Philadelphia City Council To Hold Hearings On School Closures
The Philadelphia School District's decision to close as many as nine schools is prompting City Council to schedule its own inquiry.
Watch CBS News
The Philadelphia School District's decision to close as many as nine schools is prompting City Council to schedule its own inquiry.
It's been ten years since the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took control of the Philadelphia school system, but even those who initially supported the state takeover acknowledge a seemingly neverending torrent of problems.
Public hearings are set on the school district's plan to close nine schools and reconfigure others, under a wide-ranging facilities plan.
Officials at the Philadelphia School District today unveiled the first step in a plan to downsize the district substantially by closing schools across the city.
"We're not giving to the district, we are really giving to the children of Philadelphia because we do care about what happens in schools and what happens to the kids," Federation president Jerry Jordan says.
Cary's novel, "The Price of a Child," was the first "One Book, One Philadelphia" pick in 2003, and she founded Art Sanctuary 13 years ago.
One of the missions this year, according to the mayor, is making further inroads into cutting Philadelphia's high school dropout rate.
"We commit as a commission to work in a transparent and efficient manner. That's going to be extremely important. We have to get the public's respect and trust in this process," Pritchett said.
The help comes in two forms: The mayor's Chief Education Officer Lori Shorr and former district Chief Academic Officer Ed Williams will each serve as executive advisers to acting superintendent Lee Nunery during the search for a permanent superintendent.
The head of Philadelphia's embattled School Reform Commission -- attorney Robert Archie -- has resigned, along with member Johnny Irizarry, and now it is up to Mayor Nutter to fill those seats.
After a tumultuous summer that saw the buyout of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, a new school year begins today for Philadelphia public school students.
"The last six months have been a debacle of planning, financial mismanagement, a leadership vacuum and a human resource crisis," state senator Mike Stack says.
Now that she's officially unemployed, former Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman is on the offensive. In interviews, she's blaming her departure on politicians and some school district officials. The comments may be jeopardizing her generous buy-out.
The School Reform Commission issued a statement that Ackerman will be paid $905,000, the amount due on the remainder of her contract.
Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter is backing the decision to remove Arlene Ackerman as schools superintendent, and he is glad the taxpayers' portion of the buyout was limited to half a million dollars.
Meanwhile, a political watchdog group in Philadelphia says that private donations for a public sector bailout would be wrong.
It's a win for the teachers' union, who said all along that their contract called for layoffs by seniority and that no group of teachers should be bypassed.
The Pennsylvania Education Department is receiving responses from dozens of school districts across the Commonwealth, including the School District of Philadelphia, that were ordered to look into scoring irregularities on 2009 state standardized test scores.
Where was Superintendent Arlene Ackerman? She was not at Wednesday's School Reform Commission meeting, amid reports that the SRC wants her out.
Amid rumors swirling about the future of Philadelphia schools chief Arlene Ackerman, her administration has announced deep cuts in one of her signature programs.
A School District of Philadelphia educator offers some advice for parents who are already eyeing the "back to school" supply displays at local store.
Summer schools run by the Philadelphia School District are dismissing early on Thursday and closing altogether on Friday because of the heat.
The School District of Philadelphia says a draft document listing perks that were not approved for schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman should have remained under wraps.
The city has released a pile of internal documents the school district provided as part of their so-called "Education Accountability Agreement."
Word of a cheating scandal in Atlanta schools got Pennsylvania state rep Michael McGeehan thinking: what ever happened to a similar case in Philadelphia?
On Thursday, another system approaches and has prompted a NEXT Weather Alert Day for the Philadelphia region.
New surveillance video shows the arrest of the ChristianaCare employee accused of shooting two coworkers inside Wilmington Hospital Tuesday.
Three people were shot in Chester, Pennsylvania, Wednesday night, police said.
CBS News Philadelphia's 20th annual Alex Scott: A Stand For Hope Telethon raised more than $7.2 million for the fight against childhood cancer Wednesday.
The Mount Holly Independence Day Celebration has been canceled ahead of America's 250th anniversary, citing "alarming violence."
Three people were shot in Chester, Pennsylvania, Wednesday night, police said.
On Thursday, another system approaches and has prompted a NEXT Weather Alert Day for the Philadelphia region.
New surveillance video shows the arrest of the ChristianaCare employee accused of shooting two coworkers inside Wilmington Hospital Tuesday.
CBS News Philadelphia's 20th annual Alex Scott: A Stand For Hope Telethon raised more than $7.2 million for the fight against childhood cancer Wednesday.
Chase Sudano's father wants people to remember the St. Augustine Prep wrestler for how he lived.
Three people were shot in Chester, Pennsylvania, Wednesday night, police said.
CBS News Philadelphia's 20th annual Alex Scott: A Stand For Hope Telethon raised more than $7.2 million for the fight against childhood cancer Wednesday.
Since the FIFA Fan Festival opened, Fairmont has transformed into a global hot spot, with business booming at one of the city's most popular soccer bars.
Traffic is backed up on I-95 North in Philadelphia because of a crash near East Allegheny Avenue.
Dennis Patton is wanted in the fatal shooting of a man in South Philadelphia's Point Breeze neighborhood in May, police said.
The Mount Holly Independence Day Celebration has been canceled ahead of America's 250th anniversary, citing "alarming violence."
Chase Sudano's father wants people to remember the St. Augustine Prep wrestler for how he lived.
A man was charged with assaulting an officer after he allegedly rammed his van into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in New Jersey, according to prosecutors.
Teo Solari, who's helping team Haiti prepare for the World Cup, has a family soccer legacy at Stockton University.
Stein Your Florist Co. is closing its storefront in Philadelphia's Mayfair-Tacony neighborhood and consolidating all business at its location in Burlington, New Jersey.
New surveillance video shows the arrest of the ChristianaCare employee accused of shooting two coworkers inside Wilmington Hospital Tuesday.
Staff members at Wilmington Hospital in Delaware remain shaken up one day after an employee shot two coworkers, killing one.
Todd Hill, a swim school manager in Aston, Pennsylvania, is charged with seven felonies in a sexual assault of a minor investigation in Delaware.
A suspect was taken into custody in Philadelphia in connection with the shooting at Wilmington Hospital that left a 19-year-old dead and another injured.
Despite being burned in a fire last month, Mother African Union Church in Wilmington is preserving the past and shaping the future.
Josie Selke was diagnosed with a rare pediatric leukemia at just 5 months old. But thanks to a grant from the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, today she's in remission.
Alex Scott's wish was that her lemonade stands could help raise money to find cancer treatments and cures, and that's what's happening.
Cooper's LGBTQ+ clinic in Collingswood, New Jersey, is empowering the community to get the best inclusive healthcare possible.
Dr. Peter Stafford was working with a missionary group in the Congo when he came down with the virus last month.
A star high school lacrosse player in Delaware is back on the field after a mysterious condition in his jaw turned out to be something much more serious.
Target is voluntarily recalling two types of baby wipes due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with bacteria that may cause "serious and life-threatening infections," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board says it will begin approving the extended-hours permits for Philadelphia businesses within the next week.
Two top-rated and critically acclaimed restaurants in the Philadelphia area are receiving a new honor.
Sportswear brand Mitchell & Ness is opening a new three-story flagship store in Center City Philadelphia.
Caesars Entertainment is being acquired for almost $6 billion by Fertitta, the company that owns Las Vegas' Golden Nugget and chains like Rainforest Cafe and Morton's.
Traffic is backed up on I-95 North in Philadelphia because of a crash near East Allegheny Avenue.
Organizers say they want the FIFA Fan Festival in Philadelphia to be "soccer Coachella" for fans from around the world.
SEPTA says it's making improvements to the train station in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
A new website helps visitors and residents check traffic conditions before heading to events in Philadelphia this summer.
PennDOT is replacing a bridge built in 1950 that carries State Road across the Darby Creek, linking Upper Darby and Springfield townships.
The Phillies sent Andrew Painter to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Wednesday after he struggled again in a start against the Marlins.
Kyle Stowers homered twice and drove in five runs and the Miami Marlins avoided a series sweep with a 12-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
An image of Jalen Brunson and his father, Rick, in an emotional hug after the Knicks' championship win on Saturday spread rapidly. But what came before that moment says a lot more about their relationship.
Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber homered, Jesús Luzardo pitched seven strong innings and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins 8-2.
Teo Solari, who's helping team Haiti prepare for the World Cup, has a family soccer legacy at Stockton University.
"The Sound of America," an original production set to world-premiere July 1 at FringeArts, reimagines Benjamin Franklin's life as a rock-and-roll spectacle.
Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night, at the age of 36.
Taylor Swift attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
The Godmother of Soul — Philly's own Patti LaBelle — received a Lifetime Achievement Award during the college's Rhythm and RISE celebration.
"Schmigadoon!" — which was tied for the most nominations, with 12 — won Best Musical, and "Liberation" took home the honor of Best Play at the 2026 Tony Awards.
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.
Bill Kelly is tracking the chance for severe weather Thursday in the Philadelphia region. Here's the latest NEXT Weather forecast.
CBS News Philadelphia's 20th annual Alex Scott: A Stand For Hope Telethon raised more than $7.2 million for the fight against childhood cancer Wednesday.
The video shows the moments when officers moved in on a minivan in Philadelphia's Olney section and took 23-year-old John Wallace-Bey into custody after a five-hour manhunt.
The shooting happened at around 10:40 p.m. on Providence Avenue near Uno Pizzeria and Grill in Chester, according to police.
Over the course of 19 previous telethons, the CBS Philadelphia Telethon has raised more than $70 million.