Philadelphia School Partnership gives out $3.8 million in grants to four schools
by Dale Mezzacappa on Jul 19 2012
The Philadelphia School Partnership, a two-year-old organization that is raising $100 million to support high quality public and private schools in Philadelphia, announced Thursday the awarding of four grants totaling $3.8 million.
Among the recipients is the Sustainability Workshop, a unique project-based program for seniors that split off from West Philadelphia High School's automotive academy and was featured this week in a Frontline documentary. It is getting a $175,000 "incubation" grant as it works to grow into a full-fledged high school.
The largest award, $2 million, is going to String Theory Schools to help its turnaround efforts at H.R. Edmunds Elementary School under the District's Renaissance Schools initiative. String Theory now operates the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School in South Philadelphia and has also received the go-ahead to open a 1,400-student high school.
Other grantees are the 13-year-old Freire Charter School, a high school that is adding a 500-student middle school, and Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a Catholic high school affliiated with a national network of 24 other college prep schools serving low-income students of many faiths.
"This school is only for students who can't afford private schools," said John McConnell, Cristo Rey Philadelphia's president. Partners in the venture include the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Cristo Rey, which plans to open its new school with 125 ninth graders this fall, is getting a $1.3 million start-up grant. Under its model, students work in high-powered internships for one day a week throughout their high school career.
"That means that we send a 14-year-old from Kensington to Comcast, the next year to Saul Ewing, then to CHOP, and the year after that to work at a bank," said O'Connell, who retired from the management consulting firm Deloitte. "That experience is phenomenal and is why Cristo Rey kids are successful in college."
The internships also help pay the students' tuition. Families contribute anywhere from $20 to $200 a month, depending on ability to pay.
The Sustainability Workshop has achieved national attention for its Hybrid X Team that has won competitions building fuel-efficient cars. Matt Riggan, one of the founders, said that it is still up in the air whether the school will be part of the District or a charter school.
As a project-driven, technology-oriented educational program, "we're quite different from a lot of what's going on in high school reform right now," said Riggan, who is also on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. The PSP grant "will help us manage the transition from a small-scale pilot program to designing and building a full school."
He said the goal is to research and identify schools that do this well around the country and "connect with other progressive educators in Philadelphia."
Kelly Davenport, the head of Freire Charter School in Center City, said that it will open a middle school campus with 350 students in September, eventually expanding to an enrollment of 500.
"We have been doing great things with high schoolers, and we had the notion that if we could get the kids earlier we could affect the paradigms of their lives more deeply," Davenport said. "We have to get inside the way kids think early enough so we can help them jump any obstacles in the way to their success more easily."
She said that, according to their own data, they are getting 88 percent of their graduates to go to college, and that 79 percent finish. "If we get them earlier, maybe we can get to 100 percent," she said.
The charter school has been the subject of a dispute with the District over expanding its enrollment. Davenport said it had an agreement with the District to enroll 1,000 students and open the middle school.
Update: "We are honored that the Philadelphia School Partnership has faith in our ability to make a difference in the lives of the students and the parents of the community of H.R.Edmunds which will now be known as the Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds," said String Theory's chief operating officer Jason Corosanite.
The grants, from PSP's Great Schools Fund, are promoting the goals of the city's Great Schools Compact to expand "high-performing" seats in the city while eliminating "low-performing" seats. These four schools were chosen from "a pool of applicants," according to a PSP statement. In all, 2,200 seats are included in these grants.
Mark Gleason, executive director of PSP, said that these leadership teams "have all demonstrated their ability to prepare students for college or the work world beyond school."
The statement said that PSP, which has now given out $7 million in grants, "continues to receive and review grant applications" and is "working to ensure a diverse pool of applicants," including District-run schools, charters and private schools.
It has just received a $15 million grant from the William Penn Foundation.
Comments (47)
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 20:34.
No grant recipients are from School District of Philadelphia schools. All schools are charters or parochial. This shows the bias of "The Partnership." The goal of the SRC/Partnership is to dismantle District run schools.
Don't be fooled by the Sustainability Project. They hand picked high achieving seniors from 3 neighborhood high schools and took credit for the students "achievement." They do NOT want "average" students - they only want students who will promote their "model." They segregate the seniors from their classmates of three years (from their neighborhood schools) to promote the founders of the program. There is NO need for another school south of Market Street. There are many schools - including Freire, PET, Prep Charter, Academy at Palumbo, Constitution HS, Furness, Southern, CAPA, Gamp, ETC.)
Again, why is the SRC granting a 1000 "seats" to Freire and 1100 for high school to the Performing Arts Charter when there are two performing arts high schools in South Philly? (GAMP, CAPA)
Meanwhile, District schools are being told to do much more with less and are threatened with closure because of the privatization of the SDP.
Submitted by A Touch of Sense (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 09:23.
We need to be honest here. This is all about the privatization of the American schoolhouse and the self interests of those who want to profit off of the backs of the American schoolchild.
Mark Gleason is a shill of the privatizers and he came here only because he saw an opportunity to capitalize on the situation in Philadelphia. He is a vulture.
What is it that anyone does not understand about that?
Gleason and Nowak seek the destruction of public education. That is why they support nothing that is done in regular public schools and they oppose teacher led schools.
The compact is not about creating charter schools to meet student needs. It is all about imposing the "charter operator" model upon the people of Philadelphia. The charter operator model is the most dangerous model for the destruction of public education in America.
What amazes me is the audacity of these people and the dishonesty of those who support this stuff.
Gleason and Nowak lack credibility. They are using our children as pawns in their quest for power and money.
It is about the colonization of Philadelphia for private profit.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:06.
I started saying all this 3 years ago and was told to calm down that I was wrong about the charter movement. Who's wrong now?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:29.
Mick, People who have been willfully ignorant or in denial will not acknowledge your "I told you so." We have to move on and figure out what to do to get our public schools back to the community.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 16:56.
Unless the masses step up to the plate, Public Ed. in the urban areas will be a thing of the past.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 17:02.
How do we educate the masses and get them to step up?
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 17:15.
The UNIONS and the CHURCHES need to speak up more--well, the churches have but the unions haven't. The charter lie is being foisted on the inner cities where hopelessness and despair rule the day. In the suburbs, these vultures are kicked to the curb where they belong. They better hope there is no God.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:03.
The worst part is that it is ALL done right in our face without any attempt to hide or mask their actions nor motivations. So what are WE going to do about it???????
Submitted by Education Grad Student (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 20:49.
I, too, wonder why the PSP isn't giving money to District-run schools. Also, the Performing Arts Charter is already in an area saturated with performing arts schools. What about putting a performing arts school in N. Philly or W. Philly?
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 22:04.
Why is there a need for another performing arts school? Philadelphia already has CAPA, GAMP, Academy at Rush, Kensington CAPA and many good music programs within schools (e.g. Northeast has vocal, instrumental and drama). Why a 1100 seat charter high school in South Philly for performing arts?
Why is Feire opening a middle school? Look at their admission requirements. How is this school, located at 10th and Market, a "choice" for parents? The SDP has "high performing" k-8 schools in Center City already. If Feire wants to expand, why not go to Nicetown, Germantown, or an area with a need for another middle school?
The Sustainability Workshop is a way for a few people to take high performing students out of neighborhood high schools in their senior year and brag about their program. Simon Hauger is about one person - Simon Hauger. They have more money per student than any SDP could hope for and now they are getting more. This is not an open admission senior year school - students have to apply and Hauger picks the "cream of the crop" out of neighborhood schools.
The Cristo Rey school is obviously new and the "Great School Partnership" was created to fund charter and parochial/private schools. It has no track record in Philadelphia. Again, students have to apply. It is not open admission.
Congratulations - the further segregation of the SDP! Jeremy Nowak must be proud!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 11:22.
According to the article above, the money granted to String Theory is going toward a Renaissance school at HR Edmunds, which is in N. Philadelphia.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 11:38.
HR Edmunds is in Frankford - lower Northeast.
The article also states the grants are to award schools. String Theory has never turned around any school. How are they "high performing" if they haven't "performed" to date at Edmunds?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 21:51.
I have tried to remain open-minded about PSP and give them the benefit of the doubt that they will support Philadelphia schools in an honest and balanced way. However, none of their grants support neighborhood schools, and the stereotypes that their work will undermine public schools seems accurate. Their support of SDP and Archdiocese are with programs that are not rooted in communities. Furthermore, It is not clear to me how these schools have shown the ability to "have high performing seats." Sustainability Workshop has worked for one year with 27 students. Freire CS has never had a middle school. Cristo Rey is a brand new school. String Theory has yet to turnaround an SDP school. This doesn't make much sense to me. Has Gleason been asked how these schools have demonstrated the merit to deserve this money? This is a disappointing - and unfortunately not surprising - development.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 21:59.
The Performing Arts Charter school like GAMP and CAPA (both excellent schools) select students who are high performing. Unless they are willing to lower admission criteria they will not be able to fill the number of seats granted.
Students not accepted to GAMP and CAPA will view Performing Arts Charter as an alternative. Plus being located near Broad Street transit mean that students from around the city can have easy access. Will the SDP pay for transportation?
Will students with basic skills or below be accepted? What about students with learning disabilities and/or special needs? Is the school wheel chair accessible to accommodate students who face physical challenges?
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 22:35.
The "Great School Compact" claims to increase "high performing seats?" Feire has never run a middle school, Performing Arts Charter has never "Turned around" a school, Cristo Rey is brand new and the Sustainability Workshop has no track record either. The Sustainability Workshop took high performing seniors out of 3 neighborhood high schools and claimed credit for the already college bound getting into college. So, how is this increasing "high performing seats" when NONE of the grant recipients have any track record???
Submitted by Anon, anon, we must go anon.... (not verified) on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 23:21.
When Freire opens a middle school where kids have to take PSSAs EVERY year instead of just 11th grade, we will see how they do. Freire also has many "zero-tolerance" rules. Will they be taking ELL and SPED children in their middle school? Will their application and "voluntary essay be available in more than one language???
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 05:10.
Freire also requires students to submit report cards as part of the admission process. Students entering 9th grade must have a 75% in each subject or are assigned to mandatory summer school. (I don't know if those with less than 75% have their applications "lost" in the lottery). Many other charters also require students to submit report cards as part of the application process. Will they do this with incoming 5th graders?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 08:00.
Students with less than 75% have their applications "lost" in the lottery...absolutely! The lottery means applicants with 75% proficiency in reading and math get into the pool not only at Freire, but with Performing Arts Charter as well. No matter the score if a student has pink slips documenting problem behavior they don't get in.
Once students get in and later present disruptive behavior or truancy issues they are returned to the neighborhood school.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:10.
Anon--you already know the answers to your questions. The charter lie will continue until it is stopped by US. They have no rules accept to make money--period.
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 05:36.
How does Matt Riggan know there is enough interest/need for the Sustainability Workshop to become a school? Why would the SDP open a new school when the plan is to close 40 SDP schools in 2012-2013 and then 24 additional schools by 2017? How can the SRC justify opening a new school with NO track record? (Taking high performing seniors out of a few neighborhood high schools is not a track record - it is taking the "best" who were already on track for college.) If the school becomes a charter, how could the SRC approve another charter in South Philadelphia - an area already saturated with charters? (The SRC already approved Performing Arts Charter to open a 1100 student school in South Philly. This is in addition to the many charters already located in Center City/South Philly).
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 09:18.
What needs to be disclosed is the list of/pool of applicants. We don't know how many SDP schools applied.
Submitted by Anon (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 09:37.
On Twitter, the PSP's PR person has said that they're still "figuring out" how to assist district schools in applying for PSP grants. Doesn't sound like they're in any kind of a hurry either.
Submitted by Rich Migliore (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 10:03.
I can help them out a little.
How about if PSP and the WPF provide the funding so that any elementary school in Philadelphia can lower class size to 20 students in grades k-6 and provide a certified reading specialist to every student who falls behind a grade level or more in reading?
When are we going to turn our conversation away from who is going to profit off of our schoolchildren to how can we best serve all of our schoolchildren and their communities?
Public education is supposed to be about the "common good."
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 10:13.
You should be our superintendent. I believe that the people in power do not want the PSD to succeed. We need more people like you who are vocal and support all the children of Philadelphia. Thank you!
Submitted by Anon (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 11:32.
Haha, she tweeted this article with all its "the emperor has no clothes" comments. Someone's gonna get in trouble!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 11:39.
We don't know if any SDP schools were invited to apply. My experience with large grants is applicants are usually invited to apply.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:13.
PLEASE STOP with the "maybe, it's fair" attitude. It's all tied together and it's all about privatizing public ed. to make as much money as possible off the backs of the kids in all urban areas, not just here. Get your head out of the sand. You're allowed to get angry when you're being abused.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 20:00.
Mick - Many of us hear you and agree with your sentiment, but folks feel helpless regarding this fast sweeping movement to annihilate urban public education. What is your suggestion for collective action for those of us who believe in public education as a basic human right? What's a first step?
How do we stop the initiative to destroy unions? What happens next to prevent the destruction of pensions?
There is more to privatization than the rich getting richer (the lining of pockets). On the flip side of the coin working hard for 30-35 years will no longer mean having a stable retirement as life expectancy increases.
Where do we begin to counterbalance the charter movement, which can be viewed as a cover-up for what coming down the pike?
I don't know the answer to these questions; just putting it out there is all. Are we looking at the right issues? Are we asking the right questions?
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 20:59.
You said it better than I. I believe in Philly, our City Council refused to let the SRC privatize the custodial union. The SRC will have to tread much more carefully with the PFT in the short term but over time, the charter lie which I agree is a cover for dismantling the democratic party will need to be stopped. I don't have answers either but being more pissed off with a sense of urgency would be a good first step. For some reason, Jerry Jordan is resistant to that strategy--I hope he's right. The worst part is now the charter lie ilk aren;t even trying to hide their motivations--it's all right in our face and we're taking it laying down which is against my nature.
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 08:06.
Mick the best way to fight is to make the District schools better than the charter. You don't honestly think that's impossible?
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 08:19.
That's not the issue but we can't possibly do better when we are being starved while they are being propped up. They also have no rules to follow while we are forced to jump through hoops. The bigger issue---for me-- is that charters ruin Public Education which is a cornerstone of our democracy. The collateral damage will be segregation 101. Bull Connor would love it.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 20:16.
I know one thing, they will continue their agenda if there is no resistance.
There was recently a debate on Diane Ravitch's blog about whether the AFT under Albert Shanker would have supported the corporate privatizers of public schools. The debate is summarized on Schools Matter. Google "Schools Matter" and see the article:
"New Jersey's big fat corporate ed reform liars"
(The spam filter won't let me post the link.)
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 20:58.
Totally agree.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 13:15.
Ms. Cheng--Please stop--I can't take it anymore. You already know the truth about these vultures. George Costanza.
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 08:05.
George, our best "weapon" is knowledge and public awareness.
I do support art in schools and it is interesting that though the PACS operated by the String Theory looks to be successful, H.R. Edmunds shows no significant improvement in test scores per the District's website stats (I don't know how many years the String Theory has been working there, but last year's stats look to no better than the previous). The grant seems to be inappropriate then for their work at H.R. Edmunds. That being said, having the arts in schools does work; Enrichment of children works: the District has had over 10 years and over $2,000 per qualifying child each year to do this with Title I. The District does not have my sympathy here.
Cristo Rey H.S. is especially "scary". The concept is perhaps too obvious marketing. PYN, Philadelphia Youth Network has been developing business partnerships to create meaningful paid internships for underprivileged youth (not just "those who can't afford private school") for years. It takes time to develop these relationships, and a "one day a week" experience is superficial at best. If you go their website (via article link) go to "about us" then scroll down to "our team", you will see that the key players are experienced in real estate, and health care marketing. How this translates to quality internships for all those who "can't afford private school" is pretty shaky. That's very scary to me. Seems they want to emulate Mr. Gureghian's profit margins.
We must insist on seeing the list of applicants. The Notebook is our best ally here.
I have a small background in grants. I tried desperately to get grant projects and art projects for my neighborhood school along with being directly involved in improvements (co-running Chess, gardening) for more than 2 years. Eventually I funded one small one myself (Theatre and film for senior project). What failed me was not the willingness of the grantors to support us, but the willingness of the staff to get involved and the principal to show adequate support so that the staff would be motivated to get involved. Pretty sad eh?
Here're some projects with potential for continuity: Arts professional development so that teachers can incorporate these techniques into the core curriculum; Partnerships with senior centers (Reading Buddies was a hit, we were working on one to share heritage as well) to increase literacy or gardening skills; Partnerships with local higher level schools, and local businesses to develop mentoring. If the District schools don't apply, no one supporting them can cry "foul".
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 08:15.
Ms. Cheng--I know you mean well but these folks have done whatever they've wanted without any resistance that's mobilized and with angst. The time for asking them for answers is long gone. We KNOW their motivations.
Submitted by Philly Parent and Teacher (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 08:41.
While I agree with most of your points, I just want to clarify a few things. String Theory runs the Performing Arts Charter School (K-8) in South Philly. They haven't run Edmunds - that will begin in 2012-2013. Edmunds will become a "Renaissance" charter. Regardless, I do not think String Theory has a proven track record in "Turning around" a school - the demographics of Performing Arts Charter school are very different from Edmunds (and the School District in general). Performing Arts was also given permission to open a 1100 seat "performing arts" high school in South Philly. This is not a neighborhood in need of another performing arts high school. While it is a charter, it will still has admission requirements just like Mastery, etc.
Cristo Rey is part of a national network of high schools. My understanding is they attempt to provide a "St Joe's Prep" education with less cost. (I believe St. Joe's Prep is about $19,000/year). So, they charge up to $2000/year and in exchange they get a lot of outside funding from the corporations who agree to give internships to students. I agree, the leadership is from the corporate world - not education. It also won't serve the "most needed" students - they have admission requirements and, I assume, will be similar to the Gesu school. Lower to middle income students but very engaged parents who can not afford St. Joe's Prep tuition. That said, I believe Cristo Rey is a non-profit. They do have a track record in other cities (e.g. Boston) BUT not Philadelphia. I assume they will have a lot of political support from the powers that be (e.g. Nutter, Kenney, etc.) Most of Mr. Gureghian's work is for his profit.
The other two grantees, Freire Charter and Sustainability Workshop, also don't have proven track records. Freire Charter is a high school and has done well but they also have admission requirements, kick out/ "counsel out" students, etc. They have stringent behavior requirements and students, like at Mastery and Boys Latin, need a 75% / 76% average to pass. While there is nothing wrong with requirements, this means none of the schools can be compared with neighborhood high schools which are not allowed to have similar requirements. Freire has not worked with middle school students. The school also will be at 10th and Market. That means Freire is located in Center City - an area of Philadelphia that has many schools that are "high performing." (e.g. Meredith, McCall, Greenfield, etc.) Why is this middle school needed in Center City? Based on Freire's application, just like Boys Latin (which was given permission to create a middle school), they want to get students in 5th grade (like Masterman) and keep them through high school. This way they will have "better results." (This is in their application). This is logically - KIPP does the same thing and Mastery gets students in 7th grade at their Renaissance schools. Nevertheless, neighborhood high schools, again, won't have this advantage and the SRC will be able to close them. (Apparently the SRC hasn't realized if they close all neighborhood high schools except those in the Northeast, there will be students who won't comply with Freire, Mastery, KIPP, Boys Latin, etc. requirements and are still entitled to a free public education...)
The Sustainability Workshop also has no track record in running a 9-12 schools. In 2011-2012, they took 28 high school seniors out of 3 neighborhood high schools (Southern, Furness, West). They took the top seniors out of each school. They claim 24 out of 27 (because one of the students was kicked out) are going to college. I'm sure all of these students, based on who was selected from the 3 schools, was already going to college (including the student they kicked out). This year The Sustainability Workshop will do the same - take top students and claim "success" with their small group of seniors. They also have a huge budget - much more per student than any other SDP school - to run their "project." While the pedagogy of the school is compelling, they have no track record either. They have never had to prepare students for standardized tests. They want the District to allow them to open a special admissions high school next year (2013-2014) at the Navy Yard. So, another special admit school south of Market Street. How can the SDP open a special admit school while closing 40 during the same year? I guess the Sustainability Workshop could become a charter and then, yes, another school with admission requirements in South Philly.
Somehow we are suppose to believe the SRC is making decisions to make the School District fiscally viable if not responsible. We have been sold that story since 2001.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 08:54.
Of course, you are right and none of this is even remotely complicated. The issue is WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 09:08.
Thank you for the info!
Right, and about the Sustainability Workshop, Science Leadership Academy is also based/works, on project learning, so the concept is far from "new".
One way to counter the closure of schools without admit requirements, is to insist the stats follow the student and not be based on a snapshot of a school. There was an eval of Renaissance schools that showed improvement in the first year, but did not specify whether these stats followed the students or were (selective) population based.
I know the odds seemed stacked against neighborhood schools, but we shouldn't "go down" without a real fight. For grants, much of the work is in the planning and development. A school like Cook Wissahickon has applied successfully to many, and remains a neighborhood school with "high performing seats". They have had to jump the same hoops, so we know it's possible.
Submitted by Education Grad Student (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 16:52.
I know the odds seemed stacked against neighborhood schools, but we shouldn't "go down" without a real fight. For grants, much of the work is in the planning and development. A school like Cook Wissahickon has applied successfully to many, and remains a neighborhood school with "high performing seats". They have had to jump the same hoops, so we know it's possible.
----
Public schools should not have to apply for grants in order to provide good programming for students. The public should be funding education, not private organizations. Private support and grants are appropriate for after school programs, development, funding research, funding innovative/pilot programs, and the like. However, I am pragmatic and realize that schools need more private funding in order to function. I can justify it because applying for grant money could in many situations be what is best for the children.
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 18:49.
Agreed that grants should not replace public funding. In fact nearly all large grants stipulate that they must not displace such funding, with wording as, "can't fund core curriculum", or "can't fund capital improvements".
The SDP by signing on to the PSP and the "Great Schools Compact" has (as been noted in many comments) agreed to make it more difficult for the traditional schools by "getting rid of low performing seats", focusing on the institution as the cause of low academic achievement rather than the unmet needs of individual children.
The only way to "fight back" is to convince parents and guardians that their neighborhood school can offer their children equal if not better programs and services than a charter. Behavior issues (likely stemming from unmet needs) must be addressed. I believe finding a way to get more enrichment (especially as found in the arts) directly to troubled children can help. The SDP already has been given money for this purpose specifically in the form of the Title I grant. They need to target it more directly. How about the "school within a school" idea here, or even chaperoning a targeted group of students to a nearby resource, such as the YMCA or Settlement Music School (a group fee could be negotiated)?
Traditional public schools must recognize their strengths and learn to make the public aware of them. Such things as: direct physical connections with a neighborhood, resulting in a strengthened neighborhood as well as transit savings; pooled resources allowing for efficient distribution of specialized teachers, such as instrumental teachers.
Neighborhood schools can write grant proposals targeting their unique neighborhoods. Is there a senior center nearby? A community center? A small neighborhood bank that would be willing to offer a financial literacy workshop? A community garden nearby or empty lot that can be used for one? A science project that can work with a community garden? Can a small co-op be started with students and community members so that students can get small business experience? Contributions from neighborhood businesses can be considered "donations in kind" when writing a grant proposal. Can we get a partnership with Habitat for Humanity? Grant funds can pay for the time of a teacher to coordinate such a project. A neighborhood paper to partner with to learn about writing or marketing? You get the idea...
Finally, in terms of Homeland Security, having all your schools in one geographical area, such as Center City is not a good idea should a terrorist want to cause mass damage to our future generation(s). (I know a bit far fetched, but hey...)
Submitted by tom-104 on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 11:10.
New Detroit schools contract allows up to 61 students in grades 6-12
from The Detroit News
Detroit— Class sizes in Detroit Public Schools could get much larger this fall — up to 61 students each in grades 6-12 and 41 students in grades kindergarten through 3 — before school officials take action to level them out.
Under a new three-year contract imposed last week on the teachers' union, DPS will "make reasonable efforts" at reorganizing class sizes for students in K-12 when they exceed contractual limits.
In grades K-3, the class maximum is 25. But under the new contract with the Detroit Federation of Teachers, which took effect July 1, a class would need to reach 41 students before DPS moves to reduce it.
In grades 4-5, where 30 is the limit, it would take 46 students to trigger a response. In grades 6-12, where class sizes were increased to 35, leveling efforts would begin once the class reaches 61 students.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120713/SCHOOLS/207130335
Submitted by Concerned Philadlephian (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 11:18.
I suppose the students of Detroit are suppose to "achieve" just like their suburban counter parts with 25 per class.... Are they also blaming the teachers? This is more hard evidence of the attempt to abandon and destroy public schools.
Submitted by Mick (not verified) on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 19:16.
Bingo---It's the kids, parents and teachers' fault NOT the crooked politicians and vultures privatizers. Also, poverty, despair and 400 years of abuse mean nothing either.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 04:20.
As a parent of two children in the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School ,I must correct some of the misconceptions stated, The high school is for 1400 students and PPACS was given the option to open this school north of city hall not just "South Philly". There are NO admission requirements for the high school just as there are none for the grade school. One of the reasons PPACS was awarded a renaissance school is because they were the only charter school ever renewed with 0 recommendations from the school district and still maintains an SPI rank of 1.
Submitted by Concerned Philadlephian (not verified) on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:44.
Why is there a need for a 1400 seat high school when the SDP is closing schools? Performing Arts Charter has NEVER run a high school which is very different from K-8. The school was given the option of leaving South Philly - that is no guarantee.
All charters have a form of admission requirements - students have to apply. Look at the charter admission requirements at schools like Mastery, Boys Latin, Freire, etc. It isn't just a utility bill with proof of address.
Performing Arts Charter is a predominantly white school with students from families with much higher incomes than most neighborhood high schools. Will they be open to very different demographics?
The school has NO track record in turning around a neighborhood school NOR running a high school. Who does the leadership at Performing Arts Charter know that they are being given carte blanche to expand with a nice extra $2 million for one school (Edmunds)?
Submitted by K.R. Luebbert (not verified) on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 12:36.
While PPACS might not have what you call admissions "requirements", they certainly have hoops to jump through--just like most charters do. These hoops--which are subtle ways to eliminate disorganized, dis-enfranchised, or un-motivated families from applying are not allowed in regular public schools. We cannot even refuse enrollment of a child if their paperwork (proofs of address, etc... is not in order--we have to admit them and then follow up). SO, the process for gaining entry is quite different. If charters were serious when they say they are open to all children, they would be open to having one admissions process for all city charters--but they certainly do not want to give up the power of choice they have. Frankly, for the charters that have lotteries, we cannot even be sure how many of the received applications even make it into the lottery, some may be eliminated before hand. The following is copied and pasted from the "admission" page on PPACS website:
2012 Lottery Is Now Closed
*Kindergarten applicants MUST be five years old by September 1, 2012
*All applicants must reside in Philadelphia. Proof of residency is required.
All downloaded forms must be submitted to Performing Arts along with required documents.
*Please be sure to include the cover page. Our receptionist will initial and date the receipt on the bottom of the page.
*PLEASE NOTE: Completed applications must be hand delivered or mailed.
*Return Receipt to Performing Arts. Retain this receipt as proof of submission.
*Applications will not be processed if forms or documents are missing or incomplete. 2011 applications will not be accepted.
*Any applications received after the lottery will be added to our waiting list.
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