| Checking the Boxes for Philly Kids
While we always want more, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker continues to invest in Philadelphia children and teens. As a candidate in 2023, she pledged to support the comprehensive Kids’ Campaign agenda, and her new fiscal plan continues to check boxes of those policy priorities laid out by Children First and 80+ community organizations during the mayoral campaign. For example,
(Kids’ Campaign Ask) Every child should have access to high-quality, early learning opportunities. The Mayor proposed 100 new highquality seats in the PHLpreK program that provides free high-quality pre-k, bringing the total to 5,350 children.
Every neighborhood must have great rec centers, parks, libraries, safe places, and afterschool and summer programs. The Mayor proposed expanding the Extended Day/Extended Year program from 40 schools to 47 schools next year. Mayor Parker has championed the Extended Day/Extended Year partnership with the School District, which provides pre and after-school enrichment programs throughout the year including winter, spring, and summer breaks.
Every teenager should have a meaningful summer job and a job on graduation. The Mayor proposed 1,000 more summer jobs for young Philadelphians, including paid internships, career mentorship, and job shadowing opportunities. She also challenged the business community to add another 1,000 jobs, bringing the total to 10,000 summer jobs for young people.
Every neighborhood should have a quality District school.
On top of the $24 million in new funds the Mayor and City Council have provided the district already, the Mayor’s budget includes two new taxes dedicated to school funding:
- tax on rideshares like Uber and Lyft, raising $9.7 million/annually
- modifying cell tower tax codes, raising $2.4 million/annually
Gotta give her credit – she’s willing to take on mega corporations to fight for new taxes for kids and their education.
But we have to fight for more because the School District of Philadelphia is facing a $300 million deficit. Superintendent Watlington announced the elimination of 340 school-based positions, moving teachers, climate managers, academic coaches, and other staff around to fill vacancies and save money.
The timing for students and families couldn’t be worse because it’s happening against the backdrop of the destabilizing and distressing school closures and co-locations.
To be sure, fully funding Philadelphia’s public schools isn’t possible without the necessary investment from Harrisburg to address the decades of financial neglect from the state. Mayor Parker and City Council also have a role in making sure schools have the resources students need. Now is the moment when local and state leaders must find bold solutions to provide a world-class public education for every student in Philadelphia. Children First is taking up the fight.
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