| Philadelphia Schools are in dire need of reform. In an | | | | potential in order to become lifelong learners and |
| effort to achieve this goal, two committees, The Right | | | | productive members of society." The Commission has |
| to Education Task Force and The School Reform | | | | set several target goals for themselves, teachers, |
| Commission, have been formed to focus on improving | | | | administrators, and staff, which they hope to achieve |
| the situation for all Philadelphia Schools students. A | | | | by June of 2008. These goals include Early Literacy, |
| new mission statement, a Declaration of Education, an | | | | Academic Achievement, a Safe and Orderly |
| anti-truancy effort, and summer programs have all | | | | Environment, Community Collaboration, Equity, Efficient |
| been implemented within the district of Philadelphia | | | | and Effective Philadelphia Schools, and improved |
| Schools. | | | | Support Operations. |
| The Right to Education Task Force, which focuses on | | | | Among other efforts, Philadelphia Schools have |
| special education and persons with disabilities served | | | | teamed up with Mayor John F. Street to implement a |
| by Philadelphia Schools, strives to do the following: | | | | citywide anti-truancy initiative. The program is designed |
| • Review state and national legislation that | | | | to ensure that school-aged children and teens are |
| affects improvements of special education classes | | | | actually present in their Philadelphia Schools, and that |
| • Participate in active and meaningful | | | | their parents are aware of truancy laws. The initiative |
| discussion about education concerns, and give | | | | also intends to assure that parents and students alike |
| recommendations to resolve them | | | | are aware that the City, Philadelphia Schools, and the |
| • Serve as advisors and advocates to | | | | Family Court plan to hold them accountable. |
| protect the rights of students with disabilities | | | | In addition, Philadelphia Schools offer numerous |
| • Encourage and facilitate cooperation | | | | summer programs that both keep kids off the streets, |
| between public and private agencies and their officials | | | | and serve to help students who have fallen behind in |
| to provide services to persons with disabilities | | | | their studies. The programs are focused on academic |
| Philadelphia Schools has put a "School Reform | | | | enhancement and enrichment, and are mandatory for |
| Commission" in place in order to continue the | | | | any 1st - 8th grader who did not achieve proficiency in |
| improvement of Philadelphia Schools. The commission's | | | | a core subject, such as Math or Reading. Eighth |
| mission statement is as follows: "The mission of | | | | graders who need additional help meeting Philadelphia |
| …Philadelphia Schools is to provide a high quality | | | | Schools promotion criteria and 12th graders needing |
| education that prepares, ensures, and empowers all | | | | additional credits to graduate are eligible. |
| students to achieve their full intellectual and social | | | | |