PA Ed Policy Roundup for July 9, 2015:
Senate Rejects School Voucher Amendment During ESEA Debate

 
 
"Both the Senate and House versions of education legislation address what critics of No Child Left Behind have opposed for years — a punitive system of testing overseen by the federal government — in favor of more local control.  While both bills retain the annual reading and math tests required under current law, states would be given latitude to decide how those assessment tests would be used to measure school and teacher performance.  The Senate version, however, would require states to continue to use the tests as a significant accountability factor while the House measure does not."
Lawmakers Move to Limit Government’s Role in Education
New York Times By JENNIFER STEINHAUER and MOTOKO RICH JULY 8, 2015
WASHINGTON — Congress on Wednesday moved to substantially scale back the federal government’s role in education, particularly the use of high-stakes standardized testing to punish schools, in the first significant proposed revisions since the No Child Left Behind law was passed 14 years ago.  While there is near-universal agreement that the law should be retooled, the paths to change are starkly different.  The House on Wednesday passed its version, a measure laden with conservative prescriptions that congressional Democrats and President Obama opposed. The Senate began debate on its alternative, a bill with at least some bipartisan support, but one the White House still finds wanting.  No Child Left Behind, which passed Congress by overwhelming margins, had been considered one of the signature domestic achievements of President George W. Bush. But its provisions for using standardized tests has ignited debate ever since.
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://PA Ed Policy Roundup for July 9, 2015: Senate Rejects School Voucher Amendment During ESEA Debate " href="http://PA Ed Policy Roundup for July 9, 2015: Senate Rejects School Voucher Amendment During ESEA Debate " both="" the="" senate="" and="" house="" versions="" of="" education="" legislation="" address="" what="" critics="" no="" child="" left="" behind="" have="" opposed="" for="" years="" —="" a="" punitive="" system="" testing="" overseen="" by="" federal="" government="" in="" favor="" more="" local="" control.="" while="" bills="" retain="" annual="" reading="" math="" tests="" required="" under="" current="" law,="" states="" would="" be="" given="" latitude="" to="" decide="" how="" those="" assessment="" used="" measure="" school="" teacher="" performance.="" version,="" however,="" require="" continue="" use="" as="" significant="" accountability="" factor="" does="" not."="" lawmakers="" move="" limit="" government’s="" role="" new="" york="" times="" jennifer="" steinhauer="" motoko="" rich="" july="" 8,="" 2015="" washington="" congress="" on="" wednesday="" moved="" substantially="" scale="" back="" education,="" particularly="" high-stakes="" standardized="" punish="" schools,="" first="" proposed="" revisions="" since="" law="" was="" passed="" 14="" ago.="" there="" is="" near-universal="" agreement="" that="" should="" retooled,="" paths="" change="" are="" starkly="" different.="" its="" laden="" with="" conservative="" prescriptions="" congressional="" democrats="" president="" obama="" opposed.="" began="" debate="" alternative,="" bill="" at="" least="" some="" bipartisan="" support,="" but="" one="" white="" still="" finds="" wanting.="" behind,="" which="" overwhelming="" margins,="" had="" been="" considered="" signature="" domestic="" achievements="" george="" w.="" bush.="" provisions="" using="" has="" ignited="" ever="" since.="" http:="" www.nytimes.com="" 07="" 09="" us="" lawmakers-move-to-limit-governments-role-in-education.html?mabreward="CTM&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine&_r=0" work="" revise="" npr="" morning="" edition="" david="" greene,="" host="" juana="" summers="" 08,="" 5:01="" am="" et="" audiio="" runtime="" :="" 3:49="" 2001,="" established="" data="" collection="" than="" any="" time="" u.s.="" history.="" looking="" reauthorize="" it,="" roadblocks="" remain.="" this="" week,="" working="" rewrite="" behind.="" that's="" bush's="" 2001.="" npr's="" covers="" joins="" latest.="" www.npr.org="" 08="" 421083666="" house-and-senate-lawmakers-work-to-revise-no-child-left-behind-law="" "vouchers="" undermine="" basic="" goals="" public="" allowing="" funding="" designated="" our="" most="" at-risk="" students="" re-routed="" private="" schools,"="" said="" sen.="" patty="" murray,="" d-wash.,="" co-author="" underlying="" esea="" bill.="" only="" provide="" illusion="" choice="" from="" low-income="" backgrounds,"="" murray="" added.="" "and="" it="" these="" who="" ultimately="" lose="" out="" when="" funds="" siphoned="" away="" schools="" they="" attend."="" rejects="" voucher="" amendment="" during="" week="" lauren="" camera="" 9:05="" pm="" waded="" into="" contentious="" considering="" an="" overhaul="" elementary="" secondary="" act,="" voting="" rejecting="" allowed="" title="" i="" dollars="" follow="" them="" or="" their="" choice.="" amendment,="" offered="" lamar="" alexander,="" r-tenn.,="" bill,="" provided="" $2,100="" scholarship="" discretion.="" "equal="" opportunity="" america="" mean="" everyone="" same="" starting="" line,"="" alexander.="" "there="" better="" way="" help="" line="" front."="" slammed="" proposal,="" arguing="" scarce="" need="" most.="" blogs.edweek.org="" edweek="" campaign-k-12="" senate_rejects_voucher_amendme.html="" "overall,="" represents="" dramatic="" departure="" version="" k-12="" turn="" much="" decisionmaking="" over="" states.="" eliminate="" system,="" known="" adequate="" yearly="" progress,="" despite="" requiring="" intervene="" aren't="" performing="" well,="" wouldn't="" tell="" do="" so="" many="" try="" fix="" time.="" also="" allow="" set="" own="" academic="" standards,="" prohibit="" secretary="" adopt="" common="" core="" state="" other="" standards."="" passes="" 218-213;="" continues="" 7:30="" representative="" reconsidered="" republican-backed="" reauthorization="" act—though="" it's="" far="" barack="" may="" eventually="" sign="" all="" done.="" after="" amendments,="" including="" failed="" democratic="" substitute,="" members="" rewrite,="" formally="" student="" success="" very="" close="" vote="" 218-213.="" twenty-seven="" republicans="" crossed="" party-line="" join="" entire="" caucus="" against="" "we="" urgent="" responsibility="" replace="" flawed="" bold="" solutions,"="" rep.="" john="" kline,="" r-minn.,="" committee="" chairman="" bill's="" author.="" "that="" grows="" each="" day."="" house_passes_esea_rewrite.html="" nsba="" lauds="" lawmakers’="" focus="" strong="" governance="" efforts="" nclb="" progress="" press="" release="" alexandria,="" va.="" (july="" 2015)="" --="" national="" boards="" association="" (nsba)="" actively="" engage="" nation’s="" support="" comprehensive,="" strategic="" modernization="" act="" (esea).="" views="" community="" leadership="" cornerstone="" united="" today’s="" floor="" action,="" sides="" aisle="" reinforced="" value="" across="" country="" call="" strengthen="" governance,="" greater="" flexibility="" innovation,="" guard="" inappropriate="" levels="" intrusion.="" “we="" pleased="" recognize="" critical="" board="" serve="" providing="" deserve,”="" stated="" executive="" director="" thomas="" j.="" gentzel.="" “as="" undergoes="" reauthorization,="" now="" uphold="" serving="" best="" interests="" students,="" parents,="" communities.”="" advance="" consideration="" (h.r.="" 5),="" sent="" letter="" expressing="" appreciation="" members’="" commitment="" promote="" students.="" underscored="" nsba’s="" firm="" opposition="" amendments="" authorize="" vouchers,="" tuition="" tax="" credits="" redirects="" toward="" education.="" vote,="" 218-213,="" h.r.="" 5="" -="" see="" at:="" www.nsba.org="" newsroom="" press-releases="" nsba-lauds-lawmakers%e2%80%99-focus-strong-local-governance-efforts-rewrite-nclb#sthash.jt7kyzbl.dpuf="" senator="" casey,="" highlighting="" county-by-county="" data,="" push="" passage="" universal="" pre-k="" could="" become="" part="" currently="" debating="" sweeping="" revamp="" impact="" pa’s="" 500="" districts="" casey="" fund="" five="" closing="" corporate="" inversions="" loophole="" state-by-state="" will="" show="" adding="" casey’s="" dc-="" ahead="" major="" his="" bob="" start="" floors,="" today,="" thursday,="" 9that="" 2:10pm="" conference="" call.="" detail="" pennsylvania’s="" nation.="" allows="" corporations="" avoid="" taxes="" claiming="" headquartered="" overseas.="" when:="" 9th="" dial-in:="" 202.228.0808="" (rsvp="" passcode)="" poverty="" rates="" every="" district,="" map="" post="" emma="" brown="" 8="" 8:32="" anyone="" cares="" about="" plight="" poor="" children="" take="" look="" interactive="" map,="" below,="" put="" together="" nonprofit="" edbuild.="" shows="" census="" bureau="" nearly="" 14,000="" nationwide.="" darker="" blue="" concentration="" living="" poverty.="" seems="" like="" kind="" easy="" find="" long="" ago="" hasn’t="" been,="" not="" realm.="" zoom="" out,="" you="" can="" macro-level="" concentrations="" wealth,="" dark="" swaths="" impoverished="" along="" mississippi="" river="" deep="" south="" rural="" parts="" west.="" in,="" district="" boundaries="" often="" stark="" lines="" division="" between="" affluent.="" www.washingtonpost.com="" news="" wp="" poverty-rates-in-every-u-s-school-district-in-one-map="" "="">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/09/us/lawmakers-move-to-limit-governments-role-in-education.html?mabReward=CTM&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine&_r=0
 
House And Senate Lawmakers Work To Revise No Child Left Behind Law
NPR Morning Edition DAVID GREENE, HOST with JUANA SUMMERS JULY 08, 2015 5:01 AM ET Audiio Runtime : 3:49
Passed in 2001, the education law established more standardized testing and education data collection than at any time in U.S. history. Congress is looking to reauthorize it, but roadblocks remain.  This week, lawmakers in the House and Senate are working to rewrite No Child Left Behind. That's George W. Bush's signature education law that was passed in 2001. NPR's Juana Summers covers Congress and joins us with the latest.
http://www.npr.org/2015/07/08/421083666/house-and-senate-lawmakers-work-to-revise-no-child-left-behind-law
 
"Vouchers undermine the basic goals of public education by allowing funding that is designated for our most at-risk students to be re-routed to private schools," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., co-author of the underlying ESEA bill.  "Vouchers only provide the illusion of choice to students from low-income backgrounds," Murray added. "And it is these low-income students who ultimately lose out when funds are siphoned away from the public schools they attend."
Senate Rejects School Voucher Amendment During ESEA Debate
Education Week By Lauren Camera on July 8, 2015 9:05 PM
The U.S. Senate waded into its first contentious debate since it began considering an overhaul to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, voting on and ultimately rejecting a voucher amendment that would have allowed Title I dollars for low-income students to follow them to the public or private school of their choice.  The amendment, offeredWednesday by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., co-author of the bipartisan bill, would have provided low-income students with a $2,100 scholarship to use at their discretion.  "Equal opportunity in America should mean that everyone should have the same starting line," said Alexander. "There would be no better way to help move students from the back of the line to the front."  But Democrats slammed the proposal, arguing it would move scarce federal dollars away from the schools that need them the most.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/07/senate_rejects_voucher_amendme.html
 
"Overall, the bill represents a dramatic departure from the current version of the federal K-12 law, the No Child Left Behind Act, and would turn much of the decisionmaking over to states.  It would eliminate the current accountability system, known as adequate yearly progress, and despite requiring states to intervene in schools that aren't performing well, it wouldn't tell states how to do so or how many schools to try to fix at a time. The measure would also allow states to set their own academic standards, and would prohibit the U.S. Secretary of Education from requiring states to adopt the Common Core State Standards, or any other set of standards."
House Passes ESEA Rewrite 218-213; Senate Debate Continues
Education Week By Lauren Camera on July 8, 2015 7:30 PM
The U.S. House of Representative reconsidered and ultimately passed Wednesday a Republican-backed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—though it's far from the measure that President Barack Obama may eventually sign into law when it's all said and done.
After considering 14 amendments, including a failed Democratic substitute, members passed the ESEA rewrite, formally known as the Student Success Act, with a very close vote of 218-213. Twenty-seven Republicans crossed party-line to join the entire Democratic caucus in voting against the bill.   "We have an urgent responsibility to replace a flawed law with bold solutions," said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., the education committee chairman and the bill's author. "That responsibility grows more urgent with each day."
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/07/House_passes_ESEA_rewrite.html
 
NSBA Lauds Lawmakers’ Focus on Strong Local Governance as Efforts to Rewrite NCLB Progress
NSBA Press Release July 8, 2015
Alexandria, Va. (July 8, 2015) -- The National School Boards Association (NSBA) continues to actively engage with our nation’s lawmakers in support of a comprehensive, strategic modernization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). NSBA views local and community leadership as the cornerstone of public education in the United States.  During today’s House and Senate floor action, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reinforced the value of school boards across the country with a call to strengthen local governance, provide greater flexibility for innovation, and guard against inappropriate levels of federal intrusion.
“We are pleased that lawmakers recognize the critical role local board members serve in providing all public school students with an education they deserve,” stated NSBA Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel. “As ESEA undergoes modernization and reauthorization, the time is now to uphold local and community leadership of public schools as serving the best interests of our students, parents, and local communities.”  In advance of today’s consideration of the Student Success Act (H.R. 5), NSBA sent a letter to the House expressing appreciation for members’ commitment to strengthen local governance and promote the success of our nation’s public school students. The letter underscored NSBA’s firm opposition to amendments that would authorize private vouchers, tuition tax credits or any other measure that redirects public dollars toward private education. In a close vote, 218-213, the House passed H.R. 5 with provisions that support the role of local governance in public education.
- See more at: http://www.nsba.org/newsroom/press-releases/nsba-lauds-lawmakers%E2%80%99-focus-strong-local-governance-efforts-rewrite-nclb#sthash.Jt7KyzbL.dpuf
 
Senator Casey, Highlighting County-by-County Data, to Push for Passage of New Universal Pre-K Amendment that Could Become Part of No Child Left Behind Rewrite
Both House and Senate Currently Debating Sweeping Education Revamp that Would Impact All of PA’s 500 School Districts  
Casey Amendment Would Fund Five Years of Universal Pre-K by Closing Corporate Tax Inversions Loophole
County-by-County and State-by-State Data Will Show Impact that Adding Casey’s Amendment to No Child Left Behind Rewrite Would Have
Washington DC- Ahead of a major vote on his universal pre-k proposal, U.S. Senator Bob Casey will push for passage of his Strong Start Amendment that could become part of the rewrite of No Child Left Behind, which is currently on the House and Senate floors, TODAY, Thursday, July 9that 2:10pm during a conference call. Highlighting county-by-county and state-by-state data, Casey will detail how his universal pre-k bill could impact Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts and school districts across the nation. The amendment would fund five years of universal pre-k by closing the corporate tax inversions loophole that allows major U.S. corporations to avoid U.S. taxes by claiming they are headquartered overseas.
When: TODAY, Thursday, July 9th 2:10pm
Dial-in: 202.228.0808 (RSVP for passcode)
 
Poverty rates in every U.S. school district, in one map
Washington Post By Emma Brown July 8 at 8:32 AM  
Anyone who cares about the plight of poor children in America should take a look at a new interactive map, below, put together by the new nonprofit EdBuild.  The map shows Census Bureau poverty rates in each of the nation’s nearly 14,000 school districts nationwide. The darker the blue on the map, the greater the concentration of children living in poverty. It seems like the kind of map that should have been easy to find long ago — but it hasn’t been, at least not in the public realm.  Zoom out, and you can see macro-level concentrations of poverty and wealth, like the dark blue swaths of impoverished districts along the Mississippi River in the Deep South and in rural parts of the West. Zoom in, and you see how school district boundaries often serve as stark lines of division between the poor and the affluent.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/07/08/poverty-rates-in-every-u-s-school-district-in-one-map/