Public Education
How 30 years of broken promises, false starts led to another Philly asbestos closure
Officials have known for decades about building woes at a Philly H.S. But despite protests and promises, not much has changed.
5 years ago
Judge rejects petition to charterize all of Chester, calling it ‘premature’
About 1,500 Philly students attend Chester campuses run by the charter organization seeking to take the district over.
5 years ago
Pa.’s largest charter school wants to take over grades K-8 in Chester Upland
In what would be a first in Pennsylvania, Chester Community Charter School is pushing to take over all traditional K-8 education in its home district in Delaware County.
5 years ago
How this mom turned near-tragedy into a win for Philly’s most vulnerable kids
Five years ago, Philadelphia police found a girl nearly naked in a snowy, abandoned lot. That dark day led to a brighter future for special needs kids.
5 years ago
Listen 5:00GOP leaders want to pilot private school vouchers in Harrisburg
The law itself would only apply to parents in Harrisburg. But one of Pa.’s most powerful legislators calls it a “pilot” program for school vouchers.
5 years ago
Philly school knew about toxic lead in drinking water but kept parents in the dark
Recent testing uncovered high lead levels in the water at Mastery Frederick Douglass Elementary. Parents say they should have been told sooner.
5 years ago
Listen 4:34‘Revolutionary’ principal goes all-in on quest for more black teachers
As the son of Black Panthers, Sharif El-Mekki grew up in West Philadelphia enraged at the injustice he saw all around him, including in education.
5 years ago
Supporters of arming teachers in classrooms claim victory in board election
The school board election in Tamaqua was framed as a referendum on its controversial gun policy, which would be a first in the state.
5 years ago
Pa. quietly reverses ‘lunch shaming’ ban as school district debt grows
Language within this year’s school code bill allows districts to withhold hot meals from students who accrue more than $50 in lunch debt.
5 years ago
Listen 3:24Are cyber charters a way to ‘hide’ from child welfare scrutiny? Some Pa. superintendents say yes
Superintendents say vulnerable children in Pa. lose critical links to the outside world and caring adults when their parents enroll them in cyber charters.
5 years ago
Listen 5:32A former chairman of Pennsylvania’s Board of Education, Larry Wittig, has been permanently banned from US Olympic sports for sexual misconduct involving a minor.
5 years ago
‘Shooting people is deescalation’: Three days with teachers training to use guns in schools
The training provides a glimpse of how Pa. schools could change if armed teachers become a new normal in classrooms.
5 years ago
Listen 5:46Pennsylvania did not increase funding for the operating budgets of community colleges this year. Advocates say the pressure on low-income students has grown unsustainable.
5 years ago
After years of gridlock, Wolf plans executive action on charter school reform
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said Tuesday he would use his executive power to hold charters to “the same ethical and transparency standards of public schools.”
5 years ago
Listen 1:49Pa. school safety tip-line used more to report bullying, suicidal thoughts, than violent threats
Many of the 23,494 tips received online or by phone were related to bullying, self-harm, thoughts of suicide, or depression.
5 years ago
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