SPECIAL FEATURE & OPPORTUNITIES
|
|
CSO Virtual Community Engagement Workshop: Coalition Against Hunger
The CSO will be hosting a Workshop themed around food access on Thursday, December 16, 2021, from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EST). The Workshop will allow the sector to engage directly with the presenter, Coalition Against Hunger, and learn about accessible food resources and programs.
Please note, while we hope workshops support in bringing additional attention and resources to the charter sector, the CSO does not endorse or require the participation of any school, staff member, student, or guardian. The organization of these workshops is only intended to provide information and facilitate discussion. Participation and engagement is at the discretion of the school.
To register in advance for the Workshop, click here. Agenda details will be shared later this week with family engagement liaisons, operations coordinators, and interested sector personnel. We hope to see you there!
|
|
Teen Leadership Assistants
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s out-of-school time program, Literacy Enrichment After-school Program (LEAP), is seeking Philadelphia high school students who are interested in serving as near-peer mentors, and encourages them to sign up as a Teen Leadership Assistant (TLA) to support with staffing the Library’s initiative.
LEAP is a free, drop-in, out-of-school time program for children and teens in grades K-12, and offers youth a safe space to unwind after school, complete homework, and develop positive relationships with peers.
This position is a great first job for youth as it provides mentoring, opportunities for peer collaboration, and introduces them to 21st Century skills. For more information, students are encouraged to review this flyer. Questions can be shared with Out-of-School Time Program Manager Heather Sparks at SparksH@freelibrary.org.
|
|
Global Recognition
Mathematics, Civics, and Sciences Charter School was recently featured in the news for its mock trial team that is celebrated as being one of the best student-lead trial teams in the world! The team, which focuses on criminal justice reform, was chosen to be one of 20 teams to compete in this year’s Empire Mock Trial World Competition finals, just a year after winning fourth place in the same tournament. On behalf of the entire CSO and charter sector, we want to congratulate the students for their amazing work and representing the Philadelphia community!
|
Community Grant Awards
The CSO would like to congratulate the following charter schools for being awarded grants to support family engagement initiatives in response to their District-Wide Surveys (DWS):
- Independence Charter School West
- Pan American Charter School
- Wissahickon Charter School
|
|
|
Top Charter School Ranking
The CSO congratulates the following schools on being recognized as a top charter school in Pennsylvania per the U.S. News & World Report! We know that your teachers and staff work tirelessly to support students, and want to extend our appreciation and support for this outstanding recognition. We hope charter leaders take a moment to congratulate their peers for this achievement!
- Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School
- Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School
- Mathematics, Science, and Technology Community Charter School
- Philadelphia Academy Charter School
|
|
|
CSO UPDATES & UPCOMING DEADLINES
Ensure to review pertinent upcoming deadlines and updates below. Deadline dates will be in red for reference. Feel free to contact charters@philasd.org with additional questions.
|
|
|
User Verification & PA Secure ID Updates
To support Information Technology (IT) with management of systems user accounts, network administrators are strongly encouraged to review their school-specific user verification form and make updates, specifically on behalf of former employees no longer with the school, and/or users who no longer need access to a system(s).
More information on the user verification process and updating access can be found on our School FAQs page within the ‘Access to Various Systems’ section. Please contact Jasmine at jdreyes@philasd.org with any questions. For technical assistance, please contact IT at helpdesk@philasd.org.
Additionally, any charter schools still have active students without PA Secure IDs. Please note, schools will not be able to edit Infinite Campus (SIS) data for current students or enroll new students without a state ID. Instructions for adding PA Secure IDs are outlined in this stepper.
|
|
IMPORTANT: Renewal 2021-22 RSV Reminder
In order to establish next steps for the Renewal Site Visit (RSV), please complete the following form by Friday, December 10, 2021 confirming the school’s mission evidence sources, preferred site visit dates, and availability to complete the RSV (artifact submission, focus group interviews, school observation).
The CSO will conduct the appropriate follow-up based on the charter school’s responses.
|
Flat Rate Program Reminders
As the first round of Flat Rate program payments begin to be distributed to families, schools may direct inquiries to Michael Prete at parentrans@philasd.org who can answer questions about billing and provide school-specific information upon request, including a comprehensive list of a specific school’s Flat Rate program participants.
|
|
|
PHLConnectED Digital Support Grants
PHLConnectED is launching a grant to foster and develop creative school-based digital support initiatives for pre-K-12 caregivers. This opportunity aims to better support pre-K-12 student households by providing funding for local education agencies (LEAs), school/pre-K providers, school-based networks, and/or partnerships between schools/pre-K providers and community-based organizations to offer school-specific group and 1:1 digital support services to caregivers.
The deadline to submit a request for proposal (RFP) is Wednesday, January 12, 2022. You can also find the RFP and budget template documents on the PHLConnectED webpage.
|
|
NCA Public Hearings
The Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) will be holding a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 2:00 PM (EST) for new charter school applications. New charter applicants will be given fifteen minutes to present information about its application. Philadelphia community members will have the opportunity to share feedback at 4:00 PM.
To register to speak, individuals must either call the registration line at 215-400-5959 or email schoolboard@philasd.org by 5:00 PM on Monday, December 20, 2021. For additional hearing details and the registration link, please visit the Board’s website.
|
|
|
School Information Sheets
The CSO encourages schools to continue to refer to, update, and utilize their School Information Sheets, available via Epicenter. Critical information lives in these sheets that inform the CSO and District partners of operational updates, such as COVID-related closures and high-level administrative changes, to name a few.
We will be working in the coming months to further improve the feasibility of the Sheets and add resources to support your school’s operations. In the meantime, if you have any questions or feedback to share with us, we encourage you to do so by contacting charters@philasd.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|