Amanda Fitzpatrick

The Philadelphia native is earning her degree as part of the city’s re-engagement program.

Now that the deadline to appeal has passed, it is important schools turn their attention to “their primary and most important task — educating students,” said Cutler.

The district is hoping to fill 1,000 vacancies before the start of the new school year.

Looking to the future, many suggest the ruling could be a time for optimism where investing money and resources back into HBCUs takes precedence.