Latest news with #Ds
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pa. House passes cyber charter reform again; Senate lawmakers take another run at vouchers
Cyber charter school reform tops education agenda as budget negotiations take shape. Legislation to reform Pennsylvania's quarter-century-old cyber charter school law and return to taxpayers hundreds of millions in excessive tuition payments passed in the state House on Wednesday with bipartisan support. The bill now heads to the state Senate where a favorable vote would ratify one of Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget priorities by capping cyber charter tuition at $8,000 per student next year. It would also establish a statewide formula for special education tuition. That would save school districts an estimated $616 million a year according to a House analysis of the bill's fiscal impact. The upper chamber, however, is moving forward with bipartisan legislation that would allow parents in poorly performing school districts to spend tax dollars on private school tuition. That's the solution Republicans prefer — and that Shapiro, a Democrat, has previously endorsed — to give students an alternative to traditional public schools. As lawmakers in Harrisburg buckled down this week for the month-long push to negotiate the state budget by the June 30 deadline, education funding, as always, will be a subject of prolific debate. The General Assembly must decide how much to spend on the second installment of a $4.5 billion multi-year commitment to fair education funding. That's in response to a state court ruling that said students in less wealthy communities have suffered a disadvantage for decades because of the state's reliance on property taxes to pay for education. Layered on that is the debate over whether and how much taxpayers should spend to provide educational alternatives for students in poorly performing schools or for whom the traditional public school setting is not working. 'It is not a conversation any longer about Ds versus Rs or conservatives, moderates or progressives. It's not a conversation any longer about who has and who hasn't,' state Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) said last month. 'This is simply the divide in America that says we're all in the same boat, and if we don't educate our children … we are in big trouble.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Shapiro's proposed $51.5 billion spending plan calls for $1.5 billion more for education including $526 million in fair funding. But in his budget address, Shapiro said controlling how much cyber charter schools are paid by students' home school districts would maximize the impact of education funding increases. Sponsored by Rep. MaryLouise Isaacson (D-Philadelphia), House Bill 1500 would amend the charter school law that was first passed in 1997 and amended in 2002 to allow cyber charter schools. It passed with a 104-98 vote, including the support of Republican Reps. Thomas Mehaffie of Dauphin County and Kathleen Tomlinson of Bucks County. In response to the House vote on cyber charter reform Wednesday, the CEOs of five public cyber charter schools said the reduction in funding would be debilitating. 'Every member of the PA House Democratic Caucus voted today in support of the largest proposed cut to public education in nearly 15 years — a cut that would further disenfranchise some of our Commonwealth's most vulnerable children,' the leaders of Esperanza Cyber Charter School, Reach Cyber Charter School, PA Virtual Charter School, PA Cyber Charter School, PA Distance Learning Charter School said. Marcus Hite, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Public Cyber Charter Schools, described the tuition cap as 'arbitrary and unrealistic.' He added that it does not take into account the real costs of educating students, particularly those with disabilities and unique learning needs. 'This bill is not about fairness or accountability—it's about eliminating school choice for thousands of families,' Hite said. 'H.B. 1500 is rooted in the dangerous belief that if we just throw more money at failing school districts and take options away from families, everything will magically improve. That's not how education works, and it's not what families want.' Shapiro made news in 2022 as a candidate for governor by saying he supported private school tuition vouchers. Such programs have been a goal of conservative lawmakers across the country and one is outlined in President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' that the U.S. House passed last month. It includes $5 billion for a national school voucher program. Shapiro proposed a $100 million scholarship fund 2023 that passed the Republican-controlled Senate, but it was shot down by House Democrats. He endorsed the proposal again in his 2024 budget proposal, and although rapper Jay-Z joined in support of the program, it wasn't in the final budget. Shapiro hasn't said one way or the other if he still backs the idea, but it wasn't part of this year's proposal. Pennsylvania already has two programs that allow individuals and businesses to contribute to private school scholarship programs in lieu of state personal income and corporate net income, and other taxes. The programs provided $340 million such tax credits in 2022-2023, according to watchdog group Education Voters PA. The group has criticized the program, claiming it funds schools that are free to discriminate on the basis of religion, disability and LGBTQ status in their admissions policies. Senate Bill 10 nonetheless resurrects the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) scholarship proposal from 2023. It would allow parents of students in the bottom 5% lowest performing school districts to apply for scholarships ranging from $2,500 for half-day kindergarten to $10,000 for high school students each year. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee 8-3 last month to be considered by the full Senate. Isaacson said her bill, which also passed the House last session, is the result of 'repeated and urgent calls' to update the law that remained unchanged as the number of cyber charter schools grew and enrollment swelled to 65,000. 'This proposal is about fiscal responsibilities and aligning tuition to the actual cost of providing cyber education,' she said. Republicans who opposed it said it denied a voice for families that choose cyber charters. 'It will close real schools, displace real students, strip families of the very choices that they depend on to give their children a chance at success,' Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) said. School districts must pay tuition for each student who chooses to attend a cyber charter school instead of their local public school. For regular education students, it's based on the district's per-pupil spending minus costs that don't exist for cyber students, such as transportation and facilities. For special education students, the tuition is calculated based on the district's overall special education spending divided by 16%, the presumed proportion of students requiring special ed service. Critics say that formula is flawed because it underestimates the number of special education students and skews tuition toward the cost of services for students with the most intensive needs. And students with individualized education plans are 27% more likely to attend cyber charter schools, according to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Education watchdog groups say that results in a windfall for cyber charter organizations because the tuition they get has little relation to the actual cost of providing an online education. It also opens the door to waste and abuse, according to Education Voters PA, which catalogued spending by the state's largest cyber charter, Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), that included a posh social club membership and the purchase of a luxury SUV. Republican Auditor General Timothy DeFoor released a report in February during House and Senate budget hearings that examined the finances of five cyber charters and found they had amassed excessive budget surpluses. The five charters' fund balances grew 144% from 2020 to 2023, when they held a combined $619 million in unencumbered funds. DeFoor's report also highlighted 'uncommon' spending practices such as purchasing gift cards, paying bonuses to teachers and the acquisition of 21 physical properties by the state's largest cyber school. House Education Committee Chairperson Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh) listed claims from those reports as reasons to reign in payments to cyber charter schools. Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) called it a 'damning indictment' of the institutions. 'We would all get in trouble if we were taking gift cards as part of our compensation … that's a pro tip for anybody who's in the room, don't do that,' House Education Committee Chairperson Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh) said. In addition to capping tuition, HB 1500 would establish the Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council to recommend changes in how cyber charter schools are funded and how they operate. Isaacson's bill would also require cyber charters to return money to the state, if its general fund surplus is more than half of what it spent in the previous year or its capital fund surplus is more than 20% of what it spent in the previous year. That money would be available through the Commonwealth Financing Authority for public school building improvements, with 25% earmarked for the Solar for Schools program that lawmakers and Shapiro created last year. 'We've all heard stories about asbestos, mold. We had a school district that had a high school that was completely flooded out. It would be great to be able to reinvest those dollars in the children and the teachers that we see each and every day in our actual physical public school buildings,' Schweyer said. Cyber charter schools have also drawn scrutiny for poor student proficiency rates. Schweyer noted only 4.7% of CCA students scored proficient in math on state assessments. 'If any of your public schools had a 95% failure rate for math proficiency, would you be satisfied?' he asked. 'Better question, would we be getting what we're paying for?' HB 1500 would limit increases in enrollment for cyber charters that face 'significant challenges related to academic achievement, student growth, graduation rate and other areas.' And it would place a moratorium on new cyber charter applications through 2030. Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) argued passing the bill would amount to eliminating lifelines for students who are unable to thrive in traditional public schools. 'Outcomes and statistics can be tricky,' Topper, who shared that his parents chose to homeschool him when the noise and disorder of public school proved to be too much. 'Many of the students who are falling through the cracks and who are attending these cyber charter schools are doing so because they are struggling,' he said, adding that success for some might be simply earning a high school diploma. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the value of cyber schools to the point that most school districts have added their own cyber programs, Topper noted. 'We need to continue to talk about how we can do better in all aspects of public education, including funding, including formulas,' Topper said. 'But the toxic nature of this conversation must end, and we must look at ways to move forward together as an entire system.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
NDTV
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: Office Team Transforms Train Cabin Into Mobile Cinema With Projector And Popcorn
Train journeys are downright fun. You might have travelled with friends and family, but going on a vacation with your office fam is a one-of-a-kind experience. As the barriers of the workplace get blurred, colleagues, across all ages, find themselves having a gala time. Now, one such business trip has caught the internet's attention. In the video, posted on the company's official Instagram handle, a group of around 30 employees was seen turning their train ride to Goa into a private theatre. How, you might wonder? Well, by setting up a projector screen inside the cabin. The clip shows a group of men hanging a white bedsheet to the chains of the upper side-berth. The bedsheet then rolls down, and just like that, the projection screen is ready. Soon, the group switches on the projector and starts watching a movie, that too with a bucket of popcorn. The comments section revealed that since it was a 30-member group, all the nearby seats were booked solely for them. 'The seats that were not ours, we requested them to exchange so that they wouldn't get disturbed and we could stay together. It was a train to Goa, so the majority of the people were in groups, awake during the nighttime,' the company noted. Additionally, they used the projector screen for approximately 20 minutes, as a stable Wi-Fi connection was impossible inside a moving train. 'When it comes to noise, it was a very small speaker that was audible only to those who were sitting nearby. It wasn't even audible to the walking passage due to the train noise,' read the statement. On a concluding note, the organisation revealed that no passengers complained about the activity and the 'journey happened maintaining civic sense along with Indian emotions.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ds family (@_ds_family_) The post received plenty of reactions. 'Civic sense left the chat,' wrote a critic. 'Does this not come under public nuisance???' wondered a concerned user. 'Using the train's charging ports for devices other than phones and laptops is prohibited,' reminded another. 'Theatre 8/10, Movie 11/10,' read a remark. 'This should be only done in 1AC,' suggested one person. An individual hit back with, 'People who are talking about civic sense are the ones who watch reels in full sound at public places.' So far, the video has received over 18 million views.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
12 things that used to be illegal for women to know about: Hawaiʻi health
HONOLULU (KHON2) — In 1925, only 100 years ago, there were several healthcare topics and practices that were illegal or highly restricted for women to learn about in the United States. These restrictions reflected the legal norms of the time, as well as the limited access to healthcare and education for women. It was hard fought to be able to gain access to knowledge about our own bodies, one that cannot be taken for granted. did a bit of digging to find out what types of healthcare issues women could be arrested, imprisoned and possibly institutionalized for knowing, or wanting to know. The Comstock Act of 1873 made it illegal to distribute any information about birth control or contraception. This included classes, support groups, books, pamphlets and even contraceptive devices. It was a criminal offense to provide women with knowledge about family planning, and women seeking such information or services were often left without support. While abortion was sometimes legally allowed in the early stages of pregnancy for certain medical reasons, by the late 19th century, most states had passed laws making abortion illegal, particularly after quickening (the first noticeable movements of the fetus). Discussing or obtaining an abortion was illegal; and women were often forced to turn to dangerous, unsafe methods if they sought to terminate a pregnancy. Menstruation was a taboo subject, and women were often not educated about it in any scientific manner. Menstrual health was poorly understood, and there was a lack of formal education for women regarding their own reproductive health. Many women didn't have access to information about menstrual hygiene and health practices. Information about women's sexual health was largely unavailable. Women were rarely informed about the biological aspects of their sexual health, such as sexually transmitted infections, pelvic health and reproductive was little understanding or education about the physical aspects of female sexuality and well-being. The idea of a woman's sexual pleasure was almost entirely ignored. Discussions about female sexuality were considered inappropriate or even immoral, and the notion of sexual pleasure for women was not part of the public discourse. Women were often kept ignorant about the biological and psychological aspects of their sexual desires and needs. For a period of time, women who experienced orgasms were sent to mental institutions since experiencing an orgasm was considered a mental health issue, an unhealthy one. These women were subjected to electroshock therapy and forced sexual encounters to study the 'hysteria' they were experiencing. There was little education or awareness about sexually transmitted infections/diseases (STI/Ds), especially as they affected women. Women were not informed about the risks of contracting sexually linked diseases, such as syphilis or gonorrhea. This was often seen as a shameful issue which made it difficult for women to get the medical help they needed. The medical profession often treated women's reproductive issues as 'hysteria' or psychological problems. As a result, many women were subjected to unnecessary hysterectomies (removal of the uterus), often under the belief that their mental health or behavior problems were caused by sexual or reproductive issues. This practice reflected the limited understanding of women's health at the time, and more often than not were perpetrated again women of color. Women's reproductive health was often neglected or misunderstood. Medical knowledge about various reproductive issues, such as infertility or pelvic diseases, was limited; and women were often given minimal or incorrect medical advice. Many reproductive conditions went undiagnosed, and treatments were often invasive or misguided. Postpartum care and understanding of women's health after childbirth were poorly addressed. Many women had little to no access to information about proper postpartum care. This included breastfeeding, mental health and recovery from childbirth, which contributed to high rates of maternal mortality. It was illegal or highly restricted for women to attend medical school or obtain medical degrees. Even if they did, many women faced enormous societal and professional barriers to practice medicine or gain advanced medical knowledge. This restriction meant that women often had to rely on male physicians who may have been dismissive of their health concerns. Menopause and the changes that come with aging were rarely discussed openly, and there was little to no medical advice or treatment for women experiencing these stages of life. Women were often left without support or guidance about menopause and the physical changes associated with aging. In many cases, women did not have control over their own medical decisions, especially in matters related to reproductive health. They were often not given proper informed consent before undergoing medical treatments, surgeries, experiments or procedures, especially if these involved reproductive organs. These restrictions reflect the broader societal norms of the time, where women had limited access to education, healthcare and the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies. The fight for women's rights, including access to healthcare, has continued for the many, many decades since …. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Sinema calls out Ocasio-Cortez, other Dems over ‘sudden change of heart' on filibuster
Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) had a heated exchange with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other Democratic party members who she said switched their stance on support for the filibuster in the upper chamber. 'Change of heart on the filibuster, I see,' Sinema wrote in a post with a screenshot of a post from Ocasio-Cortez shaming the Arizona lawmaker for not supporting ending the filibuster in order to pass Roe v. Wade protections. Sinema's comments come as Democrats urged their counterparts to use a filibuster to prevent the House-GOP led government spending bill from advancing. It requires the Senate to obtain 60 votes to approve legislation, but some Democrats have argued the measure, which is often used to delay votes, be abolished in the past. However, many were calling for its use this week to avoid cuts to healthcare and research featured in the continuing resolution (CR). Ocasio-Cortez said she felt a deep sense of ' outrage and betrayal ' over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) decision to vote in favor of the bill. When pressed for changing her stance on the filibuster by Sinema, the New York representative defended her views, claiming Democrats don't use the filibuster when it's warranted. 'Still no. In fact, the same Dems who argue to keep the filibuster 'for when we need it' do not, in fact, use it when we need it,' Ocasio-Cortez fired back in response to Sinema. 'It's only used to block Dem policies. Never to block harmful GOP ones. Could have proved us wrong. Instead they proved the point.' Sinema still argued some showed a change of heart during votes this week. 'Literally zero Senate Democrats support the filibuster. 38 voted to filibuster the continuing resolution yesterday. 8 who previously voted to eliminate the filibuster (1/19/22) did not filibuster. 1 who previously campaigned against the filibuster did not filibuster,' Sinema said. It was followed by a sarcastic post targeting Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). 'Popular take from the Left:If u had eliminated the filibuster & voted for everything that the Left wanted, the threat of the filibuster being used by Rs would never happen bc Ds would win every election & have a permanent majority,' Sinema wrote. 'What a breathtakingly undemocratic take.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
13-year-old cancer survivor earns standing ovation as he becomes Secret Service agent during Trump speech
A 13-year-old boy who survived cancer named DJ Daniel stole the show during President Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday night when the president introduced him to the audience and officially swore him in as a member of the Secret Service. "Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police," Trump told the crowd. "His name is DJ Daniel is 13 years old, and he has always dreamed of becoming a police officer. But in 2018, D.J. was diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago." Daniel received a standing ovation from a majority of the crowd although some Democrats were seen on camera sitting at various times while Trump was speaking about the 13-year-old. Trump explained that Daniel and his dad, who was in the crowd and held him up at one point during Trump's remarks, have been on a "quest" to make his dream of becoming a police officer come true and explained that he has been made an honorary member of local police departments. 'He's Back': Trump's Joint Address To Congress To Be Blanketed With 6-Figure Ad Buy Touting Tax Plan Trump then surprised Daniel with the news that his dream was becoming a reality on an even bigger stage. Read On The Fox News App "Tonight, DJ, we're going to do you the biggest honor of them all," Trump said. "I am asking our new Secret Service Director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States." Trump Set To Continue Unprecedented Level Of Actions, Address Congress In 7Th Week Back In Office Curran then walked over to Daniel and presented him with a customized Secret Service badge. "Thank you, DJ," Trump said after the crowd started chanting the young boy's name. Some viewers on social media took notice that some Democrats did not appear moved by Daniel's story. "If the Ds can't clap for a beautiful 13-year old boy who wants to become a cop, there's something really wrong with them," former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer posted on article source: 13-year-old cancer survivor earns standing ovation as he becomes Secret Service agent during Trump speech
