PHILADELPHIA (July 12, 2024) -- Following is a statement from Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur Steinberg on the approval late Thursday night of the FY 2024-2025 state budget: “While the final budget package falls short of transformational reform of Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional and inequitable system of funding public education, we are relieved to see a strong one-year increase for the School District of Philadelphia. Real progress has been made in Harrisburg since the prior decade’s perpetual disinvestment of low-wealth districts which forced towns and counties to continuously raise property taxes and fees to fill funding gaps. “The additional resources for schools in this year’s budget must be put directly into Philadelphia classrooms in order to remedy a crisis-level shortage of teachers, specialists, and support staff. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is looking forward to entering into contract negotiations this summer with a District administration on strong financial footing. “This coming school year’s funding boost is reality because of the relentless advocacy of our members – in coalition with public educators and families across PA – along with the leadership of House Speaker Joanna McClinton and her team, Philadelphia Delegation Chair Rep. Morgan Cephas, and Senate Democrats. Despite the laudable efforts of public education supporters in both chambers, the final funding package is significantly short of what the House approved last month and lacks a multi-year plan to address adequacy, guaranteeing that our most vulnerable children will be used as bargaining chips in every subsequent budget season unless there is a change in Senate leadership. “While public education advocacy successfully blocked one billionaire’s pursuit of private school vouchers in this year’s budget – sorry, Jay-Z – we’re disappointed by other costly giveaways to wealthy donors in this budget. Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvania's wealthiest individual and documented tax-dodger, must be pleased by legislators who ensured the public cost of private school tax credits continues to creep toward $1 billion. The wild west of underregulated cyber charters also went untouched, despite a strong effort by Democrats to reign in unaccounted-for spending. The PFT maintains that public funds rightfully belong to public schools and services.” |
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