101. SCHOOL DISTRICT PHILOSOPHY, MISSION, AND GOALS

1. The School District of Philadelphia is an organization dedicated to achieving excellence in education. Its mission is founded on the belief that all children can learn. Its major objective is to motivate all students to be fully aware of their individual capabilities and potential and to stimulate their effort toward lifelong learning as competent and productive human beings.

2. Inherent in the mission is the development of high levels of competence in basic skills; the appreciation of human values, attitudes and cultures; the fostering of independent thinking; the cultivation of understanding and appreciation of individual differences, and improving the ability to adapt to the technological changes of society.

3. The essential components of this educational process are intellectual, social, and ethical development. Of primary concern are the elements of thought: perception, analysis, diagnosis, comprehension, judgment, and synthesis. These elements constitute the basic dimensions of "learning to learn."

4. There shall be a printed statement of educational goals that describes current expectations of student achievement upon completion of a program of studies in the Philadelphia Public Schools. These statements shall include:

1. The development of competence in reading, writing, speaking, listening, mathematics, science, reasoning, life skills, computer literacy, social studies, foreign languages, the arts, and physical and health education.
2. The development of human values emphasizing interdependence among people as well as understanding and appreciation of other social, cultural, racial, ethnic and religious groups .
3. The development of understanding of and participation in our democratic form of government.
4. The development of career preparation, knowledge , skills, and attitudes.
5. This statement shall be available in every classroom and office as well as available to the public and shall serve as an official guide to the staff for program development and implementation.

5. The achievement of the above goals requires that the School District:

1. Provide a variety of educational programs to meet the specific needs of individual students, including Special Education, Early Childhood, Bi-lingual and Alternative Programs
2. Provide multi-racial and multi-cultural opportunities for all students
3. Implement a comprehensive program in career education
4. Improve staff performance at managerial, instructional, and supportive service levels
5. Encourage improvement in student and staff attendance and punctuality
6. Provide a safe, clean, supportive physical, social, and emotional environment for learning
7. Develop and promote greater economy, efficiency, and effectiveness throughout the School system
8. Provide for the meaningful involvement of parents and the total community in the educational process
9. Implicit in this statement is the requirement that each staff member accept responsibility for the accomplishment of these goals.

References:
Philadelphia Home Rule Charter: 12-200, 12-300.
"A Statement of Philosophy, Mission and Goals,"
Sept. 1983, 220 Chapter 5.