Being successful....

Being successful…

I am sure you have read or heard about the PA Senate passing its version of a voucher system in Pennsylvania. In addition to the millions of dollars this will cost Pennsylvania taxpayers in the first year, an ancillary consequence of the law will be the reduction of state money for public education. Schools like ours will need to make increasingly painful cuts that directly affect students. This bill, in my opinion, has nothing to do with improving education for all children of Pennsylvania. It is an effort to fund private and parochial schools. I say this because students qualify for vouchers only after being accepted by private or parochial schools; it’s unlikely that the very poor or underachievers will be accepted by these schools; hence the state’s education money will go to a select group of already-successful students and families.

Another strong reason for quashing the voucher system is that studies of similar processes across the U.S. have shown that vouchers have not led to increased achievement or learning, nor have they improved outcomes for students who are underperforming in public education. Under the voucher system, public education money follows students if they go to a private or parochial school, yet the bill doesn’t demand the same performance accountability from these schools as is required of public schools. So, as the majority of students in public schools work with less to achieve more, vouchers provide funding to schools whose students may or may not achieve to state expectations.

The will of Pennsylvania voters seems to be ignored by their legislators in this situation. Almost two-thirds of Pennsylvanians disapprove of vouchers, according to recent statewide polls, yet the bill passed the Senate and awaits House approval. The House has yet to debate or vote on this Senate-approved plan. I urge you to contact our local legislators to vote NO on this voucher plan.

The link listed below will show you how each senator voted on Senate Bill 1. Please note that Senator Wozniak voted “no” on this bill. The bill is to be debated in the House and the link also shows who are our local legislators. I again urge you to contact them and request that they vote “no” on SB 1.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2011&sess_ind=0&rc_body=S&rc_nbr=369


Thanks to the commitment of our district’s families, teachers and students, I am proud to say that CCSD is not considered one of the 187 school districts targeted under this proposal as being low-performing. We have continued to make do with less, as evidenced by the 12% basic education cut in our state funding. Although our district did make some program changes, cuts and adjustments, none of these affected our core courses or staff. The only silver lining I see from the funding cuts is that we have demonstrated the ability to examine every aspect of our district and prioritize those programs and services that are critical to providing a top notch, quality education to kids of all needs and abilities. Needless to say, though, there will be a point beyond which cuts will harm the teaching and learning environment.

On a more cheery note, I do hope you enjoy what little of the fall season is left to us (even though it did snow in October!). As with everything, each season brings trials and tribulations, as well as beauty and wonder. It is what we do and how we enjoy each season that helps to define our lives and our happiness.

Stay safe and warm as the winter months approach, and football season winds down.

Dr. D