northcentralpa.com: LTE: Is there a crisis in childcare?
Ron Frick, President/CEO, Lycoming County United Way
Dec 2, 2020
Healthcare access, educational inequities, and racial disparities are issues that are not new to the United States, but COVID-19 has certainly brought new attention to these issues and others and forced the nonprofit community to speak out and advocate for systemic change. The holes in the dike are opening daily and governments and communities are running out of fingers to plug them.
We clearly need to do better.
Early learning and child-care providers serve families across all socio-economic classes and provide the valuable care needed so parents can go to work and so children have the proper start they need in life. Yet despite the important role many believe they have, many child-care providers are struggling to stay afloat. Under Pennsylvania’s social distancing measures, most child-care providers were required to close in the early days and weeks of the pandemic, and while things have opened up somewhat, many providers have been forced to implement new protocols and work schedules for the parents have also changed and caused disruption for families as well as providers. This has put many high quality programs at risk of closing permanently.
Read the full article here.
Longietti honored for Early Childhood Education Caucus leadership
October 19, 2020
State Rep. Mark Longietti is being honored this evening as a “Legislative Champion” by state education advocates for his work as chairman of Pennsylvania’s bipartisan, bicameral Early Childhood Education Caucus.
Longietti, D-Mercer, said his leadership role with the caucus is focused on ensuring that the interests of Pennsylvania’s at-risk children remain a top legislative priority.
“Early education programs benefit young children a hundred different ways beyond the ABCs,” Longietti said. “They make a huge difference in helping kids develop the skills that determine success later in life, from forming friendships and working with peers to developing creative thinking and sharpening problem-solving skills.
“That’s why it’s so critical to ensure all kids have access to these resources. We need to give them an even playing field from the start, because when they don’t have this during their early formative years, it’s very difficult to make that up later.
Read the full article here.
Rep. Pat Harkins named 2020 Early Childhood Education Legislative Champion
Oct 19, 2020
State Rep. Pat Harkins has been named a Legislative Champion by state education advocates for his role in founding the bipartisan, bicameral Early Childhood Education Caucus and his decade-long work promoting the caucus’ mission of protecting at-risk children.
Harkins, D-Erie, said he began organizing the caucus 10 years ago.
“I founded the Early Childhood Education Caucus in 2010, with help from former state Representative Phyllis Mundy, because I realized Pennsylvania’s at-risk kids needed a strong, unified voice in Harrisburg to ensure they received the best possible start in life.”
“I was able to get just about every member to participate and become active members in the caucus, which was no small feat at the time, with depleted budgets that often ran months long and provided much uncertainty and tension among members and the administration. That we succeeded is a testament to lawmakers on both sides of aisle, who understood the importance of the cause.”
“I’m extremely honored to be recognized for this achievement. This caucus has lived on and endured, and it provides great support for our state’s most precious resource – the young students who represent our future. We owe it to them to make sure that as they begin their educational experience, they receive every possible opportunity to succeed.”
STATE REP. PAT HARKINS
Harkins added that his wife, Michelle, is deeply involved in Pre-K programs in the Erie region and that he and Michelle are honored to work with the many excellent programs dedicated to giving children the extra boost they need to thrive and excel.
Read the full article here.
Morning Call: LTE: Early education still a priority
Xiomara Rosado
SEP 10, 2020
My son started preschool this week. I know I’m not alone with all of my questions and anxieties, as I send him each day. This school year will be unforgettable for us for many reasons, but we cannot lose sight of how irreplaceable this year of a high-quality early education is for a child’s development.
The pandemic is challenging our schools and forcing them to make hard decisions. We cannot also let it hurt our children’s access to these valuable programs. A high-quality, pre-K education is proven to prepare children for success in kindergarten — it’s why I worked so hard to get my son into a Pre-K Counts program and why I send him to school each day. With COVID-19 looming over preschools and child care centers, as a parent, I want to know if the state is doing everything they can to ensure our kids will still have access to a high quality pre-K education. Now more than ever, we need to focus on our children’s education and ensure they have the foundation necessary to make them successful. We need to invest, more, not less, and keep moving forward — our future is dependent on it.
To read this full letter to the editor, click here to the article.
