Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg

@danua.bsky.social

"Local know-it-all attorney"- Philly Inquirer. "Professional troll"- spouse. Civil rights attorney at the Public Interest Law Center. Sixers sufferer. He/him. Views mine only.

1.5K followers1.1K following380 posts

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

The Inquirer reported that the Philly School District is juking enrollment stats, including this quote from a principal: "They’re doing this so we don’t lose the funding." That statement is almost certainly wrong.

Adam Bonin@adambonin.bsky.social

Juking the stats.

inquirer.comStudents who moved out of the country were put back on Philly schools’ rollsThe reenrollment came just before an important funding deadline, as the district was grappling with lower-than-projected enrollment citywide.
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Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

If Philly lost 720 kids for the entire year, half of which were ELL, what would be the percentage change in its two largest sources of general education funding? Its Basic Education Funding? Down six one thousands of one percent. Its adequacy funding? Zero point zero.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

No one is instructing principals to commit fraud for rounding errors. The District might be tightening screws. And it might be tightening them too hard. But principals are not experts on how state funding works, and so we should be careful about ascribing them the ability to divine intent.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

The Inquirer reported that the Philly School District is juking enrollment stats, including this quote from a principal: "They’re doing this so we don’t lose the funding." That statement is almost certainly wrong.

Adam Bonin@adambonin.bsky.social

Juking the stats.

inquirer.comStudents who moved out of the country were put back on Philly schools’ rollsThe reenrollment came just before an important funding deadline, as the district was grappling with lower-than-projected enrollment citywide.
View full thread
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

State funding is through a three year average of average daily membership, a tally that is taken monthly, and then averaged. There is nothing special about October 1. It is not like if you have a kid enrolled on October 1, you magically get to keep funding.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

But ALSO, the vast majority of Philadelphia's funding is not dependent on this year's enrollment AT ALL. It is in a "base" that will never change. I did the math for last year.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

The Inquirer reported that the Philly School District is juking enrollment stats, including this quote from a principal: "They’re doing this so we don’t lose the funding." That statement is almost certainly wrong.

Adam Bonin@adambonin.bsky.social

Juking the stats.

inquirer.comStudents who moved out of the country were put back on Philly schools’ rollsThe reenrollment came just before an important funding deadline, as the district was grappling with lower-than-projected enrollment citywide.
View full thread
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

But even if every single child should actually be dis-enrolled, does having them on the books before October 1 (the first time we report on school enrollment) get the district more funding? No, not in any meaningful way at all.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Principals know many things. They are heroes. But they generally don't get how the state funding system works, including here. October 1 enrollment has essentially no impact on state funding.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

The Inquirer reported that the Philly School District is juking enrollment stats, including this quote from a principal: "They’re doing this so we don’t lose the funding." That statement is almost certainly wrong.

Adam Bonin@adambonin.bsky.social

Juking the stats.

inquirer.comStudents who moved out of the country were put back on Philly schools’ rollsThe reenrollment came just before an important funding deadline, as the district was grappling with lower-than-projected enrollment citywide.
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

To start, the premise is that the District is forcing schools to reenroll 720 kids who were dis-enrolled without proper documentation. Is that wrong? Generally, not at all. Schools have a legal responsibility to find out why a kid is not coming to school.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Is some subset of that 720 kids who had to flee the United States? Very possible. I have sadly seen the impact of ICE enforcement in my own child's class. But is that all of them? Of course not -- kids get lost in the shuffle in a giant city, and a school must -- must -- try to find them.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg reposted

Noah Becker
@noahbecker.bsky.social

"We want our children to think about others, to share, to tell the truth, to chase their passions. We want that in spite of the evidence it’s not how the world works. The new Golden Rule: Do unto others as would most increase shareholder value."

Bo Wulf@bowulf.bsky.social

I wrote about our last day at The Academy of Natural Sciences. Save The Academy. allphly.com/eagles/wulf-...

allphly.comWulf: Save The Academy Of Natural Sciences, Save Our SoulThe Academy of Natural Sciences opened its doors to the public for what they say was the last time at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. We parked on the other side
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Afterwards you can get a slice at Argento’s, a bat from Gold Medal Sports, and catch a movie at the AMC. (If you know, you know.)

PhillyVoice.com@phillyvoice.com

Clover Market returns on Oct. 18 with vintage finds, handmade goods, food trucks, live music and family activities in Chester County. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4rJRV3Z

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Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Before my mom died, our big goal was simple: bump out the horizon until the miracle came. May it come soon enough for others.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

A cancer vaccine succeeded in a clinical trial in preventing the recurrence of melanoma, a result experts say is a breakthrough for mRNA-based treatments. Trials for lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and other diseases' vaccines are also underway.

washingtonpost.comA melanoma vaccine was hailed as a breakthrough. Which cancers are next?Trials investigating mRNA vaccines for lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and other diseases are already underway.
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

It is, in fact, pathetic.

jennifer kates@jenniferkates.bsky.social

My husband. “I think it’s pathetic,” said Daniel Urevick Ackelsburg. “We need institutions to stand up for core American values, and unfortunately this is just another example of one failing to do so.” www.pennlive.com/news/2026/09...

pennlive.comUPMC settles fight with Trump Administration over gender care for minorsThe hospital system had already suspended most gender care services for patients under 19; today's announcement ends the administration's legal pursuit.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg reposted

jennifer kates
@jenniferkates.bsky.social

How many falling apart schools could we have modernized?

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social

CBO analysis: The Iran war has cost the U.S. $38 billion as of August 1. That’s >$246 million per day, on average. CBO says the war has raised inflation and global energy prices, citing reduced traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and says it’ll raise interest rates on treasuries.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Bluesky (aka Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) if you like civil rights -- a kid's right to public education, a voter's right to a free and fair election, or a renter's right to a safe home, please consider coming to @pubintlawctr.bsky.social's annual event: pubintlaw.org/2026-annual-...

pubintlaw.org2026 Annual Celebration • A Night of Impact | The Public Interest Law CenterJoin us Thursday, October 8, 2026, for our annual celebration, A Night of Impact
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

This year we are honoring the families of trans kids who stood up to the Trump Administration's attempts to snoop their children's medical records, won, and in doing so, protected kids on both sides of the state and set an example for other suits around the country. pubintlaw.org/2026-annual-...

pubintlaw.org2026 Annual Celebration • A Night of Impact | The Public Interest Law CenterJoin us Thursday, October 8, 2026, for our annual celebration, A Night of Impact
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Representing these families has been a real honor, and this is a real victory on their behalf... And also, we know the broader context of what could be going on. www.advocate.com/health/trans...

advocate.comTrump administration abandons legal appeal for trans kids’ medical recordsThe DOJ asked a federal appeals court to dismiss its challenge after a judge blocked subpoenas seeking sensitive records from young patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

Why do Philadelphia's criteria-based schools (the "magnets," if you are old like me) have so few students with disabilities in them? One reason might be that our school district punished them for seeking reasonable accommodations in their applications. No longer. www.inquirer.com/education/sp...

inquirer.comPhilly just shifted its rules for how kids with disabilities can get into special admissions schools. A lawsuit threat prompted the change.“The district should want to have engaged and talented students with disabilities in our top schools, not push them out," said a parent whose child was affected by the now-changed policy.
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

News: The Trump Administration tried to end a Newark-based redlining consent decree. On behalf of three fair housing groups, we stopped them. pubintlaw.org/cases-and-pr...

pubintlaw.orgJudge Rejects Trump Administration Attempt to End Redlining Consent Decree in and Around Newark | The Public Interest Law CenterThe Public Interest Law Center uses high-impact legal strategies to advance the civil, social, and economic rights of communities in the Philadelphia region facing discrimination, inequality, and pove...

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg reposted

Bill Grueskin
@bgrueskin.bsky.social

This is one deeply reported, beautifully written (or edited) story, and you should find time this Sunday morning to read every word of it. 1/2 Gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...

nytimes.comHow a Top Law Firm Went From Standing Up to Trump to Bending the Knee (Gift Article)Paul Weiss was a progressive stalwart for decades and led the legal resistance against President Trump in his first term. Then it surrendered without a fight. This is the inside story of its transform...
Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg
@danua.bsky.social

“The agreement provides for the largest known per-tenant award in a class-action lawsuit under Philadelphia’s rental license and certificate law, according to the Philadelphia-based Public Interest Law Center, which sued on behalf of Bentley Manor tenants in March 2025.” I know that’s right.

inquirer.comPhilly tenants have reached a deal with their landlord over unsafe conditions and could get rent refundsThe tenants' class-action lawsuit alleged that Odin Properties, one of Philadelphia's largest landlords, kept charging rent at the Bentley Manor apartments without making required safety repairs.