Philadelphia School District Financial Crisis Leaves Many Lives In Limbo
Many of the 4,000 laid-off Philadelphia school employees are living in limbo, waiting to see whether the district can scrape-together enough money to hire them back.
Watch CBS News
Many of the 4,000 laid-off Philadelphia school employees are living in limbo, waiting to see whether the district can scrape-together enough money to hire them back.
The 2009 one-percent hike in the Philadelphia sales tax was supposed to be temporary, but it's now permanent as part of the state's solution to the school district cash crisis.
At a City Hall rally Tuesday afternoon, members of the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools had a simple message: "Council needs to get back to work."
In a brief afternoon session Monday, the state house wrapped up the budget by approving what's called the fiscal code. Wrapped up in that code is a one-time, $45 million for Philadelphia schools.
Gov. Tom Corbett said he has completed negotiations with state lawmakers on a rescue package for Philadelphia public schools.
A Philadelphia state senator says a rescue package for Philadelphia schools is evolving and that the latest proposal no longer includes giving the city the power to increase cigarette taxes there.
Parents upset with the Philadelphia School District's budget crisis came to City Council Thursday, hoping those lawmakers would boost the size of the city's bailout. The parents left disappointed.
Parents and activists staged a demonstration outside a Philadelphia charter school and a high school slated to close because of budget woes.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett released a statement on the Philadelphia School District Wednesday afternoon that said he is dedicated to finding a solution that is fiscally responsible and student-focused.
Mothers of children in the Philadlephia School District are heading to Harrisburg today, armed with thousands of letters from students in hopes of urging lawmakers to support additional funding for the city's public schools.
Philadelphia's school budget crisis is taking a toll on the arts.
With a new cigarette tax and pressure for other revenue the president of Philadelphia's city council is still hoping to keep the schools intact.
If a $300 million dollar budget gap isn't filled, the district plans to eliminate counselors, art, music and other school activities.
Many schools are threatened with severe cutbacks, but Helen Gym, co-founder of Parents United For Public Education, says there is crisis after crisis because the School Reform Commission keeps hiring out-of city superintendents and forgets basic values.
A city councilman thinks the city should yank hundreds of millions of dollars in deposits from Well Fargo, unless bank officials come in and explain their role in deals that cost the city and school district millions.
Hundreds of Philadelphia School District students took to the streets Thursday afternoon to protest proposed budget cuts.
Students gathered at about 4:30 p.m. after the school day ended at 440 N. Broad Street in Spring Garden.
According to a Temple professor, Philadelphia's campaign to market Center City public schools only increased the divide between the educational "haves" and "have nots."
The Philadelphia School District says it won't recommend the expansion of any charter schools next year since it is facing a $300 million budget hole.
The school district says "massive layoffs" and program cuts loom if it doesn't fill its $300 million budget hole.
Dimner Beeber Middle School will remain open, officials said on Tuesday.
Mayor Nutter wants to get the schools an extra $60 million, but after two years of property tax hikes, he is clearly hesitant to go in that direction again.
The district has closed two dozen schools, it's banking on salary cuts of an average ten percent from its employees, and it cut central office staff in half. But Superintendent William Hite says there's still a $242 million dollar budget hole.
Parents are upset that the Philadelphia School District plans to privatize more Head Start slots next year.
A child is OK after being inside a car that was stolen Monday night in Philadelphia, police say.
In a new lawsuit, two California residents allege that Cento Fine Foods doesn't use real San Marzano tomatoes in one of its products.
Ted Turner built a media empire that included cable channels CNN, TBS and TNT, and he owned the Atlanta Braves for 20 years.
Consumer experts say some solutions are simpler and more accessible than people may realize.
Pop-up events from watch parties to street festivals will take place across New Jersey as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway.
New Jersey leaders are gathering in Camden County for a "special statewide announcement" of plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A child is OK after being inside a car that was stolen Monday night in Philadelphia, police say.
In a new lawsuit, two California residents allege that Cento Fine Foods doesn't use real San Marzano tomatoes in one of its products.
Ted Turner built a media empire that included cable channels CNN, TBS and TNT, and he owned the Atlanta Braves for 20 years.
Consumer experts say some solutions are simpler and more accessible than people may realize.
A child is OK after being inside a car that was stolen Monday night in Philadelphia, police say.
Consumer experts say some solutions are simpler and more accessible than people may realize.
Anna Jarvis was living in Philadelphia when she started the first Mother's Day celebration in 1908, in honor of her late mother.
A teenage boy is stable after he was rushed to a hospital following a shooting in North Philadelphia late on Tuesday night.
Part of Interstate 76 in South Philadelphia has reopened after a crash sent seven people to hospitals Tuesday night.
Pop-up events from watch parties to street festivals will take place across New Jersey as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway.
A New Jersey Lyft driver has been charged with luring and sexually harassing two female Princeton University students.
Police say a 2-year-old male wallaby escaped its enclosure at the Cape May County Park & Zoo overnight.
Heavy flames scorched a wooded area in Hamilton Township on Tuesday and threatened a half dozen homes.
Philadelphia police are searching for a vehicle and two suspects wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Haddonfield man in Southwest Philly.
Crews were called out to the 2000 block of North Harrison Street for a reported blaze at a three-story building.
Jimmie Hayes was arrested in connection with at least nine burglaries at businesses in Wilmington, Delaware, police said.
Police in Wilmington, Delaware, are investigating a burglary spree at businesses over a three-week span.
ILC Dover has made spacesuits worn on six moon landings and more than 250 space flights since the first man walked on the moon in 1969.
The FBI believes foul play might be involved in the disappearance of Isiah Jenifer, who was last seen in Delaware County.
A Bensalem family visited the team at Jefferson Abington Hospital to say thank you after a long NICU stay.
The rare genetic disorder neurofibromatosis, or NF, affects about 1 in every 3,000 people and causes tumors to grow along nerves throughout the body.
Hershey says it's benefiting from the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs even as people cut down on snacks. Here's why.
Holly Heenan will represent Team Determination at the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia.
Nuclear medicine is a new frontier in cancer care, and for one Bucks County, Pennsylvania, mom, it's been a lifesaver.
If you dine out in Philadelphia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup events, you could end up paying more.
Bimbo Bakeries USA employs over 20,000 people and has been headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania, for the past 17 years.
Photos by HughE Dillon
Gas prices are climbing, putting a strain on the transportation industry and its workers in the Philadelphia area.
FIFA officials have canceled hundreds of hotel rooms in Philadelphia previously booked for this summer.
The sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines is having an outsized impact on Atlantic City International Airport, where the budget carrier accounted for about 75% of all flights.
The former Greyhound Bus Terminal, now called the Philadelphia Parking Authority Transportation Center, has reopened after undergoing a major renovation project.
SEPTA is installing bulletproof glass on some of its buses to improve driver safety in the Philadelphia area.
A ramp onto I-95 South in Philadelphia has reopened after a single-car crash.
A vehicle fire briefly shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Northeast Philadelphia Thursday.
Pop-up events from watch parties to street festivals will take place across New Jersey as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway.
Bryce Harper homered twice, Cristopher Sánchez struck out 10 batters in eight strong innings and the streaking Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Athletics 9-1 on Tuesday night.
The NBA has fined Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown $50,000 for public criticism of game officials following Boston's first-round exit from the playoffs.
The Phillies on Tuesday activated closer Jhoan Duran from the 15-day injured list and traded Trevor Richards to the White Sox.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse was away from the team Tuesday ahead of Game 2 of its second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks to attend the funeral of his brother.
Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss announced the 2026 Tony nominees for select categories on "CBS Mornings" on Tuesday.
If you dine out in Philadelphia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup events, you could end up paying more.
Call Your Mother, a Washington D.C. based bagel and deli chain, now has the keys to Metropolitan's Rittenhouse Square location.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is embracing a statue it once kept at arm's length.
The "Dog Days Are Over" for the Flyers, but their return to the playoffs comes at the cost of the Florence + the Machine concert.
Ukee Washington reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Ukee Washington reports.
Middle school students in Philadelphia got the opportunity to do hands-on learning during the school district's five-day career and technical camp.
With her Girl Talk mentoring program, one Philadelphia teen turned her camp days into a safe space to discuss social issues young girls face every day.
Recent high school graduate Sylvain Farrell says his temporary position at a local clinic is the pathway to a full-time career.
A Philadelphia student won an award from NFL Films for his documentary on bringing back sports teams at his Kensington school.
A group of East Norriton eighth graders took what started as an Earth Day project and made a whole initiative.
Police are searching for the person who stole a car Monday night and took off with a 5-year-old boy in the back seat.
Police are searching for the person who stole a car Monday night and took off with a 5-year-old boy in the back seat.
Cirque du Soleil's "big top" is returning to the Philadelphia area, as their production "Luzia," featuring amazing acrobatic performances, begins May 7 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. Cirque du Soleil's senior publicist Charlie Wagner joins our Janelle Burrell for a preview of the excitement.
The PGA Championship is coming to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, along with lots of Philadelphia-inspired merch! CBS News Philadelphia's Nikki DeMentri has a look at what's available and how you can shop, even without a ticket to the tournament.
About half of all Americans with a credit card say they can't afford to pay it off in full each month, according to a new survey from progressive think tank The Century Foundation. Researchers say rising rates are pushing balances higher and costing consumers more over time.