Philadelphia School District Asbestos Violations Charged

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News Summary

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against the Philadelphia School District for not managing asbestos hazards in schools. This is the first case in U.S. history where a school district faces environmental violations under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. With eight counts related to various schools, the district is under scrutiny for failing to ensure safety inspections, putting student and staff health at risk.

Philadelphia School District Faces Historic Charges Over Asbestos Violations

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has filed criminal charges against the School District of Philadelphia for its failure to manage hazardous asbestos in multiple schools. This historic event marks the first time in U.S. history that a school district has been charged with environmental violations under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).

On June 28, 2025, the charges came to light, stemming from a comprehensive five-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office alongside the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Criminal Investigation Division. The district has been accused of neglecting its responsibility to inspect, remediate, and report damage caused by asbestos in its facilities, creating serious risks to the health and safety of students and staff alike.

Charges Unveiled and Impacted Schools

The federal government has levied eight counts against the school district, targeting specific schools for their failure to comply with mandated inspection schedules. Notable facilities implicated include:

William Meredith Elementary
Building 21 Alternative High School
Southwark Elementary
S. Weir Mitchell Elementary
Charles W. Henry Elementary
Universal Vare Charter School
Frankford High School

The eighth count relates to the school’s failure to conduct timely six-month inspections at Building 21 Alternative High School. With the U.S. federal laws mandating that school districts conduct formal inspections of asbestos-containing buildings every three years—and surveillance inspections biannually—the implications of these charges are severe.

The Asbestos Crisis in Philadelphia Schools

The threat posed by asbestos—a natural mineral linked to devastating diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma—is alarmingly tangible in Philadelphia. Many schools built with asbestos materials have not undergone substantial renovations, leaving potentially hazardous materials in place. Recent closures of over a dozen Philadelphia schools from 2019 to 2024, some either temporarily or indefinitely, underscore the gravity of the situation. Notably, Frankford High School closed its main building in 2023 due to extensive asbestos damage, with a staggering budget of $20 million allocated to rectify the issues and reopen in the 2025-26 school year.

School Closures for Safety

These frequent school closures are aimed strictly at the safety of students and staff while remediation efforts—either through removal or sealing of asbestos—take place. The Philadelphia School District has been making strides to comply with U.S. law regarding asbestos management. However, challenges have hindered full adherence.

During a recent School Board meeting, discussions focused on a proposed agreement with the Department of Justice pertaining to the ongoing investigation into the district’s practices surrounding asbestos management. The district has notably tripled its budget for environmental management—from $10.2 million in Fiscal Year 2021 to an anticipated $55.7 million in Fiscal Year 2025.

Extent of the Asbestos Problem

With approximately 339 buildings under its operation, the Philadelphia School District faces a monumental task, as nearly 300 of those buildings are confirmed to contain asbestos. The implications of disturbed asbestos fibers can lead to significant health risks, elevating the likelihood of contracting illnesses like mesothelioma and other lung diseases.

Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. has underscored the district’s commitment to prioritizing safety and effectively enhancing its asbestos management strategies in light of these charges.

Next Steps and Community Reactions

With the federal deferred prosecution agreement in play, there will be significant scrutiny on how the Philadelphia School District will navigate these charges moving forward. The district’s ability to demonstrate compliance with federal safety regulations will not only affect legal proceedings but will also be instrumental in restoring trust among students, parents, and educators alike.

The community is now left anxiously awaiting the outcome of these proceedings, while the health and safety of Philadelphia’s schoolchildren continue to hang in the balance.