Public Education
New Pa. law allows students to repeat a grade, but the deadline to decide is one week away
All Pa. K-12 students now have the option to repeat a grade, but the deadline to apply is right around the corner and many families are unaware of the opportunity.
3 years ago
Wolf signs Pa. budget package, celebrates public school funding
Wolf touted $300 million extra for school district operations and instruction, including the unique idea of setting aside $100 million of that strictly for schools in need.
3 years ago
Chester Upland School District avoids unprecedented charter takeover — for now
The move by receiver Juan Baughn means the district won’t, for the time being at least, become the first in Pa. almost completely under charter control.
3 years ago
‘A good day in North Philadelphia’: Dobbins High celebrates first alumni principal
Shervon Thompson, Dobbins class of 1996, will serve as principal after serving her entire career there as a teacher and assistant principal.
3 years ago
School funding winners and losers in Pa.’s new $40B budget
The new budget includes a $300 million increase for K-12 schools and will give boosts of 10% or more to 35 school districts in every corner of Pa.
3 years ago
After five years, advocates praise Philly pre-K, blame tax opponents for missed enrollment targets
It’s been five years since Philadelphia expanded its pre-K program, funded by a controversial tax on sweetened beverages. Why has it fallen short?
3 years ago
Loss, healing, resistance, and hope: 5 recent grads reflect on a turbulent year
Along with the trauma and isolation of this past year, some students also found a new, and urgent, sense of community.
3 years ago
Listen 5:00Philly school district celebrates top students who persevered despite virtual school
Superintendent William Hite praised the class of 2021 for its resilience in the face of COVID-19 and its many, rippling disruptions.
3 years ago
Students or horses? Education advocates want to repurpose Pa.’s generous horse-racing subsidy
According to a new study, taxpayers are, in essence, funding racehorses at three times the rate they are investing in students in state universities.
3 years ago
Philly schools poised to offer full in-person learning this fall
Superintendent William Hite spoke at a press conference Wednesday alongside the leaders of all the school staff unions, including the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
3 years ago
Pa. families set to receive $1 billion in relief due to missed school meals during virtual school
Fund amounts will vary based on the amount of time a student spent in virtual school The max benefit will be about $1,200 per child.
3 years ago
Jeff Yass, the richest man in Pa., is single handedly keeping school choice PACs flush
Montgomery County billionaire Jeff Yass, a professional gambler turned powerful Wall Street trader, has long been a major donor to conservative causes in Pennsylvania.
3 years ago
Pa. superintendents, charter advocates continue to spar over school funding
The advocacy from superintendents comes as the financial pressure on districts has increased due to a significant boost in charter enrollment during the pandemic.
3 years ago
Gov. Wolf squares off with GOP by firing charter school appeals board members
The board seems to have become functionally non-existent as important disputes between Pennsylvania school districts and charter schools are in limbo.
3 years ago
‘I don’t really know what justice is’: Inside one Philly classroom after the Chauvin verdict
On Thursday, a group of about 20 Philadelphia high school students were asked to react to the Chauvin verdict. This is what they said.
3 years ago
Listen 4:36Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.