More public schools to be given to charters
More Philadelphia public schools will be given to charter organizations in September, the district's fourth go-round in its "Renaissance Schools" process.
More public schools to be given to charters
Kristen Graham
More Philadelphia public schools will be given to charter organizations in September, the district's fourth go-round in its "Renaissance Schools" process.
The district on Friday released a request for proposals for 2013-14 charter operators, no big surprise since officials have been saying for months that while they won't be authorizing any new standalone charters for next year, they like the Renaissance charter model and will continue to use it as a way to improve failing schools.
Officials said they would release the details of this year's crop of Renaissance schools on Feb. 11. A spokeswoman declined to say how many schools will be given to charters this year.
Since 2010, 17 struggling district schools have been handed to charters to run. The district has been pleased with the schools' progress, officials say, citing improvements in academics, attendance, violence and percentage of neighborhood students enrolling.
Schools are deemed "Renaissance eligible" on the basis of academics, school climate and neighborhood attendance rate. Only firms with a track record of turning around low-performing schools will be considered, officials said. Winning bidders will be awarded a five-year charter to run the schools.
Teachers in the affected schools will be considered force transfers who are eligible for jobs in other district schools.
Raven Hill, the spokeswoman, said that she could not speak to whether Promise Academies - district-run Renaissance Schools - will be designated.
The Renaissance timeline is tight - charter operators have until Feb. 8 to submit a letter of intent to submit RFP responses, which are due March 5. Meanwhile, community meetings for the designated schools will be held in February, and the School Advisory Councils that will make recommendations about which charter operators to pick will be recruited by early March. Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. will make his recommendations about charter-school matches by April 19, with a School Reform Commission vote on the matches to be held by early May.
Copies of the Renaissance RFP are available on the district's website.
The district's use of Renaissance schools has led to continued enrollment drops in the city's traditional public schools. This year, there are about 146,000 students in the system.
- Since you wouldn't last ten minutes in a classroom, I'll take your nonsense as a complement. But then again, bill, having absolutely no idea what you're talking about never stopped you before.
— Kilgore Trout 76 - Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. I have no desire to be you, fish. I wouldn't last ten minutes as a goonion stooge because I prefer to think for myself. Look at you; you spend all this time here whining for other people to pay you. I mean, what's that like? I just can't relate to that. You're a failure, and I think you know it. — b,ill at,kins
- those who think for themselves don't continue to repeat inaccurate, moronic cliches. James Joyce, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee- three off the top of my head who taught and did. bill, who can't do either, still posting hoping the Koch boys notice him and put him on the payroll.
now await some vile comments from bile atkins. - Me no think for meself. Me say Koch boys like union god and Democrat party boss tell me. Me teach, gib me you money. — b,ill at,kins
- You've never had an opinion that wasn't pre-approved by a goonion stooge or an elected Democrat party baboon. An original thought would die of loneliness in your pointy head. The Koch brothers...lol, honestly, you probably don't even know who they are or what they do. But you've been told to hate them, so you do. It's a crime that they let you in the same room as children, high water, let alone 'teach' them. God help them all. — b,ill at,kins
- someone needs to tell you that you embarrass yourself constantly on this website, bile.
- In five years, if not today, Charter Schools will be the back room of the corner store.
Remember when Cable TV was new at only 15 bucks a month.— Cuddles - Did you pay that bill, as opposed to your real estate taxes? — b,ill at,kins
- My Kilgore... You have some nice spare time on your hands today... You libs are all the same as you're so generous with other people's money... You say " throw more money into public schools, that will fix it".... Well, we've been doing that for the past 50 years and look where it's gotten us... Bankrupt with lousy results... Like I said, abolish the NEA and get you libs out of the system... Problem solved over night if this were the case...— Soul child2013
- Yes, thanks to unions, most of us have our weekends off, but what does that have to do with the state of our schools? It's not other people's money, it's THE people's money. I pay taxes just like everyone else. The difference is that I want that money to go for the public good. I am a student of history, and know that when we all work together, anything is possible. It's the principal on which this country was founded, and public education was a product of that notion. In case you haven't noticed, it's worked out pretty well for us. Haven't you noticed that most people can read? There is vast room for improvement with respect to public schools, but charters have been proven over and over a failure at replacing good neighborhood public schools. The SRC and governor Corbett don't care about improving education. If they did, they would never open another charter. Hite lied and promised he wouldn't. He admitted they were frauds and cost too much money. Still he's opening nearly twenty more? Look around and see the facts! These people see dollar signs when they see our children. Why not force the charters to take the continuously disruptive, disrespectful, and dangerous children the public schools are forced to keep? Because the traditional public schools would thrive, and these rotten crooks know it!
- School choice continues to grow. Charters are increasing enrollment in the suburbs too. Can't stop freedom...— MGuyW
- Remember when Cable TV was 15 bucks a month and then they offered us "choice"?
How'd that turn out?— Cuddles - Turned out to be a lot more channels to choose from. You made my point...
Thanks— MGuyW
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
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