This edition of the Notebook NEWSFLASH is also available online at: www.thenotebook.org/newsflash/2005/september
Notebook NEWSFLASH:
September 2005
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A new “preferred choice” admissions policy built around academic regions will go before the School Reform Commission next month, a School District official said, opening the way for Center City students to be given preference in admissions to any elementary school located within the newly established Center City Academic Region.
Chief Academic Officer Gregory Thornton, during an August interview in which he explained the upcoming proposal, described “preferred choice” as an approach that would allow students “movement throughout a region to meet the needs of individual children and their families.”
He said the proposed SRC policy would not be limited to Center City. That region will “serve as a training ground, or laboratory, to begin exploring some of these options,” Thornton said.
A similar arrangement had been made in the high school being developed in partnership with Microsoft Corp., Thornton pointed out. In that case, he said the SRC had okayed a large regional catchment area for the school, providing first preference to students in that area but allowing admission to some students from other parts of the city.
“But more and more, as our schools become more highly specialized, it’s something we are going to have to begin to take a look at, as we begin the theme schools,” he said, referring to the establishment in elementary schools this school year of such school models as Montessori and International Baccalaureate.
The District has a history of court rulings that schools serving predominantly students of color do not offer their students equal educational opportunities. So a proposal to give Center City students an advantage in applying to some of the city’s most sought-after elementary schools has raised concerns among some education equity advocates about how to balance the needs of Center City with the rights of students in other neighborhoods.
District officials point out that the Center City region’s elementary schools are racially and economically quite diverse. Several rank among the District’s high-achievers, with all but one of the 13 schools scoring well enough on state tests in 2004 to meet No Child Left Behind targets for Adequate Yearly Progress. Bache-Martin, Greenfield, McCall, and Meredith, all in that region, typically receive hundreds of applications, sometimes for just a handful of transfer slots filled by a lottery process.
Advocates of the Center City preference maintain that it will boost the number of families that stay in Center City, strengthening both the tax base and the city’s public school system.
A study commissioned by the Center City District found a steady loss of families with school-age children, who choose to move from Center City to area suburbs to secure better academic and safety environments for their children, without the cost of private schooling.
The admissions preference is part of a broad Center City school-improvement initiative, for which the Center City District has secured a $250,000 grant. The effort supports the region’s schools with such resources as a website, mailings, additional marketing, establishment of admissions counselors, and the services of architects whose work will enhance the “curb appeal” of the schools.
Philadelphia students who wish to attend schools other than the school in their immediate neighborhood must submit an “EH-36” transfer application by November 19 for fall 2006.
Both the Notebook and more recently the Philadelphia Inquirer have previously reported that Center City students would receive preference in admissions transfers to the new region’s schools, except for special admissions schools such as Masterman.
But first, Thornton told the Notebook, “The whole issue around preferred choice has to go before the SRC.”
He explained, “That’s a paradigm shift as to how we assign kids to schools.”
The Center City District’s schools website for months has touted the proposed preference, promising Center City parents that beginning fall 2006, their children will receive “priority status” in admissions to any of the 13 elementary schools within the new region.
Paul Levy, executive director of the Center City District, insisted that the information promising priority admissions on his organization’s website was “consistent with everything” the School District has established.
The planned change in Center City school admissions has suffered from missteps, miscommunication and lack of clarity since plans for it were revealed last year.
One controversy erupted last spring at the highly sought-after Masterman, a grade 5-12 school located in Center City that takes high-achieving students from across the city based on grades and test scores. After a letter alerting parents of the new preference plans drew angry protests from some Masterman parents, the District sent letters to parents clarifying that the Center City initiative’s priority admissions plan would not affect Masterman and other special admissions schools such as the High School for Creative and Performing Arts.
During a press briefing in May, Vallas said, acknowledged that there had been a push in Center City to establish a set-aside for neighborhood residents at the highly sought-after school.
"But we haven’t signed off on that, and I don’t anticipate that we will."
City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown told the Notebook that the School District had been unclear with her about its intentions for the new Center City region.
“When I first heard whispers in the spring (about the priority status), I began to inquire myself to see if the idea put forth was a major proposal,” she said. “They did not acknowledge that it was a real idea. So I had difficulty in putting my thumb on it. I got mixed signals.
“Now we know it’s real,” she said, after hearing of Thornton’s “preferred choice” proposal going to the SRC.
"Public school choice should be made first to parents who already have their children in the public school system," Blondell-Reynolds said. "If the School District is going to use this new test model proposal, then they need to give preference to parents who have always had faith that the system was going to get better. They never left."
Preference remains a topic some District officials seem uncomfortable in discussing.
Asked if a transfer slot in a Center City school would be offered first to a student from another part of Center City or one from Northeast Philadelphia, Center City Regional Superintendent Janet Samuels told a reporter, “I’m not going to talk about giving preference to anyone based on what the circumstances are, no matter how you ask the question.”
Samuels volunteered that, “Mr. Vallas’s goal is to look at placing all children based on their immediate catchment, region and then the larger city.”
District school choice provisions allow students to request transfers to other neighborhood schools as space allows through the EH-36 transfer process. Lotteries are held for schools where there are more applicants than seats. Applications are due in the fall and transfers announced in the spring.
Additional choice options are offered under No Child Left Behind provisions to students from schools that have not made ‘Adequate Yearly Progress.” Students may also transfer based on “extenuating circumstances,” approved on a case-by-case basis.
Thornton acknowledged, “Many schools in Center City happen to be schools of choice for children outside Center City.”
Samuels maintained that Center City was not getting singled out for special treatment. She said, “I know one of the big things people are interested in is the issue of equity. And certainly, it’s something I’m interested in as well. The notion of partnership schools, activities, and other programs -- they’re the same kinds of things I know Mr. Vallas is hoping will happen in all areas of the city.”
Levy argued that critics of the Center City preference were “losing sight of this whole issue.”
More educational options in that region would entice more families with school-aged children to stay put and to contribute to the city’s tax base, and increase the number of well-heeled, highly educated parents who traditionally are more active in supporting schools.
“Clearly, the District, in creating an academic region, recognizes that a growth in the number of children in Center City is an extra opportunity for the School District and the city,” Levy said.
Laurada Byers, board chair for the Russell Byers Charter School at 19th and Spring Garden streets agrees. For more than a year, she’s been interested in the District establishing a catchment area for her school, and she said that for convenience’s sake, she would accept the same one drawn up for the Center City region.
How a catchment area for a charter school would be reconciled with state law is unclear; the charter school law does not provide for admission preferences based on neighborhood.
Byers said saving the Center City residential tax base was an issue important to her late husband, for whom the charter school is named.
“See what happened to the neighborhood around Sadie Alexander,” she offered, speaking of the University of Pennsylvania-assisted school whose presence sparked a spike in housing prices in its West Philadelphia and University City area.
Councilwoman Brown acknowledged that the tax base argument “has some sense of logic to it.”
“I believe in supporting the School District when public policy tells me what they’re doing is fair and right and equitable,” she said, “But I’m also prepared to let them know that I'll be watchful in determing whether what what they’re doing is fair and equitable across the system.”
Notebook editor Paul Socolar contributed to this
report. Contact him at
pauls@thenotebook.org or 215-951-0330, ext. 2107.
Contact Notebook staff writer Sheila
Simmons at 215-951-0330 x156 or sheilas@thenotebook.org.
In August, the School Reform Commission approved the following:
· $160,000 supplement and amendment
to University
of Pennsylvania partnership, phasing
out services at Bryant.
Penn will manage Lea and Wilson through June 2007,
but phase out services at Bryant, for which it will
receive no pay for 2005-2006. The supplementary $160,000
will pay for two teachers to help prepare Lea students
for the proposed Penn high school.
· $525,000 from categorical/grant
fund to New Teacher
Project
Will provide consulting services for teacher placement
fairs; recruit, select, and train highly qualified
teachers to fill mid-year vacancies for 2005-06 and
opening vacancies in 2006.
· $28 million from categorical/grant
fund to various SES providers.
The budgeted amount, which will go to hundreds of
providers, compares with $17 million allocated for
04-05.
· $325,000 from categorical/grant
fund to Communities
in Schools, Philadelphia for Parent-Child Home
Program.
To recruit, hire, pay and provide oversight to Parent-Child
Home Program’s home visitors and lead home visitors.
· $500,000 grant acceptance from
U.S. Army Cadet Command for Army Junior Reserve Officer
Training Corps
Would defray some cost of establishing Army JROTC
units at Philadelphia Military Academy-Leeds, Philadelphia
Military Academy-Elverson, Overbrook HS, Bok AVTS,
and University City High..
· $400,000 from general fund to
Resources for Change for Student
Success Centers
To provide staffing for Student Success Centers at
10 high schools: Bartram, University City, West Philadelphia,
Frankford, Gratz, Overbrook, Kensington, Edison, William
Penn and Franklin.
· $1.5 million from categorical/
grant fund to Philadelphia Education
Fund for CORE Philly Scholarship Program.
For the CORE Philly Scholarship program for 2005 graduates.
· $1.67 million from Empowerment
Grant/$1.48 million to SMART program
For operation of Saturday Morning Alternative Reach
and Teach (SMART), an alternative educational, social
and behavioral community service program for chronically
disruptive students. Will operate in 14 regional program
sites. District will contract with eight community
organizations.
· $500,000 from operating budget
to Community
Education Partners for alternative high school
program
Will allow for 12th and Allegheny site to accommodate
discipline school program and drop-out prevention
program for over-aged students, thereby establishing
two schools. To be adjusted each year after the first
year, through June 30, 2010.
· $3.2 million from operating
budget to Camelot
Schools to manage Shallcross School
Moves the last of the District-managed discipline
schools, with 300 students, to private management.
To to be adjusted each year through June 2010.
· $1.1 million from categorical/grant
fund to Catapult
Learning for extended day services.
Formerly Sylvan Educational Solutions (sister company
of the tutoring Sylvan Learning Center), Catapult
will administer the reading program primarily to sixth-grade
students (144 per site) in 10 middle or K-8 schools.
The following SRC resolutions were tabled
or withdrawn:
· $100,000 from the operating budget
to Egan Bloom
& Associates
Encouraged by Commissioner Martin Bednarek, the commission
postponed decision on this contract, for Egan Bloom
to assist the District in negotiating and implementing
a Project Labor Agreement with the Philadelphia Building
Trades Council, counsel the District on its capital
plan, and help advocate with the community on renovation,
location and construction of schools.
· Authorization for sale of Thomas
Durham School property
The school property at 16th & Lombard Streets,
closed in June 2003 after the District cited extensive
repair costs, has received many expressions of interest,
including from Independence Charter School. A public
speaker complained that the District had prepared
Requests for Proposals without community input.
· $200,000 from operating budget
to Philadelphia Area Consortium for Education (PACE)
Would support consortium of college and university
partners in hiring of executive director, as well
as with meetings and fundraising efforts. Commissioners
called for the existence of a 501(c)3, director and
board for PACE before voting on the resolution.
· $1.79
million in categorical/grant funds to community-based
service provider for Attendance and Truancy Intervention
and Prevention Support Programs.
Tabling was prompted by concerns from Commissioner
Dan Whelan about a lack of “refined data”
in truancy prevention efforts. Grant would cover efforts
by 14 providers and organizations serving the District’s
Attendance and Truancy Intervention and Prevention
Support Program.
back to top
At District
HQ:
Harold Jordan, former Executive Director
of the National Coalition of Education Activists,
joins the Office of Language Access Services and Community
Outreach as Assistant Director. As that office takes
on an expanded role in parent involvement, other additions
to that office include Quibila Divine,
Parent Outreach Manager, formerly of the Bureau of
Community and Student Services for the Pennsylvania
Department of Education, and Cong Wang,
who will service as Language Access Coordinator. In
the Communications department, John Suggs
will work as special projects assistant, and Jim
Scott as Director of Community Relations
and Faith-based Partnerships. Miles Shore
is the new interim general counsel.
In academic regions:
Dr. B. LeFra Young is new superintendent
of the Central Region . . . Wendy J. Shapiro
takes over in the North Region.
In schools:
New principal assignments: Ernest Angiolillo,
Greenfield . . . Joseph Beatty, Finletter
. . . Newton Brown, Olney 705 (Olney
has been divided into two schools) . . . Linda
Cliatt-Wayman, Rhodes . . . Carol
Domb, McCall . . . Donald Donley,
Lincoln . . . Glenn Douglas, Levering
. . . Karen Duckett, Fox Chase .
. . Franklin Gantz, Comegys . . .
Sterling Garrison, Blaine . . . Gina
Hubbard, Greenberg . . . Andrea Ingram-Mayor,
Birney . . . Carolyn Jackson, Martha
Washington . . . Gina Kaplan, Pennell
. . . Deborah Lee, Fulton . . . Sherry
Lewis, Jackson . . . Robin McCoy
Wilkins, Kenderton . . . Deborah
McMonagle, Hartranft . . . Roslynn
Sample-Green, Franklin Elementary . . . Allyssa
Schmitt, Mifflin . . . Aaron Starke,
Huey. (Last month’s Newsflash
reported earlier principal announcements.)
In the city:
Jacqueline Barnett, senior education
policy adviser to Congressman Chaka Fattah, is Mayor
Street’s Education Secretary. She replaces Debra
Kahn, who resigned the position in July.
CORRECTION: Barbara McCreery remains at Bartram Communications (now, Communications Technology High School). The Notebook’s July/August Newsflash published the incorrect school for McCreery.
"Comings & Goings" is a feature of the Notebook Newsflash that reports personnel changes within the institutions and organizations that focus on public education in Philadelphia. We welcome any knowledge you'd like to share on recent or upcoming personnel moves. E-mail us at sheilas@thenotebook.org.
Sept. 6: ‘Shine Your Light for Safety’ vigil: 7:30 p.m. (Benjamin Franklin High, Broad & Spring Garden Streets) and 8 p.m. (citywide). School District’s faith-based task force ask city to support child safety from violence by turning on porch lights, store lights, front window lights. School community, elected officials and faith organizations to gather at school for candlelight/flashlight vigil. For information, 215-299-7850
Sept. 7: East Falls School Committee. 7 p.m. Presbyterian Church, Vaux and Midvale Avenue. For information, contact friedman19129@yahoo.com. Year’s agenda will discuss such initiatives as a new principal at Mifflin, the Bright Futures pre-school program, new placement in West region, new regional superintendent and an $8 million capital refurbishment and International Baccalaureate accreditation.
Sept. 7: Making Abstract Core Curriculum
Accessible to Students with Severe and Multiple Disabilities.
Web-based event at www.k8accesscenter.org/online_community_area/Webinar.asp.
This “webinar” features Dr. June Downing
from California State University on ways to make abstract
core curriculum relevant and meaningful to students
with labels of significant and multiple impairments.
Hosted by the Access Center and the National Technical
Assistance Consortium for Children and Young Adults
Who Are Deaf-Blind in collaboration with the LRE Part
B Community of Practice.
Sept. 11-14: Persistently Safe Schools 2005: The National Conference of the Hamilton Fish Institute on School and Community Violence. Wyndham Franklin Plaza. An informed, creative conversation and debate about state of school violence research, encouraging partnerships and elevating awareness among policymakers and the general public concerning the main issues related to school violence. Obtain information or register at www.hamfish.org/conference/2005/index.html.
Sept. 12: Bread & Roses Tribute to Change honoring Florence & David Cohen. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Annenberg Center, Zellerbach Theater, University of Pennsylvania. For ticket information, call 215-731-1107, ext. 206.
Sept. 13: Kensington High School planning meeting: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Dinner served at 5 p.m.) Kensington Annex. 2463 Emerald St. Community members, Philadelphia Education Fund, Concordia planning and design consultants, parents, students, teachers, business leaders and others continue new school planning, which this month features analyzing design options. For more information, contact Tia Keitt, Philadelphia Education Fund, at 215-665-1400.
Sept. 14: West Philadelphia High School Planning
Meeting:
6 p.m. (Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.) Enterprise
Center, 4548 Market Street. Community members, Philadelphia
Education Fund, Concordia planning and design consultants,
parents, students, teachers, business leaders and
others continue new school planning, which this month
features analyzing design options. For more information,
contact Tia
Keitt, Philadelphia Education Fund, at 215-665-1400.
Sept. 14: School Reform Commission Planning Meeting. 1 p.m., School District of Philadelphia Administration Building, 2120 Winter St., First-floor board room. To register to speak, call 215-299-7850 by 4:30 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Sept. 21: School Reform Commission Action Meeting. 1 p.m., School District of Philadelphia Education Center, 440 N. Broad. To register to speak, call 215-299-7850 by 4:30 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Sept. 21: Philadelphia Family Court Parent Project. 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Family Court Building, 1801 Vine St. Free refreshments, tokens, childcare available. Registration required. Call 215-686-8328.
Sept. 21: Teen Parenting Program for Fathers & Expectant Fathers. 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Family Court Building, 1801 Vine St. Free refreshments, tokens, childcare available. Registration required. Call 215-686-8328.
Sept. 24: Back-to-School Fair: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. William Penn High School, Broad and Master Streets. 10th annual event seeks to motivate youth to higher academic achievement through acquisition of information from participating organizations (community service groups, service agencies, health maintenance organizations, colleges, and more). Sponsored by Department of Human Services, Division of Community-based Prevention Services. For additional information, contact Michael Rice, at 215-683-4027.
Sept. 30: City Year Opening Day. 12 noon. Outside Independence Visitors Center, 5th & Market Streets. Marks beginning of year of service for 185 AmeriCorps members committing to year of community service Partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. RSVP by Sept. 26 to, or for more information, contact Jana Curtis, Events Director, at 267.386.7040, or go to www.whyiserve.com.
Every Thursday: Talk radio program with Sandra Dungee Glenn, School Reform Commission member. 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. WURD 900 AM. Call-in number: 215-426-1310.
School Calendar
Sept. 6: First day of school, grades
1 – 12
Sept. 6-9, 12: Kindergarten parent/teacher conferences
Sept. 13: First day of Kindergarten
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