Page 3 - Marlene Ackerman News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The performance was better than how kimberly represented. apparently test scores went up all three years she was there. school violence down 29% and graduation rates up 7%. megyn: there were questions about whether she adequately responded to difficult race relations in the school district and a question about whether she gave a contract to a minority company over a company that was the lowest bidder. >> they did an investigation on that. the fact that the test scores are up are not directly attributed to dr. ackerman. prior to her even arriving there. you can't say it's a proximate cause. she...

Embassy which is now closed. prime minister david cameron calling the attacks both outrageous and indefensible. >> taxpayer money once again being used for questionable use. a former school superintendent in philly arlene ackerman about to get state unemployment benefits just months after she was paid nearly $1 million to step down. while ackerman is getting her double windfall, the school district is drowning in debt. they're expected to lay off nearly 1,000 teachers. >> she is unemployed. >> he was convicted of holding a couple from kansas hostage and now he's suing his victims. jesse dimick...

Very different from what kids are learning today that's why superintendent arlene ackerman created parent university. >> not every parent has a computer. not every parent has access to the resources that many middle class families have. so in this district, we've really focused on engaging parents in this process. it's worked. >> what's the reason so many parents have signed up? >> they're free. all you have do is have a child in the public school system and you can come. >> jose ramirez has two boys in middle school. he's from el salvador. >> sometimes as an immigrant, we say the teacher can ...

That's why arlene ackerman created parent university. >> not every parent has a computer or access to the resources many middle class families have. so in this district, we really focused on engaging parents in this process. and it's worked. >> reporter: what is the reason so many parents are signing up? >> they're free. all you have to do is have a child in the school system and you can come. >> reporter: jose ramirez has two boys in school. >> sometimes we say oh, the teacher can handle the classroom. my children are fine. because of the culture, the barrier is right there. but right now i f...

How do you have that zero tolerance, and how are you supposed to institute that zero tolerance, when you have a teacher who is watching and not doing anything no help? >> the burden should not sole rise on the teacher's shoulders. this is the types of reports we need to get. we're working closely to try to get it. let me be clear, thomas, the types of incidents being outlined in the series, in a number of incidents absolutely unacceptable to us as a district, absolutely unacceptable. we want our environments to be places where young people can learn and teachers can teach. that's goal one. thi...