Comments on: I should run for office.

By: PDB

PDB — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:26:34 +0000

From the Wissahickon Charter School’s website:

WHO CAN ATTEND CHARTER SCHOOLS?

“Charter schools are open to any student in Pennsylvania who is of the appropriate age or grade for the school. First preference is given to students living in the school district in which the charter school is located. Accordingly, Wissahickon must admit all Philadelphia applicants before any out-of-city applicants may be considered. All students, with the exception of the children of the school’s founders and siblings of existing students, must be selected by lottery. The first Wissahickon Charter School lottery will be conducted on April 1, 2002. A 1999 amendment to Act 22 also permits the formation of charter schools limited to children “at risk,” but Wissahickon is not such a school and will accept all applications.”

I don’t think siblings have to be selected through the lottery; they can get in at the discretion of the charter school’s administration which means that they typically get in if they have a brother or sister in the charter school.

By: lawmummy

lawmummy — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:56:50 +0000

Is that really true? I heard that there is no requirement for the school to accept a sibling.

By: PDB

PDB — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:57:26 +0000

Send your kids to one of the City’s great charter schools? If one gets in, the others are guaranteed spots.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:13:30 +0000

Kelly,

You’re so right about not moving Katie from school to school. Constancy really is important to kids. My family (Mom, Dad, 6 kids and one pet or another) moved quite a bit when I was young so I know from whence I speak.

While I know you have to do what is right for your family, I’m glad you will all be on block a while longer. Deep breath, a better offer will come along.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:38:35 +0000

Kelly, I don’t know if there’s a “reason” or not, but I know we’d all be happy not to have you farther away quite so soon. Maybe there’s a reason like a much cooler house at a much better deal next year or something . . . but I agree with not moving Katie from school to school so much. I moved schools a LOT when I was young, even though we didn’t move, and it was rough. My mom taught at a private school for 3 years, so I went there, then I went to public school, but in the “advanced” (in most places “gifted”) program, so it wasn’t our neighborhood school for the last 2 years of elementary, then the school system shipped me to another area where I knew no one for the first two years of middle school, then bussed me to the farthest end of the downtown area for desegregation in 8th grade, and then I got to go to the same high school for four years, finally. It was hard to always be “new.” I appreciate the diverse experiences (including the church preschool I didn’t mention), but it was like moving, even though we didn’t, in some ways. Consistency is important. Maybe you’re meant to move at the first grade mark and she and her two siblings can have the common experience of the same school system. I know my brother and I shared nothing school-wise but my senior year and his freshman year of high school and that feels odd compared to most folks. And, lord knows, Roxborough loves and wants you for however long you stay here on your way to your ideal family location! I am hoping and praying for the best outcome for your and Chris and the kids, whatever it might be.