Kathy Matheson is a reporter, editor and videographer for The Associated Press in Philadelphia. She covers education, religion, spot news and everything in between.
She has a passion for all things Philly except cheesesteaks and overblown stories about Eagles fans throwing snowballs at Santa.
Occasionally she takes photos and blogs them here and on Instagram (katmath13).
On Sundays, she blogs The New York Times crossword here and at www.crosswordkathy.net.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
18 charged in alleged scams at Philly-area school district
An employee theft-ring and a no-show job scam have cost a suburban Philadelphia school district more than $1 million, according to authorities who arrested 18 people in the alleged schemes on Wednesday.
Pa. education officials reject proposals for 8 cyber charter schools
State education officials denied applications for eight new cyber charter schools on Monday, citing significant deficiencies in their planned curricula, finances and overall operations.
Pa. education officials wind down statewide cheating probe
A school cheating investigation that has led to educator suspensions, stricter testing protocols and more than 140 professional misconduct complaints is winding down, state education officials say.
7 districts split $25 million in Gates education grants
Seven school districts committed to working with charter schools to improve student achievement will split about $25 million in grants from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, officials announced Wednesday.
Pa. students to take first Keystone Exams next week
School districts statewide will begin administering new standardized tests next week in math, English and science, exams that eventually all students will have to pass to earn a high school diploma.
Pa. told to re-evaluate charter school performance
Federal education officials have denied Pennsylvania’s request to evaluate charter school achievement using more lenient criteria, saying they must be assessed by the same standard as traditional schools.
Panel: Pa. colleges should get cash for meeting goals
A commission charged with improving higher education in Pennsylvania has recommended that colleges and universities be able to earn additional state funding by meeting certain performance targets.
Troubled Pa. district faces school closings, job cuts
A proposed recovery plan unveiled Tuesday for the deeply troubled Chester Upland education system calls for shuttering nearly half its schools, hiring two new top administrators and cutting dozens of jobs.
Critics: Pa. inflating success of charter schools
Pennsylvania education officials have asked to measure charter school achievement by a different yardstick than traditional schools, a standard that critics say inflates the success of charters for political reasons.
Philly Catholic high schools get outside manager
Roman Catholic high schools in the Philadelphia area will soon be managed by a private foundation, a historic arrangement that could reinvigorate a system decimated by high costs and low enrollment, church officials announced Tuesday.
