Philadelphia leaders say they are planning a “significant” announcement on school funding as the School District of Philadelphia faces a $300 million budget gap.
An announcement initially scheduled for Thursday afternoon was canceled shortly before the press conference was set to begin. Officials did not share a new date for the announcement.
The district last week shared plans to cover that gap, including stopping hiring for some unfilled positions, reducing contracts and eliminating some substitute positions.Â
A news release said Thursday’s announcement was about “funding aimed at protecting critical staff and supporting more than 198,000 public school students across Philadelphia.”
The deficit is due to flat public funding and the loss of federal COVID relief dollars, Superintendent Tony Watlington said in a letter to the school community last week.
The budget cuts announced this week were intended to eliminate the district’s deficit by the 2029-30 school year. About $225 million in cuts would come in the 2026-27 school year while preventing layoffs.
The district also announced its facilities master plan earlier this year, an initial version of which planned to close 20 schools. A revised version of the plan would close 18 schools.
Education leaders have faced heavy criticism in public meetings over the plan. Last week, students implored officials at a Board of Education meeting to keep their buildings open. Â
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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