Philadelphia-based reporter, editor and videographer for The Associated Press. Owner of a very bad cat. Puzzle fiend. With a passion for all things Philly, except cheesesteaks and overblown stories about Eagles fans throwing snowballs at Santa.
Occasionally she takes photos and blogs them here and on Instagram (katmath13).
On Sundays, she blogs The New York Times crossword here and at www.crosswordkathy.net.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Some parents opt-out kids from Pa. standardized tests
When students at Pittsburgh’s Linden Elementary School sit down to take the PSSAs starting Monday, Kathy Newman’s third-grader will be sitting out.
Is Pa. ready for statewide authorizer of charter schools?
With the cost and quality of charter schools dominating the public education debate in Pennsylvania, lawmakers face at least a dozen major bills seeking better accountability and governance of such schools, which are publicly financed but independently run.
Pa. education officials reject proposals for 8 cyber charter schools
State education officials denied applications for eight new cyber charter schools on Monday, citing significant deficiencies in their planned curricula, finances and overall operations.
Bucknell acknowledges inflating average SAT scores
Enrollment officials at Bucknell University, a selective liberal arts school in central Pennsylvania, inflated students’ average SAT scores over the past several years, the school’s president said.
Pennsylvania in 2012: Sandusky, Sandy and shale
Happy Valley was not a happy place in 2012. And yet it was hard to stay away. The child molestation scandal that engulfed Penn State dominated state news this year, from the stunning death of longtime football coach Joe Paterno to the gut-wrenching court testimony that sent his former assistant, Jerry Sandusky, to prison for sexually abusing boys.
Pa. education officials wind down statewide cheating probe
A school cheating investigation that has led to educator suspensions, stricter testing protocols and more than 140 professional misconduct complaints is winding down, state education officials say.
Pa. students to take first Keystone Exams next week
School districts statewide will begin administering new standardized tests next week in math, English and science, exams that eventually all students will have to pass to earn a high school diploma.
Pa. told to re-evaluate charter school performance
Federal education officials have denied Pennsylvania’s request to evaluate charter school achievement using more lenient criteria, saying they must be assessed by the same standard as traditional schools.
Film officials shoot for bigger Pennsylvania tax credit
The state could see a lot more lights, cameras, action and jobs if lawmakers expand the $60 million film tax credit, Pennsylvania film officials say.
Faculty at Pa. state universities approve strike authorization
State university faculty frustrated with the lack of progress in contract negotiations on Friday gave their union leaders the authority to call a strike.
