Teachers and experts say the curriculum from EL Education does not effectively teach young students phonics.

“We need the classroom teaching to change in Philadelphia,” Superintendent Tony Watlington said.

District officials say their focus this school year is on improving academics.

Philadelphia’s schools will kick off what could be a tumultuous year on Monday, Aug. 24.

Pennsylvania lawmakers still haven’t agreed on a statewide rule for cellphones in schools.

Due to asbestos concerns, Kensington High students and staff have been relocated to a building 7 miles away.

Philadelphia parents and advocates say kids with disabilities are regularly excluded or suspended from preschool. They want to ban the practice.

The district has added air conditioning to dozens of schools in recent years. But around 50 still won’t have adequate cooling when the new school year begins.

The Board of Education has already approved the district’s plan to close 17 schools beginning next year. Members of Philadelphia’s City Council want to stop that from happening.

Renaissance charter schools are supposed to serve students in the surrounding neighborhood. But as student enrollment shrinks citywide, many fill their seats with students from elsewhere.