Pennsylvania on the Losing End of New School Breakfast Scorecard

Forty other states do a better job than Pennsylvania in making sure low-income students start the school day with a healthy breakfast, according to the “School Breakfast Scorecard” issued this week by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). FRAC’s report shows that only 45% of low-income children who eat lunch at school are also eating breakfast.  Why is school breakfast so important?  Reams of national research show children who start the day with a healthy meal are more focused and perform better in class.  The FRAC report should serve as a wake-up call to the state to step up its game in expanding access to healthy breakfast for its students.

Source: Food Research and Action Center School Breakfast Scorecard

Penn Wood Middle School in Darby implemented the Breakfast in the Classroom model at the start of the school year and they have more than tripled the number of students who are starting their day with a healthy breakfast.  Children now receive breakfast in their homeroom each morning.  As a result, breakfast participation jumped from 23% in SY 2014 to more than 80% in SY 2015.  More schools would be wise to follow the lead of schools like Penn Wood Middle in adopting Breakfast in the Classroom or other proven methods of expanding school breakfast options so students can start the day with their stomachs full and their minds ready to learn.

Click here to read the report.

Federal Grant for Early Learning is a Good Start, State Needs to do its Part

Great news came to Pennsylvania this week when the federal Administration of Children and Families awarded a grant of $24.3 million to Pennsylvania to expand Early Head Start to serve more low-income, at-risk children and their families.  Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will oversee the grant and will work with providers across the state to expand the number of infants and toddlers receiving Head Start services.

The grant is a great first step towards ensuring all children in Pennsylvania have access to quality early education and pre-k.  The next step will be for state leaders to make early education and pre-k a priority in this year’s budget by expanding the state’s investment in high-quality programs so more children can start school ready to learn.

PCCY and other member organizations of the Pre-K for PA Campaign are organizing “Capitol Caravans” to Harrisburg over the next five months to make sure legislators are focused on expanding access to high-quality pre-k.  To join the next local Caravan to Harrisburg on February 23rd, email Anne Gemmell at anneg@childrenfirstpa.org.

You can also help by signing our “10K for Pre-K” petition. Take 5 seconds to add your name to the petition calling on Philadelphia City Council to add a question to the May primary ballot asking voters if the city should create a task force charged with developing a plan to implement and fund universal pre-k in the City.

Click here to sign the petition and join us at the City Council hearing this Wednesday, February 18th at Noon in Council Chambers (room 400). If you can make it please email Anne Gemmell at anneg@childrenfirstpa.org.

Did you see this? Leading Economists Concur: School Funding Matters for School Performance.

How Would You Like to Adopt A Giraffe?

This year’s celebration of the 2015 Public Citizen of Year is going to new heights.  Our event on April 29th at Vie on Broad Street will include live student performances, food, fun and a great selection of silent auction items that includes the chance to adopt a giraffe at the Philadelphia Zoo.  The package includes a behind-the-scenes tour with the zoo keeper where you can meet and feed your giraffe!  Check out this cool video to see what you can expect.

All proceeds from the event will benefit PCCY’s research, advocacy and direct services for children in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Click here to buy your tickets.

Check out the video below.  You WON’T want to miss this great night of fun to benefit southeastern Pennsylvania’s children!

3,500 Students Get Access to the Arts through the Picasso Project

PCCY will officially award mini-grants totaling nearly $70,000 to 15 Philadelphia schools at the Picasso Project grant ceremony at Moore College of Art and Design on Tuesday, February 24th.  Throughout the rest of the school year, 60 teachers will work with 23 teaching artists to help students complete original arts projects and advocate for additional resources so all schools can give their students access to arts education.  Picasso Project grants are made possible through generous donations from Picasso Project supporters and local foundations.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Steven Fynes at stevenf@childrenfirstpa.org.