Join us for 2026 Celebration honoring Donna Cooper.



TESTIMONY: PHLPreK – May 2023

Children First invited three parents to submit testimony to Philadelphia City Council on expansion of available slots for PHLpreK. Read testimony from: Dina Kassymbekova Read testimony from: Stephanie Santiago Read testimony from Melissa...

TESTIMONY: Ending Hunger in Pennsylvania’s Schools

Statement of Jonathan Stein for Children First PA before the PA House Children & Youth and Education Committees March 30, 2023  Ending Hunger in Pennsylvania’s Schools Good morning, I am Jonathan Stein speaking for Children First PA and first want to thank each of...

Testimony to the School Board of Philadelphia

Testimony to the School Board of Philadelphia January 27, 2023 Kate Fox, Behavioral Health Policy Director, Children First Hello, my name is Kate Fox, and I am leading the policy and advocacy work on mental health at Children First. I am here to testify in support of...

TESTIMONY: Read To Succeed – Nov 17, 2022

Children First Testimony Before the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Hearing Read to Succeed: Early Childhood and Its Effects on Childhood Literacy November 17, 2022   Note: Graphics and images may be better viewed by downloading this PDF. Senators, thank...

TESTIMONY: Pennwood Cyber Charter School Application – Nov 10, 2022

COMMENTS OPPOSING THE PENNWOOD CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION Pennsylvania Department of Education November 10, 2022 ML Wernecke, Director, PA Charter Performance Center My name is ML Wernecke and I am the Director of the PA Charter Performance Center, an initiative...