August 1st, 2014

Wanted: Leadership for Pennsylvania Governor and Legislature so Schools Open in September

With about five weeks left until the scheduled start of the school year, the Philadelphia School District still has no assurances from Harrisburg that it will permit Philadelphians to tax themselves so they can fund the schools. Instead of showing up for work and voting on a bill to permit Philadelphia to increase its cigarette tax, legislators are staying on vacation. The state House canceled Monday’s scheduled session and House leaders are asking Governor Corbett to advance money to the district. Any advance from the state only provides the district with funding it already factored into its budget and fails to provide the $81 million in additional recurring revenue the district could receive through the cigarette tax increase. Philadelphia School District Superintendent Dr. William Hite already made it clear “We still need $81 million, otherwise we’re spending money that we don’t have.”

The one person who has the power to resolve this crisis is Governor Corbett. But the Governor has not called on the legislature to return to work to get this done. He has remained on the sidelines while legislators bicker and fail to show up for work. All the while, Philadelphia school parents are left wondering if their child’s school will open on September 8th.

Parents, students, teachers and advocates are going to Harrisburg on Monday, August 4th to call on the legislature to return to work so that the children of Philadelphia can return to school. Our buses are full but if you can make it, we will meet in Room 39 in the East Wing of the Capitol Building at around 10:30am.

Can’t make it on Monday? Here are other ways YOU can tell state legislators to do their jobs:

•  Click here to send a letter urging your local lawmakers and the Governor to return to work so Philadelphia’s children can start the school year on time.
•  Tuesday, August 5th: Join advocates from Philadelphia and the suburbs to rally in Harrisburg for the legislature to return to work and ensure schools open in September. Email Shanee Garner at shaneeg@childrenfirstpa.org to sign up.
•  Wednesday, August 6th: The State Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the Philadelphia school funding crisis in Philadelphia at 10:00 am at City Hall, 4th Floor. Show up and let the Senators know this matters to you.

Major Victory for Children Enrolled in CHIP Who Need Eye Glasses

Believe it or not, until this week the state’s Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) would provide only one pair of eyeglasses a year to children even though most children are likely to break, scratch or lose their glasses more than once year. But this is a good news alert! PCCY heard this week from the State Insurance Department that it is directing its CHIP plans to make a pair of replacement glasses available for free to every child who needs them on an annual basis. This terrific new policy came about because PCCY pressed hard for it over the last twelve months. Our persistent pushing of the issue with the Insurance Department, backed up with hundreds of letters from parents to the legislature and Governor, tipped the scales in favor of kids. We are grateful to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department for listening and doing the right thing! This small policy victory for PCCY can open up a world of possibilities for children across the state!