PHILADELPHIA – Today, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker joined the Office of Children and Families at Smith Memorial Playground for its second annual Citywide Play Date, a celebration dedicated to Philadelphia’s youngest learners and early childhood educators.
The event kicked off with two major announcements from Mayor Parker, including a 3 million dollar investment to fund signing and retention bonuses for Lead and Assistant Teachers. Lead Teachers will receive up to an additional $2,000 and Assistant Teachers up to an additional $1,500 if they choose to stay at their jobs for the upcoming school year.
Part of the multi-million dollar investment also includes summer trainings for teachers and coaches, providing them the tools needed to support children facing ongoing trauma, and mental and behavioral challenges. Those who attend will receive a stipend.
“We are here today to recognize some of Philadelphia’s most dedicated teachers, celebrate our preschoolers, and demonstrate the commitment we have to the next generation of our great City,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “As mayor and a working mother, I know very well that improving and investing in pre-K education is critical to ensuring our children have high-quality support so that they are prepared for kindergarten, elementary school, and beyond. I am proud of and looking forward to what lies on the horizon for our youngest learners.”
Mayor Parker also announced the launch of a unified application portal, “Free Philly Pre-K,” making it easier for parents to enroll their children in public preschool programs across Philadelphia. The portal is a one-stop location built in conjunction with the School District of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and federal partners.
“It is a pleasure to host the Citywide Play Date for the second year in a row and provide the space and opportunity to celebrate our early childhood educators and preschoolers with fun games, photo ops, and food, and to let them know how committed this administration is to their growth,” said Vanessa Garrett-Harley, Chief Deputy Managing Director for the Office of Children and Families. “The City’s investments in pre-K are well-known and we pride ourselves on the quality of these programs. I want to thank Mayor Parker for her continued commitment to our pre-K programs and supporting a unified preschool system to make us one Philly!”
Philadelphia System of Care and the City’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy were sponsors of the Citywide Play Date. Parents and their children had access to resources and information from various city departments, participated in community dances, and enjoyed face painting, balloon art, sand play, free food, and live music. Philadelphia Eagles Swoop and cheerleaders were also in attendance.
The Free Philly Pre-K portal will go live on June 3, 2024, in 12 different languages, is mobile-friendly, and includes all 370 Philadelphia public preschool locations across 43 zip codes.