Stories tagged: budget cuts
Para los jóvenes inmigrantes, el camino a la universidad raramente es fácil
por Paul Jablow Posted in Verano 2012 Edition | Permalink
Sentado en una mesa de la cafetería en el Community College of Philadelphia, Cheick Kante no hace ningún esfuerzo por ocultar su frustración.
"A veces quisiera no haberme mudado acá nunca", dice Kante, un alto joven de 22 años que está estudiando una carrera en sistemas de información en el CCP. "Nunca pensé que sería así".
Add Comment
SRC hears about struggle to maintain continuity in ELL programs
Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 14:32 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
At a School Reform Commission meeting Monday night, officials said they would do their best to avoid further cuts in programs for the District's 13,000 English language learners.
By devoting an entire two-hour meeting to the topic, the SRC signaled its commitment to prioritize this large but often-neglected segment of the District's population.
But officials also acknowledged that teacher layoffs and other budget-related decisions have taken a toll on these programs over the years.
Comments (4)
Not college-ready
Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
Gov. Tom Corbett has been slashing funds for higher education. He and other anti-government types are ignoring a growing understanding in the real world: Making college more accessible and affordable is critical not only to individual success but to the nation's future.
Add Comment
Budget cuts, restructuring plan stir up outcry
by Dale Mezzacappa Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
With a projected shortfall for 2012-13 of at least $200 million even after the deep cuts this year, District leaders are proposing a major restructuring that would further downsize the central office, close 64 schools, and break up those remaining into "achievement networks."
Add Comment
Harsh realities: Who's been cut
Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
-
Between 2011 and what's projected for 2012-13, the District will have cut almost 4,000 employees, or 16.3 percent of its workforce.
-
In two years, the District will have eliminated 1,486 teaching positions, 369 counselors and student advisers, 144 secretaries, 101 nurses, 407 supportive service assistants, 166 custodians and building engineers, 46 principals and assistant principals, 23 school police officers, 329 noontime aides, and 771 other mostly non-represented employees, including central office administrators.
Add Comment
Creighton: Exception to the Renaissance rule?
by Bill Hangley, Jr. Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
For three of this year's four Renaissance Schools, the selection process is over. The public meetings are complete, the School Reform Commission has voted, and barring any unforeseen complication, next September they'll open as neighborhood charter schools.
But at Creighton Elementary in the Lower Northeast, supporters of a unique plan for a teacher-led administration are holding out hope that their school can buck a very big trend.
Comments (1)
Nutter: 'Not satisfied'
by Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
Mayor Michael Nutter is adamant that he is "not taking one step back" from his goals of doubling the percentage of city residents with college degrees and bringing the city's high school graduation rate to 80 percent.
But a second straight year of deep state cuts to higher education proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett would mean even steeper challenges for students and families, he said.
Add Comment
Cuts clash with college-attainment goals
by Dale Mezzacappa Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
For two years running, city schools have seen a promising increase in the number of high school graduates going straight into college.
But that trend is now in jeopardy.
Local and state budget cuts are decimating key programs and personnel that help students see college as a goal and navigate admissions. On top of last year's deep cuts to schools and the central office, the District plans to eliminate funding for nearly 100 counselors.
At the same time, higher education cutbacks are causing tuition to soar, financial aid to decline, and student debt to skyrocket.
Add Comment
Pushing college in tight times
by Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/Newsworks Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink
With students mostly gone for the day, Benjamin Franklin High's lone secretary has headed home, replaced at her desk by Principal Christopher Johnson.
Right away, the phone starts ringing.
First, it's a parent requesting a transcript. Then, it's a District complaint about paperwork. A 9th grader straggles in, asking for bus fare. A juvenile probation officer follows, trying to get records on a case.
Johnson deals with it alone.
Add Comment
NEWSFLASH
The NEWSFLASH is on a hiatus, and we need your feedback on how to improve it.
The NEWSFLASH, a free e-bulletin, provides timely stories and updates in between print editions of the Notebook.
Subscribe to our email list
Past Editions of the NEWSFLASH
Notebook Chatter
I've never been so moved by a post.
