February 2010 Focus on School Turnarounds
Vol. 17 No. 4
Stetson Middle School, at B and Allegheny, is one of seven potential Renaissance Schools that were already turned over to an external manager once before, in 2002.
Waiting for the Renaissance
by Bill Hangley Jr.
It’s nothing new for Janiece Jones to wonder about the future of her child’s school.
“It was supposed to be closed down,” she said as she stood in front of the Paul L. Dunbar Elementary School in North Philadelphia. “[Then] they just said that someone was going to try and change the performance of the school.”
The first rumor didn’t come to pass. But the second just might, in potentially dramatic fashion.
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The Renaissance Schools plan: What it all means
The Notebook editors have assembled this list of common questions and answers from School District materials and interviews with District staff. (This is also available in Spanish.)
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Teacher contract is signed; 'Real work begins now'
by Dale Mezzacappa
The contract negotiated between the District and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has been hailed as a major step forward, with words like “groundbreaking,” “historic,” “transformative,” and “bold vision.”
But whether it advances the cause of education reform in Philadelphia will depend on how well the union and administration are able to work together to implement some of its more far-reaching provisions.
“The real work begins now,” said Mayor Michael Nutter.
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Table of Contents
Theme articles
- Waiting for the Renaissance by Bill Hangley Jr.
- Web Exclusive Who's applying? Potential turnaround managers
- What's been tried already by Dale Mezzacappa and Lynne Blumberg
- District: This time, community will have real voice in turnarounds by Sarah Peterson
- Ackerman's team says conditions ripe for turnaround by Dale Mezzacappa
- The Renaissance Schools plan: What it all means
- This year: mandates. Next year: autonomy by Brenden Beck
- How teachers and unions feel about turnaround by Ron Whitehorne and Tricia Fussaro
- Evidence is mixed for Obama's school intervention strategies by Daniel Denvir
- Chicago: A national laboratory for school overhauls by Meghan McHugh
- Quick Takes: Who would be the best person to turn around University City High School? by Benjamin Herold
Other news & features
- Tepid response to attacks against Asians is nothing new by Gustavo Martínez Contreras
- Teacher contract is signed; 'Real work begins now' by Dale Mezzacappa
- District falls short of class size targets by Paul Socolar
- Notebook News - Annual member drive: A progress report
- You bring out the Latin-Caribbean in me... by Samuel Reed III
- Strategy for positive school culture explored by Paul Socolar
Guest opinions
- When collaboration worked by Sheila Simmons
Cartoon
- February edition cartoon by Eric Joselyn
In our opinion
- School change from within
- Effective teaching for all
Letters to the editors
- District needs a teacher directory
- Schooling vs. educating
- Certification delay for newcomers
Eye on special education
- Learning how to advocate is a game-changer for parents, children … and even schools by Fran Sugarman
School snapshot
- Parkway Northwest High School
News in brief
- High school students tackle truancy with media campaign by Jenny Seng
- PCCY gets big response to 'Give Kids Sight Day' by Ruth Rouff
- Multi-city initiative works to create more college students by Michelle Welk
Activism around the city
- Fourth small high school to open in Kensington this fall by Erika Owens
- Students organizing at Sayre stalled by lack of sponsor by Bill Hangley Jr.
- Martin Luther King Day March
Sports stories
- Making a name for themselves by Benjamin Herold
- Web Exclusive Constitution High basketball
En español
- Plan de Escuelas de Renacimiento: ¿Qué significa?
- Se explora estrategia para cultura escolar positiva por Paul Socolar
- Cuatro escuelas superiores pequeñas en Kensington este otoño por Erika Owens
Renaissance School provider applicants await the first cut
by Dale Mezzacappa
More from the NEWSFLASH
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Notebook Chatter
Make the Innovation Plan public, and make the rubric used to judge the plan public as well.
-- Anonymous responding to West Philly HS – Dissing the community
Urban School NewsFrom Catalyst: Stories from other cities
- Chicago schools looking for partners in bid for more federal dollars
- News from around the state and the nation -- March 18, 2010:
- In the News: Thursday, March 18
- Audit of Chicago selective and magnet school admissions finds lax oversight, sparks curb of principal power
- Ohio education leaders compete for federal Race to the Top dollars
How should the District make up for the 
