Update on FACTS-2 Charter Application:
Thank you to all the families and community members who are in support of FACTS-2. On February 16, 2016, the School Reform Commission voted on the approval or denial of twelve charter applications. FACTS-2 was denied.
To continue to fulfill our mission in serving the immigrant and refugee communities in a diversely rich school environment we will continue with the process, which includes a resubmission period and a potential appeal to the State.
The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) named FACTS the No. 1 school of all schools in Philadelphia for the 2013-14 school year. For the most recent year (2014-15), FACTS was one of only three charter schools rated by the SDP as a Model School, and FACTS ranked 2nd Overall out of the 140 K-8 schools rated. The SDP’s District Performance Team recently invited FACTS to share the keys to our success with Superintendent Dr. Hite and his leadership team. The Philadelphia Education Research Consortium selected FACTS to be part of its study of best practices for serving English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners.
With all these achievements, including having a nationally recognized ESOL program and our innovative work in folk arts education, we are finding it very difficult to understand why we were denied. We are reviewing the SDP’s justification for their denial and will be responding to it.
Special thanks to Jen Lai (parent), Maria De La Cruz (parent), Annie Huynh (former teacher) and Jennifer Butler (former student) who spoke in support of FACTS-2 to share their FACTS experience to the SRC.
Thank you,
FACTS Board of Trustees
Ellen Somekawa, Executive Director
Pheng Lim, Principal