Philadelphia Daily News

By MENSAH M. DEAN
After running the Philadelphia School District for more than five academic years, the School Reform Commission is flunking when it comes to properly disciplining the majority of violent students and thoroughly reporting serious crimes.

By MENSAH M. DEAN
Special-education students at Martha Washington Elementary School this fall allegedly were forced by their teacher to fistfight in the middle of the classroom. They allegedly were forced to stand with their hands raised in the air for two hours, missing lunch.

Growing up in suburban Pennsylvania, the young man had heard horror stories from his grandfather about the Holocaust. His grandfather was imprisoned in Auschwitz concentration camp and lived to tell about it.

Tier 1 schools are those nearest to reaching their performance goals, under the No Child Left Behind law. They may see reforms including: Longer school days, weeks or years; new books, staffers and technology, including literacy and math coaches; and better instruction for students with disabilities.

Arlene Ackerman, whom sources yesterday said had been tapped to become the next chief executive officer of the Philadelphia School District, has a number of tests awaiting her - including implementing reforms at 70 underperforming schools by fall and negotiating new contracts for teachers and other school employees.

By MENSAH M. DEAN
Philadelphia students, parents and education activists yesterday demanded an end to what they called "sweetheart deals" between the school district and school management organizations.

Cassandra Jones draws fire
By MENSAH M. DEAN
Cassandra Jones, the city school district's chief academic officer who also is vying to become chief executive officer, yesterday denied telling a room full of principals, "I own you."

By MENSAH M. DEAN
If you ask a room full of Philadelphians for their opinions on who should run the city's schools, you'll get an earful.

Earning a high-school diploma in Pennsylvania will soon become more challenging following the state Board of Education's decision yesterday to approve a requirement that all high-school seniors pass a series of competency tests to graduate.

AS THE Philadelphia School District's student population shrinks, its budget deficit is growing larger, school officials said yesterday after a School Reform Commission meeting.

STUDENTS, parents and supporters of the academically struggling Philadelphia School District are bracing for today's scheduled vote by the state Board of Education on whether to adopt new graduation tests for high-school seniors.

I GOT a sick feeling when I read this week that a school district principal is in trouble for taking her time reporting a serious behavioral incident at her school. By now, it seems like most principals know that when an alleged assault happens at their school, they immediately tell higher-ups in the district about it.

By MENSAH M. DEAN
Arlene Ackerman, a finalist to become the Philadelphia School District's next chief executive officer, yesterday said her love of children and desire to help create successful urban schools makes the job appealing, despite having had a sometimes rocky six-year tenure as superintendent of San Francisco's schools.

The national search for a new chief executive officer of the Philadelphia School District has officially entered the "short list" phase, Sandra Dungee Glenn, chairwoman of the School Reform Commission, said yesterday.

By VALERIE RUSS
A nonprofit agency involved in educational research and evaluation yesterday urged business and community leaders, as well as parents and education officials, to "put aside individual interests" and work together to improve the city's schools.