Philadelphia students flourish when teachers have the support and resources they need to succeed. Through an expanding partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, Penn GSE is helping strengthen classrooms across the city with innovative programs that prepare educators for the future.
Most recently, Penn GSE received a $720,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation to launch LEAPS (Learning Embedded Approach to Preparation and Staffing), an innovative teacher preparation model that places teacher candidates alongside experienced educators in pre-K classrooms, improving both teacher preparation and classroom instruction.
LEAPS builds on the momentum of other collaborative efforts already underway. Earlier this year, Penn GSE and the School District launched PASS (Pioneering AI in School Systems), to help educators thoughtfully integrate AI into teaching, while the new Algebra 1 Fellowship, started in May 2025, supports teachers implementing the district’s K–12 Illustrative Mathematics curriculum.
Together, these efforts reflect Penn GSE’s broader commitment to Philadelphia through long-term partnerships that equip educators and create better learning opportunities for students.
“This kind of co-constructed, partnership-driven work is based on a deep and growing trust between SDP and GSE, one that truly allows us to understand and expand on the tremendous assets the district brings to the conversation,” says Katharine O. Strunk, Dean of the Graduate School of Education.