Calling on the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings on the need to improve student performance and to narrow the achievement gap in Philadelphia Public Schools.

WHEREAS, The education of our children is of prime importance to all citizens; and

WHEREAS, Parental involvement, characterized by regular supervision, support and guidance, tends to have a positive bearing upon student motivation and achievement not only for those students whose standardized test scores reveal deficiencies in the core areas of English, Math and Science, but also for students who may have other special needs and abilities; and

WHEREAS, Good classroom discipline and safe corridors both inside and outside of school and responsible health and safety measures contribute to a conducive learning environment; and

WHEREAS, Professional development opportunities for all teachers and auxiliary school employees, supplemental educational services for students and other new or revised School District programs, including those designed to reduce the number of high school dropouts and provide avenues for those who have dropped out to earn GED, constitute strategies for improving the quality of educational offerings for all students; and

WHEREAS, Parents require timely, clearly written information about the aforementioned programs and resources so that they can take the proper steps to ensure that their children take advantage of them; and

WHEREAS, Readiness for school, preschool, kindergarten and early childhood education promote early literacy and form the foundation for all higher learning and consequently, must receive priority funding and support and; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Philadelphia City Council hereby calls on the Education Committee to hold hearings to address the need to improve student performance and narrow the achievement gap.

End