The Board of Education has authorized Ballard Spahr LLP, a Philadelphia-based law firm, to conduct an independent investigation concerning allegations of racial bias in charter school authorizing practices. The law firm will conduct this investigation on a pro bono basis. The Board, which authorizes charter schools in Philadelphia, takes allegations of racial bias seriously. The…
At its Action Meeting today, the Board of Education will consider adopting a resolution to support the Pennsylvania School Funding Lawsuit, which could significantly impact funding for under-resourced school districts across the state. The lawsuit, now being tried in Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg, alleges that school funding is inadequate and inequitable and asks the state…
At its August 19th Action Meeting, the Board of Education will appoint new members of the Parent and Community Advisory Council (PCAC) who will serve two-year unpaid terms, beginning August 31, 2021. PCAC serves as a bridge between the city’s school communities and the Board of Education with council members sharing critical information on Board…
At a special meeting today, the Board of Education approved a resolution to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all School District of Philadelphia employees. The Board authorized this mandate to protect the health and safety of all School District students and staff. “It is the Board’s duty to protect our children, many of whom cannot get…
At its June 24th Action Meeting, the Board of Education will officially install and welcome Rebecca Allen and Armando Ortez as the Student Board Representatives for the 2021-2022 school year. In this role, they will represent their peers by sharing student concerns with the Board at its monthly meetings and by reporting Board deliberations and…
To ensure that all Philadelphia public schools are safe havens for immigrant students and families, the Board of Education will consider adopting “The Welcoming Sanctuary Schools” Resolution at its June 24th action meeting. Proposed during Immigrant Heritage Month and developed in partnership with the community organization Juntos, this resolution is designed to ensure safe learning…
At its May Action Meeting, the Board of Education monitored progress toward achieving Guardrail 4: “Our students’ potential will not be limited by practices that perpetuate systemic racism and hinder student achievement.” Board members reviewed data, identified trends and asked questions regarding Guardrail 4 in a discussion led by Board Vice President Leticia Egea-Hinton. To…
At its May 27th action meeting, the Board of Education adopted the FY 2021-2022 budget, which is the first budget aligned to the Board’s new strategic plan, Goals & Guardrails. “Goals & Guardrails have allowed us to set clear expectations for student success, monitor progress towards those expectations, and adopt a budget and policies that…
The Board of Education wants every school to be a safe, welcoming and healthy place where our students, staff and community want to be and where our students learn, thrive and succeed! What investments should we prioritize to make this happen? We invite you to share your ideas with the Board on Thursday, March 18,…
The Board of Education welcomes three new Board Members who were sworn in by Mayor Jim Kenney on February 19, 2021. The new Board Members, who share a commitment to improving public education for the city’s children, are Lisa Salley, Reginald L. Streater and Cecelia Thompson. “On behalf of the Board, I welcome our…