You Can’t Fix a Broken Record…Or Can You?
In an analysis of the 2013-14 SPR data, the Daily News’s “Rating Schools on more than Test Scores” found that:
- Seventy-five percent of the 291 schools are low-performing — with only 18 of 71 high schools, or about 25 percent, scoring 50 percent out of a possible score of 100 on the SPR.
- None of the 62 elementaries received the district’s highest rating.
It sounds like the same old song. On Tuesday, the Philadelphia School District issued some very disappointing news; 75% of schools fell short of the performance targets set by the District for both district-run and charter schools.
While the School Performance Report* results are disappointing, sadly they also are not surprising. In fact, what is surprising is that schools are showing any progress at all. The share of students in poverty is rising unabated, while funds and capacity to meet these students’ needs are moving in the opposite direction.
The chorus of “fact deniers” is likely to sing out that this data once again proves that money won’t solve the problems of the Philadelphia schools. This news might make it easy to chime in with the Philadelphia blues, but it’s time for us all to sing a new tune.
A bi-partisan commission of state legislators, chaired by Republicans from the Pennsylvania House and Senate, spent a year investigating how Pennsylvania funds it schools and concluded that schools that educate the poorest children need more resources, not less. That commission proposed a school funding formula for the state that, if adopted and backed by real funding, can go a long way to creating a level playing field for the schools. Once that formula and sufficient resources are put into place we can finally call the question of whether money alone will make a difference.
There’s a powerful new refrain in Harrisburg. Governor Wolf hits the right pitch when he points to the importance of public education for a vibrant free market and limited government. That’s not the only reason to educate children, but it’s certainly the basis for a bi-partisan consensus that public education matters.
Our schools are suffering from years of state funding cuts and our children are paying the price. Until the funds are restored and additional funds are in place, we will have nothing to sing about.
*The District’s measure of school performance is catalogued by school in its School Performance Report. The District’s School Performance Reports are based on a combination of each school’s academic results (30%), the school’s progress on increasing the share of students meeting proficiency on standardized tests compared to prior year (50%) and the school’s climate as determined by attendance, suspension and parent engagement data (20%).
School Play Wraps, Budget Rolls On
This week across PA, School Play, the live, documentary theatre play that puts Pennsylvania’s school funding crisis center stage wrapped on its 14-city tour. This unique drama, commissioned by PCCY, honed in a perennial issue and shined a light on the human experience behind school funding cuts, allowing people to view it through a new lens. Now, independent groups are beginning to stage their own performances. You can bring the school-funding crisis to life in your community too.
Unfortunately, leaders in Harrisburg are seeing this budget impasse through the same old lens fogged by politics and gamesmanship. The state has been without a budget for more than 100 days now, and the long delay in reaching a budget agreement is placing even greater burdens on already strapped Philadelphia schools. A state budget is needed right away, but not just any budget will do.
As important as it is for all sides to reach agreement on a budget to relieve the pressing and increasing financial burdens on our schools, it is even more vital that any final agreement invests fairly and fully to support Pennsylvania’s school students moving forward.
Our lawmakers must move quickly to:
- Increase basic education funding in the budget by at least $410 million to address the impact of prior year cuts; and,
- Enact and begin implementing the fair funding formula unanimously approved by the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission so all students have an opportunity for success no matter where they live.
As part of the Campaign For Fair Education Funding, PCCY signed on to a letter urging legislative leaders and Governor Wolf to act on behalf of students across Pennsylvania. It’s vitally important that this message be heard loud and clear in the halls of Harrisburg, so please contact your legislator today and urge them to support new revenues to fund education.
Kick it Up for Pre-K!
Pre-k for PA’s Capitol Caravan is getting back on the road. It’s time to sign up and join us as we travel to Harrisburg to represent the needs of children across the Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties. The human effect of not providing access to publicly funded pre-k is real. You can be a huge help by visiting legislators to share your story.
They Got It Right…(a new weekly feature of the PCCY News)
…The Honorable Hillary Clinton, 2016 Candidate for President
A Public Health Conversation on Dream Care and Fulfilling Pennsylvania’s Promise
Did you know that there are 24,000 undocumented, uninsured children being blocked from public health insurance in Pennsylvania?
Dream Care is our initiative to get them covered, and we are proud that Bucks County Medical Society just signed on as a Dream Care supporting organization!
If you would like to learn more about Dream Care and become involved please attend one of our Conversations on Dream Care and Fulfilling Pennsylvania’s Promise and download and share this flyer.
Give Kids Sight Day
