charter schools « CBS Philly

(Philadelphia School District headquarters. File photo by Mike DeNardo)

Budget Crisis Stops Expansion Of Charter Schools In Philadelphia

The Philadelphia School District says it won’t recommend the expansion of any charter schools next year since it is facing a $300 million budget hole.

2013/04/28

(Second graders are already hard at work at First Philadelpha Charter School. Credit: Hadas Kuznits)

Is Pennsylvania Ready For Statewide Charter Authorizer?

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association opposes statewide authorizers because they give power to officials far removed from the ground-level effect of their rulings.

2013/03/24

(LEAP Academy founder Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, second from left, takes part in a ribbon-cutting event in Camden in 2012. File photo from LEAP Academy.)

Camden, NJ Charter School Founder Accused of Retaliating Against Employee

Former LEAP Academy employee Mark Paoli alleges that school founder Gloria Bonilla-Santiago used him to do repairs on her home, on the taxpayers’ dime.

2013/02/04

Part 1: The EITC — What Is It?

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit is promoted as a way to provide a better education for poor children, but public education advocates say it actually takes away tax money that could be used to improve schools.

2012/11/08

Susan Gobreski, of Education Voters of Pennsylvania. Her organization says the EITC undermines public education. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Part 2: Who’s Hurt by the EITC?

Expanding the program at a time when the state has slashed public school funding is infuriating public education advocates.

2012/11/08

(Construction is underway on a new building on the campus of the Agnes Irwin School, in Rosemont, Pa. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Part 3: Who Benefits From It?

“BLOCS provides scholarships from your business taxes to students who not only want to attend a Catholic school but are most in need,” says one advertisement.

2012/11/08

(Pa. state senator Anthony Williams visits the Patterson Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Part 4: Ongoing Controversies

State senator Tony Williams defends the program as similar to the GI Bill, but some of his Harrisburg colleagues see it as improperly favoring closed groups.

2012/11/08

High Performing Charter Schools

The Rocketship charter schools in California use “blended learning,” a combination of traditional teaching with computer-based instruction, to help students from impoverished communities excel.

2012/11/07

Charter School Reform Bill Moving Through Harrisburg

The state House as soon as today could send Governor Corbett a bill reforming Pennsylvania’s charter schools law. The state Senate passed the measure last evening.

2012/10/17

Parents Are Asking The SRC To Keep 2 Local Charter Schools Open

Parents at two charter schools under a cloud of scandal are asking the School Reform Commission to keep the charters open.

2012/09/30

Pennsylvania Auditor General Targets ‘Excessive’ Charter School Spending

Auditor General Jack Wagner says Pennsylvania charter schools are spending a million dollars a day more than necessary.

2012/06/21

(Audenried High School. Credit: Harvey Finkle, Philadelphia Public School Notebook, thenotebook.org)

Rent-Free Ride Ending For Kenny Gamble’s Charter School Company

School district officials say Universal Companies will begin paying some operating costs next year at Audenried High School and Vare Middle School, after paying nothing this year.

2012/06/06

(Chakah Fattah at podium. File photo by Michelle Durham)

Rep. Chaka Fattah Speaks Out About FBI’s Investigation Of Son’s Finances

Reacting to the FBI raid on the younger Fattah’s posh Center City apartment, and his office space at Shulick’s law firm, Congressman Fattah says, “sometimes a fire alarm goes off, but there is no fire.”

2012/03/06

Four More Philadelphia Schools In Line To Become Charters

The Philadelphia School District has picked four more poorly-performing schools to be converted to charters.

2012/03/01

2011 In Retrospect

Advances are being made in education. In 2011, with leadership from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 160 cities have joined in making sure all kids read on grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

2011/12/28