Blog Entries
Youth United for Change Releases a Report on Pushed-Out Youth
Philadelphia Inquirer: Youth United for Change, a youth organizing group in Philadelphia, has released a new report- Pushed Out: Youth Voices on the Dropout Crisis in Philadelphia. Both researched and written by the students in YUC, the report examines personal, environmental, and systematic reasons for the dropout problem in district schools. RFA was pleased to provide research support and training to YUC with participatory action research. RFA commends YUC on its continuing efforts to have a positive impact on community and youth organizing through their passion for school reform.
To see more media coverage of the report:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20110217_Why_Philly_students_drop_out.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20110218_Group_tackles_dropout_crisis.html
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/report-details-why-kids-drop-out
http://www.phillytrib.com/tribune/newsheadlines/17582-students-report-on-dropout-causes.html
Read MoreOp-Ed by RFA’s Kate Shaw featured in the Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News: An op-ed authored by RFA’s executive director, Kate Shaw, was featured in the Daily News on Thursday, Feb. 17. The op-ed uses our policy brief on educational vouchers - Educational Vouchers: Facts, Figures, and a Summary of the Research - to make the case that very few statistically significant effects on student achievement have been found from the implementation of vouchers. Furthermore, RFA as lawmakers consider Senate Bill 1, RFA is calling on them to use reputable research and proven practices to guide decision-making, not poltics and personal agendas.
Read MorePhiladelphia School District Announces 18 Low Performaning Schools Slated for Change
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)
Read MoreThe Annenberg Institute for School Reform Releases New Report on Community Organizing and Education Reform
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.
Read MoreWhich Schools Will Be Included in the Next Wave of the Renaissance Schools Initiative?
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.
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