District Management
From SEPTA cuts to school vouchers, here’s what we’re keeping our eyes on this year.
Renovations at the reopened school included adding wall and ceiling paneling throughout the 115-year-old building to protect staff and students from asbestos exposure.
In the Class of 2024, 40% of Philadelphia students who initially said they planned to go to college did not end up matriculating.
If the transit system does not get more funding by Aug. 14, officials say cutting service at the beginning of the school year is unavoidable.
The district has delayed publicly releasing data officials say will inform which schools they choose to close. Principals and community members who’ve seen that data recently have concerns.
Mary Filardo, executive director of 21st Century School Fund and a parent activist, says Philly officials should be honest, share data, and acknowledge they can’t ‘accidentally’ fix big problems.
Last school year, most of the district’s standalone middle schools enrolled less than half the number of students they were built for.
The district ‘knowingly and regularly’ failed to make necessary asbestos repairs and endangered students, according to federal officials.
School district officials promised that residents would inform its facility planning process. But community leaders and parents say they’re not being heard.
The school board initially planned to consider an agreement with the Department of Justice over an investigation into its asbestos management program at its Thursday meeting. But Board President Reginald Streater said the DOJ was not ready to proceed.
State Republicans held a hearing about the Philadelphia school district’s finances. But no district representatives were present to answer lawmakers’ questions.
Superintendent Tony Watlington said the district will be ‘fine’ in the short term but stressed that the school district needs more financial support from state and local officials.
The district has required the class since 2005. But that mandate, and other district policies, could attract scrutiny from Trump administration officials.
A survey of more than 16,000 parents, students, and school staff found most people preferred starting school before Labor Day.
As national politics create uncertainty in education, Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington remains committed to highlighting progress in city schools.
Protesters blasted the board members for their ‘Gestapo’ tactics, and Reginald Streater shut down the meeting for about 20 minutes.
Akira Drake Rodriguez, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses how school closures in Philadelphia affect neighborhoods.
Reginald Streater stressed that district leaders will seek out community input as officials develop a plan for school facilities.
Tony Watlington shared his priorities for this new school year including how to better train and recruit new teachers. He also hopes to rebuild trust with the school community through better customer service tools.
The interactive site’s disappearing act represents another headache for the districts’ years-long quest to create a plan to repair facilities.