Reports from ARC, Law Center examine alternative education
by Monika Zaleska
The Accountability Review Council (ARC), an independent panel that monitors District reform efforts, and the Education Law Center of Pennsylvania recently released studies that raise questions about the effectiveness of alternative and disciplinary schools.
Alternative schools include accelerated programs for dropouts and over-age students with few credits as well as disciplinary schools serving students who have violated the District’s code of conduct.
Both studies call for greater accountability and results from this growing system of Philadelphia schools, which has produced disappointingly low graduation rates.
According to the ARC report, one in 10 District students has attended an alternative school. Only 23 percent of over-age students attending an accelerated program earned their high school diplomas, and just 5 percent did so in a two-year period.
Things aren’t much better at the District’s disciplinary schools. Only 32 percent of students re-enter comprehensive schools. Just 41 percent of returning students actually graduate.
The law center’s report, “Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth Programs,” recommends that teachers in these programs not be exempt from state teacher qualification requirements. It also calls for timely public reporting on program performance and more services for English language learners and special education students.
For-profit companies manage nearly all the District’s alternative and disciplinary schools. Ben Wright, assistant superintendent for alternative education, said that provider contracts are based on student achievement and added, “If they don’t [come through], we take the kids back.”
The District recently terminated its long-standing contract with Community Education Partners, which ran disciplinary and accelerated schools.
Comments (4)
Submitted by Dolores Shaw (not verified) on Thu, 10/14/2010 - 09:28.
Ok so CEP could not gouge the state for more money for the screwing up an already missed up system. So they took marbles and Philadelphia 's money and have moved on to the next target They operated the SDP ALA at Front street program so badly that Camelot the new provider is still trying to figure out the mess.Student without properly credited courses or course completion; But then who really cares after all these young people are the dregs of society; criminals just waiting to pass go and go to jail. I implore Camelot to start to treat these young people like the diamonds in the rough they are.If treat them with respect and trust the pay off will be huge.
Submitted by Protect Our Children (not verified) on Thu, 10/14/2010 - 12:17.
Dolores: You sound like a Camelot employee or "plant". If you're worried about Philadelphia students, you may want to learn about the 5 Texas students that died in schools run by Camelot's CEO, John Harcourt.
Submitted by Erika Owens on Thu, 10/14/2010 - 13:11.
Dolores is just responding to the reality of the situation--the School District currently contracts with Camelot. An article from earlier this year described how some new contractual goals and how they are shaping Shallcross, a Camelot-managed school.
Submitted by Dolores Shaw (not verified) on Thu, 10/14/2010 - 16:52.
I am a neither a plant nor a Camelot employee. Believe me when I say I was never a fan of CEP, I felt their were not the best fit for this program so it came as no surprise when they left the Phila. To make it clear I am undecided about Camelot. Their record seemed to be directed to students with discipline problems. This is not the majority of youth currently enrolled in ALA. That being said Camelot's job is being made more difficult by CEP past failures. When their job becomes more difficult student success suffers. I will look into the Texas situation, Thanks for the heads-up.
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