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Hello! Happy Friday. Carly here with Chalkbeat Philly.

I hope everyone’s back-to-school has been smooth sailing this week. Our top story today is a Q&A with Superintendent Tony Watlington. Reporter Rebecca Redelmeier asked some poignant questions about how he’s thinking about rebuilding and maintaining trust with school communities throughout the school closure process.

In other news, our colleague Matt Barnum reports that virtual school enrollment has doubled across the country in recent years. Of the states that submitted data, Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation for the number of students attending fully virtual school. We took a deep look at what this means for Philly families back in 2024. If you’re a virtual school parent, student, or educator, hit us up. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Got a story idea or question for the school year? You can always reach us at [email protected].

One more thing: There’s less than a week left in Chalkbeat’s back-to-school membership campaign! Become a member by Aug. 31 to help fund the local reporting that keeps your community informed, holds school leaders accountable, and follows the education stories that matter most.

A new school year needs strong local reporting. Help Chalkbeat’s reporters keep asking the questions that matter.

Do more than half of Philadelphia adults really read at or below 5th grade level? It’s time for a new way to describe what they know, The Conversation (Opinion)

How can Philly students apply to criteria-based schools without their latest PSSA scores? The district is readying a plan, Philly Voice

Measles outbreaks present ‘very real threats’ in Philly schools. Here’s how officials are working to prevent them. The Philadelphia Inquirer (Paywall)