Calling on the Philadelphia School Reform Commission to formally amend its charter school approval criteria to include a cost-benefit analysis of how new charter schools would impact the performance of existing nearby schools, and to give preference to new charter schools planning to locate in neighborhoods with the fewest high-quality education choices.

WHEREAS, Pursuant to requirements built into the recent cigarette tax agreement, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission will be considering applications for new charter schools for the first time in seven years; and

WHEREAS, Forty applications were received that intend to create entirely new charter schools and expand existing operations; and

WHEREAS, According to state laws, the SRC must hold public hearings on these applications by the end of December and hold a final public vote on each by the end of January; and

WHEREAS, The SRC stated in a recent press release that they will consider applications based on “40 specific components [within] four review criteria: academic program; organizational compliance; finance and facilities; and community involvement and support”; and

WHEREAS, The goal of public education is to ensure access to high quality choices in every neighborhood and its fundamental belief is that every child has the capacity to be a high performing student; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council calls upon the School Reform Commission to augment its list of charter school approval criteria to include a cost-benefit analysis of the impact new charter schools may have on nearby schools and to place more weight on establishing new charter schools in neighborhoods with the fewest high-quality education choices.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be delivered to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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