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Eighth Meeting

March 14, 2012

  1. The School District gave an update on the SPI appeals process, in response to concerns raised by charter schools regarding the latest SPI scores:
    • Schools for which there are no parent or student surveys will receive an “N/A” for those items, a change that will change the denominator used in calculating an overall SPI score. Several schools’ scores will be affected by the recalculation. Schools that take the ACT over the SAT will receive consideration for the former assessment, and scores will be recalculated.
    •  All charter schools will receive a communication from the District updating them on pending changes.
  2. Three working groups provided progress updates:
    •  Talent Development — representatives from both the District and charter school communities discussed talent recruitment strategies, most specifically how to best attract and nurture school leaders.
    • Shared Services — presented concepts for a shared-services organization – possibly the Intermediate Unit -- that would provide a range of academic and non-instructional services to all types of schools. Three visions for the entity include: 1. Source of leadership development and instructional support for schools in the city. 2. Provider of choice on a range of services with an expressed emphasis on collaboration. 3. Access to economies of scale for all sizes of schools. The shared services organization should be innovative, scalable, flexible, and self-sustaining, and would look for cost efficiencies and new opportunities that will benefit the schools. Additionally, the entity would network with other Intermediate Units or educational service agencies to bring the best practices and programs to Philadelphia.
  3. Facilities — A facilities survey has been sent to all charter schools. PSP is reaching out to the charter schools that have yet to respond to the facilities survey in hopes of increasing response by the deadline (3/16/12); final results will be shared with the Committee at the next meeting. The District is close to finalizing a RFP for the sale of ten district-owned buildings that are on the commercial market.
  4. The Archdiocese is considering joining the Great Schools Compact.