The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the Philly School District have reached a tentative contract agreement, the two sides announced in a joint statement on Sunday.
The announcement comes the day before school was set to begin for the district, and a week before the previous contract was set to expire.
“The PFT is thrilled that we have been able to reach a tentative agreement with the School District of Philadelphia on a three-year pact ensuring that school will open on time, as well as three years of labor peace,” said PFT President Arthur G. Steinberg in a release.
The agreement, if approved by the union’s 14,000 members, would end the possibility of a teachers strike, which members had voted to authorize earlier this summer.
As negotiations continued between the two sides in recent weeks, teachers were beginning to make picket signs in preparation for a potential work stoppage.
Little details of the agreement were not immediately available, but Steinberg called the agreement “historic” and Superintendent Tony Watlington, Sr., was quoted in the release as saying it was for three years.
“We are pleased that we have reached a tentative three year agreement that both honors the hard work of our educators and maintains our record of strong financial stewardship,” said Watlington.
“Five decades of research has shown us — that highly qualified, well-supported, and stable teachers over time are the number one factor in accelerating student achievement, and as we begin the new school year, this contract gives us stability, clarity, and momentum to continue working in partnership with the PFT and to further implement our five year strategic plan, Accelerate Philly. We are on our way to becoming the fastest improving, large urban school district in the nation,” Watlington added.
More details about the deal reached and when the vote by PFT members to approve the agreement are expected in the coming days.
This is a developing story; check back for more details.