On March 4, Mayor Kenney toured Lovie Lee’s Stars of Tomorrow, a group-based pre-K provider in West Oak Lane. This “play-based parent-cooperative” preschool features qualified teachers and small classes. The school provides children with a safe and comfortable place to learn, discover and grow, while emphasizing the importance of socialization with new adults and children. Lovie Lee’s well-rounded and comprehensive approach to early education has led it to receive a Keystone STAR-4 rating — the highest grade awarded to child care programs in the state.

Mayor Kenney was impressed with the success Lovie Lee’s has achieved in developing and preparing young minds.

Owner and Director Khadijah Sabir has also been deeply involved in advancing the quality of early education in Philadelphia for over 30 years, working as a Pre-K 4 PA advocate and coach to other early childhood education providers. As a result of her dedication to the field, she won the PennAEYC Voice for Children Award in 2014, a statewide award for early education grassroots proponents who are creating real change in their communities.

On March 17, Khadijah also hosted a community meeting with over 50 representatives of community-based centers, family and group pre-K providers.  At the meeting, Mayor Kenney shared his vision for all children to arrive to Kindergarten ready to learn. Participants discussed the Mayor’s plan to increase quality pre-K for all three- and four-year olds who currently lack access.

“I’m calling on parents, caregivers, and every type of quality pre-K provider to get involved so we can add 10,000 publicly-funded pre-K seats by 2020,” he encouraged. “Our administration is committed to increasing access to quality pre-K, but we can’t do it alone. We need the help of experts who do this work every day.”

If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up to support pre-K and get involved.