help philadelphia schools

How the next mayor can help Philadelphia’s schools

Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer

The top reason people with kids move out of Philadelphia isn’t because of crime or jobs — it’s because of the schools. That means the young and upwardly mobile — the middle-class taxpayers who would fund schools and government — are leaving.

Here’s one sensible way to stop that: Give every family with school-age kids living in the Philadelphia School District cash to go to the schools they want to attend. You don’t even need to pass laws to make that happen — the legislature already provided that opportunity to school districts.

Passed in 2012, a Pennsylvania law provides a way out for students who attend a school that isn’t meeting their needs. The law authorizes school boards to provide scholarships using state funds for students in the district to attend other public and non-public schools.

Read more in The Philadelphia Inquirer