Philadelphia’s School Funding Crisis: Progress and Challenges Ahead
Crumbling infrastructure, scarce resources, and teacher shortages plague Philadelphia public schools due to insufficient funding
BRIANNA PAULINO
South Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wikimedia Commons 2010
Systemic underfunding is a major problem affecting students in the Philadelphia school system. Philadelphia’s political leaders recognize this funding issue and, since 2024, have been actively working to reduce it. Despite recent efforts, significant remaining obstacles need acknowledgment to improve the learning environments for the children of Philadelphia.
Persistent Challenges Within Philadelphia Schools
Philadelphia is home to some of the oldest schools in the nation, with the average age of a school being around 75 years and the oldest being around 120 years old. The outdated infrastructure of Philadelphia schools has posed significant challenges and safety issues for the students, teachers, and staff. Senator Vincent Hughes of the Pennsylvania State Senate, has stated that at times, many schools have had to dismiss students early or close schools completely due to the temperature of the buildings during the warmer seasons. Problems like roof leaks, contamination, and mold additionally hinder student learning. School funding initiatives are crucial for ensuring safe and effective learning environments. Senator Vincent Hughs, for instance, announced $16.77 million in October 2024 for infrastructure projects, including window and door replacements at Blaine Elementary and roof repairs at Overbrook High.
Not only is infrastructure a concern that focuses on the historical and present challenges of Philadelphia students but the inequitable funding structure as well. For decades, Pennsylvania’s school funding has relied heavily on property taxes. However, the issue stems from the fact that there are wide disparities between the taxes from wealthy and low-income communities. Funding distribution creates educational inequality as disadvantaged low-income students in low-property-value areas have fewer funds and resources. The funding gap in Philadelphia is concerningly high. According to Mayor Parker, the funding gap is around $1.4 billion. This prominent gap has encouraged Philadelphia community members, politicians and community members, to fight to ensure that the funding, equitably allocated resources, and proper infrastructure become a reality for students and staff of Philadelphia schools.
Recent Legislative and Financial Developments
A Commonwealth Court ruling on February 7, 2023, declared Pennsylvania’s school funding unconstitutional, citing years of legislative outreach about inequities first exposed in a 2014 lawsuit. Due to Pennsylvania’s failure to provide all students with a fair and accessible education, Judge Jubelirer ruled that the Commonwealth violated the Education Clause, citing the Constitution’s equal protection clause and the educational disparities between affluent and low-income districts. The judge made this decision after months of hearing witnesses, including parents, teachers, staff, students, and local politicians. This decision mandated increased action from Pennsylvania’s government branches to better the lives of Pennsylvania’s youth, especially those in Philadelphia.
In 2024 alone, there have been recent actions to assist the Philadelphia public school district by Pennsylvania political leaders. Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law an additional $1.1 billion increase for Pennsylvania general education funding for the 2024-2025 school year in July 2024. For Philadelphia schools, they received an additional $232 million more. Along with the budget initiative, Governor Shapiro has also proposed $300 million for environmental repairs for school infrastructures, a $50 million increase in special education funding, and $15 million in student-teacher stipends to address the recent teacher shortage, as examples of what these funds can be implemented into. Yet, education experts believe this is merely the initial phase. Writers of Chalkbeat Philadelphia report that the budget doesn’t include the seven-year timeline that Philadelphia school leaders and educators say is needed to address the funding gap, nor does it reform how cyber charter schools are funded.
The Present and Looking Towards The Future
Philadelphia’s public schools have seen positive changes thanks to new initiatives funded recently. For starters, the Philadelphia school district approved and implemented a new and research-approved Language Arts curriculum. Other initiatives are being pushed, such as more mental health resources and support for high school students to pursue dual enrollment programs to advance in their education journey.
However, as mentioned previously, the increase in funding is only the beginning for Philadelphia students. There is more that needs to be done to address the funding gap between low-income and wealthy school districts. As suggested by educational experts in the Chalkbeat Philadelphia, government officials must address the under-regulation of cyber charter school funding since it diverts resources from public schools, create a detailed plan to drastically decrease the gap, and implement direct funds to improve programs that help hire well-certified teachers. Achieving true educational equity will require sustained commitment from state leaders, local officials, and the community.
Saphron Initiative staff and guest contributors often express their views in pieces on Edisco. These pieces do not constitute an organizational endorsement of the viewpoints within. Our goal is to encourage and uplift student voices and we respect diverse opinions. We encourage all readers to conduct further research and develop informed opinions on the issues discussed.
