City Council gets final report on universal pre-K

Philadelphia’s Pre-K Commission has hand delivered its final report to City Council. 

The 50-page report offers recommendations for how the city can expand affordable pre-K education for all 3- and 4-year-olds.

“We built this to be a quality system,” said Sharon Easterling, commission co-chairwoman. “One that is built on the resources that we already have in place and one that addresses our workforce so that they will be better educated and compensated —  and that will insure we will change the trajectory for thousands of kids in the city.”

The report is a thorough analysis of the current situation and how it can be improved, said Loretta Sweet Jemmott, co-chairwoman.

“We went around the city of Philadelphia, conducted focus groups, conversations, meetings at all the districts, and we want to make sure the voices of the people are heard,” she said Thursday morning during a presentation to City Council.

A majority — though not all — of the commission members support creating a tax on sugary beverages tax to fund the universal pre-K program.