Philadelphia officials approved plans to close 23 schools on Thursday in a bid to cut the city’s budget deficit and eliminate underused schools, reported the New York Times. The widely-opposed vote drew 500 protesters, who gathered outside the Philadelphia School District’s headquarters and blocked major roads in the city. The closures will affect students in elementary through high school, who will be transferred in the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. Officials hope the closures will help eliminate the city’s $1.35 billion deficit over the next five years.
Education Reporting in NYC