Notes from the news, Feb. 21
by Erika Owens on Feb 21 2012 Posted in Notes from the news
School autonomy for curriculum to return The Notebook blog
A look back at the recent history of how much autonomy schools have had over curriculum.
See also: Philadelphia School District Easing Curriculum Required Of Teachers CBS Philly
Parents band together to help a coalition of Center City schools The Inquirer
The coalition helps raise money for improvements to the schools.
Shortage of nurses in Philadelphia schools costs everyone The Inquirer (opinion)
Sid Holmes of PCCY describes how the cuts to nurses have affected schools.
How to fund the schools: Make the 1% pay The Notebook blog
Testimony from last week's School Reform Commission meeting with suggestions about how to make up for the budget deficit.
Stetson Middle School teacher exposing students to photography The Inquirer
The afterschool program helps students learn about photography and take pictures of their neighborhood.
The mighty testing juggernaut The Inquirer (opinion)
Teacher and blogger Christopher Paslay writes about the emphasis on testing and recent investigations into possible cheating.
How To Register Your Kid for Kindergarten Roxborough-Manayunk Patch
The Local Education and Resource Network (LEARN) is holding workshops to help parents understand the registration process.
School District Awards $1.4M Contract To Uncover Cost-Cutting Areas CBS Philly
Online calculator tallies school funding cuts Commonwealth Confidential blog
High School Student Attacked With Stun-Gun Speaks Out CBS Philly
School Employees Challenge New Pa. Background Check Law Fox 29
Sustainability Workshop school welcomes Code for America fellows, other local tech community members [VIDEO] Technically Philly
Testimony to the House Democratic Policy Committee Education Voters PA
Innovation in Education: Workshop 1 Making the Grade blog
State news roundup Keystone State Education Coalition
Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.
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Comments (3)
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 08:14.
"Parents band together to help a coalition of Center City schools" is very interesting. It's really a movement to create a smaller geographical area of autonomy, in other words, a vote for a smaller district. Center City has some advantages: a concentration of higher education and cultural institutions, as well as high profile businesses. It's a good idea, and it will be interesting to see if it can hold up under the inevitable political jousting for these considerable local resources. And what of the more altruistic ideals to get resources to those who lack them the most first?
An earlier article about a creative use of the EITC by Greenfield parents, revealed a 75% State reimbursement of business contributions through taxpayer money and raised the issue of why schools/parents need to be put through a torturous route in order to get school funds, and more importantly that this torturous route put the funds in the hands of a few... favored by businesses willing to contribute that 25%... Altruism seems to be out of fashion.
Submitted by Concerned Philadelphian (not verified) on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 11:51.
Vallas created a "Center City District" with similar geographic boundaries. While is it is nice the parents in this "catchment" are organizing, it once again reinforces the inequity in the SDP. There are a few schools with extra resources, whether from home or the school, while most schools struggle. The class divisions are obvious. The solution isn't another Penn Alexander, CC District, etc. It is an equitable system that provides the resources all students need - not just for those who can afford to live in the Penn Alexander (and those who know someone at 440 who get their kid into the school) or the CC District.
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 13:06.
I agree with you about the current inequities in the SDP, but here are some things to think about in this experimental parent organization. Some neighborhoods are changing in terms of class composition. "Hipsters" (as my husband calls them) are moving in and some are staying long enough to raise families. This proposed "catchment" includes some schools that are not in wealthy neighborhoods; How will the extra resources the Center City community has, then be distributed?
Those neighborhoods that are chronically low income, might stand to benefit from their own smaller geographical districts. Federal and other aid meant for the poor might then be greater for these districts. Right now, a school only has to have 40% qualifying for free and reduced lunch to be able to use their Title I funds for the entire school; which means that schools whose communities can supply the extra resources are still getting grant funds meant for just the poor. Philanthropic and other organizations or businesses can also better target their donations. They can better target those neighborhoods most needing help. Of course we would have to drop the use of local real estate taxes to determine the amount of local funding, or at least keep the city wide equal distribution here. And then of course we would be assuming (and perhaps incorrectly) that race would no longer be a factor. Then again, this might be factored into the drawing of the "catchment" area to begin with.
I think the point here is really that schools are an important part of the local community. Moving kids all over the City to try and meet their needs is not only expensive, but makes it hard for a neighborhood to invest in their own community.
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