THE ANNOUNCEMENT that the School District of Philadelphia will close additional schools because of budget shortfalls is devastating, but sadly not surprising.
For years, many Philadelphia parents have watched neighborhood schools struggle with declining enrollment, financial strain, safety concerns, and disappointing academic outcomes. Now, families are told their children must move again, often with little say in where they go.
We can — and must — do better.
When schools close, students who have already faced instability pay the highest price. Parents scramble to rearrange transportation and childcare. Children lose trusted teachers and friendships. Communities lose institutions that once anchored them. Families deserve more than reassignment letters and uncertainty. They deserve meaningful options. … Read More Here
