Philadelphia Needs City/School Consolidation

The public schools of Philadelphia are in serious trouble. They have chronic problems that have gone unsolved for many years, severely handicapping public education in Philadelphia. As an appointed body, the Philadelphia Board of Education does not have the authority to levy taxes without authorization from city council or the state legislature. If the board cannot meet its budget requirements, it must ask the city or the state or both for additional funds to balance the budget.

In this report, the Economy League argues that a change in the governance of Philadelphia public schools is imperative if they are to successfully prepare children for the future.