The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia is proud to announce a $550,000 donation from The John B. Rosenthal Foundation! The donation marks the first time the foundation has invested in the district. This funding will have an immediate impact in two key areas to help expand student wellbeing and achievement.
Vision Screenings
Did you know? One in four kids need glasses to see the board, read a book, or participate in class. Yet, in low-income communities across Philadelphia, 95% of kids who need glasses do not have them. Digital learning and entertainment during the pandemic saw an increase in the number of children requiring eye-health interventions – with approximately 40% of students now failing their initial vision screenings.
Why does this matter? Students with uncorrected vision impairment face specific challenges that threaten their ability to learn.
- They often avoid reading, suffer headaches, and have trouble focusing in class, as 80% of learning during a child’s first 12 years is visual; and
- They are more likely to fail at least one grade, less likely to read at grade level by third grade – a milestone critical to preventing dropout – and more likely to engage in antisocial and delinquent behavior.
The Rosenthal Foundation’s gift will allow the district to expand its partnerships with eye-care providers to serve 10 additional schools in the 2024-25 school year, giving approximately 6000 more children the opportunity to effectively learn, grow, and succeed.
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is a nationwide STEM competition in its 40th year of operation that engages middle and high school students in 23 diverse events in biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, physics and more. Students spend the year practicing after school and on weekends for competitions that begin in March.
Breaking Barriers
Prior to the 2022-2023 school year, only a handful of district schools competed regionally, and no schools had ever advanced to state competition. Here’s what changed:
- In 2022, state grant funding made Science Olympiad free for many students. With cost-barriers removed, 16 schools competed regionally the 2023-2024 school year, and three advanced to state competition.
- Grant funding also covered mentorships and weekend lab space at LaSalle University and the University of Pennsylvania.
In the absence of new funding for the 2024-25 school year, the Rosenthal Foundation’s gift will fully fund participation and mentorship for students in 25 district schools.
We are grateful to the Rosenthal Foundation for its commitment to public education. Read more about the progress we’ve made toward raising $40 million by 2028 to fund Accelerate Philly, the district’s five-year strategic plan.