(This post originally appeared at the Public School Notebook. We thank our attorneys at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, especially Ben Geffen and Michael Churchill, for their multi-year dedication to this effort.) What could possibly justify the closing of Northeast High School, the largest school in the city and each year bursting at … Continue reading
Author Archives: Helen Gym
Happy GOTV news of the day
Nate Silver of 538 gives Tom Corbett a statistical probability of 1% to win tomorrow’s gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania. Let’s get out and vote! Continue reading
This happened today: Bodine High loses teachers, cancels physics
This is what “leveling” means in Philly public schools. It means the District refuses to hire needed staff so schools lose teachers to send to other schools seven weeks into the school year. What difference does a teacher make? Check out what happened when Bodine High School for International Affairs (one of Philadelphia’s “innovative” global … Continue reading
Sept. 20th: Special Education know your rights workshop
Our attorneys at Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia are hosting a day-long special education “boot camp” with everything you need to know to be an advocate and supporter of your special needs child. Appropriate for educators, attorneys and advocates as well. Pay as you go admission for those in need. $100 general admission. $50 webinar. … Continue reading
Parents United wins school closings FOIA case (again) but it’s not over yet
This summer the Court of Common Pleas upheld our right to make public the list of 60 schools identified for closure by the Boston Consulting Group as part of the District’s 2012 “Transformation Plan. ” This is the second victory on this case for Parents United and our lawyers at the Public Interest Law Center. In … Continue reading
Coast to coast parent activism: Our busy summer!
As summer winds down, it’s hard to move on from summertime BBQs, family outings, long walks, cheering on our kids’ summer sports and rooting for the Taney Dragons baseball team. Here at Parents United, we mixed family with coast-to-coast parent activism that kept us busier than ever building relationships, learning new strategies and highlighting important … Continue reading
Philly’s own Taney Dragons are THE feel-good story of summer!
There’s plenty of dreadful news going around these days – no question – but today for a few hours, we’ll be celebrating our own feel-good story of summer, the Taney Dragons: Philly’s first Little League team to win the state championship and who will be on ESPN live today at 11 a.m. to vie for … Continue reading
Update from Harrisburg: “Ain’t gonna let nobody turn us around”
Yesterday, Parents United joined with sister groups across the state and our partners PCAPs, Fight for Philly and Action United to begin an “as long as it takes” sit-in of the governor’s office until the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passes a responsible budget for our schools. The timing couldn’t be more important. On Wednesday, the … Continue reading
Kids v. Politics
(This piece was cross-posted at the Public School Notebook) Yesterday, City Council proved once again that Philadelphia’s school children are second to politicking. Instead of following through on its promise to guarantee the District at least $50 million, a promise it made last August when Supt. William Hite refused to open schools otherwise, City Council’s … Continue reading
Governor Corbett runs from Philadelphia voters – again
In a large rally yesterday, Parents United for Public Education joined with our partners at PCAPS and PA Working Families to greet Governor Tom Corbett who was trolling for campaign dollars with Gov. Chris Christie at an event hosted by the Republican Governors Association. Originally intended for the Union League, the campaign suddenly switched locations the day of … Continue reading