Phila. School District named finalist for federal funding

The Philadelphia School District was named Monday as one of 61 finalists for federal Race to the Top funds, which could provide a much-needed boost to the cash-strapped district.

The department expects to select from 15 to 25 winning applications for four-year awards that will range from $5 million to $40 million, depending on enrollment. Awards will be announced by Dec. 31.

Race to the Top funds are awarded to districts proposing to "personalize and deepen student learning, directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare every student for success in college and careers," according to a news release from the U.S. Education Department.

The district's application asks for the maximum of $40 million, which would cover programs for about 30,000 students, or about 20 percent of the district's population, said Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.

The application, submitted Nov. 3, proposes to increase literacy in the early grades using technology and "best practices," said district spokesman Fernando Gallard. In the upper grades, the district would use "individual and targeted learning approaches," and include both cyber learning and classroom instruction, Gallard said.

The proposal has the support of Mayor Nutter, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, the principals union, the Home and School Council, and philanthropic groups, Hite said.

It would be the first time that the district would get money directly from Race to the Top. It received about $11 million last year through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which was awarded $41.3 million.

District officials were excited about the possibility of seeing their proposal funded.

"It would mean that then we can focus on the individual skills of students," Hite said, and, using technology, "personalize the interventions and enrichment opportunities."

The 149,000-student district faces enormous budget problems, including a deficit of up to $1 billion over five years if uncorrected. The School Reform Commission this month voted to borrow $300 million that it needs just to pay teachers, heat buildings, and buy books for the rest of the school year.