August 15, 2023

Dear PFT Paraprofessionals,

Applications are now re-opened for the Paraprofessional Career Development program, and I am thrilled!

As you know, the PFT--in direct response to YOUR proposals and collaboration--worked to prioritize and WIN a terrific paraprofessional career development program in our contract. It is one of the top programs in the nation and offers NO COST tuition as a result of our negotiations. I urge you to read the profile of this great program right here, featuring PFT Staff Representative LeShawna Coleman and PFT Co-Building Representative Gemayel Keyes. I am SO proud to report that Gemayel is beginning his first full year as a classroom teacher after successfully completing the program last year. He will continue to do amazing work for the students at Spruance Elementary School, now as a special education teacher.

Take advantage of this wonderful program! All the details are below, including important information sessions. Using your PhilaSD email address, express your interest by filling out this form: https://tinyurl.com/ParaPathwayAugust2023

Additional documents and research:

6/21/23: Memo: Voucher opposition

6/21/23: Memo: Support for HB1408 (facilities funding)

6/23/23: Remarks at facilities press conference

6/26/23: Memo: Additional research on vouchers

6/27/23: Remarks at anti-voucher coalition press conference

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.

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 

Use this landing page to find the most up-to-date version of payscales. You can download the file right here. Should any edits be made, a new version of this file will be uploaded on this landing page.

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.