This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
A battle between the Philadelphia School Reform Commission and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is heading to the state’s highest court.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide whether the SRC has the authority to unilaterally cancel the teachers’ contract.
In October, the SRC voted to cancel the teachers’ contract and impose health care concessions on teachers in order to achieve $200 million in savings.
The SRC argued that it had that power based on the 2001 law that took local school control away from the city.
In January, the state Commonwealth Court rejected that argument.
Now, in response to an appeal by the SRC and the District, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear the case.
No date has yet been set.