Public hearings on proposed charter schools in West Philly are set for Dec. 11 at the School District of Philadelphia’s headquarters at 440 N. Broad St.

The School District of Philadelphia received over a dozen applications from charter schools interested in opening new schools in West Philadelphia. The next step in the application process is the presentation and review of the applications at public hearings, which have been scheduled to start next Thursday.

The hearings will include a 15-minute presentation by the applicant followed by public comments, according to The Notebook. A second round of hearings will reportedly begin in January and will include evaluations from the District.

Here’s the list of the applicants, the zip codes where schools are proposed, and the schedule of the public meetings:  Continue Reading

The Thanksgiving holiday is over and kids will be returning to school tomorrow. Here’s breakfast and lunch menu served at schools in the School District of Philadelphia from Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 5. If your schools uses the Satellite menu click here.

Come back every Sunday evening for the coming week’s menu.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals will be offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Monday

Choose 1: Mini Waffles or Bake Crafter Cereal Bar & Yogurt
Choose 1: Pineapple Juice or Fresh Pear
Variety of Milk

Tuesday

Choose 1: Steak, Egg & Cheese on a Bagel or Benefit Bar
Choose 1: Strawberry Cup or Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk Continue Reading

We continue publishing breakfast and lunch menus served at schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Here’s the menu for Monday, Nov. 24 through Wednesday, Nov. 26 (schools will be closed for Thanksgiving Holiday on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28). If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here.

Come back every Sunday evening for the coming week’s menu.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals will be offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Monday

Chicken Sausage, Egg & Cheese on English Muffin
Chewy Bar
Apple Juice
Fresh Pear
Variety of Milk

Tuesday

Breakfast Burrito
Cinni Mini Swirls
Peach Cup
Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk  Continue Reading

Some open resistance to standardized testing has bubbled up around the city over the past couple years, with instances of parents and students opting out of the annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests. The issue will go before the City Council’s Education Committee today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The PSSAs are given to students in grades 3-8 to measure yearly progress. Opponents, who also include teachers, have argued that elementary and middle school curricula have focused too heavily on preparing students for the exams.

The public is invited to today’s meeting, which was scheduled to hear testimony on a resolution authorizing the committee to “conduct hearings concerning the time and financial cost of standardized testing administered to Philadelphia public school students as well as the effects of testing on teaching and learning.”

The meeting is in the City Council Chambers Room 400. Be sure to bring your photo ID if you plan to attend.

The School District of Philadelphia has received 40 applications for new charter schools in the city, including for “Girls’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School,” two high schools in the 19104 zip code and several others around West Philly.

Released Monday afternoon, the list of applicants includes many organizations, including KIPP Philadelphia Schools and Mastery, that already operate schools in the district. The list includes the proposed school’s name, “the applicant team” or entity, the building zip code, grade configuration and projected total enrollment.

The applications will next go through a vetting process that includes a public hearing on each proposed school.

Independence Charter School is proposing two sites in West Philly, a high school in the 19104 zip code, which includes much of the area around Penn and Drexel, and a K-8 in 19142, which covers an area west of 60th Street and south of Kingsessing and includes the Elmwood Park neighborhood. West Philly Local reported last week that Independence was interested in a school in West Philly in 19139 or 19143. It turns out it could open two, but in neither of those zip codes. Both of these are proposed to start in the 2016-2017 school year.  Continue Reading

We continue publishing breakfast and lunch menus served at schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Here’s the menu for Monday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Nov. 21. If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here.

Come back every Sunday evening for the coming week’s menu.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals will be offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Monday

Mini Pancakes
Bake Crafter Cereal Bar & Yogurt
Fresh Pear
Variety of Milk

Tuesday

Steak, Egg & Cheese on a Bagel
Benefit Bar
Mixed Fruit Cup
Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk  Continue Reading