PHILADELPHIA (May 29, 2025) – Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Arthur G. Steinberg on Thursday issued the following statement on the Philadelphia Board of Education’s vote to approve a new charter school, following a 7-year unofficial moratorium on charter expansion in Philly:
“I am outraged by the Board of Education’s irresponsible decision today to approve a new charter school. At a time when the School District of Philadelphia continues to beg for adequate funding, as well as badly overdue state legislative reforms for cyber and charter schools, today’s vote was a betrayal of the majority of Philadelphia students who attend district schools.
“The District currently is forced to spend $1.5 billion, or nearly 35% of its operating budget, on unaccountable charter schools including ones infamous for mismanagement, dysfunction, and mistreatment of students. Not only is charter payment reform still badly needed, the District is in a court battle to recoup $30 million owed by another charter operator. It is irresponsible and outrageous that this Board would even contemplate authorizing any new charter.
“Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington told the Board today – and not for the first time – that the No. 2 driver of spending by the District is payment obligations to privately run, publicly unaccountable charter schools. He also reminded the Board that the District was forced to dig deep into its reserves in order to stave off program and staff cuts next school year. It is well established that if the funding outlook for the School District of Philadelphia doesn’t meaningfully improve – and the Trump Administration’s war on public education makes that unlikely – the District will be forced to slash programs and lay off teachers in the next couple of years.
“When every dollar that goes to District schools is precious, it is irresponsible to gamble house money on big promises at the expense of urgent and immediate needs. Moreover, the charter application approved today duplicates programs that already exist in the District. Parkway Center City Middle College is well-regarded, well-attended, and more deserving of public resources than a privately run school that exists only on paper.
“The 14,000 members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers are closing out another school year having given their all to students despite too few resources and support. As the District scrambles this summer to recruit teachers and fill positions amid a nationwide educator shortage, it is my deep fear that the infamy of today’s decision by the Board will have consequences for Philadelphia public education for years to come.”
