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The effort among Philadelphia's district, charter, and archdiocesan schools known as the "Great Schools Compact" has received a $2.5-million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Complicating the matter is that the district hasn't yet named the dozens of schools it may be permanently closing next year.
The hearing lasted hours and was dominated by school parents and other advocates who object to the closure process.
Superintendent William Hite defended the salary increases, saying they coincided with additional responsibilities for employees in the district's IT, finance, and human resources departments.
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit is promoted as a way to provide a better education for poor children, but public education advocates say it actually takes away tax money that could be used to improve schools.
Expanding the program at a time when the state has slashed public school funding is infuriating public education advocates.
"BLOCS provides scholarships from your business taxes to students who not only want to attend a Catholic school but are most in need," says one advertisement.
State senator Tony Williams defends the program as similar to the GI Bill, but some of his Harrisburg colleagues see it as improperly favoring closed groups.
This round of grants gives cash to individual school districts using innovative tools to personalize learning.
The school district says its system of rating schools is flawed and it's looking for an outside firm to fix it.
SEPTA will remain out of service on Tuesday morning. Officials say it will take eight hours after the storm passes to make sure things aren't damaged.
As Hurricane Sandy approaches, the city of Philadelphia is closing government offices, court houses, mass transit and public and Archdiocesan schools on Monday. And Mayor Michael Nutter continues to urge residents to be ready.
Mayor Nutter says the city agreed to kick in $338,000 and the district will pay $800,000 to keep programs going.
Students ranged from kindergartners to 4th graders. And after a brief fitting session, there were many happy customers.
A 16-year-old high school student who says she was humiliated for wearing a Mitt Romney t-shirt returned to the classroom this morning.
Until this year, the Samuel Fels High School in Northeast Philadelphia was listed as a "persistently dangerous" school, as defined by the state. But the climate is changing there.
If kids don't feel safe, they're not going to learn. But now the victims of assaults in Philadelphia schools have someone going to bat for them.
There is a new atmosphere at one Philadelphia high school where, students say, violence used to be commonplace.
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo looks at how Philadelphia's new schools superintendent plans to tackle school violence.
Thanks to a giveaway, nearly a thousand needy students in the Philadelphia school district who didn't have a backpack or basic supplies now have them.
Philadelphia's teachers' union got some national help to make their argument that schools can improve without the wholesale closings and charter takeovers that have been proposed.
The School District of Philadelphia has launched a series of public meetings as it explores permanently closing dozens of school buildings.
After nine years of modest increases, Philadelphia's performance on the state PSSA tests took a tumble last year.
Standardized test scores for Pennsylvania schools are being released today. And, don't be surprised to see them drop, because of tighter controls to curb cheating.
School District of Philadelphia officials are disputing reports that the gunfire yesterday aboard the Broad Street subway stemmed from a rivalry among schools.
Rain and wind head toward the Philadelphia region after a dry start to Sunday.
Nearly 93,000 travelers are set to move through Philadelphia International Airport in post-holiday rush.
Cpl. Matthew Snook was fatally shot while on duty earlier this week at a DMV office in Wilmington, Delaware.
A portion of SEPTA's Broad Street Line was suspended Saturday afternoon after a fire near the tracks, officials said.
A 45-year-old woman was killed in a head-on crash on an icy street early Saturday morning in Port Richmond, police say.
Rain and wind head toward the Philadelphia region after a dry start to Sunday.
Cpl. Matthew Snook was fatally shot while on duty earlier this week at a DMV office in Wilmington, Delaware.
Nearly 93,000 travelers are set to move through Philadelphia International Airport in post-holiday rush.
A portion of SEPTA's Broad Street Line was suspended Saturday afternoon after a fire near the tracks, officials said.
A 45-year-old woman was killed in a head-on crash on an icy street early Saturday morning in Port Richmond, police say.
Nearly 93,000 travelers are set to move through Philadelphia International Airport in post-holiday rush.
A portion of SEPTA's Broad Street Line was suspended Saturday afternoon after a fire near the tracks, officials said.
A 45-year-old woman was killed in a head-on crash on an icy street early Saturday morning in Port Richmond, police say.
A winter storm dumped rain, sleet and rain on the Lehigh Valley Friday, creating icy roads and travel problems.
Philadelphia police are searching for a hit-and-run suspect who killed a cyclist on Lancaster Avenue, one of the most dangerous streets in the city.
A 26-year-old woman died after driving off the road and crashing into a small body in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
Smith previously played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway.
Here are mall opening and closing hours for the Christmas and Christmas Eve holidays around the Philly region.
The holiday rush was on Sunday night as shoppers scrambled to get their last-minute holiday gifts inside the Cherry Hill Mall.
Philadelphia and South Jersey residents were left shaken after powerful winds sent massive trees onto homes and vehicles Friday.
Cpl. Matthew Snook was fatally shot while on duty earlier this week at a DMV office in Wilmington, Delaware.
Six people were taken to a trauma center after a three-car crash on the Delaware Memorial Bridge Friday night.
Police say 44-year-old Rahman Rose entered a DMV in Wilmington, Delaware and shot and killed a state trooper.
Portnoy said he plans to give Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew "Ty" Snook's family nearly $500,000.
Tributes are pouring in for Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew "Ty" Snook, who was shot and killed in Wilmington.
Thousands of Pennsylvanians are dropping their health insurance as premiums are set to double on Jan. 1, 2026.
Hearing technology helps deaf and hard-of-hearing students perform at the annual holiday show in Overbrook.
A Pennsylvania man visited Penn to thank the surgeon who saved his life during a stroke.
There are encouraging early signs the angel advocate approach is helping people find organ donors.
Children with critical illnesses and their families can visit the Wishing Place in Bala Cynwyd to start their wish journeys.
The post-Christmas return rush was underway at shops and malls across the Philadelphia area.
With product return fraud on the rise, an emerging company is using AI to help spot issues.
Here are mall opening and closing hours for the Christmas and Christmas Eve holidays around the Philly region.
Through Amazon Now, customers can get household items, cosmetics, electronics, groceries and more delivered in about 30 minutes or less.
San Francisco officials said Tuesday that the city has filed a lawsuit against leading manufacturers of ultra-processed foods, accusing them of producing products linked to serious health issues and alleging that the companies knowingly made the foods addictive.
The snow and wintry weather is causing travel disruptions on one of the busiest travel days at PHL.
Parking and traffic restrictions for the Mummers parade start Friday in Philadelphia.
The holiday travel rush is ramping up on the roads and in the skies around the Philadelphia region.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike's eastbound lanes have reopened following a multi-vehicle crash between Bensalem and Willow Grove.
SEPTA's largest workers' union voted to ratify its new contract with the Philadelphia-based transit agency Wednesday night.
Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for a career-high 262 yards and two TDs, and Penn State beat Clemson 22-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid, and the Chicago Bulls matched a season high with their fifth straight win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-102.
The South Philadelphia bar was a haven for Chiefs fans in the Philly area for years.
Travis Konecny scored and added his 300th career assist, leading the Philadelphia Flyers past the Blackhawks 3-1 and handing depleted Chicago its sixth straight loss.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points, as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106.
Smith previously played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
Albert Brooks said he's still in shock over the death of his friend Rob Reiner, whom he met at 14 years old.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
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.
Sunday turns milder as a warm front lifts north, bringing rain late in the day into Sunday night.
Nearly 93,000 travelers are set to move through Philadelphia International Airport in post-holiday rush. Eva Andersen reports.
New Year's Day could bring snow to the Philadelphia area. Bill Kelly has the forecast.
Cpl. Matthew Snook was fatally shot while on duty earlier this week at a DMV office in Wilmington, Delaware.
Shoppers pack Cherry Hill Mall to return or exchange holiday gifts. Ray Strickland reports.