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Pa. receives $64 million in federal funding

Submitted by Erika Owens on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 16:45 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently announced that 57 organizations and districts will share $64.4 million in 21st Century Community Learning Center funds. The money will not help the School District of Philadelphia's financial crisis since the District will not receive any money directly. But, several organizations that serve Philadelphia public school students and charter schools will get grants. 

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Commentary: Shock and awe, coming to a school near you

Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 14:27 Posted in Blogger commentary | Permalink

Naomi Klein, in her book The Shock Doctrine, The Rise of Disaster Capitalism lays out in considerable detail how right wing politicians have used natural and man made disasters to impose privatization and market-driven “reforms” while bypassing the messy business of democratic decision-making.

There seems little doubt that this is what we are seeing in public education in Pennsylvania. To a remarkable degree, the storyline follows the formula Klein describes in her book.

Laying the groundwork

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Notes from the news, Jan. 27

Submitted by Erika Owens on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 08:58 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

notes from the news imageMeetings set up to hear what Philadelphia parents want in a superintendent The Inquirer
Ten meetings are scheduled and they start next Wednesday.

Philly Bars Could Soon Stay Open Until 3 a.m. NBC 10 Philadelphia
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced the legislation as a way to secure more funding for the Philly schools.

See also: Drink up, for the kids The Notebook blog
Drink to Your Schools: Councilwoman Brown Introducing 3 a.m. Bar Curfew Bill PhillyNow blog
Bill would let Phila. bars stay open later 6 ABC
Councilwoman Defends Bar Hours Plan Fox 29

Shorr to chair Great Schools Compact group The Notebook blog
There are eight voting members on the committee.

Draft of a Corbett plan for Chester Upland district stirs a debate The Inquirer
The draft legislation would create a board like the School Reform Commission.

Joe Biden’s Wayward Brother Is the Perfect Role Model for Your Children The Philly Post blog
Biden's brother is president of a chain of for-profit charter schools.

Philadelphia Students Meet New Words, Friends At Scrabble Tournament CBS Philly

State news roundup Keystone State Education Coalition

It’s not about the paper The Sustainability Workshop blog

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Drink up, for the kids

Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 16:17 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Oscar Wang

City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has come up with a refreshing way to raise money for the beleaguered Philadelphia School District.

Keep the drinks flowing for another hour.

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Notes from the news, Jan. 26

Submitted by Erika Owens on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 09:18 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

notes from the news imageCity controller says Philly School District must cut $400,000 per day The Inquirer
Alan Butkovitz sent a letter to the new Chief Recovery Officer detailing his concerns.

See also: School district's fiscal future worries a doubting Butkovitz Daily News
Butkovitz questions the District's 'viability' The Notebook blog
DN Editorial: School budget: Sky falls again Daily News
Controller: School District Must Explain Financials... Now Roxborough Manayunk Patch
Controller: Philadelphia Schools’ Budget Shortfall Even Worse Than Indicated CBS Philly
Auditor warns Philly schools budget situation dire AP via Beaver County Times

Schedule for community meetings on superintendent search The Notebook blog
Ten meetings will take place starting next Wednesday.

Extending Philly Bars Hours To Fund Schools? Fox 29
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown will present a bill today to allow bars to stay open to 3 a.m. to raise money for the Philly schools.

The Future of Chester PSU Blog

Dreams Matter Philly Teacher blog

State news roundup Keystone State Education Coalition

Pennsylvania Asks for Freeze on Adequate Yearly Progress Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bright Ideas! The Sustainability Workshop blog

A Philadelphia Charter School Makes ”Red Tails” Movie A Learning Experience CBS Philly

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Butkovitz questions the District's 'viability'

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 15:31 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Given the doomsday budget news delivered by the School Reform Commission last week, City Controller Alan Butkovitz has written a letter to new Chief Recovery Officer Thomas Knudsen to question whether the District can continue "as a going concern."

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Schedule for community meetings on superintendent search

Submitted by Erika Owens on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 13:54 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Community members can offer feedback on the search for a new superintendent at 10 upcoming meetings throughout the city. United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania has convened the meetings, with the process led by the Penn Project for Civic Engagement, to solicit feedback for the School Reform Commission. The first meeting takes place next Wednesday at Mastery Gratz High School.

The full schedule:

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Notes from the news, Jan. 25

Submitted by Erika Owens on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 09:08 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

notes from the news imageDistrict turning to consultants for big help The Notebook blog
The District is soliciting proposals from consultants to help new Chief Recovery Officer Thomas Knudsen in the next six months.

Inspector General's office interviewing teachers in PSSA-test cheating probe The Inquirer
Teachers in Philadelphia are being interviewed this week.

A different view from Denver The Notebook blog
Denver school board member Andrea Mérida has some advice for Philly parents.

Chester Upland teacher honored by president at State of the Union address The Inquirer
Teacher Sara Ferguson sat with First Lady Michelle Obama during the address.

See also: Corbett Takes Heat For Handling Of Chester-Upland School District Troubles CBS Philly

Jordan wins second 4-year term as PFT chief The Inquirer
The term begins July 1.

Fatimah Ali: The passing of a voice of the Daily News Daily News (opinion)
Ali often wrote and spoke of education issues.

Obama in SOTU: ”Stop teaching to the test”. Duncan’s Race to the Top: teach to the test or risk losing your job. Keystone State Education Coalition

District Officials to Attend Meeting on AMY-Levering Schools Roxborough-Manayunk Patch

La Casa Verde The Sustainability Workshop Blog

Manatawna-Saul 4-H club take prizes at the Pa. 2012 Farm Show Roxborough Review

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Focus on District Leadership

How will new leaders shape the District?

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