Education Discussion Group at The Inquirer Building

A City That Works - May 14, 2008

We had six people in this breakout group. Their interests and passions were around:

• Advocacy lens: Same gendered relationships would be taken into account with our plans going forward.
• Safety: Safety of students and faculty would be addressed from within the school as well as in the community.
• Urban districts: we would integration best practices of charter schools with all schools to increase the quality of our schools.
• We would increase the number of High School grads will be job ready or ready for college.

-- Moderator Ilene Wasserman

Performance measures (What would success look like?):

• Increase parental involvement—what enables parents to show up?

• College students would be role models and mentors for students which would increase the consistency/quality for our public school students and give learning opportunities and community service to local college students.

• Students involved in service learning (above) would continue their involvement and mentorship once out of college and into work world.

• Increase graduation rate by 50 percent.

• Track same students
gendered relationships and increase their successful performance in school and percent graduating.

• Increase the numbers
of parents showing up.

• All students would be
appropriately dressed.

• Adult advocates would
substitute for parents who are unable to show up.

• More teachers who stay more than five years.

• Track charter schools
that explore creative approaches to curriculum structure and apply practices.

• There would be a longer waiting lists for students and teachers.

• Increase in the number
of innovative programs.

Customer-service standards:

• Create more paid internship opportunities for students (high school and college).

• Provide incentives to
businesses to support internships.

• Address the issues within a more reasonable timeframe.

• Create a LGBT liaison.

• Parent advocacy group
to go to if having issues with school.

• Supported interface between school and mental health system.