Philadelphia Federation of Teachers

PFT, PARTNERS JOIN PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION PRESS CONFERENCE

April 26, 2024

This afternoon, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan joined a coalition of elected, labor, and community partners for a pro-public education press conference. The event was co-hosted by Representatives Roni Green and Elizabeth Fiedler. In addition to the PFT, partners participating include the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, AFT Pennsylvania, 32BJ SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 634, POWER Interfaith, Make the Road PA, NAACP Pennsylvania, League of Women Voters, Education Voters of Pennsylvania, Working Families Party PA, and DSA. Additional elected partners also joined.

PFT President Jerry Jordan Testifies in Favor of "Dr. Constance E. Clayton Education Center"

April 25, 2024

At this evening's School Board meeting, PFT President Jerry Jordan was honored to deliver testimony in support of renaming District headquarters "Dr. Constance E. Clayton Education Center."

President Jordan's prepared testimony can be downloaded here.

PD Opportunity: Creating Safe Spaces

New PD Opportunity: Creating Safe Spaces for Connections and Uncomfortable Conversations

PFT President Jerry T. Jordan Joins Solar for Schools Coalition Event

April 18, 2024

This morning in City Council, Councilmembers Gilmore Richardson and Gauthier introduced a resolution in support of Representative Elizabeth Fiedler's Solar for Schools legislation.

PFT President Jerry Jordan's remarks are below and linked here.

Good Morning, and it is a good morning—when we have both our city and state leaders united in a cause that will better the future for all of us, and most importantly for our children.

I am going to be brief this morning, because no one should really need convincing that this program is a winning one.

Thank you, Representative Fiedler

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

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 institutions. Public education is a public good.