Parent+Issues

=Index of Issues Impacting Parents of the School District of Philadelphia = Welcome to the Issues page where parents can provide information to other parents. If you have questions or comments about this page, please email Jay Cohen at jcohen@delawarevalley.org. If more information can be found on another site, please feel free to add the link.

**Alternative EducatIon Contracts ("Disciplinary Schools Contracts") - [|Recommendations], [|Notes], [|Meetings]**
 * **Background** - This is an issue about the contract that includes CEP and other alternative schools.
 * **Who is working on this?** Cassandra Jones. Contact Marlicia A. Johnson at 215-400-4200 from the District. Some of the parents involved include Greg Wade (PHSC), Arenda Bethel, Venard Johnson.
 * **Quick Update -** People broke up into groups. For example, Greg Wade is leading the elementary groups. Someone else is heading the High Schools. Arenda Bethel is handling the middle grades.

**Schools in Corrective Action II ("Failing Schools") [|AYPList.pdf], [|AYP_Target.pdf]**
 * **Background** - This is the issue about what to do with the schools that have been failing AYP for at least the last five years.
 * **Who is working on this?** Cassandra Jones. Contact Marlicia A. Johnson at 215-400-4200 from the District. Some of the parents involved include Greg Wade (PHSC), Arenda Bethel, Venard Johnson.
 * **Quick Update -** Almost done. Cassandra Jones has been moving quickly on this issue.

**Parents United's** **Rethinking School Lunches -** Latest Minutes
 * Background - JOIN THE CONVERSATION TO BRING HEALTHY/FRESH/LOCAL FOODS to OUR SCHOOLS, PA Horticultural Society offices. For more information, contact Aissia Richardson at 215-236-2100.
 * Who is working on this? Parents United is currently leading this group.
 * Quick Update -

**Charter Schools Accountability**
 * Background - Issues around control, accountability and transfer in/out of Charter Schools.
 * Who is working on this? Cathy Balsley ( 215-400-5788 ) from the District. Are parents involved? Josephine Jackson is the parent 215-500-2966 . Josephine is calling interested parents to set up a meeting.
 * Quick Update - The District was supposed to make some changes so that accountability was strengthened. Specifically, the District should be able to make suprise visits to check on charter schools more than once per year. They also want the application process to be two years instead of one year. Another issue is the difficulty in transferring credits from some Charter Schools to the District.

**Special Education- Five-Year Strategic Initiative**
 * Background - Oversite by Levonne Shefield.
 * Chairperson: Brenda Taylor, bbtaylor@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update -

**Professional Education Plan- Five-Year Strategic Initiative** [|Responses], [|Timeline]
 * Background - Oversite by Levonne Shefield. This committee focuses on professional development of teachers and other staff and their qualifications.
 * Chairperson: Nathania Johnson, njohnson@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update -

**Curriculum- Five-Year Strategic Initiative**
 * Background - Oversite by Levonne Shefield.
 * Chairperson: Ceil Cannon, ccannon@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update-

**Community /Stakeholders Engagement- Five-Year Strategic Initiative** [|Responses], [|Timeline], [|Agenda]
 * Background - Oversite by Levonne Shefield.
 * Chairpersons: James Scott and Cecilia Cummings, jwscott@phila.k12.pa.us or cecummings@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update -.

**Data Profile and Analysis- Five-Year Strategic Initiative**
 * Background - Oversite by Levonne Shefield. This committee focuses on how statistics are kept in the district
 * Chairperson: Mike Schlessler.
 * Quick Update -

**Research and Evaluation- Five-Year Strategic Initiative**
 * Background -Oversite by Levonne Shefield. This committee focuses on projects and contracts of the district
 * Chairperson: Catherine Johnson, catjohnson@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update -

**Assessment- Five-Year Strategic Initiative**
 * Background - Oversite by Levonne Shefield. This committee focuses on state educational requirements.
 * Chairperson: Rich Maracheilo
 * Quick Update-

**Student Services Chapter12- Five-Year Strategic Initiative**
 * Background - This is a new committee being initiated.
 * Chairperson: Amy Maisterra. Contact Donna Foman at dfoman@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update - Latest information is at Chapter12

**EMO / Restructured School Committee (a.k.a. the schools managed by Penn, Temple, Edison and others)**
 * Background - EMOs have been awarded new contracts for one year. During that time, we need to better understand issues around EMOs and Restructured Schools
 * Who is working on this? Arenda Bethel: 215-549-9356 . Joe Ferguson from the District
 * Quick Update

**Half Day Professional Development Days**
 * Background - Many parents have noticed that half days are very inconvenient. But worse is the fact that many parents simply keep their children home on half days. Worse yet, because of the shortened day, a case could be made that students are not really learning. Our understanding is that it is cheaper for the District to do professional development on half-days. The reason is that the District can collect a full day's money from the State (if the day runs past noon) and not pay any overtime to the teachers.
 * Who is working on this? Jay Cohen is setting up a meeting on this. If you are interested, please email him at jcohen@delawarevalley.org
 * Quick Update

**High School Selection/Choice - [|Recommedations][|Calendar]**
 * Background - Presently, the high school selection process is not done until April. The District and the parents both want and need a system of high school selection in which the selection process is done in January or February in order to plan for the coming year.
 * Who is working on this? Cassandra Jones. Brian Armstead at 215-665-1400 barmstead@philaedfund.org
 * Vision is "The School District of Philadelphia's secondary education blueprint envisions that all students will acquire the habits of heart and mind, and knowledge and skills that enable them to achieve their dreams for the betterment of self and humanity.
 * Mission: the School District and community of Philadelphia will work in collaboration with local. state, and national partners to provide systems and resources to ensure safe, engaging, rigorous, and relevant learning environments to achieve our shared vision.

**Minority Contracts**
 * Background - There has been some concern expressed that African Americans are not fairly represented in contracts offered by the District.
 * Who is working on this? Dr. Cassandra Jones from the District.
 * Quick update-

**OSS Services to Children with Special Needs**
 * Background - Issues around the number of School Counselors and Psychologists, Transportion, etc...
 * Who is working on this? Ms. McMillion ( 267-230-9831 ) from the Right to Education Task Force, Brenda Taylor and Joanne Ogglesby from the District. Vernard Johnson as a parent. Cecelia Thompson.
 * Quick Update - Different Issues at each meeting. Call to get details.

**Parking Authority Task Force**
 * Background - In 2004, Philadelphia Parking Authority promised to pay the School District $20 million from revenues over $25 million in any one year. Since that time, nothing has been received by the District.
 * Who is working on this? Parents United & Philadelphia Home and School Council.
 * Quick Update -

**School and District Budgets**
 * Background - Discussion of general District budget and individual school budgets.
 * Who is working on this - Home and School Council & Parent United & Right to Education Task Force
 * Quick Update -

**Transportation Task Force**
 * Background -
 * Who is working on this - Brenda Taylor, bbtaylor@phila.k12.pa.us
 * Quick Update

**High School Blue Print Committee**
 * Background - Every 5 years we get an opportunity to change graduation requirements and policies. Parents are now meeting to discuss this issue
 * Quick Update