Though officials did not guarantee that staff members who are forced to transfer will get another job in the district, Ackerman said that the district will not hire new teachers until those displaced land another position.
Officials noted the improvement of some of the first group of turnaround schools, but Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan said he has yet to see proof. Besides, he added, the district hasn't given schools enough time to see if the reforms put in place by Ackerman are effective.
"There's usually a five-year window to see whether or not [reform] is working," he said. "Without a year going past, a replication of this model and changing of criteria, that's a very difficult pill to swallow."
Also revealed yesterday were the finalists that will run six of the schools as charters through the program's Renaissance Match model.
The finalists are: Aspira Inc. of Pennsylvania; Nueva Esperanza Inc.; Foundations Inc.; Johns Hopkins University/TD Diplomas Now; Mastery Charter Schools; Mosaica Turnaround Teams; and Universal Companies Inc.
The Renaissance match schools are: Gratz, King, Olney East and Olney West high schools, and Birney and Clymer elementary schools.
Unlike last year, officials have assigned each school to one of four of the models. Last year, school advisory councils - composed of teachers, parents and community members - made recommendations to the district.
Officials announced two variations of their traditional model of the "Promise Academy." These institutions, run by faculty handpicked by Central Office staff, employed at least 50 percent of school personnel with more than two years at these institutions.
The traditional Promise Academies are: Fitzsimons, Germantown, West high schools and Alcorn, Barry, Pennell and Smith elementary schools.
The new "Innovation" model will have no limits on the percentage of current staff that can be retained. Their principals also will remain in place.
Schools under this model are: South Philadelphia and Sayre high schools and W.D Kelley Elementary School.
Under the "Promise Neighborhood Partnership" model, which officials said was modeled after the successful Harlem Children's Zone in New York, Kenny Gamble's Universal Companies Inc. will run Audenried High and Vare Middle School.
