This edition of the Notebook NEWSFLASH is also available online at: www.thenotebook.org/newsflash/2006/january
Notebook NEWSFLASH:
January-February 2006
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by Paul Socolar
For years, critics of school funding practices in Pennsylvania have pointed to the state’s heavy reliance on local property taxes as an unfair and discriminatory system.
In this region, it means that the wealthiest suburbs such as Lower Merion are able through property taxes to raise and spend as much as $17,000 per public school student annually, whereas a less affluent community like Philadelphia spends just over $9,000 per student.
Now, the Pennsylvania state legislature is poised to tackle property tax reform and shift more of the burden for funding education to the state government. In a special session of the state legislature called by Governor Ed Rendell, both houses are working on plans to raise revenues for distribution to local school districts for local tax relief.
But advocates for equity in school funding say that these legislative proposals for local tax relief are inadequate if they do not simultaneously deal with the underlying issue of school funding inequities.
The Education Law Center is one of several area organizations advocating that along with relieving local tax burdens, the state should provide additional dollars to help underfunded school districts that simply cannot generate enough revenue for education even when they charge high property tax rates.
"Although property tax relief is necessary and important, it’s foolish for the legislature to spend all this time and enact only half a solution to the problem," commented Baruch Kintisch, staff attorney at the Education Law Center.
Kintisch called it "very discouraging" that legislators have not been willing to "stand up and say that school funding reform needs to happen as part of the special session."
But he added that his organization and others are planning to "ratchet up our advocacy efforts so that this year, in an election year, funding equity has a higher profile as an issue."
Philadelphia schools will need any financial help they can get in the coming year; the District has been under an administrative hiring freeze and budget projections for the next year are very tight. Across the state, school districts are in a similar bind, with rising employee pension costs one new cause for concern.
The Rendell administration, while it has not interjected the funding equity issue into the special session on property taxes, is promising to address it through the budget process through initiatives that direct more funding to less affluent school districts.
The state government currently funds about 38 percent of total public education spending in Pennsylvania, putting a greater funding burden on local school districts than most other states.
The 2006 "Quality Counts" report from Education Week gave Pennsylvania a grade of C- for resource equity. The annual study found that the state scored worse than all but seven other states on "wealth neutrality" - meaning that spending per district here is more highly correlated to the property wealth of the local school districts.
Legislative proposals for local tax relief could increase the state’s share of education spending above 50 percent. The state House and Senate have taken different approaches, but proposed revenue sources under discussion include hikes in the state sales tax and personal income tax as well as distribution of as much as $1.2 billion in expected revenues from the legalization of slot machines.
The proposals currently under consideration would not translate into any additional dollars for schools and classrooms. State dollars would be used to provide dollar-for-dollar reduction in local property taxes. In the case of Philadelphia, some officials have proposed that the state funds be directed to wage tax reduction rather than property tax reduction.
Michael Churchill of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia noted that a state House proposal to expand the state sales tax and modestly increase the state income tax would - when combined with anticipated gaming revenues - put as much as $3.3 billion in play for tax relief. He argued that with such a big pot of money potentially available, $2 billion could be directed to underfunded school districts while still offering substantial, across-the-board tax relief.
"Just dealing with tax relief and leaving a two-tier system of education with a few well-funded schools and many inadequately funded does not meet the needs of the people of the state," Churchill and colleague Thomas K. Gilhool wrote in a recent article, a version of which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
At a series of town meetings in January organized by the Philadelphia legislative delegation seeking feedback on the various legislative plans for tax relief, more money for poor school systems was not part of the property tax reform package presented by legislators. Legislators asked constituents whether they preferred property tax cuts, wage tax cuts, or a combination.
At one town meeting in North Philadelphia on January 19, State Representative Dwight Evans acknowledged that school funding equity continues to be a key issue across the state and particularly for legislators in rural areas. But he added, "There’s not the appetite for the taxes" that would pay for school funding reform.
Governor Rendell’s Secretary for Policy Donna Cooper maintained that there is another way to make headway on getting more funding to the neediest school districts, and that is through the state’s budget process. The governor presents his budget proposal on February 7.
Cooper defended the governor’s decision not to push on school funding equity in the special session. She said the administration sees property tax relief and funding equity as two separate discussions. "We feel that we are making progress on funding equity through significant annual increases in the budget process," Cooper stated.
The combined increase in preK-12 education funding in three years under Rendell has totaled $1.16 billion, which averages out to an annual increase of just over 5 percent. Cooper pointed to two programs initiated by Rendell that have boosted funding for needy school districts: the $200 million accountability block grant program and the "foundation supplement." She promised the governor’s upcoming budget plan would include increases in both areas this year.
The foundation supplement was a new state initiative last year, funded at $22 million, with those funds targeted at the 225 districts in the state that spend less than $8,500 per student. Most states have a "foundation formula" insuring a minimum funding level in all districts.
But advocacy groups say the incremental gains under Governor Rendell have not gone far enough, and they are continuing to cultivate legislative champions for a more sweeping change to the funding system.
Janis Risch, executive director of Good Schools Pennsylvania, an organization focused on achieving school funding equity, emphasized that the work to bring fairness to what is still a profoundly unequal system is a long-haul, statewide effort.
Risch said her group and others would be "continuing the work of trying to bring home in each legislative district the impact that school funding inequity has."
Contact the Notebook at 215-951-0330 x107 or notebook@thenotebook.org.
At its January 18 meeting, the School Reform Commission:
Approved three charter school applications, while tentatively delaying the opening of these schools until September 2007 for budgetary reasons.
For all three new schools, the District is suspending a provision of the charter school law in order to establish an attendance zone for the school and to give admissions preferences to students who live in that zone.
Pan American Charter School, a K-8 school to be located at 3039 "B" Street in Kensington, is affiliated with Congreso de Latinos Unidos, and its curriculum will emphasize cultural awareness and respect.
Southwest Leadership Academy, serving grades K-7, will open at 2240 S. 71st Street and is affiliated with the education management company Victory Schools; a focus of the school will be character and leadership development.
TrueBright Science Academy Charter School, at 5201 Old York Road in Logan, is a grade 7-12 school partnering with some area corporations, universities and Einstein Hospital to offer a curriculum focusing on science and technology.
-Rejected seven other charter applications, including a proposal for an all-boys charter high school.
That application for the Southwest Philadelphia Academy for Boys had drawn criticism and raised questions about the legality of single-sex schools.
-Approved an extension to May 31, 2006 of a contract with Counselors Collaborative Inc.
The firm has been working since 2004 to develop a "Strategic Facilities Plan" for the SRC to guide the District’s capital projects and selection of school sites.
-Approved the creation of a new International Studies High School in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and the Asia Society.
The new high school is to open with ninth graders in September 2006. The school will stress issues of global citizenship, will require four or more years of foreign language study, and will offer both virtual and actual exchanges with schools around the world. The college preparatory school will ultimately serve up to 500 students and be a citywide admission high school requiring grades of C or better, with priority to students from West Philadelphia.
-Approved $1.5 million in contracts to six local organizations for implementation of a state-funded parent involvement initiative
The program will recruit, train, and provide stipends to parent volunteers to staff "Parent Welcome Desks" and participate in safety patrols in and around schools. Communities in Schools of Philadelphia is slated to receive up to $900,000 in funding, with the rest of the funds earmarked for Black Alliance for Educational Options, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, and West Philadelphia Coalition of Neighborhoods and Businesses.
-Approved a $270,000 contract with Princeton Review to provide materials and support for a standardized test preparation program.
The PSSA preparation program will take place on six Saturdays targeting 9,500 students in grades 3-8 this winter.
-Approved an $850,000 contract with Catapult Learning (formerly Sylvan Education Solutions) to provide afterschool and parental involvement programs through August 2006.
At its December 14 meeting, the SRC:
-Approved a $180,000 contract renewal with O’Donnell Associates.
The firm of former state representative Robert W. O’Donnell will again provide services as a legislative analyst and lobbyist for 2006.
-Approved a $4.4 million lease renewal for a five-year lease with New Covenant Church of Philadelphia.
The lease is for the Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice, including renovations of two buildings and a gymnasium.
-Approved a new "District Wide Parent Involvement Policy."
The new policy commits the District to developing a parental involvement plan with input from its Title I Parent Advisory Committee and from other parent groups. Among its many provisions, the seven-page policy mandates that schools "conduct meetings at various times of the day to obtain parent input on the School Improvement Plan (SIP)."
-Approved a $420,000 contract with the College Board to cover fees for 11th graders to take the PSAT and SAT exam this school year.
In a second resolution, the District committed to funding an SAT preparation course for 2,500 high school juniors in advance of the May 2006 SAT test through a $500,000 contract with Thomson Peterson’s. In both 2004 and 2005, just under 4,000 Philadelphia 11th graders took the SAT test in the spring.
Albert Bichner, who had been Interim Deputy Chief Academic Officer, has been appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Academic Officer. . . . John Frangipani left his position as principal of Masterman School to become the new acting superintendent of the South Region, replacing Danna Diaz Joseph, who resigned for personal reasons.
Gwen Morris has returned from retirement on an interim basis to head the Office of Transition and Alternative Education. Gregory Shannon left that post to become acting superintendent of the recently created CEO region, replacing Marilyn Perez, who resigned abruptly for personal reasons in December.
Larry Sperling resigned from the position of Director of School Based Resource Support. He is replaced by John Owens. Resigning in December was Harvey Rice, who headed the state’s Office of the Safe Schools Advocate at the School District and has been appointed Philadelphia’s first deputy controller by recently elected City Controller Alan Butkovitz.
Jan. 25: "Does It Take a Village or Take a Family? How America Thinks about Raising Children in the 21st Century." A Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) Forum Featuring Celinda Lake. 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Moore College of Art and Design, 20th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway. Event includes forum, book signing, and refreshments. There is no charge for the event but seating is limited. RSVP by calling 215-563-5848 x11 or online at www.pccy.org.
Jan. 26: Town Meeting on Property Tax Relief and Public School Funding. 7 - 9 p.m. City Council Chambers, Philadelphia City Hall, 4th Floor. Meeting focuses on inequitable funding among districts and ideas for reforming school funding. Sponsored by Philadelphia’s state legislative caucus.
Jan. 28: Free College Financial Aid Workshop.10
a.m - 2 p.m. Community College of Philadelphia,
Business and Industry Center, 18th and
Callowhill Streets. For information, call 215-735-2877.
Jan. 28: "Confronting Bullying/Supporting Friendships: Research, Strategies, and Practice for Helping Kids Get Along Together." 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street. Teacher workshop led by the Nonviolence and Children Working Group (NVC) of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. $5 fee includes refreshments and materials. Please RSVP to Elke at 215-241-7223 or elkem@PYM.org.
Jan. 30: "Youth as Peacemakers: Crossing Boundaries of Race, Religion, and Culture to Find Common Ground in the World." 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. New Covenant Campus Sanctuary, 7100 Germantown Avenue. Seminar sponsored by Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice featuring Reverend Bill Gray and representatives of Operation Understanding. For more information, contact the Parkway Northwest High School at 215-248-6620.
Jan. 31: 76ers Basketball Game.7 p.m. Wachovia Center. Free Chris Webber jersey to the first 5,000 children 12 and under when the Sixers play the Phoenix Suns. Tickets still available. To purchase, call 1-800-4-NBA-TIX or go to www.sixers.com.
Feb. 4: 14th Annual African American Children’s
Book Fair.Community College of Philadelphia,
17th and Spring Garden Streets. Authors and illustrators
of African American children’s books will read from
and autograph copies of their books. The event is
free and open to the public with preschool through
young adult level literature.Sponsored by the The
African American Children’s Book Project and The
Literary. For times and more information, call
215-878-BOOK.
Feb. 4: Higher Education Opportunities Workshop for Asylees and Refugees. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 222 N. 17th Street, 1st Floor. Free event focuses on financial aid, scholarships, loans and grants for higher education. Sponsored by The Asylee Outreach Project of HIAS and Catholic Social Services Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Departments. RSVP by Feb. 1 to 215-832-0912.
Feb. 5: "Year of the Dog!" Celebration of the Asian New Year. 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Philadelphia Art Museum, 26th and Ben Franklin Pkwy. Family event featuring bamboo basket-weaving, family tour, crafts workshop, and performance by Dance Asia. Admission: $5.
Feb. 6-25: African Dance Workshops. Tuesday - Friday 10 & 11 a.m. Saturday 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. African American Museum of Philadelphia, 7th and Arch Streets.The Museum welcomes the Agbada Dance Troupe of Nigeria, West Africa. The troupe was created by the Federal Government of Nigeria to promote and sustain the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria and to represent the country's diverse tradition through dance around the world. For more information on this and other events for February, call 215-574-0380
Feb. 8: School Reform Commission Planning Meeting. 1 p.m. School District of Philadelphia Education Center, 400 N. Broad Street. To register to speak, call 215-400-4040 by 4:30 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Feb. 9: Free Library of Philadelphia Lectures presents John Hope Franklin, Mirror to America: The Autobiography of John Hope Franklin. 8 p.m. Montgomery Auditorium, 1901 Vine Street. Award-winning author, professor, and leader in the study of African American life, Franklin discusses his many works, including From Slavery to Freedom, and his new autobiography. Doors open at 7:15 pm and tickets are required. Cost of tickets is $6-$12. For more information, call 215-567-4341.
Feb. 15: School Reform Commission Action Meeting. 1 p.m. School District of Philadelphia Education Center, 400 N. Broad Street. To register to speak, call 215-400-4040 by 4:30 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Feb. 20: "Finding the Way Home"
- Storytelling with David Wilson. 7:30 p.m.
White Dog Cafe, 3420 Sansom Street. Journalist David
Wilson discusses his documentary and personal quest
to find answers to America’s racial divide. For more
information and reservations, call 215-386-9224.
Every Thursday: Talk radio program
with Sandra Dungee Glenn, School Reform Commission
member. 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. WURD 900 AM. Call-in
number: 215-426-1310.
School Calendar
Feb. 2-3: Schools closed for Professional Development.
Feb. 6: High School Report Cards distributed.
Feb. 20: Schools and Administrative Offices
closed for Presidents’ Day.
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