Calling the dropout rate of African American and Latino males in Philadelphia “an alarming crisis,” a School Reform Commission task force on the issue is recommending amending the zero-tolerance discipline policy and overhauling classroom approaches that leave most of these students disaffected and disengaged.
At its August meetings, the School Reform Commission:
Voted to approve the closing of George W. Childs Elementary School in South Philadelphia and relocate it to space in the nearby Barratt Middle School for the 2010-11 school year. The Commission also voted to close Barratt effective June 2011. Until then the two schools will co-exist in one building.
The School Reform Commission today put two once-controversial issues to rest. After a year in which its future was in limbo, the Philadelphia Montessori Charter School won a renewal of its charter through June 2014, subject to meeting several conditions. And SRC approved the closing of the George W. Childs Elementary School building in South Philadelphia, relocating that school to nearby Barratt Middle School.
Asked to expand on remarks that appeared in a Sunday letter to the editor, SRC Chair Robert L. Archie told reporters Wednesday that Superintendent Arlene Ackerman won't be eligible for another performance bonus from the District until after June of 2011, at the end of her third year with the District.
At a special School Reform Commission meeting July 1, the SRC:
At its June meetings, the School Reform Commission:
Apparently responding to a furious lobbying campaign that started last Friday, the School Reform Commission approved some charter expansions for next year, although not to the level the operators had requested.
Frustrated and bitter, several members of the West Philadelphia High School School Advisory Council (SAC) personally demanded that the School Reform Commission (SRC) vote Wednesday to match West with Johns Hopkins/Diplomas Now as a Renaissance School for next year.
The SRC, however, did not respond to those demands during its public meeting.
At its meeting on Wednesday May 26, the School Reform Commission suddenly and without voting withdrew a prepared and printed resolution on pairing West Philadelphia High School with Johns Hopkins/Diplomas Now as a Renaissance School. Chairman Robert Archie said only that "certain facts" had come up that needed to be checked out.
North Philadelphia activists continue their fight over a parcel of land behind Tanner Duckrey Elementary School.
Last October the School Reform Commission, declaring the property “unused and unnecessary,” voted to convey it to the city. The resolution was fast-tracked – introduced and approved the same day.
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