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Dear School District of Philadelphia community,
The School District of Philadelphia is making significant progress under its strategic plan – Accelerate Philly. Over the past nearly 4 years, the School District of Philadelphia has made significant improvement in state assessments and in 10 of our 12 strategic plan goals. In addition, student attendance has increased, teacher attendance has increased, test scores have increased for students in grades 3-8, the four-year graduation rate has increased, and dropout rates have decreased. And our current credit rating is the best it’s ever been in the history of the District. This progress reflects the District’s commitment to responsible financial stewardship and sound fiscal management.
Despite this progress, we are still facing budget challenges, including a $300 million structural deficit that is a result of historic underfunding and the loss of Federal COVID funds. In an effort to eliminate the deficit by school year 2029-2030, the District will cut $225 million in operating costs in school year 2026-2027, while preventing any teacher layoffs and budget or position cuts to the 18 schools recommended for closure. This will be achieved in the following ways:
Central Office Cuts:
- Freeze central office vacancies, cut approximately 130 vacant central office positions, and reduce additional central office costs ($30 million savings).
- Reduce contracts and low return-on-investment programs ($36 million savings).
- Implement budget efficiencies ($103 million savings).
School-Based Cuts:
- Eliminate approximately 220 building substitute positions ($13 million savings).
- Reassign approximately 340 school-based positions with all impacted employees moved into other vacant positions, in accordance with collective bargaining agreements ($43 million savings).
Navigating a budget deficit is difficult, and requires tough decisions. This kind of challenge is not exclusive to Philadelphia – there are public school districts across the country having similar experiences. But I can promise you that the School District of Philadelphia has prioritized protecting schools and classrooms – our units of change – as well as the number one and number two levers for accelerating student achievement and growth: highly qualified, well supported, and stable teachers and principals over time.
I can also promise you that we will get through this together. I will keep you updated as the budget development process continues. Thank you for your hard and strategic work to prepare all students to imagine and realize any future they desire!
In partnership,
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia