On the topic of education, in Philadelphia and its suburbs and the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, students and parents are concerned about, among myriad issues, budgets and funding, teacher and school board activity, working with federal officials and closings, such as that of the University of the Arts.
Lower Merion nonprofit celebrates half a century of providing underserved students access to educational opportunities
The organization A Better Chance Lower Merion has helped young students of color with mentors and access to strong schools. (Stephen Williams, June 17, 2025)
Centennial School District parents, community members are raising concerns over superintendent choice
Under Abram Lucabaugh’s recent tenure at Central Bucks, the school district implemented a number of controversial policies, including banning Pride flags and some books. (Emily Neil, May 23, 2025)
Central Bucks whistleblower, parents speak out on child abuse investigation
School board member Jim Pepper called on U.S. Attorney General David Metcalf to open a criminal investigation into the alleged abuse.
(Emily Neil, May 16, 2025)
Central Bucks School District child abuse investigation: What you need to know
Three school administrators, including District Superintendent Steven Yanni, have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by an external law firm.
(Emily Neil, May 2, 2025)
Community College of Philadelphia’s board names provost Alycia Marshall as interim president
The CCP announcement came after former president Donald General’s contract wasn’t renewed.
(Stephen Williams, April 30, 2025)
Philly Board of Education meeting: Parents and students testify about deteriorating buildings, teacher shortage
The Thursday meeting saw calls for more library funding, addressing the district’s staffing shortages and deteriorating buildings.
(Celia Bernhardt, April 25, 2025)
A program for ninth-graders in Philly schools helps boost graduation rates
Philly high school graduation rates sit below the national average. The program 9th Grade On-Track ensures participating students have a staff member to mentor them.
(Celia Bernhardt, April 15, 2025)
Philly school district stares down a $300M deficit
The School District of Philadelphia will spend 40% of its reserves in order to avoid budget cuts for one more year. After that, there are no guarantees.
(Celia Bernhardt, March 28, 2025)
William Penn School District faces $9.2M budget deficit
The school district was at the heart of Pennsylvania’s historic fair funding trial, yet financial issues continue to haunt William Penn.
(Kenny Cooper, Feb. 27, 2025)
Montco Community College opens new, state-of-the-art hospitality institute
The 20,000-square-foot learning center features pasta and chocolate laboratories and a wood-burning pizza oven.
(Emily Neil, Dec. 5, 2024)
Drexel University lays off 60 employees in face of ‘structural imbalance’ in operating budget
Those laid off make up roughly 1.4% of Drexel’s workforce. In a statement, Drexel said the “difficult decision” was not “made lightly.”
(Cory Sharber, Nov. 20, 2024)
ACLU of Pa. files lawsuit against Souderton Area School District, alleging free speech and due process violations
The legal action challenges the district’s response to controversy surrounding school board member Bill Formica.
(Emily Neil, Nov. 21, 2024)
After the UArts collapse, Pig Iron Theatre finds a new home at Rowan University
The Pig Iron School for devised theater will remain in Philadelphia while becoming part of New Jersey’s Rowan University.
(Peter Crimmins, Oct. 23, 2024)
Souderton Area School District is sued, drops ID checks at Wednesday’s board meeting
The complaint alleges the school district violated the state Sunshine Act by excluding people without photo IDs at two recent board meetings.
(Emily Neil, Oct. 9, 2024)
‘No doubt our work is cut out for us’: Drexel faces budget shortfall citing enrollment drop, exploring staff cuts
The university said it’s working to resolve a roughly 10% “structural imbalance” in its operating budget of $1.5 billion.
(Cory Sharber, Oct. 1, 2024)
Right2Read Philly campaign reaches 100,000 families this summer
The summer reading campaign was celebrated with an Aug. 29 event at Franklin Square that featured a book giveaway, a sing-along and double Dutch jump rope.
(Stephen Williams, Sept. 3, 2024)
‘Feels like family’: Project Libertad supports immigrant youth in suburban Philly schools
Rachel Rutter founded Project Libertad in 2015 to provide a “holistic approach to meeting all the different needs that immigrant youth have.”
(Emily Neil, Sept. 1, 2024)
‘Fired’: Controversy surrounds Christina School District as its longtime lawyer severs ties with its dysfunctional board
The district’s solicitor leaves after more than 20 years. It comes after the board has been placed under state DOJ monitoring.
(Sarah Mueller, July 22, 2024)
‘Art is part of culture’: How integrating arts is powering academic and emotional growth in Delaware classrooms
Students at Kuumba Academy use puppets to explore storytelling and self-expression in an effort to boost learning through arts integration. (Johnny Perez-Gonzalez, June 12, 2025)
Head Start escapes elimination in 2026 proposed budget from Trump administration
In 2024, the U.S. Head Start budget was $12.2 billion. “We recognize that we have no certainty,” said the executive director of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association.
(Stephen Williams, May 19, 2025)
Camden to receive the most state aid for schools in governor’s budget proposal
Camden’s school district is set to see a bump of $21 million. On the other end, the Washington Township school district has the biggest proposed cut in South Jersey.
(P. Kenneth Burns, April 17, 2025)
Delaware weighs response to U.S. Education Department memo threatening funding for low-income students over DEI programs
The U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights says federal funding is a privilege, not a right.
(Sarah Mueller, April 11, 2025)
‘A few bad actors’: Delaware lawmakers seek to strengthen school boards’ public accountability and transparency
Many of the bills were inspired by last year’s acrimonious Christina school board meetings attempting to remove the superintendent.
(Sarah Mueller, April 6, 2025)
A medical school in Sussex County? Leaders weigh in on the need for more doctors in southern Delaware
Southern Delaware faces a growing doctor shortage. Leaders are considering whether a new medical school could help address the gap.
(Johnny Perez-Gonzalez, March 27, 2025)
‘Denial’: Delaware commissioners question need for added funding as governor seems to soften call for quick implementation
Some Education Funding Commission members appeared reluctant to add the money experts say is required to adequately fund schools.
(Sarah Mueller, Feb. 12, 2025)
Delaware issues new guidance to protect students’ education after rollback of sensitive location protections
A new website provides resources on immigrant student rights, including a sample policy affirming a commitment to protecting all students. (ByJohnny Perez-Gonzalez, Feb. 6, 2025)
Gov. Shapiro seeks to further increase education spending on underfunded schools
Last year, the state passed a budget with record education spending. Shapiro is asking for more money for education, including more than $500 million more for schools in need.
(Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, Feb. 4, 2025)
‘Not going to wait’: Advocates question whether Delaware is acting fast enough to fix its failing education funding system
Commission members are already saying they may need more time. The earliest the recommendations could be included in the state budget is fiscal year 2027.
(Sarah Mueller, Oct. 23, 2024)
How Delaware will update curriculum to represent all racial and ethnic histories
The state’s educational landscape is evolving — schools are incorporating diverse racial narratives into the curriculum.
(Johnny Perez-Gonzalez, Oct. 22, 2024)
Pa. Gov. Shapiro’s higher education reforms come at a critical time, with declining enrollment and underfunding
As part of his reforms, Shapiro increased funding and created a new state board of education to promote coordination among colleges and universities.
(Stephen Williams, Oct. 15, 2024)
Pa. ranked 2nd among nation’s top destinations for freshman out-of-state college students, survey says
About 21,000 freshman students move to the state for college each year, according to data from the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania.
(Stephen Williams, Sept. 12, 2024)
‘They should be able to breathe clean air’: Pa. spends $75 million to fix lead, asbestos and mold in schools
Of the districts receiving money, the School District of Philadelphia, where damaged asbestos has repeatedly shuttered schools, received the maximum grant amount.
(Sophia Schmidt, Sept. 9, 2024)
Camden School District superintendent calls on Wasim Muhammad to step down
State District Superintendent Katrina McCombs called on the school advisory board president to step down following public outcry over a lawsuit that cost $2 million.
(P. Kenneth Burns, Sept. 5, 2024)
Embattled Camden school advisory board president resists calls to step down as meeting ends in chaos
Residents and activists spent more than an hour calling on Wasim Muhammad to leave the board before the meeting went out of control.
(P. Kenneth Burns, Aug. 28, 2024)
‘One of us’: Delaware community celebrates local educator during opening of Wilmington’s first new school in half a century
The new school in the city’s East Side neighborhood, which replaces Bancroft School, is named in honor of Maurice Pritchett, who was principal at Bancroft from 1975 to 2005.
(Sarah Mueller, Aug. 26, 2024)
Gov. Shapiro, Pa. legislators seek compromise on public education funding
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court ruled that the state’s public education funding formula was inequitable and unconstitutional, requiring change.
(Stephen Williams, July 15, 2024)
Who should get the $63M endowment money of UArts? Depends on who you ask
Will the Dorrance Hill Hamilton trustees have control over how Mrs. Hamilton’s donations to the University of the Arts could be redistributed? It’s up to a judge to decide.
(Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza, Sept. 26, 2024)
Summers are getting hotter in the Philly region. A nationwide survey shows outdoor workers already feel the heat
More than one in seven outdoor workers faced heat-related symptoms on the job last year, according to a survey by a research nonprofit.
(Sophia Schmidt, Sept. 26, 2024)
Here’s what could happen to UArts’ $61 million endowment and its historic campus
UArts is still responsible for ensuring its endowment is spent the way donors intended. Regulators will control the transition of both buildings and the money.
(Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza, June 13, 2024)
University of the Arts president resigns as questions swirl over abrupt closure
Four days after announcing the school would shut down imminently, and during a constantly evolving crisis, Kerry Walk stepped down.
(Peter Crimmins, June 4, 2024)
University of the Arts students rally to demand answers about sudden closure
Hundreds of students say they are still searching for reasons why their alma mater is shutting down as the university cancels its town hall.
(Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza, June 3, 2024)
University of the Arts abruptly cancels info session amid questions over impending closure
“As the situation continues to unfold rapidly, we cannot adequately answer your questions today,” the university said in a statement minutes before a planned 4 p.m. session.
(6abc digital staff, June 3, 2024)