The Philadelphia Student Union exists to build the power of young people to demand a high quality education in the Philadelphia public school system. We are a youth led organization and we make positive changes in the short term by learning how to organize to build power. We also work toward becoming life-long learners and leaders who can bring diverse groups of people together to address the problems that our communities face.
Fact: Did you know that schools in Philadelphia serving the highest percentages of lower income, lower acheiving , and minority students are more likely than others to have inexperienced and less qualified teachers? Read more >>
Fact: Did you know that about $10,600 is spent to educate each Philadelphia public school student each year? That's about $8,000 less per year than the highest spending district in the state of Pennsylvania, which also happens to be right across City Line Avenue. Read more >>
Recent News/Upcoming Events
Join us on Thursday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m., 440 North Broad St. to help us tell the School Reform Comission to "Clean Up their Act"
In order to help
the district become more transparent, we'll be washing their windows!!
Link to the flyer for this event
With recent news reports highlighting serious issues of accountability and
transparency at the
district (see links below), now is a great time to push the issue.
As the district is working on its budget for next year, we have to reflect
on the following matter:
What are the priorities
of parents, students, and working people?
We need a budget with smart priorities. In order to get there, we need accountability
and transparency.
This month the
district is evaluating the performance of Educational Management Organizations
(EMO's). We are not yet clear that these evaluations will be made public
before they enter into re-negotiations with EMO's. This doesn't make sense.
Links to recent articles dealing
with accountability and transparency:
Schools
contractor plans to grow, but some employees complain of erratic pay
Philadephia
Acadamies Investigated
Here are some concerns we have about next year's budget, transparency and
accountability.
*We need money in the budget for proven incentives to attract and keep teachers
at hard to staff
schools. Only 68% of teachers in Corrective Action II schools are considered
to be 'highly qualified'.
*We need money in the budget for high school reform, specifically to support
work on small
schools and other proven reform methods for neighborhood schools.
*We question the $10.8 million that is budgeted next year for Educational
Management Organizations,
when the process
of accountability for failing EMO's is still unclear.
*We question the almost $50 million that is going to private disciplinary
providers, the $1.6 million budgeted for Aramark (after their contract was
supposedly cut for overcharging the district) and the $3.5 million budgeted
for the School Reform Commission itself, an all-volunteer body!!
During this past school year, along with our allies, we have worked hard
to build power around proven
educational reforms and public accountability for the school district, while
simultaneously working to ensure greater state funding that will benefit
all our schools. We've seen changes, and greater openness in
the district. That doesn't mean we can rest! We are still in danger of being
marginalized as a 'small but vocal group'. We must continue to show the
District that parents, students and workers are becoming empowered every
day to speak up and speak out about what our schools need and how our money
is being spent.
Check out our recent coverage from "The Love Affair is Over" action to draw attention to the Sweetheart Deals enjoyed by EMO's.
The
Love Affair is Over (Front Page Philly Metro Feb. 14, 2008)
School
Advocates Protest Private Managers (Daily News Feb. 14, 2008)
EMO's Gotta Go
(Philadelphia Independent Media Center, Feb. 14, 2008)
EMO's are not the solution for the CAII Schools!!
Corrective Action II
Over 70 schools in
Philadelphia are in Corrective Action II, meaning they have failed to make
Adequate Yearly Progress on the PSSA's for four or more years.
Schools in Corrective Action II
can be turned over to private companies who want to profit off of your education.
We don't think that's right! Students across Philly are receiving
an education that is unequal! It's time for it to end! If you are concerned,
and ready to make a change, then come to our citywide meeting for students
in CAII high schools on Saturday, December 8, from 1-3 p.m. at 5011 Baltimore
Ave.
Here are the high schools that are under Corrective Action 2:
| High Schools in Corrective Action II | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bartram | Carroll | Edison |
| Fels | Feltonville | Fitzsimons |
| Frankford | George Washington | Germantown |
| Gratz | Lincoln | Mastbaum |
| Martin Luther King | Northeast | Overbrook |
| Roxborough | South Philadelphia | Swenson |
| University City | West Philadelphia | William Penn |
Directions to 5011 Baltimore:
Take the El to City Hall, transfer to the 34 trolley and get off at 50th and Baltimore.
For more information about Corrective Action II click here.
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