[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6610669,"mediaKeyId","2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1","parentId",2902097,"title","Students and educators cite staffing shortages, inequities and faulty school buildings as barriers to restoring joy in Philadelphia schools","audioSeconds",1095,"startMs",6425000,"endMs",7520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1&start=6425&end=7520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1/thumbnail_6425000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610669/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Students-and-educators-cite-staffing-shortages-inequities-and-faulty-school-buildings-as-barriers-to-restoring-joy-in-Philadelphia-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610669-be1c4af3530e5a32a5ae78b9849e020c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053328&Signature=aXPcQqWcFLNJmYJ4XMgD~GIuBoTQEZeUd1oBCtLg8b6ZE0Hth0KTYS~IBgM9E0S0Ljw75Symv8RAj8zG6uU2gAQPLquQSCU3smcwdwa-bI-jutUD5-Dgue4SQy7NzSKNszxK8DbAEt4DiMIuCjgCgtEcnj9RwxVfgxKJcjc6O-X2aRp8JSQN5W22xHUS6XXzEOvo0k7jxg3zuhNkzvMq3k38lnWoR~ehcrcGs2Xx54~P4TLqQk201OnU3W~708tnVzjjM3-5IzTo-cvbTt4Be0JMLC1Z~l62NTQLDOKu~EiJlh0DHAvCTkFEewN-C73UMLNMHxJCSnsiBhar14LjyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Philadelphia City Council","date","2025-04-08T19:55:04.037Z","article","Students, teachers, union representatives and parents described staffing shortages, uneven enrichment access and building health concerns as barriers to the “joy” advocates seek in Philadelphia public schools.

Young people from We Rain and ReReign testified that many Black girls lack access to culturally relevant counseling and extracurriculars. Naima Hargrove, a junior and intern at We Rain, said distrust of adults in schools limits students’ willingness to seek support: \"When you tell one person, adult, or counselor about your problems, it gets around,\" she told the committee, explaining why small-group, culturally responsive mental-health supports and more Black counselors are needed.

Children's advocacy groups and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) pointed to long-term staff shortages and pay disparities that make it hard to recruit and retain experienced teachers and specialists. Priyanka Reyes Cora of Children First summarized research showing Philadelphia’s teacher pay and staffing shortfalls: she cited district estimates of a multi-thousand-teacher gap, a 31% decline in teacher supply over a decade, and that a sizable share of teachers are working on emergency permits or out of field. Children First argued smaller primary-grade class sizes and more stable pay would improve teacher retention and the conditions that allow joy and enrichment to thrive.

Parents and community members also raised building conditions and indoor air quality. Lizzie Rothwell, a West Philadelphia parent and advocate, urged immediate investment in HEPA filtration for classrooms and broader facilities upgrades, noting asthma rates and mold, pests and poor ventilation in older buildings. She asked the district and council to prioritize electrification and long-term HVAC upgrades in the school facilities plan.

Union leaders emphasized the role of nonteaching staff in creating safe, joyful schools. Unite Here Local 634 President Nicole Hyde described cafeteria and student-climate staff as essential to supervision, recess and student well-being; she said many of those workers live in the city and earn as little as $17 per hour, and argued for wage and staffing improvements to support safe supervision and enrichment.

Ending: Witnesses asked council to use budget authority during the fiscal review to boost staffing, fund STEP expansion and school counselors, invest in facilities and HEPA filters, and support culturally relevant hiring to improve outcomes for Black girls and other students.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committees on Education and Children & Youth 4-4-025","oneSentenceSummary","Student interns, educators and parents told council that staff shortages, large class sizes, cuts to arts and career programs, and poor building conditions — including poor air quality — undermine students’ mental health and opportunities; advocates asked council to fund repairs and HEPA filters and to prioritize culturally relevant staff.","taxTitle","Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County , Pennsylvania","taxId",80615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610674,"School District outlines wellness, STEP teams and discipline guidance; says code will discourage collective punishment",1056,4318000,5374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1&start=4318&end=5374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1/thumbnail_4318000.jpg","/articles/6610674/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/School-District-outlines-wellness-STEP-teams-and-discipline-guidance-says-code-will-discourage-collective-punishment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610674-cecc8a4ec74e416ce973aab4cf1ace2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053328&Signature=H2MjUOXB4G--JMFzJZlglrLMVGDFO2Ap4dmYAyyTPH2tVLAhICoHR~XXCdRF7tBeFQefX~NEIRjvtOxaKozhhBZ-SBCDGsHZ7155eQgNdxRWO8oWNySDLh7vSUugHzt-dXpvAs993H9y7NPMb8dZs3fDV0s9yNg6v~4NPS0sHPyj8np03f1CzHEgBlIKLoqp8DtfugmcUxhr3Kn-r4HP1sT~f4QMR2lYNmlMQZrm40q74ZIvekIzniUUJbhVwunKr-0117hXsLf8obgfx6oLO5Vde04jDQOR8kklAsRpohQcx7xYzojTG0cZ~8Dtf5kPTV6JnLhgWwCHeCS5DXxufw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School District of Philadelphia told a City Council joint committee on April 4 that it is advancing a set of student-wellness initiatives, expanding school-based mental-health partnerships and revising discipline guidance to discourage practices parents call collective punishment.

Dr. Jamie Banks, the district’s Chief of Student Support Services, testified the district’s work draws on its Accelerate Philly strategic plan and includes expansion of school-based mental-health teams and a push to standardize rest, movement breaks and recess practices. Banks told council the district is updating the wellness policy to state a 20-minute daily recess minimum as a written procedure and that the code of conduct will use stronger language to say schools “shall not” penalize an entire class for the actions of a few.

Banks detailed several existing and expanding programs. She said the district’s Support Team for Educational Partnership (STEP), launched in 2017 with partners including the mayor’s office, Community Behavioral Health (CBH) and the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), now operates in 45 schools. Each STEP team can include up to four roles — a clinical coordinator (master’s-level clinician), a school behavioral consultant (master’s-level clinician), a case manager and a family peer — and 24 of the 45 STEP sites are fully staffed with those four positions while the remainder have partial staffing because funding streams vary.

Banks also said the district partners with CBH and DBH to offer intensive behavioral health services (IBHS) in every school and that the district provides approximately $9 million annually for vendor-led after-school enrichment in roughly 40 schools. She noted the district is expanding trauma-informed and healing-centered engagement professional learning, and that it has increased access to on-site emergency asthma medication (stock albuterol) in schools.

On collective punishment, Banks said the district’s current code of conduct already includes language advising school-level leaders not to penalize entire classes for individual behavior and that the revised code for next year will use stronger, more explicit language. She said school leaders should be informed and accountable when instances occur and central office will follow up when patterns are identified.

The district acknowledged implementation challenges including funding limitations and workforce shortages of qualified mental-health professionals. Banks said some STEP sites are fully funded through partner agreements while others depend on district budget choices at the school level; principals may allocate dollars or seek grant funds to support full STEP staffing.

Ending: Banks invited continued collaboration with parents and community partners and said the district would return to the council with more detailed staffing and program numbers at scheduled follow-ups.","School District Chief of Student Support Services described ongoing programs — STEP teams, IBHS, enrichment funding — and said the district is revising its wellness and code-of-conduct policies to discourage collective punishment and to include clearer recess guidance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610679,"Parents, students and advocates urge School District to create ‘Chief of Joy,’ end ‘dirty dozen’ discipline practices",6487,183000,6670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1&start=183&end=6670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2902097-33d2097860fb3664bce34787954db4f1/thumbnail_183000.jpg","/articles/6610679/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Parents-students-and-advocates-urge-School-District-to-create-Chief-of-Joy-end-dirty-dozen-discipline-practices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610679-23ad71140e38ac48401b4159ed103621/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053328&Signature=TZbmPRWrLZPmlfszeVoxScTlMP-ZWTC~B0tiEoESlWlBtL2TruYcGbEfSPcq9bSrKhSwUXaPkfWXHCgAWRkm0IOtJecXR4Pf2UQC8uul6nLwpLYh3R7zsfVrVqCxaFGLqUP8JwRNvv8~sVTl2FeNxApGtE6Y1Sbms8gMJ2AyXS6hsbMIQt7mQVcwtsmnQNYWibQUTgVLBpNyJbrkZmy5WGP1MKBdSEDDh~s6MLo6zLJHm5x06Bp6fqvARW0l9rb2H6Rug3ccqczuA5HAFNfe3~ISWcfgbi55RIZSotACwZ092d79cQi2eqrjrxIbB6FPkuJsBT~yhzGOY3vk5EKx~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, students and community advocates urged Philadelphia City Council’s Joint Committees on Education and Children and Youth on April 4 to support two resolutions authorizing hearings on a School District “Chief of Joy” (Res. 240632) and on exclusionary discipline practices (Res. 240642), citing widespread punishments they say deprive students of basic dignity and learning conditions.

The testimony in Committee highlighted what advocates called the “dirty dozen” — a set of commonly observed practices they said strip joy from classrooms, including silent lunches, collective punishment such as canceling recess for an entire class, restricted bathroom access, curtailed arts and field trips, and overly punitive responses to typical childhood behavior. Parents asked city council to press the district to adopt enforceable standards, fully staff mental-health teams, and create a senior-level chief of joy to audit and coordinate districtwide improvements.

Why it matters: speakers said the practices disproportionately affect Black students, students with disabilities and LGBTQ+ students, worsening educational and health outcomes and undermining attendance, engagement and long-term opportunity.

Lift Every Voice Philly, a Black-led parent membership organization, led the appeal. Keisha Nicholson, a Lift Every Voice parent and its first member, outlined organizing that she said forced a near-citywide improvement in school nursing coverage after parents publicized chronic nurse vacancies. \"Within months, we cut the nurse vacancy by 80%,\" Nicholson said, and she credited parent organizing for securing full-time nurses across schools she represents. She told the committee parents want a “bold, shared vision for schools that help, not hurt, our students and families.”

Amy Follering, also a Lift Every Voice member, said enrichment — art, music and field trips — is treated as an extra rather than an essential, producing striking inequities between nearby schools. \"If we have figured out how kids at Masterman can access this enriching curriculum, then we can figure out how every single school in the district can get it,\" Follering said. Jamila Carter, a parent and educator, described classroom incidents she said involved staff who humiliated students and urged the council to press the district to remove demeaning practices.

Councilmember Kendra Brooks, sponsor of the hearing resolutions, framed the chief of joy concept as a policy and accountability tool: \"Joy is a serious intervention. Joy is not a luxury. It's a necessity,\" she said, calling for a senior district official to conduct a districtwide “joy audit,” set standards for recess and enrichment, and dismantle dehumanizing discipline.

Council members of the joint committee generally expressed support for holding the hearings and for the concerns raised. Committee Chair Councilmember Isaiah Thomas thanked parents for organizing and noted the council’s budget role; Councilmember Ahmad linked joy to public health impacts; and Councilmember Rue Landau encouraged concrete standards and data collection.

Advocates asked the council to use budget authority during the upcoming budget cycle to require the district to adopt minimum standards for recess and bathroom access, expand school-based mental-health teams and fund a chief of joy position. They also asked the council to hold the district accountable at the district’s scheduled appearances before council on April 29–30.

Ending: The hearing proceeded to panels with district officials, educators, unions and student organizations to explore specific policy and funding options the council might press the district to adopt. The committees did not vote or take formal action on either resolution during the hearing.","Parents and advocacy groups pressed Philadelphia City Council committees to back two resolutions: one to create a School District Chief of Joy and another to investigate exclusionary discipline practices parents call the “dirty dozen,” citing the use of silent lunches, canceled recess and denial of bathroom access.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students and educators cite staffing shortages, inequities and faulty school buildings as barriers to restoring joy in Philadelphia schools

School District outlines wellness, STEP teams and discipline guidance; says code will discourage collective punishment

Parents, students and advocates urge School District to create ‘Chief of Joy,’ end ‘dirty dozen’ discipline practices