August 3, 2023

On the finalized Pennsylvania budget, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

“We are pleased that the budget is now law and includes additional funding for public education. The misguided push to divert public dollars into private institutions was a distraction that diverts us from our collective responsibility to truly invest in public education. Now the real work begins to once and for all implement a system of school funding that not only meets our moral obligation but also meets the constitutional obligation as set forth in the February court case ruling. It is well past time for Philadelphia’s children to have the resources that students In wealthier, whiter school districts have.

Payscales 2023-2024 

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July 5, 2023

PHILADELPHIA--"Our position has been clear from the start of budget negotiations: the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers remains unequivocally opposed to voucher expansion in any form. We have never wavered in this opposition because we know the truth about vouchers: they do not work and they siphon money from public education. 

"As such, we are pleased that Governor Shapiro has promised a line-item veto of a deleterious voucher program that would undeniably harm public education. Further, we commend Democrats in both the House and Senate -- both Democratic leadership and Democratic rank and file members-- for holding the line throughout negotiations. Particularly in these last several days, House Democratic leadership has been instrumental in ensuring that a final budget package contains no voucher provisions. 

June 29, 2023

In the wake of the SCOTUS ruling deeming affirmative action unconstitutional, and amidst the backdrop of state budget negotiations and decades-long underfunding of public schools, and this weekend's Moms for Liberty summit in Philadelphia, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA--"I was profoundly struck by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's stirring dissent in today's SCOTUS decision (which reversed years of precedent and a modicum of progress towards racial justice), in which she wrote in part, 'With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces "colorblindness for all" by legal fiat. But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.'

"This deeply disturbing ruling upends decades of precedent that has moved us towards racial justice--a precedent that helped level the playing field ever so slightly for Black and Latino students, that moved us towards a more equitable society. A precedent that came nowhere near true equity in our society, but a precedent that nonetheless was a major stepping stone in our ongoing quest for justice. 

The AFT has always been a solutions-driven union, and our new campaign, launched during TEACH on July 21, proves it once again with a fresh, practical approach to strengthening public education. As AFT President Randi Weingarten pointed out during her keynote speech, the $5 million, yearlong campaign, “Real Solutions for Kids and Communities,” stands up against attacks on public schools and offers real-world solutions to build up, rather than break down, our communities.

June 30, 2023

Following the House Rules Committee unequivocal rejection of the voucher scheme, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA--"This afternoon, the Pennsylvania House Rules Committee led with courage and conviction and unequivocally rejected a detrimental voucher scheme that has no place in our great commonwealth. I thank each Democratic member of the committee and Democratic leadership team who took a strong stand in defense of one of the bedrocks of our society: public education.