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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Notes from the news

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.

Notes from the news, May 16

Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 09:47 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

SRC renews five charters; recommends non-renewal for Imani. Notebook

See also: SRC to shut down Imani charter. Inquirer

SRC votes against renewing Germantown charter school. NewsWorks

To help children learn, get the lead out. Notebook

ABC to profile Strawberry Mansion as one of country's most dangerous high schools. Philly.com

Nutter wants new cigarette tax, liquor tax hike to help fund schools. Notebook/NewsWorks

See also: Mayor talks tax proposals to help fund schools. NBC10

Overcoming mistrust vital to resolving future of school. AxisPhilly

The latest shake-up in Corbett administration has some wondering what's going on. Inquirer

See also: Corbett nominates new education secretary

Philadelphia students protest budget cuts at City Hall. Notebook

A teacher explains the budget crisis to her students. City Stories

Community schools: small Investments, big returns. Our City, Our Schools

News summary from Keystone State Education Coalition

Get Notes from the news in your inbox every day

Notes from the news

SRC renews five charters; recommends non-renewal for Imani

Submitted by Paul Socolar on Wed, 05/15/2013 - 19:58 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

[Updated 12:59 a.m.] 

The School Reform Commission approved staff recommendations Wednesday night, voting to renew five charter schools and beginning the non-renewal process for one, Imani Education Circle in Germantown. Late in a six-hour meeting, the commission also approved providers for two new Renaissance charters.

Although 16 Philadelphia charter schools have applied for renewal this year, only six of those came up for a vote Wednesday.

The five renewed are: Antonia Pantoja, Christopher Columbus, Eugenio de Hostos, Maritime Academy, and Universal Institute charters. One thing these five schools have in common is that they have all agreed to abide by an enrollment cap throughout the duration of the five-year charter. District officials have explained that it is impossible to manage its budget crisis without predictable enrollment at charter schools.

Nutter wants new cigarette tax, liquor tax hike to help fund schools

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 05/15/2013 - 19:43 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks

[Updated: 7:07 p.m.]

Your next debaucherous night of drinking and smoking might help close the Philadelphia School District's enormous budget gap.

Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter is proposing to increase the liquor-by-the-drink tax and create a brand-new $2 tax on every pack of cigarettes in order to help fund the schools.

Watch: SRC to vote on charter renewals

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 05/15/2013 - 16:09 | Permalink

The School Reform Commission is scheduled to vote tonight on charter renewals. Sixteen schools in all are seeking to renew their charters but only six are on the final agenda for a vote. Two schools, Discovery and Imani, were recommended by the District for charter revocation. But Discovery has reportedly struck a deal to resolve its dispute with the District, prompting the District to withdraw its non-renewal recommendation.

Philadelphia students protest budget cuts at City Hall

Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Wed, 05/15/2013 - 14:02 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Farah Abney, a kindergarten student at Powel Elementary, holds up her sign during the City Hall protest. It says, "We need safety and books." ​(Photo: Dale Mezzacappa)

Parents and students from Powel, Henry, Penn Alexander and Masterman schools came to City Hall on Wednesday morning to protest proposed District budget cuts, converging in a staircase up to the second floor.

Mayor Nutter walked through the chanting crowd right after he had announced with Superintendent William Hite that he was proposing a package to raise $95 million in new revenue for the District, which is $35 million more than the School Reform Commission had requested.

The money would come from a new $2 city tax on a pack of cigarettes and a hike in the liquor-by-the-drink tax. For both measures, the District needs enabling legislation from Harrisburg that has been introduced and that Nutter and state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams said has support. Nutter also announced that the city expects to step up property tax collections to raise $28 million in additional funds next year for the District, which faces a $304 million budget gap. 

Harner to replace Tomalis as Pa. education secretary

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 05/15/2013 - 13:03 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Ronald Tomalis will step down as Pennysylvania's education secretary at the end of the month, Gov. Corbett announced today in a statement. He is to be replaced by Cumberland Valley schools chief William Harner.

Tomalis, who served as the state's top education official for two years, will become a special adviser to the governor on higher education. Harner previously served briefly as a special assistant to Paul Vallas during his tenure as Philadelphia schools superintendent, and then again worked under Vallas in New Orleans as his deputy superintendent.

Read the full statement below.

To help children learn, get the lead out

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 05/15/2013 - 11:15 Posted in Commentary | Permalink

by Tom Vernon and Shelly Yanoff 

Sometimes we fail to look for causes in conspicuous places. As we seek out reasons why our children are having trouble learning in school, tens of thousands of our kids’ futures are being cut down because, in their younger years, they were exposed to lead. 

For at least two decades, neurological and epidemiological research has told us that lead affects academic performance, classroom behavior, and the rest of life. We know so much more today from more recent research. Now we know that even low levels of lead can cause serious damage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bleakly states: “No safe blood lead level in children has been identified.”