the POINT.

February 27, 2026

eNews | Vulnerable Youth

Not all politics is conflict

IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS Not all politics is conflict. For the first time in a REALLY LONG TIME,...

February 20, 2026

eNews | K-12 | Philadelphia

Guarantees in Life

Parents and Students Deserve Guarantees in the SDP Facilities Plan A Statement by Children First In Philadelphia, providing a...

February 13, 2026

Education | eNews | Racial Equity

ICE & Education Funding, What’s the Connection?

WHERE YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING From our nation’s capital to small-town PA, taxpayers are footing a hefty bill for the...

February 6, 2026

eNews | State Budget

Opening Play of the PA State Budget

MAKE THE NUMBERS LINE UP FOR KIDS In many ways, putting together a $53.2 billion state budget is like...

January 30, 2026

eNews | Racial Equity

Can you live with this?

When enforcing the law means locking up children, the law must be questioned. Liam Ramos’ elementary school principal started...

January 16, 2026

Child Health | eNews

Are You Feeling Better?

Dangerous Snowball Effect of Bad Health Policy If national leaders really want to Make America Healthy Again, pushing kids...

January 9, 2026

Early Learning | eNews

True or False

Here Are the Facts about Child Care Because a YouTuber posted on social media that he wasn’t allowed in...

December 23, 2025

eNews | Paid Family Leave

Wishing You a Happy Holiday!

w Have you ever left your job to care for your kid or were forced to return to work...

December 19, 2025

eNews | Mental Health

State Rules Steal Big Gift from Kids

The Gift of Strong Minds, Bright Futures While we’re in the gift-giving season, Children First wants to give a...

December 12, 2025

eNews

Who’s on the Nice List?

Everyone wants to know… Because of you, Children First made many plays this past fiscal year that landed victories for...

December 5, 2025

eNews | Vulnerable Youth

A Gift so Big…It Can’t be Wrapped

Giving a Gift that Keeps on Giving As the Christmas song goes, “I don’t want a lot for Christmas....

November 21, 2025

Children First | eNews

Don’t You Want to Be “In the Know?”

ChildWatch: Hot Off the Presses Once in a while it makes sense to put all the news in one...

October 31, 2025

Early Learning | eNews | Racial Equity | Vulnerable Youth

This Will Scare You

Sticks and Stones and Names Will Hurt You Troublemaker. Disruptive. Difficult. These labels can follow a child around their...

October 24, 2025

Child Health | Early Learning | eNews

Keep the Fizz for Philly Kids

Arguments Against Soda Tax are All Flat In response to a 2015 landslide voter referendum in support of a...

October 10, 2025

eNews | Parent Advocacy | Racial Equity

Who Cares for the Caretaker?

When Parents Lead, Families Thrive Young people are facing a mental health crisis but what about parents who are caring...

October 3, 2025

Child Health | eNews | Vulnerable Youth

Was it ever about Tylenol?

The Autism-Tylenol Link is Hard to Swallow The Presidential uproar about Tylenol is all growl and no bite. Think...

September 26, 2025

eNews | Mental Health

Help Is Not On The Way – Let’s Fix That

Help is Not on the Way – Let’s Fix That Imagine a dentist telling a child they won’t treat a...

September 22, 2025

Education | eNews

Waving the White Flag

WAVING THE WHITE FLAG Earlier this week, the Trump Administration signaled its new purpose for the only federal agency focused on children, the Office...

September 12, 2025

Education | eNews

The Nation’s Report Card

WHY ARE SO MANY STUDENTS FAILING MATH AND SCIENCE ASSESSMENTS? It’s beyond depressing that two thirds of American high...

September 5, 2025

Education | eNews

Looming threats to education

HANGING BY A THREAD “I returned last year as a librarian to reopen five elementary school libraries, all of...

August 15, 2025

Education | eNews

A Better Deal for Kids

CYBER CHARTER REFORM IS NO GAME Today’s state budget negotiations feel like a game of UNO – find a...

August 8, 2025

Education | eNews

Two Weeks and Counting… – Aug 8, 2025

Students Going Back to School But PA Senate Still Stalling State Budget Negotiations With 447,330 PA students returning to classrooms...

August 1, 2025

eNews | K-12 | Philadelphia

Reversing the Summer Slide – Aug 1, 2025

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE “Aaliyah is learning so much at her summer program. She has fun, she...

July 25, 2025

Education | eNews

Coming Up Aces for Kids – Jul 25, 2025

WHO’S WINNING IN THIS GAME? PA students could hit the jackpot if the players in Harrisburg would agree on...

July 18, 2025

Education | eNews | Paid Family Leave | Vulnerable Youth

What’s the Story in Harrisburg? – July 18, 2025

FUNDING EDUCATION CAN’T TAKE A VACATION In about a month, kids are going to return to the classroom and schools...

July 11, 2025

Early Learning | eNews

It’s Just Cruel… – July 11, 2025

Federal Policy that Harms Children Should be A Non-Starter Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued...

June 27, 2025

Early Learning | eNews

No staff = No child care – June 27, 2025

MAKING PROGRESS ON CHILD CARE It’s about darn time. Parents and child care providers too often get lip service...

June 20, 2025

eNews | Vulnerable Youth

When the Punishment is Worse than the Crime – June 20, 2025

JAILING CHILDREN HURTS US ALL America locks up children more than most countries in the world. It’s because our...

June 15, 2025

Education | eNews

Are vouchers coming to PA? – June 15, 2025

REAL CHOICE REQUIRES REAL INVESTMENT State lawmakers have a choice to make. Choice 1: dedicate tax dollars to building...

June 6, 2025

eNews | Lead Poisoning

Toto, We’re Not in DC Anymore

TWO BEFORE TWO There’s no place like home, according to Dorothy. Thanks to lawmakers in our home state, PA kids...

WHAT WE HAD TO SAY

February 19, 2026

Juvenile Justice | Testimony | Vulnerable Youth

Testimony: Making OYO Permanent

Testimony Presented to Philadelphia City Council Stefanie Arbutina, Vulnerable Youth Policy Director February 19, 2026 Good morning, Council President Johnson...

October 29, 2025

Juvenile Justice | Testimony | Vulnerable Youth

TESTIMONY: GPS technology in Philadelphia’s juvenile justice system

Testimony Presented to Philadelphia City Council Children and Youth and Technology and Information Services Committees Stefanie Arbutina, Vulnerable Youth Policy...

October 7, 2025

Lead Poisoning | Testimony

Testimony: Lead Paint Poisoning in Yeadon Borough

Testimony presented to Yeadon Borough Council Rosemarie Halt, Health Policy Consultant Children First June 5, 2025 Good evening, Mayor Hepkins,...

September 16, 2025

Mental Health | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Mental Health Needs of Children in Kensington

Testimony Presented to Philadelphia City Council Hearing on Mental Health Needs of Children in Kensington Kids Donna Cooper, Executive Director...

May 2, 2025

Education | 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,...

April 30, 2025

Education | Testimony

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,...

April 4, 2025

Education | Testimony

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...

April 4, 2025

Education | Testimony

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...

March 6, 2025

State Budget | Testimony

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...

October 31, 2024

Paid Family Leave | Testimony

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...

October 2, 2024

Early Learning | Philadelphia | Testimony

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...

September 9, 2024

Education | Philadelphia | Testimony

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...

August 22, 2024

Education | Testimony

Testimony: Philadelphia School Board on School Funding

Philadelphia School Board Testimony Priyanka Reyes-Kaura, K12 Policy Director, Children First August 22, 2024 My name is Priyanka Reyes-Kaura and...

April 26, 2024

Education | Philadelphia | Testimony

Testimony to Philadelphia City Council: School Board Confirmations

Testimony Presented to the Philadelphia City Council School Board Confirmations By Symbol Lai, Philadelphia Mobilization and Policy Director, Children First...

April 3, 2024

Education | Philadelphia | Testimony

Testimony to Philadelphia City Council: FY2025 Budget Bills

Testimony Presented to the Philadelphia City Council Fiscal Year 2025 Tax Bills By Symbol Lai, Philadelphia Mobilization and Policy Director,...

March 29, 2024

Education | Testimony

Testimony to Philadelphia Board of Education on Charter School Funding

Testimony Presented to the Philadelphia Board of Education By Priyanka Reyes-Kaura, K-12 Education Policy Director, Children First March 28, 2024...

March 5, 2024

Education | Testimony

Testimony: House Policy Committee: Basic Ed Funding Comms.

Children First Testimony Presented By Donna Cooper, Executive Director To the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee March 5, 2024 Regarding...

January 29, 2024

Education | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Philadelphia BOE – Camp Akili

Testimony Presented to the Philadelphia Board of Education By Inella Ray, Director of Parent Advocacy & Engagement, Children First January...

October 24, 2023

Early Learning | Education | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Child Literacy – PA House of Representatives

Testimony Presented by Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Children First PA to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Joint Hearing Education and...

October 17, 2023

Education | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Philadelphia City Council Early Intervention Services

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Philadelphia City Councilperson Kenyatta Johnson held a hearing on Early Intervention Services for children in...

September 28, 2023

Education | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Basic Education Funding Commission

Testimony Presented to the Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Commission By Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Children First September 14, 2023 The...

August 17, 2023

Education | Testimony

Testimony: Revoking the Charter of Franklin Towne Charter High School, August 2023

Testimony on Revoking the Charter of Franklin Towne Charter High School School District of Philadelphia Board of Education Meeting August...

June 27, 2023

Child Health | Delaware County | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Opioid Settlement Money in Delaware County, June 2023

June 27, 2023

Child Health | Education | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Opioid Settlement Money in Delaware County, June 2023

Children First Statement on Opioid Settlement Money June 15, 2023 Delaware County is set to receive $63 million in opioid...

June 6, 2023

Paid Family Leave | Testimony

TESTIMONY: Child Care Tax Credit

Testimony on House Bill 1259 House Finance Committee June 5, 2023 Dan O’Brien, Policy Manager, Education and Family Stability Children...

May 5, 2023

Early Learning | Testimony

TESTIMONY: PHLPreK – May 2023

Children First invited three parents to submit testimony to Philadelphia City Council on expansion of available slots for PHLpreK. Read...

March 30, 2023

Education | Testimony

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,...

January 30, 2023

Education | Philadelphia | Testimony

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...

November 17, 2022

Education | Testimony

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...

November 16, 2022

PA Charter Performance Center | Testimony

TESTIMONY: ChallengeU Cyber Charter School Application – Nov 16, 2022

COMMENTS OPPOSING THE CHALLENGEU CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION Pennsylvania Department of Education November 16, 2022 ML Wernecke, Director, PA Charter...

the POINT.

NEWSLETTERS

WHAT WE HAD TO SAY