PHILADELPHIA—Philadelphia's worst-performing schools could be shut down and reopened under outside management or as district-run charters under a 5-year-plan proposed by the district's new superintendent.
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman says she knows everything in her draft plan for the 167,000-student district can't be done at once. But she says action is needed to give city students the basics of an education.
Philadelphia's School Reform Commission will vote on a final version in April. The draft "Imagine 2014" plan presented Wednesday would have a $50 million price tag over five years.
Along with new management for the worst performing schools it includes cutting classes to no more than 20 in kindergarten and 22 in first through third grades, and moving up the timetable for hiring new teachers.
