In this newsletter:
September 3, 2024
School Leaders Newsletter
Dear School Leaders,
Last week, our School District of Philadelphia community rang the bell on a new school year. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit schools throughout the week – including seven different schools and one bus garage on the first day – and I was proud of what I saw. At every turn, I saw District employees – operations staff, support staff, teachers and educators – interacting with students and families, helping our scholars feel welcome, appreciated, and missed. I saw a work force determined to make sure our students receive their rightful education in environments conducive to learning, in spite of the challenges they face. I saw young people smiling, excited to be back at school and joyful about reconnecting with their friends and the caring adults that they missed. Here are just a few photos from the week:
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that it was a hot week, and approximately 60 schools dismissed early on Tuesday and Wednesday due to extreme heat. Adequate cooling of our buildings is critical for creating safe and healthy learning environments for our students, and we will continue to install systems and perform upgrades in the buildings that need them. However, I also want to extend a hearty thank you to Deputy Superintendent of Operations Oz Hill, and the Operations team, who have worked diligently to install cooling systems in schools District-wide. Whereas in 2022 there were close to 100 schools that were inadequately cooled, this year there are 58. That is progress we should celebrate!
Indeed it was a wonderful week, and I am invigorated for what this school year will bring. Your hard and strategic work, combined with striving for our school-level SMART Targets and focusing on three key priorities for the 2024-2025 school year, will move us forward on our journey to becoming the fastest-improving, large urban school district in the nation.
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia
Mark Your Calendar
Items Due
Professional Development Assessments
Summer Program
important dates
9.4.2024
9.6.2024
Fire Drill completed and submitted into Previstar
Payroll Approval
Monthly Observances and Celebrations
9.7.2024
9.14-10.15.2024
9.16.2024
9.18.2024
9.20.2024
9.21.2024
9.30.2024
Brazilian Independence Day
National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Costa Rican Independence Day
- El Salvador Independence Day
- Guatemalan Independence Day
- Honduran Independence Day
- Nicaraguan Independence Day
- Day of Democracy
Mexican Independence Day
Chilean Independence Day
MIA/POW Recognition Day
International Day of Peace
International Translation Day
ACADEMIC SERVICES
NEW
Attention: pre-K through 12 Principals
[ACTION REQUIRED] Xello School Guidance Updates
At the end of SY 2024-2025, the School District of Philadelphia announced a move to a new college and career readiness platform, Xello, joining over 100 districts in PA. We began training high school counselors on July 30 and August 22 and will offer this opportunity again on September 4 and 5. We will continue to offer comprehensive training in a variety of ways from webinar, virtual and in-person training for school teams.
ACTION: All Principals will identify two Xello Champions BY OCTOBER 1 using the form in Xello Guidance Document attached. All tasks will be due at the end of Q2 and Q3 as outlined in the scope and sequence.
Contact: Cathey White | Director, Special Projects, | mcwhite@philasd.org
Application for Experiential Learning Programming
Outward Bound funding has decreased for the 2024-2025 school year and a vendor will be named through a current RFP process. Interested in experiential learning for your 9th grade students? Apply for funding!
Timeline:
August 8th - Applications Open
August 29th - Applications Close
September 4th - Awardees Identified
ACTIONS: Interested? Please review and complete the Written Application Document.
Contact: Geneva Sloan | Director, Postsecondary Readiness | gsloan@philasd.org | 215.400.5704
ACADEMIC SERVICES
REMINDERS
Attention: pre-K through 12 Principals
School Opening Support Daily Assignment Reminders
Listed below are a few reminders regarding the School Opening Support Staff member who will be supporting your schools as indicated on the spreadsheet. Upon the SOS arrival, meet and greet the SOS and inform them with a clear listing of supports needed for the school day; e.g. answering phones, support in the schoolyard, support in the lunchroom; hallway monitoring, walk-in registration support. Provide the SOS with any essential phone extensions within the school building; e.g. Main Office X7276 and who to contact for any type of assistance throughout the school day. Provide a space where the SOS can secure any belongings; e.g. bag, lunch.
ACTION: Please see the 2024-2025 School Opening Support Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet and ensure that the Staff Sign-in procedure is in place per District Policy.
Contact: Melinda Mammi | Senior Project Manager | mmammi@philasd.org
Credit Recovery Report Now Available
The School-Level Credit Recovery report in SIS provides School-level data detailing student transcript information and possible opportunities to complete a credit recovery course. School-based staff can utilize the Credit Recovery report to identify students who have failed at least one course for the year. The report contains filters that can be adjusted to display results for:
- Grade
- Failed Credit Types
- Failed Course Codes
- CR (Credit) Eligible (default = True)
ACTION: Please see the Stepper here.
Contact: Jeremy Wright | Director - School Organization and Management | jwright@philasd.org
Attention: high school Principals
Curriculum & Instruction
NEW
Attention: pre-K through 12 Principals
Math Implementation Updates
We know that partnering with families is a key strategy to supporting our students and increasing academic achievement. We want to make sure you have resources at your fingertips to do this work in meaningful ways! We will continue to develop more resources and tools throughout the year and wanted to share with you the various supports we currently have to cultivate family partnerships HERE. We will continue to update resources and welcome your feedback and ideas as we continue to prioritize family math!
Contact: math@philasd.org
ELA and Math Implementation Indicators
As part of our ongoing efforts to support the implementation of our ELA and Math core instructional resources, we have aligned key indicators from these areas to Danielson's Framework. This alignment will assist principals in providing targeted feedback and coaching to teachers, as requested. Further information is forthcoming on how this crosswalk is being integrated into our PowerSchool system to ensure a seamless experience. Below, you will find the ELA and Math Crosswalk of Danielson's Framework with our ELA and Math Implementation Indicators.
ACTION: Please click the following links:
Crosswalk 2024-25 IM Implementation Support Guidance & Danielson
StudySync Implementation Support Guidance & Danielson
Contact: Dr. Brian Meadows | Deputy Chief, Office of Curriculum & Instruction | bmeadows@philasd.org
REMINDERS
Attention: pre-K through 12 Principals
diversity, equiy, & inclusion
NEW
Attention: pre-K through 12 Principals
PEACE DAY Toolkit & Resources for Teachers
PEACE Day is a global day to take local action for peace. The materials offered helps educators engage in meaningful activities with their classrooms.
ACTION: See the attached toolkit and activities for ideas and Peace Day resources.
Contact: Lisa Parker | Peace Day Philly Director | peacedayphilly921@gmail.com
early childhood
NEW
Attention: Kindergarten Principals
Reminder: Kindergarten Teacher Professional Development Opportunity
The Office of Early Childhood Education is offering “The First Three Months of Kindergarten” PD Training on September 4th. This session will cover everything teachers need to know about the Family Interviews and the KEI. All new Kindergarten teachers are strongly encouraged to attend; however, all Kindergarten teachers are welcomed. Registration for the First Three Months of Kindergarten PD Sessions is available in PowerSchool.
Contact: Geoff Thornton | Program Manager: Operations and Grants Development/PreK-3 Alignment gthornton@philasd.org | 215.400.5533
Reminder: Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) for SY24-25
The Office of Early Childhood Education is providing the 2024 KEI Digital Library for your review. Kindergarten teachers must enter KEI data into the state system no later than October 24, 2024. The District is requesting that principals provide two hours for Kindergarten teachers to enter all required KEI data by that deadline. Principals are encouraged to use time during Professional Learning Communities (PLC) for this purpose. No physical KEI Booklets will be sent to schools however copies can be made as needed.
ACTION: Please review the KEI Digital Library for more information.
Contact: Doria Mitchell | Director, K-3 Early Literacy and Special Projects | dnmitchell@philasd.org
Reminder: Kindergarten Family Interviews for SY24-25
During the first five days of the school year, the afternoon portion of each half-day is for Kindergarten teachers to conduct Family Interviews. Kindergarten teachers will additionally have up to 8 hours of compensated time, from August 26 and September 30, 2024, to complete their Family Interviews. Teachers must submit documentation of this time, using the provided Attendance Log, to their principals by October 2, 2024.
ACTION: Please review the Family Interview Memo and FAQs for more detailed information.
Links:
Family Interviews Frequently Asked Questions
Contact: Shelley Crognale | Program Manager: Operations and Grants Development/PreK-3 Alignment scrognale@philasd.org | 215.400.5585
evaluation, research and accountability
NEW
Attention: pre-K through 12 Principals
Important Updates about Renaissance Star
The Renaissance Star system has been updated this year to use different percentile ranks to show which students are At/Above Benchmark, On Watch, Strategic, or Intensive intervention.
These adjustments are necessary because Star renormed their tests using a new national sample of students. We are shifting our percentile rank cut scores accordingly so that student performance on Star in 2024-25 can continue to be directly comparable to student performance in past years.
ACTION: Please see this document for more information about these changes.
Contact: starassessment@philasd.org
evaluation, research and accountability
grant development
REMINDERS
Join School Resource Academy!
The School Resource Academy (SRA) program is a series of professional development workshops conducted by the Office of Grant Development (OGD) designed to build the capacity of 10 school teams to raise funds for school priorities. OGD's hope is to see more schools receive the supplemental resources they need, and so extensive experience or prior success in fundraising is not required. Must have a strong school leadership team who would like to strengthen staff engagement for fundraising for school priorities.
ACTION: If you would like to participate for the SY 24-25, please complete an application using this link.
Deadline to apply is September 6th. See the flyer here.
Contact: Laura Lau | Assistant Director | llau@philasd.org | 215.400-.5457
information technology
NEW
Attention: K-12 Principals
Reminder about the Code of Conduct, Progressive Discipline, and Student Chromebooks
Thank you for your continued work to ensure every student has a Chromebook and that your school’s Chromebook inventory is accurate. The District continues to pick up damaged Chromebooks and provide replacements to schools every 4 weeks using the data from school-managed inventories. While the process improves each year, we continue to receive many questions about student accountability regarding excess Chromebook damage or loss. While students should not be disciplined for isolated accidents, guidance from the Student Code of Conduct should be used when students show repeated damage and loss incidents within a school year.
ACTION: Please see the attachment for more details on how the Student Code of Conduct can be applied to damaged and lost student Chromebooks.
Contact: Luke Bilger | Executive Director of Educational Technology | lbilger@philasd.org
IT’s Chromebook Exchange Program begins Monday, September 9th
We are excited to announce that starting Monday, September 9th, we will begin this year’s Chromebook Exchange Program. This monthly Chromebook exchange will be driven by school need based on SIS enrollment and the lost, stolen, and damaged devices reported in your school’s SIS inventory.
ACTION: Principals, if you have not done so, please assign at least one School Technology Coordinator (STC) in the Role Access Delegation (RAD) application. Please see the full memo and details here.
Contact: Stephanie Sullivan Brouse | Deputy Chief, Technology Services | ssullivan@philasd.org
Tips and Tricks: Attendance Scanning and Badge Creation
As all master schedule schools have begun utilizing the new student attendance swipe system in Infinite Campus/SIS for this school year, we have included some tips to ensure the system is working successfully for each school. Steppers are available on philasd.org/sishelp and additional details are available in the linked memo - HERE
*Daily Shutting down and Starting Up* - Each kiosk must be completely shut down at the end of each day. *Equipment Placement - Internet and Electrical* - ALL scanning and ID printing stations must be plugged into an electrical outlet and an active internet port. The system will function most efficiently (process swipes faster) when they are hardwired into an active internet port. *Making Sure the “Please Scan Your Student ID” Field is Active* - When the system has been set to receive student scans, it is important to ensure that the “Please Scan Your Student ID” field is active (outlined in blue) in order for it to correctly populate the student’s information into the system (page 4 of the Student ID Scanning stepper - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nze5phQyXq-QKpQjLSYhgBicZnkOR1qG/view). *ID Cards Must be Registered to the Student* - All newly created ID cards must be registered into Infinite Campus as the last step in the badge creation process (page 7 of the Student ID Badge Creation Stepper. *Late Passes & Custom Alerts* - we are working with the vendor to get up and running and will communicate to all schools, these features are available.
Contact: I.T. Help Desk; 215-400-5555; HelpDesk@philasd.org
Attention: middle school & high school Principals
REMINDERS
SIS Coach/Teacher SIS Office Hours
School staff will receive information through the weekly Educator Announcements about upcoming SIS office hours for the following topics: *SIS: Google Passback/Grade Book Office Hours* September 19; 11:00 -12:00p; Zoom LINK *SIS: Campus Instruction Office Hours* September 25; 11:00 -12:00p; Zoom LINK. Sessions are available in PowerSchool with the above titles. Zoom links are included here and will be sent upon registration.
ACTION: Please view the Resource: SIS Coach and Teacher Resource Quick Reference
Contact: SISpd@philasd.org
Enrollment Verification
Enrollment Verification begins on Monday, August 26, 2024 and runs until Monday, September 9, 2024. The Office of Information Technology will be verifying that enrolled students are attending school during that period. The Enrollment Verification Dashboard report is available in the SIS starting on August 27, 2024 for Principals and Assistant Principals. A guide for Enrollment Verification and stepper for the Enrollment Verification Dashboard is linked below:
Dashboard Stepper: School Level Enrollment Verification Dashboard Stepper
Enrollment Verification Guide for Principals: SY2024/25 Enrollment Verification Guide - Principals
Please note that all students need to be enrolled and rostered into at least one attendance bearing course to be included in your school’s Enrollment Verification count. In addition, please ensure that teachers at your school are taking attendance in all periods, and that your school secretaries are resolving attendance events.
ACTION: Please also ensure your staff document all students excluded due to vaccination non-compliance per the guidance communicated by the Office of Student Health Services in the Student Exclusion tab of the SIS. The stepper for utilizing the Student Exclusion tab is linked HERE.
Contact: Colin Farrell | Senior Project Manager | cfarrell@philasd.org
operations
NEW
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
Schoolyard Improvement Projects Guide
Transforming schoolyards into vibrant spaces for learning and play is a collaborative effort that requires careful planning and coordination. Our "Schoolyard Improvement Projects Guide" provides a step-by-step roadmap to help schools navigate the process, from organizing at the school level to securing Board of Education approval. Whether you're planning a small upgrade or a major transformation, this guide will support you every step of the way.
Contact: Erin DeRocini | Office of Capital Program | ederocini@philasd.org
operations
REMINDERS
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
PROPER CHEMICAL DISPOSAL
As you return to your classrooms and lab spaces, the Office of Environmental Management & Services reminds you there are some items which should not be emptied down sinks or thrown into normal trash bins. We are prepared to help you and your staff safely dispose of chemicals and hazardous waste from science labs, shop and art classes, and maintenance activities. Each school has procedures for purchasing and disposing of chemicals. Associated safety details are found on our website: Safety Data Sheets (SDS) DO NOT DISPOSE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN THE TRASH OR RECYCLING: Scientific laboratory chemicals Fluorescent lamps Light bulbs with mercury Emergency lights Small sealed lead acid batteries Electronic devices with cathode ray tubes i.e computer monitors (non-flat panel) and TVs Blood pressure meters Non-empty aerosol cans Mercury containing products such as: vacuum gauges, medical devices, thermostats & thermometers, switches, gas flow regulators, novelties with mercury added For disposal of these or other chemicals, please complete the following form. Requests received during the week are typically assigned to the vendors every Friday. In addition to the above mentioned materials, all District facilities routinely generate electronic or technology wastes, including: outdated computers, televisions, cathode ray tubes and other electronic components.
ACTION: Please share this information with your team.
Contact: If your universal waste needs are more urgent, in addition to submitting this form, please send an email to greenfutures@philasd.org. Technology waste disposal services can be arranged by calling the I.T. Help Desk at 215-400-5555.
Catering by Food Services
The Operations division is pleased to announce the launching of Catering Services provided by Food Services. Our Food Services department has an experienced catering team that will gladly work with you to create a menu customized to your event. We can provide full service, corporate catering, buffet, plated or boxed options. that will provide services for small or large meetings, employee training sessions, professional development as well as any office celebrations. We offer a wide variety of menu choices: Continental breakfast, Sandwich trays, Boxed lunches, Snacks, Finger foods and an expansive Beverage selection. We currently offer full & office drop-off service in the Constance Clayton Education Center only. As a support service of the Food Service all revenues generated by the catering department go to the Food service fund.
EVENT BOOKINGS: To book a catering event, please complete the form linked below and we will get back to you within 24 hours during business days. You can also email or call Jarred Lee, Manager of Operations 215-400-5298 or jalee@philasd.org. He will be happy to assist you with all of your planning.
MENU ITEMS AND PRICING: In arranging for your function, menu selection and beverage requirements should be forwarded to the catering office at least 10 days prior to the function date. Our catering manager will be happy to custom design a menu to meet your specific needs or assist you in selecting the proper menu items and arrangements to ensure a successful function.
ACTION: Please submit via the catering request form.
***Schools who order catering have to pick up their order from the Dr. Constance E. Clayton Education Center at 440 N. Broad Street.***
Contact: Jarred Lee | Manager of Operations | jalee@philasd.org 215.400.5298
professional learning
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
NEW
<Reminder> Makeup ELA Curriculum PD for School Leaders
If you were unable to attend one of the Summer ELA Curriculum Professional Development (PD) sessions from June, July, and earlier this month, you will have one more opportunity in September! We are excited to share that on September 25th, we will be hosting a makeup PD day for both K-8 leaders and 9-12 leaders. The original two-day ELA PD for the K-8 Expeditionary Learning resource will be condensed to a one-day PD from 9am - 3pm. There will also be a half day PD on StudySync from 1pm - 3pm. These sessions on 9/25 will take place in-person, at a location that will be determined based on the number of sign ups we receive.
ACTION: By Friday, September 6th, please use the same Google registration form to sign up if you’d like to attend this optional makeup day!
Contact: principalpd@philasd.org
Grade K-12 Teacher Induction
Teacher Induction registration is open through September 30 for the following educators:
- Teachers who completed PAR (Peer Assistance and Review) at any time during the 2023-2024 school year are required to register for and complete Induction during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Teachers with Emergency or Level I certificates who completed PAR prior to the 2023-2024 school year and have not yet completed Induction are strongly encouraged to register for and complete Induction during the 2024-2025 school year.
ACTION: If you’d like to attend this optional makeup day, please use the same Google Registration Form to sign up!
Contact: Office of Professional Learning, Induction Team | teacherinduction@philasd.org
special education & Diverse learners
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
NEW
Special Education Curriculum: Intervention and Tier 1 Core Materials
The Office of Special Education and Diverse Learners is committed to a full menu of curriculum and materials for all diverse learners. We are currently assessing the need for schools with intervention programs and a curriculum adoption plan is being developed for new curricular elements.
ACTION: Please review the SPECIAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM: INTERVENTION AND TIER 1 CORE memo.
Contact: Lauren E. Miller | Executive Director Special Education Curriculum | lemiller@philasd.org
Special Education Behavior Support
The Office of Special Education and Diverse Learners has assigned Behavior Coordinators and Behavior Analysts to specific networks for support. The team will schedule regular school visits to support school teams within their assigned networks. If you need information about your school’s scheduled visits or wish to request consultation regarding individual student behavior concerns, please contact your Behavior Coordinator.
ACTION: Please review the SPECIAL EDUCATION BEHAVIOR SUPPORT memo.
Contact: Ericka L. Stewart | Executive Director Special Education Pupil Services | elstewart@philasd.org.
K-12 Online Adaptive Programs
Online Adaptive Programs have been purchased for all schools. Schools have been assigned either iReady, Achieve 3000, Lexia, iStation or Imagine Learning based on usage data from the 2023-24 school year. Please contact MTSS Academics Team if you have any need for support at oapvendors@philasd.org
Contact: La Tanya Miller | ED MTSS | lrmiller@philasd.org
Special Education Student Listing School Report
The Special Education Student Listing School Report is a data visualization that provides schools with information regarding IEP and ER/RR compliance, displayed by Primary Disability and Support Type. Users can download a listing of active Special Education students and their associated Special Education data for the entire school.
ACTION: Please find the attached stepper as support to access the updated report on SIS for Special Education Student Listing.
Contact: Dr. Laurena Zeller | Executive Director | ltolson@philasd.org
Special Education Compliance Monitor TIV
The Special Education Compliance Monitor (SPECM) supports the continuity of differentiated instruction for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) by working with school administration, teachers, and support staff.
ACTION: Review the SPECM Opening Activities document with SPECM and leadership team. Please review the SPECM T-IV and identify your school SPECM using the selection form after posting for five days.
Contact: Dr. Laurena Zeller | Executive Director | ltolson@philasd.org
Attention: Pre-K through 5/6 middle school Principals
Multilingual Instructional Resources and Guidance
English language development (ELD) instructional resources are utilized to facilitate the progress of our newcomer students and aid in developing English language proficiency. The Office of Special Education and Diverse Learners has developed guidance for teachers on the use of these materials. Please refer to Collaborative Pull-out Guidance for grades 3-8 to support English Learners (ELs) in developing English language proficiency.
ACTION: Please review the Collaborative Pull-out Guidance Grades 3-8 document.
Contact: Dr. Miulcaeli Batista | Executive Director | mbatista@philasd.org
strategic partnerships
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
NEW
Educator Open House at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)
Teachers are invited to learn more about the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts’ new initiative for students in grades 6-12 titled “Art Conservation in the Classroom: Science, History, and Creativity” on the evening of September 19. Come tour the Center, see conservation demos, and take part in a discussion of how we can serve your needs in the classroom through class visits that use hands-on activities to introduce your students to the field of conservation, connect to overarching STEAM concepts, and to their daily lives. We will also introduce the opportunity to be involved in a paid teacher advisory council to help us further develop lesson plans and activities together. The Open House takes place from 5:00-7:30pm on Thursday, September 19 at the Center (264 South 23rd Street; Philadelphia, PA 19103). Act 48 Credit is available, and refreshments will be served.
ACTION: To RSVP, please fill out this form.
Contact: Greg Stuart | Education Program Manager | gstuart@ccaha.org | 215.545.0613
FREE Penn Museum Back to School Celebration
You are invited to the Penn Museum Back-to-School Celebration on Saturday September 21 from 10-1!
Free Admission for the School District of Philadelphia community with code UTPTURNS10. Everyone can enjoy the field trip experience at the Unpacking the Past Turns 10 Anniversary Celebration.
FUN FOR ALL AGES: • hands-on activities • paint-making activity and fiber arts play space • family-friendly tours led by Penn Museum educators PLUS: • free soft pretzels* • complimentary tote bags for the first 500 visitors* *while supplies last.
ACTION: Please share this FLYER/information with your staff and students. Get tickets at https://www.penn.museum/calendar/354/unpacking-the-past-turns-10-anniversary-celebration.
Contact: Emily Hirshorn | Associate Director of School Programs | hirshorn@upenn.edu | 215.898.4033
student LIFE
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
NEW
Academy of Continued Education SY24-25 Info Sheet and Registration
The Academy of Continued Education (ACE) provides students who are experiencing temporary barriers to in-person instruction with teacher-led academic programming in a fully virtual setting. ACE follows the District academic calendar, uses District curricula and online core materials, operates between 8:30 AM and 3:24 pm, and shares attendance updates and progress reports of participating students with schools.
ACTION: Please find this year’s information flier below. This is an internal, principal-facing document to provide you with additional information about the pathways to ACE.Please view the ACE Information Flier for Principals. The registration link is also below! Before making a referral, please confirm that the student’s family is interested in their student participating in the ACE program and that the student has access to a Chromebook. Pending Student Health Services review, ACE will enroll the student and send them a welcome letter. Registration link.
Contact: Christine Cohen | Principal | cgodfrey@philasd.org
Academy of Continued Education Registration Open!
The Academy of Continued Education (ACE) provides students who are experiencing temporary barriers to in-person instruction with teacher-led academic programming in a fully virtual setting. ACE follows the District academic calendar, uses District curricula and online core materials, operates between 8:30 AM and 3:24 pm, and shares attendance updates and progress reports of participating students with schools. Principals refer students to ACE through the following pathways: 1) Temporary illness/injury – this pathway is for students who will have to miss school for more than 3 days, but less than 4 weeks, due to illness or injury. 2) Homebound – this pathway is for students who have been approved for homebound services and may benefit from the ACE program while they wait for their homebound instructor to be assigned, and/or in addition to their homebound instruction.
ACTION: Please find the registration link below! Before making a referral, please confirm that the student’s family is interested in their student participating in the ACE program and that the student has access to a Chromebook. Pending Student Health Services review, ACE will enroll the student and send them a welcome letter. Registration link.
Contact: Rudolph Williams | Director of Climate and Culture | rwilliams3@philasd.org | 215.400.4870
student support
NEW
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
504 Process Support for Schools
Please check out the 504 Resource Site created for school staff to access resources and information about the 504 process. The site also provides contact information for the 504 Student Support Specialists assigned to each network.
Contact: Michael Dettloff | 504 Student Support Specialist | mdettloff@philasd.org or Jennifer Rusak | 504 Student Support Specialist | jrusak@philasd.org
School-Based Counseling Plans Guidance 24/25 SY
School-Based Counseling Plan Documents need to be created, reviewed and submitted by September 27th. School counselors are submitting ONE set of counseling plan documents. If you have more than one counselor in your school, they are working together on these documents. Guidance and resources can be found HERE.
Contact: Meghan Smith | Interim Deputy Chief of Prevention and Intervention | measmith@philasd.org
talent
NEW
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
Oversized Classes; Letter Notifications
Oversized Classrooms: Action Needed
At this time the Office of Employee Relations is requesting letters be sent to all teachers with class sizes that exceed the contractual limit. See Article XVIII, G 4 (page 77 of the PFT CBA). It is the Principal’s obligation to provide each teacher who has an oversized class with a letter stating that the class is oversized and the reason. This is a contractual mandate. See Article XVIII, G 7 . The acceptable reasons set forth in the CBA are not exclusive – see the attached link below draft notice for guidance. This obligation is immediate and Principals should provide the required letter as soon as possible. In addition, the obligation continues throughout the school year. Should a class become oversized later in the year (e.g. due to new enrollment), the letter must be given to the teacher at that time. If a class is oversized and returns to within contractual limits, only to become oversized again, the teacher must be issued a second letter. You must retain copies of these letters in your office files. The Office of Employee and Labor Relations is available to assist Principals in this task. A copy of the letter should be sent to your Assistant Superintendent. It is recommended that a copy also be sent to your Labor Relations Officer. Over the past several years, the PFT has grieved this issue. A significant factor in the recent grievances has been whether the Principal followed the CBA and provided the teacher with the letter stating an accurate reason for the oversized class. Please be sure to take the time to completely and accurately document the reason for any oversized classes in your school.
ACTION: School Leaders are to send letters to teachers with class sizes that exceed the contractual limit as soon as possible.
Contact: employeerelations@philasd.org
talent
NEW
Attention: Pre-K through 12 Principals
PowerSchool/Evaluation Updates and Access; Identify Your SBTL
Year-long Observation Window for Tenured Teachers Starting this school year, tenured teachers (year 4+) in a formal observation year will be formally observed within a year-long window. Tenured teachers no longer have to be observed once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Instead, a tenured teacher can have their formal observation completed at any point of the school year from August to May. All tenured teachers will be prompted for two (2) formal observations, and the expectations regarding the two formals are tiered as follows: If a tenured teacher receives a Proficient or Distinguished score on their first Formal Observation, the Principal can waive the second Formal Observation. If a tenured teacher receives a Needs Improvement score on their first Formal Observation, a second Formal Observation should be conducted. Note: The second formal observation should occur at least 30 calendar days after the first Formal Observation was completed. If a tenured teacher receives a Failing score on their 1st Formal Observation, the 2+1 policy is implemented.
Now Available in PowerSchool New this year, Professional Development Plans (PDPs) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) will be completed in the evaluation platform. They are no longer Google docs that must be copied, completed, and uploaded to the systems. The tasks will live in PowerSchool and be assigned to teachers and NTPEs accordingly. In addition, all teachers (general or special education) will be assigned the IEP Goals Progress tasks. As usual, teachers can identify whether they are eligible for the IEP Goals Progress based on the classroom(s)/caseload(s). Most* evaluation processes have been assigned in PowerSchool, so Principals and Assistant Principals can now view all of their staff's evaluations to be completed for the school year. *Assignment of evaluations for some NTPEs and Year 1 teachers is still in progress.
Formative Feedback Starting this year, the Fall and Spring Formative Feedback has been eliminated from the leadership evaluation process. Moving forward, leaders will complete a beginning-of-year goal-setting document (PPG Goal Selection) and a Mid-Year Formative reflection. A leader's score evaluation will still be based on their summative, End-of-Year (EOY) FFL Observation.
ACTION: Identify Your SBTL: Please use this form to submit the name(s) of your SBTL or other fully-released teacher that should be observed against the coaching rubric this school year. Note: The names of SBTLs are not carried over from 2023-2024, so if you submitted their name last year, you must also resubmit it now.
Contact: Employee Effectiveness and Evaluation | effectiveness@philasd.org