Title
Authorizing the City Council Committee on Education to hold public hearings to evaluate tracking for post-graduation pathways including college retention rates, career alternatives, military opportunities, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
Body
WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia is committed to educating our city’s children and providing them with post-graduation pathways. The goal for many in high school post-graduation is to attend college and earn a four-year degree. But it is essential to understand that college may not be the best path for all graduates. It is essential important to acknowledge the pathways that our students may take after leaving high school; and
WHEREAS, Students graduating from Philadelphia public high schools may choose to attend a four-year learning institution. However, the “traditional” college pathway may not be taken by all students. Some may choose to attend a 4-year school, while others may choose to attend a 2-year degree program at a Community College before attending a 4-year institution. It is essential that the school district record and study the academic paths our graduates take including the degree type they are working towards, the schools they attend, college retention rates, graduation rates, and employment rates post-graduation; and
WHEREAS, Many students feel that direct employment is the more beneficial option for their life. College is not the right path for each individual student. Some students graduate and move on to employment related opportunities. Many high schools have career programs that train them in a trade during their academic years and then connect them with a trades-position post-graduation. It is essential that the School District track the number of students who are participating in these programs, the types of employment they undertake post-graduation, promotion rates in their organizations, and the career locations for these students; and
WHEREAS, Some students may elect to join a branch of the United States Armed Services after graduating. Many high schools in the District offer Junior Reserve Officer Training Courses to allow students the opportunity to experience military training and rigor. Some of these students may go on to enlist. Students who chose the military route have numerous opportunities available to them. Enlisted servicemembers can maintain long and prosperous military careers serving all over the United States and around the world. In addition, The Post 9/11 GI Bill gives military veterans funding for educational opportunities. It is necessary for the School District to study student enlistment in the military and the paths they take during that time; and
WHEREAS, In addition to many of the positive paths post-graduation, the school-to-prison pipeline must be examined. This pipeline highlights the tendency for students to make their first connection with the criminal justice system while in school and then have continued interaction with them throughout their life. The School District must examine how many students are being arrested during school and post-graduation, the offenses that these students are being charged with, sentence duration, and the number of individuals who are becoming re-offenders; and
WHEREAS, The School District and this Council body must study and examine the pathways that Philadelphia students take and understand the effect these pathways have on students; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the City Council Committee on Education to hold public hearings to evaluate tracking for post-graduation pathways including college retention rates, career alternatives, military opportunities, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
End