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EPLC Education Notebook Friday, May 14, 2010
Content in this edition: The EPLC Education Notebook (current and past editions) also is available by visiting the EPLC website at www.eplc.org/ednotebook.html.
ELECTION DAY REMEMBER TO VOTE! Tuesday, May 18 is Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Click here to find your polling place. During the Primary, registered members of the Republican and Democrat parties are eligible to vote to nominate the candidates that will represent their party on the ballot in the November General Election. This year, Pennsylvania will elect a new governor and lieutenant governor. Additionally, all 203 members of the Pennsylvania House as well as half of the Pennsylvania Senate are on the ballot. Where do the candidates for Governor stand on education issues? Use the links below to learn more about their education platforms. Gubernatorial Candidates Tom Corbett (R)
PENNSYLVANIA POLICYMAKERS State House Last week, the House Finance Committee passed legislation (House Bill 2155) that would prohibit levying a tax on college tuition. The bill was introduced in response to the Pittsburgh Mayor’s proposal to impose a 1 percent tax on the tuition of students attending Pittsburgh colleges and universities to help fund city services. HB 2155 has been placed on the House Tabled Bills Calendar. State Senate Last week, the Senate passed legislation (Senate Bill 629), which would require the PA Department of Education to develop a certificate for school social workers and require school entities that employ social workers to hire individuals that hold a school social worker certificate issued by PDE. Persons that meet the exception for a school social worker under the “Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act” or who are employed as a school social worker in a public or private school prior to the development of a certificate by PDE would be excluded from the new provisions. The bill also would allow school social workers to work under the supervision of a superintendent, assistant superintendent or other school administrator or employee as determined by the school entity. Currently, school social workers are supervised by individuals holding a home and school visitor certification. SB 629 has been referred to the House Education Committee. Independent Regulatory Review Commission The Independent Regulatory Review Commission this week approved new regulations that will govern state-funded pre-kindergarten programs in Pennsylvania. The regulations establish a structure, framework, standards and procedures for providing high-quality pre-K to 3- and 4 year-olds through the PA Pre-K Counts program, including the process for applying for Pre-K Counts competitive grants, planning and coordinating pre-K programs, reporting requirements, operational criteria and fiscal responsibilities. The regulations will take effect upon their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Click here for more information about the new pre-K regulations.
RESEARCH AND REPORTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS Pennsylvania will begin conducting school safety and climate reviews in buildings designated as “persistently dangerous schools” and other schools that have significant safety needs. The state has contracted with Safe Havens International, Inc. to conduct reviews in schools in the Philadelphia and Harrisburg City School Districts. Safe Havens then will make building-level recommendations to ensure a safe and orderly educational environment. Click here for more information.
DATEBOOK Next week… For information on these and other upcoming events, see www.eplc.org/calendar.html. The EPLC Education Notebook (current and past editions) also is available by visiting the EPLC website at www.eplc.org/ednotebook.html.
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