Pennsylvania Voucher Program Falls Flat Despite Endorsement from Jay-Z

Good Day!

We all witnessed history last week - last Monday, July 22, was the hottest day on Earth. Ever. If you teach at a school with AC, count yourself fortunate. There are many schools around the world and even here in the U.S. where schools do not have AC with most in the Eastcoast. As always, stay cool.

Cheers 🧊☕🧊

Voucher program a no-go

The recent budget negotiations in Pennsylvania took an unexpected turn when the highly anticipated school voucher issue, a proposed $100 million voucher program, supported by Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and even endorsed by Jay-Z, didn't materialize as expected.

Instead, lawmakers reached a compromise that expands existing tax credit programs to assist families in sending their children to private schools. This outcome came as a surprise to many, given the strong backing the voucher program had received from both sides of the political aisle.

The reasons behind this are somewhat complex. For one, there was pressure from national Democratic Party leaders to set aside the voucher issue during a critical election year. This request highlighted the complex dynamics within the Democratic Party, where many members oppose vouchers due to concerns about their impact on public school funding. However, the situation is more nuanced in areas like Philadelphia, where some lawmakers support school choice due to existing achievement gaps.

Political calculations also played a significant role in the unexpected turn of events. With Pennsylvania being a crucial battleground state in the upcoming presidential election, maintaining unity within the Democratic Party became a priority. Despite Governor Shapiro's initial support for a voucher program, he appeared unwilling to expend significant political capital to push the issue to a final budget deal.

Progressive groups and labor unions, caught off guard by the inclusion of a voucher program in last year's budget, mounted a coordinated effort to prevent a repeat scenario. They launched email campaigns, lobbied at the state Capitol, and even secured a resolution from the Philadelphia City Council denouncing vouchers. This grassroots mobilization proved effective in swaying the conversation.

Instead of a voucher program, lawmakers agreed to increase funding for two existing tax credit programs, now totaling over $630 million in the new budget. These programs allow businesses and individuals to receive tax credits for school donations or scholarship funds, which families can then use to send their children to private schools. While these programs have their critics, they represent a compromise solution without a voucher deal.

Looking ahead, the debate over school vouchers in Pennsylvania is far from over. Republican lawmakers and conservative groups have vowed to hold Governor Shapiro accountable for failing to pass a voucher program, especially as he prepares for a potential second term. Meanwhile, progressive groups are gearing up for continued efforts to prevent voucher approval in the state. As Pennsylvania moves beyond this election cycle, the voucher debate is likely to resurface, promising further intense discussions on the future of education funding in the state.

Former cop pleads not guilty

On January 18, 2024, a former Uvalde police officer, Adrian Gonzales, faced the families of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims as he pleaded not guilty to charges related to his role in the botched response to the tragedy. The courtroom was filled with raw emotion as survivors and bereaved family members confronted the ex-cop, demanding he acknowledge his failures and remember the lives lost.

Gonzales, 51, was one of the first responders at the scene of the horrific shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022. Along with former Police Chief Pete Arredondo, Gonzales was indicted last month on multiple felony charges, including abandoning and endangering a child.

The charges stem from the officers' inexplicable decision to wait in a hallway for over an hour while the 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos, continued his rampage inside a classroom. Security footage revealed that Gonzales and his colleagues made no attempt to confront the shooter until a tactical team arrived, a staggering 77 minutes after the violence began.

Gonzales now faces a total of 29 charges - 19 for the children who lost their lives and 10 for those who survived the ordeal in classroom 112. As he entered his not-guilty plea, more than 30 survivors and family members watched, their grief and anger palpable in the courtroom.

The aftermath of the arraignment was equally charged, with some family members confronting Gonzales as he left the courthouse. Cries of "Say you're sorry!" and "Remember their names!" echoed as the ex-officer reached his car. Jazmin Cazares, whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was among the victims, expressed her frustration silently but powerfully by flipping off the defendant.

While some families feel a sense of progress with these indictments, others express frustration that only two officers have been charged so far. Jerry Mata, who lost his 10-year-old daughter Tess in the shooting, voiced his disappointment: "For only two to be indicted, there should have been more because there were a lot of ranking officers during that day that knew what to do but decided not to."

Despite the limited scope of the indictments, the Uvalde community remains resolute in its pursuit of justice and accountability. As Mata put it, "We'll take what we get, and we're just going to continue fighting for the kids and the two teachers and see it all the way through." The road ahead may be long, but the families of Robb Elementary are determined to honor their loved ones by ensuring that those responsible for the failed response are held accountable.

The Final Minute

1. Carlton, a small school district near Duluth, Minnesota, is implementing a four-day school week this fall in an effort to attract and retain teachers and improve student mental health. Superintendent Donita Stepan is actively promoting this unique approach, which has garnered strong support from families and staff, through various marketing initiatives. The district hopes this innovative schedule will make Carlton a "school of choice" and potentially set a trend for other public schools seeking to better meet students' needs.

2. Chicago Public Schools has officially approved a new security plan that removes police officers from schools, focusing instead on holistic safety strategies built around physical safety, emotional well-being, and relational trust. This decision comes after years of student-led advocacy and a gradual phase-out of school resource officers, with the new policy set to be fully implemented by the 2024-2025 school year. The innovative approach, which includes individualized safety plans for each school and an emphasis on reducing exclusionary disciplinary practices, is being hailed as a groundbreaking model in public education nationwide.

3. John Parks, a former high school track coach in Oregon, has filed a First Amendment lawsuit after being dismissed for proposing an "open" division for transgender athletes. Parks, who describes himself as a "staunch defender of transgender rights," argued that current policies subject transgender students to excessive politicization and suggested creating a third category to allow all student athletes to compete fairly. The lawsuit challenges the school district's decision, which cited violations of non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, and seeks to reinstate Parks to his coaching position.

4. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand's report reveals that an amended contract for the state's Education Savings Account (ESA) program will significantly increase costs for Iowa taxpayers, potentially doubling expenses in the coming years. The report highlights that the Iowa Department of Education's modifications to the original contract with Odyssey, a New York-based company overseeing the ESA funds, will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional costs, with estimates showing a steady increase from $267,250 in 2024 to $852,750 by 2027. Despite Governor Kim Reynolds' defense of the program and claims of cost-effectiveness, Sand's report raises concerns about the lack of justification for the increased expenses and potential violations of existing rules in the contract amendment process.

Closing Bell

On this day in 1945

The U.S. Senate ratified the United Nations charter with an overwhelming 89-2 vote. The rest, is history.