In the year ahead, Mayor Nutter’s administration will open an office to help more city residents to and through college, and seek from area universities up to 100 new scholarships for city students.
It’s part of a push to sharpen the city’s focus on higher education – an area not often embraced by mayors traditionally more consumed with their kindergarten-through-12th-grade school systems.
“If we are going to remain economically competitive as a region, we have to get more kids going to college,” said Lori Shorr, Nutter’s chief education officer.
At the outset of his administration two years ago, Nutter set as a goal doubling the percentage of city residents who have college degrees, which was 18 percent in the 2000 census.
“Education is critically important to the future of this city at all levels. We talk about education in the context of K-16,” Nutter said.
In wide-ranging interviews on education last week – the midpoint of Nutter’s four-year term – the mayor and his education officials heralded a three-percentage-point increase in the Philadelphia School District’s graduation rate, even though it means four of every 10 students still fail to graduate in six years.
They vowed strong support for Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, who has come under fire in recent months for her leadership style; stressed the need for more emphasis on school safety in the wake of racial attacks on students at South Philadelphia High School; and released what will become an annual report card on K-12 and higher-education success rates for city students.
Among the education accomplishments of the last two years, Nutter and Shorr pointed to a steady rise in academic achievement for the school district, though about half of students still can’t read or do math on grade level; more state funds for city schools; and a new, ambitious five-year strategic plan for the district. They also cited the nearly 1,500 new seats for students who have dropped out or are at risk for doing so, although the district now has fewer places in alternative schools for students with behavioral problems.
On the college front, a new “PhillyGoes2College” office will open early this year on the first floor of City Hall. It will direct city residents on where to get help in filling out aid forms and applications, preparing for SATs, and writing college essays. The office will run on a budget of $150,000 to $200,000, all raised from outside sources, Shorr said.
“We really thought one of the things we could do in City Hall is be a funnel for people – sort of the 311 of college-going,” Shorr said.
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Tags: Michael Nutter
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