Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Eight were schools were effected.
Citing significant deficiencies in curriculum, finance and overall operations, state Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis this week denied eight cyber charter school applications for the 2013-14 school year. “The proposals submitted by the applicants lack adequate evidence and sufficient information of how prospective students would be offered quality academic programs,” Tomalis said. “In addition, the financial plans presented call into question each applicant’s ability to maintain a long-term, viable educational program for the benefit of Pennsylvania students.” As required by the Charter School Law, the Department of Education is responsible for oversight of cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania, including the granting and revocation of …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Not one cyber charter school in the state and fewer than one-third of 'brick-and-mortar' charter schools made Adequate Yearly Progress last year.
Charter schools have been touted as a way for students to escape underperforming local public schools ever since Pennsylvania passed legislation in 1997 establishing them as a independent public schools. Cyber charter schools followed in 2002. One of the key selling points used by charter schools has been that their students outperform their public school counterparts. But according to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, historical data indicate that a consistently lower percentage of charter schools make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) than traditional public schools. Last fall, the state Department of Education implemented a new way of determining whether charter schools have met student achievement milestones for AYP under the …
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
A TEACH (Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt) representative from Steel Valley School District takes a look at the state budget priorities.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Hey, Taxpayer, While you were out trying to avoid heatstroke this summer, your state government actually did something. The Pennsylvania Legislature passed another one of those pesky budgets determining exactly what your taxes have bought you this year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind paying taxes if I get a good return on my investment. And what better investment than our children, our future? I’m speaking, of course, about public education. So was this a good return? Let’s see: GOOD NEWS PA. BUDGET PASSED HIGHER THAN GOVERNOR WANTED: Last year, the legislature cut $818 million from public schools—especially the poorest ones. This year, the Gov. Corbett wanted $94 million in additional cuts, but instead the legislature voted to …
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
'There's money to be made shortchanging kids' educations,' letter writer says.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
For the second straight year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed massive education budget cuts. For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed massive cuts to colleges, universities and K-12 public schools. For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed the state do less for its citizens and more for big business. Why? It’s all about profits. There’s money to be made shortchanging kids’ educations. States throughout the country spend the majority of their budgets on schools. On average, states spend about 40 percent of their tax revenues on K-12 and colleges, according to The National Association of State Budget Officers. That’s some $400 billion every year. Pennsylvania comes in somewhat below the national average with …
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Teacher Steven Singer suggests voting out legislators who vote against public education.
- OPINION
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
“Almost.” It’s a scary word sometimes. Like when you put freshly brewed coffee too close to the edge and it ALMOST spills over ... Like when you’re running late to work, gun that yellow light and ALMOST get clipped by an oncoming minivan ... Like when your tiny toddler teeters at the top of the steps and ALMOST tumbles down ... At times like these, ALMOST is both a terror and a relief. That’s how all of Pennsylvania feels now that our state legislators ALMOST passed a bill to enact school vouchers and expand charter schools. We feel sick that it ALMOST happened, yet relieved that in the end common sense prevailed. Vouchers failed to muster enough support to make it to the floor, and later, a score of Republicans sided with nearly all …
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
T.E.A.C.H. representative asks a Jimmy Olsen question: 'If public schools are broken, why not fix them?'
- OPINION
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Superman, where are you? Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim tells us America’s waiting for a caped crusader to solve our education crisis. We regular Joes just aren’t up to the task. Well, look up in the sky, it’s a bird ... it’s a plane ... no, it’s a Republican governor! Fresh from slashing $860 million from public schools budgets, Gov. Tom Corbett has swept in to finish the job of “saving” Pennsylvania’s school kids with his new education proposals. Just in the nick of time, too. This year alone, Pennsylvania’s public schools have increased class sizes, stopped tutoring those children who fall behind, eliminated electives like music and art, stopped replacing crumbling textbooks or outdated computers, started charging fees to participate in …
NE12Ukid
4:59 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Ed M 2:05 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013 I agree home schooled kids are usually smarter. But they are socially more awkward. .>>> EdM, are you talking about homeschooling or charters now? Curious as to where you got your information that homeschooled kids are "smarter" kids. And who determined that they were also socially awkward, and how that was determined? I agree that cyber charter schooled … more ›