Philadelphia public school students in grades preK-2 who had opted for the hybrid learning model were supposed to return back to school buildings on Monday, March 1. However, due to the ongoing dispute between the School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the mediation process by a third party currently underway, virtual instruction for all District students will continue until further announcement.

The City-led third-party mediation process between the School District and PFT on the phased reopening of the city’s public schools is nearing conclusion, according to today’s announcement by Mayor Jim Kenney. Details will be finalized over the next few days, and will be announced publicly at a joint press conference with the City of Philadelphia, School District of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers on Monday, March 1, at 1 p.m.

The School District of Philadelphia has postponed the reopening date for its schools from Feb. 22 to March 1. The decision to delay the reopening, which is part of the District’s hybrid learning model, was made due to the ongoing third-party mediation requested by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT). The organization has instructed teachers earlier this month not to return to school buildings until it is decided by a third party that it is safe to do so.

The District is now planning to begin the first phase of the hybrid learning plan, which includes welcoming students in PreK-2 back to school buildings, on Monday, March 1. Older students will be phased in later. No additional dates have been provided yet.  Continue Reading

Public school teachers and staff were supposed to return to school buildings today ahead of the students’ return to schools as part of the School District’s hybrid learning plan set to launch on Feb. 22. However, as instructed by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) on Feb. 4, the staff didn’t report to school buildings due to COVID safety concerns.

Since the District has announced the return to the hybrid learning model, which includes a partial instruction inside school buildings, the opposition to the plan has been mounting. PFT has issued a few statements opposing the plan until building safety conditions are met.  Continue Reading

The School District of Philadelphia announced today its plan to return to the hybrid learning model, which offers a mix of in-person and digital learning to students. The District will reopen its schools for students in pre-K through second grade on Feb. 22 and will slowly phase in older students after that (no additional dates have been announced yet).

Students opting into hybrid learning will attend school in person two days per week – on their assigned days only – and engage in digital learning the remaining three days.

In the fall, families were asked to choose between the hybrid model or 100 percent digital learning. More than 9,000 families chose the hybrid model, whish later was postponed until further notice due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the city. Pre-K-2 students whose families selected hybrid learning during the initial selection process in the fall will phase in first.  Continue Reading

The University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia city and School District officials announced today that Penn will make a $100 million contribution to the School District of Philadelphia. The contribution – $10 million annually for 10 years – will be used to eliminate environmental hazards, including asbestos and lead, in the School District’s facilities.

“We are proud to be able to partner with our City and School District to significantly improve the learning environment for Philadelphia’s schoolchildren in a way that will have a long-lasting impact on the health, safety, and wellbeing of our entire City,” said University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann.  Continue Reading

Philadelphia public schools will not return to in-class instruction until further notice, according to today’s announcement by the School District. The decision was made based on the most recent updates from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). There has been an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the city in the past few weeks (740 new cases were reported on Nov. 5 – the highest daily increase since the beginning of the pandemic).

Last month, the School District announced a hybrid learning plan that would allow public school students from kindergarten through 2nd grade to return to classrooms two days a week across the city beginning Nov. 30. However, this plan has now been postponed indefinitely.  Continue Reading