Early Childhood
For years, Kahn-Tineta Smith dreamed of becoming a teacher. Now she’s navigating small-group instruction, kids tossing Cheerios on the floor, and all that comes with her job.
Here’s everything you need to get started with the new application and where to go if you have questions.
Some Pennsylvania parents are being priced out of child care subsidies by small raises — including child care workers.
This year, the city has a new universal pre-K application, but the early childhood field is still recovering from the pandemic.
Philadelphia Academies now puts students on both career and college tracks and has moved away from its self-contained model.
Kahn-Tineta Smith wanted to be a teacher since she was a small child, but then ‘life happened.’ A district program helped her get the certification she needed.
Right2ReadPhilly is the city's latest reading program dedicated to promoting literacy outside of classroom instruction.
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.