Latest 'City Year' Target: Philadelphia's High School Dropout Rate
One of the missions this year, according to the mayor, is making further inroads into cutting Philadelphia's high school dropout rate.
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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?
One step removed from the incredible shrinking School District state aid package, the mayor says the penny-wise approach to education funding is foolish.
Thursday was the Philadelphia School District's deadline for its unions to make concessions. But the district says it's going to let that deadline slip for now.
The leak of an internal document listing Philadelphia schools up for possible closing has district officials firing back.
Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman calls "false" reports that she is negotiating with the School Reform Commission to buy out the remaining three years of her contract.
The Philadelphia School District and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers have agreed to go to arbitration to settle their dispute over nearly 350 teachers listed for layoffs.
Proceeds from that property tax bump -- combined with a meter rate increase for street parking and some city surplus funds -- will give the school district an extra $53 million.
Philadelphia police are providing an update on an armed robbery involving an AR-15-style rifle in Center City last month.
A ground stop has been issued at several airports, including Philadelphia International Airport, due to an equipment outage on Monday, the FAA said.
Flights at Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports are delayed due to an equipment outage, the FAA says.
A South Philadelphia homeowner says a series of unexpected package deliveries turned out to be something far more concerning than a shipping mistake.
Korean culture took center stage Saturday at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.
Philadelphia police are providing an update on an armed robbery involving an AR-15-style rifle in Center City last month.
A ground stop has been issued at several airports, including Philadelphia International Airport, due to an equipment outage on Monday, the FAA said.
Flights at Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports are delayed due to an equipment outage, the FAA says.
A South Philadelphia homeowner says a series of unexpected package deliveries turned out to be something far more concerning than a shipping mistake.
Korean culture took center stage Saturday at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.
Philadelphia police are providing an update on an armed robbery involving an AR-15-style rifle in Center City last month.
A ground stop has been issued at several airports, including Philadelphia International Airport, due to an equipment outage on Monday, the FAA said.
A South Philadelphia homeowner says a series of unexpected package deliveries turned out to be something far more concerning than a shipping mistake.
Korean culture took center stage Saturday at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.
Reya Mishra started growing flowers with her mother during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five years later, their backyard project has blossomed into Petals with Promise.
Flights at Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports are delayed due to an equipment outage, the FAA says.
Part of a Lavallette, New Jersey, liquor store was boarded up and a bouquet of flowers was left outside Sunday night, somber reminders of a horrific crash that killed a woman a day earlier.
Olympian Dominique Dawes said she wants to create a healthier culture within gymnastics.
The suspect has been identified in a deadly shooting that happened outside a Wawa location in Toms River on Friday.
Gregory Taylor says his son, Xavier, is still on a ventilator, but they're hopeful and steadfast in their faith.
Friday will start on the humid side, but as temps climb into the low-mid 80s, the decreasing humidity will make for a nice day.
Today looks warm and noticeably more humid in the Philadelphia region, with highs reaching the mid-80s but feeling like the upper 80s.
Another beautiful September day is underway Wednesday in the Philadelphia region.
Tuesday will bring plenty of sunshine, low humidity and light winds in the Philadelphia region, all ingredients to spend time outside.
Concerns are growing in Wilmington, Delaware, after separate shootings over the weekend left two people dead, including a teen.
Health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport, and it's not related to the case at CHOP.
Health officials in Philadelphia are warning about possible measles exposures in the CHOP NICU.
An 18-year-old from Mifflin County has died from measles-related complications, Pennsylvania health officials said.
The Philadelphia Eagles' cheerleading squad has nine new members, including a Jefferson Health cardiac ICU nurse and three other healthcare professionals.
A 40-year-old woman died on Saturday from complications associated with measles, the coroner reported.
New Jersey floral designer Alisha Simone Bell said she puts her "whole heart" into every arrangement and every detail.
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania took a major step in the fight against the negative impacts of social media, particularly on children.
Thieves are smashing windows and targeting trading card stores looking for valuable Pokémon cards, police in South Jersey say.
Customers lined up to support Somerdale Cold Cuts as it reopened after a copper theft.
While some assume landlords are required to provide air conditioning, the law is not nearly as clear-cut as it is for heat in the winter
Two people were taken to the hospital after a large tree fell onto three cars on Belmont Avenue in Bala Cynwyd on Friday.
A crash involving at least two cars is slowing traffic on I-95 South near Allegheny Avenue.
Drivers will start getting tickets for parking in Smart Loading Zones without registering.
A man on a motorcycle was launched from a highway overpass near 2nd and Callowhill streets on Monday night, police say.
SEPTA has resumed service on three Regional Rail lines after downed Amtrak wires caused a suspension on Monday.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will undergo an MRI after he missed most of Sunday's 24-20 comeback win over the Titans with a stinger, according to multiple reports.
Jeffery Simmons gave Jalen Hurts bulletin board material heading into Week 2, and the Eagles quarterback responded with a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to beat the Titans.
Cristopher Sánchez earned his major league-leading 18th win Sunday, leading the Phillies to a 7-2 victory over the Mets.
Jalen Hurts tossed a game-winning touchdown pass to Darius Cooper to help the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-20, Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Bruno Damiani, teenager Cavan Sullivan and Milan Iloski all scored over a five-minute span of the second half for Philadelphia, and the Union used an own goal to beat Sporting Kansas City 4-3 and extend their unbeaten streak to 11 with a fifth straight victory.
Crews are setting up for Ed Sheeran's concert at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend amid a controversy over Macklemore's recent comments.
Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all released statements Tuesday on Instagram saying they were withdrawing from Ed Sheeran's tour.
Performer Macklemore is being dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour after making on-stage statements that some found controversial.
The Philadelphia Eagles' cheerleading squad has nine new members, including a Jefferson Health cardiac ICU nurse and three other healthcare professionals.
The Landmark Ritz Five movie theater in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood has reopened after a brief closure.
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.
Monday starts with some blue skies, then clouds thicken with a few scattered showers in the afternoon and evening. NEXT Weather meteorologist Kate Bilo has more on the potential for coastal flooding this week.
A South Philly man says he has a warning after he kept finding deliveries on his doorstep that he never ordered. When he couldn't get answers, he contacted consumer reporter Josh Sidorowicz. Josh is In your Corner with what you should know about a new tactic fraudsters are using before they target your address next.
Petals with Promise began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown into a blossoming nonprofit. Our Wakisha Bailey has more in this Spreading the Love.
PECO crews responded to the outage on Tiona Street just after 2 on Monday morning.
In his first sit down interview, Patrick Clancy spoke with 60 minutes about his children and mental health following the mistrial of his ex-wife Lindsay.