MAY 15, 2009 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Get the Quarter Back

There is an old joke, with many variations that goes something like this: a foreigner came to visit a friend in America, and they went to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers football game.  After the game, his friend asked him how he liked American football, and the foreigner answered said, “Well… it was very exciting, but why was ever

MARCH 16, 2009 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD

Pennsylvania's Charter School Law

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009

JULY 1, 2008 | Commentary by JESSICA RUNK

Cyber School Funding Formula: The Wrong Mixture

State Rep. Karen Beyer, along with the Rendell administration, lobbyists for the teachers unions, and the school boards association, has been doggedly seeking to reduce funding for Pennsylvania’s public cyber schools. So persistent is Beyer that after her bill stalled in session, she attached it as an amendment to a bill (HB 2479) that she

JANUARY 11, 2010

PA's "Race to the Top" Plan Upsets Cyber Schools and PSEA

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's "Race to the Top" plan - attempting to get about $400 million from federal taxpayers via the "stimulus" - has drawn a number of critics.

In its Letter to School Districts and Letter to Charter Schools about applications for funding, which are due this week, PDE specifies that only brick-and-mortar charter schools will be eligible for grants - i.e. to the exclusion of cyber schools and the 20,000 students they serve. The total portion available for charters would be as much as $5 million - though if charter schools received a share of the $400 equal to their share of total enrollment (about 4%), they would receive over $16 million.

CORRECTION: In a reversal, per a memo sent out on Friday, cyber schools will be eligible for Race to the Top funding.

At the same time, the PSEA - Pennsylvania's largest school employees union - is also critical of the funding. When the the PSEA ever opposed more money for public schools? When it involves reforms like merit pay for teachers.

The state's program calls for such mandatory changes as using a teacher evaluation system that factors in academic gains and such optional changes as implementing merit pay or firing half the staff in struggling schools.

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 09:57 AM | 0 comment

DECEMBER 14, 2009

Revamp Charter School Laws To Increase School Choice

Pennsylvania came in 11th among 40 states in the annual ranking of state charter school laws by the Center for Education Reform. While the Commonwealth has been better in addressing deficiencies in their charter laws, there are still areas that need attention.

For instance, school boards are inconsistent in their approval and oversight, making multiple authorizers a needed reform. Senator Piccola's legislation to allow universities to approve the creation of a charter school is a step in the right direction. Presently, though, charters under Pennsylvania law cannot be started unless give permission from often-hostile school boards.

Also, charters suffer from inequitable funding. CF has documented the fact that the state does not treat public school and charter school students equitably. The amount, charter schools receive per-pupil is about 80% of regular public schools. The Rendell administration has also proposed reducing cyber charter school funding to lowest the spending by a cyber school making AYP, a clear double standard.

Although Pennsylvania has made progress in school choice, there are many areas which still need reform, especially if the state wants to win the "Race to the Top."

posted by ABHILASH SAMUEL | 10:13 AM | 0 comment