Philly Leader

A recent article by the Philadelphia Inquirer has brought attention to a severe overcrowding issue in Northeast Philadelphia schools. State Representative Martina White (R-Philadelphia) responded to the report, highlighting the critical situation where students are being taught in hallways and closets due to lack of space. Schools like Loesche Elementary, Anne Frank Elementary, and Baldi Middle School are operating significantly over capacity, with some classes having up to 50 students.

Despite substantial state investments in the Philadelphia School District and ongoing planning for facility improvements, any construction or reorganization is still years away. Principals from affected schools have called for immediate measures as they struggle with limited resources.

White issued a statement addressing the situation: “The overcrowding in our Northeast Philadelphia schools is unacceptable. Students being forced to learn in hallways or makeshift classrooms, such as closets, is a fundamental failure to deliver the quality education to which every student is entitled. I have requested a briefing be provided to Northeast Philadelphia elected officials from the Philadelphia School District to ensure the district quickly identifies solutions."

She emphasized that immediate action is necessary and suggested that increasing charter school capacity and providing emergency scholarships could offer temporary relief. Additionally, she advocated for expanding programs like the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) to give families more educational choices.

“Every child is entitled to a safe and effective learning environment, and every teacher deserves a workspace that allows them to effectively teach," White stated. "We owe it to our students, parents and educators to address this crisis head-on and ensure our schools are equipped to handle the needs of every family in our community.”

For further information, media contact Will Patterson can be reached at 267-688-2590 or wpatterson@pahousegop.com.