Notes from the news, Sept. 23
School Reform Commission hears plans to curb violence in 46 Philadelphia schoolsThe Inquirer
"Focus 46" schools have a disproportionate number of violent incidents, and the District plans to focus on those schools to improve school climate.
See also: Focus 46: New District safe school campaign The Notebook blog
Task force offers host of recommendations to improve relations at S. Phila. High Daily News
Security chief to run schools like a police department Daily News
From inside and out, a push for better fiscal oversight The Notebook blog
The SRC and District say they are incresaing oversight, but yesterday's SRC meeting still had plenty of contract ratification votes for work that was already underway or completed.
See also: At the SRC: Business as usual The Notebook blog
Asian student from Bok was chased, attacked in May, records show The Inquirer
Bok principal Larry Melton said the earlier attack was not reported to the school and that he's "remaining open to the whole situation."
See also: Were South Philly high school attacks racially motivated? WHYY
The Alliance for Educational Justice: Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline Philly Education Justice
PSU members and activists from across the country went to D.C.to speak out against the school-to-prison pipeline.
Poetry vs. Violence at South Philly High PhillyNow blog
Across the country, school districts experiment with superintendent merit pay MinnPost.com
Reflections: Then and Now: Parents are our partners after all. Philly School Stories
Philly to be home of next Urban Youth Academy MLB.com
Federal Grants Helping PennSERVE to Create More than 2,200 Community Service Opportunities TMC News
Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.
Click here to get Notes from the news in your inbox every day.
Focus 46: New District safe school campaign
A new District school safety campaign, announced at Wednesday's School Reform Commission, involves a wide-ranging set of initiatives that include everything from improved attendance-taking to diversifying the curriculum. The campaign homes in on 46 schools that account for about half of all violent incidents in the School District and nearly three-fourths of all expulsions.