This morning our sister advocacy organization, Philadelphia School Advocacy Partners (PSAP), released a policy brief calling for stronger charter school governance in Philadelphia. The paper makes several recommendations including the closure or transformation of low-performing charters coupled with the expansion of high-performing schools. You can read about it in today’s Inquirer.Specifically, the paper endorses PA Senate …
Advocacy
No More Waiting: Watch the new ad from PSAP
Today, the Philadelphia School Advocacy Partners (PSP’s sister advocacy organization) launched a campaign to elevate the voices of thousands of families who don’t want to keep waiting for high-quality educational opportunities. Watch the first television ad at nomorewaiting.org. Mike Wang, executive director of PSAP, said in today’s Inquirer: “There’s a clear message for anyone who is currently in …
Outrageous: Our response to a call for no new charters
A Philadelphia advocacy group just released a report calling on the SRC to deny all 40 charter applications currently being considered – an outrageous recommendation given how many of the applicants are running great schools for families and have long waitlists. Here are the key points every Philadelphian needs to know about these 40 charter …
WHYY: Education Groups at Odds over Study of Philly Schools Performance
An influential school reform group is urging Philadelphia school leaders to approve every charter school applicant that can effectively run schools that serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Last week, district officials heard pitches from operators hoping to open 40 new charter schools across the city. To back up its advice on charters, …
Statement regarding settlement with City Ethics Board
We appreciate the cooperative approach of the Ethics Board in identifying our mistakes and allowing us the opportunity to correct them. PSP finalized an agreement today with the Philadelphia Board of Ethics that includes the organization retroactively registering as a principal for 2012 under the City’s lobbying law and filing additional quarterly disclosure forms for …
PSP Supports Quick Approval of $120 million in Recurring School Revenues by City Council
Mark Gleason, executive director of the Philadelphia School Partnership, echoed this morning’s call by a coalition of other nonprofit groups for City Council to move quickly to approve the extension of a 1 percent city sales tax and the redirection of $120 million in resulting revenue to the School District of Philadelphia. “The School District …
PSP Supports Quick Approval of $120 million in Recurring School Revenues by City Council
Mark Gleason echoed this morning’s call by a coalition of other nonprofit groups for City Council to move quickly to approve the extension of a one percent sales tax Mark Gleason, executive director of the Philadelphia School Partnership, echoed this morning’s call by a coalition of other nonprofit groups for City Council to move quickly …
Why we’re talking about seniority
Earlier this week, we joined public school parents and reform organizations across the city in calling on the School Reform Commission to put student needs ahead of employee seniority. Read more from the Inquirer and WHYY here. Why is this reform so critical? The key to great schools is great teachers, and seniority too often …
Two-pronged attack on teachers’ seniority planned
Seniority for public school teachers is in the crosshairs in Philadelphia and soon will be a target across Pennsylvania.
Frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations for a new contract for Philadelphia teachers, a coalition of education and parents' groups says it will call on the School Reform Commission Monday to immediately pull seniority off the bargaining table and give Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. a free hand in assigning staff.
Two Groups Press For Elimination of Teacher seniority Rules In Philadelphia Schools
A group of education reform advocates is pushing the Philadelphia School Reform Commission to use its power to eliminate seniority as a basis for assigning teachers.
Seniority has been a major issue in the ongoing negotiations between the school district and its teachers’ union.