While a pledge to balance his budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor-elect Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles in many areas especially public education. One interesting aspect of Governor-elect Tom Corbett's vision for education reform, Pennsylvania schools would be graded "A through F" so parents can clearly gauge how well their children's schools are performing.
Mr. Corbett’s Education Plan also supports flexible funding for students by linking funding directly to students and the schools they choose to attend. The plan considers it critical that students in failing schools be able to choose an educational alternative and the state will allow funding to follow the student’s academic choice. Corbett feels students have a right to attend a good school and not be forced to attend a failing one by virtue of their zip code.
It’s been reported that Pennsylvania Senate Republican leaders are developing a new education bill, which would phase in a school choice / voucher program over 3 years. Year 1 could provide grants of several thousand dollars for low-income students attending public schools graded "F" to attend the public, private or parochial school of their choice. The voucher program would expand in the second year to poor students already in private schools and further expand in year three to include low-income students, regardless of their school district.
School Choice and voucher programs have been debated by Pennsylvanians for years, and it looks as though the debate is starting to heat up. The 2011 Pennsylvania education budget will offer Tom Corbett a very difficult challenge, and educational reform offers Tom Corbett a very unique opportunity for succeeding in refocusing funding of public education in Pennsylvania.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tom Corbett's Education Plan
I ended my last post with “while the 2011 Pennsylvania education budget will offer Tom Corbett a very difficult challenge, true educational reform offers Tom Corbett a very unique opportunity for success”. Tom Corbett is on record that he believes Pennsylvania’s economic growth and job creation depend upon one foundation – “a solid education that prepares students to compete in a global economy. All Pennsylvania children, regardless of zip code, race, education or socioeconomic status, deserve access to a first class education to help them achieve their full potential. ”
Given the Commonwealth’s current financial circumstances pitting Mr. Corbett’s pledge of no tax increase against a massive projected deficit, and Mr. Corbett’s belief in the importance of education, what can we expect from the new administration? Over the next couple of posts, I’ll be reviewing some of the publicized highlights of the Corbett Education Plan including:
• Promoting Flexible Funding for Schools and Students by giving greater flexibility to districts and schools and linking funding directly to students and the schools they choose to attend and make that funding transferable with the student.
• Enhancing Educational Opportunities by providing better access to great schools and educational opportunities that prepare our children to succeed in the 21st Century.
• Ensuring Effective Teachers and Leaders by creating a more efficient and fair evaluation system for teachers and school leaders that maximizes growth and education in our schools and among other things links student achievement to compensation.
• Embracing Results-Based Accountability by developing a system of accountability based on student performance which will force schools to place students at the center of our educational system.
• Creating Safe Learning Environments in Pennsylvania schools.
Tom Corbett has pledged to create a 2011-12 operating budget without any tax increases, an admirable promise that will require some very difficult decisions in Harrisburg with consequences cascading down throughout the region, Delaware County, its school districts and eventually to its local communities. Stay tuned…
Given the Commonwealth’s current financial circumstances pitting Mr. Corbett’s pledge of no tax increase against a massive projected deficit, and Mr. Corbett’s belief in the importance of education, what can we expect from the new administration? Over the next couple of posts, I’ll be reviewing some of the publicized highlights of the Corbett Education Plan including:
• Promoting Flexible Funding for Schools and Students by giving greater flexibility to districts and schools and linking funding directly to students and the schools they choose to attend and make that funding transferable with the student.
• Enhancing Educational Opportunities by providing better access to great schools and educational opportunities that prepare our children to succeed in the 21st Century.
• Ensuring Effective Teachers and Leaders by creating a more efficient and fair evaluation system for teachers and school leaders that maximizes growth and education in our schools and among other things links student achievement to compensation.
• Embracing Results-Based Accountability by developing a system of accountability based on student performance which will force schools to place students at the center of our educational system.
• Creating Safe Learning Environments in Pennsylvania schools.
Tom Corbett has pledged to create a 2011-12 operating budget without any tax increases, an admirable promise that will require some very difficult decisions in Harrisburg with consequences cascading down throughout the region, Delaware County, its school districts and eventually to its local communities. Stay tuned…
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Corbett's Educational Opportunity
I ended my last post with… While a balanced budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles. One area which offers the greatest challenges and perhaps the largest opportunity for long-term success is Education. Without a tax increase, funding public education at current levels will be very difficult, if not impossible. The ability of the Corbett administration to take a step back to assess Pennsylvania’s core education mission and its roles in helping to educate our children offers Mr. Corbett an opportunity to significantly transform education in the Keystone State.
A recent report detailed the results of a standardized test in reading, science and math, which was administered to 15 year old students in 65 countries around the globe. With American students coming in 23rd and 24th in most subjects, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education was quoted as saying "We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that we're being out-educated". While they’re mapping Pennsylvania’s educational system in the short-term, I’m hoping that Mr. Corbett’s team looks long and hard at the state’s role in early education.
Child development experts over the last 10 to 20 years have come to understand the importance of a child’s learning from birth through age 5. During these years, a child’s brain is being “hard-wired”, developing social and intellectual skills which will impact that child’s success not only in elementary and secondary schools but into college and beyond.
Unlike past generations with stay at home moms taking on the role of baby’s first teacher, federal statistics show that today 56 percent of mothers with children under the age of 1 are in the labor force. The quality of the early education opportunities of Pennsylvania’s youngest children is wildly inconsistent with some following a curriculum with proven enrichment activities, while others change diapers and feed an occasional snack. Why not develop a stronger role in assuring a quality early care state-wide throughout Pennsylvania that is reasonably priced, and is staffed by excellent teachers offering age-appropriate educational programs better preparing our youngest students for moving up to 1st grade.
As I stated earlier, while the 2011 Pennsylvania education budget will offer Tom Corbett a very difficult challenge, true educational reform offers Tom Corbett a very unique opportunity for success.
A recent report detailed the results of a standardized test in reading, science and math, which was administered to 15 year old students in 65 countries around the globe. With American students coming in 23rd and 24th in most subjects, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education was quoted as saying "We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that we're being out-educated". While they’re mapping Pennsylvania’s educational system in the short-term, I’m hoping that Mr. Corbett’s team looks long and hard at the state’s role in early education.
Child development experts over the last 10 to 20 years have come to understand the importance of a child’s learning from birth through age 5. During these years, a child’s brain is being “hard-wired”, developing social and intellectual skills which will impact that child’s success not only in elementary and secondary schools but into college and beyond.
Unlike past generations with stay at home moms taking on the role of baby’s first teacher, federal statistics show that today 56 percent of mothers with children under the age of 1 are in the labor force. The quality of the early education opportunities of Pennsylvania’s youngest children is wildly inconsistent with some following a curriculum with proven enrichment activities, while others change diapers and feed an occasional snack. Why not develop a stronger role in assuring a quality early care state-wide throughout Pennsylvania that is reasonably priced, and is staffed by excellent teachers offering age-appropriate educational programs better preparing our youngest students for moving up to 1st grade.
As I stated earlier, while the 2011 Pennsylvania education budget will offer Tom Corbett a very difficult challenge, true educational reform offers Tom Corbett a very unique opportunity for success.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tom Corbett's Incredible Opportunity
It’s often difficult for many of us engrossed in our day to day existence to gauge the real impact of state and national politics on our local communities. The most recent political cycle was again full of partisan rhetoric with labels like conservative, liberal and the relatively new “tea-bagger” being hurled at opponents with great disdain. Back in May I wrote voters should be asking our candidates about their views and not just their political party. Last month many here in Pennsylvania and across the country did just that and a number of seats went to candidates with a decidedly conservative economic view point. The big question is “What will these new political and economic realities mean to local communities?”
On the state level Republicans will control Pennsylvania’s state government with majorities in the House and Senate as well as re-occupying the Governor’s Mansion. Tom Corbett will be a much different governor than Ed Rendell. He has to be. At noon on January 18th when he takes the oath as Pennsylvania's 46th governor, he'll be faced with a budget deficit, which by some estimates could be $4 billion, the largest revenue gap in state history. Tom Corbett has pledged to create a 2011-12 operating budget without any tax increases, an admirable promise that will require some very difficult decisions in Harrisburg with consequences cascading down throughout the region, Delaware County and eventually to its local communities.
Do the math. The last Rendell operating budget totaled $26.6 billion with an additional $2.4 billion in federal fiscal stimulus funds for a total of $29 billion. Education and Health / Human Services each accounted for about 40% of the budget. The remaining 20% went to Public Safety, State Operations, Debt Service and Economic Development and keep in mind that Tom Corbett’s budget must also factor in any increases in mandated costs such as Medicaid, pensions, and prisons. There are only two ways to reduce a deficit, you can increase revenue or reduce spending. Until the new Governor’s team can increase tax revenues by creating an atmosphere for establishing new businesses and expanding existing ones by as State Senator Ted Erickson said recently “The state government needs to get out of the way of business”, we must be prepared to reduce spending. The reality is that there will be less funding coming into our communities from Harrisburg. Period. Local and county governments, school districts, any organization relying on state funding should be prepared to do better with less, a critical situation which makes effective local community collaborations all the more critical.
While a balanced budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles. Whether challenge or opportunity, tough decisions must be made and I wish Governor-Elect Corbett every success.
On the state level Republicans will control Pennsylvania’s state government with majorities in the House and Senate as well as re-occupying the Governor’s Mansion. Tom Corbett will be a much different governor than Ed Rendell. He has to be. At noon on January 18th when he takes the oath as Pennsylvania's 46th governor, he'll be faced with a budget deficit, which by some estimates could be $4 billion, the largest revenue gap in state history. Tom Corbett has pledged to create a 2011-12 operating budget without any tax increases, an admirable promise that will require some very difficult decisions in Harrisburg with consequences cascading down throughout the region, Delaware County and eventually to its local communities.
Do the math. The last Rendell operating budget totaled $26.6 billion with an additional $2.4 billion in federal fiscal stimulus funds for a total of $29 billion. Education and Health / Human Services each accounted for about 40% of the budget. The remaining 20% went to Public Safety, State Operations, Debt Service and Economic Development and keep in mind that Tom Corbett’s budget must also factor in any increases in mandated costs such as Medicaid, pensions, and prisons. There are only two ways to reduce a deficit, you can increase revenue or reduce spending. Until the new Governor’s team can increase tax revenues by creating an atmosphere for establishing new businesses and expanding existing ones by as State Senator Ted Erickson said recently “The state government needs to get out of the way of business”, we must be prepared to reduce spending. The reality is that there will be less funding coming into our communities from Harrisburg. Period. Local and county governments, school districts, any organization relying on state funding should be prepared to do better with less, a critical situation which makes effective local community collaborations all the more critical.
While a balanced budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles. Whether challenge or opportunity, tough decisions must be made and I wish Governor-Elect Corbett every success.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thanks to our veterans
Today is Veteran's Day, a day set aside to thank those who have served in the military. Please take a moment to thanks the veterans in your life and say a prayer for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in combat. I’ll be remembering two friends of mine from Grays Ferry who were killed in Viet Nam; John Daly and Jack Donnelly, two guys who died way too young. I’ll also be remembering my favorite veteran, my dad, and what he and his friends on LCT-540 went through on D-Day as they hit Omaha beach at 0720 hours to deliver combat engineers who were to clear obstacles from the beach before the infantry landed. For their action on D-Day, the 17 member crew of LCT-540 earned a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest decoration given to a military combat unit.
The 540’s citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy reads:
For outstanding performance and distinguished service in combat during the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, launched June 6, 1944. Rocked by the blasts of German 88-mm. Cannon during the approach, her gun turrets wrecked, fires blazing aboard, her officer-In-Charge killed and eight of her men casualties, the U.S. LCT 540 hit the beach on schedule under the heaviest concentration of enemy fire. In gallant response to the urgency of her task, she operated twenty-four hours a day until June 9, beaching her cargo while still under fire and returning repeatedly to place ashore the equipment, supplies and troops vital to the success and the very life of our assault forces. Crippled but undaunted, the LCT pursued her course unwaveringly despite German-emplaced underwater obstacles and terrific gunfire opposition, supplementing the valor and fortitude of her inexperienced officer and her men by her own steadfastness in the fulfillment of a perilous mission.” Based on conversations and notes from crewman, I’ve chronicled the exploits that day on a blog - http://lct540.blogspot.com/. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what the crewman of US amphibious craft experienced on D-Day, feel free to stop by and visit.
Take a moment to thank the veterans in your life. They helped make the freedoms we enjoy possible.
The 540’s citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy reads:
For outstanding performance and distinguished service in combat during the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, launched June 6, 1944. Rocked by the blasts of German 88-mm. Cannon during the approach, her gun turrets wrecked, fires blazing aboard, her officer-In-Charge killed and eight of her men casualties, the U.S. LCT 540 hit the beach on schedule under the heaviest concentration of enemy fire. In gallant response to the urgency of her task, she operated twenty-four hours a day until June 9, beaching her cargo while still under fire and returning repeatedly to place ashore the equipment, supplies and troops vital to the success and the very life of our assault forces. Crippled but undaunted, the LCT pursued her course unwaveringly despite German-emplaced underwater obstacles and terrific gunfire opposition, supplementing the valor and fortitude of her inexperienced officer and her men by her own steadfastness in the fulfillment of a perilous mission.” Based on conversations and notes from crewman, I’ve chronicled the exploits that day on a blog - http://lct540.blogspot.com/. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what the crewman of US amphibious craft experienced on D-Day, feel free to stop by and visit.
Take a moment to thank the veterans in your life. They helped make the freedoms we enjoy possible.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Family, education key to Chester’s rebirth
I’d like to comment on an editorial which appeared last Friday in the Delco Times entitled “Family, education key to Chester’s rebirth”.
Having spent a number of years directing the United Way in the City of Chester, I had the opportunity to meet and work with a number of hard-working dedicated people focused on Chester’s future. Two people with whom I had the pleasure of working and who I consider as friends were mentioned in the article.
Wendell Butler is a lifelong Chester resident, the Republican Mayor of Chester and its former police chief. Being a police officer in a poor neighborhood gives you a very unique view of the impact of poverty and the importance of the family structure. Something I learned as a cop in West Philly in the 70’s.
Portia West, another life-long resident was elected last year to Chester’s City Council as a Democrat, only the 2nd time a group of Democrats held citywide office in Chester since 1906.
Wendell Butler and Portia West are committed professionals focused on Chester’s future. Both see the importance of the family structure, and both agree that if change is going to happen, the home is where it must start. They know that education does not start in first grade, but begins at home when the child is born and continues in the local community as the child matures.
The Mayor and the Councilwoman are part of the bi-partisan political leadership in Chester, but they cannot be expected to have all the answers. They can, however, be instrumental in pulling the city’s power structure together to find the needed help for Chester’s children. With the assistance of community leadership organizations like United Way, they can help the residents of Chester focus on how to surround its children with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school. Chester should be about connecting students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to their needs, and all designed to prepare its students to succeed.
Friday’s editorial ended with a suggestion that Chester’s recovery will be accomplished one family at a time. With folks like Wendell Butler and Portia West in leadership positions,and with the help of parents like Darlene, Deneen, Karen and Portia; wonderful young men and women like Donald, Darrell and Juani, Tyrone, Portia and Zaakiyah who have graduated Chester High and are doing very well in college, I’m convinced Chester’s resurgence is coming much sooner than most people think.
Having spent a number of years directing the United Way in the City of Chester, I had the opportunity to meet and work with a number of hard-working dedicated people focused on Chester’s future. Two people with whom I had the pleasure of working and who I consider as friends were mentioned in the article.
Wendell Butler is a lifelong Chester resident, the Republican Mayor of Chester and its former police chief. Being a police officer in a poor neighborhood gives you a very unique view of the impact of poverty and the importance of the family structure. Something I learned as a cop in West Philly in the 70’s.
Portia West, another life-long resident was elected last year to Chester’s City Council as a Democrat, only the 2nd time a group of Democrats held citywide office in Chester since 1906.
Wendell Butler and Portia West are committed professionals focused on Chester’s future. Both see the importance of the family structure, and both agree that if change is going to happen, the home is where it must start. They know that education does not start in first grade, but begins at home when the child is born and continues in the local community as the child matures.
The Mayor and the Councilwoman are part of the bi-partisan political leadership in Chester, but they cannot be expected to have all the answers. They can, however, be instrumental in pulling the city’s power structure together to find the needed help for Chester’s children. With the assistance of community leadership organizations like United Way, they can help the residents of Chester focus on how to surround its children with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school. Chester should be about connecting students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to their needs, and all designed to prepare its students to succeed.
Friday’s editorial ended with a suggestion that Chester’s recovery will be accomplished one family at a time. With folks like Wendell Butler and Portia West in leadership positions,and with the help of parents like Darlene, Deneen, Karen and Portia; wonderful young men and women like Donald, Darrell and Juani, Tyrone, Portia and Zaakiyah who have graduated Chester High and are doing very well in college, I’m convinced Chester’s resurgence is coming much sooner than most people think.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Waiting for Superman II
“Waiting for Superman” the new film directed by Davis Guggenheim is certainly generating discussions about educational success, although I think the film would have been more impactful by taking a more realistic look at what is needed for true educational reform. The documentary follows five kids in their efforts to secure a good education outside of traditional public school systems, and while charter schools might be a solution for some, widespread educational reform will require hard work and sustained collaboration of a variety of committed stakeholders.
School systems are only part of the educational process. Successful education is dependent on three systems: School, Family and Community. A child needs at least one of the systems to be working well if he or she is to have any chance to succeed. If a school system does its job well, educators could overcome family strife, and could overcome a poor community, and get their students prepared. Family and community have equally important roles in education, a fact that seems to get left out of many discussions on education reform.
The unfortunate reality is that many students come to school with needs that hinder their ability to do well in school. An idea that has gained traction in some communities is the concept of community schools which bring together, under one roof, the services and activities our children and their families need to reach their potential. School buildings are open all day and evening for tutoring, homework assistance and recreational activities. Medical, dental, English language instruction, employment counseling, citizenship programs and GED programs and child care services could also be available to meet the community’s needs. Having these programs and social services in schools could encourage parents to get more involved in their children’s education, and help to stabilize families so they can better support their children’s learning. It’s one idea of many.
Local educational reform must start with a collaborative effort between school districts, parents, businesses, labor, religious, civic and neighborhood groups and their leaders. Every aspect of the community must be involved for reform efforts to be successful, because educational success doesn’t take place only at school. It starts at home and continues in the community.
If you get a chance, go to see the movie, then add your voice to the discussion. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible.
School systems are only part of the educational process. Successful education is dependent on three systems: School, Family and Community. A child needs at least one of the systems to be working well if he or she is to have any chance to succeed. If a school system does its job well, educators could overcome family strife, and could overcome a poor community, and get their students prepared. Family and community have equally important roles in education, a fact that seems to get left out of many discussions on education reform.
The unfortunate reality is that many students come to school with needs that hinder their ability to do well in school. An idea that has gained traction in some communities is the concept of community schools which bring together, under one roof, the services and activities our children and their families need to reach their potential. School buildings are open all day and evening for tutoring, homework assistance and recreational activities. Medical, dental, English language instruction, employment counseling, citizenship programs and GED programs and child care services could also be available to meet the community’s needs. Having these programs and social services in schools could encourage parents to get more involved in their children’s education, and help to stabilize families so they can better support their children’s learning. It’s one idea of many.
Local educational reform must start with a collaborative effort between school districts, parents, businesses, labor, religious, civic and neighborhood groups and their leaders. Every aspect of the community must be involved for reform efforts to be successful, because educational success doesn’t take place only at school. It starts at home and continues in the community.
If you get a chance, go to see the movie, then add your voice to the discussion. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible.
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