[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6573693,"mediaKeyId","3159586-3a4c369c50a606743d92591282c26ba1","parentId",3159586,"title","Parents, educators demand increased school funding, homelessness supports and newcomer services during budget hearing","audioSeconds",8576,"startMs",1227000,"endMs",9803000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3159586-3a4c369c50a606743d92591282c26ba1&start=1227&end=9803","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3159586-3a4c369c50a606743d92591282c26ba1/thumbnail_1227000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573693/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Parents-educators-demand-increased-school-funding-homelessness-supports-and-newcomer-services-during-budget-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573693-30b11d0eaebbdd1d02aa39b62708f16c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111423&Signature=GRVT5YTBl03lbyTQxxtdAD~uSYtPky59pEFoG6RzRnfLFJcNyFmw~HnVVBco04f9LDTqoYSkbnHzf-ttm7JUAQ0la3fw7ESX6ZLl2I9vJDMLs~K-o1MaVjOgmPiUcRG8udmd2ut5XRLYg5lJYluy2mBGLUNReZGZeODKHjfFzEGvCzH6Efgv0rzdi3sL7GPYNbAJfJnSiTZVwCDoWsZ92Cz6c0djVcjJH18q~re~DU4WPKxK3hod08KPHf8ZDjXWHFsq5d42uYj~q-nq3CrwORoo5oE0DeRba5mBaM00Vy2OIrZWD1BH5ew~~ka0kV9wC9~YZO60U6csYyoQN-KRqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Philadelphia City Council","date","2025-04-30T19:07:01.437Z","article","Dozens of parents, teachers, union leaders and nonprofit partners testified to the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday urging substantial increases in funding for the School District of Philadelphia and specific investments to protect students’ health and learning conditions.

Speakers pressed council to shift more property tax millage and to add operating dollars now — multiple witnesses asked for at least $25 million and some called for $50 million in increased local support. Advocates also sought targeted allocations: $4,500,000 over three years to sustain three community providers that serve students experiencing homelessness, $1,900,000 to expand newcomer programs and reinstate a Multilingual Assessment Center, funds for HEPA air filters in classrooms, and restoration of school libraries and full-time nurses and counselors.

Why it matters: Witnesses warned that the School District is drawing down reserves to cover operating shortfalls and that further cuts would disproportionately harm students in Black, brown and low-income neighborhoods. Education advocates framed the funding requests as necessary to prevent deeper staffing and program losses, preserve school services and address chronic health and attendance problems.

Major asks and evidence presented

- Millage shift and operating increases: Multiple witnesses asked council to raise the school share of property tax millage by 1 to 2 percentage points (one advocate suggested moving the district share from 56% to 58%) and to appropriate at least $25 million more to operations this year. Children First and parent organizations urged a local down payment while advocates continue to press Harrisburg for larger state funding increases.

- Homelessness supports: Representatives of Thrive at Hopeful, Valley Youth House and Eddie’s House described programs that provide case management, rental assistance, eviction prevention, laundry, showers and counseling for students identified under the federal McKinney-Vento law. Valley Youth House, Eddie’s House and Hopeful requested $1,500,000 annually for each of the three years (totaling $4,500,000 over three years) to sustain contracts that were originally supported by American Rescue Plan funds.

- Newcomer programs and language access: Advocate groups including Juntos and Asian Americans United asked council to allocate $1,900,000 to create three new newcomer programs, restore the Multilingual Assessment Center, and hire bilingual counseling aides to ensure appropriate placement and language access for recently arrived students.

- Health and facilities: Testimony called for immediate investments in indoor air quality: HEPA air filters for classrooms as recommended by CDC guidance, and longer-term capital plans to modernize HVAC systems and pursue electrified or geothermal systems in schools. Speakers described classrooms and buildings with mold, poor ventilation, and damaged ceilings and urged council to prioritize facilities spending and safe air now.

- Libraries, counselors, nurses and the “chief of joy”: Parents and union leaders urged restoration of school libraries and full-time librarians, reinstatement of nurses and counselors to recommended ratios, and district adoption of a “chief of joy” to coordinate child-centered practices that speakers said would reduce punitive disciplinary policies and expand arts, recess and enrichment.

Dissenting or alternative viewpoints

Speakers representing charter school networks urged the council to ensure equitable treatment for public charter schools and to examine charter renewal frameworks that, they said, penalize schools serving high-need populations. Those witnesses argued for a single standard of opportunity across public schools and asked that council review charter performance metrics used for renewal decisions.

Clarifying details from testimony

Advocates said the district plans to use roughly 40% of its reserves next year to avoid cuts; witnesses cited more than 10,000 students identified as experiencing homelessness; parents and union leaders asked council to increase school funding by $25 million to $50 million and to consider a 2% millage shift; multiple witnesses requested a $1,500,000 annual commitment to each of three homelessness service providers for three years (total $4,500,000); newcomer services were asked to receive $1,900,000 for program expansion and assessment staffing; counselor and nurse ratio guidelines mentioned in testimony were 250:1 for counselors and 750:1 for nurses (witnesses attributed these as national guidelines); and one witness asked for a $1.25M separate allocation to City Year (see related article).

No formal votes; next steps

Testimony took place during the Committee of the Whole’s public hearing on the mayor’s proposed fiscal 2026 operating and capital budgets. Council members did not vote on any appropriation during the public testimony; budget amendments and final votes will occur in committee deliberations and later on the council floor.

Ending

Witnesses asked council to act immediately to shore up school operations and to fund targeted programs that supporters say prevent academic declines, improve attendance and address basic needs. Council members acknowledged the testimony and signaled continued budget negotiations ahead of final votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of Whole: Budget Hearing 04-30-25 Morning","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of parents, teachers, union leaders and nonprofit partners testified to the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday urging substantial increases in funding for the School District of Philadelphia and specific investments to protect students’ health and learning conditions.","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},6573698,"City Year leaders tell council AmeriCorps funding loss would force program cuts, ask $1.25 million",2170,1010000,3180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3159586-3a4c369c50a606743d92591282c26ba1&start=1010&end=3180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3159586-3a4c369c50a606743d92591282c26ba1/thumbnail_1010000.jpg","/articles/6573698/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/City-Year-leaders-tell-council-AmeriCorps-funding-loss-would-force-program-cuts-ask-125-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573698-eee82d0faff4a60c5956084501120485/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111423&Signature=PrSnSXBxBOA-gNdisIVXmGFNk38z9RAyRD7AUJJo5VLO9epaBS7biLbJdB4Ea1Ti-m6Ft~Nd1J-Bzxo31azkwLXG28h16f1~X535sH2Fgv2ksF3wiPdESMOk1~zMApPgEnv4xzCLaMEsHv6owttPITeN8xoyRZ-MCw9aA0xEHsDew8dAgjxDR3y8my-rd8IwWw1YTUrvIkwX5TgpriJrfMyt5e2XxvEoXod0pOHDzcknHe0HiC-RCStDEUk72u8mHb3AiyWu9kiAlPHCY7eOiJ8GaJ6xpB2eemnak9AfWwhLnyjwGw3k18YMn6JVBS9POwH0MoTYVjzY0SDh8gIhWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Year Philadelphia asked Philadelphia City Council’s Committee of the Whole on Wednesday to fund $1,250,000 to replace threatened AmeriCorps support and keep its in-school programming operating next school year.

The nonprofit’s executive director, Darryl Bundridge, told the committee that AmeriCorps support makes up “38% of our budget,” and that without a replacement the organization would have to “at least scale back.” He said City Year deploys 118 members who serve about 8,000 students across 11 schools.

The ask was part of a broader public hearing on the mayor’s proposed operating and capital budgets. “We know that investing in City Year is investing in the talent of Philadelphia’s future,” Bundridge said in his three-minute testimony.

Why it matters: City Year positions itself as a provider of in-class support, small-group instruction and attendance interventions that district officials and partner principals said help accelerate learning and improve attendance. Several speakers at the hearing said City Year staff improve on-the-ground capacity at schools implementing new curricula and respond to student social-emotional needs.

City Year’s case and supporting testimony

Bundridge summarized performance metrics during his remarks: he said 56% of City Year students had average daily attendance of 90% or better and that “58 percent of students in literacy and 58 percent of math students moved from a D or F to a grade of C or better.” He asked council to include $1,250,000 in the budget to help fill an AmeriCorps shortfall.

A City Year AmeriCorps member, Jada Butler, testified that she serves as a student success coach and team leader at Omni High School and described mentoring, tutoring and attendance work that she said helps student‑athletes remain eligible and complete assignments. “City Year has shaped my path and I am proof of its impact,” Butler said.

A district principal who identified himself as the principal of John F. Hartran (name not provided on the record) told council that City Year “bridges the gap created by the school’s limited resources and human capital” and pointed to internal midyear data showing that roughly 80% of focus-list students at his school were meeting reading or math targets and 75% were meeting attendance goals during the period City Year supported the school.

What council asked and what was clarified

Council President Kenyatta Johnson and other members asked for clarifications. When asked how many students and schools City Year serves, Bundridge replied: “Currently, we’re serving in 11 schools and 8,000 students across those schools.”

No formal vote or commitment was made at the hearing; council members deferred budget decisions to the committee’s upcoming deliberations on the mayor’s proposals.

Ending

City Year’s request is one of many operating budget appeals the Committee of the Whole heard at a public hearing focused on the mayor’s proposed fiscal 2026 operating and capital spending measures. Council will consider the mayor’s budget proposal and companion tax and revenue ordinances in forthcoming committee deliberations and votes; no appropriation decision was taken during the testimony heard on Wednesday.","City Year Philadelphia representatives, current AmeriCorps members and partner principals urged the Committee of the Whole to include $1,250,000 in the 2026 city budget to replace threatened AmeriCorps funding that the organization says currently covers roughly 38% of its budget and supports dozens of schools and thousands of students.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, educators demand increased school funding, homelessness supports and newcomer services during budget hearing

City Year leaders tell council AmeriCorps funding loss would force program cuts, ask $1.25 million