At the SRC

At its June meetings, the School Reform Commission:

• Voted to retake control of six of the 38 District schools that have been operated by outside managers. The six schools have been in “Corrective Action II” status under the No Child Left Behind law; they met one or none of their AYP targets in 2007. They are Gillespie, Harrity, Potter-Thomas and Stetson, all managed by Edison Schools Inc.; Dunbar, managed by Temple University; and FitzSimons, managed by Victory Schools. Based on a review of their test score gains and overall performance, twenty schools run by outside managers were granted one-year contracts and told they must show accelerated progress, and 12 higher-performing schools were granted three-year contract renewals.

• Decided to close two West Philadelphia middle schools – Sulzberger and Turner – as of June 30, 2009 and announced plans to relocate Parkway Gamma (Parkway West) and the Middle Years Alternative program from 4901 Chestnut St. to Sulzberger by the start of the 2008-09 school year.

• Approved the continued operation of Philadelphia Academy Charter School if it meets each of more than 20 “conditions” by September, though investigation of the school is still ongoing. The school must make changes to management practices, including that “no Board member shall as a private person engage in any business transaction with the Charter School.”

• Continued to debate alternative proposals for cuts in student TransPasses, exploring changes in the mileage requirements and instituting an attendance requirement. A parent survey is underway and decision is expected in August.