May 2007

Volume 1 Number 6

Mayoral Election - More Important Than Ever

In the last edition of eNews, we highlighted two citizens' forums in preparation for the mayoral primary election that focused on important education issues facing Philadelphia. We were delighted that both events drew large audiences of interested citizens concerned about the future of our schools. However, with the recent announcement that School District of Philadelphia CEO Paul Vallas will be leaving at the end of the school year, the upcoming mayoral election takes on even added importance.

The School District of Philadelphia has made real progress under the Vallas administration, progress that built on the work of David Hornbeck. But much hard work remains. We need our next mayor to be an ardent champion of public education, an avid supporter of youth and a believer that together, the state, the city and the district, can continue the progress being made and create a school system where all children can succeed.

Last February, Eva Gold gave a presentation at an Urban Studies Forum at the University of Pennsylvania where she discussed the current school reform in Philadelphia and concluded with some recommendations about actions the next mayor should take.

- Secure more funds by working with other leaders in the state to restructure education financing. Budget problems are compromising some of the most important reform initiatives like reduced class size and teacher coaches.

- Hold the district accountable for improving instruction especially in our lowest-performing schools.

- Develop collaborations among city, non-profit and for-profit sectors to support students and their families and assist teachers.

- Expend political capital, use the power of the office to make education an issue of community concern.

Mayoral leadership is essential to improving schools in large urban areas. We need our new mayor to ensure equity, build community, and ensure results. We hope that our Philadelphia subscribers to eNews will be sure to vote on May 15th. It is more important than ever.

Jolley Bruce Christman, Ph.D. and Eva Gold, Ph.D. - Founders and Principals

New Teacher Quality Study Sees Progress and Persistent Problems

The School District of Philadelphia has made significant progress in upgrading the qualifications of classroom teachers since 2002 and the enactment of the No Child Left Behind act with its provisions for having all teachers be "highly qualified by June 2006", according to a new report, "Closing the Teacher Quality Gap in Philadelphia-New Hope and Old Hurdles" by Research for Action. The district, the report notes, "has drastically cut the number of teachers with emergency certifications, reduced classroom vacancies, and raised the certification rate for its teaching workforce, especially among new teachers."

During the same period, however, the authors, Elizabeth Useem, Robert Offenberg, and Elizabeth Farley, found that "the district did not change the pattern of having the least qualified teachers in schools serving the highest percentages of poor and minority students." It made little headway, as well, in retaining teachers through their first six years. Click here to download a copy of the full report or executive summary.

"Going Small" Project Concludes Year One

Rebecca Reumann-Moore and Tracey Hartmann, co-directors of the project, "Going Small": Public Private Collaboration in Restructuring High School Education in Philadelphia, have been presenting their first-year findings to School District of Philadelphia staff and civic leaders interested in local school reform initiatives. The research examines Philadelphia's approach to creating small high schools, how the district is working with partners, and the impact on student enrollment patterns and performance. Early findings note that the district's small schools initiative has generated enthusiasm and creativity, even without significant outside funding for systemic change. At the same time, this lack of resources has meant that there has been an inconsistent and less than ideal start-up for many of the small schools. Click here for a summary of early findings.

Editors' Note

RFA eNews is a publication of Research for Action. Please email us your thoughts and comments at info@researchforaction.org. We respect your privacy and will not share your contact information.

Editors
Gail E. Danckert and Morgan Riffer