Education
Pa. education tour takes up school vouchers conversation in Philadelphia
Some argued vouchers offer school choice to parents in underperforming districts, while others said the programs siphon away much-needed tax revenue from districts that can least afford it
Pa. Senate passes ‘explicit content’ legislation after heated debate over whether it’s a book ban
Democrats argued the measures are a de facto book ban, and a redundant effort to exclude content by and for marginalized communities.
Philadelphia students navigate school without access to school libraries
The number of school librarians in the district declined over the past decade, from about 57 in the 2012-2013 school year to just one in 2023-2024.
Jill Biden to visit Philadelphia this week
Jill Biden will be in Philadelphia on Friday, the White House announced, as part of an event to mark National Civics Day, which commemorates the date in 1787 when the Federalist Papers were published. The 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay were intended to promote the U.S. Constitution. Biden will […]
U.S. House Republicans target ‘explicit’ books in school libraries
Democrats criticized the hearing as leaning into culture war topics to attack public education, and said that those tactics resulted in book bans. Republicans argued that books were not being banned because those that are removed at public schools can be bought elsewhere.
Pa. Senate Education Committee advances bill to let parents review explicit material in schools
Opponents, including the Education Law Center, say the bill amounts to a book ban that would discriminate against marginalized people.
College athletes’ name, image and likeness rights debated by U.S. Senate committee
WASHINGTON — College athletic officials testified Tuesday in support of nationally standardized name, image and likeness regulations at a U.S. Senate hearing. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss policies governing name, image and likeness, known as NIL, in college sports. The witnesses in attendance — such as National Collegiate Athletic Association […]
States are trying to prop up the child care industry. It isn’t enough.
The end of American Rescue Plan Act funding is likely to slowly reduce available child care over time, says one Pennsylvania expert.
Pittsburgh educators share needs of western Pennsylvania schools with state commission
As part of a series of statewide hearings on education funding in Pennsylvania, lawmakers heard from educators in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, who told them of the needs that schools in western Pennsylvania have, including special education funding, pre-kindergarten programs, and a vital need for improvements to career and technical education (CTE) programs. “There are way […]
‘We’re not going anywhere’: HACC union, supporters rally in Harrisburg
Teachers at Harrisburg Area Community College joined lawmakers and supporters at the Capitol on Wednesday to rally in support of unionized workers across the community college’s five locations who are calling for an end to what they describe as union-busting tactics by the college administration. Harrisburg Area Community College Educators Association (HACCEA), the 250-member faculty […]
Despite decrease in system-wide enrollment, PASSHE officials see reason for optimism
In the 2012-13 academic year, PASSHE enrollment for undergraduates system-wide totaled 100,567, data shows. A decade later, the total enrollment for the 2022-23 academic year is 70,597, a 29.8% decrease.
Serving breakfast in Pennsylvania’s schools sometimes takes creative thinking
PHILADELPHIA – Gov. Josh Shapiro has widely touted his administration’s free breakfast program that provides children at all Pennsylvania public schools the first meal of the day. “In my budget address, I called for universal free breakfast to put every kid on the same playing field. This budget delivers on that promise to provide free […]