Testimony Presented to Philadelphia City Council Hearing on Mental Health Needs of Children in Kensington Kids Donna Cooper, Executive Director September 16, 2025 DOWNLOAD PDF Good afternoon, Council members, and thank you for the opportunity to testify. I’m Donna...
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Testimony
TESTIMONY: Increasing Millage Rate, Inella Ray – April 30, 2025
Testimony to the Philadelphia City Council on Increasing Millage Rate Presented by Inella Ray, Director of Parent Advocacy and Engagement, Children First April 30, 2025 Good morning, City Council President Johnson and members of City Council, My name is Inella Ray. I...
TESTIMONY: Increasing Millage Rate – April 30, 2025
Testimony to the Philadelphia City Council on Increasing Millage Rate Presented by Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Children First April 30, 2025 On behalf of Children First, I am Donna Cooper here today to ask this council to continue to increase local funds for the...
TESTIMONY: Keeping Students Joy, Priyanka Reyes-Kaura 4-4-2025
Testimony Presented to Philadelphia City Council By Priyanka Reyes-Kaura Children First K-12 Education Policy Director April 4, 2025 Children First is fully in support of the Joy Campaign because we know that joyful school environments promote student learning,...
TESTIMONY: Keeping Students Joy, Donna Cooper 4-4-2025
Testimony Presented to Philadelphia City Council By Donna Cooper Children First Executive Director April 4, 2025 Thank you for the opportunity to testify at this hearing that is finally shining a spotlight in our schools, where our children are subjected to...
TESTIMONY: Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit Bill – Feb 26 2025
Testimony for House Finance Information Session In support of the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit bill Priyanka Reyes-Kaura, K-12 Education Policy Director at Children First February 26, 2025 Children First supports a refundable Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit...
STATEMENT: Children First Condemns Use of Youth Seclusion at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center
Children First Condemns Use of Youth Seclusion at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center January 10, 2025 Children First is deeply disturbed by the findings in a recent Philadelphia Office of the Youth Ombudsperson (OYO) report on the use of seclusion at...
TESTIMONY: Paid Family Leave
Testimony to the House Democratic Policy Committee Presented by Dan O’Brien, Policy Manager, Education and Family Stability, Children First October 28, 2024 On behalf of Children First, thank you for inviting us to offer testimony in front of the committee today. I...
TESTIMONY: “Soda Tax” – Philadelphia City Council
Testimony to the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission, Subcommittee on “Other Taxes” Presented by Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Children First September 28, 2024 By way of this testimony, I want to present new information regarding the effectiveness of the...
Testimony: School District of Philadelphia – CTE in Philly Schools
A rigorous study of Philadelphia CTE high school students, 70% of whom are economically disadvantaged and 85% BIPOC, found that these students were 30% more likely to graduate on-time than students attending comprehensive/neighborhood high schools that shared nearly...