While principals and teachers get publicly reprimanded, the SRC continues to pay firms for failure.
by Christopher Paslay
How many education management organizations does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Answer: Five.
At least that’s how many private firms currently run schools in Philadelphia. The troubling part is not that numerous studies have shown that [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘SRC’
June 23, 2009
Private managers will get paid regardless of services provided
April 13, 2009
Public must scrutinize district spending
by Susan Cohen Smith
It has been said that, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As news of the School District of Philadelphia’s new leadership team and windfall budget sinks in, it would be prudent to recall lessons learned from the past.
When the School Reform Commission was formed in 2001, the [...]
March 25, 2009
Shaking-up the SRC: What makes a good leader?
by Christopher Paslay
According to a story in today’s Inquirer, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission is “headed for a major shake-up”. Sources state that Robert L. Archie Jr., a partner at the Duane Morris law firm, is set to replace current SRC Chairperson Sandra Dungee Glenn, and that there will be at least three new appointees [...]
February 19, 2009
Imagine 2014
by Christopher Paslay
(Re: Imagine 2014)
Imagine there’s no insults
It’s easy if you try
No blaming just the teachers
No waving 30 schools goodbye
Imagine the SRC
Giving us what we need
Imagine no outside managers
It isn’t hard to do
No wasting millions of dollars
And no consultants too
Imagine all the parents
Pulling their own weight
You may say I’m a dreamer
But [...]
November 9, 2008
Parent Roundtables are a Step in the Right Direction
by Christopher Paslay
I must give the Philadelphia School District credit: They have publicly acknowledged that parental and community involvement is an important part of improving education in the city of Philadelphia. Last Thursday night (11/6), Dr. Arlene Ackerman hosted the first in a series of monthly parent roundtables at district headquarters at 440 North Broad [...]
October 29, 2008
PFT Holds Strong, Wins 4% Raise and 10 Month Contract Extension
by Christopher Paslay
Kudos to PFT President Jerry Jordan and members of the Collective Bargaining Team. The Philadelphia School District agreed to extend the PFT’s current contract another 10 months to August 31st, 2009. Even more important, the SRC agreed to a 4% salary increase for teachers that will take effect on March 15, 2009.
Although [...]
October 28, 2008
Schools Reflect Communities
“If parents and students don’t get actively involved, how will extending the school day improve academic achievement? If education isn’t made a priority in children’s homes, what will requiring more professional development for teachers accomplish?”
To respond to today’s Inquirer commentary, “Schools reflect communities,” click the comment button below.
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October 22, 2008
Why Philly Kids Can’t Read
by Christopher Paslay
Although the Philadelphia School District’s 2008 PSSA reading scores have improved for the sixth straight year, only 45.9% of students can read at a proficient level. As a high school English teacher, here’s what I believe the district must do to ensure that 100% of our students are reading on grade level.
Cut class [...]
October 16, 2008
District Must Expel 20 Students Involved in Sayre Brawl
by Christopher Paslay
It appears that the Philadelphia School District is finally getting serious about their “zero tolerance” policy for violence in schools. According to a story in today’s Inquirer, “Philadelphia School District officials have vowed to expel the system’s most violent students, tighten codes for others, and attempt to streamline a dysfunctional, inconsistent disciplinary system.”
“We [...]
October 15, 2008
Philadelphia Needs More Disciplinary Schools
by R.B.
This is what I’ve noticed in my almost 15 years of teaching in Philly schools.
In all the articles I’ve been reading, in the Inquirer, PSU, and Chalk and Talk, I find one element missing. It’s not about money. It’s not about certified teachers. It’s about the idea that Philly is forced to teach all children. [...]
