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Dear School District of Philadelphia School Community,

I am proud to announce the official launch of the School District of Philadelphia’s Parent & Family University (PFU)! Parent & Family University is designed to honor and strengthen the vital role families and caring adults play in student achievement. Whether you are raising your own children, caring for a grandchild, or supporting the youth in your community, you are an essential part of Philadelphia’s learning community. PFU is one of the key ways we are putting our guiding principle of “Nothing for us, without us” into action.

The District’s commitment to partnering with families and communities is memorialized in Accelerate Philly, our comprehensive five-year strategic plan. Since launching Accelerate Philly, we have introduced Let’s Talk, a two-way communication platform; redesigned the District website for greater accessibility; and established the Superintendent’s Student, Teacher, and Principal Advisory Councils. This fall, alongside Parent & Family University, we are launching the Superintendent’s Parent & Guardian Advisory Council, a space for families to connect with District leadership, share experiences, celebrate successes, raise concerns, and provide feedback on Accelerate Philly initiatives. Together, these initiatives support building equal partnership between families and the School District.

The workshops and sessions available through PFU are designed to be accessible, relevant, and meaningful; offered in-person, virtually, and through self-paced learning opportunities. They are aligned with four content pillars that reflect both the priorities of Accelerate Philly and the needs of Philadelphia families:

• Student Attendance & Joy – Provide coordinated support and resources to families to increase regular student attendance and joy in school.
• Health & Wellness – Provide coordinated support and resources to increase physical, mental, and social-emotional health and well-being for families.
• Civic Engagement – Provide coordinated support and resources to increase community service and civic engagement, including non-partisan voting.
• Financial Literacy – Provide access to adult learning and money management support and resources that help increase family earning potential.

I invite you to visit the PFU website to explore the courses, register for the sessions that best meet your needs or spark your interest, and join us in this shared journey of learning and growth. When families thrive, students thrive, and together, we can build a brighter future for every child in Philadelphia while advancing our vision to become the fastest-improving large urban school district in the nation.

In partnership,

Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia