CHARTER SCHOOLS STUDENTS JUST AS UNDERFUNDED Philadelphia’s charter schools are failing the large majority of its students, according to a new Children First report. But why? Because Philadelphia’s charter school students are just as underfunded as all of...
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Political Common Ground on Career Learning – Mar 1, 2024
CAREER LEARNING IS SOMETHING WE CAN AGREE ON Two members of the influential state Senate Appropriations Committee questioned why the Governor’s budget didn’t spend more on career and technical education (CTE). Here’s the clincher – they’re Republicans who are...
What do Philly & rural PA have in common? – Feb 23, 2024
PA CHILD CARE CRISIS HAS NO BORDERS The child care crisis in greater Philadelphia persists. And it's no wonder with preschool teachers making around $35,000 - the lowest of the fastest-growing occupations in the city. Hundreds of children are languishing...
Want to Build Safer Communities? – Feb 16, 2024
LOCKING UP TEENS WON'T MAKE OUR CITY SAFER While it is incredibly welcome news that gun deaths in Philadelphia decreased in 2023 from the peaks of the COVID-19 years, there is so much work that needs to be done to prevent people — especially our young people —...
Paid Family and Medical Leave Sign On Letter
Children First is working on the campaign to pass paid family and medical leave in Pennsylvania, and we have an opportunity for small business owners to help make a big impact. Fourteen states have passed paid leave -- including Pennsylvania's neighbors in New York,...
What’s wrong with unicorns and rainbows? – Feb 9, 2024
A RAINBOW AFTER A LONG, CLOUDY FEW YEARS "As I listened to that budget, [it was] a bunch of unicorns and rainbows..." said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R - Westmoreland). In a time when children and teens continue to struggle, they could use some...
Children First PA Budget Analysis 2024-2025
Children First Applauds Governor Shapiro’s Historic Investment in Children Shapiro budget prioritizes children by dedicating 53% of budget to new funds to children February 7, 2024 Governor Shapiro’s 2024/25 budget released yesterday includes urgently needed resources...
What Stuff is Next from Gov Shapiro? – Feb 2, 2024
WHAT WILL GOVERNOR SHAPIRO DO NEXT? The Shapiro Administration shocked advocates for quality schools by approving a new cyber charter school to operate in PA, the first time that’s happened in eight years. It's shocking because already every one of the 13...
Problem NOT Solved – Jan 26, 2024
GET THE RIGHT STUFF DONE ON CHILD CARE Governors of every stripe are asking their legislatures to make historic increases in funds for child care and pre-k. In just the last 12 months, New York Governor Kathy Hochul won legislative approval for a hefty half...
Fair Funding Lawsuit One Year Anniversary
February 7th is the one-year anniversary of the historic Commonwealth Court ruling in favor of education funding and the day after Governor Shapiro releases his state budget. Join Children First and PA Schools Work for a rally at the State Capitol, calling on...