Casserly is listing the changes that have been put into place in Philadelphia schools, including standardizing curriculum districtwide, increasing the percentage of highly qualified teachers, and longer summer school and school days.
"The reforms the school district is following are consistent and in some ways better than other districts you will see across the country. What sets Philadelphia apart is the many reforms it is doing at once and the diverse provider model," Casserly is saying.
That means the district is partnering with private education management companies, community and cultural nonprofits, and corporations such as Microsoft, in opening and running schools. The result has been academic gains, but he doesn't believe they are from the diverse provider model stimulating competition among the traditional schools.
Two big picture problems worry him the most: the finances of the school district and a fissure in the school governance model. Per pupil school funding is too low. Note from the blogger: Pennsylvania has been dreadfully slow at looking at how much schools need to adequately fund education. Casserly has given the floor over to Jolley, who has a Power Point. I shall return.
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