School District of Philadelphia 2332542 226116535 2008-07-16T21:59:17Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_citation_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] [[Image:School District of Philadelphia logo.gif|150 px|thumb|School District of Philadelphia logo]] The '''School District of Philadelphia''' is a [[school district]] based in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> The School Board was created in 1850 to oversee the schools of Philadelphia. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} The Act of Assembly of [[April 5]], [[1867]], designated that the Controllers of the Public Schools of Philadelphia were to be appointed by the judges of the [[Court of Common Pleas]]. There was on Controller to be appointed from each ward. This was done to eliminate politics from the management of the schools. <ref name="Edmunds"> {{cite news | first= Franklin Davenport | last= Edmunds | url= | title= The Public School Buildings of the City of Philadelphia from 1853 to 1867 | publisher= | date= [[1917]]}}</ref> Eventually, the management of the school district was given to a school board appointed by the [[Mayor of Philadelphia|mayor]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} This continued until 2001 when the district was taken over by the state, and the governor was given the power to appoint a majority of the five members -- of the new School Reform Commission. <ref name="Penn GSE1">{{cite news|url= http://www.urbanedjournal.org/archive/Issue4/notes/notes0010.html |title= Analysis: do Philadelphians still have a voice at the School District? Understanding the state takeover of Philadelphia's schools | author= Rieser, Len |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania#Graduate and professional schools|University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> <ref name="citymayors.com">{{cite news|author= Favro, Tony | url= http://www.citymayors.com/education/usa_schoolboards.html |title= US mayors are divided about US mayors are divided about merits of controlling schools | publisher= citymayors.com |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> ==Demographics== '''Enrollment''' 184,560 as of mid-October 2005, including early childhood programs as submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. <ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> '''Number of Students by School Type'''<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- |4,525 | Head Start & Preschool Schools |- |97,466 | Elementary Schools |- |24,890 | Middle schools |- | 47,960 | High Schools |- |4,679 | Vocational/Technical Schools |- |1,113 | Programs |- |3,927 | Special Schools<ref name="special">CEP Miller, Hunting Park, Allegheny, Widener Memorial, Hill-Freedman, Overbrook Educational Center</ref> |- |'''184,560''' |'''Public School Total''' |- |25,872 | Charter Schools |- |'''210,432''' |'''Grand Total''' |} '''Percentage of Students by Ethnicity'''<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! Ethnicity!! Public Schools!! Charter Schools!! |- | African-American | 64.4% | 65.3% |- | Asian | 5.6% | 2.3% |- | Hispanic | 15.8% | 13.3% |- | Native American | 0.2% | 0.2% |- | White | 13.3% | 18.9% |} '''Transportation''' <blockquote> Each day, the School District provides free transportation for students who meet the eligibility requirements. In 2005-2006, 39,755 students received free school bus service. This included 19,250 public school students, 10,104 private and parochial school students, 9,496 charter school students and 905 early intervention students. The District also provided free student tokens for 13,089 students who also meet the eligibility requirements. There were 10,697 public school students, 811 non-public school students and 1,581 charter school students who receive free tokens. In addition, for students who do not meet the eligibility requirements, reduced fare tokens that are subsidized by the District may be purchased. Based on figures from last school year, approximately 19,700 students purchased subsidized tokens. This figure includes 12,700 public school students, 4,200 non-public school students and 2,800 charter school students. <ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref></blockquote> '''Food Services''' <blockquote>On an average school day, the district serves approximately 117,000 lunches, 52,000 breakfasts, 4,200 after-school snacks and between 5000 and 8000 CACFP "at-risk" dinner meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). A study by Temple University shows that 76 percent of the District's students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. <ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref></blockquote> ==Schools== {{main|Public Schools of Philadelphia}} There are 291 public schools in the School District of Philadelphia:<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- |174 |Elementary schools, including Lamberton (K-12) |- |39 |Middle schools |- |45 |High Schools |- |5 |Vocational/Technical Schools |- |9 |Special Schools |- |19 |Programs<ref name="pdd">Primarily Disciplinary Programs: Cornel Abraxas, Camelot/Fels, Fairhill Community HS, OIC of America, Reti-Wrap, Boone</ref> |} There are 55 charter schools in Philadelphia: <ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- |29 | Elementary Schools |- |6 |Middle schools |- |16 |High Schools |- |4 | Special Schools |} '''Organization'''<br> The district is organized into 12 regional offices. Ten of these are geographically determined regions. <ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> *Center City *Central *Central East *East *North *Northeast *Northwest *South *Southwest *West There is also a CEO region. This non-geographic region is a group of under-performing schools that is monitored by the office of the CEO. The EMO region is a group of schools that are managed by Educational Management Organizations (EMO).<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> *CEO *EMO ==Governance== The School District of Philadelphia is governed by the five-member School Reform Commission. The commission was established in December 2001, when oversight of the district was taken over by the [[Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]. The [[Governor of Pennsylvania]] appoints three of the members, and the [[Mayor of Philadelphia]] appoints two members of the commission.<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><br> <br> '''Leadership'''<ref name="aboutus">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/aboutus |title=Philadelphia School District - About Us |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><br> The following is the current district leadership. :Chief Executive Officer - Dr. Arlene Ackerman (2008-) :Chief Academic Officer - Cassandra W. Jones (Interim) (2007-2008) :Chief Operating Officer - Fred Farlino (Interim) (2007-2008) :Chief Financial Officer - James P. Doosey (Interim) (2007-) :Chief Information Officer - Melanie Harris (Acting) (2007-) :General Counsel - Sherry Swirsky :Chief Accountability Officer - LaVonne M. Sheffield, Ph.D. (2004-2008) '''School Reform Commission'''<ref name="src">{{cite news|url= http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/src |title=Philadelphia School District - School Reform Commission |publisher= Philadelphia School District |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> :Sandra Dungee Glenn - Chairwomen :Martin G. Bednarek <ref name="Press Release">{{cite news|url= http://www.phila.gov/news/admin/viewrelease.asp?id=88 |title= Mayor Street Reappoints Sandra Dungee Glenn and Martin Bednarek to the School Reform Commission |publisher= [[City of Philadelphia]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> :Sandra Dungee Glenn <ref name="Press Release">{{cite news|url= http://www.phila.gov/news/admin/viewrelease.asp?id=88 |title= Mayor Street Reappoints Sandra Dungee Glenn and Martin Bednarek to the School Reform Commission |publisher= [[City of Philadelphia]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> :James P. Gallagher, Ph.D. :Heidi Ramirez, Ph.D. ==History== ===Pre-1990's=== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ===Takeover by the state=== The state takeover of the District had its roots in the chronic low test scores of district students and a history of inequitable financing which left the District with substantial and perpetual deficits. <ref name="Penn GSE2">{{cite news|url= http://urbanedjournal.org/archive/Issue4/commentaries/comment0007.html | title= Philadelphia School Reform: Historical Roots and Reflections on the 2002-2003 School Year Under State Takeover|date= [[June 28]], [[2003]] | author= |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania#Graduate and professional schools|University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> In 1975, Pennsylvania provided 55 percent of school funding statewide, in 2001 it provided less than 36 percent. <ref name="wsws1">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/phil-n15.shtml |title= Pennsylvania prepares privatization of Philadelphia public schools| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[15 November]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> An analysis determined that increased district spending was limited by a state system which relies heavily on property taxes for local school funding. As a result, wealthier school districts with proportionately more property owners and more expensive real estate have more funds for schools. The result is great disparities in school system expenditures per student. In 2000, the Philadelphia school district spent $6,969 a year per student. Seventy percent of Philadelphia’s students are at or near the poverty line. This contrasts with expenditures per student in wealthier suburban school districts: Jenkintown, $12,076; Radnor, $13,288; and Upper Merion, $13,139. <ref name="wsws1">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/phil-n15.shtml |title= Pennsylvania prepares privatization of Philadelphia public schools| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[15 November]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> In February 1998, then-superintendent David Hornbeck threatened in February to close the city's schools if the state did not provide the funds needed to balance his proposed budget. <ref name="heartland2">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=13227 |title= Philadelphia Schools Face State Takeover | author=Clowes, George |date=[[June 1]], [[1998]]|publisher = The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> State lawmakers responded to the threat with fast moving legislation, Act 46, <ref name="PWW">{{cite news|url= http://www.pww.org/article/view/368/1/32/ |title= Philadelphia Schools Face State Takeover | author= Johnson, Rosita |date= 2001-12-22|publisher = People's Weekly World Newspaper |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> on [[April 21]], approving a school funding package that included a takeover plan for the nation's sixth-largest school system. <ref name="heartland2">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=13227 |title= Philadelphia Schools Face State Takeover | author=Clowes, George |date=[[June 1]], [[1998]]|publisher = The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> The legislature’s plan was a reaction to Hornbeck’s threatening to shut down the schools because of a financial crisis. <ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> <ref name="heartland2">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=13227 |title= Philadelphia Schools Face State Takeover | author=Clowes, George|date=[[June 1]], [[1998]]|publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> <blockquote>"Holding students and their parents and teachers hostage in an effort to gain additional funding is certainly bold but not very wise", commented Representative [[Dwight Evans (politician)|Dwight Evans]], Democratic chair of the House Appropriations Committee and prime architect of the takeover bill. <ref name="heartland2">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=13227 |title= Philadelphia Schools Face State Takeover | author=Clowes, George|date=[[June 1]], [[1998]]|publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref></blockquote> Two lawsuits were filed by the city and the Philadelphia School District in 1997 and 1998 to address these inadequate funding levels. The first, filed by the school district, the city and community leaders, contended that Pennsylvania did not provide a "thorough and efficient" education; it was dismissed outright by the state court. The second case, a civil rights suit filed in Federal District Court, by the district, the city, and other interested parties, contended that the state's funding practices discriminate against school districts with large numbers of non-White students; The School District of Philadelphia was a key complainant in this case. The city agreed to put this case on hold when Mayor Street negotiated the "friendly" state takeover of the District, with the promise of additional funding from the state. <ref name="Penn GSE2">{{cite news|url= http://urbanedjournal.org/archive/Issue4/commentaries/comment0007.html | title= Philadelphia School Reform: Historical Roots and Reflections on the 2002-2003 School Year Under State Takeover|date= [[June 28]], [[2003]] | author= |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania#Graduate and professional schools|University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> In June 2000, under increasing pressure to find a solution to the fiscal and academic problems facing the district, school superintendent, David W. Hornbeck, ended his six-year tenure. Hornbeck resigned saying he did not have the financial support of state and city officials to continue his school reform program (and a year later launched a statewide advocacy organization, Good Schools Pennsylvania, to mobilize citizens in support of improved state funding for public education). <ref name="Merrow">{{cite news| url= http://www.pbs.org/merrow/tv/tough/ |title= TOUGHEST JOB IN AMERICA | publisher= [[PBS]]: The Merrow Report |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> Merrow called improving public education "one of the great civil rights battles of this generation." <ref name="NY Times">{{cite news| url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E5DE1E3FF936A2575BC0A9669C8B63 |title= Philadelphia School Chief Ends Tenure of 6 Years | publisher= [[The New York Times]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> The Board of Education then implemented a new management structure, replacing the superintendent's position with two new positions, a chief academic officer, Deidre Fambry, and a chief executive officer. <ref name="NY Times">{{cite news| url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E5DE1E3FF936A2575BC0A9669C8B63 |title= Philadelphia School Chief Ends Tenure of 6 Years | publisher= [[The New York Times]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> In 2001, the district had a projected deficit of $216.7 million in its current $1.7 billion budget. There was a crisis in making the school payroll and paying $30 million in vendor bills. <ref name="wsws1">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/phil-n15.shtml |title= Pennsylvania prepares privatization of Philadelphia public schools| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[15 November]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> In recognition of the assistance, Mayor Street agreed to postpone for three months a 1998 federal lawsuit brought by the city claiming racial discrimination in the way the state funds the Philadelphia school district. In a study released in July by the Harvard Civil Rights Project, Pennsylvania was ranked as having the sixth most segregated schools in the United States. <ref name="wsws1">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/phil-n15.shtml |title= Pennsylvania prepares privatization of Philadelphia public schools| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[15 November]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> Under the legislation enacted in 1998, in 2001 Governor [[Mark S. Schweiker|Mark Schweiker]] moved to take control of the schools. The state takeover of the fifth largest school district in the United States was seen as the most radical reform ever undertaken in a large urban school district. <ref name="wsws1">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/phil-n15.shtml |title= Pennsylvania prepares privatization of Philadelphia public schools| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[15 November]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> This move was opposed by Mayor [[John F. Street]] and many members of the city of Philadelphia. <ref name="WSJ1">{{cite news|url= http://online.wsj.com/public/us |title= City of Brotherly Thugs | publisher= The Wall Street Journal | date= [[December 3]], [[2001]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref>The negotiations dragged on because of the state’s insistence that the city pay its fair share, while the city fought to retain some control over the governance. <ref name="dailynews3">{{cite news|url= http://dailynews.philly.com/content/daily_news/2001/11/12/local/SKUL12C.htm|title= MAYOR, GOVERNOR CONTINUE TO BE AT ODDS OVER PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKEOVER | author= |date= [[November 12]], [[2001]] |publisher = [[Philadelphia Daily News]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> Also at stake was the control of patronage jobs controlled by the mayorin the district’s central administration. <ref name="wsws4">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/phil-n29.shtml |title= Deal to privatize Philadelphia schools | author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[29 November]] [[2001]] |publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> In the end, the city put up an additional $45 million for the schools instead of the $15 million initially offered and the state provided an additional $75 million. In return, the mayor gets to appoint two commission members rather than just one under the governor's initial plan. <ref name="Inky2">{{cite news|url= http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/12/17/front_page/PMEET17.htm |title= PHILADELPHIA MAYOR, PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR DECLARE TRUCE; TALKS ON SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKEOVER RESUME | author= |date= [[December 17]], [[2001]] |publisher = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> The schools were clearly failing, but the state and the city could not agree on reform and local governance issues.<ref name="WSJ2">{{cite news|url= http://online.wsj.com/public/us |title= Philadelphia | publisher= The Wall Street Journal | date= [[November 14]], [[2001]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> As negotiation continued, a coalition of labor unions and community groups called the "Coalition to Keep Our Public Schools Public", filed a lawsuit to stop the state from signing a contract for [[Edison Schools]] to manage city schools. The state backed off on a hostile takeover and negotiated with the city. One of the chief concerns was the complete privatization of the school district. <ref name="wsws3">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/dec2001/phil-d06.shtml |title= State takeover of Philadelphia schools temporarily delayed| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[6 December]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> The reform plan was opposed by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers <ref name="heartland2">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=13227 |title= Philadelphia Schools Face State Takeover | author=Clowes, George|date=[[June 1]], [[1998]]|publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> because of the loss of beneifits and rights they would suffer. Protestors like [[J. Whyatt Mondesire]] of the [[NAACP]] vowed "... to shut down the streets", in protest. Members of the NAACP and a group of black ministers blocked an intersection in front of City Hall during rush-hour traffic. The day before, several hundred students walked out of classes. <ref name="Z Magazine">{{cite news|url= http://zmagsite.zmag.org/oct2002/hammon1002.htm |title= The Philadelphia Student Union |date=October 2002|publisher = Z Magazine |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><ref name="wsws2">{{cite news|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/dec2001/phil-d29.shtml |title= State takeover of Philadelphia schools paves way for privatization| author= Bishop, Tom |date=[[29 December]] [[2001]]|publisher =World Socialist Website |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> And earlier a crowd consisting mostly of unionized district employees marched on City Hall, where they disrupted the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony and drowned out the choir with their chants. <ref name="WSJ1">{{cite news|url= http://online.wsj.com/public/us |title= City of Brotherly Thugs | publisher= The Wall Street Journal | date= [[December 3]], [[2001]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> On [[December 21]], [[2001]], Secretary Charles Zogby of the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]] signed a ''Declaration of Distress'' for the Philadelphia School District. This triggered the state takeover of the school district from the [[City of Philadelphia]]. The state of Pennsylvania formed the ''School Reform Commission'' to oversee the troubled public school system. <ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> This action was the end result of a months long negotiation under the legislation enacted by the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] in [[April 1998]]. The takeover plan had six main elements: putting the district under the control of a School Reform Commission; hire a [[CEO]]; enable the CEO to reform the teaching staff by hiring non-certified staff, reconstitute troubled schools by reassigning or firing staff; allow the commission to hire for-profit firms to manage some schools; convert some schools to charter schools; and reallocate and redistribute school district resources. <ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> At the time of the takeover, it was expected that [[Edison Schools|Edison Schools, Inc.]] would be one of the prime beneficiaries of the partial privatization. It had been involved in developing the plan for privatization commissioned by then governor [[Tom Ridge]]. <ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> Edison was not given as many schools as it had hoped, primarily because of conflict of interest concerns,<ref name="heartland">{{cite news|url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=66 |title= State Takes Over Philadelphia's Failing Schools | publisher= The Heartland Institute |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> and as of 2007 the company had not delivered the promised improvements. <ref name="RAND">{{cite news|url= http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG533 |title= State Takeover, School Restructuring, Private Management, and Student Achievement in Philadelphia | author= Brian Gill, Ron Zimmer, Jolley Christman, Suzanne Blanc |date= |publisher = RAND Corporation |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> After the state takeover, the district adopted what is known as the “diverse provider” model, turning over the management of some of the lowest-achieving schools to for-profit and nonprofit organizations and two local universities and providing additional resources to the private managers. <ref name="RAND">{{cite news|url= http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG533 |title= State Takeover, School Restructuring, Private Management, and Student Achievement in Philadelphia | author= Brian Gill, Ron Zimmer, Jolley Christman, Suzanne Blanc |date= |publisher = RAND Corporation |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> The most controversial of the 2001 reforms the partnership program saw "educational management organizations" (EMO) [[Edison Schools]], Foundations Inc., Victory Schools, Universal Companies, [[Temple University]], and [[University of Pennsylvania]] brought in to manage some of the District’s lowest-performing schools. <ref name="PSD1">{{cite news|url= http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/communications/press_releases/2004/08/24/ayp.html |title= PHILADELPHIA NEARLY TRIPLES PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEETING FEDERAL PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS IN ONE YEAR |publisher=School District of Philadelphia |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><ref name="RAND">{{cite news|url= http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG533 |title= State Takeover, School Restructuring, Private Management, and Student Achievement in Philadelphia | author= Brian Gill, Ron Zimmer, Jolley Christman, Suzanne Blanc |date= |publisher = RAND Corporation |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> To date, the schools managed by private providers were doing neither better nor worse than district-wide achievement trends. District-managed schools given additional resources but no specific intervention were likewise doing about as well as other schools in the district. In contrast, district-managed schools given additional resources and a “restructuring” intervention showed larger achievement gains in mathematics. <ref name="RAND">{{cite news|url= http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG533 |title= State Takeover, School Restructuring, Private Management, and Student Achievement in Philadelphia | author= Brian Gill, Ron Zimmer, Jolley Christman, Suzanne Blanc |date= |publisher = RAND Corporation |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><ref name="PSD1">{{cite news|url= http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/communications/press_releases/2004/08/24/ayp.html |title= PHILADELPHIA NEARLY TRIPLES PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEETING FEDERAL PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS IN ONE YEAR |publisher=School District of Philadelphia |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> ==Current issues== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} Paul Vallas is going to step down as CEO of the Philadelphia School District. Vallas declined to set a departure date at the new conference after the 2007-08 district budget proposal but said he will at least finish the school year. <ref name="daily1">{{cite news|url= http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16693925.htm |title= SRC, TURN DOWN HEAT ON VALLAS |author = | publisher= [[The Philadelphia Daily News]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> ===Physical condition of campuses=== A 2002 entry of NewsHour Extra's editorial page features a Central High School student stating that funding for non-magnet schools in Philadelphia is sub-par [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/speakout/editorial/philly_schools.html]. ==Art in the public schools== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} The school district has an art collection with an estimated worth of between $5 million and $30 million. <ref name="inky1">{{cite news|url= http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/living/education/16692424.htm |title= Phila. schools' art to get audit|author = Snyder, Susan | publisher= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref> ==See also== {{portalpar|Philadelphia|Libertybell alone small.jpg}} *[[Edison Schools]] *[[Mark Schweiker]] *[[No Child Left Behind]] ==External links== * [http://www.philsch.k12.pa.us/ School District of Philadelphia] *[http://www.urbanedjournal.org/archive/vol3issue1/commentaries/comment0008.html An Examination of Philadelphia 's School Desegregation Litigation] *[http://libraries.phila.k12.pa.us/misc/history.html A History of School Libraries in Philadelphia, 1874 to 1964] ==References== {{reflist|2}} [[Category:School District of Philadelphia|*]] [[Category:School districts in Pennsylvania]]