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: Ernst & Young

Purpose: To provide consulting services in support of the District’s school reopening planning

Start Date: 6/5/2020

End Date: 9/15/2020

Value of Services not to exceed: $345,000

Location:  Administrative Office(s)

Description:  Comcast has been a partner with the District for many years and has an existing relationship with Ernst & Young, a global management consulting firm. To support the District’s school reopening planning, Comcast connected the District with Ernst & Young and the subsequent discussion resulted in the generous donation of consulting services.  Ernst & Young brings content expertise, national research on promising practices, and expert project managers in their support of the District’s school reopening planning. The District is benefiting from additional capacity and support in developing multiple school reopening scenarios and learning models that deliver high-quality instruction seamlessly across in-person and digital environments and address the social and academic needs of all students. Planned operations that support digital learning, hybrid learning, and in-person learning will allow the District to reopen schools with a hybrid model and proceed towards in-person learning or revert towards digital learning as needed based on then current health conditions, data, and agency guidance. Ernst & Young is providing school reopening cost modeling and project management and optimization support structured around seven working groups that are considering all aspects of restarting schools to develop available options, determine feasibility, and identify required dependencies.

Anchor Goal(s) Supported: Anchor Goal 1 - 100% of students will graduate ready for college or career, Anchor Goal 2 - 100% of 8-year olds will read on or above grade level, Anchor Goal 3 - 100% of positions are filled by great principals, teachers and employees, Anchor Goal 4 - 100% of funding for great schools is secured with zero deficit

Funding Source(s): Operating