Philadelphia Schools Reopen Amid Financial, Academic Distress

Stephanie Banchero & Kris Maher:

As Philadelphia students returned to school this week facing larger class sizes and slimmed-down arts programs, a fight raged over how to keep the district from sinking further into financial and academic distress.

One of the nation's most troubled school districts, Philadelphia is buckling under financial pressure and has been unable to squeeze concessions from the teachers union. Teachers started the school year Monday without a contract after failing to reach agreement by Aug. 31, and state leaders are threatening to hold up additional funding unless teachers agree to pay cuts and other changes, such as performance-based pay and a longer school day.

Wanda Cantres, whose 7-year-old son reported to Henry C. Lea Elementary School for the first time after his school was closed, said she is worried about ballooning class sizes and the financial uncertainty.

"They can build prisons and put up high rises, but they can't get school right," she said. "There are going to be a lot of children that slip through the cracks."

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 11, 2013 12:58 AM
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