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Dear School District of Philadelphia Community,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! We at the School District have worked hard this summer to prepare to welcome your children back to school. This school year will be defined by new and better initiatives, tools, and resources designed to support schools and families. Here’s some of what you can look forward to this year.
- A Parent Engagement App to make it easier for families to receive information, communicate with schools, and stay connected to their child’s education.
- A Parent Ambassador Program to empower members of schools communities that have established relationships with families to build parent/guardian networks across communities and spread the work about District resources and priorities.
- Expanded Parent & Family University that offers additional workshops, resources, and learning opportunities that help families support student achievement, well-being, and postsecondary success.
More information about these and other new tools and initiatives will be shared throughout this year.
Finally, a couple important reminders as you prepare for the new school year:
- The Find Your Fit School Selection process opens on September 8, 2026 at 4:00pm. Please make sure you are familiar with the process updates for this year, as well as the Find Your Fit website.
- As you consider school selection, remember to check out the Partnerships Dashboard, where you can see the vast network of District partners and research schools based on the programs and opportunities available to students.
- SEPTA is updating its Bus Network, by adding two new routes, extending six, and eliminating seven. I strongly encourage all families to review the changes on SEPTA’s website to determine how or if these updates affect your commute, and make a plan accordingly. Students will not be penalized for lateness due to SEPTA challenges beyond their control.
As we ring the bell on this year, I want to express my gratitude to our fantastic School District of Philadelphia employees – school leaders, teachers, central office and support staff for their hard, strategic, joyful, and ambitious effort make this school year the best, most impactful year yet at the School District of Philadelphia. Keep an eye on our social media today to see the joy on the faces of students and families. Let’s keep the momentum going all year long as we continue on our journey to become the fastest-improving large urban school district in the nation.
In partnership,
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia