Why Philadelphia needs a 'Citizens Commission for Education'
We need a better mechanism for authentic public participation in the governance of the state-controlled School District of Philadelphia.
Education Voters has launched a new effort calling for the creation of a “Citizens’ Commission for Education” in the City Philadelphia.
Our current structure is inadequate. “We the people” really don’t have a way to ask questions about what is going on with schools. We can go to SRC meetings and make comments or ask questions but that is all – there is no ability to be certain of a response.
A formal committee convened by Council could be a space where hearings can be held, issues can be explored, and questions can be asked with some expectation of an answer. Such an entity could play a role in providing citizens with a means to explore how public education is functioning, how it is being run, whether or not it is meeting community need and to talk about issues even if the SRC or the School District administration is not talking about those same issues.
It could look more closely at school closings, vendor contracts, and property sales. It could hold hearings on school discipline policy, the role of charter schools, the condition of buildings, or the admissions process, helping to ensure those conversations are happening in a transparent and public way. It could educate itself, and all of us, on critical issues such as how poverty and trauma affect learning, guiding decisions based on what we learn. A commission could help explore how to better align city services and create authentic community schools that meet the needs of children and families.
Council has stepped up in the past few years, responding to community desire for more financial support for the schools and greater engagement. We are seeing leadership there, and that is good. The new intergovernmental cooperation agreement on finances and data is also a leap forward.
However, Council has many obligations, and it is being pulled in multiple directions. In fact, a singular focus on this issue could be to the detriment of other important quality-of-life issues in the city.
A Citizens’ Commission could be a tool that marries a stronger role for city government officials and an expanded role for citizens. It could advise and assist City Council (and the mayor) in exercising review and oversight over the public schools and the financial investment we provide. And it could happen quickly instead of waiting for several years.
We can't let the same people who have had the power in the past decide what to do in the future. It is time to change not just the players, but the game.
Education Voters has already suggested that it is time to look for new governance models for the School District of Philadelphia. Last fall, we suggested a new governance structure Why Philadelphia needs a 'Citizens Commission for Education' | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:
