"There is a price [for tax incentives] and our students are paying it,” said Christine Wen, the author of the study and the planning and fiscal policy coordinator for Good Jobs First.Philadelphia schools lost $112 million in a single year — the most of any school system in the United States — because of the city’s tax abatement and other tax breaks, a new analysis has found.Good Jobs First, a nonprofit that tracks economic development subsidies, , which found that public school systems nationwide lost $2.37 billion in 2019 to tax subsidies.Philadelphia’s $112 million lost dwarfs all other...…"There is a price [for tax incentives] and our students are paying it,” said Christine Wen, the author of the study and the planning and fiscal policy coordinator for Good Jobs First.Philadelphia schools lost $112 million in a single year — the most of any school system in the United States — because of the city’s tax abatement and other tax breaks, a new analysis has found.Good Jobs First, a nonprofit that tracks economic development subsidies, , which found that public school systems nationwide lost $2.37 billion in 2019 to tax subsidies.Philadelphia’s $112 million lost dwarfs all other...WW…

“We need to come up with a solution, and just saying, ‘This other district has more resources’ is not a solution,” said parent Lexi Peskin.John’a Little works overnights, finishing her shift just before 6 a.m.By 8:05, she’s sitting next to her son, helping him log on to his laptop for first grade at Shawmont Elementary in Roxborough. Samir is bright but needs help staying on track for virtual school, so Little spends her day with him. Little does her best, and catches catnaps when she can, but she’s exhausted all the time, and worried that her boy is missing too much by not being in the...…“We need to come up with a solution, and just saying, ‘This other district has more resources’ is not a solution,” said parent Lexi Peskin.John’a Little works overnights, finishing her shift just before 6 a.m.By 8:05, she’s sitting next to her son, helping him log on to his laptop for first grade at Shawmont Elementary in Roxborough. Samir is bright but needs help staying on track for virtual school, so Little spends her day with him. Little does her best, and catches catnaps when she can, but she’s exhausted all the time, and worried that her boy is missing too much by not being in the...WW…

In 2018, she told The Inquirer her wish for the rest of her life was simple: “I just want to not end up in the hospital again. I love kids near me, people’s warmth,” Mrs. Plekan said.Mariya Plekan survived the unthinkable: being pinned for 13 hours under the rubble of a Center City building in 2013, so thoroughly trapped that she could only gasp for air through a tiny hole and cry out for help.Mrs. Plekan died of COVID-19 Friday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was 59.An immigrant from Ukraine, a widow, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Plekan came to Philadelphia to care...…In 2018, she told The Inquirer her wish for the rest of her life was simple: “I just want to not end up in the hospital again. I love kids near me, people’s warmth,” Mrs. Plekan said.Mariya Plekan survived the unthinkable: being pinned for 13 hours under the rubble of a Center City building in 2013, so thoroughly trapped that she could only gasp for air through a tiny hole and cry out for help.Mrs. Plekan died of COVID-19 Friday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was 59.An immigrant from Ukraine, a widow, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Plekan came to Philadelphia to care...WW…

By 2026, 62% of third graders should be reading on grade level; based on standardized tests administered this fall, the district is off track, with 35% of children meeting standards.Only 33% of Philadelphia third graders read at grade level, and the school board wants to know what Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. is going to do about it.On Thursday night, the school board launched a new approach to monitoring the Philadelphia School District and its schools chief, examining in great detail how city students fare on reading assessments and what might be needed to advance sluggish...…By 2026, 62% of third graders should be reading on grade level; based on standardized tests administered this fall, the district is off track, with 35% of children meeting standards.Only 33% of Philadelphia third graders read at grade level, and the school board wants to know what Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. is going to do about it.On Thursday night, the school board launched a new approach to monitoring the Philadelphia School District and its schools chief, examining in great detail how city students fare on reading assessments and what might be needed to advance sluggish...WW…

“The selection process should be as open as possible,” Lisa Haver, a retired Philadelphia School District teacher, said. “Why is the mayor shutting us out?”The process by which Mayor Jim Kenney will choose three new Philadelphia school board members is flawed and lacks transparency, education activists say.Kenney’s nominating panel, charged with sifting through more than 60 applications for the board, reconvened Nov. 17 and is expected to meet Wednesday to recommend nine candidates for three open seats. The panel, chaired by University of Pennsylvania provost and former School Reform...…“The selection process should be as open as possible,” Lisa Haver, a retired Philadelphia School District teacher, said. “Why is the mayor shutting us out?”The process by which Mayor Jim Kenney will choose three new Philadelphia school board members is flawed and lacks transparency, education activists say.Kenney’s nominating panel, charged with sifting through more than 60 applications for the board, reconvened Nov. 17 and is expected to meet Wednesday to recommend nine candidates for three open seats. The panel, chaired by University of Pennsylvania provost and former School Reform...WW…

Hite received low marks for the error-riddled renovation at Benjamin Franklin High School, which endangered students’ and employees’ health and cost the district millions in unexpected costs.William R. Hite Jr.’s is out, and the longtime Philadelphia superintendent’s grades have slipped.The school board rated Hite as “distinguished” in two areas. But he received “needs improvement” — one step above failing — in two areas, student growth and achievement and systems leadership and operations, defined as the superintendent’s ability to work with the board to develop a district vision and, with...…Hite received low marks for the error-riddled renovation at Benjamin Franklin High School, which endangered students’ and employees’ health and cost the district millions in unexpected costs.William R. Hite Jr.’s is out, and the longtime Philadelphia superintendent’s grades have slipped.The school board rated Hite as “distinguished” in two areas. But he received “needs improvement” — one step above failing — in two areas, student growth and achievement and systems leadership and operations, defined as the superintendent’s ability to work with the board to develop a district vision and, with...WW…

“I barely eat, I’m sleeping all the time. This is not normal — you just can’t be on school online every day from 8 to 3. It’s too much,” student Leilani Ferrara said.Fed up with what they say is too much screen time, some students from one Philadelphia high school refused to log on for school Monday, staging a protest they hope will draw attention to the plight of pandemic-stressed teenagers across the city and beyond.Instead of attending virtual school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., dozens of students at Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts declined to participate in...…“I barely eat, I’m sleeping all the time. This is not normal — you just can’t be on school online every day from 8 to 3. It’s too much,” student Leilani Ferrara said.Fed up with what they say is too much screen time, some students from one Philadelphia high school refused to log on for school Monday, staging a protest they hope will draw attention to the plight of pandemic-stressed teenagers across the city and beyond.Instead of attending virtual school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., dozens of students at Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts declined to participate in...WW…

“We’re going to see how progressive progressive parents are,” said board member Mallory Fix Lopez, adding that “tough decisions will have to be made in the spirit of equity.”Philadelphia’s school board is changing the way it operates.The board on Thursday night adopted what it’s calling “Goals and Guardrails,” guiding principles that will shift its focus and, come January, its meetings, putting a sharper focus on academic achievement. By extension, the effort will put Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. and his administration on the hot seat. The plan will also strongly emphasize work around...…“We’re going to see how progressive progressive parents are,” said board member Mallory Fix Lopez, adding that “tough decisions will have to be made in the spirit of equity.”Philadelphia’s school board is changing the way it operates.The board on Thursday night adopted what it’s calling “Goals and Guardrails,” guiding principles that will shift its focus and, come January, its meetings, putting a sharper focus on academic achievement. By extension, the effort will put Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. and his administration on the hot seat. The plan will also strongly emphasize work around...WW…

John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School in Center City and Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote will shut at the end of the 2020-21 school year.Two more Catholic high schools will close at the end of the school year.John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School in Center City and Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote will shut at the end of the 2020-21 school year.Hallahan was the first all-girls’ Catholic diocesan high school in the United States.The decision was made after a sustainability study examined enrollment, demographic trends, finances, and more, officials said. Hallahan...…John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School in Center City and Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote will shut at the end of the 2020-21 school year.Two more Catholic high schools will close at the end of the school year.John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School in Center City and Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote will shut at the end of the 2020-21 school year.Hallahan was the first all-girls’ Catholic diocesan high school in the United States.The decision was made after a sustainability study examined enrollment, demographic trends, finances, and more, officials said. Hallahan...WW…

Under cover of darkness, amid a national outcry over racial injustices and the killing of George Floyd and a renewed local call to stop glorifying the legacy of a mayor known for his aggressive treatment of the city’s black and gay communities, the mural was painted over early Sunday morning.Shoppers visited the Italian Market on Sunday to find that a major change had come to the storied South Philadelphia row of butchers, cheese-mongers and veggie stalls: The three-story visage of former Mayor Frank Rizzo that had long stared down the street from one of its busiest corners was gone.“It was...…Under cover of darkness, amid a national outcry over racial injustices and the killing of George Floyd and a renewed local call to stop glorifying the legacy of a mayor known for his aggressive treatment of the city’s black and gay communities, the mural was painted over early Sunday morning.Shoppers visited the Italian Market on Sunday to find that a major change had come to the storied South Philadelphia row of butchers, cheese-mongers and veggie stalls: The three-story visage of former Mayor Frank Rizzo that had long stared down the street from one of its busiest corners was gone.“It was...WW…