News in brief
Mayor Street convenes education task force
Project 720 state grants support five high schools
Scrabble is coming to a school near you
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News in brief
Mayor Street convenes education task force
After seeing the Philadelphia public schools under state control for the past five years, Mayor John F. Street announced the creation of the Philadelphia Education Advisory Task force to examine the state of the School District and explore its return to city control.
Street named 35 members to the task force, which has an operating budget of $500,000. The task force is co-chaired by city Education Secretary Jacqueline Barnett and Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis. Former U.S. Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan is honorary chair. The group also includes education advocates, parents of school children, and members affiliated with higher-education institutions and the business community.
Street said the work of the Task Force is “a mission that should be second to nothing else in this city.”
Gov. Ed Rendell has said returning the schools to local control before 2010 would be premature. Street acknowledged this and has said the transition will take time.
Street said the formation of the task force is in no way a reflection upon the School Reform Commission or CEO Paul Vallas. “We believe that our schools are functioning at a level that is clearly superior to times in the recent past,” Street said during a September 28 news conference where he signed an executive order creating the task force. “But we don’t know if that’s good enough. The fact that this task force exists is an indication that we are serious about improving the quality of education.”
The task force plans to release their findings and recommendations by January 17, 2007 after holding public hearings, meeting as a whole committee, and visiting neighborhoods and schools.
On October 30, at the first Task Force meeting, Street said he plans to hold meetings in the city at times and places that are convenient to those who use the public school system. Street said, “I want the report to reflect the people who use it.”
Town hall meetings will be held from November 30 to December 15. Confirmed dates are as follows:
- November 30, 6-8 p.m. The Lighthouse, 152 West Lehigh Ave.
- December 12, 6:30-8 p.m. 2 Locations TBA
- December 13, 6:30-8 p.m. 2 Locations TBA
- December 14, 6:30-8 p.m. Northeast High School, 1601 Cottman Ave.
- December 15, 7-8:30 p.m. Germantown High School, 40 East High St.
For updates on times and locations, visit the Philadelphia Education Advisory Task Force website: www.phila.gov/educationadvisory
For
more information, call 215-686-2124 or
215-686-1449.
–Hannah Davis
Project 720 state grants support five high schools
Five Philadelphia public high schools have been given a total of $350,000 in grants as part of a state initiative called Project 720 to help improve retention and rigor.
In 2004, Rendell created Project 720 – named after the number of days in a four-year high school career – to transform secondary education. High schools in the state compete for grant money.
This year, Furness and Randolph have been added to the list of District schools receiving funds. Lamberton and Carver continue their involvement in the program along with Preparatory Charter School.
The schools in the District were awarded $70,000 each to spend it as they see fit. The money is often used to prepare students for graduation and for college, according to District spokesperson Felicia Ward.
Carver is using its money for an SAT prep program being held after school and Saturdays, while Lamberton has chosen to hire an extra counselor.
Because Project 720 is a performance-based program, the application process is competitive. To be eligible, schools must require students to take four years of math and three years of English and science.
Of the 550 schools that applied for grants this school year, only 80 were selected.
Project 720 started with only 41 participating school districts in its pilot year. With an increasing budget every year, it now includes 113 high schools, three comprehensive vocational technical schools, and one charter school statewide.
–Hannah Davis
Scrabble is coming to a school near you
Building upon the success of the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge, the local nonprofit group After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP) is expanding its program to include Scrabble clubs.
The decision to introduce Scrabble was an easy one, said Marciene Mattleman, president of ASAP. “Scrabble is the perfect afterschool activity. It improves literacy and strategic thinking skills for those of all ages,” she said.
Scrabble clubs arose out of “Philly Plays Scrabble,” a joint initiative with the Free Library of Philadelphia to promote Philadelphia as a literate city and to raise awareness about a game that can be both fun and an excellent teaching tool.
ASAP provides schools interested in starting a club with materials, which include sets, dictionaries, and handouts. Members of the Philadelphia Scrabble Club have also offered their time to lead workshops with students and teachers.
ASAP already sponsors clubs in nearly 160 public and charter schools in Philadelphia, providing the materials and trainings needed for teachers and volunteers to run afterschool chess clubs. School District CEO Paul Vallas said the clubs “help sharpen skills and provide many pleasurable hours for our students.”
Teachers, administrators,
or volunteers interested in leading an
afterschool club can contact ASAP Projects
Coordinator Peter English at 215-545-3077
or penglish@phillyasap.org.