PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2025) – Leaders of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), School District of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Board of Education visited the state Capitol on Wednesday to fight for a strong budget package to address decades of systemic underfunding and to provide oversight and accountability of skyrocketing spending obligations on cyber charter schools.
PFT President Arthur G. Steinberg, Superintendent Dr. Tony B. Watlington, Sr., and Board of Education President Reginald L. Streater, Esq., met with Governor Josh Shapiro's administration and key lawmakers to press for funding and policies that would help the District maintain education services and programs ahead of a projected structural deficit next year.
“Though we may disagree at times, I know that Superintendent Watlington and Board President Streater want what our members want: appropriately staffed and resourced schools where children and communities thrive,” PFT President Steinberg, a special education teacher, said. “The members of the PFT strongly urge passage of the basic education and adequacy funding increases proposed by Governor Shapiro. We know these increases aren’t enough to get the District to true funding adequacy; we are unapologetically impatient when children’s futures are at stake. The increases proposed by the Governor must be the floor – not ceiling – of the General Assembly’s final funding package.”
Philadelphia has a $1.2 billion “adequacy gap” in state funding – the largest of the Pennsylvania school districts found to be inequitably and unconstitutionally underfunded in a 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling. While last year’s budget provided a significant funding increase in light of that ruling, appropriations for all “adequacy gap” districts fell short of recommendations by a commission established by the General Assembly.
Moreover, skyrocketing charter payment obligations – particularly for the fast-growing yet underregulated cyber charter sector – is eating into funding increases intended to address adequacy gaps, according to reporting by Spotlight PA. Philly education leaders urged the Senate to pass House Bill 1500, which would reform the payment formula for cyber charter schools and is projected to save the District $50 million annually.
PFT members and families – including students enrolled in Philly public schools – also met with key legislative leaders to describe how a perpetual lack of resources and staff vacancies made learning unduly challenging, particularly in high-poverty communities.
Kate Sundeen, a teacher and academic coach at Academy at Palumbo in South Philadelphia, described how students at her magnet school manage to soar despite learning in conditions that would be considered unacceptable just a few miles away, outside of city limits.
“This year, Academy at Palumbo had three Gates Millennium scholars, six QuestBridge scholars, and acceptance to some of the best schools in the country, including 18 Penn acceptances and a Harvard acceptance. Our Science Olympiad team went to states, as did our track team, who also went to nationals. My own debaters placed 12th in a national tournament – one of three national tournaments they qualified to this year,” Sundeen said. “Palumbo is not alone in how amazing our students are. Schools all across our city can catalogue for you alumni that have gone on to do amazing things, all despite going to school in crumbling, understaffed, and under-resourced buildings. Can you even imagine how much higher our students could soar if they had the resources they need?”
Joining PFT members for a rally to urge swift passage of a budget that includes strong support for public education were legislators including: House Speaker Joanna McClinton; Philadelphia House Delegation Chair Morgan Cephas; Philly-area Reps. Anthony Bellmon, Danilo Burgos, Andre Carroll, Sean Dougherty, Elizabeth Fiedler, Roni Green, Joe Hohenstein, Mary Isaacson (prime sponsor of HB 1500), Malcolm Kenyatta, Tarik Khan, and Rick Krajewski; Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes; and Philly-area Sens. Nikil Saval, Sharif Street, and Anthony Williams. Legislators from across the state, including Reps. Jim Haddock (D-Lackawanna), John Inglis (D-Allegheny), and Nikki Rivera (D-Lancaster) stood with Philly educators in support of fair and equitable funding for all Pennsylvania public schools.
“Last year we made a down payment on fairly funding our schools and outlined our plan to ensure every kid has the tools they need to succeed. Now is not the time to back off on our commitment,” Speaker McClinton said. “Our schools are preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs, civic leaders and scientists, and where a kid is born shouldn’t determine the learning opportunities they receive.”
“Philadelphia’s public schools are resilient. The brilliance of our students, the talent and dedication of our teachers, and the extraordinary care of school staff ensure that children continue to receive not only a quality education but also a deep level of support and love in schools across the district,” said Sen. Saval, also a Philadelphia public school parent. “But resilience should not be a requirement for survival. To fully realize a quality education where everyone can learn and work in a safe, supportive environment, our schools need increased, sustained, and equitable funding— across Philadelphia, across the Commonwealth, and across this country. Let’s get it done.”
The rally and press conference is available on the PA House YouTube channel.
