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HARRISBURG (June 26, 2013) – Independent experts advise that pension bills under consideration in both the House and Senate will cost taxpayers an additional $40 billion, the president of Pennsylvania’s largest school employee union said today. Mike Crossey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, pointed out that the Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC) advised yesterday that House Bills 1352 and 1353 will cost at least an additional $37 billion. Actuaries for the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) reported that elements of Gov. Tom Corbett’s pension plan, which are contained in Senate Bill 922, carry a $42 billion price tag. House Bills 1352 and 1353 were reported from the House State Government Committee yesterday. The Senate could begin consideration of Senate Bill 922 as early as today. “There is no reason for any lawmaker to vote yes on these bills, but there are 40 billion reasons to...

HARRISBURG – Students should not be required to pass Pennsylvania’s Keystone Exams in order to graduate from high school, a move the State Board of Education has proposed that negatively impacts student learning, usurps local school boards’ power to set graduation requirements, and could cost school districts as much as $300 million, the president of Pennsylvania’s largest school employee union said today. Mike Crossey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, encouraged members of the Senate and House Education Committees to join Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) in opposing the regulatory change, which would convert the Keystone Exams from end-of-course exams to high-stakes tests on which students must score proficient in order to graduate. “This takes high-stakes testing to a dangerous and counterproductive new level,” Crossey said. “It replaces the professional judgment of a teacher who has observed a student’s work over a full year. We will have students who hav...

The president of the state’s largest school employee union said that Education Secretary Ron Tomalis’ testimony before the House Appropriations Committee today ignored the fact that school districts across Pennsylvania are cutting programs that work for their students because of nearly $1 billion in state funding cuts. Mike Crossey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, pointed out that school districts across the state are increasing class sizes and cutting programs that work for students in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s unprecedented public school funding cuts, a reality that stands in stark contrast to the Corbett administration’s claim that these cuts are really historic increases. “It is time to stop ignoring the problem and start fixing it,” Crossey said. “How can you say that the state increased funding for Pennsylvania’s students when school districts are being forced to eliminate programs left and right? It just doesn’t add up. “Pennsylvanians are seeing ...