Philadelphia Education News and Colleges - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Education News and Colleges - Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. Senate panel OKs charter-oversight bill

The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee responded Tuesday to disclosures of alleged financial mismanagement at Philadelphia charter schools by unanimously approving a sweeping bill that would increase oversight of the state's 135 charters.

Commencement speakers to urge service

As talk of a sinking economy subsides, this year's soon-to-be college graduates are begging for instructions for success. Armed for the task, many commencement speakers are spreading the same secret: service work.

Benchmarks for Ackerman bonus withheld

Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has received a $65,000 performance bonus, but the Philadelphia School District said the detailed criteria under which she earned the money were not public information.

N.J. exit exam's high failure rate raises concern

The June graduation of thousands of students could be at risk after most who took New Jersey's retooled alternative exit exam during the winter failed to pass, according to data obtained by the Education Law Center.

Who's Appearing At Area College Graduations

Tax relief from gambling drops for most in Pa. suburbs

Homeowners in the Pennsylvania suburbs due property-tax relief provided by slot-machine revenue will get anywhere from $72 to $632 next school year, down slightly for most from last year, according to figures released Monday by the state.

Web cam report blasts Lower Merion school district

Inconsistent policies. Shoddy record-keeping. Misstep after misstep. "Overzealous" use of technology "without any apparent regard for privacy considerations." Those were the conclusions a team of attorneys and computer experts reached after a 10-week investigation into how, when, and why the Lower Merion School District turned on the Web cams and software that secretly snapped thousands of photos and screen shots from student's laptop computers.

Phila. school janitors ratify pact with raises

More than 200 Philadelphia School District janitors have a new contract with raises and better health care, union officials said Monday.

Ackerman gets $65,000 performance bonus

Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has been awarded a $65,000 performance bonus, an official confirmed Monday night. The bonus, awarded by the School Reform Commission, is on top of Ackerman's $325,000 salary. She became the head of the nation's eighth-largest school district in June 2008.