Len Lipkin

Independence Charter Lottery Experience [Video]

Heavy rain outside foreshadowed the mood inside. The room was filled with hard uncomfortable seats designed for much smaller bodies. 100 nervous parents filled the school multipurpose room.

Len Lipkin

Independence Charter Lottery Today!

So today is the day many of you have been anticipating. Today Independence Charter is hosting its public enrollment lottery tonight at 6 PM. If you go, what should you expect?

Len Lipkin

Unfortunate School Choice Timing

The complexity of timing for families choosing a school means making a school choice without knowing all of your options. For parents choosing between public schools in your catchment or via the VTP, charter, and/or private school options, it is a real problem.

PSS Community

Why I Chose Bache-Martin Elementary School: 2011-02-07 School Selection Report

Bache-Martin is on the right path and will soon be among the city's best. I hope more Fairmount parents will take a chance on this school--having involved neighborhood support will only help the school.

PSS Community

Why I Chose Friends Select: 2011-01-17 School Selection Report

Find out why one family chose Friends Select over Independence Charter School, Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School, Russell Byers Charter School, and Bache Martin

Len Lipkin

Kindergarten Language Immersion and Classroom Dynamics

One of the realities of a language immersion program is that everyone is starting at the same level. Maybe my kid can't read but somebody else's kid can. Guess what? When the class starts and the teacher is speaking only Spanish, every kid is lost. Every kid is starting from scratch. So by definition, the students are all at the same level, at least for vast chunks of the curriculum.

Len Lipkin

Independence Charter 2010-2011 Application Dates

I went to an open house at Independence Charter this morning.  I am still processing the experience and may write another post about the visit, but I thought that I’d post this photo of a flyer with the 2010-2011 application dates.  The key ones are the deadline (Feb 25) and the lottery date (March 10th).  Click on the image to a larger view where all of the dates are legible.  If you are...

PSS Community

Why I Chose Andrew Jackson: 2010-09-10 School Selection Report

Tell PSS and our readers about your school choice! Date Submitted: 9/10/2010 What school did you decide on? Andrew Jackson Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2010/2011 Grade your child entered/will enter kindergarten What neighborhood are you in? South Philly What schools did you consider? we tried the transfer form for meredith, mccall, greenfield, jenks; we applied to folk arts charter,...