Two-Year Report on Mayor Nutter’s Education Goals

Posted by on January 25, 2010

Nutter issues report on education progress

Mayor Michael Nutter’s Office of Education has released Shaping an Educated City: A Two-Year Report on Mayor Nutter’s Education Goals, a report on the Nutter Administration’s efforts to increase the number of Philadelphia students graduating from high school and to create a more educated city in which all citizens have the opportunity to reach their potential.

The Mayor’s Office of Education, led by Chief Education Officer Lori Shorr and her Deputy Sharon Gaskins, coordinates the work of city departments and builds networks for collaboration among key partners, including the School District of Philadelphia, the region’s colleges and universities, the business community, and the Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success – a body appointed by the Mayor that oversees the city’s work to achieve the his education goals.

The report details the accomplishments achieved during the first two years since the establishment of the Mayor’s Office of Education, including Mayor Nutter’s advocacy for
increased school funding and a new state education funding formula which led to an additional $51 million in funding for the School District of Philadelphia via the basic education subsidy.

The report also lays out priorities for the coming year. One key priority is a focus on increasing the number of Philadelphians who have the opportunity to attend and complete college. In the coming weeks Mayor Nutter will open a new PhillyGoes2College office in City Hall, a 3-1-1 of college-going. This office, on the first floor of City Hall, will provide information and referrals to young people and adults who need help navigating the college preparation and enrollment process.

Key accomplishments identified in the report include:
— A 12% increase in the number of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completed contributing to $194 million in additional funds for Philadelphia college students. The PhillyGoes2College Campaign recruited and trained 100 City employee volunteers to help Philadelphia high school seniors and their families complete financial aid applications.
— Since January 2008, the School District’s high school graduation rates have trended upward, including a 3 percentage point increase in both the four-year and six-year graduation rates.
— To help students who are off-track or who have dropped out, the School District added 1,490 seats in new small schools and innovative programs for the 2009-10 school year. There are now 5,000 seats allocated to these schools and programs.
— In 2008 Mayor Nutter led an unprecedented campaign to advocate for increased school funding and a new state education funding formula which led to an additional $51 million funding for the School District of Philadelphia.
— From the 2007-08 to 2008-09 school year, School District schools saw a 14.7% decrease in violent incidents citywide. In addition, state-designated “persistently dangerous” schools saw a 19.8% decrease in violent incidents over the same timeframe.
— The establishment of a Re-Engagement Center jointly staffed by School District and Department of Human Services employees, which has provided educational assessment, academic counseling, and access to support services to over 3,700 former dropouts who sought to return to school.

The report is available online here.
http://www.phila.gov/PDFs/featureEducation.pdf