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Last updated on May 13, 2020 at 1:30 pm.
All K-12 schools in Philadelphia will remain closed for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year in response to COVID-19. Schools are providing updated information about distance learning and resources for families on their websites. The School District of Philadelphia is posting updates on their COVID-19 response, here.
The School District of Philadelphia will loan a Chromebook to every District K-12 student who needs one to learn from home. The loaner program is free and there’s no obligation to participate. Principals are responsible for distribution. Families are usually asked to show ID.
Official distribution began April 13, 2020. If you still need a Chromebook, you can still pick one up! Chromebook Distribution continues at the Parent & Family Technology Support Centers listed on the SDP Website. Both centers will operate from Mon, Weds, and Fri between 9am and 1pm (excluding holidays). Please note, these hours of operation have changed.
Charter School families should contact their charter school for details about how/if their school is making devices available.
There is a dedicated phone and email line open to assisting parents and students to get District-issued devices up and running, and to address more basic technical issues with broken or malfunctioning computers.
You may call (215-400-4444) or email (FamilyTechSupport@philasd.org).
SDP has created several guides on the following: An Introduction to Chromebooks for Parents, Chromebook Guide to Basic Setup and Features, an Introduction to Google Classroom, and How to Translate a Google Document into Another Language.
The district continues to expand their online resource center. Please visit their webpage for the latest updates, including Art and Humanities resources. Last updated April 27, 2020.
For more in-depth help, please work directly with your school’s teachers and counselors for support with Google G-Suite and Classroom, online tools, assignments, password resets,
Beginning May 4, School District teachers will provide 3 hours of planned instruction per day. All guidance will be managed through Google Classroom. Content will cover Math, Science, English, Social Studies, World Language, and Health/PE as well as special education and related services. According to the School District website, the goal of this instruction is to reinforce prior learning.
All teachers will have scheduled office hours to supplement instruction to students and to answer questions for families. Families are expected to communicate with their child's teacher and/or principal if they have any questions.
According to education reported Avi Wolfman-Arent of WHYY, the School District of Philadelphia is shifting from four terms to three. Term three grades are due June 4th. The final grade will be an average of term one, two, and three. Uncompleted assignments will not be given zeros, but instead be marked as exempt or "blank."
Wolfman-Arent also notes: students are expected to participate in classes Monday through Friday "to the greatest extent possible." Until the end of this school year, attendance will be used "as a tool to track who is participating."
The District is making Learning Guides available as a resource during this time. These optional Learning Guides (K-12) are offered for personal use. The Learning Guides are aligned to areas previously taught to students during this school year, and parents and students may select which Learning Guides to use.
Electronic copies can be accessed online via this link.
Students and families with general questions may call the Learning Guide Hotline at (215) 400-5300, Monday – Thursday from 9:30 -11:30 a.m.
The Free Library of Philadelphia offers a host of resources on their website. In need of a new book for your student? The website features a guide to reading resources sorted by grade level. The website links to Hoopla, an online resource where users can instantly borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and a variety of other types of media for free with your library card!
In addition, there is a Digital Media Database, which features everything from music, podcasts, ebooks, and more! Click here to explore.
Lastly, check out the library's Virtual Programming! Using programs like Zoom, Instagram, Facebook, and Crowdcast, the library will continue hosting some of their events online. Available for all age ranges, the programming varies from storytelling and mindfulness classes for children to financial literacy workshops for adults. Again, all free with a library card! To view the list of upcoming events, click here.
Don't have a library card yet? No problem. You can sign up online for free via this link as long as you live, work, or go to school in the City of Philadelphia. Register now!
Glossaries are available for students who speak languages other than English. The glossaries provide translations of key terms in Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Math.
For students with special needs. The School District of Philadelphia provides various online resources, depending on your needs. This resource can be found via this link.
PBS Online is offering a list of supplementary learning activities for students on range of topics from current events, government and elections, STEM, and much more. They also link to student and teacher blogs.
For younger siblings, PBS is also streaming their Kids channel 24/7 for free!
The Learning Network developed by the NY Times is offering free lesson plans available on their website. A "Lesson of the Day" learning article will be offered along with several prompts surrounding the article.
The District advises families to reach out to the school's guidance counselor and/or nurse regarding any social-emotional issues or health concerns.
Please see our Wellness Section for more resources.
Last updated on April 22, 2020 at 11 am.
The School District of Philadelphia has created a list of internet resources available at this time. You may find that link, here.
Superintendent Hite made an announcement on April 16, 2020 that the district is working on a plan to distribute wifi hotspots in a similar fashion to Chromebook distribution. Please refer to the district website for details.
There is a city-wide map available that lists free internet hotspots. You may find that link, here.
Until May 13, 2020, Comcast is offering two free months of internet connection through a program called Comcast Internet Essentials. See their website for eligibility requirements. Households with outstanding debt to Comcast may still be eligible for this deal.
You can sign up for the program through the website at www.InternetEssentials.com or through phone by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376) and (1-855-765-6995) for Spanish.
Comcast is also offering free access to their internet hotspots across the city. To view a map of these hotspots, visit this website. Once in range of a hotspot, users can select the "xfinitywifi" network name from the list of available networks on their phone or computer, and then launch a browser.
Verizon is offering existing customers of their Lifeline service 60 days free. Customers are required to have signed up for the service as of March 20, 2020. Details can be found on their website, here.
Para detalles de este servicio en español, ver aquí.
Metro by T-Mobile is offering a $15-a-month plan for 60 days with 2gb of data for one phone, with the option to add phone lines for an additional fee. See details on their website.
In addition, Sprint will be providing Unlimited Data for 60 days to metered customers, effective 3/18. For customers with hotspot capabilities, Sprint is giving 60 gb of free mobile hotspot data to existing customers, effective 3/18. See details of this here.
Sprint customers are allowing existing customers to make payment arrangements on past due accounts to continue services despite late payments. You can view the details of the arrangement on this page.
All School District of Philadelphia site wifi will remain active for the duration of the school year. Families may access this network for free by selecting the "PhilaSD WiFi" network. The password for this network is "philadelphia."
The Free Library of Philadelphia locations will keep their wifi active, as well. These networks are free to access with a library card and PIN. More information on this can be found on the Free Library website.
Last updated on May 18, 2020 at 4 pm.
The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 provides benefits, referred to as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), to families of school-aged children who would have otherwise received free or reduced-priced meals if it were not for school closures.
Families of school-aged children (K-12) in School District of Philadelphia public schools will receive the approximate food benefit amount of $365.00 for each school-aged child in their family. This benefit will be issued in the form of a P-EBT card by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS).
If you already have an active EBT card, the P-EBT funds will be automatically added to your card. You do not need to do anything for this to occur.
If you do not have an active EBT card and your mailing address is correct with the School District you also do not need to do anything to receive your P-EBT card. If your mailing address with the school District is not correct, please provide your current mailing address to ensure proper delivery of your P-EBT card.
If you need to change your address in order to ensure that you recieve your P-EBT card, please click this link.
Use this interactive map to see free or discounted food around the city of Philadelphia. The website also has a Food Finder Guide with Farmer's Markets, low-cost grocery options, school and youth meals, options for senior citizens and residents who are not mobile.
Philabundance has a list of food pantries around the city. Simply type in your address and see the closest location to you!
Beginning April 23, 2020, District grab-and-go sites will operate every Thursday from 9 am to noon. Students and families will be able to pick up a box of 5 breakfast meals, five lunch meals and a ½ gallon of milk for each student in your family. Each box weighs six pounds so it is encouraged to bring a wheeled cart or some other way to easily carry the boxes if you are picking up meals for multiple students in your household.
Find a full list of these meal sites, listed here.
In addition to school sites, the city is operating meal sites at 6 community centers and 2 Parks and Rec locations for grab-and-go breakfast and lunch. These sites are open Mon - Fri from 9am to noon. Find a full list of these meal sites, listed here.
Philadelphia residents may pick up one box of food per household at one of the community sites set up around the city. Boxes contain non-perishable items on Mondays and fresh produce on Thursdays. Sites are open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 am to noon. No ID necessary. These community sites are listed here.
The Lutheran Settlement House is open to the community! There is no income requirement, no ID required. Stop by on Monday through Friday from 9 am - 3 pm. Located in Fishtown on Frankford Avenue, across from La Colombe.
Treehouse Books is giving away free food and books on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 am to noon. Visit their website (http://www.treehousebooks.org/), Facebook, or view their Instagram (@TreeHouseBooks) for news and updates.
Do you need food and other resources delivered to your house? The Philadelphia Organization of Health Professional Students has put together a list of helpful resources for organizations around the community delivering food and other resources to Philadelphians who need them.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) is an organization led by Black, Brown and Native community members. They offer to connect neighbors with people who can deliver groceries, medicine and other vital supplies to your doorstep. Email NHN at nhnphilly@protonmail.com for more information or visit their website.
Last updated on April 24, 2020 at 4 pm.
All rec centers, playgrounds and athletic courts in Philadelphia are closed until further notice.
All parks, trails and athletic fields in Philadelphia remain open with users being encouraged to follow the physical distance rule of remaining 6 feet apart from others.
Martin Luther King Drive along the Schuylkill River is closed to vehicular traffic to encourage residents to get out and remain physically active.
The Philadelphia Organization for Health Professions Students made an awesome, comprehensive wellness guide. Find free online workout classes, mindfulness videos, physical distance support groups as well as art, music, podcasts, and movie resources!
Want to learn a new skill? They've got you covered. Find free, online resources for learning to code, play an instrument, learn a language, and more! Check it out for yourself.
Never been to one of Philly's art museums? No problem! The Association for Public Art has you covered. Tour popular art collections from all over the city from your screen. The aPA offers audio programs that you can stream as your tour as well as videos that share unique stories of over 100 pieces of art around the city. Start your personal tour now!
Last updated on April 22, 2020 at 11 am.
Septa is running on a reduced schedule called the "Lifeline Service Map." Masks are not required to ride, but they are strongly urged.
Along the Broad Street Line, the following stations are OPEN:
FERN ROCK TRANSPORTATION CENTER - BROAD ST/RIDGE SPUR
OLNEY - BROAD ST/RIDGE SPUR
HUNTING PARK
ERIE - BROAD ST/RIDGE SPUR
ALLEGHENY
NORTH PHILADELPHIA - BROAD ST/RIDGE SPUR
CECIL B. MOORE/TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
GIRARD
8TH ST - BROAD ST/RIDGE SPUR
RACE-VINE/CONVENTION CENTER
CITY HALL
WALNUT/LOCUST
ELLSWORTH-FEDERAL
SNYDER
OREGON
NRG
Along the Market-Frankford Line, the following stations are OPEN:
FRANKFORD TRANSPORTATION CENTER
ARROTT TRANSPORTATION CENTER
ERIE-TORRESDALE
ALLEGHENY
HUNTINGDON
BERKS
GIRARD
SPRING GARDEN
8TH ST
11TH ST
15TH ST
30TH ST
34TH ST
40TH ST
46TH ST
52ND ST
56TH ST
60TH ST
69TH ST TRANSPORTATION CENTER
The following Trolley lines are running at reduced schedules:
Routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 36, 101 (operating as bus).
The bus routes that are running are largely operating on a Saturday schedule. To find a full list of running buses, please refer to this website.
For Philadelphia residents, trash pickup will continue every week. Recycyling pickup will operate every other week.
There will be NO electric, gas, or landline home phone shut-offs in Philadelphia while the state of PA remains under a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency. These utilities will remain ON unless the Public Utility Commission lifts the shut off restriction.
The Philadelphia Water Department will restore water service to all delinquent customers whose water has been previously terminated. The restoration fee will be waived. Customers that have been shut off for not repairing defects in their private plumbing will still need to make the necessary repairs to have their water restored.
PECO will restore electric service to any customers who have been disconnected. Customers should call 1-800-494-4000 to begin the reconnection process. More information about restoring electrical service is available here.
PECO and PGW are waiving new late payment charges through at least May 1, 2020.
If you have any tenant-related questions, please call the Philly Tenant Hotline at 267-443-2500, press option 6, and leave a message. Someone will return your call within 24 hours.
