Philadelphia City Council says they’ll use every tool in our arsenal’ to stop school closures

Philadelphia City Council members, led by Education Committee Chair Isaiah Thomas, are vowing to use legal and financial tools to oppose the district’s plan to close 17 schools starting in the 2027-28 school year. The district claims the closures address declining enrollment and aim to improve facilities, but council members argue they will harm students and are seeking to block specific schools like Paul Robeson High and Lankenau Environmental Science High from the list.