School District of Philadelphia launches Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Priorities Survey

The School District of Philadelphia launched the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Priorities Survey to gather community input that will help inform a budget that reflects the priorities of the community. The survey is focused on three essential priority areas: Budget Management, Facilities Planning, and Parent & Family University.
In alignment with Strategic Action 5.8 of Accelerate Philly, the District’s five-year strategic plan, the operating budget development timeline has been extended by starting the process earlier than in previous years and improving collaboration and transparency in an effort to limit the impact on students and schools.
The District’s financial stability and progress over the last few years is reflective of its commitment to responsible financial stewardship and sound financial management. The strategic use of the $1.8 billion of federal funding the District received during the pandemic and post-pandemic years has helped lead to lower levels of student learning loss than other large urban districts, balanced budgets, and the highest bond rating in decades. Additionally, over the past two years, the District has made significant strides, including increases in attendance rates, the four-year graduation rate, and a reduction in student dropouts. The District has also experienced its largest enrollment growth in a decade, with an increase of 1,841 students.
The survey is available at www.philasd.org in 14 languages and is open through Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:59 pm.