Education in the News

Pittsburgh schoosl make progress in closing racial gap
By Jodi, Weigand, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 
Pittsburgh Public Schools made more progress this past year in closing its racial achievement gap than in the past three school years combined, according to a report from an independent watchdog group released Monday.
11-15-11

School reform ralliers draw Gov. Tom Corbett, former Gov. Ed Rendell
By Charles Thompson , The Patriot News
Former Gov. Ed Rendell returned to the Capitol on Tuesday in what some saw as a breach of political etiquette, but Rendell called it a matter of "setting the record straight" in the school reform debate.
11-15-11 

PREZ PREACHES TOUGH TO CHOIR: Education the focus in must-win PA
By William Bender, Philadelphia Daily News
President Obama yesterday visited a staunchly Democratic nook of Delaware County to announce a new federal education initiative and to lower the boom on Republicans in a state he'll almost certainly have to carry to get re-elected. 
11-9-11

Pa Senate backs vouchers
By Brian Wallace, LancasterOnline
Local GOP House members are undecided
10-27-11 

Fewer Philadelphia schools labeled as 'dangerous'
The Associated Press
 Twelve schools in Philadelphia have been labeled "persistently dangerous" by the state, although two are now under new management.
10-18-11

Choice, charters, vouchers pushed by Gov. Corbett
By Brad Bumsted and Jodi Weigland, Pittsburgh Tribune 
10-12-11

Corbett presents education plan
By Laura Olson and Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gov. Tom Corbett today presented an education plan that calls for more charter school accountability; expanded tax credits to companies to help nonpublic schools; opportunity scholarships aimed at enabling low- and moderate-income students in failing schools to attend other public or nonpublic schools; and a new system for evaluating teachers.
10-11-11 

Schools across Pennsylvania record higher rates of success
By Jodi Weigrand, Pittsburgh Tribune
Of Western Pennsylvania's 105 school districts, 99 met standards in 2011 under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to test scores released on Thursday.
9-30-11

State showing progress under No Child Left Behind
Pittsburgh Tribune 
Though the state made it more difficult, 467 of 499 Pennsylvania school districts still met standards under the federal No Child Left Behind Act in , according to test scores released today.
9-29-11 

Obama calls education key to strong economy
By Sue Chang, The Columbus Dispatch
President Barack Obama said yesterday that education is the key to building a strong economy, and called for a reform of the U.S. educational system.  
9-25-11 

Obama to Waive Parts of No Child Left Behind
By Sam Dillon, The New York Times 
Criticizing Congress for months of inaction in updating No Child Left Behind, President Obama on Friday offered to lift the law's most onerous provisions, including its 2014 deadline for bringing all students to proficiency in reading and math, for states that promise to follow his administration's own school improvement agenda.
9-22-11 

State education chief cool on No Child Left Behind Waiver
By Sean McCracken, Erie Times
Pennsylvania's education secretary said Wednesday he is reluctant to seek a waiver to the federal No Child Left Behind law.
9-22-11 

Obama prepares to revamp 'No Child Left Behind'
By Lyndsey Layton, Washington Post 
President Obama is poised to broaden federal influence in local schools by scrapping key elements of No Child Left Behind, the Bush administration's signature education law, and substituting his own brand of school reform.
9-21-11 

Governor Corbett Cites School Vouchers as Priority for Fall Legislative Session
CBS Philly
Pennsylvania lawmakers begin returning to the state capitol today to begin what could be a tumultuous fall session of the legislature. The state Senate returns to session this week and the House returns next week.
9-19-11 

Jobs bill proposes more than $900M for K-12 schools in Pa.
The Pittsburgh Tribune
Pennsylvania would be eligible for up to $944 million to modernize and repair its K-12 schools in the jobs bill President Obama submitted to Congress today.
9-13-11 

Education reform discussion continues at the Pennsylvania state Capitol
By Jan Murphy, The Patriot News
The Senate Education Committee is up to bat today in the ongoing education reform discussion that have been a popular subject of legislative hearings this summer.
8-25-11 

Former Pa. education secretary suggests lawmakers consider limited voucher plan
By Jan Murphy, The Patriot News
A former state education chief who advocated school vouchers in the 1990s suggests state lawmakers first consider a more limited voucher plan targeted to kids in failing schools.
8-18-11      

Schools to get info on preventing, dealing with dating violence
By The Patriot-News
By the time Gary Cuccia and his family started thinking seriously about dating violence, the worst had already happened.
7-25-11 

Pa Board of Education establishes 'cut scores' for Keystone Exams
By Jan Murphy, The Patriot-News
Funding was put on hold this year for the Keystone Exams, a series of state graduation tests, but the cramming continues to prepare for 2012-13 when the tests begin to carry consequences for students.   
7-20-11 

Secretary of Education Announces Governor Corbett's Investment in Education
Press Release by Tim Eller
Harrisburg - Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today announced the funding allocation for education in the 2011-12 state budget. "Governor Corbett's fiscally responsible budget forces our state government to live within its means and, as a result, will force Pennsylvania's education system to do the same," Tomalis said. "In these austere times, the Governor's budget will ensure that our schools and educators focus on educating our young people and preparing them for a bright future."
 7-1-11

House Education Committee cancels hearing on school vouchers and charter school reform
By Jan Murphy, The Patriot-News 
House Democrats succeeded in stopping a House Education Committee from holding a public hearing on education reform proposals after Democrats argued the meeting had not been advertised according to House rules.
 6-22-11

House Education Committee approves ecoonomic furlough bill with changes
By Jan Murphy, The Patriot-News 
The House Education Committee has endorsed a version of a compromise version of a bill to give school districts the ability to furlough staff for economic reasons.
6-20-11