Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter Tells PennGSE: "It's a K-16 world"

March 23, 2011 - Speaking before a packed audience of Penn GSE teacher ed students, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter equated education with economic development and the long-term health of the city he governs. 

“This is a K-16 environment,” he said, noting that 100 years ago only three percent of the population at large graduated from college. “Now everyone needs some post-secondary education. A high school diploma won’t get you far.”

The Mayor spoke at a March 18 event, hosted by Penn GSE’s Teacher Education Program for Penn GSE’s teacher ed students. Nathan Smith, coordinator of the School’s Secondary Education program, organized the event.

“The Mayor’s visit,” said Smith, “is a clear indication of how much the city values these aspiring teachers.”

Indeed, Nutter opened his remarks by describing teachers as “the most important professionals in the United States of America” and later decried a political climate in which teachers are being used “as scapegoats.”

What is more, Nutter explained that of his top three goals for the city, two relate to education: doubling the college degree attainment rate and cutting the 45% high school dropout rate in half.

He cited strides Philadelphia has made, ticking off a number of recent successes: eight straight years of improvement and an increased investment from the state that’s meant lower class sizes and higher student scores.

But he expressed concern about the challenges the city faces in the current fiscal climate. He described “a fundamentally flawed system of funding” that means wealthy suburban districts spend $24,000 per child compared to $12,000 in Philadelphia and predicted that the proposed state budget will have “a devastating effect” on the city’s schools.

Asked about his position on charter schools, Nutter described taking a “what works” approach to public education, one that makes room for charters, private schools, vouchers, and traditional public schools. “I’m focused on outcomes,” he explained. “I can’t get caught up in this-kind, that-kind.”

Unlike most big city mayors, Nutter has limited say over his school district, which was placed under state control in 2002.

But Nutter does have an Office of Education that has launched Philly Goes to College, which helps high school and adult students navigate the college application and financial aid process. According to Nutter, the program helped bring about a 12% increase in financial aid awards for Philadelphians last year and an expected 15% this year.

The Mayor also has a bully pulpit: citing the state takeover of the Philadelphia district, Nutter argued that Harrisburg has “a constitutional obligation to provide education” to the city’s children and urged students concerned about the future of district funding: “Now you should get yourselves to Harrisburg.”