K-12

The public utility of the internet is especially clear now in a pandemic, when we go online for school and health information, writes Devren Washington.

Some may question the value of closing schools, but there’s plenty to be cautious about. According to one expert: “Lack of evidence doesn’t mean that there isn’t a risk.”

Philly distributed over 80,000 laptops in order to move classes online. Today’s data provides an early glimpse at how many students are showing up.

South Philadelphia High School music director Courtney Powers still wanted her students to have access to their music and instruments after classes were suspended.

With the typical tools, like standardized tests, off the table this year, the Philadelphia School District has to think differently about how to measure success.

With kids’ classrooms replaced by the kitchen table or living room couch, many parents have been reluctantly drafted into a new role: teacher’s assistant.

Overnight, a Philly podcast about entrepreneurialism became a roundtable about the strangest senior year in recent memory.

The partnership with Uplift is due to concerns about the impact of isolation.

Graduation, special ed, summer school — and the all-too-familiar technology gap — are just a few challenges that remain unresolved.

Also Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said residents passed an “important test” by complying with social distancing rules as parks reopened.

Unions are going to want a say in when it is safe to reopen schools and under what conditions. And Hite also speaks to the issue of grading.

The Philadelphia School Board renewed three charters, authorized classroom upgrades and moved to protect transgender students online.

The controversy has erupted on the eve of the Board of Education’s planned vote whether to approve the move.

Mayor Kenney will also present his revised budget proposal. Members of the public can register to speak at the virtual hearing.

The money helps centers continue to pay staff so they will be prepared to reopen. But it also pays for other needs, such as activity packets for children.