Board Adopts Budget for the 2022-23 School Year

At its May 26th Action Meeting, the Board of Education approved the operating budget for the 2022-2023 school year. This operating budget increased by more than $175 million, reaching the highest level of investment in our schools and students since fiscal year 2011.

A one-time infusion of federal funding from the American Recovery Plan Act made these significant investments in our schools and students possible. The School District sought public input on budget priorities for the federal relief funding by inviting families, staff and stakeholders to participate in the 2022-2023 Budget Engagement Survey.

Based on the survey results, some of the budget additions include:

• permanently doubling hours and providing full-time benefits for Student Climate Staff,
• further improving counselor-to-student ratios,
• adding more Special Education teachers, teachers for English Language Learners and Bilingual Counseling Assistants,
• expanding environmental improvements that move the District closer toward the goal of certifying all schools Lead Safe by 2024, and
• supporting the installation of 800 additional hydration stations in schools by 2025 or sooner.

“The Board is grateful that we were able to approve a budget that continues to invest in academic programs, student supports, facilities and staffing,” said Board President Joyce S. Wilkerson. “These investments will empower our students to learn, thrive and succeed; and we hope that the City and Commonwealth will support this budget.”

Prior to adopting the FY23 budget, the Board held a public hearing on April 21st that included a budget presentation by the School District’s Chief Financial Officer Uri Monson. The Board also presented its budget priorities to Philadelphia City Council on May 4, 2022, as called for in the Home Rule Charter. The City and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania plan to adopt their budgets, which impact the School District’s budget, in June.

Learn more about the School District’s budget here.