Philadelphia Board of Education approves 17 school closures

“Sign up for Chalkbeat Philadelphia’s free newsletter to keep up with news on the city’s public school system. The Philadelphia Board of Education voted Thursday to move forward with the district’s plan to close 17 schools beginning in 2027. Board members took their 6-3 vote remotely after fleeing an intense and heated meeting where students, educators, and state and city policymakers demanded the plan be rejected. The vote means the district will kick off the process to close more than 4,000 students’ schools and reshape Philadelphia’s school district. The $3 billion plan would also colocate and relocate several schools and modernize nearly 170 school buildings. Superintendent Tony Watlington has said adopting the plan is necessary to provide better educational opportunities and high-quality school buildings for all students. The district plans to put $1 billion toward it and raise the other $2 billion from government and philanthropic grants. Ahead of the vote, members of City Council shouted down board members urging them to “Shut it down!” and students yelled “Shame on you!” Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, chair of the city’s Education Committee, called for the resignation of every board member who voted for the closures, interrupted the meeting several times and promised a lawsuit would land Friday. Philadelphia Councilmember Isaiah Thomas and other members of City Council rally the crowd calling to shut down the Board of Education meeting on April 30, 2026. Board President Reginald Streater, Vice-President Sarah-Ashley Andrews, Joan Stern, ChauWing Lam, Cheryl Harper, and Joyce Wilkerson voted in favor of the plan. “We cannot fully modernize every building, ignore enrollment shifts, or postpone action anymore,” said Streater. “We must call the question today before financial instability forces the hands of all of us in this room.” Five of nine board members vote to approve school closures Students, educators, and families packed the meeting, holding signs and blowing whistles. But few were allowed to testify to the board. Though school board meetings generally must have a public comment period, Thursday’s meeting was technically a continuation of the meeting that the board adjourned last week. That meant only people who had previously signed up to speak were allowed to address board members. After Streater changed the meeting to be virtual, few people were online to give their comments. Microphones were removed from the meeting room where some people — including the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur Steinberg — waited to testify. Graham Williamson, a 10th grader at Lankenau Environmental Science High School, said he was inspired to see members of City Council fighting to keep his school open. But he said he had been telling school leaders to keep his school open since the district first announced its plan earlier this year. “I’ve talked a lot already,” Williamson said. “I think it should be enough.” Board members who voted against the proposal said they agreed that some closures are necessary. But they pointed out what they said were major problems with the plan, like its $3 billion price tag that the district does not have the funds to pay for and scarce details about what support would be available for students at closing schools. The plan “will not lead to improved academic outcomes, it’s not financially viable, and it does not get us to the stated goal of 90% building utilization,” said board member Crystal Cubbage, who voted against the plan alongside Whitney Jones and Wanda Novalés. All board members said they acknowledged that closing schools is a difficult and emotional decision. Even those who supported the plan said they had concerns. But they said the board needs to act to address the district’s declining enrollment, buildings with hundreds of empty seats, and enormous school repair costs. “We must start now,” said Stern. “We cannot postpone this.” Vote kicks off school closures, but plan could change The district’s proposal would begin closing schools at the start of the 2027-28 school year. But there’s a legal process the plan has to go through before any of that happens. And lawsuits could derail the timeline further. The board’s vote essentially directs the district to begin the process of closing schools. School leaders could still change the plan before the district implements it. By the meeting’s conclusion, board members disappeared quietly through back doors and more than a dozen police officers stood guard outside the board’s office. But parents, teachers, and students have told district leadership they will not go quietly. “We will be here until the last person is removed from this building,” 29-year veteran Penn Treaty Middle School teacher Kristen Young said Wednesday at a rally to protest her school’s closure. “And that will likely have to be by force.” Rebecca Redelmeier is a reporter at Chalkbeat Philadelphia. She writes about public schools, early childhood education, and issues that affect students, families, and educators across Philadelphia. Contact Rebecca at rredelmeier@chalkbeat.org . Carly Sitrin is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Philadelphia. Contact Carly at csitrin@chalkbeat.org .

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