PA Families for Education Choice

Now we know - funding cuts to cyber charter students isn’t the only goal for this year’s budget.

Pittsburgh Public Schools operates 54 schools that serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Only one of those schools is located in the city core, while most are miles from the event. With a total enrollment of around 20,000 students, the decision affects not only students but also caregivers and the students at 136 private, parochial, and charter schools who rely on the district for transportation.

“Pittsburgh Public Schools operates 54 schools that serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Only one of those schools is located in the city core, while most are miles from the event.” ONE school equals closure for 54 schools and 20,000 students. 🧐

@Dale_Chu We do this all of the time - align on some issues and not on others. The important thing is that we don’t demonize simply because we disagree. Kudos!

Strange bedfellows: the screen-time backlash has bipartisan legs.

Researchers have found that students who shared a classroom with pupils who have emotional and behavioral disabilities had more absences, lower math and reading scores, and were more likely to act out in the classroom or struggle with social skills. 🤨🤨🤨

Enter now by visiting paedchoice.org

Pittsburgh schools boost salaries, roster despite talk of consolidation bit.ly/4bBhdtt

Is THIS really how we want to be seen across the US? That our kids and their education is second to the NFL Draft? That the effect on parents and their livelihood doesn’t matter? 😡

@NedStanley Agreed! Flex days should not be at the whim of school districts. This wasn’t their intended use. And if it’s unsafe to attend school - MAKE IT SAFE. These kids should come first. Parents shouldn’t have to jeopardize their jobs or lose income because of the event.

Fundamentally unacceptable. This has to stop.

@Dyrnwyn @GullyoftheSun Ridiculous. I live in Pgh. Keep your kid home for too long without a doctor’s note? Big trouble. Beg for online due to bullying or safety only to be told no? But apparently education means nothing when it comes to the draft. It’s inconvenient for the adults. 😡

Uh…..huh????

Wait. For so long people fought online learning. Then they limited it - it’s by permission. DISTRICT permission. But keep your own child home due to safety concerns? End up at the judge. Parents now have to stay home. Take off work. What if you can’t do that or don’t have childcare options? Irresponsible and hypocritical.

Unbelievably sad. @PADeptofEd More money isn’t helping and we need your plan for intervention.

@shesanti @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems @PASenateGOP @PaSenateDems @GovernorShapiro @SenatorPittman @dwkeefer @SenatorKimWard @RepGleim @RepSchweyer @JoeDforPA @RepMarcAnderson @SenFrankFarry @RepProkopiak @AJLivingston7 @Malliard Sadly it’s not about money. It’s about control. Of others over parents. Don’t let them.

@PaEdChoice How $ is enough? And why cuts to cyber charters? #SchoolChoice @PAHouseGOP @PaHouseDems @PASenateGOP @PaSenateDems @GovernorShapiro @SenatorPittman @dwkeefer @SenatorKimWard @RepGleim @RepSchweyer @JoeDforPA @RepMarcAnderson @SenFrankFarry @RepProkopiak @AJLivingston7 @Malliard

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MYTH #1: “School choice is just a subsidy for rich families.” Reality: The typical school choice family isn’t rich. They’re working-class. They’re middle-class. They’re families who never had options before. In Florida, most scholarship students come from low- and moderate-income households. Nationwide, most choice students switched from public schools—not private. In fact, states like FL, TX, IN, and more prioritize applications based on income. Choice didn’t create their opportunity. It WAS their opportunity. @schoolchoicenow Myth #2 next week.

Myth-Busting March's MYTH #2: “School choice drains money from public schools.” This one surprises people: In many cases, public schools actually keep money when a student leaves. Why? Because scholarships are nearly always less than the total per-student funding. Usually this is because districts keep their share of the funding when a student leaves BUT they don't decrease the over spending by an equal amount. Multiple fiscal studies found choice programs were neutral—or financially positive—for public schools. Less crowding and more resources per student. That’s not draining the system. That’s changing it. buff.ly/UXbNZGJ Myth #3 next week.

Myth-Busting March MYTH #3: “School choice increases segregation.” Let’s be honest: School access has been tied to ZIP code for decades. And ZIP codes are tied to income and/or systemic redlining. School choice breaks that link. Research reviews show choice programs often improve integration—or have no negative effect. Choice doesn’t create inequality. It gives families a way out of it. @Available2All @afcpress @valeriagurr Myth #4 next week.