A nonprofit research group's report has urged the School District to “refocus” its attention on building community engagement in Philadelphia's public school reform efforts.
The September 2005 report, “Time to Engage? Civic Participation in Philadelphia's School Reform” from the Philadelphia-based group Research for Action, looks at how public involvement in schools in Philadelphia has been shaped by recent changes like the state takeover and privatization of schools.
Its authors warn that as the School District turns to contracts with outside organizations to secure a range of services, neighborhood-based organizations and grassroots advocacy groups are brought into the District's “growing web of relationships” and may find it hard to take an “independent stance” from the School District.
In addition, the report argues that “the sense of urgency fostered by both the state takeover and NCLB [the No Child Left Behind Act] promotes a rapid reform pace, which can eclipse meaningful public engagement.”
Research for Action and many other education researchers have long argued that the involvement of community groups in developing and pursuing an agenda for school change is an important piece of successful urban school reform. The report notes that in public education, meaningful engagement by the community has three key dimensions: setting an agenda for reform, holding officials accountable, and sustaining reform over time as school and political leaders change.
The report points to a District strategy of “partnership by contracts” as tying many traditionally independent groups into the School District's agenda at the same time that the School District is developing and approving record numbers of outside contracts, often with little or no public discussion.
The report suggests that the District look at making its decision-making processes more inclusive.
"The District could encourage more civic engagement by developing more forums for parent and community input at the District level and at the school level," commented Eva Gold, the lead author of the report. “With all the new programs and new schools that are now being developed, there are opportunities to strengthen these by involving parents, teachers, and students in decision-making.”
The report can be found on line at www.researchforaction.org or can be ordered by mail free of charge from Research for Action, 3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.