May 2016
Day of Advocacy
200+
Educators & Allies
Harrisburg
State Capitol
Why We Went to Harrisburg
Philadelphia schools had been starved of funding for years. The state's funding formula—declared unconstitutionally inequitable by courts—meant our students got less than students in wealthy suburbs. Class sizes ballooned. Nurses and counselors were cut. Buildings crumbled.
And while this was happening, lawmakers in Harrisburg were entertaining proposals to expand charter schools, create voucher programs, and further divert money from public education. We needed to be in the room where those decisions were being made.
"They make decisions about our schools without ever stepping inside a classroom. We brought the classroom to them—the stories of real kids, real teachers, real consequences."— Working Educators organizer
What Happened That Day
Over 200 teachers, parents, students, and community members boarded buses before dawn. We wore red. We carried signs. And we had a plan.
We split into teams, each assigned to specific legislators. Our ask was clear: fund the fair funding formula, reject voucher schemes, and stop treating Philadelphia schools as expendable. Every conversation was documented. Every legislator's response was recorded.
We held a rally on the Capitol steps. Students spoke about what it's like to attend schools without adequate heat. Teachers described choosing between buying supplies and paying rent. Parents talked about the choice between a neighborhood school with no resources and a charter school lottery that might never call their name.
The Ongoing Fight
One day of advocacy didn't change everything. But it built power. Legislators who had never faced direct constituent pressure on school funding started hearing from us regularly. Some changed their positions. Others were voted out.
The fair funding fight continues today. The lawsuit—William Penn School District v. Pennsylvania Department of Education—eventually resulted in a landmark 2023 ruling declaring the state's funding system unconstitutional. That victory was built on years of organizing, including days like this one.
Lessons for Today
As we navigate new challenges—AI in classrooms, new privatization schemes, ongoing funding inequities—the lesson from May 2016 holds: showing up matters. Organized people can win against organized money, but only if they're willing to be in the room, make noise, and stay in the fight for the long haul.