Charter-school advocates rally for expansion

FUELED BY THE School Reform Commission's recent announcement that it would accept applications on new or expanded charters for the first time in seven years, more than 100 advocates rallied yesterday outside the district's headquarters calling for more school choice.

The crowd of parents, students and educators applauded the SRC's announcement and bragged of high-quality charters with dual-enrollment programs and rigorous academic standards. Many said the failure of neighborhood public schools had spurred charter demand.

"Quality education should not be based on your ZIP code in the city of Philadelphia," Anthony Harris, parent of a 10th-grader at Freire Charter School in Center City, told the crowd. "Open the door for charter schools because charter schools work."

The city's 86 charters educate about 61,000 students - roughly one-third of the district's total enrollment - up from about 43,000 in 2010-11. An additional 40,000 students are on wait lists, advocates say.

The supporters thanked state lawmakers who approved the Philadelphia cigarette tax, which contains a provision that requires the district to accept new charter applications. It also allows denied charters to appeal to the state Charter Appeals Board.

Ashlee Franklin, who has a son in fifth grade at KIPP Philadelphia Charter and a daughter on the wait list for KIPP who attends Gompers Elementary - a district-run school - said she sees a big difference in the quality of education.

"[My son] has gone to a district school, and he's even been to a Montessori school, but none that we've experienced so far have been better than KIPP because they're not a file number in the principal's office [at KIPP]," said Franklin, 31. She said she supplements her daughter's schooling with lessons at home. "Hopefully that'll cover it until we get her in."

During the rally, advocates hoisted banners, waved signs and held a countdown for a ceremonial application submission as balloons were released into the air.

District spokesman Fernando Gallard said the evaluation process would be "balanced and fair," but also would consider the district's budgetary constraints.

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Saturday. Each applicant will have a public hearing within 45 days of submission. Gallard could not say when the SRC is expected to vote.

Critics of charters have argued that they lack sufficient oversight, select the brightest students and siphon money from district-run schools under the current funding structure. City Controller Alan Butkovitz echoed those concerns last month in a report that called for an overhaul in how the state funds charters.

Five charters - KIPP, Mastery, Freire, Esperanza Academy and Boys Latin - were represented at the rally. Each is proposing expansion or a new school.

David Hardy, founder of Boys Latin, said he wants to open a girls' school serving 1,450 students in grades six through 12. He said the district should close failing schools, regardless of model.

"They need to make sure that every child has the opportunity to go to a school that's going to serve their needs," he said, "and right now they can't say that."