News Summary
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed historic criminal charges against the School District of Philadelphia under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act due to failures in properly managing asbestos. A deferred prosecution agreement allows the district five years to address safety concerns across 31 buildings. The actions follow a five-year investigation revealing significant lapses in required inspections, raising serious health risks for students and staff. With nearly 300 of its 339 buildings containing asbestos, the district has committed to improving its practices and increasing funding for safety measures.
Philadelphia – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has made a historic move by filing criminal charges against the School District of Philadelphia under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The charges stem from the district’s failure to properly inspect, remediate, and report damaged asbestos in school buildings in a timely manner. This filing took place in court on Thursday, June 26, 2025, marking the first time a school district in the U.S. has faced criminal charges for such violations.
As part of the legal proceedings, a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) has been established, allowing the School District of Philadelphia a five-year period to rectify the identified asbestos concerns while avoiding a grand jury indictment. This agreement outlines significant deficiencies across 31 school buildings from April 2015 to November 2023, particularly regarding the district’s failure to conduct timely required inspections for asbestos management.
The charges come after a comprehensive five-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division (EPA-CID). Under federal law, all school districts are mandated to ensure the safety of their facilities from airborne asbestos contamination, with legislation requiring inspections every three years and regular surveillance every six months.
Among the specific instances noted in the charges, the School District of Philadelphia did not execute timely three-year inspections at William Meredith Elementary and various other schools. Additionally, crucial six-month inspections at Building 21 Alternative High School were not carried out, raising significant concerns about the management of asbestos within these facilities. In some reported cases, improper management practices included the use of duct tape to cover damaged asbestos areas, necessitating school closures in more severe situations.
The DPA will subject the district’s corrective measures to federal court oversight for an estimated five years, ensuring compliance with legal safety requirements. If the district successfully addresses the shortcomings within the specified timeframe, the criminal charges could be dismissed. Conversely, failing to comply with the DPA could result in criminal sanctions against the district.
According to a spokesperson for the district, it is acknowledged that there were lapses in the management of asbestos inspections from 2015 to 2023, and the district has openly cooperated with federal investigators. Improvements have since been implemented, with current practices seeing inspections conducted biannually and significant increases in funding allocated to environmental management support.
The district’s annual budget for environmental management has seen a considerable rise, escalating from $10.2 million in the fiscal year 2021 to $55.7 million in the fiscal year 2025. This is indicative of the district’s commitment to enhancing safety standards in the management of asbestos in schools.
Notably, the School District of Philadelphia encompasses approximately 339 buildings, with nearly 300 of those structures containing asbestos. Asbestos is known to pose serious health risks, including the potential development of lung cancer and asbestosis, especially when fibers become airborne due to disturbances in their environment.
Before the DPA can become effective, it must receive approval from a judge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicated that this agreement signifies a considerable level of oversight regarding the district’s efforts to fulfill its legal obligations to ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff without risking their health.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Philadelphia School District Faces Federal Asbestos Investigation
Additional Resources
- Mesothelioma Guide: Philadelphia School District Under Investigation for Asbestos in Schools
- NBC Philadelphia: Philadelphia School District Charged Over Asbestos Report
- Fox29: Philadelphia School District Faces Criminal Charges Over Asbestos Management
- PhillyVoice: Philadelphia School District Asbestos Charges
- MSN: Philadelphia School District Would Avoid Prosecution for Asbestos Mismanagement
- Wikipedia: Asbestos
- Google Search: Philadelphia School District Asbestos Investigation
- Google Scholar: Philadelphia School District Asbestos
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Asbestos
- Google News: Philadelphia School District Asbestos Charges
