PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia School Board is considering renewals for 18 of the city’s 81 charter schools. The board heard nearly five hours of testimony Thursday night, but no decisions were made.
The district’s Charter Schools Office presented evaluations of how the 18 schools up for renewal are doing when it comes to academics, finances and organization. In Philadelphia, it’s up to the school board to authorize charters, which use public money but are independently run.
Of the 18, two — Community Academy Charter and Mastery Charter Thomas Campus — were recommended for five-year renewals with no conditions. The renewals of the other 16, including six that fell short in academics, were recommended but with conditions attached.
Board member Crystal Cubbage said the bar should be higher.
“I’m concerned that we may be setting expectations too low when we accept proficiency rates in the single digits and low double-digits as adequate progress,” she said.
Two dozen people testified in support of charters, including Samayah McQueen, who graduated from People for People Charter School.
“People for People wasn’t just where I went to school. It was a place that gave me people who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself,” she said.
“People for People is not just an academic institution,” echoed assistant principal Doreen Amster. “It is a community, a place where people learn to connect, collaborate and care.”
However, the Charter Schools Office said People for People met only 29% of the standard for academic success. Board member Joyce Wilkerson said her patience with the longtime charter is wearing thin.
“It’s almost been a quarter-century. I can’t go along with renewing it anymore,” she said.
In addition to People for People, board members expressed concerns about renewing the Deep Roots, Mastery Frederick Douglass, KIPP North, and KIPP Philadelphia charter schools. They said they wanted more information before deciding.