This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English EducationReport.

Almost two years ago, a Pennsylvania State committee removed morethan forty Philadelphia public schools from city control. Thecommittee said it intervened because children attending the schoolswere learning very little. Private companies, universities andnon-profit organizations began supervising these schools.

The Philadelphia school district has more thantwo-hundred-fourteen-thousand students. Most of them are fromlow-income families. It is the seventh largest school system in thenation. It has more than two-hundred-seventy schools. The districtincludes traditional schools and restructured ones. Some districtschools operate by agreement between Philadelphia and outsidesupervisors. The district also has special schools that haveprograms on a single subject such as mathematics.

Philadelphia's education chief,Paul Vallas, came to the city soon after the state intervened in theschool system. Before that, Mister Vallas served as topadministrator in the Chicago, Illinois public schools. He sayssociety should place great importance on improving education forpoor children.

Under his leadership, the percentage of Philadelphia studentsperforming in the lowest twenty-five percent of the nation hasdecreased. Test scores have improved in reading, language arts,mathematics and science. Still, about sixty-six percent ofPhiladelphia public school children test below the national averagesin such basic studies.

Mister Vallas has improved district finances. He cut a number ofnon-teaching positions. He renegotiated agreements with providers ofschool supplies. These actions provided money to hire new teachersand repair some school buildings. But the Philadelphia schooldistrict is far from rich. It has had to borrow money to operate onits budget of about one-point-eight-thousand-million dollars.

A recent report criticized Pennsylvania for its financing ofeducation. The report was written by the publication Education Weekand the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report said the state spends alarge amount on education. But it blames Pennsylvania for dependingmainly on local property taxes to operate school districts. It sayspoor school areas cannot raise as much tax money for education asrich areas.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by JerilynWatson. This is Steve Ember.