PHILADELPHIA (March 13, 2026) – Following is a statement from Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT Local 3) President Arthur G. Steinberg on the School District of Philadelphia's announcement of school-based staffing cuts to address a long-predicted structural deficit:
“Over the past month I’ve met with PFT and community members in schools across the City targeted for closure, and there is across-the-board fatigue with perpetual cycles of austerity being inflicted on Philadelphia public schools. Educators and students are sick of being told there’s not enough money to fill staffing positions and properly resource classrooms.
“The School District has one job, which is to provide safe, healthy, and productive learning environments for students. Chaos and unpredictability caused by failing to fill building positions or eliminating them entirely only frays the relationship between students and staff with their schools. Eliminating positions that directly impact student learning will only slow the academic progress the District touts, create overcrowded classrooms, and burden other educators forced to cover assignments at the expense of their own preparation time.
“Philly public school students deserve more of everything that all students need to learn and thrive – NOT less. Over the coming days, we at the PFT will be analyzing the District’s staffing reductions for impact on our members’ working conditions and students’ learning conditions. Based on our track record of offering real solutions to the educator staffing crisis – from Pathways to Teaching to the Special Education Teacher Certification Assistance Program – we expect to propose alternatives to the unimaginative administrative go-to of cuts to school programming and services.”
