Franklin Square Park, with its gushing fountain, carousel, canopy of trees and green space, provided a backdrop this week for a renewed push for high-quality prekindergarten options for parents.

Toddlers and children danced, sang and laughed to original songs written by Philadelphia native Pauline Houston McCall, who played the guitar and sang lyrics during an event on Tuesday celebrating early childhood education programs.

Anthony Hopkins, a spokesperson for the Public Citizens for Children and Youth advocacy organization, said there should be more prekindergarten programs across the city and it is a message politicians should take seriously. Only one in five daycare centers in Philadelphia qualified for the Keystone Stars, a rating system for early education programs that have met tough state standards.

School Superintendent William Hite said children enrolled in prekindergarten programs perform better than their peers who don’t, can read on grade level by third grade and are more likely to graduate high school.

“As I look at all these young people, it’s important, regardless of where our children come from, they all have access to high-quality prekindergarten,” Hite said.

The superintendent still hopes state lawmakers will approve a new cigarette tax that would provide at least $49 million in support for the school district.

Tyrone Scott, a community services manager for Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, demonstrated early education programs can be fun and provide new learning opportunities at the same time.

“Thank you for coming to ‘Philly Loves Pre-k,’ so every child can have as much fun as you just had,” Scott said. “Every child has the right to pre-k.”

“Music is literacy,” said McCall, who performs as Miss Pauline and the Puddle Jumpers. “They’re learning words, presenting, and it’s joyful.”

The Philadelphia Tribune – September 18, 2014 – Read article online