How Not to Start a School Year

The rage-inducing opening of the new school year illustrates why good management matters—and how our leaders are failing us

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Will The School District Squander Its $1.1 Billion Stimulus Windfall?

A history of management snafus under Superintendent Bill Hite can only make you wonder if we’re able to seize this potentially transformative moment

By Larry Platt

Bill Hite, Reconsidered

Philadelphia’s schools superintendent has taken some hits lately. Does he have what it takes to manage—and tame—a $3.5 billion bureaucracy?

By Larry Platt

Guest Commentary: Help All Students #LogOnPHL

A first-day-of-school assignment for all Philadelphians from the mayor and schools superintendent.

By Jim Kenney and William R. Hite Jr.

How to Remake Schools

Eight questions to consider as we look to reopening schools in Philly

By Jessica Blatt Press

Reality Check: Let’s Rethink Our School Board

Without pay or accountability to citizens, this WURD host wonders, how can we really expect school board members to solve what ails the struggling system?

By Charles D. Ellison

Reality Check: Philly Schools Are Like a Slow-Moving Asteroid

Philly schools are toxic, underperforming and mismanaged. When, WURD’s afternoon host wonders, is someone going to take responsibility?

By Charles D. Ellison

Ideas We Should Steal: Using Civic Leaders to Make Government Smarter

Had your fill of incompetent local government? In Chicago, pro-bono civic leaders help implement smart policy

By Larry Platt