Authorizing the Committee on Education to conduct public hearings to examine the Philadelphia School Reform Commission's approval process as it pertains to the composition, qualifications, and diversity of a Charter School applicant's Board of Trustees.

WHEREAS, Charter Schools are independently operated public schools that are funded with federal, state and local tax dollars; and

WHEREAS, The legislative intent of Charter Schools are to improve pupil learning, increase learning opportunities for all pupils, encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods, and create new professional opportunities for teachers, provide parents and pupils with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia is home to

eighty three Charter Schools that educate 63,441 of our City’s children; and

WHEREAS, A Charter Schools board of trustees has the authority to decide all matters related to the operation of the school, including, but not limited to, budgeting, curriculum, operating procedures, and the employment, discharge, and contracts with necessary professional and nonprofessional employees subject to the school’s charter; and

WHEREAS, The authority appointed to a board of trustees over a charter school’s operations and employees cannot be wielded by any other individual or conglomerate, including but not limited to the applicant, founder, or management company, now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Education is hereby authorized to conduct public hearings to examine the Philadelphia School Reform Commission’s approval process as it pertains to the composition, qualifications, and diversity of a Charter School applicant’s Board of Trustees.

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