Charters' approach is working
Officials should allow a college-focused group of schools to expand its local enrollment.
By Bill McDermott
A skilled workforce is the lifeblood of any successful company, industry, or economy. Unfortunately, many young people in Philadelphia and across the country are falling short of their global counterparts. In a recent ranking of 31 developed countries, American students finished 15th in reading, 19th in math, and 14th in science.
Other statistics suggest we may be headed for trouble. International patent filings from the United States declined by 11 percent last year, while China's increased by nearly 30 percent. Although many of the world's finest engineering programs call the United States home, the country ranks only 22d in production of new engineers per capita.
Like many of my peers in the Philadelphia business community, I am committed to improving our public schools' ability to prepare students for careers, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math. But when almost half of Philadelphia high school students eventually drop out, and less than 20 percent of those who graduate go to college, they are unlikely to learn the skills they need to succeed.
At a time when many are debating how to best educate our young people, I have seen a model that works firsthand: the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP). KIPP is a national network of 82 free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools that are producing some of America's most promising young leaders. The program is part of the reason why President Obama's national education agenda calls for more charter and specialty schools to provide real competition for traditional public schools in the drive to improve education for all.
KIPP believes in high-performance learning techniques, a "no shortcuts, no excuses" attitude, more time in school, student and parent commitment to its philosophy, real-life experiences, and compassionate teachers who are available after hours.
We are fortunate to have two KIPP schools in Philadelphia. KIPP Philadelphia Charter School opened in 2003 and currently serves 340 students in the fifth through eighth grades. KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School opened in 2009 with 90 fifth graders and will add a grade each year until it reaches full enrollment.
Eighty percent of the students enrolled in these schools are eligible for federally subsidized meals. By the end of their first year at KIPP Philadelphia, students outperform the neighborhood schools they attended by 35 points in math and 20 points in reading on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. By the end of their fourth year, their scores are competitive with students from Philadelphia's most affluent suburbs.
Nationwide, more than 85 percent of KIPP students who have completed eighth grade have gone on to college. That's because their educational experience is focused on college readiness.
Today, the School Reform Commission is scheduled to consider 19 applications for expansion from public charter schools, including KIPP Philadelphia's request to open new elementary and high schools this summer. This is an opportunity for the SRC to demonstrate its commitment to high-quality education by allowing KIPP to provide a holistic, college-preparatory education to more than 1,300 children in the city. Let's give them that chance.
