Resolution 120159

..Title Authorizing Council's Committee on Education to hold hearings on establishing an official organizing body for representatives from various primary and secondary educational institutions in Philadelphia coordinated by the Mayor's Office of Education for the purpose of creating and maintaining criterion of communication, strategic planning and enrollment procedures to improve educational opportunities in Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, The educational system in Philadelphia is comprised of various groups including the School District of Philadelphia, The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and many independently operated private, charter and religious schools; and WHEREAS, The Philadelphia School District is the eighth largest school system in America with 249 public schools serving roughly 146,000 students; and WHEREAS, The City has 80 Charter Schools serving roughly 46,000 students; and WHEREAS, The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has 72 schools serving roughly 25,000 students; and WHEREAS, There are 27 private schools serving roughly 4,600 of students and 45 independent religious schools serving roughly 16,000 students; and WHEREAS, The various groups providing educational services to the children of the City are not governed by one body and therefore operate with a disparate set of rules, regulations and operational procedures; and WHEREAS, The recent notice of the closings of Public and Catholic schools have left parents and students searching for alternative educational options; and WHEREAS, The process for students gaining admission to schools outside of the those directly operated by the School District are often cumbersome, confusing and challenging on a case-by-case basis; and WHEREAS, The children of Philadelphia and their guardians deserve to have timely, accurate and easy to understand information and guidelines about the educational opportunities available; and WHEREAS, Coordinating these entities on the criteria of communication, strategic planning and enrollment procedures would greatly improve the educational opportunities for the children of Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, There exists a City-wide commitment to grow or replicate high-performing schools called "The Philadelphia Great Schools Compact"; and WHEREAS, The official organizing body will be designed for the purpose of increasing collaboration and sharing best practices that increase academic outcomes and equality for all children and families in Philadelphia; therefore, RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council's Committee on Education to hold hearings on establishing an official organizing body for representatives from various primary and secondary educational institutions in Philadelphia coordinated by the Mayor's Office of Education for the purpose of creating and maintaining criterion of communication, strategic planning and enrollment procedures to improve educational opportunities in Philadelphia. ..End