WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) has been severely inhibited by budget cuts, layoffs and school closings in recent years, leading to struggles for educators and students alike. Partnerships with institutions of higher education have helped numerous SDP students further their academic careers by pursuing higher education; and
WHEREAS, Arcadia University has established a partnership with the Black Male Engagement Center. Arcadia staff members have worked closely with the Philadelphia Bar Association's Advancing Civic Education (ACE) Program to provide administrative and technical support to the many judges and attorneys who teach civics to students in Philadelphia public high schools and elementary schools; and
WHEREAS, Bryn Mawr College student volunteers provide art instruction to students at Overbrook Elementary School in grades kindergarten, first, second and fourth; and
WHEREAS, Cheyney University's administration of the CALL ME MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Towards Effective Role Models) program helps to increase the number of African-American males in the field of education; and
WHEREAS, The Community College of Philadelphia has enacted numerous partnerships and programs with children of all ages in the School District of Philadelphia, including but not limited to: the
Advance College Experience
wherein high school students earn college credit; the
ASPIRA/Olney HS College Readiness Partnership Program
which aims to foster equity for under-represented students in higher education; and the
Conveyor Belt College-Readiness Partnership Initiative
where students from alternative schools and GED programs in Philadelphia enroll in summer courses to gain early exposure to the academic and social experience of a college education; and
WHEREAS, Drexel University serves as a co-chair on the Empowerment Zone Education Committee and the lead partner organization for McMichael, Powel, and Martha Washington. It also provides investments in the areas of academic support and safety; and
WHEREAS, Harcum College provides the iLEAD program which supports accelerated school students seamlessly transitioning into an associate's degree program; and
WHEREAS, Harrisburg University is currently exploring the implementation of a STEM program in Overbrook High School; and
WHEREAS, Pierce College offers support for the YouthBuild Charter School and the GEAR-UP Program; and
WHEREAS, Temple University provides coordination of the MESA STEM Program out of the College of Engineering, as well as the coordination of the Let's Get Ready SAT prep program and various other leadership and workforce development programs. In addition, Temple University provides support for programmatic implementation at Duckery Elementary and Dunbar Promise Academy; and
WHEREAS, The Teacher Education Alliance is a collaborative of Universities who work to improve teacher effectiveness and includes: Temple University, La Salle University, West Chester University, Arcadia University, Penn State University, Holy Family University, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The University of Pennsylvania supports the Penn Alexander School and the Lea School via the Graduate School of Education to provide afterschool programs, behavioral and social supports and professional development. University of Pennsylvania also offers support for workforce development out of the Netter Center of Community Engagement; and
WHEREAS, West Chester University has been exploring programming to support a revised teacher preparatory program to support the two new high schools to be located in North Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The following Universities offer college preparatory services to high school students: Arcadia University, Bryn Mawr College, the Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley College, Dickinson College, Drexel University, East Stroudsburg University of PA, Edinboro University, Elizabethtown College, Harcum College, Harrisburg University, Holy Family University, La Salle University, Millersville University, Montgomery County Community College, Moore College of Art, Penn State University, St. Joseph's University, University of Rutgers - Camden, Temple University, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and recognizes the dedicated efforts of institutions of higher education working to improve the quality of education through the School District of Philadelphia and by increasing overall academic opportunities for the greater community by making higher education more accessible for all Philadelphians.
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