For the first time in seven years, the city of Philadelphia could approve its first new charter schools, that is, if the Philadelphia School Reform Commission will vote in favor of the approval.

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission is slated to vote on the applications for 39 new charter schools for the state's financially distressed school district on Wednesday.

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The decision, however, will not be easy because while charters can help get students out of low-performing schools, the American Federation of of Teachers said some of the schools fail and lack accountability and transparency.

Reuters reported that the Commission was formed in 2001 as part of a state takeover of the Philadelphia's education system, which suffered financial problems and low test scores.

Philadelphia's school district already has 86 charter institutions, or public schools that operate independently.

Lawmakers, however, favor the approval of the applications for 39 charter schools.

Among them, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Speaker Mike Turzai.

"There is an opportunity here to save a lot of kids," said Turzai, a charter school advocate.

Pennsylvania has not issued new charter licenses in seven years but charter schools in the city have grown rapidly.

This is because the district has turned over public schools that have not been performing well to charter operators.

From 2007, enrollment in charter schools has doubled to 64,000 from 32,000 students. That means, charter schools now educate 30 percent of Philadelphia's students.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, however, earlier expressed its opposition to new charters.

His press secretary, Jeff Sheridan, said the Wolf administration believes that the School Reform Commission must stabilize the district's finances and not worsen it.

"It cannot spend money it does not have for new charters or other expense," said Sheridan. 

TagsPhiladelphia Charter Schools, Philadelphia Education