Philadelphia Families Gain Education Options Through New Scholarship
The Philadelphia Board of Education’s decision to close 17 public schools has prompted the launch of the Opportunity Knocks Scholarship, a $8,000 annual fund for 500 displaced students to attend private schools like Liguori Academy. The scholarship, backed by the Yass Prize, aims to provide educational continuity for families affected by the closures while supporting schools aligned with sustainable and transformative education principles.
Philadelphia’s upcoming closure of 17 public schools, affecting an estimated 4,000 students, has spurred a new scholarship initiative to ease the transition for displaced families. The Opportunity Knocks Scholarship, announced by the Yass Prize—a philanthropic effort founded by Jeff and Janine Yass—will provide $8,000 annually to 500 students to attend one of 16 participating private schools. Liguori Academy, a Kensington-based high school and credit-recovery program, is among the recipients, aiming to expand enrollment to accommodate displaced students. The scholarship targets families in neighborhoods like Kensington, where limited school options have created a ‘choice desert,’ according to Michael Marrone, Liguori Academy’s leader. The school, which opened in 2016 with 26 students, now serves 300 low-income students, primarily Black and Hispanic, offering personalized academics paired with career certifications in healthcare, cybersecurity, and digital arts. Half of its graduates enter the workforce or technical programs, while the other half pursue higher education. The Yass Prize, administered by the Center for Education Reform, selected participating schools based on their adherence to S.T.O.P. principles: sustainable, transformational, outstanding, and permissionless education. Caroline Allen, the prize’s founding director, emphasized the scholarship’s role in preventing displaced students from bearing the burden of school closures, ensuring continuity and opportunity. Liguori Academy’s model blends rigorous academics with hands-on training, including internships and dual-enrollment college courses. Marrone, a former Catholic priest and educator, stresses the school’s adaptability, rejecting a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. The scholarship aims to replicate this success across Philadelphia’s private schools, providing alternatives for students displaced by declining public school enrollment.
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