Parents react to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker's year-round schooling plan

In a significant development for Philadelphia's public education system, Mayor Cherelle Parker unveiled the next phase of her administration's initiative to introduce year-round schooling in the city's public schools. This announcement, a central component of Parker's election campaign and 100-day action plan, was made at City Hall on Thursday. The plan, dubbed "Full Day Full Year," aims to extend school hours and programming, as well as increase the number of days students spend in school throughout the year. Mayor Parker outlined that the upcoming fall will see the launch of a pilot program involving 25 extended day and extended year schools. These schools will offer specialized enrichment activities five days a week and operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., including a six-week summer session. The initiative is primarily targeted at students in grades K-8, with a focus on keeping them engaged in productive activities beyond the traditional school day. The extended day pilot program, as emphasized by Parker, will not alter the existing school year calendar and will not be mandatory for student participation. The selected schools for the pilot program include 20 Philadelphia public schools and five charter schools. Superintendent Tony Watlington highlighted the importance of incorporating innovative programs like chess, STEM, and robotics to enhance students' learning experiences and make education more engaging. Furthermore, the mayor and a coalition of leaders, comprising public and charter school officials, lawmakers, and union representatives, have expressed their support for a Pennsylvania House bill that proposes injecting $5.1 billion in new state funding into schools across the Commonwealth over a seven-year period. This collaborative effort underscores a broader commitment to improving educational opportunities and resources for students in Philadelphia and beyond.