By Jillian Diamond
In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (GSE) recently announced The Academy at Penn, a five-year college- and career-readiness program for high school students. The program is set to launch in spring 2025 and is funded by a $3.5 million grant from Education Initiatives as part of a larger $8 million grant, ensuring that the program will remain free of charge for students.
While The Academy at Penn’s cohorts are open to all students who wish to apply, it is primarily meant to assist students in underserved communities who would benefit from greater educational opportunities, such as students who aim to be the first in their families to attend college and students impacted by trauma.
This is part of the school district’s 2023-2028 “Accelerate Philly” plan, which focuses in part on making education accessible to more students. The plan happens to align with Penn GSE Dean Katharine O. Strunk’s agenda of increased community engagement.
“We are proud to deepen our collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia,” Strunk says in a news release announcing the program. “This initiative represents not just a commitment to expand opportunities for students across the city in our local schools, but also a chance to develop a national model for college and career readiness. By working closely with our partners, we aim to create a program that transforms lives here in Philadelphia while setting a new standard for educational support and opportunity across the country.”
The Academy at Penn is set to accept 200 students in its first cohort, sourced from two local high schools. The program runs alongside a traditional high school education, offering additional activities during and after school, on weekends and during summer vacation.
They are meant to not only provide these students with additional academic resources and opportunities, but also social and emotional support.
“This grant marks a significant step forward in our commitment to ensuring first-generation college students in the School District of Philadelphia have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in college, career and life,” says Tony B. Watlington Sr., superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia, in a news release. “The collaboration reflects the power of partnerships that will support our students as we work to become the fastest improving, large urban school district.”
School Sustainability: Does Your School Have a ‘Green Ribbon?’
Since 2011, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has celebrated environmental stewardship by awarding Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS).
Each state can nominate up to five schools to be considered for this year’s awards program, and pre-k-12 schools, early learning centers and post-secondary educational institutions like colleges are all eligible.
Nominations will be submitted by Feb. 12 and winners will be announced on or around Earth Day on April 22.
Last year, three schools from Pennsylvania were recognized, including Green Woods Charter School in Philadelphia and Reading Senior High School in Reading.
“Pennsylvania schools have been very competitive in the Green Ribbon Schools selection process each year, and we look forward to continuing this growing tradition,” says Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, in a news release.
ED-GRS marks significant efforts of schools to reduce their environmental footprint, encourage civic engagement among students and improve their diets and exercise through nutrition and physical education programs.
The Pathways to Green Schools program through the state’s DOE acknowledges increased sustainability in schools on a smaller scale, highlighting the steps taken by Pennsylvania schools to become more eco-friendly and educate students about climate awareness and the environment by marking progress on one or more ED-GRS-defined pillars.
To help in these efforts, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated $275 million in the state budget to improve school infrastructure for sustainability. The governor and a bipartisan group of legislators also have $25 million for Solar for Schools in the 2024-25 budget.
 recently announced The Academy at Penn, a five-year college- and career-readiness program for high school students. The program is set to launch in spring 2025 and is funded by a $3.5 million grant from Education Initiatives as part of a larger $8 million grant, ensuring that the program will remain free of charge for students.){kind=link}