STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CITY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA
January 30, 2009 Fernando Gallard
#012-09

SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION INVITES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE
IN PROCESS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CITY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA

SRC’s Charter School Taskforce to Meet on February 3 and 5

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the working relationship between Philadelphia’s 63 existing charter schools and The School District of Philadelphia (District), the School Reform Commission (SRC) has convened a second Charter School Taskforce. Parents, teachers, charter operators and all community stakeholders are invited to participate in two public meetings at which they can direct comments to the Taskforce on issues relating to:

• What technical assistance can the District offer charter school?
• What accountability measures should the District be using with respect to charter schools?
• How can the District facilitate the sharing of best practices both among charter schools, and between charter schools and the District?

The SRC first established the need for a taskforce in December 2007 and identified several
areas--including charter schools’ academics, finances, operations and parental involvement--as needing examination. A first taskforce was convened in spring 2008 and delivered recommendations to the SRC in June 2008. That report lead to the adoption of several initiatives, including the elevation of the District’s charter school office to be lead by an associate superintendent who reports directly to Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman. That position was filled in January 2009 by Benjamin Rayer, the former president and COO of Mastery Charter School.

WHAT: SRC Charter School Taskforce Public Meetings

WHEN: Tuesday, February 3, 2009, noon to 2 p.m. and
Thursday, February 5, 2009, 6 to 8 p.m. (the agendas of both meetings will be the same)

WHERE: School District Education Center, 440 N. Broad Street, Room 1075

WHY: For the public to provide input directly to the Charter School Taskforce on what recommendations it should make to the SRC in the areas of: (1) what technical assistance the District should provide to charter schools; (2) what accountability measure the District should be using with respect to charter schools; and (3) how can the District facilitate the sharing of best practices both among charter schools, and between charter schools and the District?