A main component of our early access initiative, CSFP implemented a Priority Deadline for new scholarship applications. We developed this new timeline to encourage new families to start considering school options for the next year, much earlier and at a time when schools hold open houses. Early results are positive: so far, CSFP has received…

CSFP is invested in helping children attend and succeed in great schools. We have scaled our staff to match the growing demands of a student population of more than 5,300 children from low-income families, each with their own particular needs and learning style. Over a year ago, we hired our first-ever Educational Consultant and Field…

CSFP believes that a great education, early on, matters in a child’s success. Children can enter our four-year scholarship program as early as kindergarten, which gives them time to build a solid foundation at a quality school. It is application season, and each year we strive to let many Philadelphia families know that their children…

One of the true delights of working or volunteering for CSFP is informing Philadelphia parents/guardians that their children were selected from our random scholarship lottery. The sheer joy parents express upon learning that they can give their children quality elementary education is contagious. This year, CSFP held a special “Opening Day” lottery in September, when…

On a cold and rainy October 22, nearly 1,000 children and parents came out to Girard College to participate in CSFP’s Citywide K-8th Grade School Fair. The free, open-to-the-public event was the first of its kind for CSFP (and the first any organization has held in the city), where over 70 diverse schools—district, charter, private,…

“The first thing [prospective parents] ask about are scholarships. It’s important not just to bring new students in, but also to retain students whose families may be having a hard time. They can stay because of Children’s Scholarship Fund.” Leigh Kelly, Holmesburg Christian Academy On Wednesday, October 5, CSFP and representatives from our partner schools gathered to…

CSFP opened applications for its random K-8th grade scholarship lottery at a full-to-capacity event hosted by the Please Touch Museum this morning. Over 600 parents and children attended the event, set against the backdrop of the Museum’s historic Dentzel Carousel.  This morning marked the opening of CSFP’s application season for the 2017-2018 school year, during…

One of the great things that we hear from our parents is that the financial assistance they receive from CSFP enables them to spend more quality time with their children, and less time at working numerous jobs. We know that time together as a family is important, so we have created some supplemental programming, like…

CSFP has launched a new program designed to help deepen our relationships to families. The Parent Ambassador Program, consists of 12 CSFP parents at 12 different private schools. Selection was made based on school recommendations and individual interviews. Participants will receive an additional $1,000 in scholarship funding per year. Our parent ambassadors have a proven…

CSFP knows the value in providing additional, outside-the-classroom support for children in our program. When we first heard that some CSFP children experienced difficulty acclimating to the increased rigor of high school, especially in the key subjects of Math and Writing, CSFP launched a summer tutorial program. This program focuses on refreshing students’ skill sets…