In just four days… – Mar 3, 2023

Mar 3, 2023

March Budget Madness Begins

In just four days, Governor Shapiro will release his first budget proposal and the Children First team will be courtside to see if his plan is a slam dunk for children and teens. Join us at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, March 7th for the budget season tip off with our expert analysis and commentary.

Register today at www.childrenfirstpa.org/budgetgameplan.

Sign your name to St. Patrick’s Day cards we’re sending to legislators thanking them for past budget votes, and reminding them that high-quality, affordable early learning should go to all of PA’s youngest learners, not just the lucky ones.

More than 100 children as young as 13 worked hazardous overnight jobs cleaning slaughterhouses in eight states, according to the U.S. Labor Department. The cleaning company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc, even hired the same child twice under different names.

At a time of deep political polarization, nearly every PA voter believes that early childhood care and education is important, according to a new statewide poll.

And there is also a rise in voters who support increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs (78% up from 65% last year.)

“Most importantly, it’s giving children the quality
early education that they deserve, which prepares
them for early literacy and academic success. When
we make investments in education, especially in
the youngest learners, we’re investing in a process
that takes longer than an election cycle to prove its
full potential.

But the wait is worth it.”

– Mayor Jim Kenney in his budget address, on the success of PHLpreK