Wall Street Journal: Why Charter Schools Work
Accountability for results and freedom from union rules attract the best teachers into the profession. More »
News & Notes: Education
Important information from PDE on 363 calculations and immunizations
1. Some charter school have questioned school district backing out federal stimulus money from the Social Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) and the Education Jobs Fund (EduJobs) on their 363 calculation. It is PDE’s position that ANY federal portion of BEF, including SFSF and EduJobs, should be considered state funds for the purpose of the 363 [...] More »
Pennsylvania charter school movie to be released nationwide in September
PCPCS is excited to announce that 20th Century Fox in conjunction with Walden Media will be releasing a feature film about a group of Pennsylvania parents and teachers who work together against the odds and opposition to create a neighborhood charter school. About the film: Once in a great while, a film is made that combines honest, [...] More »
PCPCS Garners $300,000 Grant from The Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments has awarded the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS) a $300,000 two-year grant for the purpose of expanding efforts to drive quality and accountability in Pennsylvania charter schools. “Due to its proven commitment and demonstrated influence in increasing quality, accountability and transparency in Pennsylvania charter schools, the Endowments is pleased to [...] More »
PCPCS Statement on State Rep. Mike Fleck’s House Bill 2364
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools is profoundly disappointed that State Rep. Mike Fleck served as a mouthpiece for special interests seeking to destroy charter schools and eliminate parental choice. Rep. Fleck’s legislation is disingenuous and shows incredible disrespect for the intelligence of legislators and Pennsylvania taxpayers. It talks about reform but protects the [...] More »
PA Coalition of Public Charter Schools Receives $1.14 Million Grant from Walton Family Foundation
Funding will help drive quality and accountability in Pennsylvania charter schools The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS) announced today that it has received a $1.14 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation. The three-year grant was made with the goal of expanding efforts to drive quality and accountability in Pennsylvania charter schools, and [...] More »
Why Pennsylvania Needs a Statewide Independent Authorizer for Charter Schools
Visit www.ChildrenPA.com and take two minutes to let your legislator know you want to see an independent authorizer in Pennsylvania. After more than 14 years of operation and experience in Pennsylvania and from educators in 39 other states, we know what makes for high-performing charter schools – dedicated teachers, involved parents, individualized attention, exceptional curriculums, [...] More »
Phildadelphia Great Schools Compact Update Meeting #12 & #13
Update #12 The Committee is working on a community engagement strategy for the Great Schools Compact, with the goal of sharing information the Compact’s forward movement and status with a broader group of interested parties, and soliciting their input and ideas being explored and pursued by the Committee. PSP walked the Committee through an updated [...] More »
US DOE Announces New Exemplary Charter School Collaboration Awards
The U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program is requesting public comment on proposed plans for its new Exemplary Charter School Collaboration Awards competition. This competition (84.282P) is designed to create incentives for charter schools to collaborate with non-chartered public schools and non-chartered local educational agencies (LEAS) to share and transfer best educational and operational [...] More »
Two US Department of Education (USDOE) Competitive Grants available for Charter Schools
The U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program (CSP) has just announced two new Non-State Educational Agency (Non-SEA) grant competitions for 2012. Applications for both competitions are due June 6, 2012. The CSP’s Non-SEA Planning, Program Design, and Implementation competition (84.282B) provides grants directly to public charter schools so they can plan, design, and complete [...] More »
Philadelphia Great Schools Compact: Update #9
Update from the Compact Committee - Meeting #9 Mar 30, 2012 The Committee addressed questions and concerns of charter schools relative to current charter modification and expansion policies. These included a lack of clarity about the timing and criteria for decisions on charter modification and inconsistencies in the criteria used to make modification decisions in recent [...] More »
PCPCS testifies against anti-Cyber School bill.
On February 15th 2012, PCPCS President, Lawrence Jones, testified before the PA Senate Education Committee against House Bill 1973, a bill that would severely defund Cyber Charter Schools in Pennsylvania. More »
Making a Difference: Public, charter schools form partnership.
Rock Center Special Correspondent Chelsea Clinton visits Central Falls, R.I., where a public school and charter school have formed a unique partnership to better serve their students. Rather than compete with one another, a group of public school teachers are working with teachers from The Learning Community charter school to devise programs that have already raised [...] More »
Protect Charter School Teacher Retirement Funds
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued a Proposed Regulation titled “Determination of Government Plan Status.” This regulation would force states to prohibit charter school teachers from participating in state retirement plans. Presently, every single state that authorizes charter schools either requires or permits charter school participation in the state’s retirement system. Therefore, this regulation would [...] More »
Working with English Language Learners (ELLs) in the Charter School Context
The number of ELL students throughout the United States is increasing yearly and it is the responsibility of our schools to educate these students. 2.9% of the student population of Pennsylvania is ELLs. This increases greatly in the urban areas. Charter schools continue to enroll very few ELLs which have caused many to question the [...] More »
PCPCS Position on Independent Authorizers
After 14 years of operation and experience in Pennsylvania and from educators in 39 other states, we know what makes for high-performing charter schools – dedicated teachers, involved parents, individualized attention, exceptional curriculums, enlightened leadership, and strong authorizers. None of this is surprising, and with the exception of the strong authorizer, every one is identical [...] More »
Statewide Poll Indicates Pennsylvanians Support Public School Choice
The results are in: The majority of PA residents support public school choice. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools in partnership with Susquehanna Polling and Research recently conducted a statewide survey to determine how taxpayers view charter and cyber charter schools. The survey results indicate that residents across the Commonwealth recognize the value of [...] More »
PCPCS President testifies on behalf of Charter Schools before the House Education Committee.
The following is a transcript of the testimony of Lawrence F. Jones, President of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Public Charter Schools, given to the the PA House Education Committee in Philadelphia on Thursday July 28th. Good afternoon Chairman Clymer, Chairman Roebuck, members of the Education Committee, members of the legislature, and audience members. My name is Lawrence F. [...] More »