School Reserves a Factor in State Budget Debate
While a survey released last week shows many school districts draining their reserve funds to keep their heads above water, others are sitting on a pile of cash in reserves… Read More
News
Low Pay, Difficulty of Jobs, Unpredictability Deter Substitute Teachers in PA
Schools across the state and region have trouble filling day-to-day teacher absences, with many districts in Westmoreland County struggling to cover at least 90% of teacher absences each year, the Tribune-Review… Read More
Local School Administrators Question Whether Potential Tax Change Would Help
Area school districts are beginning to prepare for the possibility of a major shift in how the commonwealth funds its schools. Click here for full article. (Subscription may be required.)… Read More
Education Secretary Nominee DeVos Clears Major Senate Hurdle
Betsy DeVos has cleared a major hurdle in the Senate to become the next education secretary, despite vigorous opposition from Democrats. Click here for full article. Source: Associated Press, Jan…. Read More
House Republicans Move to Scrap Rules on ESSA, Teacher Preparation
Republican lawmakers in Congress are moving to do away with regulations from the Obama administration regarding accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act and teacher preparation. The resolutions of disapproval… Read More
FAQ Document About Act 48 & Act 45 Extension
Click here for a FAQ Sheet regarding the Act 48 and Act 45 extension.
PA School Administrators Say Cash-Strapped Districts are ‘Treading Water’
Pennsylvania public schools continue to “tread water” in the face of rising mandated costs and decreasing or stagnant revenues that have forced them to raise taxes, cut programs and staff,… Read More
School Leaders Trying to Fend Off Property Tax Repeal
The first big political fight of the year revives an old battle over property taxes. Pressure to reform the tax collected for schools is getting so intense that a group… Read More
Coalition Forms to Call for Increased Investment in Pennsylvania’s Public Schools, Services
A diverse group of public interest groups rallied at the Capitol in Harrisburg Tuesday, throwing their support behind several targeted tax increases to solve the state’s budget deficit with new… Read More
Educators Must Bargain for Sick Days Under New Proposal; ‘it’s a Fairness Issue,’ Lawmaker Says
Sabbatical, sick and bereavement leaves have been a staple in public school educators’ benefits package for decades because state law required them to be. Legislation that narrowly won Senate Education… Read More