The Administration recommends that the Board of Education ratify the execution and performance of a Memorandum of Understanding by The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, as follows:

With:

KIPP Philadelphia

Purpose: To provide a Director of College & Career to implement college and career programming for students

Start Date:  9/3/19

End Date:  6/30/22

Value of Services not to exceed:  $685,000

Location(s): 

All High Schools

Description:

KIPP Philadelphia is partnering with the School District to share its resources that KIPP has built to get more students to and through college throughout the City of Philadelphia.  This multi-phase project will allow KIPP and the School District to focus on improving college match practices using KIPP's College Match Strategies Framework, in the first year of implementation at Ben Franklin High School, and potentially scale up to all high schools in the District to increase the number of students who are prepared for college, matriculating to college, and graduating from college.  

KIPP operates on the notion that not all colleges are equal when it comes to graduation rates for students from low-income communities. KIPP uses the College Match Framework while counseling students and families through the college decision-making process. Students who match well are more likely to graduate within 4-6 years. While the College Match Framework outlines in detail the steps that high school juniors and seniors should follow, the four steps below are critical for all students as they prepare for the match process: 1. Get an early start and to apply ahead of admission deadlines giving them access to the largest pool of financial aid and, in some cases, increases odds for acceptance through Early Decision or Early Action options; 2. Explore your passion, purpose, plan and fit priorities, reflect on what they want out of a college education, include college experience, learning environment, location, area of study, and career opportunities; 3. Prepare for the cost of college to understand their options, to help them increase eligibility for aid, and to avoid excess debt; and 4. Know your numbers such as academic profiles, including their GPA, ACT, and SAT, that affect which school they can attend.

 KIPP, with the School District's support, has received funding from the Neubauer Foundation to support the position Director of College & Career working at Ben Franklin High School.  Ben Franklin was selected because of the opportunity to improve its college going culture and because its principal is a Neubauer Fellow, who is greatly supported by the Neubauer Foundation. 

The funding proposal was approved and the ideal candidate was identified at the start of the school year when students returned. To ensure that the proposed activities would have impact since the school year's inception, the director began working immediately with the principal, thereby necessitating the current ratification request.

Anchor Goal(s) Supported:  Anchor Goal 1 - 100% of students will graduate ready for college or career

*No Action Taken - Moved for Consideration at the November 21, 2019 Meeting