Musicians' plea to District: Don't take away our collective soul

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 15:54 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra know the vital role music can play in a young person's development. At the School Reform Commission meeting on May 15, Don Liuzzi, speaking on behalf of the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he is a timpanist, submitted a petition imploring the SRC not to let budget cuts deprive schools of the music and art programs that are essential to the development of students' self-expression and creativity as well as the future of the city's musical community.

Roxborough community rallies against proposed school cuts

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 14:59 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Matthew Grady for NewsWorks

Standing before hundreds of parents and students gathered in the Roxborough High School auditorium, Timothy Boyle, a math teacher at AMY Northwest, asked the audience about the basic tasks of school personnel.

"Who is going to meet with students to review their high school options for next year?" he asked.

"Counselors," the audience replied, also responding to questions regarding secretarial duties, lunch monitoring, and in-school discipline.

Mastery charter graduates revel in their college choices

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 12:17 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Aaron Moselle and Zack Seward for NewsWorks

Cheering fans, cheerleaders, and mascots filled Temple University's Liacouras Center on Monday afternoon.

None of them was there for a game.

Instead, thousands of students, staff members and parents traveled to the North Philadelphia arena for Mastery Charter Schools' first-ever College Signing Day, an event patterned after National Signing Day for high school athletes.

Notes from the news, May 21

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 09:46 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

Four years after high school, their journeys go on. Inquirer

For Philadelphia Futures director, this college success story was personal. Inquirer

As closing day looms, Germantown students are 'in an utter state of confusion'  NewsWorks

A new kind of college 'signing day.' Inquirer

Could budget cuts hurt Public League sports? Daily News

Corbett postpones vote on controversial Common Core standards. Morning Call

Slideshow: Philly students walk out and rally against school budget cuts. Notebook

How Michelle Rhee misled education reform. New Republic

What’s wrong with school ‘choice’? Here’s what. Answer Sheet

News summary from Keystone State Education Coalition

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Notes from the news

Slideshow: Philly students walk out and rally against school budget cuts

Submitted by thenotebook on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 13:14 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Why Bill Cosby thinks Germantown High should close

Submitted by thenotebook on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 12:18 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Brian Hickey for NewsWorks

As the final day of Germantown High School's 99-year history approaches — the Class of '13 will don caps and gowns on June 19 — NewsWorks will present a series of stories including interviews with grads and former students.

To launch the GHS series, NewsWorks is sharing excerpts from an interview with Bill Cosby, the actor and comedian who attended the school and failed out in the 10th grade, taking a shoe-repair job rather than repeat the year.

During a 20-minute phone interview in early May, Cosby made it perfectly clear why you didn't hear him get involved in the school-closing protests.

Notes from the news, May 20

Submitted by thenotebook on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:08 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Stalled on summer learning loss: District offerings dwindle. Notebook

Council advances bill to raise Use and Occupancy tax to help fund schools. Inquirer

Council leaders need to stand up for the city's schools. Inquirer

Charter schools accused of ignoring Pa. Right to Know Law. NewsWorks

George Weiss on what he learned from the Belmont 112. Inquirer

Pennsylvania's Common Core runs into opposition from state Democrats. Post-Gazette

Students march for schools, but where are the adults? NewsWorks

It's time to set the record straight on charter schools. Inquirer

Is the answer to the budget crisis to raise salaries and lower pensions? Daily News

Taxing nonprofits could help save Philly schools. Chalk and Talk

Amid financial crisis, Pearson a winner. Notebook

News summary from Keystone State Education Coalition

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Stalled on summer learning loss: District offerings dwindle

Submitted by thenotebook on Fri, 05/17/2013 - 18:08 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

This article will appear in our forthcoming print edition focusing on expanded learning time, which comes out at the end of next week.

by Connie Langland

Jennifer Graham says she's well aware of what researchers and educators have come to call "summer learning loss," but she's not concerned. Graham has made sure her daughter is in camp. 

Amid financial crisis, Pearson a winner

Submitted by Helen Gym on Fri, 05/17/2013 - 15:56 Posted in Commentary | Permalink

Are we in a financial crisis? For the thousands of students who organized a massive walk-out today, yes. But not for a certain sector of contractors who are benefiting from the School Reform Commission’s decisions lately.

The same day that elementary school parents flooded City Council to rally for school funding and a sizeable crowd attended a panel on the destructive impact of high-stakes testing, the SRC on Wednesday approved nearly $1.3 million in contracts related to assessment and accountability, including a million-dollar contract to Pearson for high-stakes teacher and principal evaluations.

Thousands of students are marching on City Hall protesting budget cuts

Submitted by thenotebook on Fri, 05/17/2013 - 13:56 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

On the 59th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, thousands of Philadelphia students, fighting against the prospect of ruinous budget cuts, have staged a walkout that began at noon at District headquarters, 440 N. Broad St., followed by a march to City Hall.

You can follow the action on Twitter using the hashtag #walkout215.

Notes from the news, May 17

Submitted by thenotebook on Fri, 05/17/2013 - 09:30 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

State, teachers' union reluctant to provide more revenue for city schools. Notebook

Hite proposes ending teacher seniority. Inquirer

More than 50 schools will have new principals in September. Notebook

University City High School's closure is a special case. AxisPhilly

School students protest at weekly Philly City Council meeting. NewsWorks

Nutter's tax hike plan is getting a chilly reception. Tribune

In Fairmount, residents are pushing to improve school's image. NewsWorks

Philadelphia School District administrator is named chief of Chester Upland schools. Inquirer

Philadelphia students showcase their art. Notebook

Forum takes on standardized testing. Notebook

News summary from Keystone State Education Coalition

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State, teachers' union reluctant to provide dollars for city schools

Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 20:49 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Benjamin Herold and Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner

On Wednesday, Mayor Nutter announced his plan to raise $95 million for Philadelphia's struggling School District, mostly through tax hikes on cigarettes and alcohol.

But even if that money comes through, city schools will still be looking for an additional $120 million from Harrisburg and $133 million in givebacks from the local teachers' union.

Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), who chairs the Senate's education committee, said the unions have to go first.

More than 50 schools will have new principals in September

Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 16:04 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Bill Hangley Jr.

[Updated 5/17] 

About one in four District schools will open with new principals next year, according to the latest District calculations.

At least 41 of the 218 schools that will be open next year have vacancies, and the District has already made appointments in 12 others -- making a total of more than 50 schools with new leadership.

Philadelphia students showcase their art

Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 15:11 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

The Young Artists exhibition, which opened earlier this week in the atrium of School District headquarters, 440 N. Broad St., proudly displays over 1,500 pieces of artwork by students from more than 150 schools across Philadelphia. The exhibition, one of the largest of its kind in the country, runs through Aug. 30. 

All photos by Harvey Finkle

Forum takes on standardized testing

Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:21 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Two icons of the progressive education movement spoke in Philadelphia on Wednesday night to decry standardized testing and urge that a “justice-oriented framework” drive school reform instead.

“Test score gaps are used to label schools as failures without providing resources or strategies to eliminate the gap,” said Stan Karp of Rethinking Schools, an education journal and publisher.