Carly Sitrin

As ballots sat uncounted, Madison clerk prepped for ‘cookie extravaganza’ Records obtained by Votebeat help explain what Maribeth Witzel-Behl was up to when the crisis erupted in her office: a baking staycation.

This Votebeat story is A WILD RIDE and features the timeless quote: "None of the witnesses we deposed disclosed her cookie staycation.”

www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...

Philadelphia community leaders ring alarm bells about school closure process School district officials have pledged not to repeat mistakes that fractured communities and hurt students. But parents and community leaders involved in the district’s facilities planning process, wh...

Philly's school district wants the community to participate in its closure/modernization process. But members of their advisory groups say their time has felt wasted by bureaucratic presentations. They worry the district is using them to add credibility to a flawed process.

Can’t wait for my commute on the Comcast-Aramark-Pond Lehocky 32 bus

Here’s what led to the approval of Philly’s first new charter school in 7 years Since 2018, when the city regained local control of schools, the Philadelphia Board of Education had rejected all attempts to start new charter schools. But when the backers of Early College Charter School of Philadelphia’s application sought approval, the ground began to shift.

Philadelphia Board of Education approves city’s first new charter school since 2018
https://www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia/2025/05/29/board-of-education-approves-first-new-charter-school-in-nearly-a-decade/

Home - SciLine SciLine is an editorially independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit service for journalists and scientists. Our goal is to help get more science into news stories. We connect reporters quickly to scientific...

Cool resource for journalists - SciLine helps connect journalists with scientists who can provide expertise for stories. www.sciline.org

Philly’s City Council president tells early childhood workers: You deserve a raise City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said early childhood education workers “deserve a high-quality raise.” But will his proposed task force be enough?

Philly's early childhood education workers want raises. They're getting a city council task force to look into it. www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

Here at City Hall where early childhood ed workers, parents, caregivers, and elected officials are rallying for the “Day w/out Childcare”

How DOGE’s AmeriCorps cuts are gutting Philly schools’ tutoring programs More than 7,500 kids in the Philly area have AmeriCorps tutors and teachers through programs like Joyful Readers, City Year, ArtistYear, and Teach for America. Those programs have been threatened by t...

Joyful Readers tutors were helping Philly kids learn to read. DOGE said their work isn’t a priority. www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

In Pennsylvania, at least one public institution provides in-state tuition to undocumented students (Penn State)

Religious charter school case raises a key question: Are charter schools actually public schools? National charter leaders are worried that if the U.S. Supreme Court finds that charter schools are more like private schools — opening the door for religious charters — it could affect their funding, ...

Why national charter leaders are very worried about Oklahoma’s religious charter school www.chalkbeat.org/2025/04/28/r...

A science program was poised to reach kids across Philly. Then DOGE killed the funding. Historic Germantown is one of hundreds of organizations whose IMLS grant have been cancelled. The consequences go beyond fundraising and infrastructure issues.

In 2023, Historic Germantown received word that it had won a two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to pilot a new hands-on science program for middle schoolers called Science Sleuths. (1/4)

Student My Le testified abt her mental health struggles & how the state of her school contributed to her feelings of hopelessness & despair.

"I implore you to fight for us. Fight for more funding not just for the egregious state of our bathrooms and building, but for our mental health too," Le said

These Philly high schoolers are fed up with their ‘grimy’ building conditions A group of seniors at the Academy at Palumbo says district leaders must address bathroom issues, heating and cooling concerns, and more. The current ‘dirty’ and ‘grimy’ conditions in many Philly schoo...

Students from Philly's Academy at Palumbo are planning to testify at tonight's school board meeting about the "grimy" conditions at their school that they say make it harder for them to learn:

www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

So interesting knowing this is also Parker's approach to her big "year-round school" campaign promise: Expand access to programs that already exist. To be sure, people really appreciate those programs! Just feels like a common theme: www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

Is DOGE the inspiration for this Philadelphia House GOP hearing on Philly public schools? Pennsylvania House Republicans will hold a hearing May 19 to investigate alleged mismanagement and waste in Philly schools. Superintendent Tony Watlington has emphasized that the district is a “good steward” of taxpayer funding.

Pennsylvania GOP to hold hearing on ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ in Philly schools
https://www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia/2025/04/18/pennsylvania-republicans-call-for-waste-fraud-abuse-hearing-philly-schools/

Here at City Hall where immigrant advocacy groups, parents, and students are calling on City Council and the school district to do more to support immigrant students amid Trump admin policies. Some background from last yr here: www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

These state attorneys general want to overturn Linda McMahon’s move to halt COVID relief The 16 Democratic state attorneys, along with Gov. Josh Shapiro, say the move to terminate states’ access to federal COVID relief is an unfair move that contradicts the will of Congress and will hurt ...

A group of 16 Democratic attorneys general along with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Trump administration for halting access to hundreds of millions of dollars of federal pandemic relief money: www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

SEPTA's New Budget: 5 Regional Rail Lines Gone, 56 Bus Routes Slashed, and the Highest Fares in the Country All this can be avoided, the agency says, if Harrisburg can agree on a budget that funds mass transit statewide.

This is a catastrophe not only for the commuters and economy of Philadelphia, but for the hundreds of thousands of tourists that are expected to visit in 2026 for the World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Impossible to underestimate what a disaster this would be.

Pennsylvania signals it is not ordering schools to adhere to Trump’s anti-DEI order Pennsylvania says the state is already in compliance with civil rights laws and is not ordering schools to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The U.S. DOE’s order has drawn a line in the sand for local education agencies: Bow to the Trump administration’s efforts to strike all programs concerning racism and inequity in schools, or risk losing a massive chunk of federal funding.

www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

Promise your schools don’t use DEI or lose federal funding, Education Department says The Trump administration said states have 10 days to certify that their schools don’t use practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. An Education Department official underscored the thre...

As Philly school board member Joan Stern said today, “Anything that appears to be final is usually not final.”

www.chalkbeat.org/2025/04/03/t...

Trump education department to states: Certify your schools don't practice DEI or lose federal funding The Trump administration's interpretation of civil rights law is being challenged in court.

Trump education department threatens federal school funding nationwide over DEI
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/04/03/trump-education-department-threatens-federal-funding-anti-dei-push/

Exciting news: TJA and MuckRock have partnered to help journalists document and report on the Trump administration’s actions targeting trans communities. This open-source project will track the implementation and practical effects of executive orders, legislation and other federal action.

Philly students tell district leaders: You’re failing us when it comes to immigration “I am tired of my school district constantly making me and those around me feel unimportant,” said Luis Ojeda, an Academy at Palumbo student. Superintendent Tony Watlington reiterated the district’s c...

These students are demanding clearer communication regarding protections for immigrant and undocumented students and families. Some background here: www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...

Philly students walked out of class today to protest the Trump administration’s education and immigration policies and to demand more funding for city schools

Vibes are 🔥 at the Philly school board meeting. Thank you to the students from the Mustangs modern band!

Speaking of Signal…

Upheaval at Education Department office sparks concern about services for English learners The Trump Education Department says changes to the Office for English Language Acquisition will not affect funding or federal programs for students. But experts and others worry that the quality of their education and training for their teachers could suffer.

Trump Education Department decimates office serving 5 million English learners in public schools
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/21/trump-education-department-dismantles-office-for-students-learning-english/

Trump signs executive order aiming to close Education Department, citing low test scores President Donald Trump said closing the Education Department would help students and save money. Legally, only Congress can close the department. But the Trump administration recently cut the Education Department's staff nearly in half.

Trump signs executive order that aims to close U.S. Department of Education
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/20/trump-signs-executive-order-to-end-education-department/

A new resource in Philly will help connect gun violence survivors to journalists The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting launches Survivor Connection, a resource for journalists to connect with gun violence survivors willing to tell their stories.

“No one understands our pain but us.”

Philly’s mayor wants to increase teacher salaries — but there’s a catch Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker wants city public schools to eventually get a larger share of city property taxes. She also wants teacher salaries to go up, but her plan for doing so covers fiscal ...

Anyway completely unrelated to anything else I've posted today here's what's in the Philly Mayor's proposed budget for education: Teacher salary increases in....2030? www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia...