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Dear School District of Philadelphia community,
At the School District of Philadelphia, we believe that every student should receive an excellent education, and participate in diverse extra-curricular and enrichment programming that complements their learning. For many students in Philadelphia, the only way to access these experiences is through their public school. The District’s Office of Strategic Partnerships cultivates partnerships between schools and partners to offer our students access to high-quality enrichment programming at their schools, regardless of their zip code or household income.And so today, we are excited to launch the Partnerships Dashboard so you can see exactly how this work is transforming your child’s school experience.
In alignment with Accelerate Philly Strategic Action 2.8, the Partnerships Dashboard is a public, online tool that maps school-based, student-facing programs across District schools, and visualizes the types of services – enrichment, arts, STEM, wellness, and others – those partners or programs provide. The Partnerships Dashboard is designed for:
- Current partners to identify opportunities for collaboration and expansion.
- Future partners to understand where there might be programming gaps to fill.
- District and School leaders to analyze where opportunity gaps may exist in their schools, and make informed decisions about additional programming opportunities.
- Funders, Officials, and other supportive stakeholders to establish cases for additional funding based on opportunities or lack thereof.
- Students, parents, and families who consider school partnerships an important aspect in neighborhood or school selection (please note: the Dashboard is not an enrollment tool, but can be used to research partnerships that exist in schools).
The Partnerships Dashboard highlights the breadth of Philadelphia’s partnership ecosystem – more than 2,000 connections between schools and partners, all working together to enhance the educational experiences for thousands of students each year. The Dashboard also positions the District to make more strategic decisions about what programming to offer, and where, so that we can align partnerships and programs to the schools where they are needed most. Ultimately, this will help the District distribute resources more equitably, while being good stewards and serving our students and families well.
I encourage you to explore the dashboard and learn more about the opportunities that are available across the District. You can also pass the dashboard along to anyone you know who may be a great partner – they can express their interest in becoming an official partner organization by clicking the Become a District Partner button in the top right of the dashboard.
Our vision is to prepare every student to imagine and realize any future they desire. The futures our children desire vary, and that we must work hard to provide diverse enrichment programming that aligns with the futures they envision. Research shows that success in modern society is driven as much by relationships and experiences, as it is by classroom education. In other words, to be well-rounded citizens, children need to explore new environments, interact with diverse people, and develop diverse skill sets. The Partnerships Dashboard is a step in the right direction.
In partnership,
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia