ELEVATE IN ACTION | JUNE 2026: What’s Possible When Schools and Leaders Innovate
In This Issue
Celebrating Progress for Philadelphia Students
Innovate & Inspire recognized schools and leaders helping create stronger opportunities and outcomes for Philadelphia students.
More Students Connected to Their Preferred Schools
Apply Philly Charter’s new Rank and Match system is making school choice more transparent and efficient for families.
Expanding Philadelphia’s Teacher Pipeline
A growing paraprofessional-to-teacher program is creating accelerated pathways for educators to become certified and stay in Philadelphia schools.
Leaders Advancing School Quality Take Center Stage
At Elevate 215’s second annual Innovate & Inspire event, over 100 education, civic, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the schools and individuals driving meaningful progress for students across Philadelphia. Through storytelling, videos, and remarks from school and education leaders, attendees heard how focused leadership, strong instructional practices, and collaborative partnerships are helping create more impactful learning experiences for young people.
2026 Innovate & Inspire Awards
- Innovation Champion Award: Building 21 – Building 21 received the Innovation Champion Award for reimagining the ninth grade Algebra 1 experience.
- “We’re grateful for Elevate 215’s partnership and support of this work, and proud of what our educators are building every day to create stronger opportunities and outcomes for students,” said Ben Koch, Principal at Building 21.
- Inspiration Impact Award: Young Scholars Charter School – Young Scholars was recognized for its thoughtful approach to strengthening instruction and improving outcomes across its school community.
- We are thankful to receive this recognition from Elevate 215 and proud of the work our educators and students are doing together every day to create better outcomes and brighter futures,” said John Amenda, CEO of Young Scholars Charter School.
- Civic Champion Award: Dr. Debora Carrera, Chief Academic Leader, Mayor’s Office of Education – Dr. Carrera was distinguished for her longstanding commitment to advancing educational opportunities for Philadelphia students and families.
- “I’m deeply honored to receive this recognition from Elevate 215 and proud to be part of an administration that is making meaningful investments in the future of Philadelphia students,” said Dr. Carrera.
- Civic Champion Award: Dr. Monika Shealey, Dean of the College of Education, Temple University – Dr. Monika Shealey was celebrated for her leadership and advocacy in advancing educator preparation, equity, and systemic change in education.
- “I’m honored to receive this recognition from Elevate 215 and grateful to work alongside so many partners across Philadelphia who are committed to growing the educator pipeline and expanding access to opportunity through education,” said Dr. Shealey.
Together, their work reflects what’s possible when we remain focused on improving outcomes for students and expanding access to quality learning experiences.
Improving How Families Access Their Preferred Schools
Apply Philly Charter (APC), an initiative of Elevate 215, introduced a new Rank and Match system to help connect more students to their preferred schools while creating a more efficient enrollment process for schools across the city. Similar to the enrollment system used by the School District of Philadelphia, Rank and Match modernizes the common application process used by most Philadelphia charter schools.
In previous years, schools operated separate lotteries that did not allow families to prioritize schools based on preference. As a result, some students received multiple offers while others received none, creating inefficiencies for both families and schools. The new Rank and Match approach helps address those challenges by better aligning offers with family choices and streamlining enrollment.
Families who applied before the January deadline were the first to use the new system, and the results were encouraging:
- 26,697 students (applicants)
- 119,388 applications submitted
- 10,926 students received a seat offer
- 14,395 students placed on a waitlist
Families shared that the process felt easier to navigate and more reflective of their priorities. “Being able to rank schools made the process feel more transparent and manageable,” said Philadelphia parent Yolonda Blue. “It helped me stay proactive and make informed decisions.” School leaders also reported smoother enrollment operations and faster seat acceptance rates during the system’s first year.
→ Read the press release for more results and parent feedback
Helping Paraprofessionals Become Philadelphia’s Next Teachers
Paraprofessionals already play an essential role in Philadelphia schools—supporting students in classrooms every day and building strong relationships with families. Through the School District of Philadelphia’s Pathways to Teaching program, supported by Elevate 215 and the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition, paraprofessionals and other school staff can earn the credentials needed to become certified teachers while continuing to work in schools.
The impact is already visible. Over the past two years, 137 participants have completed the program, and 120 are now teaching in Philadelphia schools. The program also helps make certification more affordable by providing financial support, flexible university partnerships, and salary and benefits during student teaching. Together, these supports are helping schools grow a more sustainable educator pipeline while creating long-term economic opportunity for aspiring teachers and their families.
Connecting Education and Economic Mobility
At the fifth annual United Way OpportUNITY Summit, Elevate 215 Executive Director Dr. Stacy Holland facilitated a conversation with economist Cullum Clark focused on rethinking how poverty is measured—and why those measures matter for families and long-term economic mobility in the city. The discussion explored how education outcomes, workforce development, and economic opportunity are deeply connected across Philadelphia communities.