Lessons from 20 Years of Urban Ed

Future-Ready: What Really Matters in Education?

Lessons learned in 20 years of navigating the schools landscape in and around Philadelphia.

This September is very strange. There is no “back to school” energy in my house. My youngest child graduated high school last spring. With three children, there were four pre-Ks, three grade schools, five high schools, and three districts in two counties, mostly public and a bit Catholic. All of this so they can now create the lives they want.

Navigating the education journey together means observing the world as it is, asking questions, managing conflicts, and learning resilience — all very valuable future-ready skills.?

For my family, that navigation began in 2000 with a realtor who did not know the name of the neighborhood public school. Since then, it has become a mecca for families. People often ask me about specific schools or issues. But things change rapidly and the decision about schooling is personal.?That said, here are the top five things learned along the way:

1. Beware of politicians who want to "Fix the Schools". ?

They are often exploiting parents' anxieties or pandering to unions. Most politicians, especially local ones, have limited ability to “fix the schools”. It is hard to fathom, but most urban school districts are the size of cities. For example, the School District of Philadelphia is a massive operation. It has a $4 billion dollar budget, much larger than the budget for the entire City of Pittsburgh and almost the size of the City of Philadelphia. ???

Philly schools serve about 200,000 mostly poor children, in 316 schools. Basic operational issues can be frustrating but things are never as simple as Twitter wants them to be. Here in Philadelphia we still need air conditioning in every school, just as we did twenty years ago. Yet, facilities planning requires construction expertise and is complicated by aging buildings. Lately, the supply chain problems and labor shortages are real. Aggravating? Yes. Large urban districts in poor cities are perpetually making tough choices with limited resources. Wealthier, more educated parents are most vocal, but school communities with more need should be the priority.

The United States, unlike other countries, defers to the states to operate K-12 education. The Pennsylvania state funding formula now provides about half of the funding and the other half is from local sources. Recent reforms in the PA funding formula took decades of activism and there is still a lawsuit pending. According to this week’s report from Pew entitled “How Property is Taxed in Philadelphia ,” local property tax revenues total $1.6 billion dollars in 2021. Fifty-five percent goes to schools, along with a hodgepodge of smaller sources.?This complicated funding scenario is pretty common throughout the nation.

If state and local politicians want to “fix the schools,'' they will reform tax structures. Unfortunately, property taxes are the most reliable way to fund American schools but also a politically treacherous third rail.

2. Obviously, parenting matters.?

The top determinants of a child’s academic success are family factors. Yet, many parents are anxious because the media constantly shows what is wrong with city schools. The myth-busting book, Freakonomics has a chapter about parenting. It helped me find some calm about schools. Many studies indicate the children of more educated Moms are very likely to achieve . The work ethic, conversations and curiosity at home are key. Even then, nurturing has its limits. My children, so genetically alike, are very different. Each child’s personality, interests and ability are big drivers. Ultimately, self-awareness and self-efficacy for lifelong learning are more critical than grades or test scores. When my children examined why the D or F happened and then adjusted for it? That process was more valuable than getting the A.?

3. Urban life imparts real skills.?

During especially egregious budget cuts, and for personal and professional reasons, we briefly lived in the suburbs. Two of my children attended suburban schools, one child stayed in a Philadelphia public school and rode regional rail to attend 8th grade. It was a 14-month learning experience. Most of all, we learned that we prefer city life.?

The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley is a great book that discusses education policy and outcomes. One analysis found that the most important thing a parent can do to build critical thinking skills for their children is to discuss current events. Urban life is rich fodder for children to gain skills, examine problems and debate strategies. The city is a living classroom for resilience and coping skills.?

4. The school principal is the hardest job in the city.?

It does take a few years to master the role, but then a good principal will retain top teachers and create a positive school culture. Hopefully, education leaders and politicians everywhere work to maintain and strengthen labor force pipelines so well-trained talent works in every principal’s office across America. ???

Principals are also the buffer between the child and the district bureaucracy. A principal will be tempted to do whatever the bureaucracy wants so they can advance their career. Principals need support and encouragement to choose what is best for the students first and deal with bureaucracy later. The best scenario for children is when parents, teachers and principals are united. In Philadelphia public schools, a parent can start or join a School Advisory Council to build a strong learning community. Another simple, universal tactic is to start every school year with an intentionally positive conversation with the teacher and the principal. It will then be easier to discuss the inevitable small or large problem and solve together. As children reach middle school, teach them to voice and solve issues themselves.

5. Be mindful of unintended consequences.?

When my 20-something was in first grade, a few of us started a school fundraiser. The community has raised hundreds of thousands of private dollars since then to improve the school. Realtors highlighted the school to sell homes. Rents, property values, and taxes all rose. Classrooms became more crowded, and then a lottery for kindergarten was necessary. The school is now less racially and economically diverse. The best intentions led to some hard lessons about private privilege and public priorities.??

The family K-12 journey began by choosing child care and ended as "baby" graduated from high school. Now, my older children are forging winding paths through the post-COVID world into jobs, colleges, and careers. May the learning be lifelong.