PRESS RELEASES & ADVISORIES

In response to the federal administration’s decision to freeze Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) payments in five states, the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA campaigns issue the following statement:

Today, the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, alongside bipartisan legislative leaders and providers from across the state, celebrated the 60th anniversary of the national Head Start program while issuing an urgent warning about the devastating impact of the ongoing state budget impasse and federal government shutdown on early childhood education.

Local chamber of commerce leaders, child care teachers and working parents gathered via Zoom to discuss how the ongoing child care teacher shortage, driven by unlivable wages, is forcing classrooms to close and leaving working families scrambling to find care. Participants urged lawmakers to prioritize child care in the 2025-2026 state budget by including Governor Shapiro’s proposal to invest $55 million in a new and recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item to boost the pay of the Commonwealth’s child care teachers by $1,000.

Local chamber of commerce leaders, child care teachers and working parents gathered in Philadelphia to discuss how the ongoing child care teacher shortage, driven by unlivable wages, is forcing classrooms to close and leaving working families scrambling to find care.

Just as the Pennsylvania 2025-26 state budget negotiations begin; partners of the Early Learning PA Coalition are releasing new polling data showing strong voter support for early childhood care and education programs and increased state funding to strengthen and grow these services.