Vouchers: The Most Controversial of the Education Reforms

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School choice is not a new issue in PA, and it was no surprise when Governor Corbett included school vouchers in his education reform agenda. In fact, several protesters gathered in York in anticipation of what they were about to hear.  “65% of Pennsylvanians do not support using public money to pay private school tuition and only 11% of Pennsylvanians strongly support a voucher program,” says Cumberland County parent Susan Spicka.  “If the majority of Pennsylvanians do not support vouchers, I don’t know why he does.”  Spicka was citing a recent poll released by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA).    

The Corbett plan calls for opportunity scholarships to be made available to low-income students in the worst performing 5% of schools.  The Opportunity Scholarship Program would allow eligible students to use state tax dollars to help pay tuition at the public or private school of their choice.  “What moves to the new school is the state subsidy, the old school still keeps its taxes in their school district,” Corbett says.  Students whose families earn 130% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for the full scholarship.  “To give that to you in dollars and cents,” Corbett says, “That’s a family of four earning $29,000.”  Students whose families earn 185% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for 75% of the scholarships. 

Opponents say vouchers don’t work.  “Vouchers, as proposed, would still leave a large number of students in those underperforming buildings,” says PSBA Director of Research Services, David Davare, who released a new research paper touting alternatives to raise student achievement in underperforming schools. 

“The issue is not that vouchers don’t work, the issue is the current system doesn’t work,” says Otto Banks, executive director of the REACH Alliance & Foundation, who says many students are trapped in failing schools simply because of their ZIP code.  “Vouchers are simply a means to an end,” Banks tells Radio PA.  “It gives a child an opportunity, or access to a quality education.”  REACH strongly supports the governors’ education reform agenda.

Education Agenda Reaction Runs the Gamut

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Some are noting a lack of detail in the governor’s education reform speech, but the state’s largest teachers union doesn’t need specifics to oppose the advent of school vouchers in Pennsylvania.  “The bottom line for us on any voucher program is that they don’t work, they don’t raise student achievement,” says Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) spokesman Wythe Keever.  He says the state should be focusing on initiatives that do work, such as tutoring, full-day kindergarten and smaller class sizes. 

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) adds that vouchers are unaffordable at a time when public education funding has already been cut by $900-million.  “Across all demographic groups, the public is just not interested in spending tax dollars to send children to private schools,” says PSBA executive director Tom Gentzel.  He points to the latest survey – conducted by Terry Madonna Opinion Research – that found 65% of Pennsylvanians either strongly or somewhat oppose vouchers.

But, Gentzel does tell us there are parts of the governor’s agenda that are worth discussing.  He says charter school accountability measures are long overdue.  Likewise, the PSEA isn’t deriding the entire plan.  “PSEA agrees with the governor that teacher evaluations need to be improved, and we support the use of multiple objective measures of performance,” says the PSEA’s Wythe Keever, who’s interested in the results of the new teacher evaluation pilot program.    

Governor Tom Corbett

Gov. Corbett unveiled his education reform agenda at the Lincoln Charter School in York.

Governor Corbett’s agenda appears to have some bicameral support in the General Assembly, based on the high-ranking cast of Republican lawmakers who stood by his side at the Lincoln Charter School in York.  “What the governor is putting on the table are very tangible proposals that allow us to move Pennsylvania into the forefront of reform,” says House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny).  “Our economy in the 21st century is going to look for excellence,” says Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne (R-Northampton).  “Through the reforms the governor is advocating for, we will be pursuing excellence here in Pennsylvania.”  Governor Corbett wants lawmakers to act in the next few months, so that the reforms he outlined on Tuesday can be in place for the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

Governor Tom Corbett

Corbett Unveils School Reform Agenda

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The new education paradigm that Governor Tom Corbett envisions would put students first.  While visiting the Lincoln Charter School in York, Corbett put forth a four point plan that he wants to see implemented in time for the 2012-2013 school year. 

It starts with a revamped charter school law in Pennsylvania.  “My plan calls for a state commission to approve and to oversee the charter schools of Pennsylvania,” Corbett says, adding that the commission of experts would also have the power to pull the plug on charter schools that aren’t meeting educational standards. 

Controversial school vouchers also make an appearance, but they would only apply to low-income students in the lowest performing 5% of PA’s schools.  “Students whose families earn 130% or less of the federal poverty rate would be eligible for these scholarships,” Corbett says.  “To give that to you in dollars and cents, that’s a family of four earning $29,000.”  Students who come from families earning slightly more would be eligible for a portion of the so-called opportunity scholarships. 

The new teacher evaluation program that Corbett envisions would include student performance.  “Right now the evaluation system is merely a rubber stamp, and it must change if our students are going to be the beneficiaries of good, committed educators,” Corbett says.  The current system allows only for a satisfactory or unsatisfactory rating.  The new system that’s currently being piloted would allow for ratings that range from distinguished and proficient, to needs improvement and failing.

The state House has already passed a bill that encompasses Corbett’s fourth goal of expanding the Educational improvement Tax Credit (EITC), which is awarded to businesses that fund scholarships and other educational improvements. 

Corbett concluded that he’s not happy with the status quo.  “When we have failing schools, we have failing students,” he says, pointing to the School District of Philadelphia’s 45% drop out rate.  Reaction to the Corbett agenda is rapidly pouring in; check back later for a recap.

Firefighters

Use Fire Prevention Week to Plan With Your Family

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It’s Fire Prevention Week and officials hope you’ll take it seriously.  More than 26 hundred people died in residential fires across the country last year, an increase of nearly 3% from 2009.  

State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann says families should sit down together and talk about what they should do in case of fire, develop a plan and practice it. He says research shows young children may not react to smoke detectors, so that’s why it’s important to test them after they’ve gone to sleep. He says there should be a working smoke detector on each floor of the house and in every bedroom.

Mann says it’s also a good time of year to have your home heating system checked and services.  He says you should also walk through your home and look for fire hazards and check your smoke detectors.

Mann says smoke detectors have a life expectancy; they start losing their sensitivity after 10 years.  He says older smoke detectors should be replaced.  Newer smoke detectors have a sealed battery compartment and will stop working when they reach that 10 year life expectancy.

Mann also hopes people will put carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.

 

Marcellus Shale Boom Has More Impacts Than Meet The Eye

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The Marcellus Shale boom is affecting anglers and boaters state wide, and they may not realize it.  The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is responsible for all fish, reptiles and amphibians in the Commonwealth.

Tim Schaeffer, Director of the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Communication   says by the end of the summer, they had reviewed five times more permits this year for waterways encroachment than all of last year.  He says they do all of that with fishing license dollars and get no general fund money or portion of the permit fees that the Department of Environmental Protection receives.

Commission staff must also review water withdrawal applications to make sure aquatic life is protected.  Schaeffer nearly 25% of the “Species of Special Concern” reviews they do each year are attributed to Marcellus.  He says permits for access roads and pipelines, everything that comes into DEP and crosses a stream, must be reviewed.

Schaeffer says waterways conservation officers have the authority to enforce environmental laws.  He says they’re often the first ones out there who see an erosion or sediment issue and can work proactively with the companies on changes that need to be made.

Schaeffer says the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report itself identifies the impacts of the Marcellus Shale boom that are appropriate for compensation, listing state natural resource agency oversight, permit review and enforcement.  He says they’re one of those state natural resources agencies and they think it’s unfair to have boaters and anglers  bear the burden.

New Law Puts Veteran on Civil Service Commission

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Ron Marsico

State Rep. Ron Marsico speaks in the Governor's Reception Room.

The latest law signed by Governor Tom Corbett requires that at least one member of the Civil Service Commission be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces.  “This legislation will say that Pennsylvania’s veterans will finally have what they deserve, a constant representation on the state’s Civil Service Commission,” says State Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), the bill’s prime sponsor. 

 “We discovered that the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission has not always met its goal of seeing that the veterans get the extra consideration that they earned,” Governor Corbett said as he thanked Auditor General Jack Wagner for calling attention to the problem. 

It was a 2008 audit that first found that state agencies skirted veterans’ preference requirements and failed to consider eligible veterans for 569 vacant positions.  The state’s Veterans’ Preference Program provides that veterans who pass the civil service exam receive 10 additional points, and have mandatory hiring preference if they have one of the top three scores for the position being considered. 

Auditor General Jack Wagner says the new law is especially important during a time when the unemployment rate among returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is now 10.9% in Pennsylvania.  That’s much higher than the statewide unemployment rate of 8.2%.  “A veteran on the commission will ensure that the civil service system works properly for all of Pennsylvania’s veterans,” Wagner said in a written statement. 

Just before signing the new law, Governor Corbett announced that he’s nominated John Stevens to the commission.  “He is a man who knows both the purpose of civil service and the needs of our veterans,” Corbett says.   Stevens, a Centre County resident, is a veteran of both the Pennsylvania National Guard and US Army.  His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.

History Goes Mobile In Pennsylvania

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You can use your smart phone to connect to Pennsylvania history. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s web site has gone mobile. You can now use it when you’re on the road to find and explore nearby state-owned historic sites.

Spokesman Howard Pollman says you just need to put  www.patrailsofhistory.com your mobile browser and you’ll be directed to the site. He says they made a commitment to develop a mobile optimized web site.  He says it makes it easier for people to find state-owned historic sites near them, and find out how to get to them.

Pollman says it uses geolocation to find the nearest site closest to the users.  It will allow them to plot turn by turn directions to the site. He says since many visitors like to do things thematically; the site is divided into categories such as military or industrial sites.

Pollman says they are also able to put in events at the sites in real time.  He says they realize this is a tool people will use while they’re on the road.

As a bonus, the commission is offering 2 dollars off general adult admission at its sites this month if you show the mobile site on your phone at check in.

Pollman says they chose not to do an app; they wanted to make it as accessible as possible. He says they didn’t want someone to have to download something.  He says if you put the address into your mobile phone, it will automatically redirect to the mobile site.

Cash

PNC Economic Outlook Shows Little Short Term Optimism

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Pennsylvania small and mid-sized business owners are still not optimistic about the short term economy according to the latest PNC Economic Outlook survey, but they have hope in the long term.   

Just 14% of small business owners in Pennsylvania remain optimistic about their company’s prospects in the next six months, but 73% expect moderate growth over the next two years.

 In the short term, the hiring outlook is not bright– just 9% plan to increase their workforce.   Kurt Rankin, Senior Economist for PNC Financial Services Group says one of the reasons behind that is unemployment rates are starting to tick back up in Pennsylvania.  He says that’s leading to a lack of spending, which is keeping businesses from having a more positive outlook.

Rankin says what it really comes down to, as opposed to federal regulation debates, is consumer demand and consumer confidence in these local markets. He says small business owners are not very optimistic that the federal government has much to offer in supporting their own business prospects.  Only 17% of those surveyed indicate significant tax incentives for hiring new employees would impact their hiring plans.

Rankin says a key factor in consumer confidence is home values.  He says homeowners feel uneasy about ramping up spending as they see the wealth effects of their home values declining. Rankin says home prices have not yet bottomed out.

Rankin says only slow retail sales growth is expected in the near term. The pace of total top line inflation outpaced wage growth in August for the first time this year.  He says not only are new jobs not being created at a pace to spur demand, but those with jobs are starting to see an inability to keep up with top line inflation.

RadioPA Roundtable

Radio PA Roundtable 10.8.11

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Radio PA Roundtable is a 30-minute program featuring in-depth reporting on the top news stories of the week. Professionally produced and delivered every Friday, Roundtable includes commercial breaks for local sale and quarterly reports for affiliate files.

Click the audio player below to hear the full broadcast:

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/witfaudio/radiopa/Roundtable10-7-11.mp3]

More Kids Going To The Emergency Room For Concussions

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State lawmakers are working on legislation to protect youth athletes from complications of concussions.   A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more kids are ending up in the emergency room for head injuries. 

A review of emergency department visits for sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, shows an increase of 62% for kids up to age 19 between 2001 and 2009.

Dr. Julie Gilchrist, co-author of the study, says common activities were involved, including bicycling, football, basketball and soccer. Officials believe much of the increase occurred because more adults realized the youngsters needed to be seen by health care providers.

Boys between the ages of 10-19 were most likely to wind up in the emergency department for a sports or recreation related head injury. About 70% of the injury visits were among boys.

Dr. Gilchrist , a Pediatrician, researcher, and medical epidemiologist at the CDC’s Injury Center,  says for children 0-4 and 5-9, boys and girls were most commonly injured in playground and bicycling activities. She says for boys 10-19, football and bicycling were the most common activities.  For girls in that age group, she says it was bicycling, basketball and soccer.

Dr. Gilchrist says there are a number of things that can be done to prevent injuries.  She says a helmet or the proper safety gear, having the proper skills for the activity and obeying the rules of the sport are key. She says strength and conditioning can also affect concussion rates.

She says beyond prevention, it’s important for people to know the signs of a brain injury and to know what to do. She says a child with a suspected brain injury needs to be evaluated by a health care provider who is familiar with this type of injury.  They will need both physical and cognitive rest until they have fully recovered. 

The state House has passed the ‘Safety in Youth Sports Act’.  It requires student athletes to be pulled from games if they show signs of a concussion.  It also requires students and parents to sign a concussion awareness sheet, and coaches to complete a concussion certification course.  Senate concurrence is pending.