PENNSYLVANIA POLICYMAKERS The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate were in voting session this week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10-12. The House and the Senate will reconvene in voting session on Monday, March 17 at 1:00 PM. FY 2014-15 State Budget It is already four weeks since Governor Corbett delivered his proposed budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 to a joint session of the General Assembly on February 4. The General Fund budget he proposed would spend $29.4 billion - an increase of $925 million, or 3.3 percent, from fiscal year 2013-2014. Education spending, including early education, K-12, and higher education, represents more than 40 percent of the total General Fund proposal. Click here to read EPLCs summary of Governor Corbetts proposed education budget. General budget documents can be found on the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget website. Education budget information can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees held public hearings on the budget proposal during February. Watch online all completed budget hearings for the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee. The process now continues mostly behind the scenes as state legislators hear from constituents, determine their own budget priorities, and give direction to the legislative leaders of the four caucuses. A major question remains about whether the revenue projections that support the Governors spending proposals are indeed reliable. Governors Office On February 4, Governor Corbett signed into law Senate Bill 437 (Act 10 of 2014) sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-48). Act 10 will allow the Department of Education to issue military science teaching certificates to individuals who have a valid military science certificate or endorsement issued by a branch of the United States Armed Forces. The certificate will allow an individual to teach military science and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) courses only. The act shall take effect in 60 days. Senate On February 4, the Senate took action on the following legislation: House Bill 1559 sponsored by Rep. Frank Farina (D-115) would amend the Public School Code to require each school entitys professional development plan to include four hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention every five years for educators in buildings serving grades six through twelve. School entities shall also adopt a suicide awareness and prevention policy. The Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health shall recommend training guidelines and materials. HB 1559 passed the Senate by a vote of 46-0. HB 1559 has been sent back to the House of Representatives for concurrence on the Senates amendments adopted December 11 and January 27. Executive nominations for two new members of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) were approved by a vote of 44-2. City Councilman Bill Green becomes the SRC Chair, taking the place of Pedro Ramos, who resigned in October. Farah Jimenez replaces Joseph Dworetzky, whose term expired in January. On February 4, the Senate Education Committee reported the following legislation: Senate Resolution 250 sponsored by Sen. David Argall (R-29) would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a study relating to the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of merging public school district health care plans. The bill presents 11 factors to be studied by the LBFC. SR 250 was unanimously reported as committed. House Bill 198 sponsored by Rep. Ed Neilson (D-169) was unanimously reported as amended. As amended, HB 198 would amend the Public School Code to establish the Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program. The Program would provide evidence-based early screening and multitier support systems, using evidence-based intervention services for students with potential risk factors for early reading deficiencies and dyslexia. The Department of Education shall determine at least three school districts that meet the criteria outlined in the legislation to participate in the pilot. The Program would operate in those districts for three full school years. PDE shall contract with a nationally recognized educational evaluation institution or organization to evaluate the Program by reviewing the effectiveness of evidence-based early reading assistance programs and determining if the programs reduce special education costs. The amendment sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (R- 48) expanded the parameters of the pilot from the Dyslexia Screening Pilot Program to the Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program. It streamlined how the program would work; clarified the role of the Department; limited the screening to only kindergarten students unless they score below the benchmark; and eliminated reporting to the General Assembly by requiring PDE to place the evaluation on its website. House Bill 1164 sponsored by Rep. Thomas Murt (R-152) would establish the Higher Education Scheduling Preference for Veteran Students Act. The Act would require a public institution of higher education to establish and implement a policy under which veteran students are provided with preference in course scheduling. HB 1164 was unanimously reported as committed. Senate Bill 1194 sponsored by Sen. Donald White (R-41) was unanimously reported as amended. As amended, SB 1194 would amend the Public School Code by adding a new subsection that would allow school districts to enter into cooperative police service agreements with local law enforcement outside the municipality wherein the school or school district is located, if the school or district is located in a municipality without its own local law enforcement. The amendment sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-48) clarified the conditions necessary to enter into the agreements, and clarified that no cooperative police service agreement shall affect the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Police. On March 10, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously reported as committed Senate Bill 874, sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-31). SB 874 would amend the Public School Code to provide for community college funding flexibility plans. SB 874 would allow a local sponsor of a community college that meets certain criteria to negotiate the amount the sponsor contributes on behalf of the community colleges annual operating and capital expenses. As proposed, the criteria a community college must meet to be eligible for local sponsor negotiations are as follows: Must be sponsored by one or more school districts; must have an enrollment head count in excess of 20,000; and must have more than four campuses that are approved by both the Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The only community college the legislation pertains to currently is the Harrisburg Area Community College. The Senate on March 10 adopted an amendment on the floor to Senate Bill 1000, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-25). SB 1000 would amend the Public School Code to establish a rural regional community college for underserved counties. The legislation provides for the powers and duties of the Secretary of Education, a board of trustees, and partner institutions. The amendment that was adopted makes technical changes and clarifies the roles of the board of trustees and partner institutions. House of Representatives The House of Representatives on February 5 passed House Bill 1718, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Aument (R-41), by a vote of 102-77. HB 1718 would amend the Public School Code to add an article titled the Online Education Initiative. Under the Online Education Initiative, the Department of Education (PDE) shall establish a central online clearinghouse that catalogs approved online courses for students enrolled in grades six through twelve. The clearinghouse would be accessible to school entities, nonpublic schools, home education programs, and the general public. PDE must develop the application and application process by which providers may submit their online course offerings for inclusion in the clearinghouse. The bill outlines the approval process, and provides for two reports to be submitted by the Secretary of Education to the Governor and Education Committees. It clarifies that the Initiative would not prevent a school entity from establishing and offering its own online course or program, nor would it require a student to participate in an online program. Prior to the passage in the House the bill was reported as committed from the House Appropriations Committee. Click here to read the fiscal note. On March 10, the House Rules Committee unanimously reported as committed House Resolution 627, sponsored by Rep. Mike Turzai (R-28). HR 627 would condemn the Academic Studies Associations academic boycott against Israel and would call upon the Department of Education, the State System of Higher Education, each of the state-related universities, and all of Pennsylvanias independent colleges and universities to reject anti-Semitism and not participate in the academic boycott. PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN The State Board of Educations revisions to the Chapter 4 regulations for academic standards and assessment were published in the March 1 issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin, marking the end of the regulatory review process. The newly revised Chapter 4 regulations are, as of March 1, final and effective as law. Click here to review the Pennsylvania School Boards Associations succinct summaries of the key provisions of the regulations that include the Pennsylvania Core Standards, Keystone exams, and graduation requirements. EPLC NEWS Registration is open for EPLCs remaining 2014 Education Issues Workshops for Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff, and Interested Voters! The day-long, non-partisan program is intended to provide information about the important education issues that will be key topics for voters and candidates in the 2014 Pennsylvania Campaign. The first workshop was held in Harrisburg on February 25. Upcoming workshops will be held in Monroeville (Pittsburgh region) on March 19, and Philadelphia on March 27. Click here for registration information. Register now - space is limited. For a second year, EPLC has signed on to be a Grassroots Partner of Americans for the Arts (AFTA) annual National Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. Arts Advocacy Day is hosted by AFTA and cosponsored by 85+ national arts organizations. On March 24 and 25, cultural and civic organizations and grassroots advocates will gather to meet with members of Congress in support of arts education policy issues. The February episode of Focus on Education - EPLCs monthly education program on PCN - discussed the Governors proposed 2014-15 budget for education. Guests on the program were Sharon Ward, executive director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center; Jay Himes, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials; Jim Buckheit, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators; and Dr. Judith Thomas, professor of education at Lincoln University. Click here to watch the episode. The March episode will discuss early education and will air on PCN on Sunday, March 16 at 3:00 p.m. Past shows are archived and available on demand on PCNs Focus on Education website. The monthly show is an opportunity to get the name of your organization or cause in front of a statewide audience that has an interest in education issues. Introductory rates are available for a limited time now for sponsorships for one-month, three-months, or six-months. For more details, and to subscribe to your sponsorship for one or more monthly shows, please email Ron Cowell at [email protected]. You can find on the EPLC website a list of confirmed 2014 gubernatorial candidates, and links to information about their plans, if elected, for education and arts and culture in Pennsylvania. The list continues to be updated as more information becomes available. Click here to visit the resource page. DATEBOOK For more complete information on upcoming events, please visit eplc.org and click on Events Calendar. The State Board of Education will meet in Harrisburg March 12 - 13. Click here to download the agenda. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale will hold a public meeting on Friday, March 14 at 1:00 PM in City Council Chambers, Philadelphia. This will conclude a series of meetings held across Pennsylvania to discuss ways to improve charter schools. The Pennsylvania Arts Education Network will be holding an Arts Education Advocacy Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 18. A press conference will begin in the media center at 11:00 AM, followed by visits to legislative offices. Email [email protected] for more information. The House Education Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 19 at 9:30 AM in Harrisburg to consider HB 1930 (GED completion legislation); HB 1931 (Commonwealth secondary school diploma affordability and accessibility); HB 2005 (sale of unused and unnecessary lands and buildings); HB 2063 (employment history review for school employees); HB 2074 (Governors Schools of Excellence); SB 267 (excuses from attending school and AED program). The Education Policy and Leadership Center is hosting a non-partisan, one-day Education Issues Workshop for Pennsylvania Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff and Interested Voters on Wednesday, March 19 in Monroeville. Click here to register. Space is limited. The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association will host Music Education Advocacy Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 26. Click here for more information and to register. Consider also joining a free advocacy day training webinar on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 PM. Click here to register for the webinar. The Education Policy and Leadership Center is hosting a non-partisan, one-day Education Issues Workshop for Pennsylvania Legislative Candidates, Campaign Staff and Interested Voters on Thursday, March 27 in Philadelphia. Click here to register. Space is limited.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 03:56:26 +0000
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