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EPLC Education Notebook
Monday, April 30, 2012 |
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The EPLC Education Notebook (current and past editions) also is available by visiting the EPLC web site at http://www.eplc.org/publications-reports/weekly-policy-notebook/
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PENNSYLVANIA POLICYMAKERS
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate reconvene in voting session on Monday, April 30 at 1:00 PM. |
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CLARIFICATION OF SB 1296
We recently reported on Senate B 1296, and want to add the following clarification.
Senate Bill 1296 (Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-15) would amend the Public School Code regarding superintendent and assistant superintendent contracts for all school districts in Pennsylvania, including school districts of the first class. The bill would require all initial superintendent and assistant superintendent contracts be for a period of not more than three years (grandfathering existing superintendent and assistant superintendent contracts.) SB 1296 sets new requirements for the content of the contracts and subjects them to the Right-to-Know Law. Contracts shall include expected duties, the terms of employment, buy-out and termination provisions, and may include performance criteria as agreed-to by the school board and the superintendent or assistant superintendent. SB 1296 also limits the amount of severance compensation a superintendent or assistant superintendent is entitled to if terminated prior to the expiration of the contract. SB 1296 is awaiting consideration by the full Senate. |
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PA LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION
On April 12, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, by a majority vote 4-1, approved and filed with the Secretary of State, a Preliminary Reapportionment Plan for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The state Supreme Court in January threw out the original plan adopted by the Commission. As a result, the April 24 primary and the November 6 general election ballots are based on the legislative maps enacted in 2001. The Commission's latest proposal, which would take effect in 2014 elections, contains fewer divided municipalities. A copy of the preliminary plan is located on the Commission's website at: www.redistricting.state.pa.us.
The Commission's vote on April 12 triggers a 30-day public comment period. Anyone wishing to submit an alternative plan is requested to file a copy of that plan to the Commission on or before 5:00 PM on May 14, 2012. A public hearing is scheduled for May 2 at 2:00 PM in Harrisburg. For more information, click here. |
PA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
- On April 2, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released the Report on Referendum Exceptions for School Year 2012-2013, which provides detailed information on the number of school districts throughout Pennsylvania that have applied and been approved for exceptions under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006. According to the report, of the 497 school districts that operate on a fiscal year basis and are subject to the Act 1 law, for the 2012-2013 school year, 298 indicated they would not increase real estate tax rates above the index and 199 sought real estate tax increases above the index by adopting a preliminary budget.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006 sets an inflation index each year that serves as a cap on each school district's allowable real estate tax increase unless a district obtains approval from voters or is granted an exception by the Department of Education. Prior to being amended in June 2011, Act 1 permitted ten referendum exceptions. However, on June 30, 2011, Governor Tom Corbett signed into law changes that reduce the number of exceptions to three. They are: school construction that was undertaken prior to the effective date of the law or approved by the voters; special education expenditures; and retirement contributions. For more information on Act 1, click here.
- On April 17, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced 39 teachers have been selected as semi-finalists for Pennsylvania's 2013 Teacher of the Year award. Teacher of the year candidates were nominated by students, parents, colleagues, and members of their local community for achievements in and outside the classroom. Semi-finalists were then selected by a committee of the National State Teachers of the Year-Pennsylvania Chapter and input from the PDE. The Teacher of the Year program is co-sponsored by the PDE and the Pennsylvania chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year program, visit www.pdesas.org/instruction/teacherofthe year/.
Click here to view the list of 2013 Teacher of the Year semi-finalists.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced the re-launch of the Stop Bullying website www.stopbullying.gov. This newly revitalized site encourages children, parents, educators, and communities to take action to stop and prevent bullying. The website includes detailed information on state laws, policies, and practical strategies for schools and communities to ensure safe environments, and suggestions on how parents can talk about bullying with their children. The site also explores the dangers of cyber bullying and steps that can be taken to fight it.
- On April 11, the U.S. Department of Education released an action plan that takes steps to supplement its current measures of student success in postsecondary education. Graduation rate reporting required for institutions of higher education will be broadened to include part-time and other students who have previously attended postsecondary education. Current law excludes a substantial portion of the student population by requiring that schools track graduation rates for full-time, first-time students. The plan entitled "Action Plan for Improving Measures of Postsecondary Success" responds to recommendations in the final report of the Committee on Measures of Student Success (CMSS). The plan can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/edblogs/ous/initiatives.
Information about the Committee on Measures of Student Success, including its members and final report, can be found at: http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acmss.html
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PA BULLETIN
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has announced the availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) 2012-2015 Request for Proposal (RFP) and the opening of the 2012-2013 21st CCLC eGrants online application for Cohort 6A. The 21st CCLC program provides federal funding for the establishment of community learning centers that provide academic, artistic, and cultural enrichment opportunities for children during non-school hours and may take place before school and after school, weekends, holidays, and or summer. The program targets students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools to provide them with aid in meeting state and local academic standards. Programs also offer literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. For more information, click here. |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Karen Molchanow has been named Executive Director of the State Board of Education. Ms. Molchanow had been serving as Acting Executive Director. Even bigger news.....Karen and her husband Kevin Shivers are now proud parents of Katherine Elizabeth, born April 28. Congratulations!
- Ashley DeMauro has been promoted to Director of Government Relations at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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DATEBOOK
- The Senate Education Committee and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee will hold a joint public hearing on Educational Opportunities for Veterans at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg on Wednesday, May 8 at 9:30 AM.
- The next meeting of the State Board of Education in scheduled for May 9-10 in Harrisburg.
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| For information on upcoming events, please visit www.eplc.org and click on "Events Calendar". |
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EPLC Education Notebook is published by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC). Permission to reprint or electronically redistribute the Notebook in whole or in part is granted provided attribution to EPLC is provided. The Education Policy and Leadership Center is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit organization. The Mission of the Education Policy and Leadership Center is to encourage and support the development and implementation of effective state-level education policies to improve student learning in grades P-12, increase the effective operation of schools, and enhance educational opportunities for citizens of all ages. |
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