education without fully resolving the spending inequalities.

Click here for the article.

Source: WHYY Newsworks Commentary, By Andrea C. Anastasi, May 29, 2015, Essayworks.

Cost of Business: Exploring Public School Legal Fees in Pennsylvania

Thu, 28 May 2015 1:36:37 PM EDT

As part of PennLive's look at legal fees charged to the Harrisburg School District, we also delved into legal fees charged to public school districts and charter schools across the state. We compiled the data from state State Department of Education reports on secondary education costs for a 10-year time span.

Click here for article.

Source: Pennlive.com, May 27, 2015

Borrowing To Replenish Depleted Pensions

Thu, 28 May 2015 1:33:32 PM EDT

Facing a shortfall of more than $50 billion in his state’s pensions, and with no simple solution at hand, Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania is proposing to issue $3 billion in bonds, despite the role that such bonds have already played in the fiscal woes of other places.

Click here for article.

Source: The New York Times, May 27, 2015.

Wagner Says Schools in PA Not Underfunded, Wolf Continues Push for More $

Thu, 28 May 2015 1:30:58 PM EDT

Senator Scott Wagner (R-York) is sick of what he calls the myth of underfunded schools in Pennsylvania. He so wanted to make his point that he chartered a helicopter and flew us over a few of the Midstate’s larger school districts.

Click here for article.

Source: abc27, May 27, 2015.

Leadership Opportunity to Help Eliminate the Achievement Gap

Thu, 28 May 2015 8:30:12 AM EDT

Pennsylvania school administrators are invited to take advantage of an excellent leadership opportunity that will help eliminate the achievement gap within their school and district. The Early Childhood Executive Leadership Institute (ECELI), a PA Inspired Leadership course, bring together K-3 and early education leaders in a cooperative, professional learning community.

Through this training, K-3 administrators have the opportunity to acquire deeper knowledge and greater leadership skills to successfully identify and navigate the challenges and opportunities in creating Prenatal to Grade 3 (P3) alignment. Promoting access to high quality K-3 classrooms for children at risk for school failure due to poverty, disability, dual language learning and other high risk factors is a focus of all school administrators in eliminating the achievement gap and is addressed in a P3 approach.

The Early Childhood Executive Leadership Institutes are ideal for those leaders who want to take a deeper dive into collaborative learning and relationship building around early learning and P3 alignment. Participation in the ECELI encourages a partnership between the school-based and early care and learning systems which children and families navigate. It also builds relationships to create coordinated, aligned, and coherent learning experiences for students and their families.

Click here to see the dates, locations and application information.

Information is also available on the PA Department of Education website: http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20–%20Administrators/PA%20Inspired%20Leaders/Pages/default.aspx#.VPndoX4o6Uk

Struggling Readers Achieving Fluency with Oral Language Focus

Wed, 20 May 2015 3:29:33 PM EDT

GrapeSEED is hosting a Web Seminar on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. EST

Research has shown that oral language has a profound effect on children’s reading success throughout their academic career. Presenters will share how and why oral language acquisition and critical listening strategies are significantly improving reading fluency in young English learners and test scores for all student populations. They will also cover oral language concepts, why it works, research findings and teacher stories based on their experiences.

Click on the link below for more information and to register.

http://www.grapeseed.com/us/webinars

2015 Attributions for Federal and State Accountability Reporting Training Announcement

Wed, 20 May 2015 10:49:02 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will be offering training on the 2015 Attributions for Federal and State Accountability Reporting. This training will use the 2015 Attribution Map, discuss the Data Recognition Corporation Attribution window in eDIRECT, and the impact these attributions have on federal and state accountability and teacher effectiveness.

Please download the 2015 Attribution Map prior to the presentation from PDE's website at www.education.pa/gov > K-12 > Assessment and Accountability > Pennsylvania Accountability System (PAS) > 2015 Attribution Map v.1.

There will be four sessions of the 2015 Attributions for Federal and State Accountability Reporting training webinar. The training will consist of presenters from PDE's Divisions of Performance Analysis and Reporting and Data Quality, along with Data Recognition Corporation. Please select the link that uniquely identifies the date and time you will attend.

May 26, 2015 from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?MTID=e4213ebe556872d23e93a787d1be7b21e

May 26, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?MTID=edf198f5cf14ade308cd93851bc7caaae

May 27, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?MTID=e744bcd9c443c85f992041531e1305c60

May 27, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?MTID=e676372cb5a1131722330af02693ceb1e

Please contact PDE's division of Performance Analysis and Reporting with any questions at (717) 705-2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

Pollster Terry Madonna Joins the Next #FairFundingPA Chat on Twitter

Mon, 18 May 2015 10:46:21 AM EDT

Terry Madonna will join the next monthly Twitter chat with Pennsylvania’s major education leadership organizations on Tuesday, May 26 at 8 p.m. Madonna is Professor of Public Affairs and Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College. He is also the Director of the Franklin and Marshall College Poll.

Topics will include, but not be limited to: Property tax reform, Governor Wolf’s budget proposal, and of course the need for a fair, predictable basic education funding formula. Use hashtag #FairFundingPA to participate and follow the conversation.

On the last Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m., the following organizations go to Twitter to discuss timely topics, ask questions and listen to the public’s responses:

The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA);
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA);
The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO);
The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP)
The Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS)

Join the conversation. Share your ideas, lurk, learn and let us know what you think about the state’s support for public schools. It’s a simple, free and fast-paced way to communicate and share information. If you’ve never tweeted before, here are directions and a few tips:

How to Get Started

Log-on to www.twitter.com, sign-up, create your profile, find people and organizations you are interested in following and start tweeting out messages in 140 characters or less. Be sure to follow our Twitter chat participants:

@PASASupts – Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators
@PSBA – Pennsylvania School Boards Association
@PASBO_org – Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
@PAESSP – Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals/Assistant Principals
@PARSS2go – Pennsylvania Association of Rural and School Schools

What is a Twitter Chat?

Twitter chats happen when a group of people all tweet about the same topic using a specific tag (#), called a hashtag, which allows it to be followed like a transcript on Twitter.

Follow the Conversation or Check Back Later

To follow a Twitter chat live or to read the conversation later, log-on to Twitter, click on the #Discover link, then search for #FairFundingPA. You will see all recent tweets on that topic. Read, reply and post your own thoughts and messages. It’s That Easy. Join the Conversation!

It's On to the Pennsylvania House for Pension Reform; Hearings Set for June

Thu, 14 May 2015 9:44:13 AM EDT

Sweeping aside decades of legal precedent and policy-making tradition, Senate Republicans passed a pension reform bill Wednesday that, as written, would change benefit formulas mid-career for more than 360,000 current state workers and school employees. The 28-19 vote was a ringing endorsement for Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman's insistence that killing Pennsylvania's tax-eating pension tapeworm is a must-have for the 30-member Senate GOP caucus in this spring's state budget talks.

Click here for full article.

Source: Penn Live, by Charles Thompson | cthompson@pennlive.com, on May 13, 2015 at 9:30 PM, updated May 13, 2015 at 9:35 PM; PA Ed Policy Roundup, May 14, 2015.

Pa. Senate Republicans Stand Together, Pass Pension Reform Bill

Thu, 14 May 2015 9:39:45 AM EDT

On a 28-19 vote, the Senate's Republican majority carried a major public employee pension reform measure to passage Wednesday afternoon. All Republicans present voted for the bill except one, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf of Montgomery County. All Democrats present voted against it. The bill, as passed, would for the first time in more than 30 years attempt to roll back future pension benefit formulas for current state employees and school teachers, albeit only for their work after its enactment. Supporters say it is needed to rid the state budget of a fiscal tapeworm that is crowding out other needed investments. Opponents, including the state's major public sector unions, have vowed a court challenge if that kind of language is passed into law.

Click here for full article.

Source: Penn Live, by Charles Thompson | cthompson@pennlive.com, May 13, 2015 at 3:28 PM, updated May 13, 2015 at 5:18 PM; PA Ed Policy Roundup, May 14, 2015.

Senate Pension Bill Savings of $18 billion Iffy

Thu, 14 May 2015 9:32:57 AM EDT

A Senate bill to overhaul the state's two debt-ridden pension systems could save taxpayers $18.2 billion over 30 years by reducing benefits for current and future state workers and school employees. Or maybe not.

Under Pennsylvania law, legislation that alters public pensions must receive an independent mathematical review to determine potential taxpayer costs and savings. But the actuarial firm hired by the Pennsylvania Employee Retirement Commission to review Senate Bill 1 said it was not given enough time to read the 410-page legislation, which was unveiled Friday. The alleged savings may not be accurate, the firm cautioned in a report released Tuesday. "We are disclosing that the time available for preparing this letter was insufficient to perform a complete review and thus this letter should be considered preliminary in nature," Chester County firm Milliman wrote.

Click here for full article.

Source: Morning Call, By Steve Esack Morning Call Harrisburg Bureau, May 13, 2015; PA Ed Policy Roundup, May 14, 2015.

State Pension Reform Bill Clears Senate Committee on Party-Line Vote

Tue, 12 May 2015 9:25:13 AM EDT

A state Senate committee on Monday approved a bill that would reduce retirement benefits or increase paycheck contributions for most state and public school workers, the first step toward legislative floor votes expected this week on the headliner issues of overhauling the pension and property tax systems. With a party-line vote, the Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee endorsed a measure that also would close the traditional pension system to new hires, enrolling them instead in a defined-contribution plan. In the House, the Republican leader's office said members today will take up proposals designed to shift the burden of paying for schools from locally assessed property taxes to increases in the sales and personal income taxes. Both House Republicans and Gov. Tom Wolf have offered plans with that general outline, but the Republicans complain that Mr. Wolf would direct some revenue from the rate increases to other projects.

Click here to read article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, By Karen Langley, May 12, 2015; PA Ed Policy Roundup, May 12, 2015.

PA's Kindergarten Entry Inventory Tool - Available at No Cost to School Districts

Tue, 12 May 2015 9:02:17 AM EDT

Pennsylvania’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) is a reliable reporting tool available at no cost to school districts. The Kindergarten Entry Inventory offers teachers an instructional strategy for understanding and tracking students’ proficiency across both cognitive and non-cognitive domains at kindergarten entry. The Kindergarten Entry Inventory is aligned to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards and Pennsylvania Core Standards, and therefore it complements and can help improve existing assessments and teaching practices.

More than 200 schools in 22 school districts implemented the Kindergarten Entry Inventory in 2014, the first year it was available statewide. “As the principal I always struggle with getting to know our kindergarten classes at the start of the school year. We have a half-day program and they are all new to our school. Being involved with the KEI process, actively assisting in the observation process, has allowed me to connect with the kindergartens in a way I haven’t been able to in the past.”

Using the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, teachers observe and report a child’s skills in the first 45 calendar days on 30 standards-based indicators that address cognitive and non-cognitive skills. These indicators directly align with the Pre-Kindergarten Early Learning Outcomes Framework. Having a comprehensive picture of the strengths and needs of students and classroom trends, teachers can adjust their instruction, access resources and professional development, and partner with families to meet the unique needs of their students.

This touchpoint of a child’s skills when they enter kindergarten provides an opportunity for families, teachers, schools and communities to work together to improve student achievement. For example, schools and early childhood programs can evaluate aggregate information to align expectations, curriculum, professional development and family involvement to best prepare students for kindergarten.

Schools interested in implementing the Inventory in the 2015-16 school year must register by August 15, 2015. Email RA-PWOCDELKEI@pa.gov for more information and instructions on how to register staff.

To watch the five-minute introductory video, read the 2014 summary report and other informational materials, and register for the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website at www.education.pa.gov and click on K-12: Assessment and Accountability or go to http://bit.ly/1PegqAP.

This initiative is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. Schools must register by August 15, 2015 for the 2015-16 school year.

Pennsylvania Senate Expected To Pass Public Employee Pension Overhaul

Mon, 11 May 2015 3:22:07 PM EDT

A Senate vote this week on a bill to eliminate guaranteed pension benefits for state and school employees sets the stage for budget negotiations between Republicans controlling the legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat.
Click here to read article.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 11, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, May 11, 2015.

Another Year of Missed Pre-K Opportunities

Mon, 11 May 2015 2:14:31 PM EDT

When it comes to offering high-quality pre-k, Pennsylvania still isn't making progress, according to a new report out today from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).

NIEER's latest State of Preschool report finds that, among states offering publicly funded pre-k programs:

Pennsylvania has dropped to 15th in the nation (down from 14th last year) in pre-k access for 3-year olds. Five years ago, we ranked 11th nationally.
Pennsylvania remains stuck at 30th in the nation in pre-k access for 4-year olds - the same ranking we held last year. Five years ago we ranked 24th nationally.

The good news is that we know how to turn this around - and you can help.

The governor has proposed increasing state funding for high-quality pre-k by $120 million in the coming fiscal year so that about 14,000 more Pennsylvania 3- and 4-year olds can benefit from this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity. This investment would increase access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k from about 1 in 6 of our 3- and 4-year olds to about 1 in 4. It's a big step in a much longer journey to make high-quality pre-k available to every family that wants it for their child.

Here's how you can help: Tuesday, May 12 is Early Childhood Action Day at the state Capitol. Join us in Harrisburg to let state lawmakers know we need to invest more in high-quality pre-k. Can't make it? You can still lend your voice by taking part in Virtual Action Day tomorrow.

You can also join the Pre-K for PA campaign's Capitol Caravan and make a trip to the Capitol at your convenience to talk to your lawmakers.

With your help, more Pennsylvania children can benefit from high-quality pre-k and the lifelong advantages it offers.

Call to Action Day ? It?s Time for a Fair Budget for PA?s Students!

Mon, 11 May 2015 1:37:40 PM EDT

On Thursday, May 14, PAESSP will be participating in a statewide “Call to Action for Public Education Day.” Join thousands of parents, students, teachers and community members from across the state to SPEAK UP in support of our public schools.

This Thursday do three things in five minutes to make a difference:

Call your state Senator.
Call your state Representative.
Call Gov. Wolf’s office at (717) 787-2500 and encourage him to hold strong on his support for fair funding for public schools.

(Talking points and instructions on how to find your legislator are available at fairfundingpa.org.)

We know that just 10 calls to one legislator in one day is extremely effective. Please take five minutes on Thursday to help ensure a bright future for Pennsylvania!

Call to Action Day ? It?s Time for a Fair Budget for PA?s Students!

Fri, 08 May 2015 8:38:01 AM EDT

Next Thursday, May 14, PAESSP will be participating in a statewide "Call to Action for Public Education Day!”

WHEN: Thursday, May 14 – Save the date!

WHAT: Call to Action for Public Education – Support fair and adequate funding for PA’s schools!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: See the flyer for instructions. You can also refer to the Campaign for Fair Education Funding handout.

It is incredibly important for legislators to hear that people are paying attention and that we are spreading the word about what is happening to our schools!

Please find attached a flyer that you with instructions on how to find your legislators and key points about what we need legislators to support in this year’s budget.

Thank you for your participation. Let’s make our voices heard on May 14!

Click here for instructions on how to participate.

Click here for The Campaign for Fair Education Funding handout.

Principal Certification Program at Penn State Harrisburg

Tue, 05 May 2015 8:27:32 AM EDT

Principal Certification Program -- A program offering of Penn State Harrisburg's School of Behavioral Sciences and Education. The Principal Certification Program has been nationally recognized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

For complete program information, visit:

http://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-and-education/teacher-education/principal-certification-program

For registration procedures, see: http://harrisburg.psu.edu/academics/registration-instructions

For additional Summer 2015 courses for teachers, refer to: http://harrisburg.psu.edu/summer/educators/courses

PAESSP Executive Staff Meet with Acting Secretary of Education

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 10:54:54 AM EDT

PAESSP Executive Director, Dr. Paul Healey (right), and PAESSP Assistant Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Clapper (left), met today with Acting Secretary of Education Rivera.

PAESSP Talking Points on Current Issues

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 9:18:30 AM EDT

PAESSP Members: We have been advocating on your behalf on current issues over at Harrisburg and thought we would share the PAESSP positions on these issues. Please feel free to use these talking points as you discuss the issues within your community and with local legislators. As always, please let me know if you need additional information.

Talking Points on Current Issues.

Dr. Paul M. Healey, PAESSP Executive Director

REGISTER NOW FOR PAESSP'S ASPIRING PRINCIPALS' WORKSHOPS - May 8 & 9 - Pittsburgh

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 8:29:31 AM EDT

PAESSP has announced its Aspiring Principals Workshop schedule for May 2015 - Previewing the Principalship (May 8) and Getting the Job-Done Right! (May 9) to be held at the Sheraton Pittsburgh at Station Square. The workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided. The cost for each workshop is $175, but are now being offered for $150, provided to you at a discounted rate through a grant from The Horace Mann Companies.

Workshop Schedule

- Friday, May 8 - Sheraton Pittsburgh at Station Square

Previewing the Principalship-- A hands-on workshop designed to familiarize participants with the daily functions of the principalship.

- Saturday, May 9 - Sheraton Pittsburgh at Station Square

Getting the Job-Done Right! -- A workshop designed as a follow-up to Previewing the Principalship. Activities include: resume writing, creating your professional portfolio and enhancing your interview skills.

Click here for the Registration Form.

(Note: The form is writeable, but you must open the file in a different viewer at the top of your screen. Then, click on Open With to access the writeable file.

Click here for the Session Descriptions.

Click here for the 2015 Workshop Flyer.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP

State Representative Seth Grove Joins the Next #FairFundingPA Chat on Twitter - April 28th

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 2:08:03 PM EDT

State Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover Township) will join the next monthly Twitter chat with Pennsylvania’s major educationleadership organizations on Tuesday, April 28 at 8 p.m.

Topics will include, but not be limited to: PlanCon, Property Tax, Governor Wolf’s budget proposal and of course the need for a fair, predictable basic education funding formula.

Use hashtag #FairFundingPA to participate and follow the conversation.

On the last Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m., the following organizations go to Twitter to discuss timely topics, ask questions and listen to the public’s responses:

The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA);
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA);
The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO);
The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP)
The Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS)

How to Get Started

@PASASupts – Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators
@PSBA – Pennsylvania School Boards Association
@PASBO_org – Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
@PAESSP -- Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals/Assistant Principals

@PARSS2go – Pennsylvania Association of Rural and School Schools

What is a Twitter Chat?

Twitter chats happen when a group of people all tweet about the same topic using a specific tag (#), called a hashtag, which allows it to be followed like a transcript on Twitter. The chats are at a specific time, once, and often repeated at announced times.

Follow the Conversation or Check Back Later

To follow a Twitter chat live or to read the conversation later, log-on to Twitter, click on the #Discover link, then search for #FairFundingPA. By search for the hashtag, you can see all of the recent tweets on that topic. Then, read, reply and post your own thoughts and messages.

It’s That Easy to Join the Conversation!

Principals as Evaluators & Coaches: Strategies for Success

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 1:51:32 PM EDT

A Principals as Evaluators and Coaches Workshop, Stragegies for Success, will be held on Monday, May 4, 2015 at the Capital Union Building, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, Pa., from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The workshop is sponsored by Project EXCELLENCE-A PDE Funded Project.

Principals have many roles in today's schools and the demands of the job can be overwhelming. This morning workshop will focus on building Principal's capacity as an evaluator and as a coach to promote effective teaching and student learning. Three top experts will share research-based strategies and information related to these roles. Click here for the workshop flyer.

Any questions, please contact Jane Wilburne (jmw41@psu.edu).

To register, please check out the evite link below:

https://principalsandevaluators.eventbrite.com

Administrative Certificate and Principal Position Requirements - Public Schools, including Charter

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 12:43:00 PM EDT

All public school principals, including charter and cyber charter school principals, are subject to the applicable certification requirements of the Public School Code ( 24 P.S. § 11-1109) as well as any Act 45 continuing education and Pennsylvania Inspired Leaders (PIL) requirements. In keeping with the intent of section 1109, any person who devotes half or more of their time to supervision or administration in a public school, without an identified principal, is serving as the "principal" of the school regardless of the locally titled position (i.e., school director, head teacher, etc.). Such individuals must hold a valid administrative certificate and comply with all applicable Act 45 and PIL requirements. In addition, the public school should properly identify the individual as a principal in PIMS/PERMS regardless of the local title utilized.

Public schools should not create and utilize local titles to avoid employing a principal and circumvent the mandates of Public School Code (24 P.S. § 11-1109) and the Act 45 continuing education requirements.

For further clarification please visit the following links on PDE's website www.education.pa.gov:

http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/PA%20Inspired%20Leaders/Pages/default.aspx#.VTT8V2TD_Vg

http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Certifications/Pennsylvania%20Certification/Pages/Administrative-Supervision-Certification.aspx#.VTT77GTD_Vg

For additional inquiries, a ticket may be submitted to the Help Desk through the Help & Contact Info section of PDE's website.

New Online Tool Helps Families Prepare their Children for Success in Kindergarten

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:08:41 AM EDT

Research shows that children who have access to high quality early education experiences with families engaged in their early development are more likely to be prepared for and succeed in kindergarten. Families always want what’s best for their young children, but may not know where to start.

The new Early Learning GPS, www.earlylearninggps.com, is a great tool for all families who want to learn what they need to know and can do to help their young child learn and grow. This is a great resource for teachers and schools to share with families who have children in pre-kindergarten and the elementary grades. Because the Early Learning GPS is online, schools can post the logo and link to their websites and internet portals.

The Early Learning GPS helps families get reliable answers to questions like “how do I know if my child will be ready for kindergarten?”

After a family answers a question, they receive a simple video tip and links to reliable resources. Families can save their favorite tips and resources to their child’s map as well as:

Follow their child’s milestones;
Find fun family activities based on Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards; and
Compare child care/ early learning programs.

The child’s map will grow with him until kindergarten!

All of the information is from reliable sources like Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

Visit www.earlylearninggps.com to get started. Professionals can access tips, ways to share the GPS with families, and professional development at www.papromiseforchildren.com /gps.

Schools may also order free Early Learning GPS promotional kits with bookmarks, table tents and posters that they can display in school offices and classrooms and include with other parent communications at http://www.childcorepublishing.com/index.php/pa-only-materials.html.

The Early Learning GPS is developed by Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children in partnership with Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning with funding from Pennsylvania’s Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grant. For more information, visit www.papromiseforchildren.com.

Suit Challenging School Funding Headed to Top Pa. Court

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 8:42:48 AM EDT

A lawsuit contending that Pennsylvania's system of school funding is broken will move to the state's top court, attorneys vowed Tuesday after a lower court dismissed the case brought by school districts, parents, and advocates. Lawyers said they would appeal to the state Supreme Court after the Commonwealth Court ruled that education funding was a legislative issue and not a legal matter.

Click here to read the article.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, April 22, 2015.

And the Nominees Are... Department of Education Sec. Rivera

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 8:40:20 AM EDT

Meet Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Pedro Rivera. Learn about his background in education, his goals for the department, and what he likes to do in his down time.

http://www.theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/672/And-the-nominees-are-Department-of-Education-Sec-Rivera-.aspx

Source: The PLS Reporter, Author: Alanna Koll/Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Video runtime 4:08.

Senate Panel Gives Nod to Rivera's Confirmation as Education Secretary

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 8:34:46 AM EDT

Following a healthy discussion that touched on a myriad of educational issues, the Senate Education Committee voted on Tuesday to recommend Pedro Rivera's nomination as Gov. Tom Wolf's education secretary for confirmation by the full Senate. Rivera, 45, emphasized to the committee his commitment to transparency, being accountable, being responsive, listening to stakeholders and being focused on improving student learning. "We want our successes to outlast us all. So whether I'm secretary or whomever is secretary next, I hope to build a culture and legacy that's going to serve the children of the commonwealth for 50 to 100 years," Rivera said, as his wife Erika watched from the first row of seats in the hearing room.

Click here to read the article.

Source: Pennlive.com By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com on April 21, 2015 at 3:10 PM, updated April 21, 2015 at 3:11 PM.

Wolf?s Education Pick to Begin Confirmation Process

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 3:42:41 PM EDT

On Tuesday, lawmakers will begin the confirmation process for Governor Tom Wolf’s pick to lead the State Department of Education. Pedro Rivera is the former superintendent of the Lancaster School District. Wolf appointed him in January. As education secretary, he would run the state’s 500 school districts. Tuesday morning, an 11 member panel from the Senate Education Committee will ask questions to determine if they believe he is qualified. If they approve, the next step will be to confirm him with a vote by the full Senate. That would likely happen in May.

Click here for full story.

Source: abc27 By Ali Lanyon Published: April 21, 2015, 3:39 am.

Pennsylvania's State Plan to Ensure Equitable Access for All Students to Excellent Teachers and Prin

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 2:28:22 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is required to develop and submit to the U.S. Department of Education by June 1, 2015, a state plan that ensures equitable access for all students to excellent teachers and principals. Essential to the development of Pennsylvania's state plan is the engagement and involvement of an external stakeholders group, which include representatives from: educational associations/organizations; urban and rural districts; intermediate units; higher education teacher preparation institutions; nonpublic schools; charter schools; parents; federal program coordinators; teachers' unions; and business and community groups/organizations.

Consistent with ESEA sections 1111(a)(1), 1119b)(8)(C) and 9304(a)(3)(B), Pennsylvania's state plan is required to include:

1. Description and documentation related to steps taken to consult with LEAs, teachers, principals, pupil services personnel, administrators, other staff and parents.

2. Identify equity gaps using the most recent data available to calculate differences, if any, between the rates poor and minority children are taught by "inexperienced, unqualified, or out-of-field" teachers when compared to other children.

3. Explanation of the likely causes of the identified equity gaps.

4. Strategies to eliminate the identified equity gaps, timelines for implementation of strategies and monitoring activities.

5. Description of measures, methods and timelines for evaluating progress toward eliminating equity gaps.

6. Description of how POE will publicly report on its progress in eliminating equity gaps.

The recording from the first stakeholders meeting (conducted as a webinar) is available for anyone. To access it, visit http://vclass.cciu.org/, then click on the "recordings" tab at the left, then select April 7 from the calendar on the right.

Stakeholders have been asked to enlist local support from peers, colleagues, local community, teachers, principals, and others by sharing information about Pennsylvania's strategies for ensuring equitable access for all students to excellent teachers and principals.

A resource account (RA-equity@pa.gov) has been created to gather feedback and suggestions throughout the development of Pennsylvania's state plan.

If an educational association or organization contacts you for feedback or if you listen to the stakeholders' webinar, please follow-up via email to the above resource account (RA-equity@pa.gov).

Next steps include the following:

*Convening a statewide workgroup to assist in identifying: existing gaps in local strategic management of human resources (recruitment, hiring, retention, professional development); and school climate that affect hiring and retention of teachers and principals (these are areas that are not reported to POE);

*Continuing to analyze Pennsylvania's data metrics (number of teachers who are not certified, not highly qualified, working outside the scope of their existing Pennsylvania teaching certificate; years of teaching experience; principal education levels; teacher turnover; etc.) for purposes of identifying equity gaps;

*Conducting a root cause analysis with members of Pennsylvania's Educator Equity Stakeholder Group and identifying strategies for overcoming equity gaps; and

*Implementing a cycle of continually incorporating workgroup and stakeholder group feedback and suggestions into Pennsylvania's draft state plan.

Grell To Leave State House for PSERS Post

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 8:46:38 AM EDT

State Representative Glen Grell (R-Cumberland) will become the Executive Director of the Public Schools Employee Retirement System (PSERS), sources confirmed for abc27. Click here for more.

Source: ABC27, April 14, 2015; PSBA Daily EDition, April 15, 2015.

Saylor Introduces Property Tax Relief Bill

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 10:23:45 AM EDT

A York County representative has introduced a bill in the House that promises to, on average, halve school property taxes by increasing earned income and sales taxes. Click here to read the full article.

Source: York Dispatch, April 13, 2015.

Senate ESEA Bill

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 8:26:26 AM EDT

Click here for the letter that NASSP, NAESP and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee in response to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization Bill that was released last week.

In addition, below is a summary that has been posted on NASSP’s Principals’ Policy Blog. The Committee will be marking up the bill this week (scheduled for Tuesday, April 14).

http://nasspblogs.org/principalspolicy/2015/04/senate-releases-bipartisan-esea-bill-markup-scheduled-next-tuesday/

PAESSP Announces 2015 Election Results

Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:53:31 PM EDT

The results of PAESSP’s 2015 Election have been announced thanks to our Nominations Committee – Dr. Dina Wert, chairperson, and members, Dr. Barry Purvis and Dr. Betsy Adams.

After our members voted online, we are proud to report that the following are your newly-elected President-Elect and Regional Representatives:

President-Elect (Elem. Division): – Beth A. Haldeman, Cocalico School District (successful candidate)

Regional Representatives:

East I Elementary –    Paul L. Stefani, Scranton School District* (uncontested)

East II Secondary–   Frank Derrick, Allentown School District (successful candidate)

Central III Elementary–   Darren J. McLaurin, Cambria Heights School District* (uncontested)

Central I Secondary–   Curtis E. Johnson, State College Area School District* (uncontested)

West II Elementary–   Carol Sprinker, Blackhawk School District (uncontested)

West II Secondary–    Raymond C. Omer, Mohawk Area School District* (uncontested)

*Incumbent

Celebrate National Assistant Principals Week

Wed, 08 Apr 2015 8:51:26 AM EDT

NASSP and NAESP, in cooperation with the American Federation of School Administrators, are in high gear preparing for next week’s celebration of National Assistant Principals Week. Join them in celebrating the great work assistant principals do by participating in these activities:

Send Your AP an E-Card. Principals and other members of the education community can simply choose an e-card, add a message, and schedule the date and time for the card to be sent. APs will receive the e-card along with a special AP Week gift.

#APchat on Twitter. Join your colleagues for a Twitter chat about the AP’s leadership role on Sunday, April 12, at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

#APweek hashtag. Use #APweek on Twitter and Instagram to share your notes of appreciation, celebration images and other acknowledgments of the great work APs do year-round.

Additionally, NASSP will host a Google Hangout (similar to a webinar) in cooperation with the Wallace Foundation about developing APs; and conduct its annual Assistant Principal of the Year Forum, which gathers the state winners on Capitol Hill for meetings with their elected officials (#APOY15).

Visit www.nassp.org/apweek for additional details, a promotional video and ideas to celebrate.

#FairFundingPA Chat - March 2015

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 8:50:43 AM EDT

#FairFundingPA Chat - March 2015 -- Pennsylvania's major education leadership organizations meet on Twitter at 8 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month to discuss basic education funding and other issues. This story captures our March 2015 chat with Acting Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, and Policy and Planning Secretary John Hanger.

https://storify.com/PARSS2go/fairfundingpa-chat-march-2015?utm_source=t.co&utm_content=storify-pingback&utm_medium=sfy.co-twitter&utm_campaign=&awesm=sfy.co_h0Tx7

NAESP Welcomes New President-Elect, Vice President, Board Members

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 3:34:55 PM EDT

President-elect Steven D. Geis will join Brian K. Partin, Adam Drummond, Dave Steckler, Dwight C. Cooper and Kimbrelle Lewis as new members of NAESP’s Board of Directors. Click here for the full press release.

Join Fair School Funding Twitter Chat on Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 8:26:20 AM EDT

John Hanger, the Governor's Secretary of Policy and Planning, will participate in the Fair School Funding Twitter Chat (#FairFundingPA) scheduled for next Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 8 p.m. EST.

Cast Your Vote in the PAESSP Election - March 25 - April 8, 2015

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 1:14:24 PM EDT

PAESSP members will soon receive an e-mail with a code that enables you to click on the link, access your ballot and VOTE in the election, but only if we have your e-mail address! The e-mail with the link for your ballot will be sent to you on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

On your ballot, you will only see the positions for which you are eligible to vote in the election. All members will vote for the statewide office of president-elect. Members in the regions with a position up for election will also vote for their regional representative.

Reminder e-mail messages will be sent to those who have not voted. The deadline for voting is 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. The election is once again being conducted by Vote-Now, a secure, web-based provider of voting services for professional organizations (www.vote-now.com). Please add vote-now.com to your address book OR ask your IT staff person to add vote-now.com to your district’s spam filter list so that the e-mail can get through.

We appreciate and value your participation!

PSSC Presents: Pension "Reform" and the Unfunded Liability - Two Grand Challenges - March 27, 2015!

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 9:37:00 AM EDT

A one hour recorded web presentation, Pension "Reform" and the Unfunded Liability - Two Grand Challenges, is being offered by the PA School Study Council (PSSC) and is being made available to registered districts beginning on March 27, 2015, after 12:00 noon.

Dr. James A Pawelczyk is the featured speaker. Dr. Pawelcyzk is a second-term school board director for the State College Area School District and an associate professor of Physiology and Kinesiology at the Pennsylvania State University.

There is a special reduced rate for PAESSP Members.

Click here for the flyer and for registration information.

Recognition of Talented Educators - Seeking Talent Pool Recommendations

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 2:11:14 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) maintains a file of emerging classroom leaders that consists of a cadre of distinguished teachers and principals. These educators may be considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces, as well as candidates for special recognition programs. Please consider completing a recommendation form to identify educators who will be of great value to your community and state and who may also ultimately receive prestigious recognition. Completed forms are due no later than June 15, 2015.

The talent pool seeks secondary educators (Grade 6-12 teachers and principals) with a minimum of five years of experience in education and who are likely to remain in education for the next 15-25 years. Specific criteria should include the following:

* Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school

* Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession

* Individuals whose contributions to education are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight

* Early to mid-career educators who offer strong, long range potential for professional and policy leadership

* Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students colleagues and the community

Talent pool candidates must be building-level personnel. They are typically classroom teachers, but a principal or specialist may be considered.

PDE seeks your assistance in identifying one to three candidates via the Talent Pool Recommendation Form available in the RSS Feed at www.pdesas.org. Information provided is CONFIDENTIAL and should not be shared with the individual(s) nominated. Questions can be directed to Marlene Kanuck at (717) 783-9294 or mkanuck@pa.gov.

Complete information must be sent by U.S. Mail and posted marked no later than June 15, 2015, to:

Marlene Kanuck
Division of Planning
Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Pennsylvania
Department of Education
333 Market Street, 3rd Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

Date Changes for the PSSA and Keystone Exam Accountability Reporting Internal Snapshots

Thu, 19 Mar 2015 1:32:12 PM EDT

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting is announcing a change for the PSSA Accountability Reporting internal snapshot to May 14, 2015. PDE learned from LEAs that there would be an issue in meeting the expected turnaround time for each assessment testing window, in order to submit data to PIMS. In an attempt to lessen the burden, PDE analyzed the PSSA and Keystone internal snapshot process and calendar to see if there were opportunities to consolidate some of our individual internal snapshots.

To that end, PDE is pleased to announce that the internal snapshots scheduled for PSSA Accountability (4/17/2015, 4/24/2015, 5/1/2015 and 5/8/2015) will be performed during the scheduled 5/14/2015 internal snapshot.

Additionally, the Winter and Spring Keystone Exam Accountability Reporting internal snapshot scheduled for 5/27/2015 will be changed to 5/29/2015 to ensure that LEAs have enough time to validate their data at the end of the testing window prior to uploading to PIMS for the internal snapshot.

The revised PIMS Elementary Secondary Consolidated Collection Calendar 2014-2015 rev 1.9, which includes the changes outlined above, has been published on the PIMS web page. It is located at: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pims-pennsylvania_information_management_system/8959

LEAs are encouraged to use the sandbox as a tool to test and prepare data for successful data submission. LEAs should be aware that data submitted in this internal snapshot will be used to calculate participation and performance rates. It is important to start early and submit data on time. There is no correction window so there is no opportunity to update or change data after the deadline.

Contact Pennsylvania Information Management System customer support at 800.661.2423 or help@pimssupport.org for help with uploading data. The direct link to submit an electronic ticket is https://paitsm.service-now.com/pde_wizard_redirect.do.

Please contact PDE's Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting with questions at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

Editorial: Gov. Wolf's Plan Moves to Resolve State's Pension Problem

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 8:52:39 AM EDT

Gov. Wolf is ushering in a new political opportunity in Pennsylvania. His budget is a home run for Pennsylvanians, actually focusing on things that matter to voters — quality education, more and better jobs, government that works.

Click here for full article.

Source: PSBA Daily EDition, March 18, 2015; Allentown Morning Call, March 17, 2015.

PA Education Chief Asks School Districts To Provide Plans for Spending New Funding

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 8:50:01 AM EDT

To receive their share of the proposed $400 million increase in basic education funding, school districts will have to submit spending plans to the state by May 15.

Click here for full article.

Source: PSBA Daily EDition, March 18, 2015; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 17, 2015.

Wolf Administration Wants to Know How Districts Would Spend $400M

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 8:19:20 AM EDT

One week after Senate Republican leaders warned superintendents against counting on the $400 million increase in direct support to school districts that Gov. Tom Wolf proposed in his budget, the Wolf administration is asking districts to detail how they will spend it.

Click here for full article.

Source: www.pennlive.com, by Jan Murphy, posted on March 17, 2015.

NASSP?s National Advisory List (Contest and Activities for Students)

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 8:48:15 AM EDT

The NASSP List of Contests and Activities for Students is produced by NASSP through its National Committee on Student Contests and Activities. The purpose of the national list is to provide information to assist principals, teachers, parents and students in making decisions regarding participation in a wide variety of program opportunities. Click here for the annual list.

How Will Your District Fare with the Proposed Budget?

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 9:57:00 AM EST

How will your district fare with the proposed budget? Check out the links below to see the impact of the proposals on your school district.

Click here for 2015-16 Proposed Basic and Special Education Funding.

Click here for 2015-16 Proposed Budget.

Click here for Property Tax Reduction Proposal.

Joint Statement: General Assembly Must Support Budget With Adequate School Funding

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:59:11 PM EST

As state legislators consider Governor Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 budget proposal, citizens of the Commonwealth are watching to see if their elected officials will support a quality education for children in every community. Pennsylvania’s major education leadership organizations, representing all 500 school districts, today called on the General Assembly to approve Governor Wolf’s budget request and adopt a new state funding formula that will ensure equity and adequate funding for all schools beginning next school year.

Click here for the press release.

Governor Wolf Targets Major Changes in Education in Budget Address

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:53:35 PM EST

Governor Wolf targets major changes in education in his budget address. Here are some ideas presented today:

Education is the heart of everything else

During the past 4 years, we took a step backwards in supporting education

The budget will restore 1 billion dollars in cuts that occurred in previous administration

There will be increases at every grade level

It expands access to Early Childhood Education

It includes increases in funding to community colleges

It asks institutions of higher education to freeze tuition

Accountability measures will be put into place to make sure the money goes to classrooms

It increases the State share for education to 50% up from the current level of 35%

It calls for a fair funding formula which should be based on need rather than on politics

We will pay for the increases in investment in education by applying a severance tax on natural gas which should generate 1 billion dollars

Property taxes will be reduced by 50% as well

Available for Use: Pennsylvania?s Educator Effectiveness Rating System (PEERS)

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 1:38:14 PM EST

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has announced that Pennsylvania’s Educator Effectiveness Rating System (PEERS) is now available online for use by LEAs (as of March 2, 2015). This online tool provides local education agencies (LEAs) a free, voluntary, web-based version of the Act 82 Educator Effectiveness final rating tools (PDE 82-1, 82-2, and 82-3), providing users with an efficient and effective process to not only complete the summative rating forms, but to be able to use the data effectively for teacher, principal, and school/district growth and improvement.

LEAs do NOT need to register or sign up to use the system. PEERS is now live, online for any LEA to use at any time as of March 2, 2015. PEERS has been pre-populated with LEA name, school names, staff names, a final rating form based on the PIMS position code (LEA may edit) and School Performance Profile (SPP) data for all LEAs.

PEERS is hosted within the existing PVAAS web application, allowing PVAAS account holders access to PEERS through the existing PVAAS account system. It may be used alone, in lieu of the PDE 82-1, 82-2, 82-3 Excel documents, or in concert with other tools that LEAs are using to manage the supervision and evaluation process.

Access to the forms is granted by the LEAs and all information is securely and confidentially maintained by SAS EVAAS, requiring second levels of authentication. PDE does not have access to the summative evaluation information housed within the PEERS.

Through PEERS:

Teachers, principals/administrators, and non-teaching specialists are linked to a most likely defaulted rating form based on PIMS data submitted by each LEA, with the ability to change to a different form as per local LEA decision.
Demographic information including district name, school name, educator name and PPID is pre-populated.
The School Performance Profile (SPP) Score is pre-populated by the PVAAS web application, with the flexibility to change the school, allow multiple schools and/or choose current year or prior year.
Starting with SY2015-2016 PVAAS reporting, the PVAAS score for 3 year rolling average will be pre-populated into the final rating form
Rating information is aggregated to summary-level reporting.

SAS EVAAS, in conjunction with PDE, is providing a training webinar on March 10, 2015 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM for all LEAs interested in using PEERS and/or learning more about this free, voluntary tool. This webinar will be archived and available for accessing on the PVAAS website within one week of this date.

Details to participate in the live webinar are included below. Pre-registration is not necessary.

Webinar Date and Time: March 10, 2015, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Computer & Phone Connection Information:

https://sasmeetings.webex.com/sasmeetings/j.php?J=710756117

Audio Access: 1-888-682-4285 Attendee code: 474-456-2 #

Questions regarding accessing PEERS may be sent to the “Contact Us” link on the PVAAS website at https://pvaas.sas.com

Questions specific to Act 82 Educator Effectiveness are to be directed to ra-edeff@pa.gov.

Advocacy Win in the ESEA Bill

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:22:50 AM EST

NASSP has announced that its collaborative work with NAESP and the American Federation of School Administrators has resulted in a big advocacy win in the House ESEA bill. They were successful in getting an amendment passed by voice vote that would make it explicit that the definition of “school leader” means a principal or assistant principal IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING. The amendment was introduced by Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA), Bob Dold (R-IL) and Jared Polis (D-CO), and the bipartisan support was definitely instrumental…in addition to support from the NEA after we explained the purpose and rationale of the amendment.

Work on this issue is not yet done. Our national associations are still urging members of Congress to vote NO on HR 5. If you have not done so already, please send a message to your Representative through PLAC (https://www.votervoice.net/NASSP/Campaigns/38971/Respond). And please continue to spread the word!

Fair Education Funding

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 12:57:51 PM EST

Message from Executive Director: PAESSP is part of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding. The campaign released today their proposal for a new Basic Education Funding formula to boost student outcomes in all parts of the state by helping close funding shortfalls in all school districts and narrow the growing gap between wealthy and poorer districts. Please see the two following links, which provide an overview about the campaign and the proposed formula. PAESSP is one of approximately 40 organizations involved in this critical work and working on behalf of school leaders across the Commonwealth.

Click here for executive summary.

Click here for press release.

Act Now! Tell Your Representative to Vote NO on H.R. 5

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 3:45:40 PM EST

As you are well aware, the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), does not provide principals and assistant principals with adequate support, training and resources but still holds them accountable for student achievement. Congress is now rapidly working to reauthorize ESEA, which presents a tremendous opportunity to elevate the role of principals in improving student achievement, and have their voices heard.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) recently submitted detailed comments in response to legislation passed by the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the law. The comments note many concerns with the bill, with one of the most important being its lack of acknowledgement and support for the vital role of principals, and providing them with the necessary professional support to ensure better teaching and improved learning for all students.

At a minimum, the Student Success Act of 2015 must the following top concerns:

Clearly define the term “school leader” to mean principals and assistant principals working inside the school building, not non-building staff such as teacher leaders, superintendents and other district personnel;
Require districts that receive Title II funding to allocate no less than 10 percent of the funds available for professional development for elementary, middle, and high school principals to improve instructional leadership;
Require that state principal evaluation systems be designed in collaboration with practitioners, and ensure that they are based on more than just student test scores. We recommend that any principal evaluation focus on the six key domains of leadership responsibility within a principal’s sphere of influence: student growth and achievement, school planning and progress, school culture, stakeholder support and engagement, professional qualities and practices, and professional growth and learning;
Oppose any and all efforts to transform Title I funding—which is designed to assist public schools with high concentrations of poverty and high-need students—into a private school voucher.

As a leader in your school and in your community, your voice is extremely powerful in this debate. H.R. 5 is on the House Floor the last week of February, and principals must take action to let your representatives in Congress know these concerns must be addressed. While a sample letter has been provided for you, we strongly urge you to personalize the letter where possible.

Click here to send a letter to your Congressional representative.

PASA-PASBO Survey: Challenging Financial Conditions Getting Worse for School Districts Statewide

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 9:01:49 AM EST

Challenging situations are getting worse in schools statewide according to an update to the annual Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) budget survey.

Click here for press release.

Click here for full report.

School Leaders Respond to Budget Survey; Call for Action, Equity and Adequate Funding

“The current PASA-PASBO report highlights the critical need for a fair education funding formula. Our members have been expressing concerns about cuts in programs and people, which directly affect the students in a negative way. The low hanging fruit has been picked clean and we need the State to take action on fixing the way we fund education in order to protect our most precious resource – our children.”

– Dr. Paul M. Healey, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals

Click here for more comments.

PAESSP Sponsors Real Life / Real Issues Forum

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 8:58:57 AM EST

If your area did not pick up the Real Life / Real Issues Community Forum on public television, please click the link below to access this important piece on Drugs and Young People: http://video.witf.org/video/2365429481/

Under Pedro Rivera, a New Direction for Pennsylvania Education Policy

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 10:29:23 AM EST

In a recent interview, Mr. Rivera, now serving as acting education secretary, made it clear that he has not forgotten where he came from and the challenges faced by students and families in impoverished neighborhoods.
Click here for the full article.

Source: PSBA Daily EDition, Feb. 23, 2015; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 22, 2015.

ESEA Updates: NAESP Stands Up for Principals

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 8:35:20 AM EST

The latest from Washington, D.C., is that Congress is acting fast to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Here is what NAESP is doing to make sure ESEA meets principals' needs -- and how you can be part of the process.

Raising Principals' Voices

There are a lot of moving pieces in the ESEA reauthorization process. Here's a quick guide to what's happened so far:

NAESP filed comments on sections of the Senate's discussion draft bill.
NAESP submitted comments on the House of Representatives' bill, which will be marked up next week.
NAESP partnered with the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the American Federation of School Administrators to urge Congress to support the re-introduction of the Principal Recruitment and Training Act of 2015, a bill to help recruit, prepare, and support principals in the profession.

Plus, in the midst of these critical debates, NAESP is bringing 200 principals to meet with lawmakers during the annual National Leaders Conference, Feb. 22-24. Conference participants will engage with top education and policy thought leaders, as well as receive leadership development and training focused on strategic advocacy in preparation for Capitol Hill meetings.

Read the messages they will take to the Hill on ESEA and the federal budget.

How to Take Action

Here are several ways that you can add your voice to NAESP's advocacy efforts on ESEA.

Speak up on the House bill (Student Success Act, H.R. 5), which NAESP does not support. Watch for an email alert with timely information on the bill, and then tell lawmakers to Vote No using NAESP's easy-to-use Legislative Action Center.
Follow the #naespNLC hashtag on Twitter for updates from the National Leaders Conference.
Read reflections from the National Leaders Conference in the forthcoming February issue of Communicator.
Join the Federal Relations Network community on edWeb for our advocacy staff's updates from Capitol Hill.

During the coming weeks as ESEA moves on its path toward reauthorization, NAESP will continue to stand for principals' interests and will make sure school leaders have a seat at the federal policy table.

NEW PVAAS Student Projections to ACT, PSAT & SAT on Currently Enrolled Students in Grades 6-12

Fri, 20 Feb 2015 8:37:26 AM EST

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is pleased to announce the release of PVAAS Student Projections to ACT, PSAT and SAT for students currently enrolled in your school(s)/LEA. These projections are useful to assess – and address – students’ postsecondary and career readiness, even before they take the ACT, PSAT or SAT or before they attend high school. They also provide a statewide perspective on postsecondary readiness that extends beyond performance on PSSA and Keystones or the local community. Furthermore, Pennsylvania’s School Performance Profile (SPP) includes data on student participation in the PSAT, as well as participation/performance on the ACT and SAT.

The new projections to ACT, PSAT and SAT may answer questions like…

Are students who are already on the path to success on these assessments in fact participating in these assessments?
Are there students with a high likelihood of success who do not consider themselves college candidates? Once identified, educators can support and encourage these students.
Are there students who are at-risk for remediation in college?
Are there students who are underprepared for the college readiness benchmarks? Once identified, educators can ascertain which courses, resources and supports may increase the students’ likelihood of success on the ACT/SAT and in their college readiness.

Access to the NEW PVAAS Student Projections to ACT, PSAT and SAT is available on the password-protected PVAAS website. PVAAS account holders with student level access will have access to these new projections for students currently enrolled in their respective school/LEA.

Existing statewide assessment data from PSSAs and Keystones are used to yield these additional PVAAS student projections for LEAs, which will include projections to various PSAT, ACT and SAT benchmarks that indicate readiness in a variety of courses and colleges. These projections are available for the following students:

PVAAS Student Projections to PSAT for students currently enrolled in grades 6 to 11;
PVAAS Student Projections to ACT for students currently enrolled in grades 9 to 12; and
PVAAS Student Projections to SAT for students currently enrolled in grades 9 to 12.

SAS® EVAAS® is making available an archived web session for all LEAs interested in learning more about these new PVAAS Student Projections to Act, PSAT and SAT. This session will address the following topics:

Overview of Methodology for PVAAS Student Projections to SAT, PSAT and ACT
Benchmark Scores Used for PVAAS Student Projections to SAT, PSAT and ACT
Students/Grade Levels Receiving PVAAS Student Projections to SAT, PSAT and ACT
Offer Guidance on How to Use These New Projections
Offer Guidance on How to Use Them to Help Students Plan for College

This web session will be available on the PVAAS website, https://pvaas.sas.com under the e-Learning Link no later than March 10, 2015.

Questions regarding the new PVAAS Student Projections to ACT, PSAT and SAT can be directed to pdepvaas@iu13.org.

Principals? Groups Applaud Introduction of Bill to Support School Leadership

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:07:29 AM EST

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), applaud the reintroduction of a bill to improve federal programs for the nation’s principals and assistant principals. S.476 and H.R.930, The School Principal Recruitment and Training Act of 2015, was introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), to amend Title II, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to recruit, prepare, and support principals through capacity-building measures that will improve student academic achievement in high-need schools. The legislation emphasizes mentoring programs for principals, especially for aspiring and early-career principals.

Click here for more.

Source: NASSP, NAESP, AFSA Press Release, Feb. 19, 2015.

Correction to KEI Link - Kindergarten Entry Inventory - Cohort 2

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 11:53:39 AM EST

Pennsylvania's Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) is a reliable reporting tool that offers teachers an instructional strategy for understanding and tracking a student's proficiency at kindergarten entry. The tool collects information on a consistent set of standards-based indicators across the commonwealth. The KEI is based on Pennsylvania's Learning Standards for Early Childhood and the Pennsylvania Core Standards. KEI includes 30 indicators and provides a comprehensive profile that includes the domains of: Social and Emotional Development; English Language Arts; Mathematics; Approaches to Learning; and Health, Wellness and Physical Development. KEI is intended to be used by kindergarten teachers to record a student's demonstration of skills within the first 45 calendar days of the kindergarten year. It is a snapshot of skills upon entry into kindergarten. Skills levels will be determined by multiple sources of evidence. For more information about the Kindergarten Entry Inventory please visit, http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/departmental_offices/7235/p/1852080.

All focus and priority schools are required to implement the Kindergarten Entry Inventory as part of their school improvement efforts. Intermediate unit curriculum coordinators and academic recovery liaisons (priority schools) are ready to assist you in the KEI implementation process.

This also serves as an invitation for all non-focus and priority schools who wish to implement Pennsylvania's Kindergarten Entry Inventory on a voluntary basis beginning in the 2015-16 school year. The Kindergarten Entry Inventory is available to all school districts at no cost.

In order to implement the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, a Kindergarten Entry Inventory Point of Contact (KEI-POC) is required. The KEI-POC will act as the liaison between local education agency (LEA) administrative staff, implementing kindergarten teachers, and OCDEL and data systems staff. Having a dedicated KEI-POC will ensure that effective communication and implementation occurs throughout the KEI process. Please send the KEI-POC name, email address and phone number to RA-PWOCDELKEI@pa.gov by March 13, 2015. Receipt of this information will initiate participation in Cohort 2: 2015 Kindergarten Entry Inventory.

Please note: If your LEA participated in Cohort 1: 2014 Kindergarten Entry Inventory, a KEI-POC must be assigned for 2015 implementation.

All kindergarten teachers who have not previously participated must complete skills and scoring practice professional development and complete a proficient user assignment in order to gain access to the web-based data system. Teachers with a proficient user certificate of completion do not need to repeat the professional development protocol.

The tentative training schedule is as follows:

March - June:

Face-to-face skills and scoring practice professional development available/ dependent on number of teachers and availability of OCDEL staff

March -September:

Asynchronous webinar available for skills and scoring practice professional development

ALL implementing kindergarten teachers without a proficient user certificate of completion MUST complete either face-to-face or asynchronous training.

August-September:

KEI systems professional development opportunities available

By the start of school:

Implementing kindergarten teachers must have proficient user certificate of completion on file in order to gain systems access

45 calendar days from start of school:

Observation and evidence collection/scoring completed

60 calendar days from start of school:

Data submissions (student outcomes) finalized within data system

Questions about this communication may be sent to RA-PWOCDELKEI@pa.gov.

Submit an Article for the May 2015 Pennsylvania Administrator Theme Issue

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 1:45:28 PM EST

The May 2015 issue of the Pennsylvania Administrator focuses on the theme, "Teacher Effectiveness: Celebrations and Challenges."

The passage of Act 82 in 2012 has given Pennsylvania educators new guidelines for assessing the effectiveness of both school teachers and administrators. With any new implementation, there comes trials and tribulations (or celebrations and challenges). The May issue of the Pennsylvania Administrator will focus on stories from the field as districts implement the new effectiveness processes. In particular, we are interested in articles from the field that address some of the following:

How the district has aligned the Act 82 guidelines with a differentiated supervision plan.
How the district is dealing with the teacher specific component.
How the district has handled the student learning objective (SLO) component with both the teacher and principal.
Any issues that have surfaced with the Act 82 forms.
Effective tools school leaders are using with the processes.

Articles should be no longer than 1,500 words and must be submitted via e-mail as a Microsoft Word document. A biographical sketch and a high resolution (300 dpi is preferred), color photograph of the author(s) (saved as a JPEG or a TIFF file) must accompany all articles. E-mail articles to sherit@paessp.org. The deadline to submit an article is March 6, 2015.

NASSP Opposes Current ESEA Changes (H.R. 5)

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:46:13 AM EST

NASSP opposes current ESEA changes (H.R. 5). See link below to read more about what changes are being proposed.

http://www.paessp.org/resource/images/stories/documents/legislative/esea_issues_sheet.pdf

PAESSP Sponsors Community Forum on Drugs To Air Thursday Evening

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:20:37 AM EST

Real Life / Real Issues WITF Community Forum is a PAESSP-sponsored event and tackles the issues of drug use and young people. This televised forum will air on WITF and its affiliate stations on Thursday, February 19, 2015, from 8:30-10:00 p.m. You won't want to miss the stories shared by parents who lost a child due to heroin, and the panel of experts who will discuss current problems and solutions. Look for broadcast information in your area on public television stations.

PAESSP Gets Some Snippets on Upcoming Governor?s Budget

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 10:38:11 AM EST

PAESSP is one of the educational organizations that has been invited to the table for periodic education policy updates from the Governor’s office. I attended the first briefing under the new administration this morning and we were provided with some insights into the upcoming Governor’s proposed budget. Sarah Galbally, Deputy Secretary of Policy and Planning in the Office of the Governor, shared the following:

Much of the attention has been dedicated to the crafting of the budget and the budget address on March 3, 2015.

The budget will reflect the Governor’s commitment to education and it will be his number one priority.

The Governor is an advocate for a fair funding formula and the budget will also address this area and his office is very interested in working with the Basic Education Commission on a formula.

Beyond funding, the Governor will explore issues with accountability for new funding leading to better outcomes for students, early childhood education, career and technical schools, higher education and the PlanCon process.

Each organization had an opportunity to share its major platform issues and PAESSP forwarded the following:

Fair Education Funding Formula.
Pension Reform – we pointed out that the increases have had a devastating impact on our schools and our leaders are faced with both program and people cuts which directly affect our students.
Charter and Cyber School Funding.
Mandate Relief.

Dr. Paul M. Healey
PAESSP Executive Director

Kindergarten Entry Inventory - Cohort 2

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 10:29:53 AM EST

This message also serves as an invitation for all non-focus and priority schools who wish to implement Pennsylvania's Kindergarten Entry Inventory on a voluntary basis beginning in the 2015-16 school year. The Kindergarten Entry Inventory is available to all school districts at no cost.

In order to implement the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, a Kindergarten Entry Inventory Point of Contact (KEI-POC) is required. The KEI-POC will act as the liaison between local education agency (LEA) administrative staff, implementing kindergarten teachers, and OCDEL and data systems staff. Having a dedicated KEI-POC will ensure that effective communication and implementation occurs throughout the KEI process. Please send the KEI-POC name, email address and phone number to RA-PWOCDKEI@pa.gov by March 13, 2015. Receipt of this information will initiate participation in Cohort 2: 2015 Kindergarten Entry Inventory.

Please note: If your LEA participated in Cohort 1: 2014 Kindergarten Entry Inventory, a KEI-POC must be assigned for 2015 implementation.

The tentative training schedule is as follows:

March - June:

Face-to-face skills and scoring practice professional development available/ dependent on number of teachers and availability of OCDEL staff

March -September:

Asynchronous webinar available for skills and scoring practice professional development

ALL implementing kindergarten teachers without a proficient user certificate of completion MUST complete either face-to-face or asynchronous training.

August-September:

KEI systems professional development opportunities available

By the start of school:

Implementing kindergarten teachers must have proficient user certificate of completion on file in order to gain systems access

45 calendar days from start of school:

Observation and evidence collection/scoring completed

60 calendar days from start of school:

Data submissions (student outcomes) finalized within data system

Winter Keystone Corrections Window and Matching Records to PIMS

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 8:35:47 AM EST

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has been notified that certain local education agencies (LEA) have student records from the 2014-15 winter Keystone Exams that do not match to Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) data. If you received a message from Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) that your LEA has been identified, your LEA must log into DRC eDIRECT Keystone Corrections System and attempt to match these students to PIMS records.

The 2014-15 winter Keystone Corrections System will be available Feb. 11-18, 2015. The Keystone Corrections System is available via eDIRECT at https://pa.drcedirect.com.

This online corrections system must be used to update the student matching criteria (PAsecureID, Last Name, First Name, and Date of Birth) for any student record that is not matched to PIMS data. These records are typically unmatched because the information provided for the student is not exactly the same as the data that was provided to DRC in the PIMS Keystone reporting file. The information could have been bubbled incorrectly on an answer booklet for a student using a district/school label or provided incorrectly when student data was uploaded directly into eDIRECT.

The unmatched student records can be identified by an 'N' found in the PIMS match column within the corrections system. It is the LEA's responsibility to log into the corrections system and attempt to match every student to PIMS.

Note: If the unmatched student record was not uploaded to PIMS prior to the production of the winter Keystone reporting file, updating the matching criteria will not produce a successful match.

If you have questions about the corrections system, please contact a DRC Pennsylvania Customer Service Representative at 1.800.451.7849 or pacustomerservice@datarecognitioncorp.com.

For all other questions, please contact PDE's Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

New Legislation Introduced Regarding Keystone Exams

Fri, 13 Feb 2015 8:09:50 AM EST

State Rep. Mike Tobash has introduced HB 168, which amends the Public School Code to eliminate all Keystone Exam subjects except Algebra I, literature and biology and prohibits the exam from being used as a statewide graduation requirement.

PASA Women's Caucus Conference - May 3-5: Registration Now Open

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 9:07:10 AM EST

Registration is now open for the WOMEN'S CAUCUS 2015 ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE, Sunday, May 3 - Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA -- a professional development program offered by the Women's Caucus of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA). The focus is "Leading and Learning in a Diverse and Challenging World."

This conference features speakers, numerous educational sessions, and many opportunities for networking and professional growth.

Featured presenters this year include:

* Dr. Dana Lightman, author and founder of POWER Optimism - "Leadership with a Positive Edge"

* Mary Curley, director of communications, Chester Co. I.U. - "Establishing and Implementing Effective Communication Strategies"

* Hannah Barrick, director of advocacy, PASA/PASBO - "Legislative Update: Changing Faces, Continuing Challenges"

Featured educational sessions include:

* Building a Global Competence Within Our Students

* Literacy Achievement

* Growing Inequality and Diversity for Leadership

* Update from the PDE

* Insights and Inspirations from the Superintendency

* Legal Update

* Is Everybody Welcome? Building Diverse Classrooms

Entire conference: $325 for PASA members/$445 for non-members. (Additional registration options available.) Fee includes materials for the conference, meals and receptions.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTICIPANT. Deadline: April 3. See the conference registration form for details.

TO REGISTER: See the PASA web site at www.pasa-net.org/workshopWC2015.asp for a registration form, directions for making hotel reservations and other conference information, or call PASA at (717) 540-4448.

Register Now: Supporting Principal Leadership for Pre-K ? 3rd Grade Learning Communities

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 3:15:26 PM EST

Register now for a webinar, "Supporting Principal Leadership for Pre-K - 3rd Grade Learning Communities," will be held on Monday, March 2, 2015 from 3:00 - 4:15 PM (Eastern). The webinar is presented by The Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO); National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP); and National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS-SDE).

The evolving role of today’s elementary principal offers an unprecedented opportunity to provide leadership to pre-K – 3rd grade learning communities, often extending beyond school walls to work with diverse community partners. Yet most principals have little training in effective early childhood instruction and pedagogy; and there are few resources that provide clear guidance to principals in this critical role. NAESP’s recently released, “Leading Pre-K-3 Learning Communities: Competencies for Effective Practice” offers principals, teachers, family members, and others best practices, relevant resources, and indicators to guide new efforts to align early care and education with early elementary grades.

Click here to register and for more information.

OPEN BOARD POSITIONS FOR 2015 PAESSP ELECTION

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 10:53:00 AM EST

Dr. Dina G. Wert, a former National Distinguished Principal (NDP) and an elementary principal in the Downingtown Area School District, has been appointed by the PAESSP president to serve as the chairperson of the 2015 PAESSP Nominations Committee. The committee also includes Dr. Barry L. Purvis, a retired secondary principal in the Chambersburg Area School District, and Dr. Betsy Adams, a retired secondary principal in the Conrad Weiser Area School District.

If you are interested in running for one of the open board positions (president-elect must be an elementary member; or regional representative – click on link below for open positions) in the 2015 PAESSP election, please contact the PAESSP office at snyder@paessp.org or (717) 732-4999 for an application. Applications must be received in the PAESSP office by Monday, Feb. 23, 2015.

Statewide Elected Position:

President-Elect – Must be an Elementary Member

Click here for the President-Elect Duties and Responsibilities (From the PAESSP Policy Manual).

Click Here for the Open Regional Representative Positions

Click here for the Regional Representative Duties and Responsibilities (From the PAESSP Policy Manual).

The National Exercise Program

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 9:08:00 AM EST

The National Exercise Program (NEP) consists of whole community exercises from across the country that align to national strategic goals - Principals' Objectives - set every two years by the White House's Homeland Security Council/Principals Committee. For each two-year NEP cycle, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with exercise sponsors within all levels of government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to incorporate their existing planned or scheduled exercises into the NEP. The NEP may be used to assist in safe school initiatives and to create greater coordination and collaboration in a community to move toward a more secure and resilient nation.

To visit the NEP website, click here.

For facts about NEP, click here.

For a nomination form, click here.

Fair School Funding Twitter Chat Wrap-Up

Tue, 03 Feb 2015 8:12:17 AM EST

If you missed the last #FairFundingPA Twitter chat, click this link to read the comments: http://sfy.co/a0CeD

Updated Salary Data Available

Mon, 02 Feb 2015 11:29:58 AM EST

Attention PAESSP Members: The updated salary data for 2013-2014 from PDE is now available on our web site. Click on PAESSP Salary Search on the Home Page. A new PRINT feature has been added, which allows you to print your results. You must log in to access this information.

Senate and House Committees Finalized

Fri, 23 Jan 2015 9:15:48 AM EST

The Senate and House of Representatives have finalized the rosters for the standing committees in their chambers. Here are the rosters for the State Education Committees:
Senate Education Committee: Republicans: Lloyd Smucker, chairman; Mike Folmer, Vice Chairman; Patrick Browne; John Eichelberger; Dominic Pileggi; Robert M. Tomlinson. Democrats: Andrew Dinniman, Democratic chairman; Daylin Leach; Rob Teplitz; Anthony Hardy Williams.

House Education Committee: Republicans: Stanley Saylor, chairman; Rosemary Brown; Jim Christiana; Hal English; Mark Gillen; Seth Grove; Kristin Phillips Hill; Harry Lewis; Bernie O'Neill; Thomas Quigley; Kathy Rapp; Mike Reese; Craig Staats; Will Tallman; Mike Tobash; DanTruitt. Democrats: James Roebuck, James R., Jr., Democratic chairman; Michael Carroll; Scott Conklin; Patrick Harkins; Patty Kim; Mark Longietti; Dan Miller; Gerald Mullery; Michael O'Brien; Steve Santarsiero; Kevin Schreiber.

Source: PSBA Legislative Report, Jan. 23, 2015.

INVITATION: Twitter Chat on Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Commission?s Work

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:44:55 AM EST

The first monthly Twitter chat of 2015 with Pennsylvania’s major education leadership organizations is set for Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. The January chat will focus on a fair, predictable public school funding formula and the on-going work of the state’s basic education funding commission. Use hashtag #PAEdFunding to participate and follow the conversation.

On the last Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m., the following organizations go to Twitter to discuss timely topics, ask questions and listen to the public’s responses:

The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA);
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA);
The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO);
The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP)
The Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS)

How to Get Started

@PASASupts – Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators
@PSBA – Pennsylvania School Boards Association
@PASBO_org – Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
@PAESSP -- Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
@PARSS2go – Pennsylvania Association of Rural and School Schools

What is a Twitter Chat?

Follow the Conversation or Check Back Later

To follow a Twitter chat live or to read the conversation later, log-on to Twitter, click on the #Discover link, then search for #PAEdFunding. Search for the hashtag. You can see all of the recent tweets on that topic. Then, read, reply and post your own thoughts and messages.

It’s That Easy to Join the Conversation!

NASSP Honors Three Principals for Technology Leadership

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:06:46 AM EST

2015 Digital Principal honors awarded to leaders in Marlyland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania

Click here for the full press release.

Scarnati Announces Senate Republican Standing Committee Memberships for 2015 -2016

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 9:51:27 AM EST

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) [today] announced the Republican members for each of the 22 Senate Standing Committees for the 2015-2016 legislative session. “Senate Committees provide a strong and experienced environment for legislation to be vetted and shaped before moving on to the full Senate,” Scarnati said. “We are fortunate to have members from diverse backgrounds who will offer insightful perspective as issues advance and policies are formed.” Click here for the full article.

Source: Senator Scarnati's website, January 19, 2015.

Mt. Pleasant Area Principal/PAESSP Member Appears in Golden Globe-Nominated 'Foxcatcher'

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 8:48:46 AM EST

Those associated with Mt. Pleasant Area Junior-Senior High School who venture out to see the major motion picture “Foxcatcher,” might see a familiar face or two on the silver screen.

The Golden Globe Award-nominated film was filmed in western Pennsylvania in the fall of 2012, and appearing in the production will be school Principal Ken Williams and junior high school health and physical education instructor B.J. Mikeska.

Read more: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmtpleasant/7361734-74/williams-movie-wrestling#ixzz3PN0geHRU

Source: TribLive, Dec. 17, 2014.
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

Joint Statement: Education Leaders Believe Selection of Rivera Signals Fairness, Equity

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 8:03:49 AM EST

Pennsylvania’s major education leadership organizations released the following statement today [Jan. 19] on the news that Governor-elect Tom Wolf named Pedro A. Rivera to serve as Secretary of Education. Click here for the joint statement.

Click on the links below for more:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/01/wolf_names_nominees_for_secret.html

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150120_Wolf_names_Phila__native_Pedro_Rivera_as_his_Secretary_of_Education.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/01/19/Tom-Wolf-Lancaster-superintendent-Pedro-Rivera-lead-Pennsylvania-Department-Education/stories/201501190134

Invitation to Apply -- P-3 Governor?s Institute

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 1:01:06 PM EST

The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning is pleased to announce the 2015 Prekindergarten to Grade 3 (P-3) Governor’s Institute: P-3 Collaboration-Working Together for Student Success. The purpose of Pennsylvania’s P-3 Governor’s Institute is to help school districts, early learning providers and community organizations throughout the commonwealth make the vital connections and collaborations necessary for student success from birth through grade 3. The 2015 P-3 Governor’s Institutes are being offered regionally for the
following dates/locations:

Each institute begins on Sunday evening and ends on Wednesday at noon:

•     June 14-17 Radisson Hotel Valley Forge—King of Prussia
•     June 21-24 Doubletree—Monroeville
•     July 12-15 The Ambassador Center—Erie
•     July 26-29 Hilton—Scranton

Participation in the 2015 institute is limited to 28 teams per region. Participating teams will be selected through an application process. Districts may submit applications for more than one team. Teams should be built around a specific elementary school, its feeder early learning programs and the local community. Selected teams will participate in this 4-day event focusing on Kristie Kauerz’ Framework for Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Pre-K-3^rd Grade Approaches. Professional development will be offered to support team specific implementation of P-3 efforts.

The framework can be accessed at:

http://depts.washington.edu/pthru3/PreK-3rd_Framework_Legal%20paper.pdf

Most expenses will be covered for participating teams using Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant funds. Act 48 professional development
credits and Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) hours will be offered.

To be considered for participation in this event, participating teams must agree to the following:

Attend the entire 4-day event;
Bring a core team of no less than four educators (maximum participating team of eight members): a 0-5 administrator, a 0-5
practitioner, a K-3 administrator and a K-3 practitioner. Preference will be given to applicants who include up to four of the following; family
representative or family liaison, Early Intervention representative community member, librarian, curriculum specialist, higher education partner, intermediate unit representative;
Engage in continuous improvement via implementation and sharing of strategies/programs that will enhance student achievement; and
Maintain an active role in the Governor’s Institute cohort subsequent to the event (e.g., professional learning community, webinars, monthly
follow up).

Deadline to complete the application is February 23, 2015.

The application can be accessed at: 2014 P-3 Governor's Institute

If you have any questions, please contact Jolie Phillips at
jolphillip@pa.gov.

GrapeSEED Oral Language Acquisition Program Preview

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 12:54:37 PM EST

You are invited to an exclusive educational event in your area, at no charge, on GrapeSEED, the oral language and critical listening program for preschool-K-2 that's being hailed as a game-changer by educators in the US and globally.

The just-released 2013-14 research studies by Oakland University involving Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and English as a Second Language (ESL) students provide a clear evidence of highly significant gains by schools that implemented GrapeSEED.

Agenda:

1. Why educators are excited about GrapeSEED!

2. How GrapeSEED works to close the language achievement gap naturally

3. Analysis of Oakland University's latest studies involving preschool and K-2 classrooms

Watch & hear testimonials, videos and songs, and experience for yourself what makes GrapeSEED a fun and learning experience for children!

Learn more about our Previews.

Location: Allegheny Intermediate Unit - AIU3

475 East Waterfront Drive

Homestead, PA 15120

Date: Thursday Jan 29, 2015

Time: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern Time. Dinner is included at no charge.

Directions:

https://goo.gl/maps/zJWvj

Sign up | Check out other locations and dates

Education, Spending Roles Finally Being Cast

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 9:21:09 AM EST

The state House and Senate GOP leaders have named the chairs of their education committees. Lawmakers expect the panels to see a lot of action in the coming legislative session, since Gov.-elect Tom Wolf has underlined education funding as his top priority upon entering office.

Click here for the full story.

Source: WITF, Jan. 12, 2015.

Smucker Tapped To Lead Senate Education Committee

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 9:11:10 AM EST

Lloyd Smucker has a new job in the state Legislature. The Republican state senator will lead the high-profile Education Committee for the two-year legislative session that started last week.

The West Lampeter Township lawmaker is taking over the position previously held by Sen. Mike Folmer of Lebanon County. Folmer was chosen to head the State Government Committee — Smucker’s old post. Meanwhile, Ryan Aument was chosen to serve as chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee. The panel is responsible for reviewing proposals to restructure state government, cut costs and improve government efficiency.

As chairman of the Education Committee, Smucker has been given the assignment to oversee a public education system that has been strained in part by the underfunded Public School Employees’ Retirement System. Smucker discussed in a press release the importance of his new position, why he feels he is the right person to tackle the problems facing the system and what he hopes to accomplish.

Click here for press release.

Source: Lancaster Online by Karen Shuey, staff writer, posted: Monday, January 12, 2015 11:25 a.m.

PA Senate Bill 1 Pension Reform Likely to Include Defined Contribution Plan

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:23:00 AM EST

Pension reform has been given the key moniker of Senate Bill 1 and will likely take the form of a defined contribution plan, a key player in the process told The PLS Reporter this week.

During Tuesday’s swearing-in day ceremonies in the Senate, newly re-elected President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) raised the prospects of pension reform legislation to a new level by declaring a pension reform bill will take on the prestigious title of Senate Bill 1, a more-than-symbolic gesture emphasizing the importance of the issue to the Senate.

“Moving the state pension system more in line with that of the private sector is one of the most significant means we have to gain more revenue, for needs like education,” Sen. Scarnati stated during Tuesday’s ceremony. “Pension reform will be Senate Bill 1 and a top priority this session.”

According to Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), a longtime pensionphile and current chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the pension reforms included in the bill are likely to include a shift to a defined contribution plan from the current defined benefit plan.

“I would expect that its platform would include a defined contribution plan for new school district and state workers as the foundation of the proposal,” he told The PLS Reporter.

Click here for the full article.

Source: The PLS Reporter, Author: Jason Gottesman, Thursday, January 8, 2015.

ESEA Priorities Letter Sent to Congress

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:07:04 AM EST

A letter on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization was sent yesterday to congressional leaders by NAESP, NASSP and the American Federation of School Administrators. (See links below.)

There has been a lot of talk that the Senate will move very quickly this winter on a bill to reauthorize ESEA. NASSP and NAESP have been and will continue to conduct meetings with Senate Education Committee staff regarding the bill and our priorities.

ESEA Letter 1

ESEA Letter 2

Attend WITF's Real Life / Real Issues: Drugs and Young People Forum on January 17, 2015

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 8:34:00 AM EST

Attention PAESSP Members: You are invited to attend the Real Life / Real Issues: Drugs and Young People Community Forum on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 12 p.m. (noon) at the WITF Public Media Center, 4801, Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 - for a discussion of the dangers facing young Pennsylvanians. A reception will be held at noon, followed by the viewing as an audience member of the live taping of "Real Life / Real Issues: Drugs and Young People." PAESSP is a prime sponsor of this program.

Heroin has undergone a resurrection. A powerful opioid drug that was once only the scourge of inner cities is now widely available, cheap and being abused in the middle class suburbs and even the most rural areas of Pennsylvania. But heroin isn't the only story. In fact, prescription medications, especially painkillers, are abused more often.

The snow date is Saturday, February 7, 2015.

Click on this link for more information: http://www.witf.org/community/witf-events/2015/01/please-join-us-for-an-important-community-forum.php

Register Now for PAESSP's Aspiring Principals' Workshops - Feb. 6-7 - Lancaster

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:33:45 AM EST

PAESSP has announced its Aspiring Principals Workshop schedule for 2015 - Previewing the Principalship and Getting the Job-Done Right! - to be held in two locations: the Eden Resort, Lancaster, and the Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh (see below for the Workshop Schedule). The workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided. The cost for each workshop is $175, but are now being offered for $150, provided to you at a discounted rate through a grant from The Horace Mann Companies.

2015 Workshop Schedule

Previewing the Principalship-- A hands-on workshop designed to familiarize participants with the daily functions of the principalship.

- Friday, February 6 - Eden Resort, Lancaster

- Friday, May 8 - Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh

- Saturday, February 7 - Eden Resort, Lancaster

- Saturday, May 9 - Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh

Click here for the Registration Form.

(Note: The form is writeable, but you must open the file in a different viewer at the top of your screen. Then, click on Open With to access the writeable file.

Click here for the Session Descriptions.

Click here for the 2015 Workshop Flyer.

Child Abuse Fact Sheet -- Clearances

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:08:55 AM EST

There are new regulations involving Child Abuse Clearances and this Fact Sheet produced by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) is an excellent overview of the changes. Click here for the Fact Sheet.

Act 168: Required Employment History Review and Forms

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:45:33 AM EST

Required Employment History Review Procedure and Forms

Act 168 of 2014 amends the Public School Code of 1949, to provide direction regarding employment history reviews for all new employees who will have direct contact with children. The Act also requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education ("Department") to obtain and monitor arrest and case disposition information for educators.

The information below focuses on the process for employment history review as dictated by Act 168, explain the use of forms related to the employment history review and explain the process for accessing information regarding "pending criminal charge" information as directed by Act 168.

_______________________________________________________________

As of December 22, 2014, all school entities and/or independent contractors of a school entity (collectively referred to herein as "hiring entity") must conduct an employment history review for any prospective employee prior to hiring, if the employee will be hired for a position where he/she will have direct contact with children. Direct contact with children is defined as the "possibility of care, supervision, guidance, control or routine interaction with children."

Summary of Act 168 Requirements

In addition to satisfying pre-existing employment requirements of the Public School Code and the Child Protective Services Law, the hiring entity must require an applicant under consideration for employment in a position where he/she will have direct contact with children to provide contact information for the following:

1. Current employer (regardless of whether the current employer is a school entity or where the applicant is employed in a position that involves direct contact with children); 2. All former employers that were school entities; and 3. All former employers where the applicant was employed in a position that involved direct contact with children.

The above information must be provided on the Department's form titled "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release" form: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;/www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1464556_0_0_18/Form-DPTT.pdf.

A separate form must be filled out for each current and former employer. The applicant must also consent to the current/former employer's disclosure of any information regarding abuse and/or sexual misconduct. An applicant for a position involving direct contact with children cannot be hired unless the applicant provides the required information.

In addition to disclosing current/former employers, an applicant must respond affirmatively or negatively to the following questions on the Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release form: whether they have ever been the subject of an abuse or sexual misconduct investigation by any employer, state licensing agency, law enforcement agency or child protective services agency; whether they were disciplined, discharged, non-renewed, asked to resign from employment, resigned from or otherwise separated from employment while allegations of abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation or due to adjudication or findings of abuse or sexual misconduct; and/or had a license, professional license or certificate suspended, surrendered or revoked while allegations of abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation or due to an adjudication or findings of abuse or sexual misconduct.

Upon receipt of the completed Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release form(s), the hiring entity, if the applicant is still under consideration for employment, must then submit the form(s) to the current/former employer(s) to verify the information provided by the applicant by completing section 2 of the form. The current/former employer(s) have 20 days to respond to the request. Failure by the current/former employer(s) to respond and provide the information requested can result in civil penalties and/or violations of the Educator Misconduct Act.

Any affirmative response by the current/former employer(s) to the questions regarding abuse and/or sexual misconduct could terminate the applicant's opportunity for employment or the hiring entity could decide to continue to consider the applicant for employment. If the applicant is still being considered for employment, the hiring entity must submit the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Information Request" form to the affirmatively responding current/former employer(s). In response to receipt of a Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Information Request, the current/former employer(s) must disclose all information and documentation related to the allegations within 60 days. Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Information Request form: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;/www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1464555_0_0_18/Form%20-%20DPTT%20-%20employer%20follow%20up.pdf.

Provisional employment of applicants pending responses by current/former employers can be made for up to 90 days of employment, if the applicant meets certain requirements.

Verifying Employment Eligibility or Certification and Pending Criminal Charges

In addition to verifying the applicant's history regarding abuse and/or sexual misconduct, Act 168 also requires that when the applicant is an educator who holds public or private school certification and/or has been assigned a Professional Personnel Identification number ("PPID"), the hiring entity must ensure that the applicant has a valid and active certification appropriate for the position, determine whether the applicant has been the subject of public professional discipline, and ascertain whether the educator has pending criminal charges.

Information concerning certification status and public professional discipline can be found in the Teacher Information Management System ("TIMS"). In addition, information concerning pending criminal charges will also now be available through TIMS. Hiring entities that are provisioned users of TIMS can determine whether an educator has pending criminal charges by searching the educator by name or PPID and clicking on "View Complete Profile. Hiring entities that are not provisioned can access the same information by searching the educator by PPID from the public access site: http://www.teachercertification.pa.gov/Screens/wfSearchEducators.aspx.

For example, for an educator with pending criminal charges, you would see the following notation in the Educator Complete Profile: Pending Criminal Charges: Yes - The Department has information of pending criminal charges. Please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Chief Counsel at 717-787-5500.

For an educator without pending criminal charges, you would see the following: Pending Criminal Charges: No - The Department has no information of pending criminal charges. The Department provides this information pursuant to Act 168 which does not relieve a public or private school entity from its duty to obtain any and all required criminal clearances pursuant to 24 P.S. §1-111.

A "Pending Criminal Charges" indicator means that the educator has been criminally charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime, which includes pending pre-trial diversionary program completion (i.e. an ARD program).

The information reflected in TIMS regarding pending criminal charges has been received by the Department from the Pennsylvania Justice Network ("JNET"), which provides the Department with limited public information about criminal charges. If it is noted that the applicant has pending criminal charges in TIMS, the hiring entity may contact the Department's Office of Chief Counsel at 717-787-5500 for information regarding charge information, the date of the charges and the county where the charges were incurred. Hiring entities may also verify the charges and obtain this information by accessing the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal, which is a free database of publicly available criminal information. Access to the portal can be made at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us.

Please note that the information available on TIMS is only provided for educators holding a Pennsylvania public or private teaching certification and/or a PPID number. Information for any other applicants is not available on TIMS.

U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellowship Program

Fri, 19 Dec 2014 8:08:52 AM EST

Applications are now available for the U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellowship Program (2015-2016 school year) at: http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/12/2015-2016-teaching-and-principal-ambassador-fellowship-program-applications-now-available/. The deadline for submission is January 20, 2015.

Live, Online Session - School Bullying & Social Emotional Learning

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 11:41:25 AM EST

The Center for Safe Schools has announced the third session in the 2014-2015 Third Thursday Bullying Prevention Online Learning Series. On Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., "School Bullying and Social Emotional Learning", a live online learning session for educators will be held.

Supported with funding from the Highmark Foundation, this session will be presented by Stacie Molnar-Main, Ed.D. of the Center for Safe Schools.

In recent years, the focus of most bullying prevention efforts in schools has been on systemic approaches to improving school climate and bystander behavior. This focus is warranted based upon what is known about the social and ecological nature of bullying. Yet, bullying is more than a climate issue. It is also a matter that affects individual children. This webinar focuses on the relationship between social-emotional development in individuals and involvement in bullying. The session introduces a new tool designed to assist schools in assessing school-wide bullying prevention strategies and in identifying class-level and individual-level interventions that support bullying prevention.

The Center for Schools and Communities, as a division of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, is offering Act 48 professional development credit for those with Pennsylvania teaching or administrative certificates. Participants must attend the online session from beginning to end to receive credit. Only specified professional development sessions are available for credit. The Record of Attendance will be e-mailed to participants upon completion of the session. If you are interested in receiving Act 48 credit, please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Please register for "School Bullying and Social Emotional Learning" on December 18, 2014 3:00 PM EDT at:

http://www.safeschools.info/bullying-prevention/professional-development

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Third Thursdays Bullying Prevention dates:

- January 15, 2015 The Role of Physicians in Bullying Prevention, Intervention & Recovery

- February 19, 2015 Dating Violence

- March 19, 2015 Cultivating Empathy for Healthy Relationships and Collaborative Programs

- April 16, 2015 Fostering Cultural Competence: Using Children's Literature to Talk About Difficult Issues in K-12 Classrooms

- May 21, 2015 Bullying in Sports: The Injuries We Don't See

2013-14 Graduation Attribution System - URGENT

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 10:51:33 AM EST

Please be aware that an error in Cohort Graduation Rate programming used to generate the most recent DRC Graduation Attribution System data contained an error that resulted in the attribution of IEP students educated at their school of attendance within the district of residence to their district of residence only. At 6 p.m. December 15, 2014, these students were to be attributed back to their districts and schools of attendance, via the DRC Attribution System, and will appear in your Student Attribution Sending Report and your Student Attribution Receiving Report on the DRC website.

Unfortunately, any attribution that was performed on the impacted students by you will be overwritten by the correction applied on December 15, 2014. Please review your Student Attribution Receiving Report beginning December 16, 2014 and if you find any students need reattributed, please send a new request to DRC.

If you have any questions please contact the RA-CohortGraduation@pa.gov.

Principals Named to Wolf Transition Review Team for Education

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 8:10:59 AM EST

Two Pennsylvania principals and PAESSP members have been named to Governor-elect Wolf's 250+-member transition review teams (representing education). Dr. Gregory Taranto, principal at Canonsburg Middle School in the Canon-McMillan School District, and Sonia Vazquez, princpal at Donegan Elementary School in the Bethlehem Area School District, have been selected to represent K-12 education and principals across the Commonwealth.

Click here for the full article.

Source: www.pennlive.com, Dec. 15, 2014.

Call Your Senators Today!

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 8:22:36 AM EST

Thanks to your efforts the CRomnibus cleared the first hurdle by passing the House last night! However, the Senate still needs to pass the CRomnibus and a vote in the Senate could come as early as today (Friday). Last night, both the House and Senate approved a two day Continuing Resolution to keep the government up and running, however that expires on Saturday so the Senate must act by then.

Please call your Senators and share this message:

On behalf of the nation’s secondary school principals, I urge you to vote YES on H.R. 83, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015. While the CRomnibus is not a perfect bill, it will provide needed investments in foundational education programs such as Title I and IDEA, and a level of fiscal stability and certainty to our nation’s students, schools, teachers and principals.

You can find your Senators’ contact information at www.senate.gov.

Principal Certification Program

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 10:02:27 AM EST

Dear PAESSP Member: Do you have teachers in your building who are considering a career as a school leader? If so, Penn State Harrisburg has just revamped its Principal Certification Program with the working individual in mind. The new program combines face-to-face learning with online learning and an individual can complete the program within one year. Please distribute this information below as you see fit to any aspiring leaders. I can attest to the quality of this program as I was involved in overseeing this program for Penn State Harrisburg before my arrival at PAESSP.

Thanks,
Dr. Paul M. Healey, PAESSP Executive Director

________________________________

Principal Certification Program Revisions Mean Greater Flexibility

The Principal Certification Program has been nationally recognized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The program features:

Greater flexibility and a condensed time frame to complete the requirements for principal certification in Pennsylvania
Five courses (15 credits) and an internship that can be completed in one year via blended delivery of face-to-face and online instruction
Students take courses at their own pace and may enter the program at the start of any semester
Topics include: principles and practices of school administrators, school law, school improvement, financial management and instructional supervision
Faculty who hold doctoral degree and are practitioners in regional school districts
Successful placement of our graduates
Four of the five required courses can also count toward the M.Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum offered at Penn State Harrisburg - http://harrisburg.psu.edu/programs/master-education-teaching-and-curriculum
Courses that are also appropriate for any teachers intending to fill leadership roles in their schools

Spring 2015 courses:
Financial Management for Schools (EDLDR 579) - January 17-February 26 + web
Principles of Instructional Supervision (EDLDR 560) - March 19-May 1 + web

For more information about the Principal Certification Program, contact Dr. Denise G. Meister at 717-948-6539 or dgm122@psu.edu.

For complete program information, visit http://harrisburg.psu.edu/programs/principal-certification-program.

Revisions Made to Teacher Rating Tool - 82-1

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 1:50:16 PM EST

Attention PAESSP Members: Today, I received information that revisions have been made to the Teacher rating tool - 82-1. The webinar below (click on the link) is a very good overview explaining the revisions and how to use the tool this year. As always, we will continue to monitor both the teacher and principal tools and push out information when we receive it. --Dr. Paul M. Healey, PAESSP Executive Director

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuGTy1m8lbIÂ

Governor Corbett Announces $2.6 Million in Safe Schools Targeted Grants

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 2:20:24 PM EST

Gov. Tom Corbett today announced that $2.6 million has been awarded to 123 schools through the Safe Schools Targeted Grant program. This funding will be used for training and the purchase of equipment to establish or expand programs to prevent and reduce incidents of violence in public schools.

Click here for full press release.

Source: PDE Press Release, http://www.education.state.pa.us/, Nov. 21, 2014.

Wolf Plans ?To Find Funds? To Raise Education Spending

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 9:35:29 AM EST

After warnings from his team about Pennsylvania’s nearly $2 billion projected shortfall, governor-elect Tom Wolf says he still plans to push to increase education funding next year, but the newly elected Democrat acknowledges the end result will depend on negotiations with the General Assembly, which even larger Republican majorities will control in January.

“The key is that we have a $29 billion budget, and with that amount of money, part of what any governor needs to do is look at priorities,” Mr. Wolf said in a telephone interview Thursday. “There’s still plenty of money to make sure that our commonwealth is spending whatever dollars it has intelligently and that we establish the right priorities.”

“Education has to be a priority,” he said. “We’re going to have to find the funds.”

Click here for the full article.

Source: Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau, November 21, 2014 12:00 AM.

3rd Annual iPad Summit at the CAIU on December 15

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 2:22:20 PM EST

The schedule for the 3^rd Annual iPad Summit at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU), Summerdale, Pa., on December 15, 2014, has been announced. Amazing presentations will showcase creative and innovative ways teachers are utilizing iPads in the classroom, as well as information and resources for those involved in the technical and leadership areas. There will also be poster sessions that participants can visit during the lunch break to learn about effective and efficient ways to integrate iPads.

Visit the event wikispace to view the schedule of sessions and the link for registration: http://caiuipadsummit2014.wiki.caiu.org/Home Register now. Space is limited.

Gov.-Elect Tom Wolf Names Transition Steering Committee

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 8:48:27 AM EST

Governor-elect Tom Wolf named the Steering Committee for his transition team. The steering committee will work with already named leadership on efforts to review state agencies, commissions, departments and functions. "As we begin to understand the complexity of the fiscal crisis my administration will face, it is important that my Transition Team move forward," said Governor-elect Tom Wolf. "Today's announcement, which rounds out my steering committee, continues that momentum, and I look forward to working with these individuals to address the steep fiscal and economic challenges ahead."

http://wolftransitionpa.com/sections/blog/tom-wolf-transition-steering-committee

Source: November 18, 2014 by Wolf Transition.

Pennsylvania Learns: iTunes U Course Development

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 8:24:50 AM EST

Pennsylvania is continuing its development of a series of online courses in iTunes U. Courses, aligned to the Pennsylvania standards, are designed as course resource collections and are available at no cost.

Pennsylvania educators are invited to join a Pennsylvania Learns iTunes U digital content team to assist in this work. The winter 2015 teams will convene to address the following subjects and grade levels:

* English Language Arts - Grades K-5

* Mathematics - Grades K-2; Algebra II and Geometry

* Science - Grades 5-8

This round of course development will occur on January 21, 22 and 23, 2015, at PaTTAN Harrisburg, with two additional days scheduled for February 11 and 12, 2015. PDE will pay mileage and expenses, as appropriate, and reimburse districts up to $100/day for substitute coverage.

Go to http://www.pdesas.org/Main/News/589409 to access the application to participate in this event. Deadline to apply is December 16, 2014.

Required 2015 Winter Keystone Exam Administration Training Sessions

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 2:48:48 PM EST

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and its statewide assessment vendor, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), will conduct training sessions on the administration of the 2014-15 Winter Keystone Exams. The training sessions will be presented live at the PaTTAN sites listed below at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and broadcasted via video-conference to the other two PaTTAN locations, along with additional intermediate unit sites that choose to participate.

Click here for more information.

Big Win for Student Broadband Access

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 2:05:35 PM EST

After more than a year of intensive advocacy by NASSP and its partners, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced its intention to permanently increase funding for the federal E-Rate program by more than 60 percent to $3.9 billion.

As you likely know, E-Rate is the primary source of federal funding for technology infrastructure to U.S. schools and libraries. When it was first created in 1997, the E-Rate program was funded at $2.25 billion, and received only a nominal inflationary increase starting in 2010. Total funding for the program in fiscal year 2013 was $2.43 billion.

Quite simply, the funding increase translates into broadband Internet access for many more students. Funding the E-Rate program at $3.9 billion provides necessary funding to cover telecommunications services and Internet access requests, and also ensures that at least 10 million of our neediest students—particularly in rural areas—will gain access to broadband in 2015.

NASSP applauds the FCC’s and Chairman Tom Wheeler’s effort to expand educational opportunities for our nation’s students.

Principals remind us regularly that they cannot prepare students for this century without tools of this century. Modernizing E-Rate will put those tools in more students’ hands, and it will help fulfill principals’ aspirations of more personalized, student-empowered learning.

Please read more about the FCC proposal on the Principal’s Policy Blog.

Release of 2014 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment Writing Assessments

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 10:25:52 AM EST

In response to a request from several superintendents, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has initiated a plan with its Pennsylvania System of School Assessment vendor, Data Recognition Corporation, to provide districts the opportunity to receive electronic copies of their students’ writing responses from the 2014 Spring Pennsylvania System of School Assessment Writing assessment. The writing prompts from the “legacy” writing assessment will not be used in the new Pennsylvania System of School Assessment English Language Arts assessment. As such, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has approved the release of these items in response to district requests to use information from the legacy writing assessment to help gauge student writing skills and guide curriculum.

If your district is interested in receiving its students’ writing responses from the 2014 Spring Pennsylvania System of School Assessment Writing assessment, you will need to contact Data Recognition Corporation to make the necessary arrangements. Data Recognition Corporation will provide your student responses on a DVD format that will include the capability to utilize student-identifying data to search for specific results. The cost to receive a DVD containing all of the 2014 Writing assessment responses for your district is $1,600. The cost of the Writing-response DVD must be paid directly to DRC (all invoicing and logistics will be handled by Data Recognition Corporation).

Pennsylvania Pension System History

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 8:48:59 AM EST

Click on the link below for a PowerPoint presentation on Pennsylvania's Pension System History (by the Pennsylvania Department of Education): http://www.paessp.org/resource/images/stories/documents/legislative/pension_history_powerpoint.pdf

For more information, please visit PDE’s website at www.education.state.pa.us

Required 2015 Winter Keystone Exam Administration Training Sessions

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 11:04:10 AM EST

LIVE LOCATION DATE START TIMES VIDEOCONFERENCE SITES

PaTTAN Pittsburgh Nov. 18, 2014 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. PaTTAN Harrisburg, PaTTAN KOP, other IUs

PaTTAN Harrisburg (Hbg.) Nov. 20, 2014 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. PaTTAN Pittsburgh, PaTTAN KOP, other IUs

PaTTAN King of Prussia Nov. 21, 2014 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. PaTTAN Pittsburgh, PaTTAN Hbg., other IUs
(KOP)

The information being presented is critical to the administration of the winter Keystone Exams; therefore, it is required that every LEA participating in the 2014-15 Winter Keystone Exams send at least one representative to a training session. These are train-the-trainer sessions and are designed so that the representative who attends in-person can deliver the same information to his or her coordinators and administrators.

To register for the live session and view a list of available locations that will be broadcasting the event, visit PaTTAN's website at http://www.pattan.net/category/Training/Calendar/2014/November.

2015-2016 SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP ELECTION RESULTS

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 9:08:10 AM EST

Click here for the 2015-2016 Senate and House Leadership Election Results.

PA Academic Review Website

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 2:33:37 PM EST

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is now fully populated with Eligible Content for English Language Arts and Mathematics in grades 3 through 8 and in Algebra I and Literature at the secondary level.

The academic review site is designed to promote awareness and understanding of our Eligible Content. The goal will be to inform and seek feedback from our educators, parents and other community members on the Eligible Content statements, their purpose and value. If after feedback is gathered and it is concluded that significant changes need to be made, PDE will engage in a revision process via public hearings.

Please encourage educators, parents, community members and other interested parties to visit http://paacademicreview.org and review the content. The feedback we receive will be invaluable as we evaluate and refine our career and postsecondary expectations for our students.

PAESSP -- Prime Sponsor of WITF's Real Life | Real Issues Drugs & Young People Program

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:13:38 AM EST

WITF launched its new Real Life | Real Issues Program this week. WITF's Real Life | Real Issues is a multimedia series devoted to providing several angles on a single issue of interest to Central PA. The goal is to provide in-depth coverage of the topic on all WITF media, including WITF 89.5 & 93.3, WITF TV, Central PA Magazine and witf.org. Real Life | Real Issues also engages listeners, viewers and readers on WITF's Facebook and Twitter accounts to discuss the issues with other members of the community.

WITF will explore the topic of school-aged students and dangerous drugs in-depth between November 2014 and June 2015. PAESSP is a prime sponsor of the drugs & young people topic.

This comprehensive multimedia project called Real Life l Real Issues: Drugs and young people will consist of a combination of the following: broadcast features on both TV and radio, plus print, web and social media components, as well as a public forum and workshops for parents.

RLRI link

http://www.witf.org/real/

RLRI Tumblr blog

http://real-life-addiction-in-pa.tumblr.com/

PSSC Webinar Regarding the Teacher & Principal Effectiveness Process, Dec. 15, 2014

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 9:24:42 AM EST

PSSC Webinar Regarding the Teacher & Principal Effectiveness Process With Dr. Paul Healey and Dr. Joseph Clapper, Dec. 15, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.

The Pennsylvania School Study Council (PSSC) presents a webinar regarding the Teacher and Principal Effectiveness Process titled, "Teacher and Principal Effectiveness -- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, from the Krause Innovation Studio in the College of Education at The Pennsylvania State University. Hear from the Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP), Dr. Paul Healey and Dr. Joseph Clapper.

Topics of discussion include:
- Learn the position of PAESSP on the Act 82 Educator Effectiveness Process
- Clear up concerns
- Reinforce progress and compliance
- Provide suggestions

The cost for registration is $20 per school ($10 for PSSC and PAESSP members).

Click here for more information and a registration form.

The deadline to register is Dec. 10, 2014.

PA School Report Cards Coming Out on Thursday

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 9:13:03 AM EST

Report card on Pennsylvania schools is set for Thursday [Nov. 7] barring any unforeseen issues arising at the last minute, according to the state Department of Education. The department is expected to release the School Performance Profiles that provide parents, taxpayers, educators and students with a look at how well their school performed in 2013-14 on various measures.

The profiles provide information on graduation rate, attendance rate, promotion rate, student's academic growth and various other measures. Along with that, each school will receive an academic score. New to this year's profiles is a trend line that will include information about a school's performance on the various indicators from the 2012-13 school year. The plan is to ultimately show a five-year trend line on each school's performance, said department spokesman Tim Eller.

Click here for full article.

Source: Penn Live by Jan Murphy, November 05, 2014 at 2:55 p.m.

Tom Wolf Elected PA's 47th Governor, Defeating Republican Incumbent Tom Corbett

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 2:07:56 PM EST

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Democrat Tom Wolf was elected as Pennsylvania’s 47th governor, defeating Republican incumbent Tom Corbett with 55% to 45% of the vote. The new Lieutenant Governor is Mike Stack, Democratic Senator from the 5th senatorial district in Philadelphia. Wolf’s election breaks the traditional cycle of the governor’s office changing parties every eight years.

Click here for Patriot-News article (www.pennlive.com).

Click here for more election results.

BE HEARD! - VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4!

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 8:43:15 AM EST

Pennsylvania voters have told pollsters and candidates for months that education issues, especially education funding issues, are the most important issues in the 2014 election.

Now voters have a chance to express themselves where it really counts --- at the polls on Tuesday, November 4. The polls are open in Pennsylvania on Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. On the ballot are candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, State House and (in some places) State Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.

If unsure where your polling place is located, go to votespa.com

Source: EPLC Education Notebook, Monday, November 3, 2014.

Jacqueline Clarke Havrilla Named President of State Principals? Association

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 2:34:24 PM EDT

TO: News Editor/News Director

CONTACT: Sheri L. Thompson, Director of Communications, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals

122 Valley Road, P.O. Box 39, Summerdale, PA 17093

(717) 732-4999 (Phone)

(717) 732-4890 (Fax)

sherit@paessp.org

RELEASE: UPON RECEIPT

Jacqueline Clarke Havrilla Named President of State Principals’ Association

(Harrisburg, Pa.) — Jacqueline Clarke Havrilla, principal of Evans Elementary School in the Spring-Ford Area School District, was recently named President of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP), headquartered in Summerdale, Pa. Havrilla assumed her new position on PAESSP’s Board of Directors following the association’s annual business meeting held October 21, 2014 during its 22^nd annual state conference held in Pittsburgh.

"It is my privilege to serve the principals of Pennsylvania, especially during a time when being linked isn't an option, but a requirement, in this quickly changing world. It is important as leaders to continue to learn and grow as professionals. We have at our fingertips the means to connect that were not possible only a few years ago, and the effect that this can have on our schools and districts is limitless. PAESSP is the perfect organization to foster those connections and to give principals the tools needed to better prepare Pennsylvania's youth in the 21^stcentury," said Havrilla.

Havrilla began her education career in 1973 as an elementary school teacher at Turnpike Elementary School in the Sullivan County School District. After 21 years with Turnpike Elementary School, she became the assistant principal at Schuylkill Valley Intermediate/Middle School in the Schuylkill Valley School District from 1994-1995. She then went on to serve as assistant principal of Schuylkill Elementary School from 1995-1997; and from 1997-2002, as principal of Schuylkill Elementary School. She served as principal of Limerick Elementary School in the Spring-Ford Area School District (2002-2007) before assuming the principalship at Evans Elementary School, also in the Spring-Ford Area School District.

Havrilla has been a member of PAESSP/NAESP for 20 years. She most recently served the association as President-Elect, and from 2011-2013, she served as the East-III Elementary Regional Representative on the PAESSP Board of Directors. In addition, she is an NAESP National Certified Mentor; has served as a panelist for PAESSP’s Aspiring Principals’ Workshops; and is an Alumni Board Member at Point Park University.

Havrilla received a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education from Point Park University. She also earned masters’ degrees in secondary guidance and rehabilitation counseling from the University of Scranton. Additionally, she received her K-12 administration certification from Bucknell University.

PAESSP’s membership of approximately 3,800 is comprised of elementary, middle level and secondary school principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders and is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

###

PAESSP’s Mission: To ensure a quality education for every child by comprehensively supporting the educational leaders of our schools.

PAESSP’s Vision: To be the best service organization of its kind in the United States.

GoToWebinar(tm) Recording Link -"Getting Ready" for the 2015 State Assessments Recording

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 1:38:17 PM EDT

For anyone who was unable to attend one of the "Getting Ready" for the 2015 State Assessments webinars, a recording of the training session is now available at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/856561818.

2014-15 Pennsylvania State Test Administration Training

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 1:36:57 PM EDT

The revised and updated 2014-15 online training for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Keystone Exams test administrators has been posted to the Pennsylvania State Test Administration Training website at https://www.pssatraining.com.

Free Seminar for School Leaders - Featuring Wayne Callender - in Two Locations: 11/5 and 11/6!

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 8:31:00 AM EDT

Leading School Improvement Efforts, a FREE seminar for school leaders featuring Wayne Callender, and sponsored by PAESSP and McGraw-Hill Education, will be held in two locations in November. The first seminar will be held Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North. The second seminar will be held November 6, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Maggiano's in the King of Prussia Mall.

Click here for more information and the registration form. The deadline to register has been extended to Monday, November 3, 2014.

PAESSP Has an Approved Act 45 Program For Your Administrative Team

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 1:30:38 PM EDT

Linking Student Learning to Teacher Supervision and Evaluation is an approved 30-hour Act 45 program that PAESSP will bring to your district. It is available to any school leader who needs Act 45 hours or your entire administrative team. The cost is $150 per individual with a minimum of six participants (you can coordinate with a neighboring school district, too). For more information, contact Dr. Paul Healey, PAESSP executive director, at (717) 732-4999 or healey@paessp.org. For more information on the program, click here for the program flyer.

Data Collection for PSSA Precodes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 10:36:10 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is providing an opportunity for local education agencies (LEA) to attend an online training that will address how the data from the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) is used by Data Recognition Corporation to produce pre-code labels for PSSA. This training will explain the templates required in this PIMS internal snapshot and the relevance to accurate data submission and reporting. The training will be followed by a question and answer period.

PDE will be offering four webinar sessions via GoToMeeting on Nov. 4, 2014, and Nov. 5, 2014. Presenters include representatives from PDE's Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting and Data Quality (PIMS). Trainings on both days will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

To register, please select one of the links provided below. Each session has a distinct registration link. Be sure to click the link associated with the session you plan to attend.

Note: Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the specific system requirements and link for joining each webinar:

Nov. 4, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/454832058

Nov. 4, 2014, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/714272682

Nov. 5, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/748164178

Nov. 5, 2014, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/785867954

Please contact PDE's Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting with any questions at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov

Eligible Content Review Website

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 1:13:19 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has developed a website to solicit feedback from the public on the eligible content in English language arts and mathematics in grades three through eight, and Algebra I and Literature at the secondary level.

Pennsylvania’s eligible content statements are a straightforward set of what the Department wants students to know and do at each grade level, and serve as the blueprint for the state assessments.

This website was designed to promote public awareness and understanding of the eligible content and obtain feedback from Pennsylvania educators, parents and the general public on the eligible content statements, their purpose and value.

If after gathering feedback PDE concludes that significant changes are needed, it will engage in a revision process via statewide public hearings.

The website is currently populated with eligible content for grade three English language arts and mathematics and is available for public review.

By mid-November, the website will be expanded to encompass the eligible content for grades three through eight and Algebra I and Literature.

Please share this information with educators, parents, community members and other interested parties and encourage them to visit http://paacademicreview.org and review the content. The feedback that is received will be invaluable as we evaluate and refine our career and postsecondary expectations for our students.

State and Federal Accountability

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 1:06:12 PM EDT

Performance Profile (SPP) in the 2012-13 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education recognized that special circumstances may contribute to a school's federal designation or its state School Performance Profile score. The Pennsylvania Department of Education allows schools to notify the Department of these special circumstances only if the circumstance creates an error in a school's designation or School Performance Profile score. While the Pennsylvania Department of Education is not re-designating "priority" and "focus" schools in the 2013-14 school year, we are designating a list of "reward" schools. Therefore, the Department is able to recognize two of the following three special circumstances that may impact a school's designation or school performance score: 1) the 1 percent cap; 2) participation rate; and 3) schools with no tested grades. Remember that federal designations apply only to Title I schools. An explanation of each circumstance follows:

1 percent cap: For purposes of the Federal Accountability Designation, the 1 percent cap on students who participated in the alternate assessment applies; for purposes of the School Performance Profile, the 1 percent cap does not apply. Requesting an increase in the 1 percent cap for federal purposes requires schools to petition the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction for a higher cap prior to the administration of the assessment. Therefore, it is too late for this special circumstance to apply. Details concerning this request for future use can be provided by contacting John Nau in the Bureau's Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting via email at jnau@pa.gov or by phone at 717.214.9391.

Participation rate: If a school fails to meet the required 95 percent participation rate for federal accountability, and this failure is due to circumstances beyond the control of the school, such as parental opt-out, the school may notify Dana Klouser via email, at RA-EDSPECCIRSPP@pa.gov, of the circumstance that led to the insufficient participation rate. Failure to meet the 95 percent participation can disqualify a school from being identified as a "reward" school.

New, Free, Voluntary Act 82 Tool for LEAs: Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness Rating System (PEER

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 12:30:38 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is pleased to announce Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness Rating System (PEERS), a free, voluntary, web-based version of the Act 82 Educator Effectiveness final rating tools (PDE 82-1, 82-2 and 82-3). This online tool will be available to local education agencies for the summative evaluation of teaching professionals, non-teaching professionals and principals/administrators during the second half of the 2014-15 school year.

PEERS will be hosted within the existing PVAAS web application, allowing all account holders to have ease of access to the online rating tools for the 82-1, 82-2, and 82-3 using the existing PVAAS account system. Through PEERS, the School Performance Profile (SPP) Score will be pre-populated by the PVAAS web application, with the flexibility to change the school or allow multiple schools. When available, PVAAS teacher measures will also be pre-populated into PEERS. As part of the web delivery, rating information will be aggregated to summary-level reporting.

PEERS is aligned to the 82-1, 82-2 and 82-3 .xls documents provided to LEAs on the PDE Educator Effectiveness webpage, with the added benefit of web-enabling the three forms to maximize the capabilities of a web interface and the online management of these forms. The system will link teachers, principals/administrators, and non-teaching specialists to a possible final rating form based on PIMS data submitted by each LEA, with the ability to change the form as per local decision.

Use of PEERS is free, voluntary, and may be used alone or in concert with other tools that LEAs are using to manage the supervision and evaluation process. Access to the forms is granted by the LEAs.

Opportunity for Input:

During the development and implementation process, PDE and SAS (the PVAAS provider) are interested in gaining input from administrators in the field in order to design and deliver a system that provides users with an efficient and effective process to not only complete the summative rating forms, but to be able to use the data effectively for teacher, principal and school/district growth and improvement.

To that end, focus groups will be established to provide feedback, with the overall intent to elicit input as to the effectiveness of the online tool in meeting the needs of LEAs.

PDE is asking for a maximum of a three member LEA administrator team - representatives of large and small LEAs from rural, urban and suburban areas across Pennsylvania. Feedback is sought from those who plan to use the tool during the second half of SY14-15, those considering using the tool, and those who may use the tool along with other systems they already have in place.

Focus groups will be convened a maximum of twice during this school year to meet with SAS (the PVAAS provider), as well as completing a maximum of two online surveys about the design and development of PEERS.

Any LEA/District that is interested in serving on the PEERS focus group should email pdepvaas@iu13.org by October 15, 2014. One person from the LEA should email the name, role and email address for each person from your 1-3 member administrator team for the PEERS focus group.

To learn more information about the specific capabilities of this tool, please access the PVAAS site at https://pvaas.sas.com for more details about PEERS.

PSERS Executive Director Announces Retirement

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 1:39:35 PM EDT

PSERS Board of Trustees announced yesterday the retirement of Executive Director Jeffrey B. Clay, effective March 6, 2015. Clay has served as Executive Director of the $53 billion pension fund since October 2003. Prior to his tenure at the pension systems, Mr. Clay was a judicial law clerk at Commonwealth Court and spent 10 years in private practice with the law firm of McNees, Wallace and Nurick, specializing in real estate and appellate litigation. PSERS’ Board will conduct a national search for Clay’s replacement.

Source: PSBA Daily Edition, October 8, 2014.

PAESSP Executive Director to Speak on Educator Effectiveness at SR PASCD Meeting - Oct. 23

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 9:19:20 AM EDT

Join the Southern Region of PASCD for a breakfast meeting with Dr. Paul Healey, PAESSP executive director, and Dr. Joseph Clapper, PAESSP assistant executive director, on October 23, 2014 from 7:30 - 8:15 (Registration) and 8:15-9:30 a.m. (Dr. Healey and Clapper will speak) at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (Susquehanna Room).

Dr. Healey and Dr. Clapper will take time to discuss Act 82 of 2012: Educator Effectiveness Systems. What does this mean to principals and the superintendents who rate them? All educators, administrators and teachers aspiring to the principalship in the Southern Region are invited to join the group for a light continental breakfast and an informative discussion. There is no cost for this event!

More than 40 Organizations Together Kick-off Campaign for Fair Education Funding

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 11:24:39 AM EDT

A coalition of more than 40 organizations [today] kicked off the Campaign for Fair Education Funding to ensure that every student has access to a quality education no matter where they live.

Click here for full story.

Source: Chambersburg Public Opinion, Oct. 6, 2014.

Photos from The Campaign for Fair Education Funding press conference can be browsed through and downloaded here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/114657393330805065946/albums/6067481501697118161

PAESSP Requests PDE Alter the Implementation of the Principal Effectiveness System for 2014-15

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 11:20:48 AM EDT

PAESSP Executive Director, Dr. Paul Healey, requests that PDE alter the implementation of the Principal Effectiveness System for 2014-15. I am making a formal request on behalf of the school leaders across the state in reference to the Principal Effectiveness System. We are asking PDE to immediately consider suspending the Correlation piece (15%) for the 2014-15 school year and make it optional this year along with the elective/SLO piece and require it for 2015-16 instead. Our request is based on the following reasons:

The current training for the Correlation and SLO pieces has just begun and it is already October and thus it is safe to say that many school leaders and superintendents will not be trained until early December
The training on the correlation piece suggests that school leaders examine their data over the summer and then begin the critical conversations with their supervisors in late Summer or Early Fall. This certainly makes sense because the correlation piece should inform the SLOs to be developed, thus they should work in partnership
Because the training is now just starting, school leaders do not have ample time to concentrate on these critical conversations and thus will not have a full year to work on their "plans" which will become part of their annual evaluation
In addition, we believe implementing this piece right now when school leaders are concentrating on the teacher effectiveness pieces as well as the framework for learning for themselves places a heavy burden on them and risks a poor implementation of the new system
The teacher effectiveness system was implemented in phases in which the first phase only required the 50% observation and building level data. We believe the principal effectiveness system should also be phased in whereby only the new framework for leadership and the building level data are required for 2014-15.
Finally, as we have been traveling around the state meeting with our members, we have clearly heard their frustrations about feeling overwhelmed with the implementation of PA Core, Keystones, Teacher Effectiveness and Principal Effectiveness. These are people who sincerely want to do a good job with all of these initiatives, but feel the plate is now overflowing.

Therefore, we respectfully request that PDE reconsider the current phase in cycle for Principal Effectiveness and only require the framework for leadership and the building level data for 2014 15 and the other two components (correlation and elective/SLO) required for 2015-16.

We thank you in advance for your consideration and are willing to discuss this matter at any time in the very near future.

Thanks, Paul

New, Free, Voluntary Act 82 Tool for LEAs: PA's Educator Effectiveness Rating System (PEERS)

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 1:45:12 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has announced its Pennsylvania's Educator Effectiveness Rating System (PEERS), a free, voluntary, web-based version of the Act 82 Educator Effectiveness final rating tools (PDE 82-1, 82-2, and 82-3). This online tool will be available to local education agencies for the summative evaluation of teaching professionals, non-teaching professionals and principals/administrators during the second half of the 2014-15 school year.

Use of PEERS is free, voluntary, and may be used alone or in concert with other tools that LEAs are using to manage the supervision and evaluation process. Access to the forms is granted by the LEAs.

Opportunity for Input:

To that end, focus groups will be established to provide feedback, with the overall intent to elicit input as to the effectiveness of the online tool in meeting the needs of LEAs.

To learn more information about the specific capabilities of this tool, please access the PVAAS site at https://pvaas.sas.com for more details about PEERS.

Release Dates for SY13-14 PVAAS Teacher-Specific Reporting

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 8:49:03 AM EDT

SY13-14 PVAAS Teacher-Specific Reporting will be released on the following dates:

· The night of October 23, 2014: PVAAS District Admin (1 per LEA) and School Admin Account Holders (1 per school)

· The night of October 30, 2014: Teachers

PVAAS Teacher Specific Reporting will be provided in Reading and Math (grades 4-8), Science (grades 4 & 8), and Keystone content areas (Algebra I, Literature, Biology).

PVAAS Teacher-Specific Reporting will NOT be provided in PSSA writing (Grades 5 & 8) for the following reasons: (1) Moving to PSSA ELA; and (2) lower than preferred correlations at the teacher level.

Questions can be directed to pdepvaas@iu13.org.

DATE EXTENSION for the PIMS Data Collection for Precodes on the Winter Keystone Exams

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:49:56 AM EDT

It has come to PDE’s attention that some LEAs may be planning to use the Data Recognition Corporation’s (DRC) eDIRECT system instead of using Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) in order to generate precode labels for the Winter Keystone Exams. By not submitting your precode data to PIMS, assessment results for students may not match PIMS data. This becomes critical as Keystone Exams become a graduation requirement. If student data does not match the data in PIMS, students may not have record of meeting graduation requirements, which becomes crucial beginning with the class of 2017.

Further, the Pennsylvania Code (22 PA Code §4.51(K)) states that the Secretary will report data and pertinent information about the state assessment system to the Board of Education and the General Assembly each September. In order for the Secretary of Education to report these data, PIMS must be the primary data source.

PDE recognizes that the Data Collection Consolidation (DCC) calendar is new and LEAs are struggling to meet the Sept. 29, 2014, deadline for data submission for the Winter Keystone Exam precodes. For this reason, PDE is extending the internal snapshot from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, 2014, to allow LEAs to submit the Student, School Enrollment and Programs Fact templates that are required for this collection. Local education agencies (LEA) have until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2014, to upload data to PIMS to be able to generate precodes for the Winter Keystone Exams. It is expected that all LEAs will comply.

Please contact the PIMS help desk if you have questions on data fields or you need assistance with uploading your data. The contact information is 800.661.2423 or ra-DDQDataCollections@pa.gov.

Please contact PDE’s Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting (PAR) with other questions at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

October is National Principals Month

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 3:10:57 PM EDT

On September 23, 2014, the Pennsylvania Senate introduced and adopted Senate Resolution 453 (Sen. Pat Vance, R-31), recognizing October 2014 as “National Principals Month” in Pennsylvania.

Join PAESSP, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Association of Elementary School Principals to celebrate principals in Pennsylvania and across the country during National Principals Month!

National Principals Month is an opportunity to say “thank you” to principals everywhere and to share with the community all the great things that principals do.

As you plan your National Principals Month activities, be sure to check out the national associations’ “Ideas for Celebrating” and the “interactive National Principals Month wall,” where you can read about and post activities happening in schools and communities nationwide.

Please visit http://www.principalsmonth.org/

Acting Secretary of Education Announces Flexible Instructional Days Pilot Program for PA Schools

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 3:31:38 PM EDT

Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq announced that a Flexible Instructional Days pilot program is available to schools across the commonwealth. Flexible Instructional Days offer schools the ability to use non-traditional educational delivery methods on regularly scheduled school days in which circumstances, such as inclement weather, necessitate an alternate approach. The program is effective in the current school year.

Click here for the full press release.

Source: PA Department of Education Press Release, http://www.education.state.pa.us, Sept. 22, 2014.

Attention Secondary Members -- Congress Shadowing Visits

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 11:17:16 AM EDT

You know that outstanding school leaders make for outstanding schools, but sometimes it's not easy to communicate the numerous ways that good principals enhance their school communities. We firmly believe that one of the most powerful methods for conveying this message to policymakers is simply to let them see for themselves.

To supplement the exceptional efforts of our grassroots network of principals in advocacy, we encourage you to ask one of your members of Congress to shadow you for a day over the Columbus Day congressional recess. Shadowing provides a wonderful opportunity for members of Congress and congressional staffers to experience firsthand the role and responsibilities of exemplary principals. Furthermore, it provides the perfect occasion for you to highlight the excellence in leadership NASSP principals provide to schools, educators and students around the country.

If you like, you can email your member of Congress this template invitation to participate in the shadowing program.

Use the following web address to invite a representative to shadow you for a day.

http://www.principalsmonth.org/shadowing.php

Legislators Eye State Pension System Fix

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 2:19:42 PM EDT

State Rep. Mike Tobash rolled out a new website this month to outline Pennsylvania’s current pension crisis. The site also includes details about the hybrid pension plan solution. It features a video that outlines the current public pension crisis, and its $50 billion debt and explains how the state acquired this unsustainable debt.

Click here to read the full article.

Source: The Philadelphia Tribune, Sept. 18, 2014.

Register Now for the 2014 Annual Safe Schools Conference

Wed, 17 Sep 2014 11:37:30 AM EDT

Registration is now open for the 2014 annual Safe Schools Conference, "Keeping Our Children Safe: Strategies for Schools and Communities Safe Schools." This year's conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey located in Grantville, Pa., on October 8-9, 2014. Click here for more information and to register.

PIMS Training on the Data Collection for Precodes on the Winter Keystone Exams

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 1:00:16 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is providing an opportunity for local education agencies (LEA) to attend an online training that will address the data elements required to be uploaded to the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS), an explanation of the student and school enrollment templates, the internal snapshot, and data used for generating precodes. The training will be followed by a question and answer period.

PDE will be offering four webinar sessions via "GoToMeeting" on Sept. 18-19, 2014. Presenters will be from PDE’s Divisions of Performance Analysis and Reporting and Data Quality (PIMS).

To register, please select one of the links provided below. Each session has a distinct registration link. Be sure to select the link associated with the session you plan to attend. Upon registration, a link will be emailed to you.

Note: Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the specific system requirements and link for joining the webinar you selected:

Sept. 18, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/536749194

Sept. 18, 2014, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/274826834

Sept. 19, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/305414770

Sept. 19, 2014, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/332043650

Please contact PDE’s Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting with any questions at 717.705.2343.

Pennsylvania Earns ''A'' for Academic Achievement in U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Report

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 8:57:57 AM EDT

Governor Tom Corbett congratulated Pennsylvania’s students, parents, taxpayers, educators and school leaders for earning an “A” in academic achievement, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on K-12 Educational Effectiveness.

As noted in the chamber’s report, “student performance in Pennsylvania is very strong,” based upon results of the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which found that:

44 percent of fourth graders performed at or above grade level in math, compared to the national average of 42 percent;
40 percent of fourth graders performed at or above grade level in reading, compared to 34 percent nationally;
42 percent of eighth graders performed at or above grade level in math, compared to 34 percent nationally; and
42 percent of eighth graders performed at or above grade level in reading, compared to the national average of 35 percent.

Pennsylvania also received high marks for postsecondary and workforce readiness and international competitiveness.

The 2014-15 state budget invests nearly $12 billion into early, basic and postsecondary education, which represents 41 percent of total state spending.

More than $10 billion has been allocated for public schools this year, which is an increase of $1.5 billion, or 17 percent, since the Governor took office.

This year’s budget also provides $374 million for the state’s high-quality early education programs, such as Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance and Early Intervention. This is an increase of $19.5 million, or 5.5 percent, over last year. The state budget also allocates more than $1.6 billion for postsecondary education, such as student grants and institutional support.

New this year is the Governor’s Ready to Succeed Scholarship, which will offset the cost of postsecondary education for middle-income students. This $5 million program provides up to $2,000 to eligible students whose families earn up to $110,000.

In 2012, the Governor signed into law legislation that revised the state’s educator evaluation system for teachers and principals. The new system not only considers traditional teacher practice, such as observations and lesson planning, but also, for the first time, includes multiple measures of student achievement. This will provide educators with information about their strengths as well as areas that are in need of improvement.

Last year, the state launched the new School Performance Profile, which provides student, parents and taxpayers with comprehensive information on how public schools are performing.

The profile includes numerous indicators of a school’s academic health, such as student performance on the state assessments; student academic growth; graduation, promotion and attendance rates; advance placement course work; ACT; and SAT.

The Chamber’s report highlighted an area in need of significant attention: the state’s pension systems, which continue to consume a greater portion of the state budget.

The Governor noted the fiscal strain on the state and its taxpayers as a result of the pension crisis:

Property taxes are rising: One hundred sixty-three school districts requested exemptions to increase property taxes, 99.4 percent of which cited pension costs as the reason for the exemption.
Pension costs mean less money for important programs and services: Pension costs are consuming more than 60 cents of every new dollar of state general fund revenues.
Our pension debt is growing quickly: Pennsylvania’s pension costs are approximately $50 billion, and in just three years, those costs will rise to $65 billion. Each Pennsylvania taxpayer would need to contribute approximately $13,000 to eliminate the current debt.

Source: PDE Press Release (excerpts), Sept. 12, 2014.

Statewide Virtual Kick-Off Event - Campaign for Fair Education Funding - 9/30/14

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:17:45 AM EDT

PAESSP is a governing board partner with the Campaign for Fair Education Funding. An informational Statewide Virtual Kick-Off event will occur on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, and be broadcast at all IUs across the state. We urge all school leaders to attend the session at their own local IU to learn about the issues surrounding school funding and how we can work together to assure fair funding for all children.

Please click here for the flyer to register for the event.

Public Review Site for Academic Content in English Language Arts and Mathematics

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 9:38:37 AM EDT

The Pensylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Eligible Content review site is scheduled to go live soon.

This site is designed with three goals in mind:

Increase awareness and understanding of our state’s Eligible Content – the grade by grade statements that define what we want our students to be able to know and do
Solicit actionable feedback on the Eligible Content as part of the Pennsylania Department of Education’s review process
Provide PSSA/Keystone Exam sample questions for English Language Arts and Mathematics for each tested grade/subject.

Click here for more information.

Click here for the State Board Proposal – Focusing on Academic Content in ELA and Mathematics.

2014 Safe Schools Conference

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 1:28:33 PM EDT

This professional development opportunity will focus on creating a positive school culture that supports academic success and provides a safe teaching and learning environment. The event will feature state and national experts presenting the latest research in school safety and youth violence prevention, effective program models, promising practices, networking opportunities and more during institutes, plenary sessions and workshops.

School administrators, student support personnel, teachers, school nurses, Student Assistance Program team members, school resource officers, local law enforcement and other community partners are encouraged to attend.

This event is presented by the Center for Safe Schools and the Highmark Foundation in partnership with Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Mid-Atlantic Equity Assistance Center.

For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.safeschools.info/professional-development/2014-safe-schools-conference

Training Opportunity - ?Getting Ready? for the 2015 State Assessments

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:59:31 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is providing the following training opportunity: “GETTING READY” for the 2015 State Assessments

Assessment specialists from the Division of Instructional Quality will present information on the:

• Winter Wave 1 Keystone Exams to be administered Dec. 3 – 17, 2014

• Winter Wave 2 Keystone Exams to be administered Jan. 7 – 21, 2015

• PSSA Grades 3 – 8 English Language Arts to be administered April 13 –17, 2015

• PSSA Grades 3 – 8 Mathematics to be administered April 20 – 24, 2015

• PSSA Grades 4 and 8 Science to be administered April 27 – May 1, 2015

• PSSA Make-Ups to be administered May 4 – 8, 2015 (or sooner)

• Spring Keystone Exams to be administered May 13 – 27, 2015

• Summer Keystone Exams to be administered July 27 –31, 2015

The many changes from previous test administrations will be highlighted. In addition, information on Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English state-to-state for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be discussed. Opportunities will be provided for questions.

Presentations will be made via “GoToMeeting™.” To register, go to the link provided for each session:

October 22, 2014 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., the link is: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/454209778

October 23, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., the link is: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/856561818

October 23, 2014 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., the link is: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/170158466

A link to the recording of one of the sessions, along with the PowerPoint, will be posted to the PDE website as soon as possible following the sessions. For more information, contact the Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, PDE, at 717-265-7655.

Project-Based Assessment Evaluators - Statewide Review Panel

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 9:58:05 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is seeking qualified educators to assist in the evaluation of completed Project-Based Assessments in Algebra I, Biolog, and Literature. Teachers, principals and curriculum specialists are welcome to apply. Evaluators must hold certification in the subject area in which they are applying to evaluate.

Educators will participate in online training and will receive projects electronically via a secure site. Act 48 hours will be awarded for training and project evaluation.

More information on the Project-Based Assessments is available on the Standards Aligned System website at http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/About.aspx.

Applicants may submit an application at http://pba.pdesas.org/signup.

Questions may be directed to helpdesk@pdesas.org.

Development of Project-Based Assessments

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 9:56:56 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is seeking educators interested in participating in the development of Project-Based Assessments for Algebra I, Biology and Literature. Project-Based Assessments are for students who are unable to meet Chapter 4 requirements relating to high school graduation through the Keystone Exams.

Pennsylvania educators certified to teach these subjects are welcome to apply. The initial session is scheduled for October 14, 15 and 16, 2014, at PaTTAN Harrisburg. Two additional days, if needed, are scheduled for November 5 and 6. PDE will reimburse participants for expenses and will offer a substitute stipend not to exceed $100/day.

To submit an application to participate in this work, go to http://www.pdesas.org/Main/News/576150 to download the application.

Questions: contact Ashley Hale at ahale@pls3rdlearning.com.

Principals Question Role of Test Scores in New Evaluation Process

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 8:53:41 AM EDT

When Alle-Kiski Valley school superintendents evaluate their principals' performance this year, student achievement will be half the equation. This school year, the principals' performance will be evaluated through a set of criteria designed to improve performance and accountability, under the state's Educator Effectiveness Project. A similar evaluation tool was put into play last year for teachers. “A lot of it is in line with what we are implementing now,” said Matthew Curci, Apollo-Ridge superintendent. “A lot of it has to do with documentation. Obviously, we'll have to tweak a little bit to fall in line with the state process, but what they're asking for is similar.”

One aspect of the new evaluation process for principals — that educators don't like — is the inclusion of how students perform on standardized tests.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Trib Live (www.triblive.com), Tom Yerace, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, 12:51 a.m.

Special Education State Performance Plan Stakeholders? Input ? DEADLINE EXTENDED

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 1:26:32 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW), is working on its State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report. The State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report will describe how the Commonwealth will improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities, ages birth-21, and comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). States must submit their new State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report to the United States Department of Education by Feb. 1, 2015, and it must include a description of targets and strategies to guide improvement through federal fiscal year 2018.

The State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report is built upon federally mandated indicators of compliance and performance. Each indicator includes baseline data, annual measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities. It is being developed with significant input from the Pennsylvania Special Education Advisory Panel, the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention, and other stakeholders. PDE and DPW are requesting stakeholders’ input on targets and improvement activities for the following indicators:

School-Age Indicators

Indicator 2 Dropout Rates

Indicator 3B Participation in Statewide Assessment

Indicator 4A Suspension and Expulsion Rates

Indicator 5 Educational Placement (Least Restrictive Environment, or LRE)

Indicator 8 School Facilitated Parent Involvement

Indicator 14 Postsecondary Employment and/or Education

Indicator 15 Due Process Resolution Session Agreements

Indicator 16 Mediation Agreements

Indicator 17 State Systemic Improvement Plan

Persons interested in submitting comments in writing will be able to do so by visiting the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network’s website at www.pattan.net through Sept. 19, 2014.

Questions regarding the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report may be addressed to Sandy Zeleznik, Special Education Adviser, at szeleznik@pa.gov.

State Tries To Improve its Rollout of School Profiles

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 1:03:03 PM EDT

Almost a year since the state bungled its disclosure of school performance profiles, Pennsylvania lacks an official release date for its latest batch, Department of Education spokesman Tim Eller said on Friday. “We're thinking late September, but we won't have anything set in stone for at least another week,” he said.

Click here for the full article

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Aug. 23, 2014.

New PDK/Gallup Poll Finds Declining Public Confidence in Uncle Sam?s Education Policies

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:02:44 AM EDT

The American public has sharpened its belief that the federal government should not play a dominant role in public education, with a majority saying they simply do not support initiatives that they believe were created or promoted by federal policymakers, a new survey shows. Moreover, only 27 percent of respondents give President Barack Obama a grade of “A” or “B” for his performance in support of public schools – down from 41 percent in 2011. A majority of those surveyed, 54 percent, do not think standardized tests are helpful to teachers; many do not understand how charter schools work, and the number of Americans saying they are familiar with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) has skyrocketed in just one year, with a majority saying they oppose the standards.

Those and other findings are contained in the 46^th edition of the PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, released August 20, 2014.

Click here for the full press release.

46^th Annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools

PAESSP Partners with PDE on Launch of Pennsylvania Learns

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 9:23:16 AM EDT

PAESSP proudly partnered with PDE on a new initiative known as Pennsylvania Learns. PA Learns combines the latest technologies with rich and relevant content and offers educators a vital resource in delivering lessons and courses to students. The material is available FREE of charge to educators and is hosted on iTunesU which is accessible by downloading the app on your iPad or iPhone. Once in iTunesU, you simply search for Pennsylvania Learns and the courses will populate.

School leaders have been asking for a resource such as this especially for remediation of the keystones. The lessons and courses are aligned to the new state standards and the courses in Biology, Algebra and English Language Arts can be used by students for both remediation and enrichment. We hope all educators will become familiar with what Pennsylvania Learns and utilize this valuable resource with students.

I was in attendance at the press release in Garnet Valley School District and here is an excerpt from the event:

Governor Tom Corbett today was joined by lawmakers, superintendents, teachers, higher education representatives and education partners at Garnet Valley School District, Delaware County, to launch Pennsylvania Learns on iTunes U - a collection of free, online, educational resources.

Pennsylvania Learns on iTunes U brings state standards-aligned resources to the world's largest online catalog of free educational content that helps educators create courses, including lectures, assignments, books, quizzes and syllabi and offer them to millions of iOS users.

"This initiative, which is the culmination of nearly a year of work among various education partners, is designed to provide middle and high school students, parents and teachers with access to no-cost, high-quality, state standards-aligned resources to increase student achievement," Gov. Corbett said. "I want to thank all of the educators as well as the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals and the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development for their contributions to this project, and their continued commitment to students."

~ Paul M. Healey, Ph.D., PAESSP Executive Director

Manderino To Head New School Funding Campaign

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 10:11:00 AM EDT

A former state lawmaker with a reputation for consensus-building will manage a newly formed, non-partisan campaign to address one of Pennsylvania’s most important and challenging issues: the funding of its public schools. Kathy Manderino has been named campaign manager for a new school funding campaign that includes more than 40 organizations representing educators, business, labor, faith-based organizations and civic and child advocacy groups who want to see the commonwealth find a long-term solution to adequately and equitably fund public schools. “School funding is, without question, one of the toughest issues facing Pennsylvania, but it’s also arguably the most important,” Manderino said. “So many facets of our commonwealth – jobs, culture, community, quality of life – are dependent upon and shaped by the education we provide for our children. How we fund that education really does dictate the future of Pennsylvania, and I’m excited to help advance such a critical discussion.”

Click here for the full article.

Source: EPLC Website, August 18, 2014 (Text of August 18 press release from Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children).

Ron Tomalis Resigns Under Pressure as Tom Corbett's Education Adviser

Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:58:44 AM EDT

Ron Tomalis is resigning from his nearly $140,000 job as Gov. Tom Corbett's special adviser on higher education. The move, announced Tuesday and effective Aug. 26, comes after weeks of pressure on Tomalis to step down after news reports revealed little evidence of work done in the role Corbett created for him in June 2013. Click here for the full article.
Source: Allentown Morning Call, Aug. 13, 2014.

PAESSP Seeking Applications for Secondary School Leader Awards

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:49:12 AM EDT

PAESSP is currently accepting nominations for High School Principal of the Year, Middle Level Principal of the Year and Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year awards. These are State awards which will be given at the annual banquet in October in Pittsburgh. Anyone interested (secondary members only) in applying for one of these awards should complete and forward the attached application to the PAESSP office by September 8, 2014.

Click here for a description or the award criteria, or click here for the award application. We look forward to honoring some secondary school leaders at our conference. Thanks for all you do on behalf of the many children across the Commonwealth.

Grell's Pension Reform Plan Produces Some Savings But Only By Borrowing $9 Billion

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 9:48:27 AM EDT

Rep. Glen Grell's pension reform idea that would impact future state and school employees would produce savings that range between $27 billion and $30.5 billion savings for the two state pension funds over 30 years, according to an actuarial review of his plan released on Wednesday. But for taxpayers who foot the bill, the bulk of those savings for the Public School Employees' Retirement System and State Employees' Retirement System would be offset by having to pay off a $9 billion pension obligation bond that the Hampden Twp. Republican lawmaker's plan would require.
Click here for the full article.

Source: Harrisburg Patriot-News, July 30, 2014.

PA Not Alone in Having Pension Woes, Pew Notes

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 8:43:46 AM EDT

Pennsylvania is not alone in its public pension problems. Other states have struggled as well.

Nationwide, total debt facing state pension plans is $915 billion, according to the Public Sector Retirement Systems project of the Pew Charitable Trusts. “Only 15 states have consistently made at least 95 percent of the full actuarially required contributions for their pension plans from 2010 through 2012; the remaining 35 states (including Pennsylvania) fell short in at least one year,” according to the project website. And since last fall, the director of that project, Greg Mennis, has been trying to help Pennsylvania solve its pension problems.

In an interview last week, Mennis said his group has offered three basic pieces of advice to Mike Brubaker, R-36th, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and John P. Blake, D-22nd, the committee’s minority chair. “First, Pennsylvania has to commit to paying the current bill; second, we think they should establish a funding task force or study commission to come up with a comprehensive and transparent solution to this long-standing problem; and third, if that solution is some kind of hybrid plan design, that they consider a simple and proven hybrid model,” Mennis said.

Click here to read the full story.

Source: Daily Local News, www.dailylocal.com, by Evan Brandt, posted 07/28/14, 4:55 PM EDT.

Student Performance Measures for Classroom Teachers - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:25:29 AM EDT

Attention Members: Dr. Paul Healey, PAESSP executive director, wanted you to have this important information regarding Student Performance Measures for Classroom Teachers.

The following FAQs are provided for guidance purposes only. It is recommended that any decision or action taken by a Local Education Agency (LEA) related to evaluation of its professional and temporary professional employees be made in consultation with the LEA's solicitor.

Click here for the FAQs.

Hopewell Principal Begins Term as President-Elect of National Educational Leadership Organization

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:08:07 PM EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2014

Contact: Bob Farrace, NASSP Director of Public Affairs - farraceb@nassp.org - 703-860-7257

Hopewell Principal Begins Term as President-Elect of National Educational Leadership Organization

Longtime principal Michael Allison to represent school leaders nationwide

Click here for full press release.

PAESSP Conference Early Bird Registration Discount Deadline Has Been Extended - August 1, 2014!

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:59:25 AM EDT

The Early Bird Registration Discount Deadline has been extended for the PAESSP Conference until Friday, August 1, 2014. The cost for a member is: $300. The cost for a non-member is: $400.

Click here to register now!

Being Poor Helps Districts When it Comes to State Education Funding

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 2:09:39 PM EDT

When it comes to divvying up the state dollars going into public education, it's good to be poor.

A good chunk of the $12 billion going into education in the recently enacted 2014-15 state budget that Gov. Tom Corbett signed last week is driven out by a distribution formula that directs a disproportionate amount of state funding to poorer districts. "The premise of it has always been to provide more state funding to less wealthy school districts just because of their inability to raise local funds," said Tim Eller, press secretary for the state Department of Education.

Click here for full story.

Source: www.pennlive.com (Patriot-News), by Jan Murphy on July 14, 2014 at 3:21 PM, updated July 14, 2014 at 4:32 PM.

REVISED -- The Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment 1 Percent Cap

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:30:08 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is re-sending this PENN*LINK to add the password needed to join the webinar on July 14-15, 2014.

PDE is providing an opportunity for local education agencies (LEA) to attend an online training that will address information about the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) 1 percent cap and a demonstration of the Data Recognition Corporation eDIRECT system followed by a question and answer period.

PDE will be offering four webinar sessions via WebEx on July 15-16, 2014. Presenters will be from PDE's Divisions of Performance Analysis and Reporting and the Division of Data Quality, along with the Data Recognition Corporation.

To register, please select one of the links provided below. Each session has a distinct registration link. Be sure to select the link associated with the session you plan to attend.

REVISED: Please use the password "train1" to access the webinar.

July 15, 2014, from 10 a.m. to noon

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=800456765

July 15, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=803344381

July 16, 2014, from 10 a.m. to noon

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=805555905

July 16, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=803313723

The training will be recorded and posted on the PDE webpage at www.education.state.pa.us/pas. Please contact PDE's Bureau of Assessment and Accountability with any questions at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

Updated Links to Various Subsidies as Posted by the PA Department of Education

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 9:14:26 AM EDT

Summary of State Education Appropriations -- Click here to see a summary of the enacted funding levels for 2014-15 Department of Education appropriations.

Basic Subsidy – The budget provides level funding at $5.26 billion. Click here to see the basic subsidy distribution for each school district.

Ready to Learn Block Grant – The budget provides $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success, and funding for the Accountability Block Grant that supports pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten and other proven educational programs at the current level of $100 million. Click here to see the RTL Block Grant distribution for each school district and charter school.

Special Education -- Each school district will receive the same special education payments as it did in 2013-14. An additional $19.8 million will be distributed using a new three-tier formula that factors in categorical student costs, district scarcity/size, and market-value aid ratio. Click here to see the distribution of special education funds for each school district.

Secondary Career and Technical Education Subsidy -- The budget includes $62 million for the Career and Technical Education appropriation. This amount is the same amount appropriated in 2013-14. This appropriation allocates an estimated $49.6 million for the Secondary Career and Technical Education Subsidy (SCTES). Click here for more information and subsidies.

Source: PSBA Legislative Update, July 10, 2014.

2014-15 State Budget Signed Into Law

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 9:05:25 AM EDT

Governor Corbett signed into law the 2014-15 state budget and its enabling legislation that allocates more than $10 billion in state support of public schools.

Below are highlights of the enacted 2014-15 state budget:

Basic Education Funding – $5.53 billion
- Each school district will receive the same amount it received in 2013-14.
- Ready to Learn Block Grant – $200 million – increased funding of $100 million
  - Each school district will receive an amount equal to its 2013-14 Accountability Block Grant allocation pursuant to Section 2599.2 of the Public School Code.
  - Each school entity (school district and charter school) will receive a Student-Focused Funding Supplement calculated as the sum of the following:
    - A per-student factor equal to $231 multiplied by the product of each school entity’s average daily membership (ADM) and its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR).
    - An English language learner factor equal to $34.65 ($231 x 15%) multiplied by the product of the number students in the school entity identified as limited English proficient and its MV/PI AR.
    - A poverty factor equal to $57.75 ($231 x 25%) multiplied by the product of the number of students in the school entity identified as economically disadvantaged and its MV/PI AR.
School entities can use their Ready to Learn Block Grant to enhance learning opportunities for students through initiatives, such as:
- The eligible uses under the Accountability Block Grant program.
- Pre-kindergarten to grade 3 curriculum alignment;
- Ensuring that all students are performing at grade level by third grade in both reading and math;
- Extended learning opportunities for supplemental and customized student instruction for pre-kindergarten to grade 3;
- Training to support early literacy;
- Supplemental instruction in biology, English language arts and algebra I;
- Instructional coaches;
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education;
- Implementation of the State Literacy Plan; and
- Hybrid learning.
- Special Education – 1.05 billion – an increase of $20 million.
  - These new dollars will be distributed based on categories of support for students with disabilities.
  - Contingency funds (1 percent of the special education allocation) is distributed in the following manner:
    - For school districts and charter schools that submit contingency fund applications for students whose costs are $75,000 to $100,000, the department will subtract the state subsidy and multiply the difference by the school entities’ market value/personal income aid ratio.
    - School entities that submit contingency fund applications for students whose costs are greater than $100,000, the department will subtract the state subsidy.
    - The contingency fund will be capped at approximately $300,000 for any school entity.
Note: No changes will be made to the calculation for how charter schools receive funding for students with disabilities.
Career and Technical Education – $62 million
Career and Technical Education Equipment Grants – $3 million
Pupil Transportation – $625.3 million
School Employees’ Social Security – $500.8 million – an increase of $14.5 million
School Employees’ Retirement – $1.16 billion – an increase of $151 million
Special Education, Approved Private Schools – $95.3 million
Pre-K Counts – $97.3 million – an increase of $10 million
Head Start Supplemental Assistance – $39.2 million
Early Intervention – $237.5 million – an increase of $9.5 million
Pennsylvania Charter Schools for the Deaf and Blind – $42.8 million – an increase of $1.1 million
School Food Services – $32.5 million – an increase of $467,000

To obtain additional information about the enacted 2014-15 budget, or to view school entity allocations, visit www.education.state.pa.us/budget.

2012-13 District Performance Profile Scores

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 2:28:26 PM EDT

Please be advised that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has received a request under the Right to Know Law from the media regarding the 2012-13 District Performance Profile scores. This data was provided to all local education agencies in February as part of the Ready to Learn Block Grant that the Governor proposed in the 2014-15 budget.

The District Performance Profile scores will be released to the media and made public in early August.

If you have any questions, please email ra-educationsecretary@pa.gov.

The Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment 1 Percent Cap

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 2:24:01 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is providing an opportunity for local education agencies (LEAs) to attend an online training that will address information about the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) 1 percent cap and a demonstration of the Data Recognition Corporation eDIRECT system followed by a question and answer period.

PDE will be offering four webinar sessions via WebEx on July 15-16, 2014. Presenters will be from PDE’s Divisions of Performance Analysis and Reporting and the Division of Data Quality, along with the Data Recognition Corporation.

To register, please select one of the links provided below. Each session has a distinct registration link. Be sure to select the link associated with the session you plan to attend.

July 15, 2014, from 10 a.m. to noon

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=800456765

July 15, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=803344381

July 16, 2014, from 10 a.m. to noon

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=805555905

July 16, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

https://datarecognitioncorpaudio.webex.com/datarecognitioncorpaudio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=803313723

The training will be recorded and posted on the PDE webpage at www.education.state.pa.us/pas. Please contact PDE’s Bureau of Assessment and Accountability with any questions at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

Pensions, Social Services Driving Costs of Proposed PA Budget

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 9:25:32 AM EDT

While the budget wrangling in the Capitol isn’t complete — Gov. Tom Corbett hasn’t indicated if he will sign the $29.1 billion spending plan the General Assembly sent him last week — this article takes a look at some of the budget highlights as the plan is written.

Click here to read the article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 7, 2014.

Proposed Budget has Few Increases for Education in Pennsylvania

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 10:39:22 AM EDT

Modest increases in special education and block grant funding in the state budget that the Legislature approved will not be enough to overcome the challenge of flat funding in the $5.526 billion basic education subsidy for school districts, according to school officials.

Click here for the full article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 5, 2014.

Governor Reiterates Call for Pension Legislation; Budget Signing on Hold

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 9:49:13 AM EDT

The standstill over the state budget continued through a second day of the fiscal year Wednesday as Gov. Tom Corbett again urged legislators to send him a bill remaking the pensions of future state and school workers.

Click here for the article.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 2, 2014.

Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in Schools

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 1:15:55 PM EDT

The United States Department of Education and United States Department of Justice have updated guidance to state education agencies to assist public elementary and secondary institutions to ensure enrollment processes are consistent with federal law and provide all students with equal access to an education.

The updated documents urge local education agencies (LEA) to review the list of documents used to establish proof of residency, proof of age, use of social security numbers, and documentation of race and ethnicity to ensure that these do not bar or discourage a student who is undocumented or whose parents are undocumented from enrolling. Furthermore, LEAs are encouraged to review enrollment data for precipitous drops in enrollment of any group of students that may signal barriers to their participation.

A guidance letter, fact sheet, and a question and answer document designed to provide LEAs with additional tools and practical guidance can be accessed in English and Spanish at the links below. This updated guidance includes examples of permissible and impermissible practices in the areas of proof of residency, proof of age, use of social security numbers and documentation of race and ethnicity.

The English guidance documents:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201405.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-201405.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-factsheet-201405.pdf

The Spanish guidance documents:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201405-sp.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-201405-sp.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-factsheet-201405-sp.pdf

For general information about equal access to public education, please visit the U.S. Department of Justice's website at http://www.justice.gov/crt/edo and the U.S. Department of Education's website at http://www2.ed.gov/ocr/index.html.

For Pennsylvania-specific guidance related to enrollment of students in Pennsylvania public schools, please consult the Enrollment of Students Basic Education Circular (BEC) at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/purdon's_statutes/7503/enrollment_of_students/507350.

You may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Educational Opportunities Section, at (877) 292-3804 or at education@usdoj.gov. As well as the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at (800) 421-3481 or at ocr@ed.gov or the Department of Education's Office of the General Counsel at (202) 401-6000.

You may also visit the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights at http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm, for the OCR enforcement office that serves your area.

House Kills Pension Bill; Senate Goes Home in Budget Stalemate with Gov. Tom Corbett

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 8:42:06 AM EDT

The House tossed Gov. Tom Corbett's pension gauntlet back in his lap Tuesday, a day after he vowed not to sign a new budget until lawmakers vote to reform the state's two debt-laden retirement systems. Fifteen Republicans in the GOP-controlled House joined 92 Democrats in voting to ship the leading pension bill to a committee chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, who has disagreed with several pieces of the Republican governor's agenda in the last three years.

Click here for full story.

Source: Allentown Morning Call, July 1, 2014; PSBA Daily EDition, July 2, 2014.

Pennsylvania Pension Reform Takes a Blow as Tobash Plan is Steered into an Ardent Foe's Committee

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 3:17:39 PM EDT

Gov. Tom Corbett's full-court press for public employee pension reform in Pennsylvania took a direct hit Tuesday morning as debate on his preferred option was quickly steered into a House committee headed by a reform foe.

Click here to read more.

Source: Pennlive.com, By Charles Thompson, Posted on July 01, 2014 at 1:14 PM, updated July 01, 2014 at 2:21 PM.

Corbett Wants General Assembly To Send Him 'Meaningful Pension Reform' Before Signing the Budget

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:00:00 AM EDT

Update: Corbett promises review of budget; make no promises of a result

When Gov. Tom Corbett took a look at the $29.1 billion general fund budget plan that the General Assembly sent to him on Monday, it was missing something he wanted.

It lacked any meaningful pension reform to address the single expenditure in the budget that is eating up 60 cents of every new dollar.

Source: Pennlive.com, by Jan Murphy, Posted July 01, 2014 at 12:08 AM, updated July 01, 2014 at 3:07 AM.

Corbett Won't Sign Pa. No-Tax Budget Yet

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:55:00 AM EDT

Gov. Corbett refused late Monday to sign a $29.1 billion budget that the Republican-controlled legislature scrambled to deliver to him just 90 minutes before the midnight deadline.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20140701_As_deadline_looms__Pa__Senate_takes_up_no-tax_budget.html#O5KOFKmwRzqe1Mc2.99

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau, Posted online at www.Philly.com, June 30, 2014.

How Much of the Ready-to-Learn Block Grant Money Will Your School District Receive?

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:07:16 AM EDT

Public schools across Pennsylvania will all be eligible to receive a share of the $200 million set aside in the proposed 2014-15 state budget for a newly named block grant program named Ready to Learn.
Click here for the full story.

Source: Harrisburg Patriot-News, June 30, 2014.

Legislation To Change Keystone Exam Requirements

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:00:00 AM EDT

Passing the Keystone Exams might never become a requirement to graduate from high school in Pennsylvania. The State Senate Education Committee has approved legislation that would leave it up to school districts to determine the effects of not passing the exam.

Click here to read more: http://wesa.fm/post/legislation-change-keystone-exam-requirements

Source: WESA-FM, June 30, 2014.

POSTPONED: PDE?s June 19, 2014, Budget Update and Pension Reform Videoconferences

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 11:16:49 AM EDT

PDE’s Budget Update and Pension Reform Videoconferences scheduled for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2014, are being postponed until later this month.

Governor Corbett continues to work with the General Assembly on pension reform as well as the budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Governor Corbett has stated that pension reform is a significant issue that must be addressed before enacting a budget for next year.

As soon as more information is available, Acting Secretary Dumaresq will schedule webinars to provide an update.

If you have any questions, please email them to ra-educationsecretary@pa.gov.

PDE Releases New Principal Effectiveness Brochure

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 8:47:29 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has released a new brochure on Principal Effectiveness. The .pdf version highlights the various components of the system that will be implemented during the 2014-15 school year. As always, if you have any questions about the Principal Effectiveness System, please don’t hesitate to contact the PAESSP office, (717) 732-4999.

Click here to view and download the brochure.

SB1316: Senate Vote Expected on Overhauled Special Education Funding Formula

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 8:42:18 AM EDT

The state Senate is poised to vote on Wednesday on a bill that overhauls the way the state distributes special education funding to public schools. The new formula distributes resources based on a three-tiered system of funding based on the cost of providing services to special education students and incidence of disability. It moves away from a funding system that assumed all districts had 15 percent of their students with mild disabilities and 1 percent with severe disabilities to educate. The proposed formula is the product of a bipartisan Special Education Funding Commission's work and some last-minute negotiations to make adjustments to address charter schools' concerns about how it treats their special education funding.

The Senate today voted 35-15 to accept an amendment offered by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, to reflect the outcome of the negotiations over the formula's treatment of charter schools. Pileggi said the amendment's intention is to implement the new formula "in a way that allows public charter schools to continue to grow and to thrive."

Click here to read the full article.

Source: www.pennlive.com, by Jan Murphy, Posted on June 17, 2014.

Pennsylvania Legislative Leaders Have Same Goals as Gov. Corbett; Attaining Them May Be a Different

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 8:29:43 AM EDT

Meeting shortly after Gov. Tom Corbett's call for action on pension reform as an essential first part of a 2014-15 budget plan, Pennsylvania House and Senate Republican leaders voiced broad support for the governor's goals. But the GOP legislative leaders cautioned Tuesday that they may be forced to operate on a different order of priorities. "Our concern in the Senate is first to make sure that we pass a responsible, sustainable budget," Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, said earlier Tuesday. "That's our Constitutional obligation. These other bills (public pension reformand liberalization of Pennsylvania's alcohol sales laws) are important bills that we're working on and will continue to work on. "That's not in conflict with the governor's position," Pileggi continued. "But maybe our priorities are a little different."

Click here to read the full article.

Source: www.pennlive.com, by Charlies Thompson, June 17, 2014.

What Budget Deadline?

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 8:27:21 AM EDT

Gov. Corbett on Tuesday said he is willing to miss the June 30 deadline to pass a state budget if more time means he can get his initiatives done. “We need to get this done right rather than quickly,” Corbett said during an afternoon press conference in the Capitol. “So if we are not able to do this budget by June 30, we are not able to do this budget by June 30,” Corbett said of meeting the deadline. “I am willing to be here. … No bluster. No threats. Just facts.”

Having said that, the Republican governor said he was optimistic that he and the GOP-led legislature can meet the deadline for the fiscal year, which begins July 1. But he reiterated his position that he will not consider any proposals to raise new revenue — including a natural gas extraction tax — unless the legislature delivers on two of his priorities: reining in the skyrocketing cost of public employee pensions and privatizing the sale of wine and spirits.

Click here to read the full article.

Source: Inquirer Commonwealth Confidential Blog, by Angela Couloumbis, Posted June 17, 2014.

PA Needs Pension Cuts Before Tax Increase, Gov. Corbett Says

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 8:22:40 AM EDT

Gov. Tom Corbett acknowledged Tuesday that Pennsylvania’s budget situation is not pretty but insisted he will not listen to arguments for a tax increase until lawmakers pass major legislation slashing public employee pension costs. A tax increase is looking increasingly likely as lawmakers eye a state budget for the soon-to-start fiscal year. The alternative — cutting programs, tapping politically sensitive grant programs or forgoing more aid for public schools and human services programs — would be a challenge to pass, said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi. Corbett and Pileggi spoke against the backdrop of closed-door negotiations on Corbett’s $29.4 billion budget plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Stumbling tax collections and risky assumptions, however, have blown a nearly $2 billion hole in that plan.

Click here for the full article.

Source: The Associated Press, by Marc Levy, Posted June 17, 2014.

Regulations for Principal Effectiveness

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 8:16:54 AM EDT

You will find the links below to the final principal evaluation regulations, published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This process has allowed PDE to engage in significant research aimed at assisting building leaders in improving practice that will enhance student achievement. PDE has copyrighted all documents concerning principal evaluation in the Commonwealth.

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol44/44-24/44_24_rr.pdf

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol44/44-24/1244.html

Corbett Signs Legislation Creating Panel To Develop New School Funding Formula

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 8:22:30 AM EDT

Pennsylvania is gearing up to overhaul its education spending under a measure Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law on Tuesday. The Basic Education Funding Commission will study a new way for distributing new state funding to school districts. It is expected to come up with a recommendation next year. Rep. Bernie O'Neill, R-Bucks, pushed for making changes in the way the state allocates money for education, arguing the current formula is obsolete. At present, Pennsylvania divvies up state funding to school districts in proportions that have remained remained fixed in recent years, regardless of demographic changes.

Click here for the full story.

Source: www.pennlive.com, article by Gideon Bradshaw, June 12, 2014.

PAESSP Receives PDE Approval for NEW Act 45 Program

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 9:24:57 AM EDT

PAESSP will be offering a NEW, ACT 45 approved program in the fall titled, “Linking Student Learning to Teacher Supervision and Evaluation.” The program will be held as a pre-conference session on Saturday, October 18, 2014 in conjunction with the 2014 PAESSP Conference at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh.

Participants will receive 30 Act 45 hours for their participation in the session and the completion of pre-session readings and post session activities. The targeted audience is K-12 school leaders and supervisors. Participants will be engaged in activities, discussions and reflection on the following topics:

Review of teacher effectiveness model especially focusing on the 50% observational piece.
Review of PIL initiative and nine standards.
Differentiated supervision options and how they work in conjunction with new teacher effectiveness model.
Data collection techniques that can be used during a classroom observation.
Analysis of data and conferencing of data with teachers.
How to write and monitor effective Teacher Improvement Plans.
Working with the new PDE 82-1 form.

Instructors for the program will be; Dr. Paul M. Healey, PAESSP executive director, Beth Haldeman, elementary principal, Cocalico School District, and Dr. Joseph Clapper, PAESSP assistant executive director.

If interested in this PIL offering, please visit the PAESSP website to register today. You may also want to take advantage of our other PIL session which will be offered during the conference, “Leading the Improvement of School Culture to Maximize Student Learning.” This program also offers 30 Act 45 hours, thus a participant can attain a total of 60 Act 45 hours by taking both programs in October at the state conference.

Register today! Go to www.paessp.org – then go to the State Conference tab on the Main Menu, click on the first drop down tab named Register Now, select Full Conference from the options and the PIL programs will be displayed.

Pennsylvania House Fails To Act on Pensions for School, State Workers

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 9:20:13 AM EDT

The House of Representatives left town for the week Wednesday without a vote on a Republican plan to alter the retirement benefits of future school and state workers.

Republican leadership had indicated the pension proposal, backed by Gov. Tom Corbett, was on the agenda Tuesday, and members discussed the bill in private meetings. But they declined to call a vote that day or the next. “It’s a complex issue, and it just takes a little extra discussion to get people comfortable that it addresses whatever their concerns are,” House Speaker Sam Smith said after the House adjourned. “We’re a little slower this week than I probably would have liked, but we’re still moving forward and hope to get a pension bill passed by the House in the near future.” The Republican-backed proposal is in the form of an amendment to existing legislation, so the House would have to approve the language and then vote again to send the bill to the Senate.

Click here for full article.

Source: Article by Karen Langley and Kate Giammarise / Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau, June 12, 2014.

Different Sort of Money Problem Limits Pension Reform Debate in Pennsylvania

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 10:49:11 AM EDT

There's no question money is at the heart of the state's pension problem. But the money problem limiting lawmakers' debate on reforming the two state pension systems may not be the one you think. The Public Employee Retirement Commission is out of money. In fact, it has spent $20,000 of its next fiscal year's appropriation. So without money, it can't perform actuarial studies on any more pension reform proposals — including the one crafted by Rep. Glen Grell, R-Hampden Township — until after the July 1 start of the new fiscal year, when lawmakers hope to have put this issue to bed and be heading home for their summer break. Click here for full story.

Source: Pennlive.com, by Jan Murphy, June 10, 2014.

Joseph H. Clapper, D.Ed., Hired as Assistant Executive Director of State Principals? Association

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:43:53 AM EDT

June 2014

TO: News Editor/News Director

CONTACT: Sheri L. Thompson, Director of Communications
Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
122 Valley Road
P.O. Box 39
Summerdale, PA 17093
(717) 732-4999 (Phone)
(717) 732-4890 (Fax)
sherit@paessp.org

RELEASE: UPON RECEIPT

Joseph H. Clapper, D.Ed., Hired as Assistant Executive Director of State Principals’ Association

The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP) is pleased to announce the hiring of Joseph H. Clapper, D.Ed., as the assistant executive director. Dr. Clapper brings more than 30 years in public education to the association.

Dr. Clapper will retire this summer from the Quaker Valley School District, Sewickley, Pa., as superintendent of schools. He has held that position since 2007. Prior to this position, he served as superintendent of schools in the North Hills School District in Pittsburgh, and as the assistant superintendent of Quaker Valley School District. He also has experience as a high school and elementary school principal, assistant principal, supervisor of instruction, elementary teacher and secondary English/reading teacher.

In addition, Dr. Clapper was an assistant professor of education at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., teaching undergraduate coursework in educational psychology, foundations of education, elementary and secondary instructional methods and early childhood education, as well as a field experience coordinator and staff development instructor for The Pennsylvania State University. While in this position, he created a new student teaching center in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

“I am thrilled about this unique opportunity to advocate for our profession on behalf of the members of PAESSP. I am proud to represent PAESSP and will do my part to improve educational opportunities for students and educators across the Commonwealth.”

Dr. Clapper has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his highly esteemed career in education, such as the Penn State Leadership and Service Award (which will be awarded in October 2014); the Tri-State Distinguished Educator Award (March 2014); the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrator’s (PASA) Award for Service to the Profession (2013); and the William E. Caldwell Award for Excellence in Administration and Supervision from the Pennsylvania School Study Council (2013). He currently serves on PASA’s Board of Governors; as the chairperson of the Leadership Services Team for the superintendents in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit; and is the Superintendent of Record for the Parkway Career and Technology Center. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s State Assessment Advisory Committee, the American Association of School Administrators, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, among others.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a master’s degree in educational administration from Shippensburg University. He earned his doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction from The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Clapper is married to Dr. Christy Clapper, who is a retired school counselor. Their daughter, Laura, will be pursuing her doctorate in music in the fall at Florida State University.

Dr. Clapper is scheduled to begin his duties at PAESSP in August, which will include advocacy work for the association; providing assistance to members via professional advice and referring legal matters, where appropriate; and assisting with professional development needs for members.

###

Videoconference Invite: Budget Update and Pension Reform

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 8:53:57 AM EDT

As you progress through the final month of the 2013-14 fiscal year, the Governor and the General Assembly are working toward enacting a state budget for 2014-15.

Over the next two weeks, the Acting Secretary of Education, Carolyn C. Dumaresq, Ed.D., will be holding four videoconferences to provide an update on the state budget and to discuss pension reform.

You will be able to participate in these videoconferences at your local intermediate unit, or an intermediate that is close to your area.

Below are the dates, times and intermediate units in which you can participate:

Thursday, June 12 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
IU’s: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (Williamsport), 17 (Canton), 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29

Thursday, June 12 – 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
IU’s: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (Williamsport), 17 (Canton), 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29

Thursday, June 19 – 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
IU’s: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (Williamsport), 17 (Canton), 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29

Thursday, June 19 – 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
IU’s: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (Williamsport), 17 (Canton), 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29

If you have any questions, please email ra-educationsecretary@pa.gov.

Educator Dashboard: Early Warning System & Intervention Catalog

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 9:23:04 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), working in collaboration with First Lady Mrs. Susan Corbett's Opening Doors Initiative, has developed a software tool to help schools identify potential student dropouts based on the research of Dr. Robert Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Balfanz's research noted that attendance, behavior and course grades can be key indicators of students at risk for not graduating. The dashboard provides this information in an easy to read format. In addition, the tool provides a customized catalog of interventions populated by the Local Education Agency (LEA) in partnership with community, regional and state agencies and organizations.

This early warning tool is available at no cost to LEAs. Interested LEAs should complete the Application/Readiness Survey available online at www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/early_warning_system.

LEAs will benefit from partnering with their local Student Information System (SIS) vendor in adopting this tool. There will be SIS vendor webinars starting the week of June 9, 2014. Vendors can register by emailing RA-EDEWSINFO@pa.gov.

For further information please email RA-EDEWSINFO@pa.gov, or visit the webpage www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/early_warning_system.

Keystone Exams: PA Bill Would End Plans for Mandatory Graduation Tests

Thu, 29 May 2014 8:26:59 AM EDT

A bill that would eliminate a key component of the state's Common Core curriculum -- passing proficiency tests to graduate from high school -- was introduced Wednesday [May 28] by Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D., Chester), his third attempt to send the tests to the back of the class. Critics have argued that the tests represent an unfunded mandate for school districts and penalize students from underprivileged schools. Dinniman, co-chairman of the Senate Education Committee, has also sought funding for districts to administer the tests, and to limit the test subjects to biology, algebra and language arts. Acting State Education Secretary Carolyn Dumaresq has said she would not increase the number of tests for the time being.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140529_Pa__bill_would_end_plans_for_mandatory_graduation_tests.html#Zb88vXiHPvt8PY4v.99

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, Kathy Boccella, Inquirer Staff Writer, posted May 28, 2014.

PIMS Data Collection on the Accountability Reporting for Keystone Exams

Tue, 27 May 2014 12:47:57 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is providing an opportunity for local education agencies (LEA) to attend a question and answer (Q&A) session that will address the data elements required to be uploaded to the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS) for the Accountability Reporting for the Keystone Exams. The presentation related to this data collection can be downloaded and reviewed prior to the session from the PDE website at www.education.state.pa.us/pas, which will be located under the trainings subheading.

PDE will be offering two Q&A webinar sessions via "GoToMeeting" on May 28, 2014. Presenters will be from PDE's Division of Performance Analysis and Reporting.

To register, please select one of the links provided below. Each session has a distinct registration link. Be sure to select the link associated with the session you plan to attend.

Note: Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the specific system requirements and link for joining the webinar you selected:

May 28, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/593063962

May 28, 2014, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/622564922

Please contact PDE's Bureau of Assessment and Accountability with any questions at 717.705.2343 or ra-pas@pa.gov.

Register Now for the 2014 PAESSP Conference!

Tue, 27 May 2014 9:31:25 AM EDT

Register now for the 2014 PAESSP Conference, Oct. 19-21, at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. This year's theme is "Principal Effectiveness: Leading Schools in a New Age of Accountability." National keynote speakers are Dr. Ray Jorgensen, Michael Fullan and Alan November. Click here to register online or watch for registration materials in the mail and in the May issue of the PA Administrator magazine.

Pennsylvania School Performance Profile Data Review and Release

Wed, 21 May 2014 1:44:40 PM EDT

As PDE prepares for the fall 2014 release of the School Performance Profile (SPP), it is important that all parties are up to date with contact information, timeline and data elements for the data review cycle. On May 22, 2014, districts will be receiving an email that will request your attention regarding the following.

1. LEAs must ensure that contact information for each local education agency (LEA) superintendent, career and technical center director and chief executive officer is current. Future correspondence associated with the release of the 2013-14 SPP will be directed to the email address we have on file for each LEA superintendent, career and technical center director and chief executive officer. If you anticipate that this contact information will change, please notify ra-paprofile@pa.gov when this change takes place. (Note: If you have a change in contact information, be sure to make the change in EdNA as well.) In addition, please ensure the email address ra-paprofile@pa.gov is not blocked by your email security system as this email address will be the originating (sending) email address for all future SPP correspondence.

2. The timeline outlining milestones associated with the release of the 2013-14 School Performance Profile (SPP) will be attached to the email. Please note that the first major review period is July 1-21, 2014 (Phase I data).

3. A template that will identify each data element by phase and data source will be attached to the email. LEAs are encouraged to begin compiling applicable documents (Accuracy Certification Statements, Cognos reports, SAT/ACT reports, etc.) in preparation for the actual review phase. Specific instructions on accessing the data review site, via your secure access link, as well as completing the actual review will be provided when you receive your 2013-14 access links (on or before June 30, 2014, for Phase I).

Please direct any questions to ra-paprofile@pa.gov.

Changes in Comprehensive Planning Tool

Wed, 21 May 2014 10:14:27 AM EDT

Updates have been made to the Comprehensive Planning Tool in order for districts to fulfill the obligations included in Chapter 16 of the Pennsylvania Code (22 Pa Code §16) regarding the Gifted Education plan.

a. Core Foundations - Safe and Supportive Schools

1. 22 Pa Code §16.4. Strategic plans. Describe your districts screening and evaluation protocols for gifted education.

2. 22 Pa Code §16.4. Strategic plans. Describe the gifted programs* being offered.

*The word "programs" refers to the continuum of services, not one particular option. The requirements for a student's Gifted Individualized Education Plan can be found in the Pennsylvania Code (22 Pa Code §16.32)

b. Core Foundations - Professional Education

1. 22 Pa Code §16.5. personnel. (c) A school district and intermediate unit shall provide, under section 1205.1 of Pennsylvania School Code (24 P.S. § 12-1205.1), in-service training for gifted and regular teachers, principals, administrators and support staff persons responsible for gifted education.

Questions about the Comprehensive Planning Tool should be addressed to Jill Neuhard, Comprehensive Planning Statewide Project Manager at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (IU 15) at jneuhard@caiu.org.

Questions about the Gifted Education Plan should be addressed to Tanya Morret, Educational Consultant at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (IU 15) at tmorret@caiu.org.

Get Out and Vote Today!

Tue, 20 May 2014 8:37:32 AM EDT

The polls are open -- get out and vote today!

Evaluation of Principals and Nonteaching Professional Employees

Tue, 20 May 2014 8:27:08 AM EDT

At its recent meeting, the State Board of Education heard an update from Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) staff on the department’s continuing efforts to implement a new system for evaluation for principals and nonteaching professionals. Under the system, “principals” include building principals, assistant principals, vice principals or a director of vocational education. “Nonteaching professional employees” include educational specialists, professional employees holding certificates who are not assigned classroom teacher or principal positions and administrative and supervisory employees.

PDE is preparing to publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin its rating tool in the coming weeks. The tool will include the educator rating form and instructions, and will be included under the Chapter 19 regulations that were established last year for the evaluation of classroom teachers. Act 82 of 2012 requires PDE to create and publish the rating tool by June 30, 2013. According to PDE, the rating form will function as the framework for the evaluation process. Final approval of the tool will be completed on a fast-track course that exempts it from the regulatory review requirements and review by the state attorney general. However, the document must be approved by the governor’s office of general counsel, budget office and policy office prior to publication.

Source: PSBA Legislative Report, May 19, 2014.

PAESSP Hires New Assistant Executive Director - Dr. Joseph H. Clapper

Thu, 15 May 2014 11:21:45 AM EDT

The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP) is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Joseph H. Clapper as the assistant executive director. Dr. Clapper brings more than 30 years in public education to our association.

Click here for more.

Release of the 2013-14 Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form

Wed, 14 May 2014 10:42:45 AM EDT

The Public School Code (24 P. S. § 16-1601-C) requires the disclosure of interscholastic athletic opportunities for all public secondary school entities in Pennsylvania. From this year forward, we will also collect all non-school funds given to athletic teams.

All public school entities with grades 7-12 are required to annually collect data concerning team and financial information for all male and female athletes. School entities must collect the 2013-14 school year data and submit the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

The statutorily-imposed deadline for public school entities to report this information is Oct. 15, 2014.

PDE has posted the Final Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on it’s website at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school services office/9153/disclosure of interscholastic athletic opportunities/1419362. Public school entities must use the disclosure form to report the required information through PIMS by Oct. 15, 2014.

Beginning with this 2013-14 school year, all non-school funds given to athletic teams (booster club, gifts, alumni contributions and purchases) must also be reported.

Please note that public school entities are required to post their disclosure forms on their website and make the forms available to the public no later than November 1 of each year.

PDE is required to post all submitted disclosure forms on its website. In addition, the department will include the information submitted on the disclosure forms in an annual report, which will be provided to the General Assembly by January 15 of each year.

If you have any questions, please email Ra-Athletic-OppReport@pa.gov.

Re-Testing Proficient Students on the Keystone Exam

Fri, 09 May 2014 3:39:48 PM EDT

From Carolyn C. Dumaresq, Acting Secretary, PDE: Since 2011, approximately 8,000 students who already scored proficient on a Keystone Exam were inappropriately retested. Under Chapter 4 (22 Pa. Code § 4.51) (D) Keystone Exams, it states, "A STUDENT WHO HAS ACHIEVED A SCORE OF PROFICIENT OR ADVANCED ON A KEYSTONE SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO RETAKE THE EXAM." This practice is not only prohibited by the regulation, but it also results in additional costs to the Commonwealth. To ensure that LEAs are in compliance with Chapter 4 regulations, and to save the commonwealth unnecessary expenses, please take measures to ensure this practice is halted. Communicate this policy to all staff involved in the administration of the Keystone Exams.

In order to maintain equity in the School Performance Profile (SPP) calculations, scores for any initially proficient student who was retested will be capped at the proficient level for accountability purposes beginning with the 2014 SPP. This action will prevent any LEA from having an unfair advantage when it comes time to calculate the SPP score.