In July 2025, the School District of Philadelphia became the first school district in the country to face criminal charges for failing to protect students and staff from exposure to asbestos. This mineral can cause serious illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Although the district has 339 school buildings, nearly 300 buildings are known to contain asbestos, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The school district has been accused of violating the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) by failing to inspect, report, and address damaged asbestos in at least 31 schools from June 2018 to April 2023.
This landmark case is a major step forward in holding institutions accountable for asbestos violations and serves as a wake-up call for school districts across the United States.
At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma law firm has helped thousands of families get justice for asbestos-related diseases. See if we may be able to fight for you.
Asbestos in Philadelphia Schools
For most of the 20th century, asbestos-containing products were commonly used to build schools in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S. When the dangers became known in the 1980s, many institutions took steps to remove the hazardous materials.
Coming in contact with asbestos fibers may cause serious illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer 20 to 50 years after exposure. Despite this, nearly 90% of Philadelphia public school buildings still contain asbestos.
A 5-year investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division found that the Philadelphia School District repeatedly violated federal asbestos safety laws, allowing damaged asbestos to remain in occupied school buildings.
"The statement of facts demonstrates a longstanding and widespread problem of asbestos contamination in Philadelphia schools that endangered students and teachers, and, in some cases, foreclosed any education at all by requiring the closure of the school."
– U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In recent years, several Philadelphia schools were forced to close after asbestos was detected in classrooms and hallways. Some students had to switch schools mid-year, disrupting their education and raising concerns about health risks.
Under a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA), the government may drop the criminal charges if the district complies with federal asbestos management law. However, the agreement still requires approval from a judge.
Criminal Violations for Asbestos in Philly Schools
The U.S. Department of Justice charged the Philadelphia School District with 8 criminal counts under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).
The federal law requires public schools to take steps to identify and manage asbestos hazards in their buildings.
Criminal charges filed against the school district include failure to:
- Inspect for asbestos every 3 years
- Monitor known asbestos hazards every 6 months
Federal prosecutors claim that the district repeatedly failed to meet these legal obligations, allowing asbestos to remain in school buildings, potentially exposing students, teachers, and support staff.
Philadelphia Schools with Asbestos
The criminal charges against the School District of Philadelphia involve 7 schools across the city. In total, the DPA identified at least 31 Philadelphia school buildings with known asbestos problems.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it's damaged or disturbed, allowing fibers to be released into the air. This can happen gradually through wear and tear or more suddenly when asbestos-containing materials are handled, cut, or drilled.
Some of the schools in Philadelphia with asbestos include:
- Building 21 Alternative High School
- Charles W. Henry Elementary
- Frankford High School
- S. Weir Mitchell Elementary
- Southwark Elementary
- Universal Vare Charter School
- William Meredith Elementary
At Larnell Carnell Elementary School, asbestos was so poorly handled that duct tape was used as a stopgap measure instead of proper remediation.
Missed or delayed inspections may have allowed damaged asbestos-containing products to remain in schools, violating critical safety standards designed to protect public health.
A Warning for Asbestos in Schools Nationwide
Many U.S. public schools were built before the 1980s, when asbestos was widely used in insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, and more. Today, thousands of schools may still contain asbestos products that are deteriorating due to age and wear.
The recent charges in Philadelphia have set a powerful example — school districts can now face criminal penalties for failing to address and properly manage asbestos hazards.
To avoid indictment by a grand jury, the Philadelphia School District has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the federal government.
Under the DPA, the district must:
- Conduct biannual asbestos inspections of all school buildings
- Promptly repair and report any asbestos-related issues
- Submit detailed compliance reports every 6 months
- Comply with 5 years of federal oversight
Failure to follow the DPA’s terms could bring criminal charges back into play, potentially leading to prosecution and additional penalties for the district.
Despite this being the first time a school district in the U.S. has been criminally charged for asbestos-related violations, it may not be the last. As aging infrastructure continues to put students and staff at risk, other districts may soon come under similar scrutiny.
Asbestos Exposure in Schools
Asbestos exposure in schools is a growing public health concern, and those affected may not realize the harm until years or even decades later. It can take 20 to 50 years after exposure for asbestos-related diseases to develop.
Unfortunately, teachers, staff, and former students exposed decades ago may only now be getting sick, while today’s students could face serious health consequences years in the future.
Even short-term exposure in a school can increase the risk of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer.
In 2020, the district agreed to pay an $850,000 mesothelioma settlement to Lea DiRusso, a 51-year-old teacher who was diagnosed with cancer after teaching in South Philadelphia schools for 28 years.
Due to the long delay between exposure and illness, being aware of potential asbestos exposure at job sites like schools can be important for protecting your legal rights, especially if you spent time in older school buildings.
Get Justice for Asbestos-Related Diseases
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may be eligible for financial compensation that can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and more.
At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma lawyers have recovered more than $5.3 Billion for victims of asbestos exposure nationwide.
There are no out-of-pocket costs to work with us, and we’ll come to you if you have a case. From there, we’ll work to prove how you were exposed and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to take the first step toward justice. Our firm is prepared to fight for you.
