Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh’s pre-K promise
“Because of the proven success of quality pre-K programs, I am happy to stand with the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children and other advocacy organizations across the state to support the Pre-K for PA Campaign. It is time that we raise the awareness of those in or running for office that it makes sense to invest in young children.
Gov. Tom Corbett is asking the state Legislature to provide $10 million more for pre-K programs in Pennsylvania this year. There is no guarantee our state legislators will go for it, but, even if they do, it is not enough. Over the last three years, the Legislature has gutted so-called accountability grants to local school districts, 75 percent of which went for early childhood programs. To close its widening budget gap, Pittsburgh Public Schools has increased monthly pre-K tuition for middle-class families.
We need to take our city’s destiny into our own hands. That’s why I propose a Pittsburgh Pre-K Promise to ensure that people in the middle who can neither afford full pre-K tuition nor qualify for supplemental programs can get their children started on the right foot.”
Read the full story here.
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Report: County lags others in pre-k access
“Barely a third of children ages 3 and 4 in Luzerne County are enrolled in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, according to a new report, leaving about 4,500 children without access to such programs.
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children issued the report, titled “A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-k in PA,” touting the value of high quality pre school programs, a recurring theme with the advocacy group.
The report contends “a growing body of research shows that gains made by 4-year-olds in publicly supported pre-K programs lead to improved early literacy language and math skills entering kindergarten, reduced special-education placement through second grade, reduced grade repetition through eighth grade, and increased likelihood of high school graduation and college enrollment.””
Read the full story here.
Smart Talk from WTIF: “Kids for Cash” documentary and early education
“Later we’ll discuss another issue important to parents: early childhood education. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children President and CEO Joan Benso and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Pennsylvania State Director Bruce Clash will join us to discuss the new “Pre-K for PA” campaign and what the research says about early learning.
A new PPC report finds that 70 percent of the state’s 3 and 4 year old children don’t have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The numbers for some midstate counties are even higher.
Governor Corbett has proposed an 11.5 percent increase in “Pre-K Counts” funding in next year’s budget. We’ll ask our guests how much progress that investment would make toward the campaign’s goal of ensuring quality Pre-K access for all children.”
Listen to the full program here.
Carlisle Sentinel: Report: 70 percent of Pa. children can’t access preschool
“The report is part of a new push by a coalition of 10 nonprofit organizations to ensure every child has the opportunity to attend a strong preschool program. The coalition launched the “Pre-K for PA” campaign last month, in hopes of spurring lawmakers to devote more resources to early education as they develop the 2014-15 budget.
“Pennsylvanians want to see their tax dollars invested wisely in areas that benefit all of us, and they increasingly recognize that high-quality pre-k is one of those areas,” said Joan Benso, president of the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. “It has a ripple effect throughout a child’s life and throughout a child’s community.”
Advocates say expanding public preschool programs will send children to kindergarten with more advanced math and language skills, reduce special education placements and grade repetition, and increase high school graduation rates and college enrollment. They highlight research that identifies long-term economic benefits of affordable preschool for all, including helping students achieve higher-earning potential and reducing the costs of crime and public assistance.”
Read the full story here.
Ellwood City Ledger: Report: 70 percent of Pa. children can’t access preschool
“Nearly 209,000 young children lack access to pre-kindergarten programs because their families either can’t find or can’t afford it, the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children found in its new report,“A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-k in PA.”
Less than 18 percent, or about 53,000 children, are enrolled in publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs statewide.
The report is part of a new push by a coalition of 10 nonprofit organizations to ensure every young Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to attend a strong preschool program. The coalition launched the “Pre-k for PA” campaign last month, in the hope of spurring lawmakers to devote more resources to early education as they develop the 2014-15 budget.”
Read the full story here.
