PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – With Philadelphia’s public schools facing a budget crisis, student leaders held a press conference Wednesday to ask City Council to keep funding for programs that decrease violence in schools.

The Campaign for Non-Violent Schools is a youth-led effort to improve safety in schools without pushing students into prison.

Khalif Dobson, a recent graduate from West Philadelphia High school and a member of the campaign, says, “We are trying to end the school-to-prison pipeline.  But how do we do that?  We need to make school a good place for students.  We need to keep programs that are empowering for young people.”

Khalif and the other youth who are a part of the campaign say student success centers, bilingual counseling assistants and accelerated schools can help students achieve.  “We want City Council to earmark funds for programs that support youth voice and support our non-violent schools.”

For more information go to CampaignForNonviolentSchools.org.

Reported by Cherri Gregg, KYW Newsradio 1060