School Funding Commission Needs to Make Sure Schools No Longer Open with Inadequate Resources

Students from Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter School read letters written by Philadelphia public school children on the need for school funding outside the governor’s office in Philadelphia on 9-8-14.

Schools across the region opened for a new school year this week, many of them with the same or even fewer resources than they had last year.  In Philadelphia, schools opened despite an $81 million budget gap that the state has yet to help fill by approving the cigarette tax legislation for the city.  On Monday, parents, local representatives, council members and students stood outside the Governor’s office in Center City to read letters written by Philadelphia public school children on the importance of education and the need for fair funding.  The next day, members of the Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Commission held a hearing in Allentown to hear from administrators and the public on the damage caused by years of underfunding by the state.  Pennsylvania’s current system of funding schools includes a basic education line item that does not fully take into account the needs of districts.  Additional funding is doled out through other line items created by the legislature that often lead to additional funding for schools represented by powerful lawmakers.  The Commission has scheduled three public hearings in our region:  October 16 in Montgomery County and November 18 and 19 in Philadelphia.  The times and locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Click here for more information about the Basic Education Funding Commission.

State Cuts to Schools Cause Test Scores to Plummet

State funding cuts to education cause test scores to plummet in the state’s poorest school districts, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania State Education Association.  Poorer school districts are hit hardest by state cuts since they depend more on state funding than school districts with wealthier tax bases.  The report found that from 2010-2013, PSSA reading test scores in grades 3-6 dropped twice as much in poorer districts, while the PSSA 3rd-6th grade math scores in the poorer districts dropped nearly three times as much.

PSSA Grade 3 to 6 Reading Test Scores Dropped Twice as Much in Poorest School Districts

State Cuts Cause PSSA Grade 3 to 6 Math Scores to Drop Significantly in Poorer School Districts

The report shows that student achievement has declined since the $1 billion cut to public schools in 2011 and the state’s poorest students are suffering the most.  The report finds that the state’s 100 poorest school districts lost an average of $654 per student, while the wealthiest 100 districts lost about $194.

In an op-ed to the Patriot News of Harrisburg, Michael Crossey, the President of PSEA, said it best, “ It’s time to get back to what we know works for our schools and the students who learn there: investments that help our children learn – all of them.”

Click here to read the full report.

Federal NURSE Act Could Put More Nurses in Pennsylvania Schools

A new plan backed by Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey could provide grants to put more nurses in schools across the state.  The federal “NURSE Act” would allow school districts with a nurse to student ratio that is greater than 750 to 1 to apply for grants through the U.S. Department of Education.  The grants would help place additional certified full-time nurses in schools.
The Philadelphia School District had only about one nurse for more than a thousand students last year.  A lack of school nurses led to more than a few instances where students’ health was placed in jeopardy.  Click here to send a note to Senator Casey commending him for introducing legislation that will ensure greater safety of students while they are at school.

2014 Children’s Sabbath to Inspire More Action for Young Children

Please join PCCY and the Pre-k For PA Campaign for the 21st annual Children’s Sabbath Interfaith Service on Sunday, October 19th at 3 pm at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.  Leaders from every faith will deliver messages on the importance of ensuring preschool children are nurtured and protected.  Prominent ministers, local children’s choirs and the CAPA Dance Company will inspire reflection and action at this interfaith service.  We will also be collecting new and gently used children’s books for ages zero to six.  We hope you can join us for this special day of fellowship.

Click here to download a flyer that you can share with your friends.

Picasso Project Student Art Exhibit Opens in Society Hill

A photographic exhibit now on display at Society Hill Synagogue includes both images and text created by students at Vare-Washington Elementary School.  The sobering exhibit includes the real wishes and worries that Philadelphia students have.  The display was made possible through a grant from PCCY’s Picasso Project with contributions from the Social Action Committee at Society Hill Synagogue.  The exhibition will be on display now through October 8th.  For more information on how to visit the display, contact Society Hill Synagogue, located at 418 Spruce Street in Philadelphia, at 215-922-6590.

Click here to support the Picasso Project.