What the Next Mayor Needs to Pledge to Children
A new poll shows that Philadelphians are five times more concerned about education than taxes. That’s evident in the response in PCCY’s call for organizations to endorse the “Pledge for Philadelphia’s Children.” A broad-based group of 24 organizations are now calling on the candidates to support the pledge.
The Candidates Pledge for Philadelphia’s Children
A commitment to education:
Studies show that annual increases in education spending lead to higher graduation rates, higher wages and reduced poverty. Recent budget cuts threaten to reverse these trends.
I pledge to be a champion of our schools by annually directing sufficient City resources to ensure the operation of a high quality school district and aligning City resources to support the School District’s success.
Universal Pre-K access:
Participation in high quality Pre-K programs greatly improves children’s academic and social skills while increasing the likelihood of high school graduation and college enrollment while decreasing crime and incarceration. But two-thirds of Philadelphia’s children do not have access to high-quality Pre-K.
I pledge to devote City resources annually to achieve universal access to affordable, high quality Pre-K for every 3- and 4-year-old child by 2020 and increase City health and social services to new parents who need extra supports.
Higher minimum wage:
More than 120,000 children live in poverty in Philadelphia and more than 60,000 live in deep poverty, making the city the poorest big city in America. Quite simply, their families do not make enough to afford proper food, care and safe housing.
I pledge to establish a minimum wage consistent with other big cities with reasonable incremental increases. Further, I pledge to employ City resources to guarantee that every young person has worked in at least one job before they graduate high school so they are prepared for success in the workforce.
Fighting childhood hunger:
I pledge to expand City participation in childhood hunger prevention programs such as free summer meals and work with the District to expand school meal participation.
Upgrading City health centers:
I pledge to guarantee all children and their parents have access to the healthcare they need and to upgrade our City healthcare centers to meet those needs. I will invest in the training needed to ensure that every healthcare and child welfare provider is prepared to meet the needs of youth and families who have suffered from trauma.
Creating an office to monitor children’s programs:
With proper planning and integration, the City can increase the number of children entering fourth grade as strong readers, increase housing stability for households with children, reduce childhood homelessness and decrease the number of children entering the criminal justice system.
I pledge to create a robust Office of Children’s Services Integration and direct every City agency to submit a four-year “Children’s Strategy” to improve child outcomes.
Ensuring children have access to everything the city has to offer:
Philadelphia has many amazing resources to entertain its children, from museums to sports teams to gyms and fields. But too often, they are unavailable to the city’s poorest or those that serve the poorest children are in the poorest condition.
I pledge to increase the share of our poorest children who can affordably access our great museums and sports teams and upgrade our public recreation centers.
Print out the pledge and take it with you to debates and forums and urge the candidates to sign.
Tell the candidates to support the pledge at the Mayoral Candidates Education Forum at Childs Elementary School (1599 Wharton St.) this Tuesday, March 24th at 6:30 pm. Click here to RSVP.
School Play
Seats are filling up fast for School Play on April 8th and 9th at the National Constitution Center. Send an email to schoolplay@childrenfirstpa.com to reserve your seats today.
Vote “Yes” for Pre-K
Public Citizen of the Year
Tickets are now available for the 2015 Celebration of the Public Citizen of the Year scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 6pm at Vie (600 N. Broad Street. Click here to buy your tickets today!
