PHILADELPHIA – This evening marked the final Action Meeting of the Philadelphia Board of Education for the 2023-2024 school year, with the Board reviewing and voting on key items including expanded learning opportunities in partnership with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Administration, school-based health and mental services, professional development and curriculum coaching for school staff, and capital and facilities investments.
The following items received unanimous approval:
Expanded Learning Opportunities
The Board authorized the District to continue operation of Out of School Time (OST) programs in District schools managed by qualified providers in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families.
The Board also authorized the District to enter into a contract with providers to engage students in learning activities beyond the regular school day. These OST programs offer research-based approaches to enrichment, engagement, and student growth opportunities centered in student interest, social-emotional learning, skills acquisition, relationship-building, and more.
OST programs give students unique opportunities to explore their interests through activities that are aligned to academic, social-emotional, and college and career focus areas. These OST programs also promote general economic stability for families across the District by offering programs, both during the school year and in the summer, that support working schedules in a variety of ways. Finally, OST programs are critical resources for violence prevention as they allow families to ensure that their children are able to remain engaged in safe environments with caring adults beyond regular school hours.
The Board authorized the District to work with service providers to provide school-based medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare services in select schools with the highest need.
Students’ academic performance, attendance, and social-emotional and behavioral wellbeing are inextricably connected to their health and wellness. School-based wellness centers, also known as school-based health centers (SBHCs), are an evidence-based intervention to increase health and education equity and are a key component of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s “Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child” framework for promoting health and well-being in schools.
SBHCs support the Board of Education’s Goals and Guardrails by helping to ensure every school is a safe, welcoming, and healthy place where students, staff, and the community want to be and learn each day. Additionally, SBHCs partner with parents and family members to ensure they are welcomed and encouraged to be partners in their child’s school community. Lastly, SBHCs address racist practices by removing barriers to healthcare in communities of color disproportionately impacted by primary and mental health care workforce shortages and other social determinants of health, such as poverty and lack of healthcare access.
Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS)
The Board authorized the District to work with mental health services providers to include individual therapy, group therapy, care coordination, and family support. Starting with the 2020-2021 school year, Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) has been provided in every school in the District. IBHS is designed to address the needs of children by providing trauma-informed and evidence-based therapeutic interventions that support the needs of our students and families.
IBHS is delivered by licensed mental health provider agencies approved by Community Behavioral Health at no cost to the District. These mental health providers are responsible for providing behavioral health services, which include individual, family, and group therapies, case coordination, and connection with a family peer specialist. Services will be provided in the school, home, and community for each student that receives authorization for the service.
Curriculum-Based Instructional Coaching and Professional Development
The Board authorized the District to engage vendors to provide instructional professional development and/or coaching to support K-12 curriculum implementation.
This work is connected to the District’s plan for every student to perform on or above grade level in ELA. Additionally, teachers and school leaders are the most important factor when it comes to student learning and academic growth. When educators feel supported, valued, and respected, they are more likely to stay in their roles and build strong relationships with students, which is paramount to student joy and academic achievement. Training and preparing school staff members for their roles allows our schools to prioritize high-quality teaching and learning, and cultivate environments that are supportive and nurturing to both students and staff.
Design Services for the Renovation of the Sayre Morris Recreation Center
The Board authorized the District to procure professional architectural services for the major renovation and modernization of Sayre Morris Recreation Center’s building systems and exterior.
While the School District will retain ownership of the property, the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) department will staff the building, run all pool-related programming, and be responsible for general maintenance and upkeep of the facility.
The Board is excited for this continued collaboration with the City of Philadelphia to expand access to recreation and aquatics for our young people.
Capital and Facilities Investments
The Board approved other capital improvement projects totaling almost $9 million, including:
- Interior Door and Window Replacements at James G. Blaine Elementary School
- ADA Bathroom Modernization at George W. Childs School
- ADA Bathroom Modernization at Martha Washington School
- Charter School Authorizations
Finally at tonight’s Action Meeting the Board voted on several charter school related matters.
This included the renewal of several public charter schools including:
- Ad Prima Charter School
- Laboratory Charter School of Communication and Languages
- Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School
- Maritime Academy Charter School
The Board also took action to deny a revised new charter application for Global Leadership Academy International Charter High School and adopted an Adjudication in support of the denial.
This Fall, the Board will further monitor the District’s 2023-2024 progress toward achieving its Goals and Guardrails through regularly scheduled monitoring meetings. The Board hopes the public will attend these meetings to learn more about the District’s accomplishments this school year.
“The Board of Education is immensely proud of our learners. We send a huge congratulations to all graduating students and a big thank you to our teachers, staff, and administrators for all they accomplished for our school communities” said President Streater. “As we close out this school year, this Board is already looking towards Fall when we’ll learn more about the progress made toward achieving the Board’s adopted Goals and Guardrails. The Board wishes all our students and school community members a safe and restful summer, and we will see you in the 2024-2025 school year.”
