Philadelphia City Council / Committee on Education

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on August 2, 2023 to hear testimony on the following item: https://phila.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1113360&GUID=684583EB-971F-43C5-A87A-2697CEFCCC90

The Joint Committees on Public Safety & Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, March 27, 2023 to hear testimony on the following items:

230089
Resolution authorizing the joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Education to hold public hearings to examine the status of capital programs for infrastructure repair as well as for toxic hazard remediation in Philadelphia's public schools.

230090
Resolution authorizing the joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Education to hold public hearings to examine the School District of Philadelphia’s use of in-school and out-of-school suspension as well as other disciplinary tactics to understand what actions merit such a penalty.

230091
Resolution authorizing the joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Education to hold public hearings to examine statistics for in-school violence protocols, student-to-student violence, parent-to-parent violence, and teacher safety

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 to hear testimony on the following items:

210218
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to identify and examine potential systemic biases in oversight that create inequalities between Black and white led schools, resulting in fewer resources or support for Black founded and led institutions.

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 2:00 PM to hear testimony on the following items:

220928
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to understand Pennsylvania Act 158’s changes to state graduation requirements and their impact on Philadelphia students and to learn more about the School District of Philadelphia’s plan to implement and support schools and students with these new requirements.

Note: This video has been edited from its broadcast form to remove employee user information. The content of the hearing has not been impacted.

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at 9:00 AM to hear testimony on the following item:

210978 Resolution calling for public hearings in Council’s Committee on Education to examine the School District’s newly proposed admission process for criteria based middle and high schools.

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 1:00 PM, in a remote manner using Microsoft® Teams to hear testimony on the following item:

210235 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to consider the equitable allocation of resources for the School District of Philadelphia under the American Rescue Plan.

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 10:00 AM, in a remote manner using Microsoft® Teams to hear testimony on the following items:

200430 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to conduct hearings exploring the benefits of the School District of Philadelphia mandating conflict resolution training at all curriculum levels.

The Joint Committees on Children & Youth and Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 2:00 PM, in a remote manner using Microsoft® Teams to hear testimony on the following items:

200630 Resolution authorizing the Committees on Children and Youth and Education to conduct joint hearings on protocols and decision making processes in place to protect the health and safety of young people as the School District of Philadelphia navigates a return to in person learning during the COVID 19 pandemic and the City’s role in bridging the digital divide for children and families in the 2020 2021 school year.

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphiaheld a Public Hearing on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at 1:00 PM to hear testimony on the following items:

200395 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to conduct hearings to investigate curriculum realignment opportunities within the School District of Philadelphia to ensure preparedness for Post COVID 19 career opportunities based upon Philadelphia’s labor market forecast.

200430 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to conduct hearings exploring the benefits of the School District of Philadelphia mandating conflict resolution training at all curriculum levels.

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Friday, June 7, 2019, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

190323 Resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings to discuss how well the School District of Philadelphia education curriculum is preparing its students for actual jobs in the workforce, increasing their cultural awareness, and what needs to be done to bridge the gap between education and workforce preparation.

Committee on Education
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

The Joint Committees on Children & Youth and Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, May 6, 2019, at 3:30 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:

190300 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth and the Committee on Education to conduct hearings evaluating needs and identifying priorities for services and supports to strengthen Philadelphia schools.

190301 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth and the Committee on Education to conduct hearings exploring the creation of a School District of Philadelphia “community connector” position to further enhance connections between families, caregivers, and school communities.

Committee on Education
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

Committee on Children and Youth
Chair: Councilwoman Helen Gym (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

The Committee on Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, April 30, 2018 to hear testimony on the following items:

171025 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings regarding Campus Philly and their efforts towards fueling the economic growth in Philadelphia and their efforts towards increasing the retention rates of college students.

180050 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings regarding Graduate! Philadelphia, a non-profit that supports adults who have some college credit and no degree to go back to school to get their diploma. The adults who return back to school to start or finish their college education have come to be known as "Comebackers".


Committee on Education
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

The Joint Committees on Education and Public Safety of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

160046 Resolution authorizing the joint Committees on Education and Public Safety to conduct public hearings to examine the physical safety of Philadelphia schools.

Committee on Education
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

Committee on Public Safety
Chair: Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District)

The Joint Committees on Education and Children & Youth of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at 1:00 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

170439 Resolution authorizing the Joint City Council Committees on Education and Children and Youth to hold hearings reviewing the impact of permanently prohibiting the suspension of elementary-aged students from the first through fifth grades in The School District of Philadelphia.

Committee on Education
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

Committee on Children and Youth
Chair: Councilwoman Helen Gym (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

The Joint Committees on Education and Housing, Neighborhood Development & The Homeless of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, April 3, 2017 to hear testimony on the following item:

No. 160077
Resolution authorizing the joint City Council Committees on Education and Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to hold public hearings to examine the feasibility of having a pilot program in Philadelphia to feed needy children when schools are closed due to emergencies.

Committee on Education
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large)

Committee on Housing Neighborhood Development and the Homeless
Chair: Councilman Allan Domb (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)

From the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education held Monday, November 28, 2016:

Kensington Health Sciences HS Teacher Angela Iovine testifies on the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment in the School District of Philadelphia.

View the full hearing here: https://youtu.be/zfTHKrvMFTQ

From the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education held Monday, November 28, 2016:

Academy at Palumbo Special Education Teacher Colleen Lawson testifies on the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment in the School District of Philadelphia.

View the full hearing here: https://youtu.be/zfTHKrvMFTQ

From the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education held Monday, November 28, 2016:

Kensington Health Sciences HS Teacher Eric Clark testifies on the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment in the School District of Philadelphia.

View the full hearing here: https://youtu.be/zfTHKrvMFTQ

From the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education held Monday, November 28, 2016:

Science Leadership Academy Beeber Teacher Melissa Lawson testifies on the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment in the School District of Philadelphia.

View the full hearing here: https://youtu.be/zfTHKrvMFTQ

From the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education held Monday, November 28, 2016:

Swenson Arts and Technology HS Teacher Ray Guzman testifies on the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment in the School District of Philadelphia.

View the full hearing here: https://youtu.be/zfTHKrvMFTQ

From the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education held Monday, November 28, 2016:

Philadelphia Speech Pathologist Sonya Britnall testifies on the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment in the School District of Philadelphia.

View the full hearing here: https://youtu.be/zfTHKrvMFTQ

Excerpt from the Joint Committees on Children & Youth and Education of the Council of the City of Philadelphia Public Hearing on Monday, April 11, 2016 to hear testimony on the following item:

No. 160049
A Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth and the Committee on Education to conduct hearings concerning the impact of five years of reduced state funding on safety, essential services and academic outcomes in Philadelphia
schools, and on vulnerable student populations.

www.phlcouncil.com

During a Joint Hearing of the Council Committees on Education and Children and Youth held February 18, 2016, School District of Philadelphia Nurses Peg Devine (Lincoln HS) and Eileen Duffey (Academy at Palumbo, Allen M. Stearne ES) testify about the challenges of serving the health needs of students in the wake of drastic staff cuts that eliminated hundreds of and nurses and counselors.

During a Joint Hearing of the Council Committees on Education and Children and Youth held February 18, 2016, Councilwoman Cherelle Parker (9th District) questions Karyn Lynch, Chief of Student Support Services of the School District of Philadelphia, about class size.

Parker is a former high School English teacher.

During a Joint Hearing of the Council Committees on Education and Children and Youth held February 18, 2016, Councilman David Oh (At Large) questions Karyn Lynch, Chief of Student Support Services of the School District of Philadelphia over the absence of School Reform Commission Members.

During a Joint Hearing of the Council Committees on Education and Children and Youth held February 18, 2016, Chair Helen Gym (At Large) questions Karen Lynch, Chief of Support Services for the School District of Philadelphia, about District issues.

School Reform Commission members were not present for the Hearing.

A Public Hearing of the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Children an Youth held Wednesday, February 17, 2016, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

160009 An Ordinance authorizing the Managing Director to contract with the Support Center for Child Advocates for the provision of professional services to the City for representing children in certain legal matters, under certain terms and conditions.

Councilwoman Helen Gym (At Large) questions Jacob Waters of the Philadelphia School Partnership during a hearing of Council's Hearing of the Committee on Education held Monday, October 24, 2016.

Watch the rest of the hearing here: https://youtu.be/Rp0CeT_5iG8