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)

The Annenberg Institute for School Reform Releases New Report on Community Organizing and Education Reform

Posted by Briana Pressey on Jan 26, 2011 in Blog

AISR: The Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University has released a new report- The Strengths and Challenges of Community Organizing as an Education Reform Strategy: What the Research Says. The report, commissioned by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, examines community organizing as a “missing piece” and a necessary component to achieving long-lasting education reform.

RFA has particular expertise in the role of community and youth organizing in school reform efforts. Our researchers are currently investigating the role of community engagement and School Advisory Councils in the Renaissance Schools Initiative reforms. Learn more about RFA’s research here.

Which Schools Will Be Included in the Next Wave of the Renaissance Schools Initiative?

Posted by Briana Pressey on Jan 24, 2011 in Blog

The Notebook: The Philadelphia Public School Notebook blog has assembled a likely list of low-performing schools that may be included in the Renaissance Schools Initiative’s second round of school turnaround. This likely list is based on School Performance Index (SPI) data and criteria used in the first round of the initiative.

RFA researchers are currently evaluating the first year of implementation of the Renaissance Schools Initiative, including the role of community engagement in the process. Learn more about the project here.