Thank you to everybody at Children's First. You guys, we appreciate your support throughout the course of this process. And we appreciate you staying for both hearings. And we appreciate all of your energy and your advocacy as it relates to our young people. So to the entire organization, thank you all. Go ahead. Please proceed with your testimony.
And thank you so much for ensuring that Council directs attention to this important topic of Algebra access. And for the members of Council who have been here throughout, thank you for your attention. I'm a former teacher myself and I care deeply about Algebra access for all students who are ready to take it. And as I was preparing for this hearing, I did a little bit of history research and I learned that Philadelphia has a really deep history of working towards Algebra access. And you're likely already aware of this, but I learned about a project called the Philadelphia Algebra Project that started many decades ago. This was a Civil Rights initiative --
Yeah. And a lot of the things they were working on are the same things we're working on today, which is good to hear and also shows that --
The year, it was the 1980s and '90s. 1989, I think is when it started in Philly.
Ashley, you cheating back there? That sounds like some Freedom Schools -- okay. All right. Go ahead. Proceed with your testimony.
Yeah. No worries. So that project, you know, the spirit of it continues on as we continue working towards Algebra and STEM access today. Meanwhile, in the suburbs access to middle school Algebra has been and continues to be taken for granted. And this is a big part of the equity issues. Twenty years ago I was a middle-schooler in the suburbs at a well-funded school in Chester County. And I took pre-Algebra in 6th grade. I took Algebra in 7th grade. I didn't pass Algebra in 7th grade so I got to take it again in 8th grade, at which point it all clicked and it made sense for me. So I got to take Algebra twice by 8th grade. Twenty years later and just miles away here in Philly, 10 there's hundreds of 7th and 8th 11 graders who are ready for Algebra, 12 but they still can't take it 13 because their school doesn't offer 14 it. And as you know, Masterman 15 requires Algebra for admission. There are hundreds of our own middle-schoolers who are locked out because of that. I want middle school access to Algebra high- quality, equitable Algebra learning to be taken for granted in Philadelphia, not just in the suburbs. Children First applauds the school district for sharing earlier today that they have a plan to ensure 8th grade Algebra access. So that will soon be a reality. But making it available to all 8th graders is just one step. We also have to ensure that students have quality supports in their classrooms so that when they do enroll, they'll do well. And so, they have multiple chances to do well. I also wanted to highlight one of the things that the school district shared today, which is that they're switching the admissions criteria for Algebra from the PSSAs to the Star Assessment. I think that was just a small point in their testimony, but that's a really big deal, because 6th grade PSSA is a pretty high-stakes test. You know, kids get nervous when they take that test. Not everyone does their very best on standardized tests, whereas the Star Assessment is an adaptive computer test that you can take it multiple times and it's a much better way to ensure more kids get access. So what gives me hope is that there's change possible today. There's clearly citywide commitment to supporting that progress. And we at Children First will stay with this mission throughout. We want to see every 8th grader have access and we want that access to be high quality for all middle schoolers much before 8th grade. Thanks again for your time and we look forward to continuing working on this topic.
Thank you for your testimony. And again, thank you to the work of the organization. And we're hoping that you stay lockstep in with this. It's been a lot of information that we've collected today on both subjects. And we know we have a lot of work to do, but we also know we can't do it alone because we wouldn't even be having this conversation if it wasn't for the organizations letting us know that these problems exist and making sure that we do something about them. So thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Are there any other questions or comments from members of this committee? (No response.)
Seeing none, there being no further questions or comments from members of the committee and no witnesses to testify, I will ask that if there is anyone else present in this hearing whose name we failed to call and that wishes to offer testimony on the resolutions being considered today? (No response.)
Hearing none, I want to say thank you to all the panelists, witnesses for your participation today. We value your opinion. I also want to say thank you to all of my staff as well as my amazing interns. You guys stand up. Can we give y'all another round of applause? (Applause.)
Great job leading today's hearing today. This is what intergenerational leadership looks like. And we love that in City Council. And this also concludes the business of the committee. We would like to thank you all for being here. And this hearing is called to an end. Thank you. - - - Committee on Education concluded at 2:25 p.m.) - - - C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. __________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL