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Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Pennsylvania: Republican Legislators Target State’s Neediest Districts for Failed Takeover Strategy | Diane Ravitch's blog

Pennsylvania: Republican Legislators Target State’s Neediest Districts for Failed Takeover Strategy | Diane Ravitch's blog

Pennsylvania: Republican Legislators Target State’s Neediest Districts for Failed Takeover Strategy


The York Dispatch, a newspaper in a district that has been targeted for state intervention, blasted the state with a scathing editorial. 
I hope the editorial board will forgive me for reprinting it in full. “Financial recovery” has not helped any district; it is a disaster for the students, teachers, and schools. It accomplishes nothing but disruption.
The vultures are circling, and York City School District officials would be wise to take notice.
York City is among four Pennsylvania districts placed in state-mandated financial recovery in 2012 under a new law proponents said would finally hold to account school districts that have failed taxpayers and students alike.
York City schools clearly earned the dubious designation, one it will keep after state officials in August denied the district’s request to be removed from recovery.
Its graduation rates are among the lowest in the state — among, unsurprisingly, its peers also listed on the state’s initial list of underperformers: Harrisburg, Chester Upland and Duquesne. Its financial condition has been a CONTINUE READING: Pennsylvania: Republican Legislators Target State’s Neediest Districts for Failed Takeover Strategy | Diane Ravitch's blog