History of School District of Philadelphia in Timeline

The School District of Philadelphia (SDP), established in 1818, is the largest school district in Pennsylvania and the eighth-largest in the United States. As of 2022, it serves over 197,000 students in district-operated public schools throughout Philadelphia. The SDP plays a crucial role in providing education and resources to a significant portion of the city's population.

1967: Student Demonstration and Riot

In 1967, high school students demonstrated in front of the board of education building, demanding better treatment and funding, especially for African-American students. The Philadelphia Police Department responded with force, resulting in a riot with 22 injuries and 57 arrests.

1975: State Funding Percentage

In 1975, Pennsylvania provided 55 percent of school funding statewide.

1997: Lawsuit Filed over Inadequate Funding

In 1997, a lawsuit was filed by the city and the Philadelphia School District contending that Pennsylvania did not provide a "thorough and efficient" education; it was dismissed by the state court.

February 1998: Superintendent Threatens School Closures

In February 1998, then-superintendent David Hornbeck threatened to close Philadelphia's schools if the state did not provide sufficient funds to balance the proposed budget.

April 1998: Pennsylvania General Assembly Legislation

In April 1998, the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted legislation leading to the state takeover plan. Key elements included establishing a School Reform Commission, hiring a CEO, reforming teaching staff, reconstituting troubled schools, hiring for-profit firms to manage schools, converting some schools to charter schools, and reallocating resources.

1998: Lawsuit Claiming Racial Discrimination

In 1998, Mayor Street agreed to postpone for three months a federal lawsuit brought by the city claiming racial discrimination in the way the state funds the Philadelphia school district.

1998: Civil Rights Suit Filed

In 1998, a civil rights suit was filed in Federal District Court by the district, the city, and other interested parties, contending that the state's funding practices discriminated against school districts with large numbers of non-white students. The School District of Philadelphia was a key complainant in this case.

June 2000: Superintendent Hornbeck's Resignation

In June 2000, school superintendent David W. Hornbeck ended his six-year tenure due to lack of financial support to continue his school reform program. The board then implemented a new management structure, replacing the superintendent's position with a chief academic officer and a chief executive officer.

2000: Per-Student Spending

In 2000, the Philadelphia School District spent $6,969 per student annually, while seventy percent of Philadelphia's students were at or near the poverty line.

December 21, 2001: Declaration of Distress and State Takeover

On December 21, 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Education signed a Declaration of Distress for the School District of Philadelphia, triggering the state takeover and the formation of the School Reform Commission to oversee the public school system.

2001: School Uniform Requirement

Beginning in 2001, the School District of Philadelphia required all schools to enact school uniforms or strict dress codes. Some schools had already adopted uniforms prior to 2001.

2001: Adoption of Diverse Provider Model

Following the state takeover in 2001, the School District of Philadelphia adopted the "diverse provider" model, turning over management of some low-achieving schools to for-profit and nonprofit organizations and universities.

2001: State Funding Percentage

In 2001, Pennsylvania provided less than 36 percent of school funding statewide, contributing to financial challenges in the School District of Philadelphia.

2001: Financial Crisis and State Takeover Preparations

In 2001, the School District of Philadelphia faced a projected deficit of $216.7 million and a crisis in making payroll. Governor Mark Schweiker took control of the schools, and negotiations dragged on due to disagreements over financial responsibility and governance.

2001: State Takeover of the School District

In 2001, the state took over the School District of Philadelphia, giving the governor the power to appoint a majority of the five members of the new School Reform Commission due to low test scores and financial deficits.

2003: Estimated worth of district art collection at $30 million

In 2003, the estimated worth of the Philadelphia School District's art collection, containing around 1,125 pieces, was $30 million.

2004: William Penn Foundation provides funding for Parent Leadership Academy (PLA)

In 2004, the William Penn Foundation provided outside funding for the Parent Leadership Academy (PLA) to enhance parent engagement within the School District of Philadelphia.

2006: October designated as Parent Appreciation Month

In 2006, in collaboration with the PA Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC), the School District of Philadelphia designated October as Parent Appreciation Month, including activities like Parent Appreciation Day.

2007: Edison Schools' Performance

As of 2007, Edison Schools, Inc. had not delivered the promised improvements despite initial expectations that it would benefit from the privatization of the School District of Philadelphia.

2009: The PA Department of Education provides funding for Parent Volunteers Program (PVP) and Superintendent's Roundtable Discussions held

In 2009, the PA Department of Education provided outside funding for the Parent Volunteers Program (PVP). Also in 2009, the Superintendent's Roundtable discussions were held to hear from parents about the quality of education their children were receiving.

2010: School Advisory Councils (SACs) modeled after the PA Governor's Institute of Parental Involvement

In 2010, School Advisory Councils (SACs) were modeled after the PA Governor's Institute of Parental Involvement to invite parents, family, and community members to share decision-making with school-based staff in the Philadelphia School District.

August 2012: Abolishment of Academic Division Structure

Prior to August 2012, the School District of Philadelphia was organized into academic division (AD) offices. As part of the Chief Academic Office Reorganization/Transition Proposal, the AD structure was abolished, and schools were organized into Principal Learning Teams (PLTs).

June 2013: School District Budget Cuts and Protests

In June 2013, the School District of Philadelphia cut over three thousand employees, including safety aides. Parents, students, and employees protested these cuts. The UNITE HERE union organized a hunger strike, named "Fast for Safe Schools", which received support from the community and politicians. Governor Corbett eventually added $140 million to the budget, and most of the safety staff was rehired.

December 2013: Charter School Enrollment

In December 2013, the enrollment in the city's charter schools was 60,774 students.

2013: Estimated worth of district art collection at $2 million

In 2013, district spokesperson Fernando Gallard estimated the Philadelphia School District's art collection to be worth $2 million.

2014: Languages Spoken by Students

As of the 2014 school year, more than 100 languages other than English were spoken at home by students in the School District of Philadelphia. Spanish speakers made up the largest group at 52%.

2015: Languages Spoken by Students

As of the 2015 school year, there were 107 languages other than English spoken at home by students. The largest group of students with families using languages other than English at home was the Spanish speakers, with 6,260 students.

July 2018: Re-establishment of the Board of Education

In July 2018, the School District of Philadelphia re-established its nine-member Board of Education, whose members are appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia and approved by Philadelphia City Council, after seventeen years of governance by a School Reform Commission.

July 2018: School Reform Commission Disbanded

In July 2018, the School Reform Commission (SRC) was disbanded, and control of the School District of Philadelphia was returned to the city and its newly selected Philadelphia School Board.

September 2019: Enrollment in District Schools

As of September 2019, enrollment in Philadelphia's district schools was reported to be 203,225 students.

2020: Philadelphia Census Ranking

In 2020, according to census data, the city of Philadelphia was the nation's sixth-largest city, and the School District of Philadelphia is its sole school district.

2022: Student Enrollment

As of 2022, the School District of Philadelphia served over 197,000 students, making it the largest school district in Pennsylvania and the eighth-largest in the nation.

2023: Learning Networks in SDP

In 2023, Each school in the School District of Philadelphia is part of a learning network that is led by an Assistant Superintendent, to whom school principals report.

2023: Strategic Plan Start

In 2023, the School District of Philadelphia initiated a 5-year strategic plan called "Accelerate Philly: 2023-2028 Strategic Plan" focuses on "Centering schools and school leadership teams as the units of change".

2024: Geography-Based Learning Networks

During the 2023-2024 school year, SDP learning networks include geography-based learning networks that are numbered (13 during the 2023-2024 school year).

2024: OCR violation and Investigation

In 2024, the school district was found by OCR to have violated Title VI. In November, formal complaints by parents and additional investigation showed a proliferation of antisemitic incidents in violation of the OCR injunction that prompted a Federal investigation into the school district.