|
REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMMarch 26, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2007
CONTACT: Solomon Jones
(215) 829-1620 / (215) 370-5681
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today released his plan to give Philadelphia's youth a home court advantage by providing after-school opportunities, particularly for 12 to 16-year-olds in need of a place to go at the end of the school day.
"Philadelphia's youth deserve a home court advantage and it's our responsibility to give it to them," Fattah said. "We have to commit to improving their welfare and making our neighborhoods safe so that our young people can win in the game of life."
Currently, 45,000 Philadelphia youths are involved in productive after-school programming. But an estimated 100,000 young people in this city spend their after-school hours unsupervised. During the 2003-2004 school year, 6 percent of Philadelphia's public school students in grades six-to-twelve dropped out, and an additional 4 percent were enrolled but were absent more than half the time. The Fattah Administration will boost achievement by giving Philadelphia's young people the opportunity to succeed and the support they need to stay on track academically.
The Fattah Administration would provide 21st century community learning centers in regions throughout the city modeled after Project H.O.M.E.'s Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs.
As Mayor, Chaka Fattah will commit an additional $15 million to support the expansion of after school programs throughout the city. Like other items in the Fattah Opportunity Agenda, the funding for this initiative will be obtained by leasing the Philadelphia Airport.
"After-school opportunities are the product of partnerships between the city, school district and community leaders," Fattah said. "My plan will bring together many elements to create a home court advantage for Philadelphia's children. Philadelphia must unite around after-school initiatives so that every child's home court will be safe, strong and tailored to success."
To learn more about the Fattah Plan for After-School in Philadelphia, please visit the policy page of our website at http://www.phillyforfattah.com/policy_center.asp.
###