Mar 13, 2026
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...
Mar 4, 2026
Testimony on Universal PreK Zaina Cahill, Early Childhood Education Policy Director Children First March 3, 2026 Download PDF My name is Zaina Cahill and I am the Early Childhood Education Policy Director at Children First in Philadelphia. I am a certified teacher,...
Jan 9, 2026
Here Are the Facts about Child Care Because a YouTuber posted on social media that he wasn’t allowed in secure child care centers in Minnesota, he claimed fraud. The President reacted to the post and – without any evidence – ordered an immediate freeze of $10...
Nov 14, 2025
With Disappointment at the Federal Level, Pennsylvania’s State Budget is a WIN for Kids. Ask most Pennsylvanians how they would grade the performance of their state and federal representatives and senators and they’d generously give them an F. In our...
Oct 31, 2025
Sticks and Stones and Names Will Hurt You Troublemaker. Disruptive. Difficult. These labels can follow a child around their whole life with devastating consequences. At a Philadelphia City Council hearing organized by Children First, teenagers shared their...
Oct 29, 2025
Exclusionary discipline in early childhood education (ECE), including suspension, expulsion, and informal removals (soft suspensions), disrupts learning during children’s most critical years and disproportionately impacts Black children, Hispanic boys, and children...
