Education
Policy
Ages of uncertainty
How the state, and its stakeholders, are strategizing around the slow-motion fallout of a rapidly aging population, a shrinking workforce pool and decreasing birth rates.
News & Politics
Politics
Trash, tech and talking arena: What to watch for during Philadelphia City Council’s return
Council ended last year’s budget negotiations bucking Mayor Cherelle Parker’s tax proposals
Education
Policy
Report: Teacher shortages hitting both rural and urban school districts
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania released a report showing a 67% decrease in individuals receiving teacher certifications
Criminal Justice
Politics
Greek history: A recent timeline of Penn State fraternity scandals
A crackdown on a cocaine-trafficking ring led by Penn State students is the latest in a series of scandals involving fraternities at the state’s only land-grant university.
News & Politics
Politics
Addition by subtraction: Philly schools’ controversial closure plan has many ways to fail
The School District of Philadelphia has a $3 billion “right-sizing” plan to improve hundreds of city schools by closing 17 of them – but not everyone is buying it.
Philadelphia
Personality
Philadelphia’s City Government Youth Summit takes over City Hall
Students in the YMCA program got a hands-on legislative experience with Philadelphia lawmakers on Wednesday
Philadelphia
Politics
Failure to communicate: How the job cut saga exposed School District of Philadelphia-City Council rift
After months of intense public debate and legislative back-and-forth, the district determined that it would not make classroom job cuts after all
Education
Policy
Report: PA school districts facing budget, mental health and special education challenges
Fiscal pressures, rising needs around student mental health and special education, are the key takeaways in the Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s 2026 State of Education report.
Philadelphia
Politics
Four for Friday: Philadelphia weekly roundup
SEPTA gets a bump while “intoxicating substances” are on watch
Education
Policy
Advocates push to upgrade civics education standards
As the semiquincentennial commences, legislators, educators and nonprofit organizations are trying to seize the momentum to spotlight the subject.
Education
Policy
New documentary focuses on plight of early childhood educators in PA
“The Hands That Shape Tomorrow,” directed by Emmy-winner Kyra Knox, shows the positive impact of a guaranteed income initiative program on teachers – and the fallout when it ends.
Politics
Opinion
Before rehabbing Philly school buildings, we must rework the Separations Act
Without updating the century-old legislation dictating how work is done, the much-needed construction projects will be unnecessarily hindered and expensive.
Education
Personality
Save the dates: Make time to celebrate these notable non-250th milestones in 2026
America’s semiquincentennial year may be the main event, but there is no shortage of other anniversaries to mark in 2026.
Politics
Opinion
It’s elementary: Restrict use of mobile devices at school
Limiting students’ access to cell phones and similar tech is crucial to their development.
Capitol Beat
Personality
A Q&A with Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa
The Democratic leader in the Senate discusses lessons learned from last year and 2026 priorities
Education
Policy
City & State's 5 for 2025: As AI enters Pennsylvania classrooms, teachers and students face a learning curve
As the year comes to an end, we look back at some staff and reader favorites from our reporting over the past 12 months.
Education
Policy
Trump administration efforts to end DOE get failing grade from PA educators
Teachers say commonwealth classrooms will suffer if the Trump administration guts the federal Department of Education, which funds numerous key programs as well as student loans, while conservatives say the move will return resources to the states
Technology
Policy
As AI enters Pennsylvania classrooms, teachers and students face a learning curve
Pennsylvania schools are racing to determine the role artificial intelligence should play in education – and when.
Education
Policy
State Senate studies ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone ban in schools
Cell phone usage in schools is a hot-button issue in Harrisburg
Education
Policy