Parents+United

2227 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132 215-236-2100** //email: parentsunitedphila@gmail.com http://parentsunitedphila.googlepages.com///
 * Parents United for Public Education

Happy New Year!

2007 marked a historic year when public school parents rose to the forefront in demanding new school priorities and funding. Remember this time a year ago? The District faced a projected $180 million deficit; a verbal tug-of-ward between the District and City, and the consequences of a chaotic school opening with hundreds of teacher cuts, split grades and leveling that devastated numerous schools.

Today, in the words of our new Mayor, it is “a new day,” a new time, new leadership – and parents, ordinary public school parents helped make a lot of it happen. In 2007 alone, Parents United for Public Education and others://


 * 1) Lobbied for more than **$20 million in permanent new dollars from the city**;
 * 2) Established **lower class size and art and music as a “must have”**lower class size and art and music as a “must have” in every school, and put librarians, nurses and counselors as a top priority for the School Reform Commission;
 * 3) Won **millions of dollars to the City and Schools from the Philadelphia Parking Authority**millions of dollars to the City and Schools from the Philadelphia Parking Authority;
 * 4) **Limited contracting**Limited contracting, including reduced fees for private managers of schools, supported the termination of the Aramark food service contract, and called for accountability for alternative education contracts;
 * 5) Organized dozens of schools in a **vote of no confidence in the Spring 2007 budget**vote of no confidence in the Spring 2007 budget that resulted in leadership changes and the promise to eliminate split grades across the District.
 * 6) Pushed for a **more open and responsive School District**more open and responsive School District **and Commission**and Commission by encouraging greater community/parent engagement efforts, evening meetings, community based hearings, etc.

Today our work is more important than ever. Among the issues we face:


 * Will the legislature move on a commissioned study that shows that 95% of the school districts in Pennsylvania are underfunded according to nationally accepted norms?
 * Will our City Council and Mayor take on education as a primary initiative and expand public hearings, make a presence at the SRC, and improve local funding sources?
 * Will the School Reform Commission address its failure to improve classroom achievement (read about it here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080115_Phila__school_goals_unmet.html) by spending more time investing in schools rather than EMOs and other contracts?
 * Will our schools and our kids feel those changes in our classroom tomorrow?

Parents United promises to be a strong and conscientious voice for parents on issues that matter. Read about some updates below. Expect more updates in the coming weeks, and please share this email with others who want to get involved. Pls. check out our website for more information: [|www.parentsunitedphila.googlepages.com].

Sincerely,

Parents United for Public Education

Parents United for Public Education Updates

Parents United is initiating a Healthy Foods Committee to determine the best ways to change the actual food our children are served and the procurement process for those foods (supporting local, organic farmers/growers in our communities). The next meeting is Jan. 23rd at the PA Hort. Society, 20th and Arch Sts. from 4-6 p.m. For more information and notes, contact Aissia at 215-236-2100.
 * __Parents United starts new initiative: Healthy Foods Committee__**


 * __ALERT: Graduation Competency Exams__**

Graduation Competency Exams: This week the State Board of Education is expected to pass graduation competency assessments (GCAs). //Every single high school student in the state is responsible for taking 10 end-of course examinations. Each and every student will be required to pass 6 of the 10 incl. English, math and science. There are no exemptions for ELL or special needs students, although limited accommodations are available. More information here: http://www.elc-pa.org/nochild/nochild.html, including Harrisburg hearings on Jan. 16 and 17th. 1/29, 6pm - Penn (Center City Region) 1/31, 7pm - Gratz High school (North Region) 2/5, 6pm - Edison High School (East Region) 2/7, 7pm - Overbrook High School (West Region) 2/12, 6pm - Leeds Middle School (Northwest Region) 2/13, 7pm - South Philadelphia High School (South Region) 2/19, 6pm - Martin Luther King High School (EMO Region) 2/21, 7pm - Northeast High School (Northeast Region) Helen Gym Parents United for Public Education 215-808-1400 hgbf@aol.com
 * __Upcoming Events__**//
 * **SRC hearing, Wed., Jan. 16:** **A number of schools, organizations and parents deeply concerned about the Corrective Action 2 schools and private management are expected to testify.** We ask people to come out and testify about prioritizing academic quality and investment over contracts. If you can testify, call 215-400-4040 by 4 p.m. today to get on the docket (but expect it to be crowded).
 * **Community budget hearings:** Since the past summer, Parents United has made it a priority for the District to get out budget information to communities so parents and schools can prioritize their needs AS the budget process is happening. Please check out the District’s website here: http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/root/home/leadership/budget-website. And please prioritize the budget hearings around the city as an opportunity to demand what you think your school and child needs.

Parents United for Public Education is an independent group of parents working for fiscal accountability; a public process and parent voice in decision-making; and setting priorities that place kids and classrooms first in the School District's budget. For more information, please contact Aissia Richardson, 215-236-2100, or Helen Gym, 215-808-1400. If you do not wish to receive emails, please respond back to parentsunitedphila@gmail.com. Visit us online at// [|http://parentsunitedphila.googlepages.com/.]