More than 200 faculty and staff members at the University of Pennsylvania urge their new leadership to pay “fair share” to support Philadelphia public schools.

Over 100 students, teachers, and community members marched through Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania’s campuses last week calling on both schools to make payments in lieu of taxes to support the School District of Philadelphia.

Many Philadelphians, including those directly impacted by toxic school environments and those with ties to wealthy nonprofits, have called for nonprofit institutions to contribute 40% of foregone property taxes annually to the School District of Philadelphia as Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOTs), to share the responsibility of funding public education.

“This victory is a testament to the strength of the movement by public school teachers, parents, and students for equitable funding for their schools,” said executive director of Philadelphia Jobs With Justice Devan Spear.

More than 900 faculty and staff members at the University of Pennsylvania have signed a petition calling on the school to make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) that will support Philadelphia public schools.