Spanish-speaking students and immigrants alike could face a new challenge in light of Philadelphia's possible decentralization of public education. 

On March 27th, Hispanic community parents took part in a Philadelphia City Council hearing regarding the future of citywide public education in which they demanded equality for students of immigrant communities that require English as Second Language (ESL) courses. 

Coupled with numerous budget cuts and a significant budget deficit, the imminent school district overhaul means parents are seeking assurance that the city will continue to honor their needs. This restructuring could also bring about the decentralization of principal scholastic offices, thereby giving greater autonomy to each educational institution. 

(Read Spanish version / Lea versión en español: Más necesidad, menos fondos en el Distrito Escolar)

In just this scholastic year alone, eighteen ESL teachers have lost their jobs; the number of interpreters has been cut in half, and two out of the four centers providing programs for immigrant students have been closed. 

The organization Juntos fears that cutbacks and restructuring will most affect immigrant students and families. 

Although the school district continues to review the plan, Juntos suggests that this only alludes to "the importance of strengthening policies that protect these students and their families." 

On her behalf, Angelica Victoriano — the mother of two children enrolled at Andrew Jackson School, where she also serves as vice-president of the parents committee — said that "we are afraid that the coming year will bring about greater budget cuts and a greater number of students, which will cause disorder". 

Petitions and the council

Before city councilors María Quiñones-Sánchez, of District Seven, and Jannie Blackwell, of District Three, members of the Juntos organization demanded that they cease the dismissal of bilingual personnel and ESL members, which includes teachers and interpreters. 

"That school district personnel — directors and administration included — receive training in order to better work with immigrant communities, in addition to familiarizing themselves with the systems and processes of interpretation and translation."

"That the District provide the tools necessary for non-English speaking parents to participate in school related activities."

"That the District create a plan to ensure that they are meeting federal and local standards so that students learning English may be treated fairly."

Councilwoman Quiñones applauded the work of Juntos, inviting community participation in the coming May 1st hearings, in collaboration with Mark Squilla, Councilman of the District One, in the Bevilacqua Community Center at 6:00 pm. 

The uncertain future of Philadelphia

Seeing as the primary growth seen by Philadelphia in the past sixty years can be attributed to, in great part, the amplified Hispanic and Asian communities — along with a general influx of immigrants —, the non-fulfillment of these petitions could greatly impact the city's future. 

In Philadelphia, the city with largest Latino community in Pennsylvania, Hispanics number 187,611; representing 12.29% of the population. 

According to school district public officials, eight percent of students of the 2011-2012 school year are enrolled in ESL courses. Furthermore, a recent study by the Knight Foundation evidences that immigrant children comprise the most rapidly growing sector of city youth; meaning that, in essence, they are the future of Philadelphia.   

Eva Serrano, a member of the parents council of Juntos, says that "the Latino community has grown significantly in recent years, due to to the presence of various immigrant communities." 

Tom Ferrick, a journalist and AL DÍA contributor, recently performed a study which identified that 51 percent of Latino males in the School District of Philadelphia never graduate. What is more, half of those males, between 18 and 24 years old, are currently under the control of the criminal justice system. 

"The Latino youth is facing high levels of scholastic desertion. The school district must support both the immigrant and Hispanic youth via the necessary programs so that they may avoid delinquency and instead experience success," adds Serrano.

The District Responds

Lucy Feria, a member of the School District, said that there have certainly been budget cuts in the ESL programs that she supervises, however, measures have also been taken for the benefit of students and immigrant families.

"We created a series of recommendations that directors should consider when making their budget estimate. The list will ensure their understanding of the ESL program and its components, so that they will be able to implement it much like interpretation and translation services. Training is not perfect, but we continue to work at it."

Feria also said that the District understands the importance of equal education for immigrant communities.  

"We have been working with the community; we know what they are worried about: the same things that we are"(,) she added. "It's about bettering our community, and I am not referring specifically to the Latino or immigrant communities, but instead to the community of Philadelphia. We have to prepare the immigrant community to join the effort; to work for the future of our city and country. Anyone who does not share this sentiment needs to wake up."

Undocumented students face unique challenges

Along with the aforementioned petitions, there are also other initiatives focused on the undocumented students of Philadelphia: To train school guidance counselors to work with undocumented students and to provide information regarding access to higher education. 

Hernández, a member of Fuerza — the Youth Committee of Juntos — expressed that "much of our youth opts to abandon education because they feel that no opportunities await them upon graduating. The majority of advisors in our schools have very little knowledge with regards to undocumented students' access to college." 

Despite the many challenges these students confront, such as a lack of financing available to afford their studies or even a Social Security number, all of which can convert the admission process into a bureaucratic nightmare, there are still ways for undocumented students to attend college. 

Miguel Andrade, of the Youth Committee of Juntos, said that, "we believe that education is a fundamental human right and that it should be accessible to all of the city's youth, regardless of their migratory or socioeconomic status, or their country of origin." 

Fuerza is carrying out a campaign to urge the School District to approve an ordinance to train their personnel, guidance counselors in particular, to support the undocumented youth along their path to higher education.

Threat and opportunity

While there are those that consider the imminent restructuring of the school district a threat to the immigrant community of Philadelphia, some call it an opportunity instead. 

The solution to the possible decentralization of the School District of Philadelphia and to the new autonomy plan could take place in charter schools; independent, educational institutions that are financed by public funds. 

These institutions have utilized this same model for years, and have generally experienced success. That is, of course, excepting a few schools that incurred questionable expenditures, fraud and abuse in 2010. 

"Community parents have told me that the charter schools are good, but have strict enrollment," Victoriano asserted.

Len Rieser, the director of the Education Law Center, claimed that giving greater autonomy to schools is not necessarily a bad idea.

"It could be beneficial to have a greater number of directors and teachers working directly with students, especially in the formation of the school's operations and budget estimate," said Rieser.

"Our concern pertains to a lack of mechanism to ensure that the process is being carried out effectively and responsibly within each school."

*Translation by Alex Graziano