Constant turnover in the district's leadership makes matters worse. Chester Upland has had nine superintendents over the past decade and has been overseen by at least four different state secretaries of education.
It is important to note that the district is not among the nation's worst because the area is impoverished, because its children can't learn, because its parents aren't involved, or because its teachers don't care. There are plenty of talented children, concerned parents, and dedicated teachers in the district. Mismanagement and politics are the real culprits.
That has been proven by the experience of the Widener Partnership Charter School, opened by Chester-based Widener University in 2006. Emphasizing holistic education, the charter school supplements its core curriculum with music, art, drama, physical education, and foreign-language instruction. It also tends to students' social and emotional development.
The school's hallmark, however, is its partnership with parents and guardians, which encourages them to be intensely and productively engaged in their children's educational experience. Also crucial is the support of Widener's faculty and students.
In just six years, the school has had a tremendous impact on the community and the university. Parents who had lost faith in the city's public school system now have hope for their children's future. Students have more confidence in themselves. And their scores on statewide tests meet or exceed state and federal standards.
Moreover, unlike some other charters, Widener Partnership enrolls children through a lottery system, and its demographics are similar to the district's.
