Jodi+Geyer+2

= = > = Steel Valley Can't Afford Corbett's Cuts =

> =The Steel Valley School District defies both logic and data---given our= > =poverty rate; our students' scores should be on the decline. Instead, our= > =students are raising their math and reading scores every year and have done= > =so since 2002. We are a district who has found a way to reach our students;= > =we are achieving when others say we shouldn't be, and we are increasing our= > =scores in spite of the economic disadvantages in this area. Yet in spite of= > =our successes, Governor Corbett wants to take away a working strategy by= > =stripping the district of much needed funds to support programs that are= > =working for our students.= > =What works at Steel Valley? First, the teaching staff works; 97% of the= > =teachers are highly qualified, eight teachers are National Board Certified,= > =and three teachers have doctoral degrees. What else works? Our students come= > =to school and less than .2% of Steel Valley students drop out of high= > =school. Our students are also studious and recognize the importance of the= > =PSSA tests. In only seven years, students have raised their Math scores more= > =than 44% and have increased their Reading scores 32%. While other districts= > =with similar socioeconomic backgrounds are floundering, our students are= > =flourishing.= > =Governor Corbett's attack on education will affect all districts, but= > =already struggling districts will be impoverished by his cuts. In fact,= > =Steel Valley is projected to be the sixth hardest hit district in Allegheny= > =County and will lose more than 2.4 million dollars in state funding. EAP= > =moneys, which fund tutoring, PSSA preparation, and study programs will be= > =completely eliminated if Corbett's budget passes. Block grants that allow= > =Steel Valley to provide all day kindergarten services will be eliminated, so= > =no state financial assistance will fund a kindergarten program that,= > =according to DIBELS scores, is working beyond all expectations.= > =The proposed budget will also cripple Steel Valley through both funds that= > =are paid to charter schools to educate our students and by the elimination= > =of subsidy money. Corbett's budget allows Charter Schools to replace public= > =education at a cost that is higher to the school district per student than= > =what Steel Valley spends to educate them. The district spent over two= > =million dollars last year paying Propel to educate 212 students.= > =Coincidentally, 29 legislators and good friends of Governor Corbett's are= > =financially tied to charter schools.= > =The Steel Valley School District already operates at a 96% efficiency rate= > =and cannot afford to lose another dime, let alone two million dollars, in= > =state funds. Governor Corbett must find another way to balance the state's= > =budget; our community cannot allow him to balance the budget on the backs of= > =our children.=

=Sincerely,= = = =Jodi Geyer and the Steel Valley High School English Department=

= A version of this letter was published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on 4/21/11. =

=Jodi Geyer Main= =Personal Messages= =home=