Tracking the worst school opening since the state takeover
Listening to Superintendent William Hite on “Radio Times” was a harsh wake up call to every parent across the district. He said that the resources given to him will allow Philadelphia to open “functional types of schools”: “On September 9th, we will expect 134,000 young people to return to schools, and when they return to … Continue reading
The following statement came out of a number of requests to have Parents United weigh in on recently publicized school efforts to fundraise for basic staff and services amidst the current budget crisis. Parents United for Public Education believes that public education must remain free and available to all children regardless of background. This is … Continue reading
What can parents expect for the first day of school? What are our best strategies to change school resources before school starts? The last 10 days have been a rollercoaster of school ultimatums, dueling press conferences, and protests and actions. Get the latest updates on the schools situation, work with other parents citywide to address … Continue reading
“It’s not enough” Parents United for Public Education acknowledges the Mayor and City Council for their (albeit confused) efforts to ensure the opening of school, but again, as we said earlier, we want to be clear: It’s not enough. The City may be doing its part to open schools. $50 million is not enough to … Continue reading
“It’s not enough.” Parents United for Public Education supports the call of the Philadelphia delegation for the state to immediately release the $45 million due to the Philadelphia public schools, but we want to be clear: It’s not enough. The $45 million is federal money already due to the Philadelphia schools. For the state … Continue reading
Alfie Kohn’s 2000 book titled The Schools Our Children Deserve has become a visionary slogan for public education advocates across the country. It was the phrase I was thinking of as I listened to last week’s dueling press conferences between the Mayor, the District and City Council about the lack of funding that threatened the … Continue reading
Could this photo be any more iconic of the disconnect between our Governor and the state of schools? On the day that Supt. William Hite announces an unprecedented possible shutdown of Philly schools for a failure of funding, Governor Tom Corbett kicks off his kayaking vacation. The governor is oblivious and far, far away. Psst, … Continue reading
[Update: The District has actually issued 3,783 layoffs, over 20% of its total staff.] “This is not a school” Parents United for Public Education Statement on District layoffs, June 7, 2013 3,000 layoffs. Aides, secretaries, nurses, librarians, art and music teachers, classroom teachers, assistant principals, counselors—people who have worked in our children’s schools for years, … Continue reading
