Property Tax Relief Threatens School Funding
The PA legislature approved property tax relief for lower income homeowners with the condition that school taxes cannot rise beyond the rate of inflation without voter approval. The PA legislature did not commit to higher funding of PA public schools however.
PA ranks in the bottom half of states in terms of school funding from the state government. As a result, local school taxes pay for most of the cost of public schools in PA. In fact school taxes pay for about 90% of school operations in Cheltenham. The PA legislature has a weak commitment to public education and has determined to limit the ability of local school boards to maintain high quality schools.
CAAA Honors 10 Seniors at CHS
The Cheltenham African American Alliance honored
10 CHS seniors at the senior award night. The honorees will attend the following colleges:
University of Chicago, Swarthmore, Hampton, Villanova, Slippery Rock, Lafayette, Oral Roberts, Rochester Institute of Technology and Philadelphia University
After School Tutors
Do you know of any teachers or persons that are interested and willing to tutor students beginning in September 2006?
8th Graders Visit Canada
8th graders that are taking a foreign language at Cedarbrook are visiting Montreal and Quebec City Canada this weekend. Are you on the outside or inside of this enrichment activity?
New Cheltenham School District
Within the past 3 years the Cheltenham School District changed dramatically while maintaining high academic standards. New principals are in most of the schools, department heads and senior teachers retired, the district is searching for a new superintendent and less than half of the students are white. African American student achievement on the state PSSA tests appear to be improving. Yet, the success of the district requires higher achievement by the African American students. Higher expectations of the African American children by parents, teachers, administrators and community are a central part of increasing African American achievement. Increased communication between parents and teachers and after school tutoring for many students are also necessary.
Middle School Proficiency
60% of African American and 90% of white 8th grade students at Cedarbrook Jr. High were proficient on the state PSSA test last year.
Cedarbrook Seeks Increased Discussions with Parents
The principal and teachers at Cedarbrook seek increased dialogue with African American parents. Through discussions between teachers, parents and administrators the schools, students, parents and community will improve. Without dialogue opportunities to solve problems and take new directions will be lost.
Academic Achievement of African American Boys
Parent, teacher and administrators discussed the treatment and academic performance of African American students in the Cheltenham school district during a CAAA meeting on 5-22 at Cedarbrook Middle School. Issues included how to engage the boys, what is it about the middle and high schools that may be turning the boys off, what can be done?
De tracking at Cheltenham High School
The Cheltenham High School will eliminate the below grade level classes for freshemn in the 2006-2007 school year. All students will be given an opportunity to be at grade level or above. Support for students moving up to grade level is planned to make the transition successful. The Cheltenham African American Alliance supported this de tracking effort.
Parent Tips
The following are general tips to assist parents navigate the Cheltenham School District
· The schools want, expect and require parent advocacy for children. Talk to the teachers about what you expect, your high expectations for your child.
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· Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher(s) in the beginning of the school year. Tell him/her you have high expectations for your child. Give the teacher your telephone number, mobile # to call for any concern.
· Attend parent/teacher conferences. Check with the teacher to schedule a time that is convenient (i.e. before school, after school, by phone).
· Check Letter Grade available at www.cheltenham.org at least once a week to check your child’s assignments, quizzes, test scores and interim progress reports.
· If you notice that there has been a change in your child’s progress, contact your child’s teacher(s) immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss any change.
· Encourage your child to participate in school activities and functions (i.e. Reading Olympics, Problem Solving , School Newspaper, Orchestra, Choir, Robotics, Art Club, Sports Programs etc.)
· Check your child’s Daily Activity Planner (DAP) to find out daily and long term assignments. If the DAP is blank, check Letter Grade.
· Review the Cheltenham School District Road Map to Graduation to determine whether your child is on target for moving from grade to grade, and will meet graduation requirements. Remember, as early as third grade, children may be placed in accelerated math and can be tested for the gifted program even earlier, when requested by the parent.
· If your child has scored below the proficient level in the PSSA or in the lower 49th percentile on a PA Department approved standardized achievement test (SAT 9), you should be eligible to receive up to $500 reimbursement for tutoring in math and reading. Contact Classroom Plus at www.classroomplus.k12.pa.us, call 1-800-698-2720 or the School District.
· Talk to you child about his/her progress. If he/she expresses any concerns, contact the teacher or the principal to discuss the issue.
· Make sure your child reads the required summer reading. Usually, this will count as the first assignment for the upcoming school year. Summer loss will be significant if your child does not read during the summer break.
· Realize that the District has an extensive above grade level program beginning in third grade through the high school. Get information from the School District.
Parent Organization Honors 10 Outstanding Seniors
The Cheltenham African Alliance shall award scholarships to 10 outstanding students at the June 6, 2005 Senior Night at Cheltenham High School.
Students Succeed in More Rigorous Classes
40 of 41 students who moved up a level in the Phase Advancement program at the Cheltenham High School received a B or better in the higher level class during the first marking period of the 2004-2005 school year. The Phase Advancement program is intended to place students in classes with higher levels of rigor. Students are supported with encouragement and some tutoring.
10 Parent Concerns
1. low expectations of children 2. excessive discipline of children 3. failure to place children in appropriate level of rigorous and advanced courses 4. excessive special education placement of children 5. peer pressure for low achievement 6. lack of accountability by schools for the achievement of children 7. inadequate commitment of schools to raise achievement of children 8. lack of clarity on school programs 9. unequal access to extra curricular opportunities for children 10. Need for more parent and community involvement to raise student achievement
Parent Advocacy
Parents of children in Pennsylvania's public schools are organizing to raise the achievement and reduce gaps for African American children. Some initital meetings of parent leaders from Southeastern PA have started conversations on ways to combine energies to give our children a chance to excel. Strong parent organizations can make school districts accountable for the success of our children.
