Rational Decisions and Heartbreak on School Closings

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia's School Reform Commission is scheduled to vote Thursday on a controversial plan to close 29 public schools. Opponents of the plan are lined up to speak before the vote in hopes of defeating it, and as of Thursday

As with the first two community meetings about those plans, questions from the audience dealt with concerns that younger students would not be safe alongside older students and that closing schools would lead to larger

On Friday, parents, students and staff were coming to grips with the impending closures, which represent about 10 percent of the district's schools. Many say the closings will irreparably damage dozens of neighborhoods and further fuel a student exodus

The Commission on School Utilization, which is overseeing the process of closing the schools, has supported shutting down as many as 80 schools. An interim report from the commission pointed out that the city had never

Stories about government influence: Who are the people and groups most instrumental in crafting education policy? What are their priorities and agendas? And how do they work together when they disagree?