Pennsylvania
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Pennsylvania
Education Funding
Opinion
Book Bans? My School Doesn’t Even Have a Library
Underfunding schools is its own censorship, writes one Philadelphia public school teacher. After all, they can’t ban books we don’t have.
Science
Want to Spark Students' Interest in STEM? Initiative Brings Parents Into That Effort
Programs like Remake Learning Days are especially important at a time when there is a vast talent gap in the STEM industry.
Student Well-Being & Movement
‘Lunch Police’ in Pennsylvania School to Search and Confiscate Student Food
“Shopping bags full of chips,” candy, and an assortment of drinks have reportedly been brought into the school.
School & District Management
Video
Leading in a Pandemic: Superintendents Discuss Hard and Hopeful Moments
Superintendents from Oklahoma and Pennsylvania connect on Zoom to talk about the weight of leading in the pandemic.
Student Well-Being & Movement
School Counselors and Psychologists Remain Scarce Even as Needs Rise
The vast majority of K-12 schools lack the school psychologists and counselors to respond to their students' rising mental health concerns.
Families & the Community
Leader To Learn From
Philadelphia Leader Brings a Bold Approach to Family Engagement
Jenna Monley has launched bold new parent-engagement programs, while also honing a time-honored strategy: listening.
Teaching Profession
Q&A
A Q&A With 'Abbott Elementary' Star Quinta Brunson: 'Who Are We Without Teachers?'
The creator and star of the comedy set in a Philadelphia school talks about the show's inspiration and her hope that it helps teachers.
Teaching Profession
Meet the 4 Finalists for the 2022 National Teacher of the Year
The four finalists hail from Colorado, Hawaii, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and were recognized for their dedication to student learning.
Equity & Diversity
Students Embrace a Wide Range of Gender Identities. Most School Data Systems Don't
Districts like Philadelphia aren't waiting for the federal government to make their student information systems more inclusive.
Student Well-Being & Movement
‘Good Thing I Have Thick Skin’: School Nurses Describe the Pandemic’s Toll
During peak levels of transmission, contact tracing has involved hundreds of students and staff that nurses investigated on a daily basis.
School & District Management
Parent Frustrated by School Closures Funnels $600K Into School Board Races
“I really started this to get accountability over the administration who dropped the ball, in my opinion," said the Pa. venture capitalist.
Education Funding
State K-12 Spending Is Inequitable and Inadequate. See Where Yours Ranks
There's a $17,000 per student difference between the highest- and lowest-spending states. High-poverty schools suffer especially.
Curriculum
District That Banned Diverse Books Reverses Its Decision After Pushback
A Pennsylvania district voted unanimously to reinstate a four-page list of resources from some of today's most acclaimed creators of color.
States
From Our Research Center
Map: A-F Grades, Rankings for States on School Quality
Here’s a map showing grades for all the states on this year’s Quality Counts summative report card, on which the nation gets a C overall.