How school closings affect children
The School Reform Commission in Philadelphia is about to decide whether to go ahead with an unprecedented and controversial plan to close 29 public schools. (There were more schools on the list but activists got about 10 removed). To understand what is at stake for affected students and educators in Philadelphia — and in other cities where closing schools has become a popular reform tactic — here’s testimony that Kate Shaw, executive director of Research for Action, recently gave to the education committee of the Philadelphia City Council. Research for Action is a non-profit education research organization that analyzes reforms at the local, state, and national levels to promote effective, sustainable, and equitable policies.Shaw’s testimony:
….The subject at hand—large-scale school closings—is one of the most challenging policy questions that can confront education leaders. You know that the well-being of our communities is inextricably linked with local schools, so the discussions surrounding their closing are not just operational or financial, but also deeply personal and highly-charged. To be clear, RFA [Research for Action] does not have an organizational stance on the district’s proposal.
Our role is to provide rigorous, objective research to ensure that the conversation taking shape is guided by evidence to the greatest extent possible. Ultimately, every parent and schoolchild deserves assurance that decisions stemming from the district’s plan are