This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
The District has named 10 finalists from the 20 respondents to its request for potential providers to run schools in a second cohort of Renaissance Schools. The list of "RFQ finalists" includes some national players in school turnaround that would be new to Philadelphia.
The four providers currently running Renaissance Schools – Mastery Charter Schools, ASPIRA of PA, Universal Companies, and Scholar Academies (formerly Young Scholars) – are all back for more. Johns Hopkins/Diplomas Now, which was a finalist last year, is also in the running.
The other national providers:
- Global Partnerships Schools, Inc., New York, NY
- Green Dot America, Los Angeles, CA
- Mosaica Turnaround Teams, New York, NY
Two other local entities, Esperanza Academy and Foundations Inc., are finalists.
RFQ finalists must now submit a proposal to be approved as a provider. Last year, all six who made the first cut were approved, and four ended up getting matched with schools.
The District also updated its timeline for this year’s process but still has not specified a date when this year’s Renaissance-Eligible schools will be named.
Nov. 16: Request for proposals (RFP) issued to RFQ Finalist Year II
Dec. 21: 2010 RFP responses due
Jan.17: RFP finalists selected
Jan./Feb.: Matching process between RFP finalists and Renaissance Schools
March 2011: SRC votes on matches