Overview
- The Philadelphia Board of Education, which voted Thursday on a preliminary $4.6 billion plan, advanced sweeping reductions to close a $300 million structural deficit.
- The plan cuts about 220 building substitute jobs and reassigns roughly 340 school roles, with $56 million trimmed from classrooms that will raise some class sizes and eliminate 340 teachers, counselors, and climate staff.
- Central operations face $169 million in reductions that include 130 vacant positions and $36 million pulled from programs officials say show low returns for students.
- With council support uncertain for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $1-per-ride Uber and Lyft fee, the district is telling schools to budget without that revenue, though leaders say some positions could be restored in June if it passes.
- The budget now goes to City Council and public hearings in April before a final board vote in late May, and leaders outline a multi-year path to erase the deficit by 2029–30.