GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICE FREE SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN

From all of us at Philly student Union, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for helping us reach close to 20,000 signatures for Police Free Schools in Philadelphia!  This petition is a tremendous achievement, and we appreciate your participation in uplifting youth vision and voice for transformative public education in the City of Brotherly Love!

Philadelphia is a city that currently faces a significant budget crisis as a direct result of the pandemic and pre-existing deficit. It is specifically impacting our education system. As a result, we believe NOW more than ever is the time to create a FULL vision for a public education that prioritizes the resources young people deserve, and that will find solutions to trauma instead of further exacerbating them.

We began this call for Police Free schools in Philly on June 5th, and we are continuing this critical fight to reimagine safe, toxin-free, police free schools. We hope that a resolution can be introduced by the Philadelphia Board of Education to accomplish this before schools reopen this upcoming November.

On Aug. 20th, one week from today, the Board of Education will host an Action Meeting starting at 4 pm to discuss action items listed on the meeting agenda. Our students will testify calling on the District and Board of Education to introduce a #PoliceFreeSchools resolution that divests from school police and redistributes $31 million from police as follows:

1. $10 million added towards current $21 million budget for counselors

2. $10 million added towards current $34 million budget for nurse

3. $10 million invested in employing and train community members on

   • restorative justice practitioners

   • trained conflict de-escalators  

   • psychologists

   • other unarmed, non-law-enforcement personnel trained to improve safety and school climate

We are asking that as many stakeholders as possible, including parents, educators, school administrators, and community members, join our students in our call on Thursday. We ask supporters to register to testify for 3 mins at the board meeting calling for police free schools and disinvestment from school police.

Registration opens Tuesday, 8/18 at 10 am

Registration closes Wednesday, 8/19, by 4 pm!

Register using this link: https://www.philasd.org/schoolboard/speaker-request-form/

You can use our linked PFS Action Toolkit or PFS Resource Guide for helpful language and information! 

Thanks for your support! Be safe and well!