Starting today, students and staff at Philadelphia public and Archdiocesan schools are not required to wear masks. The mask mandate has also been lifted for early childhood education settings, except for Head Start programs. Masking also continues in pre-K classrooms that also have Head Start students.

Masks will again be required in all Philadelphia schools for one week following spring break to avoid a possible post-break surge in cases.

The City’s Department of Public Health announced last Wednesday the immediate transition to the All Clear COVID-19 response level due to the continuous drop in the number of new cases and some other criteria. The All Clear level (Level 1) means that proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks are no longer required in most indoor public places. Masking is still required on public transit and in healthcare settings.

During the All Clear period, businesses may choose to require staff and patrons to wear a mask and/or show proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated residents are advised by the Department of Public Health to wear a mask in indoor settings.

5050 Baltimore Ave. (Hyacinth Montessori Instagram)

A new Montessori school serving grades 1-6 will open on the 5000 block of Baltimore Avenue next fall.

Hyacinth Montessori, a “micro school,” is accepting applications now for the 2022-2023 school year. The school is starting with a small class of about 10 students, but founders Madeleine Nutting and Carmen Montopoli hope to grow the tuition-based school to a full enrollment of 25 students.

The Montessori approach includes guided hands-on, self-directed activities and collaborative play.

“Each child progresses through standards-aligned learning at their own pace,” Montopoli, a trained Montessori teacher with several years experience leading classrooms, wrote in an email. “Elementary students thrive when supported to create a learning community in which each child is valued for their own interests and contributions.” Continue Reading

The University of Pennsylvania is proposing a multi-million dollar partnership with Henry C. Lea School – the K-8 public school located four blocks west of Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander (aka “Penn Alexander”) School, their first partnership school in West Philadelphia.

The proposed Penn-Lea partnership is for five years, during which the university will be making a total grant commitment of $816,500 per academic year, totaling $4,082,500. A portion of these funds will be in the form of services provided by individuals who are paid by Penn.

Concerns about rising home values, gentrification and displacement have followed the announcement. Home prices in the Penn Alexander catchment rose exponentially since 2000. Continue Reading

UPDATE (1/9/2022): Thirty-six more schools, in addition to the 46 schools announced on Friday, will shift to virtual learning from Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14. The updated list is available here.

At the beginning of this week, the School District of Philadelphia temporarily shifted dozens of schools to virtual learning due to staffing challenges caused by the current spike in COVID-19 cases. Over 90 District-led schools reportedly switched to virtual learning by the end of the week. The District announced today that 46 schools will shift to virtual learning from Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14.

The list of schools that will shift to 100 percent virtual learning starting Monday, Jan. 10 can be found here.

“It’s important to know that shifting any school to virtual learning is always a last resort,” Superintendent William R. Hite said in a statement. “Our schools are more than just institutions of learning.” Continue Reading

The School District of Philadelphia has temporarily shifted dozens of schools to virtual learning due to staffing shortages stemming from the omicron-related spike in COVID-19 cases. The 81 school buildings have closed for students starting today until at least through Friday, Jan. 7. The full list of these schools can be found here.

Principals were expected to communicate directly with students and families with information regarding virtual instruction. Staff at these 81 schools are still expected to report to work in person unless they are self-isolating or quarantining due to COVID testing or exposure, have COVID-like symptoms and are awaiting test results, or have an approved leave.

All other District schools were expected to reopen after winter recess for in-person learning starting this morning.

The School District of Philadelphia’s superintendent, William Hite, will transition from his role at the end of the 2021-2022 school year after 10 years of service. The District will officially begin the search, both locally and nationwide, for the next superintendent in the next two months.

Hite, 60, announced his decision to step down in September.

The Philadelphia School Board of Education began hosting a series of 17 listening sessions – in-person and virtual –  this week to collect input on hiring the next superintendent.

Two in-person listening sessions will take place in West Philadelphia at People’s Emergence Center (325 N. 39th St) this week. This is a great opportunity for West Philly families and all interested individuals to make their voices heard by providing input on the skills, talent and foresight the next Superintendent needs to bring to the District. Continue Reading