Groundbreaking Coalition to Tackle Adoption of School Funding Formula
Representatives from 40 organizations gathered in the Harrisburg Capitol Rotunda for the launch of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding
PCCY played an instrumental role in forming a powerful new coalition with more than 40 diverse organizations operating under the umbrella of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding with the goal that every child in Pennsylvania has access to a quality education, no matter where they live. The coalition is made up of educators, labor, and business groups, faith-based organizations, child advocates, public and charter schools, and representatives from rural, urban and growing school districts who will work to enact a fair and predictable funding formula for public schools. Demonstrating the jaw-dropping breadth of this new coalition, the President and CEO of the PA Business Council, spoke at the Campaign’s press launch. The Business Council’s Dave Patti said, “Business people across the state know that we all lose when students don’t have a fair chance to succeed. We all lose when we cannot find skilled men and women to fill jobs and move our economy forward. Consensus is tough to find in some areas but every member of this campaign agrees on the need for a fair and predictable funding system for every student.” Mike Crossey, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and Bob Fayfich, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, also stepped forward at the impressive launch (a complete list of current members is available at http://www.fairfundingPA.org). “This is a very diverse coalition, representing a lot of different views and ideas about public education, but we are absolutely united in this effort,” Crossey said. “We need to change the way we fund our public schools, make the system fair and equitable, and invest in our greatest resource – Pennsylvania’s children.”
PCCY will help the Campaign succeed by building a network of informed citizen advocates across the five southeastern counties. To get involved with the Campaign for Fair Education Funding, contact Shanee Garner at shaneeg@childrenfirstpa.org
The Campaign’s launch coincides with the work of the Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Commission which will hold its first hearing in our region next Thursday at Perkiomen Valley High School in Montgomery County. The school funding issue is particularly potent in the county since state school funding cuts have shifted the burden for education onto Montgomery County homeowners. Eighty-three percent of Montgomery County school districts have raised property taxes at least once in the last three years. Even with these local tax increases, districts across the county have also eliminated or reduced crucial programs for their students. Want to get involved?
Click here to join PCCY at next Thursday’s hearing.
Click here to send a letter to commission members.
Learn more about the Campaign for Fair Education Funding at www.fairfundingPA.org.
A State Victory – Bill Helping Homeless Infants and Toddlers Passes with Record Speed
Great news came out of Harrisburg this week when the legislature acted to guarantee access to services that homeless infants and toddlers need for healthy development. House Bill 2204 establishes that homeless infants and toddlers must be screened and served under the state-administered Early Intervention Program. The explicit requirement that these highly at-risk children are screened and served by this program will drive down the impact that developmental delays can have on the lives of approximately 6,000 of the state’s most vulnerable infants and toddlers who have experienced homelessness.
This common sense measure passed with lightening speed; after five months the bill was introduced and passed without any opposition. Click here to send a thank you letter to your state legislator.
Children’s Sabbath is Next Sunday
Join PCCY on Sunday, October 19th for the 2014 Children’s Sabbath, a special interfaith service at Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill as part of the national Children’s Sabbath Celebration.
There will be singing, praise, dancing, food, and words from many faith traditions. The event will feature performances from the CAPA Dance Company, Pennsylvania Girlchoir, Keystone State Boychoir, and Singing City’s Children’s Choir.
We will be collecting gently used and new books for children up to age 6 with all proceeds benefitting Philadelphia READS and Project HOME.
Spread the word!
Children’s Sabbath
Sunday, October 19 at 3pm
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
8855 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Click here for more information about the event.
Click here to download a flyer that you can share with your friends.
Picasso Project Grants Available to Expand Arts Education in Philadelphia Public Schools
Students at Stephen Girard Elementary School have hands-on arts instruction because of PCCY’s Picasso Project.
PCCY’s Picasso Project is now accepting applications for mini-grants of up to $5,000 to support arts projects and instruction from schools in Philadelphia. Any city school with two or fewer arts teachers is eligible to apply. School’s vying for a Picasso Project grant must submit a project idea that addresses the issue of the need for arts in school, academics or school climate. Since 2002, PCCY’s Picasso Project has provided nearly half a million dollars in mini-grants to Philadelphia schools, helping more than 30,000 students learn and express themselves through the arts.
Spread the word! The deadline to apply is November 13th, 2014.
Click here to learn more about how to apply and for assistance on filling out the grant application.
Click here to download a flyer to share with your networks.
Vote Today to Help Philly Students Support PCCY’s Give Kids Sight Day
Students from area colleges are competing for a $5,000 prize from the YMCA. Their plan is to create a city-wide “Dance Marathon” to raise funding for PCCY’s Give Kids Sight Day. The students said they were inspired to support the annual day of eye care after volunteering at last April’s event.
Please take two seconds to cast your vote by clicking here.
Spread the word on Facebook by sharing this post: Help Philadelphia College Students support Give Kids Sight Day. Click on the link below and vote. http://mfpp.ymca.net/project/give-sight