Positions & Testimony
2021-22 Legislative Session
Charter Reform Issues
- Letter to PDE and IRRC regarding proposed final-form regulations for charter schools and cyber charter schools
- Testimony to the Senate Education Committee on proposed regulations for charter schools and cyber charter schools
- Letter to PDE and IRRC on proposed regulations for charter schools and cyber charter schools
- Letter to the Senate opposing SB 1, charter reforms, as amended by the Senate Education Committee
- Letter to the Senate Education Committee opposing SB 1, addressing charter reforms and creating an automatic escalator to the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program
COVID-19 Relief
- Letter to the state health secretary calling for a retraction to the statement criticizing schools not participating in Covid-19 testing program
- COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
- PA Education Associations Call on Wolf Administration to Prioritize COVID-19 Vaccine for School Staff
- Testimony to the House Education Committee on the impact of the pandemic on education
- Testimony to the Senate Education and Health and Human Services Committees regarding the pandemic
CTE Issues
- Letter to the House Education Committee supporting HB 602 creating a new tax credit program to create, update, or expand CTE programs
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Letter to the House of Representatives supporting HB 2646 regarding candidates for CTE certification
Education Reform Issues
- Testimony to the Senate Education Committee presented by Lena Hannah
- Testimony to the Senate Education Committee presented by Thomas Seidenberger Ed D
- Letter to the Senate Education Committee supporting Senate Bill 73 (mandate waivers), Senate Bill 351 (Community Engaged Schools for Success pilot), House Bill 365 (updating School Code terminology) and House Bill 412 (substitute teachers)
Employment/Personnel Issues
- Testimony to the House Labor and Industry Committee regarding House Bill 2860 regarding the collection and analysis of public sector safety data
- Joint letter to the US Secretary of Transportation and to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration calling for a school bus driver specific CDL
- Letter to the House Labor and Industry Committee opposing HB 845 requiring school districts to post terms of collective bargaining agreements prior to board action
- Letter to the House Education Committee supporting HB 412 addressing substitute teachers, and HB 365 removing derogatory terms from the School Code
- Letter to the Senate Education Committee supporting SB 381 permanently allowing student teachers to serve as substitutes, and SB 224 regarding out-of-state teacher certification reciprocity
Federal Issues
- Letter to Congressman Glenn Thompson in support of H.R. 6435, providing continued flexibility regarding Secure Rural Schools (SRS) or timber harvest payments impacting counties and schools
- Joint letter to U.S. House and Senate committees calling for increased funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- Joint letter to President-Elect Biden, Dr. Cardona, Sen. Casey and Sen. Toomey regarding assessment waivers
School Boards
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Letter to the Senate Education Committee on HB 2169, SB 766, SB 1243, SB 1277 and SB 1278
- Letter to the Senate opposing SB 527 expanding the EITC and OSTC programs with an automatic escalator
- Letter to the Senate Education Committee opposing SB 527 that contains unrestricted expansion of the EITC and OSTC programs through the use of an “automatic escalator”
- Letter to the House State Government Committee opposing HB 2093 eliminating the ability of school boards candidates to cross-file nomination petitions
- Letter to the House Local Government Committee supporting HB 2148 regarding advertising requirements
- Letter to the Senate opposing HB 1660 limiting school board emergency powers
- Letter to the House of Representatives opposing HB 1332 requiring districts to publish curriculum
- Letter to the Senate State Government Committee supporting Right-to-Know Law reforms under SB 312 and SB 552
- Joint testimony to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee from PSBA and local government associations regarding SB 310, creating a state Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Testimony to the House Local Government Committee supporting HB 955, flexibility in legal advertising requirements, presented by Jennifer Pesanka
- Letter to the House Education Committee regarding HB 1892 (charter payment reconciliation; support), HB 1865 (charter expansion; oppose), HB 1332 (requires districts to publish curriculum; concerns) and HB 1642 (expands tax credit program for economically disadvantaged schools; concerns)
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Letter to the House of Representatives opposing HB 2524 amending the Right-to-Know law
Student Issues
- Testimony to the House Education Committee regarding student data privacy and protection
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Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives supporting the Keep Kids Fed Act
- Testimony to the House Children and Youth Committee on the issue of respecting confidentiality while preserving accountability: protecting students and staff
- Letter to the House of Representatives supporting an amendment to HB 2022 regarding mental health supports for students
Taxation Issues
- Letter to the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee opposing SB 297, restricting the rights of school districts to conduct appeals of under-assessed properties
- Testimony to the House Republican Policy Committee regarding property tax reform
Vouchers
- Joint letter to the Senate from Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers opposing HB 2169
- FAQ analyzing HB 2169 from Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers
- Letter to the House of Representatives opposing House Bill 2169
- Joint letter to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers opposing HB 2169
- Joint letter to the Senate Education Committee from Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers opposing SB 733
- Joint letter to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers opposing HB 1254
- Letter to the House of Representatives opposing HB 1254