Education: Five Schools Impacted By Budget Cuts
As education budget cuts have spread throughout the state of Pennsylvania, building closures present a way for school districts to quickly lower their costs. In Philadelphia, a large wave of closings occurred in 2013. During this time, the School District of Philadelphia closed 23 schools to help shrink a looming financial deficit of more than […]
Education: A Look Inside the District’s Struggling Schools
—Text and image by Lora Strum and Ashley Hart
Education: The Kids Aren’t Alright
The cause of Philadelphia’s failing public schools has been attributed to anything from budget stalemates in Harrisburg, to misappropriation of past federal stimulus money, to district officials determined to live above their means. Whatever the cause, the effect is the same: students are suffering. Forced to adapt to the limited resources afforded them in the […]
Education: Philadelphia POPS Orchestra “Swings” into Schools
For the 50 students in Dorina Morrow’s advanced vocal music class at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA,) the choir room is their stage. Standing three stairs deep in front of a grand piano, the students recently sang their hearts out to Frank Sinatra classics, swaying and dancing along to hits […]
Northwest: School Funding a Major Issue in Mayor Race
While the race to see who will become Philadelphia’s next mayor revolves around a number of issues facing the city, the issue that appears to be at the forefront is funding for the city’s district and charter schools. Not only is the Northwest section of Philadelphia home to many public and charter schools, like Roxborough […]
City Hall: Parents and Advocates Demand State Provide Adequate Education Funds
Philadelphia education advocates, parents and students braved the numbing cold on Nov. 18 to gather in room 400 of City Hall for a hearing organized by the local nonprofit Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY). “Public education is not a privilege but a right,” said Jamira Burley (right), executive director of the Philadelphia Youth Commission. […]
Education: Offering Guidance and a Helping Hand to Homeless Students
During high school, Alfred Quarles (above) dreamed of becoming a chef and serving those living a luxurious lifestyle. Now he does the opposite, serving children in the School District of Philadelphia who lack the most basic necessities, including a place to call home. Quarles came into his role as Philadelphia’s regional director of Education for Children and Youth […]
Germantown: Rebuilding the School and Community
One year ago, approximately 120 seniors walked out of Germantown High School as graduates. Today, all that remains of the half-century old school is an empty building, neglected yard and large sale sign. Some people, however, have not forgotten this school was once a place of promise for the people of Germantown. It is this […]
Nicetown: Will Steel Elementary Become A Charter School?
On May 1, parents will vote on whether to keep Steel Elementary School in the hands of the school district, or to allow Mastery Charter to take over operations. Several parent and teacher groups have been firm in their opposition, claiming that such a takeover would take away resources from students. “Rather than provide schools […]
Fishtown: Kids Rock Program Fills the Gaps in Musical Education
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church sits on a cobblestone drive at the corner of Trenton Avenue and Cumberland Street: traditional grounds for a not-so traditional band. Inside the church, up two flights of stairs you will find a real-life School of Rock, where students fill the room, instruments in hand and personalities in flight. Jessica Craft, […]