Education News

Schools see ‘incredible progress’ on internet connectivity, report says

More than 44 million students now learn in classrooms with high-speed internet connections, up from just 4 million five years ago, according to a new analysis by the nonprofit broadband advocacy group EducationSuperHighway. Education Week, Oct. 2, 2018 (Subscription may be required… More

Firms sell school ‘hardening’ as mass shooting solution

Since the school shooting in Florida last February, security firms and nonprofit groups linked to the industry have persuaded lawmakers to elevate the often-costly “hardening” of schools over other measures that researchers and educators say are proven to reduce violence, an Associated Press investigation shows. Associated Press, Oct… More

Act 1: Schools told max tax increase rate for 2019-20

The Pennsylvania Department of Education released late last week Act 1 indices to approximately 500 districts to tell them how high they may raise real estate taxes in the 2019-20 school year. Delaware County Daily Times, Oct… More

Detailed new national maps show how neighborhoods shape children for life

The research has shown that where children live matters deeply in whether they prosper as adults… More

Commentary: A scholar’s-eye view of school law as high court gears for new term

The U.S. Supreme Court opens its new term Oct. 1 with no education cases yet on its docket, but with the potential for several to be added in the coming months involving such issues as teacher First Amendment rights, employment discrimination in schools, and equal pay for teachers of similar experience. Education Week, Oct… More

Jeopardy’ host grills Wolf and Wagner in Pennsylvania’s only gubernatorial debate

Trebek set up the debate as a “conversation” because he said most people know how they will vote and where the candidates stand on issues. Allentown Morning Call, Oct… More

PA will be first to launch statewide app, hotline for reporting school threats

Pennsylvania will be the first state in the nation with statewide deployment of a threat reporting system devised by people whose children were killed by a shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, officials announced Monday. The program, called “Safe2Say,” is expected to be up and running by early January. Pennlive, Oct… More

Facial recognition technology at schools fuels privacy debate

The rash of school shootings across the country has thrust school security into the spotlight. Some critics, however, aren't so sure such systems in schools will be effective enough to outweigh the privacy costs. WTAE, Sept… More

Editorial: In 2019, lawmakers must defuse the $68B pension time-bomb

Pennsylvania taxpayers are already on the hook for a staggering $68 billion in public employee pension debt. That's roughly $5,523 for every man, woman and child in the commonwealth. Pennlive.com, Sept… More

Lawmakers float some redistricting ideas, but few expect results

Top state House lawmakers have taken a brief stab at restarting the chamber's long-deadlocked conversation on redistricting — filing amendments with a few options for changing the congressional reapportionment process. However, there's still no clear path toward a consensus. WITF, Sept… More