The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia.
Over 60 city schools lack proper air conditioning
Some Philadelphia students will be headed home right after they got back to class.
Several dozen city schools will have early dismissal due to extreme heat on Tuesday and Wednesday. The The School District of Philadelphia announced the decision after the first day of school on Monday. Sixty-three schools without proper air conditioning will close early with temperatures expected to be in the 90s; all other schools and district buildings will operate on a normal schedule.
Heat-related early dismissals were a major issue last year, with parents criticizing the district’s short notices and questioning how prepared school officials were for high temperatures. Superintendent Tony Watlington pledged the district would work to give at least 24 hours notice for any schedule changes.
Philly schools have struggled with adequate air conditioning for years, but the district is making progress. A hundred schools were impacted by heat-related closings in 2022, according to Philly Voice, and 86 closed early last year. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts boosted the district earlier this year by donating $200,000 worth of air conditioning units.
