Parent+News+and+Info

=Parent News= Hey Parents! Feel free to add to or update the information below.


 * Sent out in Parent eNewsletter - February 22, 2008**


 * NOTE: FULL DAY PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM MAY 20, 2008 TO APRIL 22, 2008 BECAUSE OF CHANGE IN PRIMARY.
 * Public Citizens for Children and Youth is working with the District to make sure dental care is available to all families. Participating dentists will provide free screenings, cleanings, and sealants, and some will also fix problems like filling cavities. Every school has been assigned at least one dentist. Call **215-563-5848** starting March 17th.
 * The State Board of Education recently voted on and approved **Chapter 14 regulations** which eliminate the appeals panel from the due process system. This means that all appeals from hearing officer decisions will go directly to state or federal court, rather than through the interim step of the appeals panels. To read more about this and to take an online survey expressing your opinion of this change go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/

Grand Hank is looking for Guest Hosts to appear on Philly's premiere Hip-Hop Science show "The Science Lab of Grand Hank." Do you understand all of the District and parent committees that have suddenly been created? Here is the short scoop as I understand it. Cassandra Jones, Chief Academic Officer of the School District started 3 high-level committees with parent input. These are the High School Blueprint Committee, the Alternative Education Committee, and the Corrective Action Schools Committee. Each of these committees is charged with the job of setting district policy on each of these subjects over the coming year. LaVonne Sheffield, Chief Accountability Officer, created seven strategic initiative committees for the purpose of helping to create **State-wide** policy that will dictate regulations for the School District of Philadelphia for the next 5 years in the following areas: Special Education, Professional Education/Qualification, Data and Record Keeping, Services to Students, Accountability, Research and Evaluation, Community Outreach, and Curriculum. Check out these committees under "Parent Issues" on this web site. I assume that everyone has heard about Parents United and all of the issues they've worked on over the past few months. If you haven't, you should check out the update from Parents United for January 2007. The Pennsylvania Parent Information and Resource Center just released their Winter 2008 newsletter. This newsletter has general information for parents across PA such as conferences for parents and tips for taking the PSSA. The newsletter is available in English or Spanish. [|Download the Spanish version] [|Download the English version] The City Planning Commission is holding public discussions all over the city from January 17th through the first week of February. Come discuss your hopes and concerns for the future of Philadelphia. The plan will be presented to the new mayor and Council as they take office in January 2008. More information at http://www.planphilly.com/node/649 On January 16 (Wednesday) and 17 (Thursday), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education will vote on draft regulations creating new required graduation tests for all Pennsylvania public school students. Help the Parent Leadership Academy celebrate the Martin Luther King day of service. Please donate hats, gloves, and scarves to be distributed to area shelters. [|Donation of clothes.pdf] Cassandra W. Jones, Interim Chief Academic Officer, is taking the lead on two issues that involve parents. These are Alternative Education Contracts and the Schools in Corrective Action II. If you are interested in participating, you must move fast. If you are currently attending these meetings please take the time to post updates on this site for other parents. James Scott is helping to get the word out about 5 strategic planning committees for the District. These are Special Education, Professional Education plan, Curriculum, Community / Stakeholder Engagement, Data Profile and Analysis, Research and Evaluation, Assessment. These are long-term working committees. James Scott requests that if you are interested in reliably attending, please contact Donna Foman at dfoman@phila.k12.pa.us. Congratulations Parents! You are responsible for helping to get $1.25 million from the Parking Authority. Click http://phsc.wikispaces.com/PPA+122007 and PPA 121807 to read emails from Parents United. Click [|http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071218_PPA_to_give__26_million_to_city_and_schools.html__] http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20071218_Parking_Authority_OKs_help_for_city__schools.htmlto to read articles from the Inquirer. Congratulations Helen Gym-- Philadelphia Inquirer Citizen of the Year! The Pennsylvania Parent Information and Resource Center (PA PIRC), in partnership with the Center for Schools and Communities, is offering eight regionally-based workshops. There is no registration fee to attend and lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. You may register for Day 1, Day 2 or both days. To register please visit the PA PIRC website at http://www.center-school.org/pa-pirc
 * Old News...**
 * Participate in your school's budget this year!** The District has developed a website dedicated to providing information to parents about the individual school budgets. [|Click here] to check it out!
 * Please take a moment to fill out this very short survey!** The District is putting together a comprehensive five-year plan for student services under Chapter 12 for the State Department of Education and we want parent input. This plan will include issues such as **CSAP, Intervention and Referral Services, and Student Code of Conduct**. Please take a moment to fill out this very short survey from the District's Office of Specialized Services. We are trying to make this committee as virtual (i.e., with as few meetings as possible) so our first survey is via the web. To fill out the form and/or be included in this virtual committee, [|click here]. To view the official letter from Amy Maisterra and/or hand it out to other parents [|click here]. Thanks!


 * VOLUNTEERS NEEDED** Computers for Youth (CFY), is a national non-profit organization with an office in Philadelphia, and the leader in improving the home learning environment for pre-adolescents from low-income families. We select public schools with high poverty statistics and then offer all the sixth graders and their parents a free computer-based //home learning center//, which they are taught to use at our Saturday Family Learning Workshops before taking it home

Volunteers/ Interns Needed! As Instructional Support for Aggie’s Childcare & Preschool (Before and Aftercare Program) and Accel’s Afterschool Program A panel said $4.8 billion - a 28% hike - was required to remedy underfunding. Phila. would get $1 billion. PPA111607. The Gateway to College program at Community College of Philadelphia serves at-risk youth, 16 to 20 years old, who have dropped out of school. Student Privacy and Safety - On October 30, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the availability of new brochures that provide guidance on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The attached brochures help to explain how to balance student privacy and school safety. [|PA Department of Education] - New Study shows "More than two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s counties have social and economic conditions that put young children at a higher risk of academic failure" Kentucky Parent Advisory Council Issues Recommendations and Rubric for Parent Involvement.