School District Projects Budget Gap of $400 Million Next Year

Posted by Briana Pressey on Feb 11, 2011 in Blog

Philadelphia Inquirer: Superintendent Arlene Ackerman announced yesterday that she anticipates a $400 million gap in the Philadelphia School District ‘s budget. These budget cuts are caused partially by the loss of $225 million in federal stimulus aid. The district acknowledges that the deficit could result in hiring freezes and layoffs. Ackerman, however, remains committed to her five-year Imagine 2014 plan that will rebuild underperforming schools in Philadelphia through the Renaissance Schools Initiative.

Philadelphia School District Announces 18 Low Performaning Schools Slated for Change

Posted by Briana Pressey on Jan 26, 2011 in Blog

Philadelphia Inquirer: The School District of Philadelphia has officially announced the second round of schools targeted for reform as part of the Renaissance Schools Initiative. The schools have been selected based on low academic performance and additional factors such as school violence, low literacy rates, and test scores. Ten of the 18 schools targeted for reforms will be run by the district, while eight will be managed by charter organizations with a track record of success in school turnaround efforts.

RFA researchers are currently evaluating the first year of implementation of the Renaissance Schools Initiative. Learn more about the project here.

See Also: Second Group of Renaissance Schools Announced (The Notebook)

Vouchers Gain Increasing Relevance

Posted by Briana Pressey on Jan 21, 2011 in Blog

The discourse on educational vouchers is gaining increased momentum now that Gov. Corbett has officially taken office. An article that appeared on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer mentions research summarized by RFA in our briefing paper – Questions and Answers about Educational Vouchers: Facts, Figures, and a Summary of the Research. Our perspective on educational vouchers can also be found on the Philadelphia Public School Notebook blog, and has even made it to Twitter.

Philadelphia Inquirer Highlights the Impact of City Year Philadelphia Volunteers

Posted by Briana Pressey on Oct 27, 2010 in Blog

The Philadelphia Inquirer: RFA has conducted evaluations of City Year Philadelphia corps members’ impact on public student outcomes. The Inquirer is also taking a look at the volunteers and what they mean to urban education in Philadelphia.