Philly school board president says DOJ asbestos agreement delayed; board passes $4.6 billion spending plan; Philly is getting a new charter school

Philadelphia is getting its first new charter in nearly a decade — a major milestone for a district that has not granted a new charter since the days of the state-run School Reform Commission.

Early College Charter School of Philadelphia will give about 800 sixth through 12 graders early college and career exposure and either college courses or industry certifications. It will open in 2026 in Center City, but recruit students from underserved neighborhoods.

The school board voted 8-1 to approve the application Thursday. It was the second try for the school, whose application got voted down in February over concerns about finances, student interest and academics.

There's a motion on the floor to approve Early College Charter High School.

Board president Reginald Streater said he has "serious and legitimate concerns" about Early College Charter High School. The school is making lofty promises. He questions whether the level of public engagement and support "is strong enough to justify creating a new school in a city of 1.6 million people." The law is vague around the bar for new charter applications.

Still, Streater said, the application is improved. An application based on the larger ecosystem will likely not stand up to state and court scrutiny — looks like he's leaning toward yes, but said he's still mulling. "Set a new bar for what a charter school can be and should be," Streater urges Early College coalition.

Heather McCullough, assistant principal of Webster Elementary, is talking about the need for the board to keep its undivided attention on public schools. Michelle Burns, principal of Randolph High, echoes the call.

Tangela McClam, principal of Bluford Elementary, is also speaking out for district schools and the need to support them.

Bahir Hayes, principal of Bryant Elementary, talks about his school's growth and positive culture. 

LeShawna Coleman, chief of staff of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, is speaking now.

Coleman is speaking on behalf of Arthur Steinberg, PFT president. "I strongly urge the board to deny the application of Early College High School," Coleman said.

"The School District of Philadelphia is still in no position to authorize new, privately operated and unaccountable charters that pull precious resources away from our struggling district schools," Coleman said.

Another parent reads testimony on behalf of LaTi Spence, a parent who couldn't make the meeting because of the time change. Spence asks the district to work with Lift Every Voice Philly on a wellness policy.

Jamila Carter was scheduled to speak; another parent from Lift Every Voice Philly is speaking in her place, asking for support for a wellness policy that addresses basic health, welfare, and joy.

The parent says her son has one narrow window to use the bathroom, and when he does, it often doesn't have soap or paper towels. The district needs a better wellness policy, with additional changes to its policy.

Robin Cooper, president of CASA, the district's principal union, come to the dais to huge applause. Lots of CASA folks are in the audience.

Cooper, quoting Scripture, suggests there was an effort afoot to keep CASA from organizing, to "favor some groups while marginalizing others."

Cooper warns "a knocking at the door that seems too good to be true," seemingly referencing the possibility of a new charter school that could leave the "carnage of the district."

Greg Thompson, a nonprofit executive director, "is so encouraged by this Early College model. The Early College model is inspiring, it's a pathway to success."

Someone is reading testimony of Angela Pardue, a parent who couldn't make the meeting: Many families can't afford or can't get into the best district or private schools. Pardue was a young mom, and unable to finish college. A program like Early College would have helped her advance. Kids need "real opportunities for success," Pardue said. "Consider my families like mine that need these resources right now."

Anton Moore, CEO of Unity in the Community, a city nonprofit that works with youth and other Philadelphians: "I have seen firsthand what happens when young people believe they have no other options," Moore said. A high school diploma is not enough to have a secure future, but many families can't afford college. Calls Early College a "transformative opportunity for Philadelphia youth." Moore grew up in the Tasker projects, and his mom used a relative's address to get them into a different school because she felt their neighborhood school was too dangerous. Give kids more options.

Molly Schmader of the Early College application coalition is discussing how the team has boosted its recruitment and increased "intent to enroll" forms. It's also gotten increased community support — including from city unions.

Keshema Davidson, who would lead the Early College PHL team, highlights increased evidence around financing and community support. "We heard your feedback and I'm confident that we have addressed them respectfully and thoroughly," Davidson said.

Davidson, from Jamaica, came to the U.S. as a 10th grader, undocumented. She attended her neighborhood high school and was unable to go to Columbia University, as was her dream, so she attended community college. "Public education changed my life," Davidson said. Community college made her a path. She highlighted what she called a "stellar application."

Student Nii Tigah from Northeast High is speaking first — he's discussing teacher Keziah Ridgeway and how impactful she was. "She made me realize that I had a voice," Tigah said.

Tigah is headed to Swarthmore College, and Ridgeway helped him get there. "How she is treated is unfair," Tigah said, adding that the district should apologize to her.

The school district recently investigated Ridgeway for alleged antisemitism and violations of its social media policy. She was given a five-day unpaid suspension and reassigned from Northeast High.

Mariel Ziegler from the district's charter schools office is presenting the re-application of Early College High School of Philadelphia.

Early College Charter High School's initial application was denied, 6-3 on Feb. 27. This is a re-submission.

Early College proposes to open next fall at Broad and Pine in a former Peirce College building. It will target 17 underserved zip codes, and would serve about 800 students in grades 6-12 when at full capacity.

Board president Reginald Streater notes that charter school funding lags a year — cuts that hit the district one year, hit charters the next.

Councilmember Anthony Phillips is speaking now about Olney High School, whose fields are in tough shape. He thanks the district for the proposal and funding for a capital project to begin fixing the complex, but said more is needed. "This is important to Olney — we look forward to seeing this project come to fruition," Phillips said.

Shakeda Gaines, chief of staff for Councilmember Kendra Brooks and a former Home and School Council president, is speaking now for a "joy campaign" championed by Lift Every Voice Philly, a parent-led group that is working to add standards for kids' access to recess, food and water and bathroom breaks. Leaving kids without access to recess is "a failure of care that will negatively impact their academics," Gaines said.

Up now is Chief Operating Officer Oz Hill, talking about the district's capital budget and program.

New schools underway this year are Thomas Holme and AMY at James Martin, and modular classrooms at Lincoln High.

Major renovations are happening at Frankford High, Bache-Martin, Comly, William Dick, and Bethune.

CFO Mike Herbstman is explaining what the board will be voting on today. Between general fund, Intermediate Unit funds, and debt service funds, this is a $4.7 billion budget.

The district's budget is made up of 45% city funds, 54% state funds. Philadelphia is alone in Pennsylvania in that it cannot raise its own revenues. And, as Herbstman says, the district's fixed costs are outpacing city and state revenues, so deficit looms.

The budget for district-operated schools is up by 5%, as are borrowing costs and charter-school costs. The district must spend over $300 million in reserves to make ends meet — it will not cut programs or teachers, but only because it's dipping into its savings to do so. It won't be able to do that next year.

The board meeting began with a bombshell: no vote on an agreement to settle a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the Philadelphia School District's asbestos management practices, Board President Reginald Streater said.

"We were informed just before this meeting that the Department of Justice is not ready to proceed today and additional review may be required,” Streater said.

Board meetings always begin at 4 p.m.; Thursday’s meeting was abruptly moved to noon to handle the DOJ settlement, which is now apparently on pause. The investigation had been a secret prior to the board put agreement approval on its Thursday agenda. Streater withdrew that item.

Even absent the DOJ investigation, it would be a busy school board meeting day.

Front and center, the board is expected to pass a 2025-26 school year budget, a $4.6 billion spending plan that requires the district to spend a whopping $306 million in reserves to avoid classroom cuts and layoffs.

The board will also consider the re-submission of a new charter school application, Early College High School of Philadelphia.

Expect an eventful Philadelphia school board meeting Thursday.

Meetings typically begin at 4 p.m., but this month’s was moved up to noon with little public notice because of a “time-sensitive matter,” according to information shared with people who had signed up to speak at the session.

The school board will consider a resolution signing off on “a proposed agreement between The School District of Philadelphia and the United States Department of Justice with respect to an ongoing investigation of the district’s asbestos management practices,” according to a school board document.