Philadelphia School Reform Commission considers district’s five year reform plan

Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission is considering the School District’s five year reform plan. Meanwhile, apprehension about school closures and restructurings is pushing students, parents, and teachers to speak out.

Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission is considering the School District’s five year reform plan. Meanwhile, apprehension about school closures and restructurings is pushing students, parents, and teachers to speak out. WHYY’s Shai Ben-Yaacov reports.

Transcript:

The school district’s Imagine 2014 reform plan calls for closing up to 35 schools.   District officials say they’ll likely be replaced by charter or contract schools with a track record of improving student performance.  But the prospect of closing schools is always controversial.  At a rally last week, parents, students, and legislators protested the scheduled closure of William Penn High School on North Broad Street.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan says the district isn’t providing enough information about the transition, which has school communities on edge.

Jordan: “I think that the lack of communication is a very big problem, and as a result of people not being aware of what the district’s plans are, that it opens up these kinds of actions such as the student demonstration.”

The School Reform Commission is set to vote on the five-year reform plan in April.

Listen:
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