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NEWS FROM THE NOTEBOOK
Tougher standards, better readers?
by Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks
Zach Morales learned early that high school would go more smoothly if he kept certain things to himself.
But privately, the unassuming teen is proud of his passion for reading. So he hesitates for only a moment before opening the door to his small bedroom.
"I have a vast collection of books," says Morales, sweeping an arm towards shelves packed with horror novels, Harry Potter books, and biographies of professional wrestlers.
"Every book in this bookcase, I've actually read," he proclaims.
The Notebook * April 2012
More schools to become Renaissance charters
by Benjamin Herold
Undeterred by a bleak budget picture, District officials announced in February that four more low-performing traditional public schools will be converted to charters as part of the Renaissance Schools initiative.
The four schools – Cleveland Elementary, Creighton Elementary, H.R. Edmunds Elementary, and Jones Middle – currently serve more than 3,000 students. Although the schools will be turned over to outside managers, they will remain neighborhood schools, continuing to serve currently enrolled students and those who live in the surrounding community.
Officials described the expansion of the Renaissance initiative as a key component of the District's formal pledge to replace or transform 50,000 seats in low-performing schools over the next five years.
The Notebook * April 2012
NEWS FROM THE NATION AND REGION
Eight city schools named amoung best in state
By Tribune Staff Report
U.S. News and World Report released their “Best High Schools” state lists last week, ranking eight School District of Philadelphia high schools among the honorees in Pennsylvania, and awarding Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration school as the number one high school in Pennsylvania overall.
To determine the Best High Schools in Pennsylvania, schools were analyzed at the state level based on how students performed on state assessments. Masterman students proved to be 98 percent proficient in reading, and 100 percent proficient in math. U.S. News also recognized that Masterman students boast a 94 percent participation rate in Advanced Placement coursework and exams, and score an 83.8 on the college readiness index.
Philadelphia Tribune * May 15, 2012
Third Grade A Pivotal Time In Students' Lives
By Neal Conan
In a growing number of states a single reading test determines which third-grade students advance to fourth grade. Proponents of the rule say that kids learn to read until third grade, and then read to learn. But critics argue that holding students back does more harm than good in the long run.
NPR * May 14, 2012
Pay to the Order of Public School X ...
By Anna M. Phillips
At Public School 6 Lillie D. Blake on the Upper East Side, the parents association posted an urgent and direct call for donations on the school’s Web site. “For the first time in years, the PTA is ‘in the red,’” it said. The group has a $10,000 operating deficit and is $65,000 below its budget projection, donation rates are down, and costs are up. And so the parents association is turning to families and asking them to give what they can. The recommended donation is $1,000 — roughly what the PTA spends each year per child.
“Why does my gift matter?” asks Public School 8 Robert Fulton in Brooklyn’s fund-raising Web site, which has a nautical theme in which dollar amounts hover over an opened treasure chest. A $5,000 donation covers art, music, drama and dance classes for one month; $1,000 pays for a single child’s costs; $300 goes to supplies. A collection of underwater bubbles that appear to be rising out of sea vegetation remind readers that without parental support, the school might not have substitute teachers, clubs or enrichment programs.
SchoolBook * March 19, 2012
Violence In Schools: How Big A Problem Is It?
By Scott Neuman
When an Ohio high school student killed three classmates in a shooting rampage several weeks ago, it once again brought a national spotlight to a problem widely believed to be epidemic in schools.
The reality, experts say, is exactly the opposite: Violent crime in schools has decreased significantly since the early 1990s.
Dewey Cornell, a clinical psychologist and education professor at the University of Virginia, says incidents like the one in Chardon, Ohio, and the infamous mass shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and at Virginia Tech have reinforced a perception that schools can be dangerous places.
NPR * March 16, 2012
Stories of interest to parents
More like this
No diploma, no job
by Benjamin Herold Posted in February 2012 Edition | Permalink
'I Want to Be Working': As part of our comprehensive coverage of dropouts and jobs, the Notebook and WHYY's NewsWorks have created a multimedia package of materials for our readers and listeners. Listen to Monica Reyes's story in Benjamin Herold's radio report for WHYY. View a slideshow, infographics, and additional reporting. Check out the hour-long discussion of Philadelphia's dropout crisis on WHYY's Radio Times. And join us this Wednesday at Johnny Brenda's to share your perspective.
Like almost 14 million other Americans, Monica Reyes is looking for work.
"Macy's, Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Friday's, Outback," said Reyes, ticking off her list of recent unsuccessful job applications.
A sluggish economy has made finding work difficult for people from all walks of life. Nationally, the unemployment rate is still above 8 percent. Four people compete for every job.
Few of them will have a tougher time finding work than Reyes.
Comments (7)
SRC hears urgency, skepticism on Great Schools Compact
Submitted by Benjamin Herold on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 15:11 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks
Philadelphia’s new Great Schools Compact lays out an ambitious goal: replace or transform 50,000 seats in low-performing schools with better options.
But will the Compact include a push to close low-performing charter schools and help successful District-managed schools flourish? Or will it function solely to accelerate existing efforts to close District-run schools and expand the city’s burgeoning charter sector?
Those were the biggest questions on the table during a lively discussion Monday night attended by about 100 people before the School Reform Commission’s “choice, rightsizing, and turnaround” committee.
Comments (47)
District answers questions about school lunches
Submitted by Guest blogger on Wed, 03/14/2012 - 15:34 Posted in Community voices | Permalink
This guest blog post comes from the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance. PUFFA solicited questions from students, parents/guardians, and other community residents and received responses from the Food Services Division of the School District of Philadelphia.
1. Why can't our children have organic milk to drink?
The total cost allotted to a school lunch is approximately $2.73, and $1.39 is allotted for food, $1.03 for labor and 39 cents the balance for infrastructure/administrative costs. Within the budget of $1.39 for food, 25 cents is available for milk. At this time, the cost of organic milk would significantly exceed the available funds for this item.
Comments (16)
E-mentoring program aims to reduce dropout rate among Black males
Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 16:00 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Samantha Byles
With the dropout rate among African American and Latino male students slow to improve, many people ask how one can keep these students engaged in their education.
“The best way I think is to look for things that interest them,” said Anthony Martin, the founder of What it Takes (WIT), a Philadelphia-based e-mentoring program aimed specifically at connecting at-risk Black male students with successful Black men.
Add Comment
West Philadelphia nonprofit opens 12th public school library
Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 03/07/2012 - 14:22 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Samantha Coggin
Last summer Heston Elementary School Principal Icilyn Wilson-Greene received a phone call from the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePac) about an opportunity to restore the school’s library.
It was a welcome call because a large and growing number of Philadelphia public elementary school students don’t have access to a school library or a certified school librarian, and Heston was struggling to keep its own library doors open.
Comments (1)
District on-time graduation rate surpasses 60 percent
by Paul Socolar Posted in February 2012 Edition | Permalink
The School District's on-time graduation rate climbed 3 percentage points last year to 61 percent, the first time in memory that more than six of ten Philadelphia students have graduated on time. That figure is the percentage of students who entered 9th grade in fall 2007 and finished high school by 2011.
Comments (12)
FEATURED LINK
- After-school activities guide
The Daily News published this guide from the After School Activities Partnership. You can search through dozens of activities by ZIP code.
PARENT & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
- Philadelphia Home and School Association
For parents and guardians with children in the School District of Philadelphia. - Parents United for Public Education
An independent citywide collective of public school parents who are focused on creating and open and transparent budget process. - ACORN
The nation’s largest grassroots community organization that brings neighbors together to work for stronger, safer, and most just communities. There are chapters in 110 cities and 40 states. - PARENT POWER
Group of parents working together to eliminate the achievement gap. "What Will You Do With Yours"? - Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) - Philadelphia Chapter
Creates, supports, and promotes efforts to empower Black parents to exercise choice in determining how their children are educated. - Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Works to improve the lives of all children, including those who are homeless and abused, receiving inadequate health care, and whose parents are being taken off welfare. - Education Voters Pennsylvania
An independent, bipartisan organization that is working to hold elected leaders accountable for their actions or inactions on pressing education issues. Our state Constitution says: "The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth." School funding is the beginning of a great public education system. The leadership we elect matters for realizing the long term goal of giving every child the opportunity for a successful life. - Good Schools Pennsylvania
Informs citizens and public officials about the educational needs of Pennsylvania's children, the components of effective education (including accountability), and the consequences of an inadequate education. - Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign
A statewide coalition of individuals and organizations representing parents, students, educators, school board members, administrators and others advocating for comprehensive, systemic reform of Pennsylvania’s public education funding system. - Fair Test: National Center for Fair and Open Testing
Advances quality education and equal opportunity by promoting fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial evaluations of students, teachers and schools. Also works to end the misuse and flaws of testing practices that impede those goals.
GETTING MONEY FOR YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION
- Loans for Parents
Options for funding the cost of your child’s post-secondary education. - Federal Student Aid
The nation’s largest source of student aid, federal dollars in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs are available to all eligible students pursuing post-secondary education. - nowU Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program
Offers a range of resources to help you save for your child’s college education.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
- Philadelphia Right to Education Task Force
Examines, enlightens, and empowers special education providers who receive funding from the public school system and the families they serve. - Education Law Center
Advocates for poor children, children of color, children with disabilities, English language learners, kids in foster homes and institutions, and others. - The Arc of Philadelphia
Promotes and improves supports and services for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - The Right to Special Education in PA: A Guide to Parents
Describes the legal rules that govern the special education and early intervention programs in Pennsylvania for children age three until schooling ends. - Philadelphia Children's Connection
Resources for students, parents, and caretakers of children with special needs. - Parent Guide to Special Education for the Gifted
Explains the rights of gifted children. Also, outlines various issues including how a child’s need for a gifted education is determined and the responsibilities of a school district in meeting their needs. - CanChild
A center for childhood disability research. Focuses on issues that make a difference for children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs and their families. - Institute for Disabilities at Temple University
Offers a variety of programs, training, workshops, and publications about disabilities.
OTHER RESOURCES
- FamilyNet
Allows School District families to gain access to their child’s progress data, report card grades, attendance, and test scores. Can also find instructional resources here. Register for free. - DHS Parent Action Network
Provides a variety of parent support groups throughout the city for individuals who want to enhance their parenting skills. Also helps parents resolve conflict and improve communication with their children. - The Family Training Program
Free training sessions for parents who are concerned about their teen’s drug and alcohol use. Parents learn ways to improve their relationship and get their child help. - Pennsylvania Department of Education
Develops and administers policies to regulate and improve the quality of education in Pennsylvania. - Philadelphia High School Directory 2009
Lists neighborhood, charter, and special admissions schools. Also includes information about academic, specialty, and athletic programs, a sample high school application, and tips for parents, guardians, and students on getting through high school. - School Matters
Up-to-date data about student progress and achievement throughout District schools. Information includes PSSA reading and math scores, student enrollment, and school adherence to adequate yearly progress as outlined under NCLB. - The Right to Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers and Their Families in Pennsylvania: A Handbook for Parents
- Pennsylvania Department of Education Academic Achievement Report: 2007-2008
- Philadelphia Inquirer’s Report Card on Schools
School-by-school information from the Inquirer’s Report Card on the schools. - School Data Direct
An online service providing comprehensive education data as well as analytic tools. - Parents United for Public Education Blog
If you are the parent of a Philadelphia public school student, here you can discuss your experiences, express your concerns, and make your voice heard. - The Education Policy and Leadership Center
Focuses on education policy, education leadership, and education advocacy. - Title I Office
Obtain information on public school choice, parental involvement, Adequate Yearly Progress and school improvement, and other important educational issues. - Institute for the Study of Civic Values, Neighborhoods Online
Hosts a variety of links to education-specific organizations and programs such as the Home and School Council, charter schools, and the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy. Also includes links to information about economic assistance, neighborhood services, and youth advocacy groups. - The Pennsylvania Prison Society’s Support for Kids with Incarcerated Parents (SKIP)
The program provides a venue where children can openly express their feelings and learn to cope with them. Children between 8-12 years old who have a parent in prison can attend the 12-week support group, which meets at various schools and community centers for about one hour during or after school. - School District Office of Accountability, Assessment and Intervention
Monitors and reports on the performance of schools and district support functions. Reports student achievement and demographic data to multiple audiences such as central offices, schools and regions, the state and federal governments, and the public. Also collaborates with the District's Office of Information Technology and outside vendors in the design and maintenance of district data systems. - U.S. Department of Education
This extensive site includes resources and data on student achievement and on federal efforts to ensure equal access to high-quality education. - The New York Times Learning Network
A mix of activities for students, parents, and teachers that promote learning. Learn different conversation starters to promote dialogue with your kids and read the latest news.
Recent Comments
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