Early Childhood
Starting June 3, families will be able to use one, streamlined application for the city’s free early childhood education programs. Preschool teachers will be eligible for new retention bonuses worth up to $2,000.
District officials want to boost enrollment, and they support making kindergarten mandatory in Pennsylvania.
Murals, games, and a ‘story wheel’ are among the strategies researchers say can promote academic achievement and child development.
This year, Chalkbeat Philadelphia is elevating the voices of different perspectives in early childhood education, from parents and educators to the mayor.
Educator Sarah Budlow said the more she learned about the impact of a kid's school experience on their life and their future, the more she wanted to become a teacher.
Philadelphia offers free pre-K, and all 3- and 4-year-olds in the city can apply. Here’s everything you need to know about the process and some obstacles you may face.
Parents are most concerned about safety, teacher quality, and curriculum.
Candidates want to lengthen the school day, offer free transportation, knock down old buildings, and raise teacher pay, among other ideas.
In Philadelphia, 83% of early childhood programs are currently facing a staffing shortage and nearly 3,000 children are on a waitlist.
The Kids Campaignhas detailed policy proposals for issues like the teacher shortage, summer jobs, and juvenile justice.
The district would like at least 10,000 students to enroll in kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year.
The guide also includes a teacher’s perspective on helping students successfully go from home to school environments after COVID’s disruptions.
Advocates and others say the city’s “Read by 4th” campaign and other efforts have built a strong foundation.
A significant number of Philadelphia’s children struggle to get adequate and consistent meals, recent data show.
“We understand that if students see themselves valued, reflected, and honored in books and learning experiences that we provide them, they’re more likely to learn.”
This veteran preschool teacher spoke with Chalkbeat Philadelphia about teaching preschoolers to share, common misconceptions about early learners, and more.
The new grant comes as Pennsylvania introduces standards to help teachers address bias.
Mayor Jim Kenney and others stressed that early education is crucial to children’s development and academic success
She applauds the city’s efforts and said they should be replicated around the country.
More Philadelphia child care providers opened in the second year of the pandemic than the first, but the city still saw a net loss of providers.