Corporations Advise School Closings, While Private Charters Suck Public Schools Away

By Kristin Rawls

February 15, 2013  |  On Dec. 13, 2012, Philadelphia became the latest major American city to recommend sweeping school closures for the next academic year. Under this new proposal, a total of 37 [3], or about 16 percent, of the district’s 237 public schools [4] will be shuttered this June. That’s down from the 40 schools [5] the city designated for closure back in May, but still represents an unprecedented move in Philadelphia’s history. The School Commission Reform, an outside body appointed to govern Philadelphia schools, has scheduled its final vote for March 7 [6].

Overall, 44 schools [6] will be affected by the shakeup: Of the 37 to be closed [3], three will relocate by merging with other Philadelphia schools. Beyond this, seven other schools will face major restructuring – i.e., though these school programs will remain intact, the schools themselves will be uprooted and moved to other buildings, merged with other schools, and/or forced to add or subtract grade levels. About 15,000 students [7] will be affected by the proposed changes. And though official numbers have not been released, hundreds of teacher and staff layoffs [8] are also expected.