Announcements

=Policy & News= This page is for announcements that would be specifically relevant to parents with children in schools in Philadelphia. If adding to, or editing, this page, please use posting formats.. The discussion tab of this page is not generally used or checked. If you have an issue for discussion, please see the links under "Discussion" to the left of this page.


 * District**
 * **Letter from Dr. Ackerman** The School District of Philadelphia will soon mark the official end of another school year but not the end of learning. On July 1st school doors and classrooms at over 130 schools will reopen to all children in the District who signed up to experience a summer full of learning opportunities.[|Letter to Parents-1.pdf]
 * **New Blog for the School District** Monday we introduced three new bloggers to the site. [|Anna Weiss], [|Samuel Reed], and [|Molly Thacker] are all current teachers who will be writing about their experiences working in Philadelphia public schools. Their posts are already starting a lot of conversation--join the discussion today!The District budget has also been a major topic of conversation. To help you sort through the details of the budget, //Notebook editor// Paul Socolar is blogging in our new section, [|Eye on the Budget]. Check [|here for the latest update from the City Council hearings on the District budget]. Check every day for updates to the [|//Notebook// blog]. (BFitzgerald 5/19)
 * **Change in School Calendar:** Because of the closure of schools this year due to inclement weather, the district is adding two additional days to the current school calendar. The addition of Monday, June 22nd and Tuesday, June 23rd will be made to make up for lost instructional time for students. Tuesday, May 19th, will remain as a professional development day with only staff in attendance. The last day for students will therefore be Tuesday, June 23rd. By adding these days for instruction, the academic calendar for this school year will meet the Pennsylvania State requirement of 180 days of instruction for students. Wednesday, June 24th will now be a professional development day for staff and June 25th will be a organizational day as well as the last day for staff. Submitted by Cecelia Thompson (jcohen 5/1)
 * **EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!** Please note that the Office of Parent, Family, Community Engagement, and Faith-Based Partnerships is now responsible for the School Reform Commission's Speaker's list. Please call us at 215-400-4180; by 4:30 p.m. on the day before the SRC meeting at which you'd like to speak. Ackerman to triage District's worst performing schools. Ackerman plans to shutdown 30-35 of the city's worst performing schools. She plans on reviving the district by creating new "renaissance schools." [|Full article here]. (znichols, 2/23/09)
 * **New Phone Number for School Reform Commission Speaker Registration**. Effective immediately, the new registration phone number to speak at the School Reform Commission (SRC) meetings is: 215.400.4180. Speakers must register by 4:30 PM on the day prior to the meeting. The School Reform Commission meets the second and third Wednesday of each month at 2 PM. SRC meetings are held in the auditorium at 440 N. Broad St.(Tellis 4/7/09)
 * **School District to see Stimulus Money.** At least $138 million is slated to be given to the District with between $45 and $50 million as Title I funding for low-income families. More Here (znichols, 2/21/09)


 * State and Federal Legislation and Policy**
 * **Department of Education Information Related to the Economic Recovery Act of 2009** An effort to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. Secretary Arne Duncan has released guidance on the ARRA, including State Fiscal Stabilization Funds, Title 1, and IDEA. Please click [|here] for more information. //Submitted by Quibila Divine (4/2 lvargas)//
 * **American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)** Will provide significant funding to schools that have high concentration of students from families that live in poverty in order to help improve teaching and learning conditions for students most at risk of failing to meet state academic achievement standards. For more information click this [|LINK] //Submitted by Quibila Divine.// (3/31/ tellis)
 * **The Education Commission of the States (ECS)**Three new policy briefs have been released promoting academic success in high school, specifically examining 9th grade transitional year, parental involvement, and teacher preparation. More info on the study's results
 * **New test may be required for students to graduate high school**Please be aware that within a short time Pennsylvania's high school students may be required to pass high school Graduation Competency Assessments (GCA), unless they receive special education support services, to graduate from high school with a regular diploma. To read more about this issue and what can be done to help click here //Submitted by: Venard Johnson (4/1 ramosfredd)//


 * Community Announcements**
 * **National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center**Oral Health for Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women. [] (mnguyen 4/21)
 * **Swine Flue CDC briefing**Here is the CDC briefing that is required reading for federal health workers []. Here is the spanish version [|Influenza]
 * **Swine Flu Fact Sheet**The School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health have created this document to provide the public with helpful information regarding this illness. We urge you to read it carefully and share it with your loved ones. [|Fact Sheet] (Tellis 4/30)