Edison Reaches Historic Agreement in Philadelphia to Manage Twenty Schools Wednesday, July 31, 2002 Edison Schools announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) to manage twenty elementary and middle schools in the School District of Philadelphia beginning this fall. This arrangement, part of an historic partnership forged between Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, marks the nations largest use of education providers for the management of public schools in one district. The twenty schools that Edison will manage represent nearly half of the 45 schools slated to operate under private management. I want to thank the School Reform Commission (SRC), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the people of Philadelphia for entrusting us with the important task of improving education for so many Philadelphia children, said Chris Whittle, founder and CEO of Edison Schools. We are all united behind that essential goal. The men and women of Edison Schools are deeply committed to delivering great results and improved educational outcomes for Philadelphias children and their families. We will not let them down. We have been hard at work, planning and preparing with Philadelphia teachers and principals, to help make these schools the very best they can be, continued Whittle. This is the most important goal for our company. Edisons five-year agreement with the School District of Philadelphia will enable Edison to work in partnership with school staffs and local communities to serve approximately 13,000 students and their families. This agreement represents the largest contract in the companys history. Gene Wade, Edisons Executive Vice President for Development led Edisons effort in Philadelphia. We are delighted to have reached an agreement that is both fair and reasonable. We are now ready to get the most important matter at hand creating and running great schools for young people in Philadelphia and their families, said Wade. Founded in 1992, Edison opened its first four schools in 1995. Since that time, Edison has grown significantly and is now the 45th largest school district in the nation with 133 schools and approximately 74,000 students. Elementary schools in Philadelphia under Edison management include: James Alcorn; B. Anderson; Benjamin F. Comegys; William F. Harrity; William D. Kelley; Kenderton; Alain Locke; James Ludlow; Morton McMichael; Luis Munoz-Marin; Potter-Thomas; and Laura Waring. Middle schools in Philadelphia under Edison management include: Norris Barratt; Gillespie; Penn Treaty; Anna Shaw; John B. Stetson; Stoddart-Fleisher; Mayer Sulzberger; and William Tilden. Since the SRC announced its intent to hire Edison this past April, the company has been hard at work preparing for smooth transitions and seamless school openings this fall. Edison has hired new principals, trained school leadership teams and met with parent leaders and community partners. New curriculum, textbooks and supplies have already been delivered to several of our Philadelphia schools, the rest are scheduled to arrive in August. When Edison Philadelphia schools open their doors in September, more than five hundred teachers will have received intensive, dynamic training in the Edison design, curriculum, and support systems.
|
||||