Student academic achievement is improving faster than state averages and Philadelphia’s graduation rate is the highest it’s been in more than a decade. From increased student enrollment and attendance to improved school climates, students, families, and community members feel the momentum and see the progress that Philadelphia’s public schools are making.

These improvements, along with strong fiscal management and help from our funders, will make it possible for Philadelphia’s public schools to accelerate progress under local control and reach more students and more schools. Continued investment will allow us to expand our early literacy work, make significant capital improvements, increase high school academic programs offerings across the city, and keep schools safe and welcoming places for children.

Under Mayor Kenney’s proposed funding plan, there are opportunities to:

• Eliminate of all 1st / 2nd grade split classrooms, resulting in reduced class size
• Expand our early literacy effort to 4th and 5th grade
• Modernize over 150 classrooms in 11 schools with new furniture, lighting and design to support literacy
• Increase supports for credit recovery and grade enhancement for high school students
• Increase financial support for our lowest performing schools
• Add 30 ESOL teachers to support ELL students
• Add 10 special education emotional support programs and 7 vocational special education teachers
• Provide arts / music funds to increase the number of music teachers and fund art and music supplies