Pgh. School Principals, Vice Principals Could Get Right To Unionize

HARRISBURG, PA — Principals and vice principals who work in the School District of Philadelphia, the state's largest school district, have been able to organize since 1996.

Conversely, similar administrators in the Pittsburgh Public Schools - the Allegheny County district that is the state's second largest with more than 20,000 student- are not able to unionize under current state law.

That would change under a bill about to be introduced by two Democratic state senators - Lindsey Williams of Allegheny County and Christine Tartaglione of Philadelphia.

"Principals and vice principals play a critical role in our schools and students’ success," the pair wrote in a recent memo to colleagues.

"Allowing school administrators in Pittsburgh Public Schools to organize will assure that they have the resources and tools they need to educate and serve our students."

Pennsylvania school principals are required to be evaluated annually, according to the National Council on Teacher Equality.