Newsroom

The School District of Philadelphia has received a $3.97 million dollar grant from the US Department of Education to expand Relationships First and to partner with Research for Action (RFA) to conduct a rigorous evaluation of the program.

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Graduating from high school ready for success in college, career and life is an important milestone for your child. No matter your child’s age, it is never too early to start supporting their path toward graduation success.

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Today, the School District of Philadelphia announced the launch of Thrive at Five, the campaign to promote kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year.

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Strategic Plan development will be driven by several Advisory Groups, a Steering Committee, and a Leadership Team – three distinct bodies that represent the wide variety of perspectives and diverse expertise of our SDP community.

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In 1965, the same year that the landmark Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress, Dr. King said – “We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience.”

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Elizabeth “Liz” Taylor, 10th and 11th grade social studies teacher at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory & Demonstration School is a 2023 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Finalist.

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Trinity Palmore is truly one of a kind. Like a growing number of students growing up in 21st century inner cities, she has and continues to face significant hurdles in her life including mental health struggles, lack of family support, and homelessness.

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Philadelphia students each have unique stories and as you get to know Patricia, she will share hers with you in thoughtfully chosen words, with the care she clearly applies to everything from to her choice of high schools to the immense list of advanced classes, extracurriculars, and ultimately career path she has chosen.

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The School District of Philadelphia is proud to name Meredith Leon as December 2022’s Teacher of the Month! Meredith is a first-grade teacher at Overbrook Educational Center (OEC).

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Through this partnership with KenCrest, which officially launched in November 2022, Parkway West students work three days a week at KenCrest Early Learning Center on Elmwood Avenue and receive both instruction and work experience from one building.

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Philadelphia Military Academy’s Kaheem Bailey-Taylor was presented the Medal of Heroism. This award is presented to cadets who perform acts of heroism.

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The NRF Foundation today announced the School District of Philadelphia as its 2023 RISE Up Partner of the Year.

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James J. Sullivan School hosted their first annual Winter Festival for its families. More than 100 parents were in attendance to celebrate with the school community in a fun holiday event.

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School District of Philadelphia to Shift to 100 Percent Virtual Learning Friday Due to Predicted Weather

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Hill-Freedman Records, the record label of Philadelphia public high school Hill-Freedman World Academy of the School District of Philadelphia, announces the release of GROWING UP BLACK, an album of 34 original student songs, co-produced by Philadelphia independent music nonprofit World Cafe Live.

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As a reminder, all District schools and administrative offices will be closed December 26 through January 2, 2023. Read about health and safety suggestions and what to expect when students return in January.

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Overbrook High School Athletic Director Bob Miller has been named President-Elect of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association (PSADA), the first individual from Philadelphia to be elected to this position.

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Today, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., announced a personnel update that will further support efforts to accelerate the District’s efforts…

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The School District of Philadelphia is promoting literacy and helping students expand literacy skills through a new “20 in 20” Reading Initiative.

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The School District of Philadelphia has launched a new “LOVE your Today. Shape their tomorrow.” recruitment campaign to attract educators and non-instructional staff now and for the 2023-2024 school year.

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Jewels are rare and precious. That’s precisely how one could describe 18-year-old Jewel Gadson…

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When you meet Charity, you’re struck immediately by her bubbly personality and enthusiasm.

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Congratulations to Mr. Stephen Quaranta for being named December’s Teacher of the Month! Quaranta is an ELA teacher at William W. Bodine High School that has and continues to make an impression on young lives.

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The School District of Philadelphia is celebrating its 12th annual Computer Science Education Week, a weeklong celebration that highlights the District’s commitment to digital literacy and coding.

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Andrew Hamilton School students were having a blast on Wednesday, programming their robots to maneuver through an obstacle course to earn points for their team.

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The U School and Building 21 are among the handful of School District of Philadelphia schools that have been selected as beneficiaries of the 1Philadelphia 2022 Grants.

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A Thanksgiving Message to Families

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Juniata Park Academy (K-8), Middle Years Alternative (MYA) School (5-8) and Morton McMichael School were selected for the first cohort of Elevate 215’s ‘Beat the Odds’ Planning Grants.

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An Update on the Facilities Planning Process

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If there was one word to describe Janelle Needham, it’s excellent.

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On Thursday, award-winning actor, rapper and author Will Smith returned to his alma mater to surprise students. The Philadelphia native and Overbrook High School graduate (‘86) visited students in a digital media class and took questions directly from them on a range of topics of their choice.

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Congratulations to our first Teacher of the Month for the 2022-2023 school year, Nicole McGowan of Roxborough High School.

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At the School District we are privileged with the responsibility of helping thousands of students reach their goals.

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Rachel Zibelman-LeSuer, a teacher at Juniata Park Academy, received the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership Educator Award at the 11th Annual Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony.

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Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Ed.D., Chief Safety Officer Kevin Bethel and Executive Director of Athletics Jimmy Lynch participated in Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA)’s annual Unified Fall Festival Torch Run, a 26-mile non-competitive run consisting of 19 legs from XFINITY Live! Philadelphia to Villanova University.

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Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day. All school buildings, except those serving as voting sites, will be closed and there will be no classes for students.

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Erica Mandell, an art educator at General George A. McCall, was selected as the 2022 Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) Outstanding Elementary Art Educator. She is now under consideration for the National Art Education Association’s Outstanding Art Educator Award.

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Today, the School District of Philadelphia announced its commitment to invest an additional $1.7M to support District paraprofessionals to become teachers. The District shared an overview of this program to PDE’s Committee on Education Talent Recruitment, which was established through a bill sponsored by State Sen. Vincent Hughes.

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The School District of Philadelphia has received a grant of nearly $5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help accelerate efforts to provide abundant and equitable access to filtered drinking water in our schools and buildings. 

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The School District of Philadelphia will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Urban Technology Project, a nationally recognized apprenticeship program run by the Office of Information Technology.

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The Samuel Gompers School hosted a surprise celebration for Carman Harris, who officially retired after being with the school as a crossing guard since 1984. The school celebrated her with an afternoon assembly, followed by a celebratory final crossing and a gathering after school with current and former Gompers staff, community members, families and students.

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2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress Results Released

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Dr. Watlington Shares Final Transition Team Report

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The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has introduced statewide Pathways to Graduation — expanded high school graduation requirements that were originally made into law in 2018 and are currently planned to go into effect beginning this 2022-2023 school year. 

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The School District of Philadelphia has received a $1 million dollar grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to address youth violence. This award will be used to fund implementation of the Youth Violence Reduction Initiative at John Bartram High School.

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Acclaimed actor, comedian and children’s book author Kevin Hart, who grew up in Philadelphia, joined Book Trust and JPMorgan Chase at Robert Morris School where he announced a matching donation of $75,000.

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On my first day at the District, I committed to a three-phase transition into the District. For Phase 1 and my first 100 days, which is now complete, I committed to listening from people across Philadelphia to learn what the District does well, what needs improvement, and how we can work collaboratively to achieve the School District of Philadelphia’s Goals and Guardrails and make the District one of the fastest improving large, urban school districts in the country.

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A Message from Superintendent Watlington Regarding the Shooting Outside of Roxborough High School

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U.S. Department of Education recognizes Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School with prestigious award.

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On Monday, Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty and Executive Deputy Secretary Dr. Debora Carrera joined Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Ed.D., and District officials as he visited Parkway Center City Middle College (PCCMC).

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The School District is excited to launch a new 21st Century Schools Model in three neighborhood high schools for the 2023-24 school year. School Selection opens tomorrow.

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The District joins regional employers and educators for the second-year kickoff of the Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project.

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The District shares an update on health and safety protocols for the upcoming school year.

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During the back-to-school celebration, Office Depot distributed more than 1000 backpacks to Louis H. Farrell School students filled with school supplies like notebooks, composition books, crayons, pencils, highlighters and more.

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Important information about a shooting overnight, outside of Willard School.

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Yesterday, our school leaders and teachers, together with many other staff members, rang the bell on a new school year

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118 District Schools to Dismiss 3-Hours Early on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 30 & 31.

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Daroff Charter School to immediately and permanently close, Bluford Charter School postpones start date for students 

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This fall, Philadelphia Military Academy (PMA) cadets will be returning to school with a shiny gold star insignia on their uniforms – a symbol of success at the highest level.

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Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year!

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George Washington High School’s (GWHS) Competitive Cheer team is making history

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Three main initiatives continue to guide Dr. Watlington’s first 100 days as superintendent: the 100-day plan, the Listening and Learning tour, and the Transition Team.

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On Saturday, August 20, the members of 32BJ SEIU District 1201 voted to authorize a strike.

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We are truly excited to welcome our students, families and staff to the 2022-23 school year, which starts on Monday, August 29.

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The 2022-2023 School Selection process opens Friday, September 16, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

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The District and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) have been working closely to determine the best health and safety measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as students return to school.

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The School District of Philadelphia welcomes more than 700 new teachers and counselors this week at the District’s annual New Hire Orientation. The orientation, which kicked off Monday, provides new teachers and counselors with professional development and networking opportunities while covering a variety of topics, including creating inclusive and equitable routines, supporting students in times…

In an effort to create a foundation for strong student attendance, the District has created partnerships to provide access and supports for students to get immunized for 2022-2023 school year PHILADELPHIA, PA— In conjunction with National Immunization Awareness Month, the School District of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc. (DVCH) and CityLife Health are helping…

District continues accepting employment applications for 2022-2023 school year The School District of Philadelphia will host a series of hiring events for open school-based support positions across the District. These in-person events at select schools throughout the city will provide job seekers with the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Office of Talent and…

Read in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | Français | ខ្មែរ  | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt July 22, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families & Community, Last month, I was honored to be named superintendent of this fine school district. One of my first actions was to unveil my 100-day…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي  | 汉语 | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear Parents, Families, and Students, The School District of Philadelphia is thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Celebration & Bus Tour! Last year’s SDP Back-to-School celebration was a resounding success! So we are excited to once again tour Philadelphia’s communities to help families…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt July 12, 2022 Hello School District of Philadelphia Families, Today I’m pleased to announce the official launch of my Transition Team. As you know, my main priorities are improving student outcomes and achieving the Board’s…

The first-ever music scholarship created in honor of the iconic and incomparable Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was awarded to Sierra Guilmartin, a recent graduate at Philadelphia High School for Girls. Guilmartin (’22) plans to pursue music at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in the Fall. Through the new Gibson…

July 1, 2022 PHILADELPHIA, PA — As part of his first 100-Day priorities, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., has laid out a robust set of strategic, intentional and collaborative actions to learn about the District comprehensively and quickly, and inform its work going forward. “My purpose and moral obligation to…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt June 28, 2022 Hello School District of Philadelphia Families, I’m writing to update you on a key part of my 100-day priorities. Improving student outcomes and achieving the Board’s Goals & Guardrails, such that the…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt June 16, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families & Community, Today marks the end of my first week as superintendent of our great School District. Before I share a few reflections and thoughts with…

June 24, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Staff & Families, Improving student outcomes and achieving the Board’s Goals & Guardrails, such that the School District of Philadelphia is positioned to be one of the nation’s fastest improving urban districts, requires intentional and strategic actions. A first step to achieve this begins with engaging a…

Just two weeks ago, the School District of Philadelphia wrapped up its graduation season and celebrated a significant milestone for roughly 7,500 graduates who received their high school diplomas. Today, the School District of Philadelphia is proud to announce that this year’s graduates were awarded more than $153 million in scholarships. “As the Class of…

  Almost 30 years ago, Evelyn Nuñez entered the education field for the first time, as an elementary teacher at Ferguson Elementary School in the School District of Philadelphia. Fast-forward and over the years, Nuñez has served in a variety of roles including, an educator, a Bilingual Literacy Coach, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt June 16, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Today, we welcome our new superintendent, Dr. Tony Watlington. We invite you to take a moment to view a special video message from our new superintendent….

MAY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Jaylin Bowens School: Philadelphia High School for Girls Nominated By:Megan McNamara, Joseph Marchetti, Louis Austin – Teachers Some people just seem to have it all – the talent, skills, personality, the works. It’s easy to assume that these individuals came by it all naturally and easily when in reality, having…

MAY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Lisa Cunningham School: South Philadelphia High School EOP Nominated By: Audrey Nock, Principal School District of Philadelphia students come from different molds and scenarios. Many fall outside the traditional profile and some have had to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges to get to graduation day. Lisa is precisely that kind…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, After this week’s extreme heat in the Philadelphia area, we wanted to update you on our protocol so you are informed and can make the best decisions for your…

The School District of Philadelphia announced yesterday that it is re-opening registration for its 2022 summer program opportunities at select sites based on capacity. Families can register their child(ren) now until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8. Due to limited space available, immediate registration is requested. Students will be enrolled on a first come, first…

Attention Families: HEAT UPDATE: We have been monitoring temperatures in our schools throughout the afternoon. At this time, based on how temperatures are expected to decrease overnight and the cooler temperatures expected throughout most of the day tomorrow, all School District of Philadelphia schools will operate on a normal schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1st. All…

On Wednesday, the School District of Philadelphia joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the U.S. Navy and the City of Philadelphia at the Seaport Museum to celebrate graduates of the first-ever Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project during a signing ceremony. “As a district, we are committed to making sure that our students graduate…

Attention Families: Due to the extreme heat in our area and its impact on climate conditions in our schools and instructional spaces, all School District of Philadelphia Schools will be dismissing early today on a staggered schedule. Schools that started at 7:30 am will dismiss at noon. 7:45 am schools will dismiss at 12:15. 8:00…

A senior from Science Leadership Academy at Beeber won the School District of Philadelphia’s second annual Oratorical Contest, an event showcasing the talents of high school students. Senior Teia Hudson was selected as the winner of the competition among six other finalists during Wednesday’s event at District headquarters. More than 50 students submitted original three-minute…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear Colleagues, Yesterday, our School Board approved the District’s Operating Budget for the 2022-2023 school year, which represents the highest level of investment in our schools and students since fiscal year 2011. Last year, the…

A total of 60 teachers will each receive a $3,500 cash award The School District of Philadelphia and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation of Philadelphia have selected 60 teachers to receive the 2022 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teachers. The award, which has been generously funded by the Lindback Foundation since 2011, is…

Read in your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to postpone moving all of our high schools and middle/high schools (those serving grades 6-12, 7-12 and 8-12) to later start…

Today, the School District of Philadelphia celebrated members of the Class of 2022 who have committed to a postsecondary pathway during its annual “Our Class, Our Future” Senior Celebration. Formerly associated with College Signing Day, “Our Class, Our Future” is a district-wide campaign that celebrates high school seniors as they finalize plans for life after…

Read in your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt May 20, 2022 Dear Colleagues, To help protect everyone’s health and well-being as COVID-19 case counts continue to rise in the Philadelphia area, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) has recommended that…

More than 90 seniors from Thomas A. Edison, Murrell Dobbins Career & Technical Education, Benjamin Franklin, A. Philip Randolph Technical, South Philadelphia, Swenson Arts and Technology, George Washington and Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational/Technical High Schools headed to FringeArts for CHAMP Career Day on Monday. Throughout the morning, students met with various businesses looking to…

May 16, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Due to the storm that is expected to impact the Philadelphia area starting later this afternoon, we are canceling all after-school and athletic activities scheduled for this afternoon. This provides our staff, students and families with the time needed to get home safely. Schools will still…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt May 13, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Positive cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia are on the rise. Health experts have said that we should expect spikes in COVID cases from time to time…

APRIL STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Myon Butler School: Vaux Big Picture High School Nominated By: Leslie Flemming – Teacher at Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Service Center It’s easy to assume that “Seniors of the Month” fit into a nice tidy box, and check off a list of generic and universal criteria. We, of course, encourage our readers…

APRIL STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Jade Njie School: Science Leadership Academy (SLA) Nominated By: Nicole Gasser – Teacher When you meet Jade you realize right away that she is not only clearly comfortable and quietly confident, she’s even better at making you feel welcome and comfortable. That translates into everything that makes her this…

Read in your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 28, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, On Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022, all School District of Philadelphia schools and offices will be closed in recognition of Eid al-Fitr. The religious holiday…

Read in your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 26, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Today the School District of Philadelphia is launching the interactive website for the Facilities Planning Process (FPP). This website, http://www.philasdfacilities.info, contains an interactive map…

Read in your Language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Starting Monday, April 25th, the School District of Philadelphia will resume optional mask wearing for students and staff, except those in PreK Head Start programs where…

MARCH STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Jynita Woods School: Philadelphia High School for Girls Nominated By:Kathleen DiTanna, Teacher – AP Language and AP Literature Jynita Woods came to Girls’ High from a co-ed school, and it’s clear from speaking with her that she credits a lot of her positive academic experiences over the last four…

Seven principals will each receive a $20,000 stipend to benefit their school communities PHILADELPHIA — The School District of Philadelphia and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation of Philadelphia presented seven District principals with the 2022 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals during a virtual ceremony today. The award, which has been generously funded…

For the fourth year in a row, the School District of Philadelphia has been named a Best Communities for Music Education from The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM). Now in its 23rd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide…

Read in your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 8, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Next week is Spring Recess. Schools will be closed all week, and both schools and administrative offices will be closed on Friday, April 15th,…

On April 7, the School District of Philadelphia opened registration for its 2022 summer program opportunities. Through partnerships with the City and local organizations, these opportunities will combine project-based learning with extra-curricular programming, providing a fun and safe environment for students to continue learning during the summer months. Summer programming begins on June 27 and…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 7, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, I am happy to announce that registration for School District of Philadelphia Summer Learning Programs is now open for students in Kindergarten through 12th…

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mann Center, Sheet Metal Workers – Local 19, And More Participate In 2022 Career Week PHILADELPHIA— The School District of Philadelphia and Attorney General Josh Shapiro kicked off the Office of Attorney General’s Third Annual Career Week, which partners with Philadelphia schools and businesses to introduce students to potential career paths. From…

Generation Citizen Brings Project-Based Civics Programs to the School District of Philadelphia. Researchers will measure efficacy in randomized control trial PHILADELPHIA, PA — Beginning in the fall of 2022, the School District of Philadelphia will have the opportunity to feature project-based civics education programs from Generation Citizen (GC). GC, a national nonprofit, partners with teachers…

MARCH STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Samirah Stephens School: Hill-Freedman World Academy Nominated By: Thomas Emerson – Teacher Some people make leaving a mark and being an inspiration seem simple. It doesn’t look like they work too hard at it, or that they are wrestling with the right moves to make next – they make…

Read in your Language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Good Morning, Today, the Board of Education announced the appointment of Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D. as the next Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. What a great day for our…

 District accepting applications for 2022-2023 school year The School District of Philadelphia has launched its “Teach Today. Change Tomorrow.” recruitment campaign to help attract teachers for the 2022-2023 school year. “The pandemic has made it clear –  that nothing can replace the importance and impact of a great teacher in a classroom with a student,”…

Read in your Language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, The annual District-Wide Survey is open now! The District-Wide Survey is one of the best tools we have to gather your feedback and assess…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, I am writing today to share this School Year 2022-2023 Academic Calendar, which was approved by the School Board last night, and to invite you to share…

William Cramp School students will soon receive the opportunity to get an early start on becoming biliterate and bilingual in English and Spanish. The District’s Dual Language program will be offered to incoming kindergarten students during the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. “Our Dual Language program affirms our commitment to a culturally-responsive education that celebrates the…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents & Families, Today, the School District of Philadelphia announced the launch of its Facilities Planning Process (FPP), marking a critical step toward realizing its vision for all children to…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) continues to indicate that COVID-19 case counts in Philadelphia have remained consistently low. This decline in positive cases has resulted…

Today, the School District of Philadelphia released a series of research briefs that take an in-depth look at ninth-grade admissions for the 2022-23 school year, resulting from this year’s School Selection Process (SSP). The 2021-22 School Selection brief, 8th Grade Student Qualifications and Applications to 9th Grade, explores the early phases of the School Selection…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 17, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, In alignment with the School District of Philadelphia’s Goals & Guardrails, we are consistently striving to create educational conditions that empower all students to…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Good Afternoon, Today, the Board of Education announced the 3 finalists being considered to serve as the next Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. They are: John L. Davis Jr., Chief of Schools, Baltimore…

The William Rowen School brought its students one step closer to preparing them to be leaders in the growing quantum workforce. Through a special dedication ceremony on Thursday for its new Quantum STEAM Lab (QSL), the Rowen School announced its new partnership with Howard University’s Quantum Biology Laboratory and Awbury Arboretum to expose students to…

Today, the Philadelphia Eagles, in partnership with American Dairy Association North East and the School District of Philadelphia’s Division of Food Services, celebrated National School Breakfast Week at Commodore John Barry Elementary School. The Philadelphia Eagles mascot SWOOP visited students to encourage them to take advantage of the healthy choices available for school breakfast. During…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 8, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) has confirmed that starting Wednesday, March 9th mask wearing will be optional for all School District students and staff,…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt | Ukrainian March 4, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families & Students, These past two years have been extremely difficult; challenging our resilience and humanity. And most recently, we are deeply troubled by the…

School Bus Drivers and Garage Operations Staff Selected as One of Wawa’s “Catering to Our Communities” Recipients of a Free Catered Lunch to Recognize Unsung Heroes; Announce donation of 80,000 COVID Test Kits to the District Today, the School District of Philadelphia joined Wawa and The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia (the Fund) to…

FEBRUARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Milan Dukes School: Central High School Nominated By: Mike Horwits, 281 Class Sponsor, AP Gov and Social Science Teacher When you meet Milan, you’re immediately struck by her delightful optimism, her underlying self-confidence, the maturity in her stories and the calm she seems to infuse in the room (even…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 2, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, On Wednesday, March 2nd, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) announced that if COVID case counts remain low, they will relax the mask mandate in…

FEBRUARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Vy Nguyen School: Philadelphia High School for Girls Nominated By: Megan McNamara & Joseph Marchetti – Teachers Every once in a while you meet a person who humbles you. Perhaps not at first, but after you speak to them, learn who they are and what they’ve experienced, witness their…

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. We will be celebrating with some features of unique programs within our schools! A South Philadelphia High School alum and a first-generation Panamanian-American, Desmond F. Kirton Sr., picked up his first pair of clippers at the age of 10. He started Des in the Cut LLC when…

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. We will be celebrating with some features of unique programs within our schools! Hospitality, travel and tourism management is a trillion dollar industry in the United States – and now, Frankford High School students are receiving the experience and training to support careers in the industry. In…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA’S BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT FACILITIES PLANNING  The planning process — a critical piece in the District’s work to address its aging infrastructure — will launch March 22,…

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. We will be celebrating with some features of unique programs within our schools! As the nation continues to see record-breaking demands for warehousing, distribution and fulfillment, students at Thomas A. Edison High School are offered an opportunity to get a head-start. Through the school’s Logistics, Materials and…

Today, the School District of Philadelphia publicly announced its “Thrive At Five” campaign to promote kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year. Parents and guardians are encouraged to register their child(ren), who must be five years old on or before September 1, 2022, now through May 31. Registration can be done through an online portal…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Hello Families! The School District of Philadelphia invites you to participate in the 2022-2023 Academic Calendar Overview & Focus Group. During the overview, participants will gain an understanding of how the District constructs the academic calendar, and receive a preview…

Family and Community Engagement Deputy Chief Jenna Monley is named one of Education Week’s Leaders to Learn From while Mathematics Curriculum Specialist Jessica Tilli has been selected by the White House for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching  Two staff members of the School District of Philadelphia have received national recognition…

FCM Hospitality’s Avram Hornik steps up to address food and supply-chain and labor shortages; visits Swenson Arts & Technology HS with chefs to present donation, cook with students during CET Month Today, FCM Hospitality (FCM), and eight of the hospitality company’s restaurants – Liberty Point, Morgan’s Pier, Harper’s Garden, Lola’s Garden, Rosy’s Taco Bar, The…

Read in your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt February 16, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Earlier today, a local organization issued a report alleging unacceptable levels of lead in drinking water in our schools and buildings. This…

Today, The Trust for Public Land and partners celebrate the groundbreaking of a new Community Schoolyard at Add B. Anderson School in West Philadelphia. The revitalized schoolyard will provide an additional 9,489 residents park access within a 10-minute walk of homes and the renovation will also yields other environmental and climate benefits, with dozens of…

The School District of Philadelphia, in partnership with Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, is launching a new leadership program aimed at preparing aspiring school principals and education leaders. Beginning in the summer of 2022, current School District of Philadelphia employees enrolled in the Pathway to Leadership Principal Preparation Program will receive traditional certification…

FringeArts is pleased to announce CHAMP (Culinary-Hospitality Advancement Mentorship Program), a new mentorship program developed in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and presented by PECO. The inaugural year of this program consists of chef demonstrations, restaurant visits, internships, and professional development opportunities for over 650 high school students enrolled in the School District’s…

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. We will be celebrating with some features of unique programs within our schools! West Philadelphia High School junior Haoua Tall designed, sketched and decorated a room for “clients” who had requested a music room that would blend their talents. This past January, Tall experienced that very room…

School District of Philadelphia students will soon have easy access to content regarding Philadelphia’s rich history of local African American heroes and trailblazers. Thanks to a donation from Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University Libraries, the School District of Philadelphia has received 5,000 copies of Black Lives Always Mattered!, a graphic novel that…

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. We will be celebrating with some features of unique programs within our schools! Just a few weeks ago, A. Philip Randolph Technical High School senior Amaurys Miguel-Torres stripped a wire and replaced a plug in a vacuum in under two minutes as part of his new side…

The School District of Philadelphia is celebrating Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a national initiative that celebrates the District’s CTE programs and highlights CTE teachers and students. The District’s CTE programs offer students the opportunity to develop critical skills through a combination of classes and hands-on learning experiences, which allow them to apply academics…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, I am writing to share several updates as part of our ongoing commitment to support safe and healthy in-person learning and working environments for all students and staff. These updated health and safety protocols were developed specifically for the School…

JANUARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Malcolm Miller School: Masterman Nominated By: James Allen – Counselor When you meet Malcolm, you realize instantly you’ve met a kid who’s going places. In fact, many places–and constantly adding more! First, you have to keep up with his jet stream of enthusiastic chat. It’s jam-packed with excitement and optimism,…

JANUARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Anyelo Taveras-Marte School: Furness Nominated By: Jihee Choi – Music Teacher Some of the most fascinating people are those who refuse to settle for the labels that the world places upon them. According to the world, Anyelo Taveras-Marte shouldn’t be thriving. He’s an immigrant, an English Language Learner from…

Our Operations Team has been working hard over the weekend, supporting the safe clearing of snow from roadways, walkways and stairs on District properties. At this time, all schools and District offices are expected to operate in person on their normal schedules tomorrow, Monday, January 31st.  We will continue to monitor weather and road conditions,…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Due to the winter snow storm that is expected to impact the Philadelphia area starting later this evening, we are cancelling all after-school and athletic activities scheduled for this afternoon. This provides our staff, students and families with the time needed to get home safely and prepare…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, The start to the 2022 new year has been challenging for us all. The Omicron variant caused a quick surge in COVID cases, which required all of us to be flexible as we worked to safely keep as many schools open for students as possible. Having so…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, At this time, based on this evening’s data review, no additional schools beyond those already announced will provide virtual learning for students this week.  Look for the next update by 6 a.m. You can find the up-to-date list of schools providing virtual learning this week and other…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Based on this afternoon’s data review, no additional schools beyond those already announced will provide virtual learning for students at this time.  We are committed to using the most current staffing data to inform school-by-school decisions, and sharing those decisions as quickly as possible. Look for the…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, At this time, based on this evening’s data review, no additional schools beyond those already announced will provide virtual learning for students this week.  We are committed to using the most current staffing data to inform school-by-school decisions, and sharing those decisions as quickly as possible. Look…

The U.S. Department of Education announced that the School District of Philadelphia will receive a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant. The $29.5 million grant will be dispersed over a period of seven years to support college-planning and readiness services for twelve School District of Philadelphia high schools and 30…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, At this time, based on this afternoon’s data review, no additional schools beyond those already announced will provide virtual learning for students this week.  We are committed to using the most current staffing data to inform school-by-school decisions, and sharing those decisions as quickly as possible. Look…

In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium (BDCC) is bringing its team, supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), to the School District of Philadelphia to provide COVID-19 vaccinations…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Based on this evening’s data review and with safety as our highest priority, one additional school – Mary McLeod Bethune School – will provide virtual learning for students this week, Tuesday, January 18th through Friday, January 21st, 2022.  The principal and teachers will be contacting students and…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, We appreciate your patience and understanding as we regularly review data to identify any school(s) where we will need to temporarily provide virtual learning for students due to COVID-related staffing challenges. Based on this afternoon’s data review and with safety as our highest priority, six more schools will provide…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Based on this evening’s data review, no additional schools will provide virtual learning for students next week, Tuesday, January 18th through Friday, January 21st, 2022.  As a reminder, all School District schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 17th in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, For each new week, all schools will provide in-person learning for students unless staffing challenges or COVID-19 conditions require a shift to virtual learning for everyone’s safety. Based on this afternoon’s data review and with safety as our highest priority, at this time 8 schools will provide…

Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, At this time, based on this evening’s data review, no additional schools will shift to virtual learning for students tomorrow due to staffing challenges. We will provide an update based on late night and early morning data by 6 a.m. tomorrow. All School District schools and offices…

On Friday, students at Hill-Freedman World Academy (HFWA), through Hill-Freedman Records, are releasing Love & Healing, an album of 32 original songs that amplify students’ perspectives on the challenges of the past two years, from the pandemic to racialized violence, and showcases how music can be used for healing. “Our music hopes to meet a…

Afternoon Update: No Additional Schools Will Shift to Virtual Learning At This Time; Notifications About Next Week Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Based on this afternoon’s data review, at this time no additional schools will shift to virtual learning for students this week due to staffing challenges. We will provide the next…

DECEMBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Kadiatou Sacko School: Palumbo High School Nominated By: Charlie McGeehan – Social Science & US History Teacher When you think of a change-maker, you might envision someone iconic, with a forceful presence and an almost militant dedication to their cause. So when you meet Kadiatou, it may come as…

Two Additional School District of Philadelphia Schools Will Temporarily Shift to Virtual Learning for Students This Week Due to COVID-Related Staffing Challenges Dear School District of Philadelphia Families and Staff, Based on this evening’s review of COVID-related staffing data and with safety as our highest priority, an additional two schools will shift to 100% virtual…

One Additional School District of Philadelphia School Will Temporarily Shift to Virtual Learning for Students This Week Due to COVID-Related Staffing Challenges Dear School District of Philadelphia families and Staff, Based on this evening’s review of COVID-related staffing data and with safety as our highest priority, Martin Luther King High School will shift to 100%…

Dear School District of Philadelphia families, Based on this afternoon’s data review, no additional schools will shift to virtual learning for students at this time due to staffing challenges. We remain committed to making school-by-school decisions based on the most current staffing data, which can change quickly. We will provide the next update by 10…

On Thursday, Mayor Jim Kenney and Councilman At-Large David Oh visited the Clara Barton School to speak to second graders about the roles that they have in the community. This was part of their curriculum that focuses on community engagement and state and local government. Students were eager to interview Mayor Kenney and Councilmember Oh…

DECEMBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Bendu (Bebe) Borbor School: Frankford High School Nominated By: Joseph Fraioli – JROTC Teacher & Jonathan Michels – Basketball Coach When we think about unstoppable forces, we usually think about fictional characters first – Juggernaut, Superman, James Bond, etc. Then, perhaps we think of titans of industry like Tom Brady or…

Dear School District of Philadelphia families, Based on this evening’s review of COVID-related staffing data and with safety as our highest priority, four more schools will shift to 100% virtual learning for students this week, starting Tuesday, January 11th through Friday, January 14th, 2022. These four schools, which are in addition to those already announced,…

Three Additional School District of Philadelphia Schools Will Temporarily Shift to Virtual Learning for Students This Week Due to COVID-Related Staffing Challenges Dear School District of Philadelphia families, We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continually review data to identify any school(s) where we will need to temporarily shift to virtual learning due to…

At this time, 88 School District of Philadelphia Schools Will Have Virtual Learning for Students This Week Due to COVID-Related Staffing Challenges 7 p.m. update: 3 additional schools were added to the list for a total of 91 Kenderton Elementary Building 21 Philadelphia John Moffet School Dear School District of Philadelphia families, The Omicron surge…

Dear School District of Philadelphia families and staff, Let me begin by recognizing that staffing challenges due to the Omicron surge coupled with the winter storm have made this an incredibly challenging first week back to school for the 2022 new year. It’s important to know that shifting any school to virtual learning is always…

Due to the winter snow storm that is expected to impact the Philadelphia area, the School District of Philadelphia’s six COVID-19 mobile testing sites for students and staff will be closed on Friday, January 7, 2022. While these sites do not normally operate on the weekend, they will be open for special hours on Saturday…

The School District of Philadelphia is heartbroken over the tragic news of yesterday’s house fire in Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood, which claimed the lives of 12 people, including children associated with our District. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members, friends and school communities who are grieving this unimaginable loss. We have made counseling…

School District Going Virtual on Friday, January 7 Due to Inclement Weather; Planning Updates for Next Week Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia families, A winter storm is expected to bring snow, icy precipitation and freezing…

Dear School District of Philadelphia staff and families, Based on our review of this evening’s staffing data, all schools that are currently providing in-person learning will continue to do so at this time. The next staffing data review will occur tomorrow afternoon, and we will provide the next update by 4 p.m. We encourage anyone…

Dear School District of Philadelphia staff and families, District leaders continue to review real-time staffing data twice a day to identify any school where COVID-related staffing challenges might hinder our ability to support safe and orderly schools. Based on our review of this morning’s staffing data, all schools that are currently providing in-person learning will…

January 4th Update: Three Additional School District of Philadelphia Schools Will Temporarily Shift to Virtual Learning Due to COVID-Related Staffing Challenges Dear School District of Philadelphia families, First, we want to thank you for your flexibility and understanding this week. It is clear that the omicron surge in the Philadelphia area is adding yet another…

***UPDATE 11:30pm – Four ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS ADDED, BASED ON NEW DATA – Julia De Burgos Elementary School, Dr. Ethel Allen School, E.W. Rhodes Elementary School AND Feltonville Arts & Sciences Dear School District of Philadelphia students and families, I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable winter break. As we’ve always said, our goal is…

January 1, 2022 Dear School District of Philadelphia Community, With guidance and support from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (see PDPH’s letter here) and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (see latest CHOP statement here), the School District is excited to welcome students back to schools on Tuesday, January 4th. Embracing our students with caring educators…

Read in your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt December 21, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, I first want to say thank you for all you have done to support healthy schools as we’ve welcomed students back in person this…

SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt December 16, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, Since the onset of the pandemic, The School District of Philadelphia and other districts across the country have seen an increase in threats of violence circulating on various social media…

PHILADELPHIA, PA — This year, the School District of Philadelphia is hosting a series of professional development opportunities aimed at supporting equity in education. The paid professional development opportunities, which began in September, are optional and will take place virtually. Each session will focus on providing teachers with the knowledge and subject matter expertise to…

Read in Your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt December 9, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, The School District of Philadelphia is committed to providing safe and inclusive learning environments that support the emotional and mental health of all our…

NOVEMBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Cherilynn Chow School: Masterman High School Nominated By: Gilda Abney – Counselor The past few years have been challenging. As if continuing to battle the uncertainty of a global pandemic wasn’t enough, for some in our Philadelphia communities, the trauma has just continued to pile on. Masterman senior Cherilynn…

School District of Philadelphia Kicks off 11th Annual Computer Science Education Week PHILADELPHIA, PA — The School District of Philadelphia is celebrating its 11th annual Computer Science Education Week, a weeklong celebration that highlights the District’s commitment to digital literacy and coding. “In today’s digital age, providing our students with access to Computer Science Education…

NOVEMBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Nathaniel Gordon School: Gateway to College Nominated By: Monifa Young – Director Former Senator, Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton once said, “Every moment wasted looking back, keeps us from moving forward.” What Ms. Clinton expressed — and what the intelligent and mature among us know — is that…

Francis Hopkinson School Receives Philadelphia Eagles Hometown Grant PHILADELPHIA, PA — Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles, in partnership with American Dairy Association North East, awarded the Francis Hopkinson School with an NFL Hometown Grant. The Philadelphia Eagles hosted a virtual pep rally, educating students on the importance of healthy eating and living an active lifestyle through…

Francis Scott Key School Celebrates the Arrival of New Books for Students to Begin Building their Home Libraries Last week, the Francis Scott Key School elevated the importance of reading with a special celebration for their newest arrival of books. Each month, students receive Scholastic books at no cost to families through a partnership the…

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) has announced that the School District of Philadelphia has earned system-wide accreditation, the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement. The entity also approved accreditation for 15 high schools. Middle States accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process that schools and school…

School District Recognized as Pioneer in Stormwater Management 13 Public Schools across the City Highlighted for Green Stormwater Infrastructure PHILADELPHIA — Today, the Philadelphia Water Department presented the School District of Philadelphia with its 2021 Stormwater Pioneers Award, celebrating the District’s 13 public schools that have become champions of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Every year…

Scholastic and the Council of the Great City Schools Announce the Inaugural Richard M. Robinson Literacy Champion Award As the 2021 Winner, the School District of Philadelphia will Receive an Elementary School Library “Renovation” with a Book Donation and More New York, NY – November 3, 2021 – Today, Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education,…

OCTOBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Abdoulaye Kamagate School: Frankford High School Nominated By: First Sergeant Joseph Fraioli (retired) – Army JROTC Instructor, Counselor Some students are front-line leaders, who have an energy you can see and feel from a mile away. Still others are quietly doing all the right things — modeling exemplary leadership, academic…

OCTOBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Dahlia Tarver School: Central High School Nominated By: Christine Soda – Counselor Think of the words that describe the most inspiring people that you know. Coach? Champion? Catalyst? Most of us would be happy to be labeled just one of those things. Central High School senior Dahlia Tarver could…

Read in Your Language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt October 29, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Guardians: We are excited to share that Transport Workers Union Local 234 and SEPTA have successfully reached a new contract agreement, ensuring no…

PHILADELPHIA — Today, Burlington Stores, the national discount retailer, through its partnership with the national non-profit organization, AdoptAClassroom.org, donated $5,000 towards school supplies to the James R. Lowell School in celebration of its new store now open at One and Olney, 101 East Olney Avenue. AdoptAClassroom.org works regularly with The School District of Philadelphia’s Office…

Read in Your Language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt October 28, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, I am writing with an important update about our readiness plans if a new contract agreement is not reached between Transport…

Read in Your Language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt October 25, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, On Sunday, October 24th, members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 voted to authorize a strike if a new contract agreement…

Philadelphia Energy Authority unveils state-of-the-art Solar Training Lab at Frankford High School to create equitable access to the clean energy transition PHILADELPHIA, October 22, 2021 – Mayor Kenney, Superintendent Hite, and many others joined the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) on Friday to celebrate a significant milestone in Pennsylvania’s equitable transition to clean energy with a…

More than 80 Percent of School District of Philadelphia Employees are Fully Vaccinated as Another Layer of Safety in Schools and Offices Board of Education-approved mandate went into effect earlier this month PHILADELPHIA — Eighty one percent of School District of Philadelphia staff — or approximately 15,500 employees — are now fully vaccinated with the…

Read in Your Language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt October 19, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Guardians: I am writing to share some important information about SEPTA. The current contract for Transport Workers Union Local 234 expires on Sunday, October 31,…

Board of Education Authorizes the Issuance of General Capital Bonds and Green Bonds for the School District PHILADELPHIA — The School District of Philadelphia Board of Education approved the issuance of two series of bonds designed to fund necessary capital improvements at the  October 7 special action meeting. The District generated $375 million from the…

When Diana Garcia set out to be an educator, it was an easy choice where she would work. “As a student who was brought up in the School District of Philadelphia, I know the issues and the hardships that our kids are facing, and I believe I can make the most impact working in the…

Read message in your language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, The 2022-2023 School Selection application opens today at 4:00 P.M.! The school selection process allows students in pre-kindergarten through 11th grade to apply to attend…

Read message in your language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt October 1, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, As we begin this next month of school, we wanted to share an update on the driver shortage challenges we continue to…

PHILADELPHIA — On Tuesday, September 28, the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement (OYE) in partnership with the Urban League of Philadelphia, PA Youth Vote, the School District of Philadelphia, the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, and SEAMAAC will celebrate National Voter Registration Day by engaging the city’s youngest residents around the importance of their voices in our democracy – whether they are eligible…

September 23, 2021 Dear Parents/Guardians, We hope this letter finds you and your family well at this beginning of the school year. I am writing to share with you the revised Academic Calendar for the current 2021-2022 school year.  We have updated the calendar to include six (6) half days which will support district wide…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt September 20, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, As we settle into the routines of in-person learning this new school year, the well-being of students and staff remains our number one priority. This…

Bimbo Bakeries USA to Continue Supporting Career Exposure Through the District’s Culinary Arts Program The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia and Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. announced an update on Bimbo Bakeries USA’s $75,000 commitment to help the School District of Philadelphia advance its Culinary and Baking and Pastry Arts Programs. Through this funding,…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt September 14, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, I am writing to share an update about student transportation and trash removal in our schools. It has been exciting to have our young people…

Read in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt Dear School District of Philadelphia families and staff, First, thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through the many impacts of yesterday’s inclement weather on our School District operations. Our communication earlier…

Dear School District of Philadelphia families, Due to storm-related street closures impacting public transportation and roadways across the Philadelphia region, the School District of Philadelphia is implementing a two-hour delay today, Thursday, Sept. 2 for all schools with 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. start times. Due to storm-related power outages, the District will close James…

PHILADELPHIA — Today, the School District of Philadelphia welcomed back more than 120,000 students as it started the 2021-2022 school year. This marked the first time that schools were open for full, in-person learning five days a week since the COVID-19 pandemic closed buildings in March 2020. Superintendent William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D. visited several…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt August 25, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, On Tuesday, August 31, we will start the 2021-22 school year with in-person learning five days a week. We have continued to work closely with…

School District of Philadelphia Teacher Named 2021 Pennsylvania Art Education Association Outstanding Secondary Art Educator A School District of Philadelphia art teacher has been selected as the 2021 Pennsylvania Art Education Association Outstanding Secondary Art Educator. William W. Bodine High School art teacher Marita Fitzpatrick was recognized as an outstanding leader in the field of…

PHILADELPHIA — The School District of Philadelphia welcomes nearly 600 new teachers and counselors this week at the District’s annual New Hire Orientation. Due to uncertainties of the pandemic during initial planning, this year’s week-long training is taking place virtually. The orientation, which kicked off Monday, provides new teachers and counselors with professional development and…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt July 14, 2021 Hello School District of Philadelphia Parents, Families and Students, I hope you are enjoying a fun and relaxing summer. I’m writing to let you know that we are hard at work…

PHILADELPHIA, PA— The School District of Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced that a new Student Fare Card will replace weekly student Transpasses starting in August. About 65,000 eligible students in Philadelphia will receive a SEPTA Student Fare Card, a contact-free, reusable chip card that students can use to get to and from…

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Three School District of Philadelphia music teachers have been selected as quarterfinalists for the 2022 Music Educator Award, a special award that will be presented by the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum during GRAMMY Week 2022. The District staff, who are among the 219 music teachers from 204 cities in the…

Some School District of Philadelphia students can now add mobile app beta testers to their resumes. Seventeen students from Central High School and Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School helped to beta test the Inner Strength Mobile App, an app designed to support students’ mental and emotional wellness. The app teaches students how to relax,…

Last week was an important milestone for our District, as it marked the first day of the first comprehensive summer programming of its kind within the School District of Philadelphia. We just celebrated the end of an extremely unusual year in the beginning of June before we welcomed back more than 15,000 students and more…

Stephanie Ash, MA, CCC-SLP, a Speech-Language Pathologist and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Consultant at the School District of Philadelphia, won Pennsylvania’s 2021 Clinical Achievement Award. Presented by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, the award recognizes an individual within the state who has contributed to advancing knowledge in clinical practice in audiology or speech-language pathology. The…

The 2021 All Philadelphia High School Virtual Music Festival will premiere LIVE on Facebook on Monday, June 21 at noon. Watch Live at www.facebook.com/PhillySchools The All City Music Festival showcases the best young performers in the School District of Philadelphia. Due to the pandemic, this is the first-ever all digital festival in the program’s 70…

PHILADELPHIA, PA— The School District of Philadelphia announced the acquisition of five electric school buses for the 2021-2022 school year through the support of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and its commitment to continue expanding the electric bus fleet by purchasing five per year to replace older diesel buses. The all-electric buses will be…

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The School District of Philadelphia recognizes that high school graduation is a significant milestone and is committed to celebrating our graduating seniors with a commencement ceremony. Our principals and staff have worked tirelessly to create safe opportunities for in-person graduations to take place this week. Due to the forecast calling for severe,…

[Philadelphia, PA] – StuDocu, a leading online platform offering students the opportunity to exchange knowledge through note sharing, has donated $5,000 to Philadelphia’s Thomas A. Edison High School through its partnership with the national non-profit organization, AdoptAClassroom.org. The funds are intended for the school to purchase much-needed STEM supplies for their fabrication lab, so they can…

Name: Caleb Autry School: George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science Nominated By: Kaitlyn Bradley – Teacher Caleb Autry is the kind of natural leader who just gets things done. He sees an opportunity, figures out what needs done and who should do it, and without hesitation starts making connections. That’s exactly what…

MAY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Name: Malajah Moore-Lane School: West Philadelphia High School Nominated By: Crystal Little – Counselor Sometimes, for various reasons, one can unintentionally end up bearing the weight of representation. Malajah Moore-Lane never asked to represent the best of West Philadelphia High School, nor was she assigned that responsibility, yet she does…

PHILADELPHIA, PA— The School District of Philadelphia will celebrate members of the Class of 2021 who have committed to a postsecondary pathway during its annual “Our Class, Our Future Senior Celebration” on Wednesday, May 19. Formerly associated with College Signing Day, this event is a nationwide campaign that celebrates high school seniors as they finalize…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt May 19, 2021 PHILADELPHIA, PA — This morning, the School District of Philadelphia, alongside the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and leaders from other union officials, announced the intention for all students…

PHILADELPHIA — Central High School seniors Astrid Johnston, Jenn Manno and Ana Gonzales were recently named winners of Pennsylvania’s statewide High School Stock Market Competition. Teams of students from across the state participated in this 10-week competition, where they each managed a hypothetical investment of $100,000 in stocks, bonds and mutual funds and made buying…

PHILADELPHIA — The 65th Annual “Young Artists” Exhibition opens virtually today, showcasing 2,000 pieces of artwork “Although we are unable to hold this year’s exhibition in person, we are eager to provide a new venue to showcase these excellent young artists and the accomplishments of our students,” said Deborah Klose, Director of Arts Education for the…

PHILADELPHIA — Numerous School District of Philadelphia students placed at the 42nd Annual George Washington Carver Science Fair, which took place in March. Students filmed their research and demonstrations and submitted their presentations. Finalists were then selected to participate in a Zoom event, where they heard from and worked with instructors from Temple University. Although…

The pandemic brought to the front and center the challenges around the racial and economic disparities that we have been advocating to eliminate for decades. One of those challenges has been providing students with access to technology and internet services. If you would have asked me, prior to the pandemic, what it would take to…

Central High School’s Sheyla Street receives $25,000 scholarship for academic achievement and community service PHILADELPHIA — Sheyla Street, a senior at Central High School, has been selected as the national winner of the National Honor Society’s (NHS) $25,000 Scholarship. The award, which is presented to one graduating senior from nearly 10,000 applicants throughout the country,…

PHILADELPHIA — The School District of Philadelphia music students will be participating in Philly’s All-City Jazz Festival 2021, an all-day virtual event featuring student performances and Masterclasses led by Philadelphia jazz legend, renowned music educator and Philly POPS Artistic Director for Jazz Terell Stafford, Philly POPS and Philly POPS Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia artists. The…

April 20, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Staff and Community, This past year has been one of extreme uncertainty for our staff, students, and families in the School District of Philadelphia and the nation at large. As we all deal with the trauma of the pandemic, we cannot ignore the anxiety felt by many…

PHILADELPHIA – The School District of Philadelphia has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 22nd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music…

PHILADELPHIA, PA— The Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) and the Office of School Safety (OSS) have expanded their L.E.A.D. (Leaders Encouraging Achievement & Development) mentoring program, an effort designed to help support the needs of young Black males through positive engagement with Black adult males.  Launched at E. Washington Rhodes Middle School and Hamilton Disston…

PHILADELPHIA — Four School District of Philadelphia high school science teachers have been selected for the 2021 inaugural cohort of the Naval Education Workplace Training (NEWT) Program. The teachers are Maya Bhagat of Frankford High School, Lee Burwasser of Academy at Palumbo High School, Paula Miller of Abraham Lincoln High School and Jason Perez of…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 12, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Parents and Families, We know that this year has been filled with many uncertainties for our families so we want to share some important information about…

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Academy at Palumbo School Nurse Eileen Duffey-Bernt, M.Ed., BS, RN, CSN, has been named the 2021 Pennsylvania School Nurse of the Year. She was selected among seven finalists across the state by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) for her outstanding service to the students and staff of the School District of Philadelphia….

The School District of Philadelphia launched a new COVID-19 dashboard, providing the latest information on confirmed positive cases in our schools on its website.  “We understand that having access to real-time information about COVID positivity rates in our schools is important for our families and community, and we are happy to provide this new tool,”…

School District and City Announce 2021 Summer Learning Programs for Students The School District of Philadelphia announced today that it is expanding summer program opportunities for 2021 and will offer something for students at every grade level. Through partnerships with the city and local organizations, these opportunities will combine project-based learning with extra-curricular programming, providing…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 5, 2021 Dear School District Families, I am pleased to share that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has completed its readiness reviews for the remaining 23 schools that needed to be cleared…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt April 5, 2021 Phase II Learning Model Selection Survey Opens Tuesday, April 6 Hello Families, On Tuesday, April 6th, the School District will open its Phase II Learning Model Selection Process, allowing families of…

In honor of Youth Arts Month, we are sharing a success story of one of our alumni and current teachers!  Abraham Lincoln High School Film & Video Production Teacher Publishes First Edition of New Comic Book Series Abraham Lincoln High School teacher Shannon Newby has a quite lengthy resume. Outside of being an educator, Newby…

Name: Ali Shabazz School: Central High School Nominated By: Benjamin Hover – Teacher There’s a feeling you get when you are in the presence of greatness. The feeling can manifest differently — pride, respect, even jealousy. For this writer, the feeling during my conversations with Ali Shabazz was awe. Ali is awesome. The humility and…

The School District of Philadelphia is announcing several updates for students and families due to spring break, which will run from Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2, 2021. During this time, all schools will be closed and there will be no instruction taking place for students. Administrative offices will be closed on Friday, April…

Read message in your language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 25, 2021 Dear School District families, Now that all of our PreK-2 families have had the opportunity to opt into hybrid learning, we are excited to announce the next phase of our plan to slowly and safely welcome more…

Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush senior earns “Best in Show” honor Two School District of Philadelphia students have been recognized in the Pennsylvania Art Education Association Youth Art Month Exhibition. The 2021 Virtual YAM Art Exhibit runs now through April 8, and showcases visual art selections from youth all across Pennsylvania. Arts Academy at Benjamin…

Read message in your language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 22, 2021 Dear School District Families, I am pleased to share that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has now completed its readiness reviews for 22 more schools, all of which will reopen for in-person learning starting Monday, April…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 15, 2021 Dear School District Families, I am pleased to share that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has now completed its readiness reviews for 35 more schools, all of which will reopen for in-person learning starting Monday, March 22nd, for…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 12, 2021 Dear Families, Next week, the School District will reopen its Learning Model Selection Process, allowing PreK-2 families who initially chose the 100% digital learning model in the fall the opportunity to opt into hybrid learning (a mix of in-person…

Wawa Donates 3,000 Appreciation Kits to the Fund for Philadelphia School District to Distribute to Essential Employees on the One Year Anniversary of the Pandemic as a Thank You for Ongoing Service Wawa and The Fund for Philadelphia School District are reflecting on the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic by recognizing over 3,000…

While the pandemic has prevented traditional in-person learning at the School District of Philadelphia, theatre and performing arts has continued to thrive for many students, including those at Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP), where this year’s musical will be done online. “Click for Cabaret,” will provide students in grades 5-12 grade the opportunity to perform…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 8, 2021 Dear School District Families, I am pleased to share that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has now completed its readiness reviews for 45 more schools, all of which will reopen for in-person learning starting Monday, March 15, for…

The Mann partners to connect high school students to the music industry workforce to help close the opportunity gap in West Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA  – Twenty-five high-school students in West Philadelphia are exploring the inner workings of the music industry and its potential for a fulfilling career path as the first cohort of the Mann Center…

Read message in your language (more coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Pусский | Español | Việt March 1, 2021 Dear Parents and Families, I am pleased to share that the City-led third-party mediation process between the School District and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has successfully concluded. We have agreed on a plan to…

Name: Goddess Wiggins School: Vaux Big Picture High School Nominated By: Vivian Shaw – Teacher Ask someone what their hopes and dreams are, and they could probably tell you. But ask them what their plan is to accomplish those hopes and dreams, and the answer might not be as easy. It’s been said that “a…

Name: Youma Diabira School: Central High School Nominated By: Kelly Coutts – Counselor When you love something or someone, you want it to be the best that it can be. It is a difficult concept for many. It means that sometimes you have to admonish, reprimand or discipline what you love. Sometimes it means having…

Read message in your language (coming soon): SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Русский | Español | Việt February 25, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, I am happy to share that the city-led third-party mediation process between the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers on the phased reopening of our city’s public schools is nearing conclusion….

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Русский | Español | Việt February 22, 2021 Dear School District of Philadelphia Families, I want to update you on why I continue to believe we are ready to start reopening our schools for in-person learning, starting on March 1 with PreK-2 students whose families selected hybrid learning. As I’ve shared…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Русский | Español | Việt Dear Families, I know that many of you are excited about your student’s return to school in person next week. However, I am writing to share the disappointing news that, due to ongoing third-party mediation requested by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, the start of our…

In anticipation of the winter snow storm expected to impact the Philadelphia region Thursday, Feb. 18 the School District of Philadelphia will close all buildings tomorrow, including all Family Technology Support Centers, Specialized Services Regional Centers, District headquarters at 440 North Broad Street and all school buildings. These closures will allow for the safe clearing…

Read message in your language: SHQIP | عربي | 汉语 | ខ្មែរ  | Français | Português | Русский | Español | Việt After nearly a year of 100% digital learning due to COVID-19, our School District will soon begin slowly and safely phasing in groups of staff and students for in-person learning. Students who choose to transition to a mix of in-person and digital learning (hybrid learning) will attend…

For Monday, Feb. 8, virtual learning for students will occur as previously scheduled by your child’s school. Students are expected to log in for any scheduled teacher-led instruction. The District’s Facilities team is working throughout the day to safely clear snow from all roadways, walkways and stairs on District properties. This means all District buildings…

It is deeply disappointing that PFT has directed its members to disregard the District’s plan to return staff to buildings in preparation for the return of PreK-2 students on February 22nd. This is in violation of our collective bargaining agreement and the Memorandum of Agreement that the PFT reached regarding the reopening of schools just…