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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.

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In the wake of today's SCOTUS rulings, amidst the backdrop of state budget negotiations and Moms for Liberty convention, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA--"In two decisions this morning, SCOTUS continued to chisel away at the rights of our neighbors, our families, our students, our colleagues, and our loved ones. In a ruling favoring right-wing conservative Christian business owners, the court will now actively permit discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals. And in another gut-wrenching ruling, the Court ruled to completely

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Statement Summary

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. 

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Randi Weingarten at a Massachusetts high school

Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful.

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June 7, 2023

"What devastation. A deadly shooting at a Virginia high school graduation has torn families apart and traumatized countless individuals. I am so sorry for those whose lives were stolen, and for all impacted by this horror.

"To the entire Huguenot High School community, we send our deepest condolences.

"The ongoing scourge of gun violence across our nation is shameful, and we demand real, sustainable action to save lives."

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