5 minute read
PHL FREE PRE-K
January 4, 2019 was the second anniversary of the initiative probably most valued by Mayor Kenney — free high-quality pre-K. This comes from his deep belief that if a child is not reading by the 3rd or 4th grade their future will be at great risk.
The celebration was held at “Your Child’s World,” a pre-K school in the Elmwood section of Southwest Philadelphia. The building is a fortresslike brick structure that was actually a skating rink when the mayor was growing up. While not very inviting from the outside, the inside reveals a warm and fun learning space for young children — this is a wonderfully noisy place.
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Attendees learned that the pre-K program offers benefits beyond getting children off to a good start. It builds businesses such as Your Child’s World and creates employment opportunities. PHL pre-K is a key part of Philadelphia’s future.
After several speakers, the mayor was introduced. With glasses on, Mayor Kenney began by reviewing the first two years of the program with thriving children and a significant impact on Philadelphia’s economy. He directed particular thanks to parents: “… who have faith in us and faith in this program. 14 ONE STEP AWAY
PHL PRE-K: A MOTHER’S STORY
“I’m going to start by talking about where my son was before he got here. He went to a daycare and initially I was able to get financial support from CCIS (Child Care Information Services of Philadelphia), but once I stated my new job with SEPTA I made too much for CCIS support, but not enough to pay for daycare out-of-pocket. A relative recommended that I go on the website for PHL Pre-K. I came in and they made enrollment very easy for me. I visited a couple of times to see the kids and make sure the facility runs smoothly. My son had a good adjustment — the first couple of days he whined and cried, but after that he was okay. I love his teacher — she’s a sweetheart. He’s going to be here for at least two years to learn reading and writing by the time he is finished. So I’m really comfortable with the program and everything that it’s done for me and my family, especially financially.”
“So, I’m really comfortable with the program and everything that it’s done for me and my family, especially financially.” — Ms. Margaret Cobb
MAYOR KENNEY: THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EDUCATION
“I’ve seen it myself. I went to an opening day of kindergarten last year. Opening days are a little rough — kids are hanging onto their mom’s ankles and necks, and crying. There were five children sitting erect at their desks, I stayed for the class and asked: ‘How many of you children have gone to pre-K?’ and those five raised their hands. I knew then and there they were ready for the work and will make great strides to reading by the 3rd or 4th grade on their way to high school, college, CTE (Career Technical Education), whatever they want to do to become contributing members and solid citizens of our city — and they can’t do it without an education.”
As Mayor Kenney rose from this little table, I asked: Mr. Mayor, how does it make you feel when you see this? “It makes me feel happy. I’m not often happy in this job, but this makes me feel happy. It makes me feel like we’re actually getting something done, and these lives are going to be changed — not changed, but their potential will be reached as much as possible.”
And if you didn’t do this, what would happen to them? “I don’t know what would happen to them. I’m sure they would survive or be unfulfilled, or not meet their potential, or maybe end up incarcerated or in some place bad where we don’t want to see them. I was just telling a teacher: ‘You can see how proud they are when they’re on task — doing the task gives them a sense of pride and that builds their belief they can do things.’” “...Whatever they want to do to become contributing members and solid citizens of our city — and they can’t do it without an education.”
A student demonstrates the impact of successfully completing a task. In this exercise, students select a card with a number on its face. The reverse side has a hook-and-loop fastener. A nearby wall has corresponding numbers with a fastener on their faces. The student’s task is to find the matching number on the wall and to attach their card. Appearing to be in deep thought, she spots the “7” on the wall which is the number on her card. She looks back at her card to check.
Student & Family Enrollment:
Percent of seats filled: 95%
Students on waitlist:
59
City-funded seats: 2,250
Average age of student: 3.5 years
Her lucky-7! She’s developing pride in her abilities just as the mayor said: “You can see their physical and facial reaction to the fact they are in a quality setting, learning and being reinforced in their own minds about their abilities, and being reinforced by their schoolmates!”
PHL Pre-K Providers & Teachers:
PHL Pre-K providers: 85
PHL Pre-K classrooms:
158
Providers that are minority and/or women-owned businesses:
55
New PHL Pre-K positions: 278
PHL Pre-K teachers:
241
Neighborhoods that are no longer Pre-K deserts: 5
