Newsroom

The latest education-related news from PSBA and other sources

PSBA elections open

Voting is now open online through October 11, 2019, for PSBA officer and Insurance Trust trustee positions. Voting takes place online through a secure, third-party website — Simply Voting. Each member school entity casts one vote per office… More

Radio Times: School shootings spark drastic safety proposals

The show talks about how the mass shooting epidemic, and the reactions to it, are shaping schools in Pennsylvania. Beefed-up surveillance tactics, armed guards, and even arming teachers and administrators are all ideas that have been put on the table in recent years… More

What sex ed looks like after #MeToo movement

In 2011, a study by the American Association of University Women titled Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment at School found that 48 percent of students in grades 7 to 12 experienced some form of sexual harassment at school. So what can be done to solve this problem? The study argues that students want education… More

National News: Creating trauma-sensitive schools

There's never been a clearer scientific picture of the ways damaging experiences and intense, chronic stress can hurt a child's ability to learn in school. But for many schools, the picture of what trauma-sensitive schooling looks like in practice is still developing. Education Week, August 20, 2019 (Subscription may be required… More

Teacher salaries: PA ranks among top states for starting teachers, study shows

In his 2019 state budget, Gov. Wolf proposed setting Pennsylvania’s minimum salary for teachers at $45,000. The minimum starting pay for teachers has been at $18,500 for 30 years. While the minimum salary boost remains just a proposal in Pennsylvania, the state ranked well on a study of starting teacher salaries vs. other salaries… More

New child vaccination legislation introduced by state representatives in Pittsburgh

Two state representatives are introducing legislation that they say would promote child immunizations in Pennsylvania. Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Pittsburgh, said his bill would require families to have annual meetings with a doctor if they want a non-medical exemption for vaccinations… More

How to get rid of property taxes? Lawmaker looks to retirement income

One state House lawmaker is trying to pitch a new solution to a very old Pennsylvania problem: the reliance on school property taxes. Lebanon County Republican Representative Frank Ryan acknowledged Tuesday, his still-unintroduced property tax elimination plan would be a big, difficult pill for the commonwealth to swallow… More

Education groups praise Governor Wolf’s charter reforms

Governor Tom Wolf took executive action last week to improve quality, transparency and accountability of Pennsylvania’s charter schools to control costs and improve outcomes for students. Gov. Wolf also received support for his charter school actions from a variety of other legislators and education community leaders. Montco… More

Podcast – The Impact of Act 7: Saving Lives Through Hands-Only CPR

Act 7 of 2019 has just taken effect, requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to develop and provide curriculum for hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to schools, now part of required high school instruction… More

Changing school start times

CBS continues to examine the pros and cons of flip-flopping school start times for older and younger students. Research shows students may benefit. But as CBS21’s Michael Gorsegner found out making a major move isn’t always easy… More