2004-1-21
This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Education
Report.
Almost two years ago, a Pennsylvania State committee removed more
than forty Philadelphia public schools from city control. The
committee said it intervened because children attending the schools
were learning very little. Private companies, universities and
non-profit organizations began supervising these schools.
The Philadelphia school district has more than
two-hundred-fourteen-thousand students. Most of them are from
low-income families. It is the seventh largest school system in the
nation. It has more than two-hundred-seventy schools. The district
includes traditional schools and restructured ones. Some district
schools operate by agreement between Philadelphia and outside
supervisors. The district also has special schools that have
programs on a single subject such as mathematics.
Philadelphia's education chief,
Paul Vallas, came to the city soon after the state intervened in the
school system. Before that, Mister Vallas served as top
administrator in the Chicago, Illinois public schools. He says
society should place great importance on improving education for
poor children.
Under his leadership, the percentage of Philadelphia students
performing in the lowest twenty-five percent of the nation has
decreased. Test scores have improved in reading, language arts,
mathematics and science. Still, about sixty-six percent of
Philadelphia public school children test below the national averages
in such basic studies.
Mister Vallas has improved district finances. He cut a number of
non-teaching positions. He renegotiated agreements with providers of
school supplies. These actions provided money to hire new teachers
and repair some school buildings. But the Philadelphia school
district is far from rich. It has had to borrow money to operate on
its budget of about one-point-eight-thousand-million dollars.
A recent report criticized Pennsylvania for its financing of
education. The report was written by the publication Education Week
and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report said the state spends a
large amount on education. But it blames Pennsylvania for depending
mainly on local property taxes to operate school districts. It says
poor school areas cannot raise as much tax money for education as
rich areas.
This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Jerilyn
Watson. This is Steve Ember.