PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The School District of Philadelphia is getting rid of “leveling,” the controversial process by which teachers were reassigned to different schools each fall, Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. said. announced on Tuesday.
The school district said it will reallocate up to $8.8 million from its headquarters to fund the end of leveling in schools or classrooms after the start of the school year.
“Research shows that the single most important factor in a student’s academic performance is having access to an effective, highly qualified and stable teacher over time. The next factor is effective, stable principals,” said Watlington Sr. in a press release. “We are committed to investing in and protecting our classrooms from budget cuts to the extent we can. We have taken the following financial responsibility actions, including reducing central office budgets without laying off employees.”
Over the past year, the school district said it met with students, families, staff and elected officials to discuss leveling and the budget for the next school year, including a City Council hearing with Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore-Richardson and the chair of the Education Committee. Isaiah Thomas.
With the leveling off, the school district said it will make improvements and increase outreach efforts to students and families over the summer to get more accurate information about enrollment numbers in the 2024-2025 school year.
“The decision to abolish leveling is a good and very welcome decision. It will provide important stability for both children and staff at the start of the school year, helping to set the stage for a strong year. Over the years, we have worked to mitigate the challenges posed by the leveling up process.” Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said in a statement.
“It is important to know that the district recognizes and values the importance of a stable workforce. Every child in every school needs and deserves a highly qualified, certified teacher from the first day of school. It is imperative that we get this right for our young children. people We can and must do more as a district and as a city to ensure we have fully staffed schools where teachers and students can thrive together,” Jordan said.
