CHILD CARE IN CRISIS | Many advocating for ‘high-quality’ early childhood education
Leah Spangler, CEO of The Learning Lamp, is an advocate for early childhood education, especially due to the benefits such programs provide.
“Having access to quality child care and preschool ensures that children build the foundational skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond,” she said. “That includes things like pre-reading and math skills and social-emotional development.”
However, Pennsylvania lacks a sufficient number of programs to match the need, data show. According to advocacy group Start Strong PA, just 42% of the nearly 7,000 providers throughout the commonwealth meet the state’s standards for a high-quality program.
In Pennsylvania, child care organizations are graded using the Keystone STARS (standards, training/professional development, assistance, resources and supports) system, which has been around since 2002.
Through this voluntary system, the facilities are provided with one to four stars, which represent a program’s quality (four being the best rating) based on how safe and respectful the environment is and if the children are learning important lessons or skills “to support their current and future successes in school and in life,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
LATROBE, PA(June 2, 2021) – Latrobe Kinder-Schull welcomed PA State Senator Kim Ward and local leaders today for a virtual tour and conversation on the challenges of providing pre-k during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local leaders spoke to Senator Ward about the continued need to serve the more than 2,195 eligible children across Westmoreland County who still lack access to this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“You don’t have to sell me on the importance of early education, I’m already sold on that,” Senator Ward said. “I think if we are not taking care of our young kids, we are derelict in our duty, if we’re not giving them the best start that we can.”
Eva Wood, Director at Latrobe Kinder-Schull offered a glimpse into life at an early learning center during COVID—describing both visually and verbally how providers have been supporting our children, families, and businesses during this unique year. Joining her in the discussion were Briana Tomack, President & CEO at Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shirley Hough, Director at Our Buddy’s Place, Mary Anna Pitner, Director at SPHS Child Learning Center and Lindsey Ramsey and Cristina Codario at Trying Together.
“We need to help childcare and preschool programs reach high quality, and in order to do that there are financial burdens that have to be hurdled,” said Wood. “I think with providing that financial support, facilities will be able to reach those standards.”
Speakers made it clear that despite the challenges associated with COVID, early care and education is working and is supported by the Latrobe community. Briana Tomack, who participated in the discussion, offered her unique business perspective, and agreed that high quality early learning promotes not just the hard skills like math, reading, writing and science—but the increasingly important soft skills—communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
“Kids that attend high quality early learning are more likely to succeed, stay on track academically, graduate from high school, pursue higher education career training and become productive workers,” said Tomack. “This is why many business leaders across Pennsylvania are supportive of early learning iniatives.”
A new study by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill confirmed that the commonwealth’s investment in pre-k is paying dividends for the children fortunate enough to access pre-k through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program. In language and math skills, the study showed that these kids outperformed their kindergarten peers who did not enjoy access—an advantage that equated to four to five months of learning gains, which is a substantial difference in development at that age.
Governor Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 PA budget includes a $25 million increase for Pre-K Counts and $5 million increase for the Head Start State Supplemental Assistance Program, which continues the tradition of expanding access to high quality pre-k. This new funding will allow 3,271 additional children to enroll in these high-quality early learning programs.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
Lancaster, PA(June 1, 2021) – Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County welcomed PA State Senator Scott Martin and local leaders today for a virtual tour and conversation on the challenges of providing pre-k during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local leaders spoke to Senator Martin about the continued need to serve the more than 7,000 eligible children across Lancaster County who still lack access to this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“I absolutely support efforts to increase capacity that we need and right now they’re needed more than ever,” Senator Martin said. “We can’t get a lot of people back to work if they don’t have good options related to their young children, you can count on my support.”
Stacy Lewis, Director at Head Start Programs Community Action Partnership offered a glimpse into life at an early learning center during COVID—describing both visually and verbally how providers have been supporting our children, families, and businesses during this unique year. Joining her in the discussion were Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dennis L. Benchoff, U.S. Army, Robert Krasne, Chairman & CEO at Steinman Communications, Steve Doster, State Director at Mission: Readiness, Kim Early, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at PennAEYC, Blair Hyatt, Executive Director at Pennsylvania Head Start Association, and Jan Schwartz, Outreach Director at PennAEYC.
“Prior to the pandemic, approximately one in four children had access to a funded pre-k high quality program, and what we know now is that since the pandemic we are actually at a net loss for childcare providers in Lancaster County.” said Lewis. “While some new centers have opened, those that have called close their doors, either on an interim basis or permanently, still outnumbers the new programs, so we are currently down fifteen licensed providers.
Speakers made it clear that despite the challenges associated with COVID, pre-k is working and is supported by the Lancaster County community. Both Robert Krasne and General Benchoff participated in the tour and discussion. From two different perspectives, they both agreed that high quality pre-k promotes not just the hard skills like math, reading, writing and science—but the increasingly important soft skills—communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
“Early childhood education addresses two issues coincidentally. First, it gets Pennsylvania’s children off to a great start in life, helps make them lifelong learners, and prepares them to be great in school and beyond. At the same time, by enabling young children to go into early childhood education programs, it enables their parents or caregivers to get time back so that they can reenter the work force,” Krasne said. “You can invest in the future workforce and invest in expanding the present workforce.”
Enthusiasm for early education was echoed by General Benchoff. “We see the lack of qualifications for military service or any other type of good job that individuals like to do once they graduate from high school as being better addressed by early childhood education and preschool programs,” Benchoff said.
A new study by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill confirmed that the commonwealth’s investment in pre-k is paying dividends for the children fortunate enough to access pre-k through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program. In language and math skills, the study showed that these kids outperformed their kindergarten peers who did not enjoy access—an advantage that equated to four to five months of learning gains, which is a substantial difference in development at that age.
Governor Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 PA budget includes a $25 million increase for Pre-K Counts and $5 million increase for the Head Start State Supplemental Assistance Program, which continues the tradition of expanding access to high quality pre-k. This new funding will allow 3,271 additional children to enroll in these high-quality early learning programs.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
Pittsburgh, PA(May 20, 2021) – Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Pre-K Counts Program and Bright Horizons at UPMC Passavant welcomed PA State Representative Rob Mercuri and local leaders today for a virtual tour and conversation on the challenges of providing pre-k during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local leaders spoke to Rep. Mercuri about the continued need to serve the more than 6,000 eligible children across Allegheny County who still lack access to this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“Those years between zero and five are critical,” Rep. Mercuri said. “The intent and the result of the programs of pre-k put young people on the right path and the return on investment from those early years are very meaningful.”
Chris Rodgick, Program Director at Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Pre-K Counts offered a glimpse into life at an early learning center during COVID—describing both visually and verbally how providers have been supporting our children, families, and businesses during this unique year. Joining her in the discussion were Jeanette Casciato, Assistant Director at Allegheny IU Pre-K Counts, Heather Pfister, Center Director at Bright Horizons at UPMC Passavant, Jake Witherell, Chief Operating Officer at Schell Games, Cristina Codario, Public Policy Regional Coordinator at Trying Together, and Lindsey Ramsey, Public Policy Regional Coordinator at Trying Together.
“These children are meeting or exceeding widely held expectations, so that proves that having class with each other in a preschool setting, mixed age grouping, with trained professional staff really does support the excellent work that we want children to have before they go to kindergarten.” said Rodgick.
Speakers made it clear that despite the challenges associated with COVID, pre-k is working and is supported by the Allegheny County community. Jake Witherell, who participated in the tour and discussion, offered his unique business perspective, and agreed that high quality pre-k promotes not just the hard skills like math, reading, writing and science—but the increasingly important soft skills—communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
“I’ve never understood why more focus isn’t on high quality early learning and putting money there because that’s the best investment,” Witherell said. “These high quality early learning programs are key in cementing those skills early in a child’s life.”
A new study by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill confirmed that the commonwealth’s investment in pre-k is paying dividends for the children fortunate enough to access pre-k through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program. In language and math skills, the study showed that these kids outperformed their kindergarten peers who did not enjoy access—an advantage that equated to four to five months of learning gains, which is a substantial difference in development at that age.
Governor Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 PA budget includes a $25 million increase for Pre-K Counts and $5 million increase for the Head Start State Supplemental Assistance Program, which continues the tradition of expanding access to high quality pre-k. This new funding will allow 3,271 additional children to enroll in these high-quality early learning programs.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
STATE COLLEGE, PA(May 11, 2021) – Pre-K Counts provider The Learning Station welcomed PA State Representative Kerry Benninghoff and local leaders today for a virtual tour and conversation on the challenges of providing pre-k during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local leaders spoke to Rep. Benninghoff about the continued need to serve the more than 900 eligible children across Centre County who still lack access to this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“I’ve raised five children, and now have eight grandchildren, so I am obviously very interested in the investment we make it our children, and I continue to advocate for that in my time in Harrisburg,” Rep. Benninghoff said. “Even in some more economic bleak times, we’ve tried to continue to do that.”
Lynda Mussi, Executive Director of The Learning Station, offered a glimpse into life at an early learning center during COVID—describing both visually and verbally how providers have been supporting our children, families, and businesses during this unique year. Joining her in the discussion were Michael Danneker, Township Manager for Spring Township, Jenn DeBell, Executive Director for Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), Bruce Clash, State Director of Fight Crime: Invest In Kids, and Tracy Weaver, Outreach Coordinator, PennAEYC.
“We still have many, many obstacles, but we believe heavily that early education is the most fundamental and the most important investment that we can provide for our children,” said Mussi.
Speakers made it clear that despite the challenges associated with COVID, pre-k is working and is supported by the Centre County community. Michael Danneker, who participated in the tour and discussion, offered his unique law enforcement perspective, and agreed that high quality pre-k promotes not just the hard skills like math, reading, writing and science—but the increasingly important soft skills—communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
“Being in law enforcement for so long, I think that really there is no substitute for pre-k. I think it’s so important the way it lays out the foundation for kids and how they achieve in the future,” Danneker said. “I can’t say enough about how every little piece counts, and every dollar we spend is an investment—invest in our kids, so we have a positive future for them.”
A new study by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill confirmed that the commonwealth’s investment in pre-k is paying dividends for the children fortunate enough to access pre-k through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program. In language and math skills, the study showed that these kids outperformed their kindergarten peers who did not enjoy access—an advantage that equated to four to five months of learning gains, which is a substantial difference in development at that age.
Governor Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 PA budget includes a $25 million increase for Pre-K Counts and $5 million increase for the Head Start State Supplemental Assistance Program, which continues the tradition of expanding access to high quality pre-k. This new funding will allow 3,271 additional children to enroll in these high-quality early learning programs.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
