Education Discussion Group with the Phila. Chamber of Commerce

A City That Works - July 21, 2008

There were six people in this group – one male and five female – who represented a variety of sectors: large international finance, nonprofit philanthropic, mid-size four-year-old corporation and a single-owner consulting firm. The different perspectives complemented each other well through vigorous dialogue. -- Moderator Harris Sokoloff

What does this goal mean to you?

• More people graduate and are model citizens, prepared to enter the work force in the city (and region).

• Each child reaches his/her maximum potential.

• It’s not just children. We have generations to educate – children and their parents.

• The rest of the agenda – public safety, healthy and sustainable communities, jobs and economic development, etc. – it all starts here.

• All children have a high component of [warranted] self-esteem.

Performance measures (What would success would look like?):

• Digital divide:

→ Fifty pct. increase
in the number of people with internet access over the next four years and who use that access for self-improvement/development.

→ Increase percentages/numbers of students with Internet access and how to use that access for learning.

→ Teachers who use it for wise pedagogic uses.

→ Seventy-five pct. more
teachers and librarians are trained in the use of computers for learning. Including how to ask questions to get good answers.

→ Requires that parents learn as well.

• Libraries:

→ Functional libraries in every school in two to four years.

→ Partnership with community libraries/free library system to make this happen – not just a school activity, but also free library role here.

→ Librarians in free libraries trained to be child friendly.

→ Libraries should have sufficient books so each child can borrow.

→ School libraries should be open after school and into evening for family use.

→ Library work should be integrated into classroom-based uses.

→ Libraries should have books keyed to classroom curriculum

• Post-secondary readiness plan for every child

→ One hundred pct. of children have school/job plan by the time they are in high school (which means it should start earlier).

→ Regular follow-up every 1-3-5-10 years.

→ Enrichment for children

• Recreation:

→ Playgrounds for every elementary school.

→ City supported and citizen built.

→ City engaged in them long term.

• City engage corporate sector in providing support for school.

• “Parent Education” in schools in evening, perhaps with different name than “parent education”; parenting skills; literacy work.

• Integrated approach to child development/child growth pre-K through adult hood.

→ Twenty pct. of parents participate yearly program for parents to help children.

→ Space for every parent who wants to participate.

→ Focus on social, emotional, educational and physical development.

→ Give specific tools for parents to use.

→ Offered in schools and public libraries.

→ Schools used as community centers.

Customer-service standards:

• Answer phone politely.

• Provide accurate information.

• Address problem that is being presented by the caller.

• Follow-up on the call and keep business/citizen informed.

• Assess staff performance on the above: metrics, citizen complaint numbers, report card.

• Have an “escalation system.” It should be clear who to talk with if not satisfied and how to reach that person.

• Include a clear directory of who’s in charge of what and how to contact that person.