Press

AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch released the following statement about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to hear the school funding equity case. In a news release, Kirsch called it a win for students, parents and the commonwealth. A Commonwealth Court had rejected the case by six school districts, parents and organizations. Read Ted's comments.

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A mid-state senator plans to push a bill authorizing education savings accounts, which are the latest iteration of school tuition vouchers. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released a statement opposing this failed privatization strategy.  “Let’s not waste time going down this road again – when 20-years of research has shown privatization schemes such as these fail to raise student achievement," Kirsch said. "All students and communities deserve good, neighborhood public schools with the resources to address children’s needs. That’s where we should focus our attention and invest our tax dollars.”

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AFT released a new survey of parents that shows that parents want politicians to support neighborhood public schools. Ted Kirsch released the following statement about the study.

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Ted Kirsch says the governor's fuzzy pension math hurts retirees, employees and taxpayers after the Keystone Research Center releases two pension White Papers showing that Gov. Corbett's proposals would dramatically reduce benefits for retirees, while increasing the cost to taxpayers  significantly. 

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June 1, 2023 PHILADELPHIA--"The strategic plan is rooted in an important vision for our District, and rooted in a set of core values that are reflective of a collective vision for a more equitable and just District. The recent landmark school funding decision effectively proved what we've known for decades: there is an inherent injustice in how education is currently funded in this Commonwealth. And in our District, where the students we educate are primarily Black and brown and experiencing poverty, the impact of this inequitable system has been catastrophic. "The strategic plan set forth by Superintendent Watlington and his team, in consultation with stakeholders, lays out what can be accomplished when we look at what is possible and what resources our students need to learn and thrive.  MORE

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May 17, 2023 PHILADELPHIA--"I offer my sincere congratulations to Cherelle Parker on her victory in the Democratic primary election for Mayor. The first female Mayor in our city's history will be an important role model for our youth--especially young Black girls who see themselves reflected in the highest officeholder in our beautiful city. MORE

4-22-2023

PHILADELPHIA--"Time and again, we see the very real consequences of a failure to invest in our young people and their right to a thorough and efficient system of public education. The ongoing facilities crisis, which would never be tolerated in a wealthier, whiter school district, is a searing example of the impact of decades of disinvestment. 

"The closure of CW Henry-- the fourth District school to close due to damaged asbestos in just the past two months--is upsetting, disturbing, and emblematic of the urgent need to resolve this facilities crisis. 

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April 14, 2023 In response to the ongoing school facilities crisis and recent asbestos-related closures, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: PHILADELPHIA--"The seriousness of the ongoing facilities crisis and its impact on our students and staff cannot be overstated. This year, in the span of just a few weeks, three schools have been shuttered due to damaged asbestos. These discoveries are particularly glaring because they come in the wake of incorrect assessments from over two decades ago. "Immediately before the pandemic, more than ten schools were closed in a single school year due to damaged asbestos. In fact, during that time, the District's previous leadership was so recalcitrant that it was only due to our collective advocacy that we were even able to ensure that students and staff were relocated in the events of these emergent situations. MORE