A New York-based religious leader penned an opinion piece in today’s Inquirer that outlines what many of us here already know – some creative problem-solving needs to be done to help public schools in West Philadelphia.
Howie Beigelman, deputy director of public policy at the Orthodox Union, and a handful of other religious leaders toured West Philadelphia High School, West Catholic High School and Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School – a public school, parochial school and charter school respectively – in early October. Students First organized the tour. Beigelman highlighted the differences between the three schools, notably that the atmosphere was “less hopeful” at West Philadelphia High, where he observed that teachers often locked their doors during class.
He continues:
The three schools may be within walking distance of one another and serve families from the same community, but they might as well be worlds apart. As we know, West Catholic must charge tuition and Boys’ Latin has a limited enrollment, about one-half the size of West Philadelphia High. So despite living in a community with multiple school options, most students have access only to West Philadelphia.
This comes as no surprise to most of us. Nor do his possible solutions, but they are worth repeating. Beigelman sees some hope in the possible expansion of earned income tax credits and opportunity scholarships. It might also help, he notes, to expand the number of charter schools and increasing aid to all children. The opportunity scholarships aimed at low-income students that he is talking about are addressed in Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1405, introduced by State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams and others over the summer.
Here is a pdf of the bill: Senate Bill 1405
The bill is currently in the Senate’s Education Committee.
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