Charter Hearing Exposes State’s Failure to Fund Schools

Although new charters have not been granted in Philadelphia since 2007, charter school enrollment in Philadelphia has more than doubled, from 29,700 students in 2007 to 62,358 today.   In compliance with a state law that required the School Reform Commission to act on charter applications annually, the Commission held a public hearing earlier this week and voted to approve five of 39 charter applications. The District estimates that the five new charters will increase charter payments by approximately $3.5 million annually by FY 2018/19.

According to Dr. Carolyn Adams, who testified on behalf of PCCY and urged the Commission to reject all of the applications because of the dire fiscal condition of the District, “a decision to expand charters could produce benefits for a relatively small number of children, if they can secure a seat in a high-performing charter school. But the cost to achieve that benefit will be paid by a completely different group of children who remain in severely underfunded district schools.”  Adams’ testimony was backed up by the finding of our recent report, The Legal, Fiscal, and Oversight Challenges of Granting New Charters in Philadelphia, which outlined the track record of each applicant, finding that only a handful could point to success in teaching low-income minority students.

To ensure that no district run school is forced to absorb more cuts to pay for charter expansion, and to get our District back on the road to recovery, join PCCY on Tuesday, February 24th as we visit every Senate office in the Capitol to make the case for a fair funding formula – click here to join us.

Can’t make it on Tuesday? Sign up for one of our other action days and read more about the work of The Campaign for Fair Education Funding.

Universal Pre-K in Philadelphia One Step Closer to Reality

Philadelphia City Council moved the City one step closer to universal Pre-K!  Bill No 150005 was passed out of committee and will be presented for final passage on Thursday, February 26th at 10am.  If passed, voters could approve a measure on the May, 2015 ballot to create a Task Force charged with developing a plan to implement and fund pre-k for every 3-and 4-year old in the City.

While Council seems unanimous in their support for Pre-K, a number of City Council members expressed concerns about the need to change the Charter to create this Task Force, during the Education Committee hearing earlier this week.  Despite their reservations, the measure passed out of Committee with a unanimous vote.  To ensure that the measure passes Council next week we must show strong public support. Click here to add your name to the growing number of people who support Universal Pre-K in Philadelphia.

If you can make it, please show your support at the City Council vote for the Pre-K ballot measure on Thursday, February 26 at 10am, Room 400, City Hall.   (If that room is under repair, the hearing may take place in Court Room 653 on the 6th floor of City Hall).

Pre-K Must Reach Far Beyond Philadelphia

While Philadelphia City Council looks for ways to expand access to Pre-K, parents across the State are clamoring for more access to high quality early learning programs for their children.  That’s why as part of the Pre-K for PA Campaign, PCCY is leading a special Cat in the Hat Caravan to Harrisburg using the occasion of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on Monday March 2nd to press the House, Senate and Governor to fund universal Pre-K.

To join us at Philadelphia City Council on February 26th or for the Cat in the Hat Caravan to Harrisburg on March 2nd, please email Anne Gemmell at anneg@childrenfirstpa.org because… “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose!” – Dr. Seuss

It’s Time to Smile!

Children in Delaware County and Philadelphia can get free dental care from March 30th thru April 3rd.  PCCY’s annual Give Kids a Smile Day is aimed at meeting the dental care needs of children who don’t have health insurance coverage or who haven’t seen a dentist in the last six months.  Call PCCY starting March 16th to make an appointment with a participating dentist.

You can help make Give Kids a Smile Day a success by volunteering in our office answering phone calls from parents seeking to make appointments or if you speak Spanish, Mandarin, Bengali and Vietnamese, we can assign you to a shift in the dental practice to provide interpretation services.  Call Jobin at 215-563-5848 x13 or email jobink@childrenfirstpa.org if you can help.

Please spread the word about Smile Day by sharing these flyers and sample tweets:

Keep your baby’s teeth healthy! For FREE dental care for kids call PCCY 215-563-5848 x32 www.childrenfirstpa.org/smileday

FREE dental care for kids at “Give Kids a Smile Day”! Call PCCY starting March 16 to make appt at 215-563-5848 x32. www.childrenfirstpa.org/smileday

Warm Up by Planning to Attend our Spring Party

The bitter cold seems to never end, but guess what?  Spring is just one month away and PCCY’s celebration of the 2015 Public Citizen for Children and Youth is not too far behind.  Join us on April 29th at Vie on Broad Street as we honor Greg Redden, Region President at Wells Fargo for his dedication to our region’s children.  We promise you a fun-filled night with live performances from local children’s groups, food, drinks and a jam-packed silent auction.

All proceeds from the event will benefit PCCY’s research, advocacy and direct services for children in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Click here to buy your tickets.  Check out the video below.  You WON’T want to miss this great night of fun to benefit southeastern Pennsylvania’s children!

3,500 Students Get Access to the Arts through the Picasso Project

After getting snowed out in January, PCCY will officially award mini-grants totaling nearly $70,000 to 15 Philadelphia schools at the Picasso Project Grant Awards Ceremony at Moore College of Art and Design this Tuesday, February 24th from 4pm to 6pm. Throughout the rest of the school year, 60 teachers will work with 23 teaching artists to help students complete original arts projects and advocate for additional resources so all schools can give their students access to arts education.  Picasso Project grants are made possible through generous donations from Picasso Project supporters and local foundations.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Steven Fynes at stevenf@childrenfirstpa.org.