What is a Charter School?
Why First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School?
Who can enroll?
Is there a dress code?
Is bus service available?
What is the length of an average school day?
What is the length of the school year?
Is there a school calendar available to parents and students?
What is an intersession?
Are both breakfast and lunch available to students?
Child Find Notice to Parents
Parent Involvement Policy
What is a Charter School?
Charter Schools are public schools that function under a contract (charter) from the chartering school district. The charter allows schools to engage in innovative educational programs that meet high performance standards. Pennsylvania’s charter school law was enacted in 1997.
Why First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School?
First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School Has…
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A diverse student body of children from all over the city of Philadelphia, from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. |
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A focus on literacy – the new building at 4300 Tacony Street has the literacy center at its core. All grades including Kindergarten experience a literacy based curriculum varied to include math, science and social studies. Every subject is tied to the school’s core mission of literacy. |
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The professional services of a full time school nurse, guidance counselor, and reading coordinator. |
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A most qualified staff of teachers, many with dual certifications and master’s degrees. |
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Many exciting educational field trips and special events planned for friends and family. |
First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter Is…
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A caring school community where children experience a “democratic-values” approach to learning. This means being inclusive, respecting differences and caring about their fellow students and are intrinsically motivated to do the right thing.
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A place to experience French, Latin and Spanish, as well as music, art and physical education everyday. |
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A place where children can develop their ability to construct meaning by sharing books that are meaningful to them with peers and adults, and by writing in meaningful situations. |
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A place where children can become confident learners. |
First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter Will Be…
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The promise of growth – each year the school will add a grade until we have grades Pre-Kindergarten to Twelfth. |
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A state-of-the-art facility that can accommodate more than 700 students. |
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The school aspires to be a vibrant and dynamic beacon in the Frankford section of Philadelphia, the gathering place of the neighborhood. |
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Specific opportunities for adult members of the community, including adult literacy, GED, and job-readiness skills training, will be offered during the school’s extended hours. |
Who can enroll?
Enrollment is open to all Pennsylvania students with a priority given to Philadelphia residents. If we have more applications for admission than student openings available in a grade then the students are selected by lottery.
Is there a dress code?
To promote a less competitive atmosphere, First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School has a dress code that consists of a red, white and blue plaid uniform jumper for the girls with a white button down shirt and Peter Pan collar. The boys wear navy blue slacks, a white button down shirt with a uniform red, white and blue plaid tie and a red V-Neck sweater with the school name. The gym uniform for boys and girls is a navy blue sweat suit with school name or navy blue shorts and a gray T-shirt with the school name. The uniform and accompaniment pieces can be purchased at Flynn and O’Hara Uniforms.
Flynn and O’Hara Uniforms is located at:
10905 Dutton Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
p: (215) 637-4600.
They are open Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 8:00PM, and on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM from August 1st until the second week of September.
Is bus service available?
Bus Service is offered free to all students in first grade and above who live more than 1.5 miles from the school.
What is the length of an average school day?
8:30 to 3:15
What is the length of the school year?
The school year begins in August and ends in June.
Is there a school calendar available to parents and students?
The school calendar is distributed prior to the beginning of the school year. The school calendar is also available online. Click "School Calendar" at the top of this page.
What is an intersession?
Periods of time when the school closes for a week or two and regular classes cease but all students are welcome to take enrichment classes.
Are both breakfast and lunch available to students?
Breakfast and lunch are available to all students. Subsidies are available based on financial need.
Child Find Notice to Parents
In compliance with state and federal law, First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School will provide to each protected handicapped student and student with disabilities (without discrimination or cost to the student or family) those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program (and extracurricular activities) to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program.
These services and protections for “protected handicapped students” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs. First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School also provides a full continuum of services to students with disabilities who qualify for Special Education or related services. These services include but are not limited to counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, Learning Support, and remedial reading instruction with a reading specialist.
If you are concerned about your child’s academic, social or behavioral performance or their progress in school, please speak to your child’s teacher about your concerns. As a school, we monitor our students’ academic, social and behavioral progress closely. When you are working on your child’s academics at home it is important to note that there may be a problem if your child’s reading level is more than one year below grade level, if your child has memory retention issues, or an inability to remain on task and complete assignments. If you believe that your child may have special needs please contact your Special Education Coordinator to discuss the options that First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School can offer.
For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions of services to protected handicapped students or students with disabilities, contact: Bernadette McLaughlin, Special Education Coordinator at (215) 743-3100 or bmclaughlin@firstphiladelphiacharter.org
Parent Involvement Policy for First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter
Parental involvement means the participation of parents/guardians in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication about student academic learning and other school activities. This is to ensure:
A.That parents play an integral role in assisting in their child's learning.
B.That parents/guardians are encouraged to be actively involved in their child's education at school.
School Expectation Requirements
The staff at First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter agrees to implement the following legal requirements; literacy activities, for the involvement of parents/guardians. These programs, activities, and procedures will be planned and operated at various times throughout the school year.
The staff will create school/family compact. We believe the school staff and students share in the responsibilities for improved students' achievement.
Annually, parents/guardians will attend and participate in Back to School Night for information on First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter's school wide Title 1.
How First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter will Implement Required Parent Involvement Policy Components:
1.Take the following actions to involve parents/guardians in the process:
a.Administer family satisfaction questionnaires every Spring
b.Administer family needs/interests surveys every Fall
2.First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter will offer flexible scheduling times for parents/guardians meeting and parent/guardian workshops.
3.Flexible tutoring and intervention programs.
4.When appropriate and necessary, First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School's Title 1 funds may be used to pay reasonable fees for childcare to enable parents/guardians to participate in school related Title 1 meetings and training sessions.
5.First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School will build its school's involvement of all parents/guardians. Supporting a partnership between the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, these activities will be followed as needed:
First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter will assist parents/guardians of children in understanding these topics:
•PA's academic content standards
•Special Education
•Autistic Spectrum disorder
•State academic assessments
•Bloom's Taxonomy/School Report Card
•How to Monitor their child's progress
Activities:
•Workshops
•Report Card Conferences
•Seminars with the school psychologist
•Wednesday folders
•Articles in monthly newsletter
•Family Learning Nights
•The Baby University Project
First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter will provide materials and training to help parents/guardians to improve their children's academic achievement.
•Extended learning opportunities through parent/guardian involvement take-home activities and books.
6.It is First Philadelphia Charter's policy that information related to all school and family programs, meetings, and other activities will be sent home in a format and language the parents/guardians can understand. We will also honor requests for alternate formats, to the extent appropriate, in a language the parents/guardians can understand.
Additional School Responsibilities Policy Components
In order to maximize guardian involvement and participation in their child's education, Title 1 meetings will be offered at different times.
Surveys and questionnaires will ask parents/guardians for suggestions and recommendations for continued school program effectiveness and/or improvement. Also, report card conferences are opportunities for families to participate in discussions relating to the education of their child. First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter will respond to all suggestions and recommendations as soon as practicably possible.
(215) 743-3100