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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON DISTRICT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO END PRACTICE OF LEVELING


April 16, 2024

Following Dr. Tony B. Watlington's announcement that the School District of Philadelphia will end its practice of leveling, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "The decision to eliminate leveling is a sound one and a very welcome one. It will allow both children and staff important stability at the start of the school year that will help set the trajectory for a strong year. Over the years, we have worked to mitigate the challenges set forth by the process of leveling. To know that the District recognizes and appreciates

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Meeting the Moment in State Budget 2024: Investing in Public Education and Rejecting Voucher Schemes in Pennsylvania

A coalition of labor and community organizations issued a Pro Public Education  document outlining the urgency of a full investment in public education-- both a moral imperative and now, an imperative codified by law in the landmark school funding case. Pennsylvania has long neglected its constitutional requirement to provide every child with a thorough and efficient system of public education, and the 2024 budget is the moment we have to get it right. 

This coalition came together to issue not only a strong pro-public education message but also to emphasize our collective repudiation of vouchers in any form. The document issued by the coalition includes a host of research on the unproven, harmful impacts of investing public dollars in private institution. Public education is a public good.

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PFT MEMBERS JOIN VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TO HIGHLIGHT BIDEN-HARRIS LOAN FORGIVENESS

Roundtable

April 8, 2024

PHILADELPHIA-- On Monday afternoon, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers were honored to join Vice President Kamala Harris for a roundtable discussion on the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to relieve student debt. In addition to $146 Billion in debt already forgiven, the Biden-Harris administration on Monday proposed additional changes that AFT President Randi Weingarten called "a lifechanging intervention."

Following a thrilling experience for Cramp Elementary students who greeted the Vice President upon her arrival in Philadelphia (and

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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON THE MURDER OF 16-YEAR-OLD SEMAJ FIELDS

Following the double shooting in East Germantown that claimed the life of 16-year-old Semaj Fields and injured another teen, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "I’m heartsick by the loss of Semaj Fields, a freshman at Ben Franklin High School, gunned down with his whole life ahead of him. My condolences are once again wholly insufficient in this time of profound loss. But for all who knew and loved Semaj, and for the entire Ben Franklin community, I offer my deepest sympathies.

"For the student injured in the same shooting, I share my thoughts and

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Legislative Updates: March 2024

As we gear up for the state budget, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following memos to elected officials:

March 14, 2024: Overall Legislative Priorities

March 18, 2024: Additional Voucher Information 

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PD Opportunity: Creating Safe Spaces

New professional development opportunity 4/10 & 4/17. Read on for more and to register.

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