Arne Duncan urged to intervene in Philadelphia school funding crisis:

Arne Duncan urged to intervene in Philadelphia school funding crisis

By Valerie Strauss, Published: July 1, 2013 at 2:53 pmE-mail the writer

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Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
 (By Stephanie Klein-Davis/AP)

The Philadelphia public school funding crisis is real. Thousands of people are being laid off, counselors, nurses, teachers, assistant principals, sports programs, arts classes and much more are being decimated. Here is a letter that American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and historian/education activist Diane Ravitch just sent to Education Secretary Arne Duncan asking him to intervene in the crisis. I’ve written about ithere and here, and the letter spells out the problem in detail. (Weingarten was in Philadelphia earlier this year protesting mass school closings and was arrested with other protesters.)

The Honorable Arne Duncan

SecretaryU.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Dear Secretary Duncan,

We are writing to ask for your urgent intervention to preserve public education for the children of Philadelphia.

Due to draconian budget cuts, the public schools of Philadelphia are being starved to the point where they can no longer function for the city’s children. Philadelphia is in a state of crisis. We believe your direct and public intervention is required to ensure