Budget & Finance
The new contract provides raises for teachers but relies on state funding increases that may not materialize. The board also approved short-term borrowing amid budget uncertainty.
From SEPTA cuts to school vouchers, here’s what we’re keeping our eyes on this year.
If the transit system does not get more funding by Aug. 14, officials say cutting service at the beginning of the school year is unavoidable.
The state says it is experiencing ‘technical difficulties’ distributing the funds but that families should receive the food benefit by mid-August.
Education leaders learned of the freeze Monday, hours before the money was due to be available.
The current state budget has left schools with a $4.5 billion ‘adequacy gap.’ City education leaders and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers want that to shrink.
The newly approved city budget represents a missed opportunity to significantly increase funding for public schools, education advocates say.
Money that was supposed to go to vendors for flood damage repair and services for students with disabilities was instead diverted to “malicious actors” bank accounts, according to the City Controller.
State Rep. Martina White said this week that ‘systemic abuse’ and other misconduct has hurt students in the city.
This summer, students will be able to learn to weld, launch a small business, play in a drumline or orchestra, or brush up on their academics.
Philadelphia’s school district budget relies on more than $190 million in federal money from the Title I funding formula alone.
Superintendent Tony Watlington said the district will be ‘fine’ in the short term but stressed that the school district needs more financial support from state and local officials.
Community College of Philadelphia faculty and staff say the city’s largest public institution of higher education has not met their demands for higher wages and other issues.
Cherelle Parker also wants to expand the number of schools participating in “extended-day, extended year” programming.
The governor’s budget would give more to special education, free school meals, and more. But notably, it doesn’t fund private school vouchers.
The Pennsylvania legislature gave the state’s poorest schools an extra $500 million last year. Now lawmakers are debating what comes next.
The Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition cited data that just 1 in 3 state students can read proficiently by fourth grade.
The additional revenue over 5 years announced by Mayor Cherelle Parker will help pay for Parent University and extended-day pilot programs.
The Pennsylvania governor could join the Democratic presidential ticket, yet his embrace of vouchers is out of step with many in his party.
Philadelphia schools will get a $232 million increase, but the state opted not to codify a plan to close funding gaps between low-income and wealthy districts.