pa-schools

COMMENTARY
Students, families, and education advocates join Children First and Education Voters of Pennsylvania to host a rally on the Capitol steps to “ring the bells of justice,” and call for equitable funding for Pennsylvania public schools. The rally, which took place Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, occurred on the first day of the landmark trial that could change how Pennsylvania funds its 500 school districts. (Capital-Star photo by Marley Parish)

Pa.’s public school system doesn’t serve low-income communities | Opinion

BY: - August 11, 2023

Communities of color have long waited for public institutions to work for our communities as much as any other. It is time we live up to that ideal, and for the governor and legislators to respond to the Court’s clarion call to finally fund our public schools with the resources and programs needed so all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Funding the 500: The unknown price tag of repairing Pa.’s deteriorating school facilities

BY: - June 20, 2023

With the monumental task of repairing, remodeling, and building new school facilities in front of them, school administrators have asked lawmakers and state officials to be “a partner” in school maintenance discussions and outcomes. 

COMMENTARY

5 of the biggest threats today’s K-12 students and educators face don’t involve guns | Opinion

BY: - August 5, 2022

While many American students and their parents worry that the next mass shooting could happen at their school, schools are also facing a number of other threats that do not involve guns. Many of these threats are related to the mental health of educators and students.

‘Let our kids play’: Advocates rally for transgender youth at Pa. Capitol

BY: - September 30, 2021

“Trans youth are welcome in Pennsylvania, Trans people belong in Pennsylvania,” Janelle Crossley, one of the state’s most prominent transgender rights advocates, said.

COMMENTARY

Back to School Review: Five days of education policy in Pa. | Opinion

BY: - September 22, 2021

As COVID-19 continues to dominate education policy conversations, many other pressing issues will impact students

Ag Sect’y Redding: Education, school programs will cultivate the ‘next generation’ of ag workers

BY: - August 27, 2021

As they look to secure the next generation of agricultural workers, state officials are banking on school programs that put agriculture front and center for Pennsylvania students. 

Boy eats lunch

Feds issue year-long extension of free food for school students

BY: - April 22, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week issued a year-long extension of a waiver program that lets schools send free food home with students. Originally set to expire this September, the program will now be in effect through June 2022. 

Starting next week, Pa. school kids can be 3 feet, not 6 feet apart, under updated social distancing guidelines

BY: - March 30, 2021

On a call with reporters Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education updated the commonwealth’s COVID-19 guidance for schools effective April 5. 

Mass clinics and mobile vaccine sites: How Pa. plans to vaccinate school employees against COVID-19

BY: - March 5, 2021

Mass vaccination clinics dedicated solely to Pennsylvania’s school employees should be fully operational starting March 10, with many on track to administer 500 to 1,000 vaccines each day, Randy Padfield, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday. 

CDC issues detailed strategy for safely reopening K-12 schools

BY: - February 12, 2021

The agency said it cannot force schools to reopen but can only stress that steps such as wearing masks and physical distancing of at least 6 feet are key to mitigating the spread of coronavirus.

Report: The most and least equitable schools in Pa. | The Numbers Racket

BY: - November 30, 2020

The gap between the rich and poor have been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, one of the areas where those discrepancies is most prevalent is in education. 

The state Board of Ed advanced new science standards for the first time in two decades. That could transform how schools teach climate change

BY: - September 13, 2020

Proposed guidelines approved by the state Board of Education last week represent the first comprehensive update to Pennsylvania’s science education standards in nearly two decades.