The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly investigating the Philadelphia School District for how the district handled asbestos in schools across the city.
Several public schools in Philadelphia have temporarily closed due to findings of asbestos in walls, ceiling tiles, and elsewhere throughout the buildings.
Asbestos is a natural mineral that was used in construction of homes, offices, schools, hospitals and more. The mineral could resist heat and protect electrical wiring, insulation, pipes and other parts. However, asbestos can cause deadly diseases such as cancer: lung cancer and mesothelioma, specifically.
History of Asbestos in Schools
Asbestos was a popular material for construction work during the 20th century, when few people knew of the dangers the mineral posed.
By the 1980s, people learned enough about how asbestos could cause cancer. However, many schools were already built with asbestos hiding in walls, floors and ceilings. These schools have not been significantly renovated since they first opened, which means asbestos remains inside. Schools with asbestos can expose children, teachers and other staff to a deadly material.
From 2019-2024, more than a dozen Philadelphia schools either closed temporarily or indefinitely due to finding potentially disturbed asbestos, which usually means the fibers have broken apart. Asbestos found in these schools was often exposed and visible.
One school building, the main one for Frankford High, closed in 2023 and remains shut down because of extensive damaged asbestos. Plans to spend $20 million to fix the school could lead to reopening for the 2025-26 school year. Students of Frankford High are either attending school in an annexed building or at Roberto Clemente Middle School in North Philadelphia.
Schools with asbestos close to protect students and teachers while professionals remove or seal the known asbestos. In Philadelphia, all school system buildings must be inspected once every three years, according to the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response law.
Recently, the Philadelphia School District aimed to meet U.S. laws around asbestos inspections within three years. The school system has increased spending on asbestos remediation to make all buildings safer.
Federal Government Investigation?
During a Philadelphia School Board meeting last week, the board had on the agenda considering the approval of “a proposed agreement between The School District of Philadelphia and the United States Department of Justice with respect to an ongoing investigation of the district’s asbestos management practices.” This is according to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, which cited a school board document.
The meeting itself, scheduled for the afternoon, was moved to noon, according to the report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The change in time was to address the investigation and agreement.
No further details were reported by outlets. The Philadelphia School District may keep the details of the investigation and agreement private, although the reports of an investigation add to a long-running story spanning nearly a decade of asbestos found in Philadelphia schools.
Sources & Author
- Philly schools under federal investigation for asbestos management practices. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved from: https://www.inquirer.com/education/school-district-philadelphia-asbestos-investigation-20250528.html. Accessed: 06/03/2025.
Sources & Author
