Parent voices concern over school changes
Some parents whose children's schools will be radically restructured in September have a message for the Philadelphia School District:
Don't turn us into a charter school.
That was the message one mother carried to the School Reform Commission Wednesday.
Stetson Middle School mother Vilma Cartegena said she spoke on behalf of a group of concerned parents whose children attend the school, on B Street in Kensington.
"They are not very happy when they hear the rumors that the school is going to be turned into a charter school," Cartegena told the commission through a translator.
The district's Renaissance schools initiative will dramatically restructure 14 of the district's lowest-performing schools in September. The schools will open with longer school days and years and Saturday instruction. Teachers will have to reapply for their jobs, and no more than half can be rehired.
Five schools will be under the direct supervision of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. Nine, including Stetson, will be run by outside managers.
All but one of the outside managers eligible to run the schools plan to turn them into charters, though they will have to accept all students currently eligible to attend the schools.
The prospect of a charter upsets Cartegena, who said parents were confused and unclear on what the model
Don't turn us into a charter school.
That was the message one mother carried to the School Reform Commission Wednesday.
Stetson Middle School mother Vilma Cartegena said she spoke on behalf of a group of concerned parents whose children attend the school, on B Street in Kensington.
"They are not very happy when they hear the rumors that the school is going to be turned into a charter school," Cartegena told the commission through a translator.
The district's Renaissance schools initiative will dramatically restructure 14 of the district's lowest-performing schools in September. The schools will open with longer school days and years and Saturday instruction. Teachers will have to reapply for their jobs, and no more than half can be rehired.
Five schools will be under the direct supervision of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. Nine, including Stetson, will be run by outside managers.
All but one of the outside managers eligible to run the schools plan to turn them into charters, though they will have to accept all students currently eligible to attend the schools.
The prospect of a charter upsets Cartegena, who said parents were confused and unclear on what the model
Judge questions need for equal L. Merion schools
The federal judge hearing the case of nine South Ardmore students who say race was used in a redistricting plan for the Lower Merion School District called into question Wednesday the central premise of the plan.
N.J. education chief set to work with Camden
State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said Wednesday that he would explore working with Camden officials in turning around the city's troubled public schools, an effort he said could become a model for reform.
The federal judge hearing the case of nine South Ardmore students who say race was used in a redistricting plan for the Lower Merion School District called into question Wednesday the central premise of the plan.
N.J. education chief set to work with Camden
State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said Wednesday that he would explore working with Camden officials in turning around the city's troubled public schools, an effort he said could become a model for reform.