Philadelphia, PA (August 13, 2013) – With just 4 days remaining until the deadline for the City of Philadelphia to provide funding to ensure public schools open on-time, seven of the city’s leading non-profit and education policy organizations are calling on Council President Darrell Clarke and members of Council to pass the ordinances necessary to release $50 million to the Philadelphia School District by the end of the week and to enable the sales tax extension that will provide recurring revenue to the School District in years to come.
“We know Council didn’t create this problem, but right now, whether they like it or not it’s up to Council to fix it,” said Donna Cooper, Executive Director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY).
PCCY, The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, The Philadelphia Education Fund, Education Voters of Pennsylvania, The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, The Education Law Center, and The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia all signed on to a letter addressed to Council.
The letter reads, “We thank Council for everything that has been done over the last two years to provide needed funding for the schools and pledge to work with you to advance proposals for permanent, new state funding for the district.” We urge you in the strongest possible terms to provide the assurances required by the district that will enable the schools to open on time.”
Philadelphia School District Superintendent Dr. William Hite said indicated on August 8, that without at least $50 million in additional funding, he may not be able to open all the schools, or only open schools for half days.
The signatories have pledged to work with Council to advance proposals that will increase state funding and thanked Council for increasing the level of local funding for the School District.
“The state budget underfunded schools once again this year” said Sharon Ward, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, “that’s a problem that needs to be solved by the Legislature and we will push them to do so.”
A copy of the letter can be viewed at:
https://www.childrenfirstpa.org/userfiles/file/PressReleases/LetterToCouncilOnSchools.pdf