Phila. SRC to discuss charter school relations today

Representatives from a charter school task force are expected to tell the Philadelphia School Reform Commission today how the district can increase communication and improve relations with the city's 61 charter schools.

Although the agenda for the commission's 1 p.m. meeting had not been finalized late yesterday, commission staffers said task force members were expected to present recommendations they developed during a month-long charter review.

"This is their report back to the SRC on the work they were charged to do," Amy Guerin, the commission's policy director said yesterday

The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the district's administrative headquarters at 440 N. Broad St.

The task force, which included parents, representatives from charter schools, as well as civic leaders, held two public meetings last month, gathered for three work sessions and collected written and oral testimony.

The School Reform Commission authorized the task force in December at the same meeting the commission adopted a new policy that increased scrutiny of charter schools.

When the task force members were announced in early May, district officials said they expected the report would be presented to the commission this month.

During today's meeting the commission also is scheduled to recognize two students from Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School who received top scores on the 2008 National Latin Exam.

Quadiyr Outlaw and Daniel Williams, ninth graders at the West Philadelphia school, will be honored for their achievements.