YIP forum on the Future of Philadelphia Schools

[niel]

YOUNG INVOLVED PHILADELPHIA TO HOST FORUM ON PHILLY'S SCHOOLS ON NOV. 29TH

With several exciting initiatives recently announced to improve the Philadelphia school system, Young Involved Philadelphia will host a public forum on the future of the city's schools on Monday, November 29th. Expert panelists will focus on the new Center City Schools Initiative, Microsoft's "School of the Future" project, and recent developments with charter schools.

Philadelphia's soon-to-be parents of school-age children are anxious to hear about the School District's plans. The Center City District has launched a new initiative to promote and improve 43 schools in Downtown Philadelphia and nearby neighborhoods. In West Philadelphia, Microsoft and the School District broke ground this week on a high-tech "School of the Future." And today, 10 new charter school proposals were submitted to the School Reform Commission for review. These changes will affect thousands of students in Center City and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Panelists discussing these and other school initiatives on the 29th will include:
- Paul Levy, Executive Director, Center City District
- Alice Heller, Center City Network Administrator, Center City Initiative
- Ellen K. Savitz, Chief Development Officer, Philadelphia School District
- Abdur-Rahim Islam, President and CEO, Universal Companies

The forum will begin at 7 p.m. at the Philadelphia School District Auditorium at 21st and Winter Streets. The event is free and open to the public.

"Young people, whether recently leaving college or just starting to raise a family, understand that public education is one of Philadelphia's central challenges," said YIP Chair Sara Nasuti. "Members of YIP have consistently expressed concern regarding Philadelphia schools and have ideas about how to bring about positive change. We hope that this forum will be an opportunity to draw attention to major challenges facing the schools, as well as promising reform efforts."

To inquire about this or other YIP events email info@younginvolvedphila.org .

# # # #

Young Involved Philadelphia (YIP) is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that aims to increase civic engagement among young Philadelphians and to facilitate reforms that help to create a better Philadelphia. YIP achieves these goals via education about civic affairs, social events and outings, and advocacy around key issues facing the city. While YIP's primary mission is to engage young adults, it brings together the young and young-at-heart to work together for a brighter future for Philadelphia.

[SurfDog]

How many people are expected to attend?

[niel]

We're hoping for a very good turnout - several hundred would be nice. This promises to be a big event, since there's a lot of talk about the schools situation these days.

Spread the word!

[lawmummy]

Hey cool, thanks.

[rlc]

It would have been nice for them to have a panelist who is an expert in urban education instead of the usual cheerleaders for the school district's programs. There is a great woman at Penn who brought up the problems with the students at the lower performing neighborhood schools always being taught by the teachers with the least qualifications and experience.

The Microsoft School will be another magnet school when all is said and done and the kids who live in the neighborhood will again be shortchanged. It will just lead to more academic segregation in the school district and more kids being bused out of their neighborhoods to other schools, which has fractured the sense of community that once belonged in our neighborhoods.

Basically it is why I'm moving...

[niel]

Well, my understanding is that about 75 percent of the spaces are for students within the catchment. The catchment is, however, very big.

[niel]

Bump. The YIP forum on the future of Philadelphia's schools is Monday night (7 pm, School District Auditorium, 21st and Winter Streets). I hope all the parents (and parents-to-be) on the blog will send at least one representative to this event. I do feel that now is a critical time for young people and young families in this city, and that the schools themselves are at something of a turning point. A definitive buy-in to the public school system by a significant number of middle-class parents who would otherwise look elsewhere for their children's education could mean the difference between continued positive momentum and backsliding into decay.

Like so much else in Philadelphia, there's tremendous potential there, but it's also incredibly fragile. Since both YIP and this blog represent people who love this city, this is a great opportunity for networking and community-building in addition to the important subject of schools.

See you on Monday!

[niel]

...And here's one more bump. I really want people to go to this, as I think you can tell.

[thomast]

Originally Posted by niel

...And here's one more bump. I really want people to go to this, as I think you can tell.

Can you report back, or is there a report on the YIP site?

[rlc]

Niel,

How big is the catchment and where did you learn of this??? Vallas has been tight lipped on this one. In my opinion kids from Parkside should all get to go to this school and if there is room a lottery should be used to fill the remaining seats.