Recognizing and congratulating Independence Charter School on the occasion of receiving The Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education.

WHEREAS, On March 25, 2009, the Asia Society announced Independence Charter School as the 2008 Elementary School/Middle School Category winner of The Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education, a national competition first launched in 2003; and

WHEREAS, The competition recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievement in schools and educational organizations that promote cultural awareness, world history, and a global curriculum as essentials in the development of the next generation of young Americans; and

WHEREAS, Independence Charter School is an urban public charter school serving a diverse student population of more than 700 K-8 students; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2001, Independence Charter School combines two second language acquisition programs with an interdisciplinary curriculum integrating world cultures, traditions, literature, geography, economics, and history; and

WHEREAS, Currently, 60 percent of students are enrolled in the Foreign Language in Elementary Schools Spanish Program where instruction is in English with a daily 30 to 40 minute immersion session in Spanish, while the other 40 percent of students are based in a total Spanish immersion program in which instruction is completely in Spanish. Sixth graders receive lessons in Japanese, and seventh graders receive Arabic lessons while maintaining Spanish lessons; and

WHEREAS, Jurate Krokys, CEO and founding Principal of the school, commented, “Our children come from 44 zip codes in Philadelphia through a lottery – and we prove that they not only deserve excellence in education but also that they can accomplish it. This award will help raise awareness about the unique urban education model we’ve developed and enable us to share our practices with other schools and educators, thereby benefiting even more urban students; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, the school has partnerships with the Greater Philadelphia International Visitor Council, the Painted Bride Arts Center, The National Resource Centers at the University of Pennsylvania, and are candidates for partnership with the Embassy of Spain to provide additional content, international speakers, and to support the training of its teachers; and

WHEREAS, The Goldman Sachs Foundation’s mission is to promote excellence and innovation in education worldwide. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded in excess of $114 million, providing opportunities for young people in more than 20 countries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize and congratulate Independence Charter School on the occasion of being the first charter school in the nation to receive The Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education.

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FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Jurate Krokys as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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