Philadelphia's £2.3B School Closure Plan Sparks Outrage Over Racial Equity
Philadelphia School District officials have defended a controversial plan to close 20 schools by 2027. The proposal, costing an estimated £2.3 billion, aims to address underused buildings and funding shortages. Critics, however, argue the move will disproportionately affect Black students and communities still recovering from mass closures a decade ago.
District leaders presented the plan at a City Council meeting, citing the need to reallocate resources for better academic outcomes. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington stated the closures would help sustain improvements and speed up access to high-quality education. Yet many buildings, averaging 73 years old, remain underutilised as over a third of families now choose charter schools.
The proposal has faced strong opposition. LeShawna Coleman, chief of staff for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, argued that schools require investment, not shutdowns. Erica Green, principal of Conwell Middle Magnet School, warned that closing her school would erase a legacy still vital to the community. Reginald L. Streater, president of the Board of Education, blamed the crisis on years of underfunding.
Critics also highlight the plan's potential impact on minority students. In 2012, 27 public schools closed, displacing 19,000 pupils—mostly Black and low-income. The fallout included longer commutes, higher dropout rates, and increased violence in receiving schools. Council members now question whether history could repeat itself, with concerns over transportation, state funding gaps, and the lack of transparency in decision-making.
The district insists the closures will improve education by redirecting funds. But with £2.3 billion needed and philanthropy playing a key role, the plan's success depends on securing stable funding. If approved, the first schools would shut in the 2027-28 academic year, leaving families and educators to navigate the changes ahead.
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