Bipartisan legislative action gave the SRC the power to suspend the school code to manage through a fiscal crisis. That is clearly where we are in Philadelphia, so we endorse the SRC’s decision to exercise these powers.

The SRC’s emphasis appears to be on ensuring that it can assign rehired employees to the positions that will have the most impact for students. We encourage the SRC to go further and implement mutual consent across the board – suspending seniority as a factor in the hiring and transfer of all teachers – as a critical component of reforming public education in Philadelphia. It’s the linchpin for developing schools that give our children the very best chance to succeed.

The first day of school is just three weeks away. Reform cannot wait. Our children cannot wait.