Philadelphia, PA – December 11, 2024 − On Tuesday, December 10th, Senator Vincent Hughes and Representative Jordan Harris, Democratic Appropriation Chairs for the state Senate and House, announced $175 million in grant funding for repairs and renovations to Pennsylvania school buildings. The funding comes from the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program, a new grant program that was established during FY23-24 budget negotiations.
The announcement was made at Martha Washington Academics in West Philadelphia, one of the recipients of the grant. $1.4 million was awarded to Martha Washington for bathroom renovations. A total of $16.77 million was awarded to the Philadelphia School District for repairs and renovations to 7 school buildings.
“This funding is the result of a lot of work from a lot of people to get one step closer to ensure all our public school students can learn in 21st century school buildings,” said Senator Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair. “This is a commitment that complements the $1.1 billion dollar increase we delivered for education in our last budget. And we will continue to keep our students, teachers, and administrators a priority as we get ready to enter our next budget cycle, because we only deny our own progress when we don’t set our education system up for success.”
“This marks a transformative moment for our students, teachers, and families in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania,” said State Representative and Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris. “With over $16.7 million in Public School Facility Infrastructure Grants for our city, we’re not just repairing buildings—we’re investing in the health, safety, and future success of our children. Every student, no matter their zip code, deserves a safe and modern space to learn and thrive. This funding is a step forward, and I remain committed to ensuring every child in the Commonwealth has the resources they need to succeed.”
A number of leaders from Philadelphia and the Commonwealth joined the press conference to express their appreciation and support of the facilities funding. Mayor Cherelle Parker added, “I’m here on behalf of the city of Philadelphia to say thank you. Thank you for making your leadership matter.”
Other speakers included Marcus Delgado, Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Education; Teresa Fleming, Interim Chief Operating Officer at Philadelphia School District; Councilmember Jamie Gauthier; and Principal Lakeisha Patrick. Representative Amen Brown stood in support with the lawmakers and leaders.
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