Delco Times: Parent forum Feb. 26 looks at pre-kindergarten education
“The push for high quality pre-kindergarten education in the state will be the focus of a parent forum at Upper Darby High School on Feb. 26 called DelCo For Pre-K, an initiative to make sure three- and four-year-olds are ready for kindergarten.
Hosted by the Pre-K For PA coalition, DelCo For Pre-K is part of a state-wide regional series that invites parents in the county to learn about pre-k and how to make it a priority for elected leaders.
The forum will be hosted at the school’s board room at 8201 Lansdowne Ave. from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
“Children with access to high-quality, pre-k are more likely to advance grades and have improved social skills,” says a promotional flyer. “When all children arrive ready to learn, all of our schools are better.””
Read the full story here.
Explore Venango: New Report Finds High-Quality Pre-K Benefits Only 1 in 6 Young Learners
“Only about 18 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds – or 1 in 6 children – are able to access high-quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs, despite the proven benefits and growing public support for these programs, according to a new report from Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC).
This lack of access to high-quality pre-k not only means missed learning opportunities for young children, it also results in additional long-term costs for Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. These issues can be addressed through stronger public investments in high-quality pre-k, PPC President and CEO Joan Benso said.
“The sooner high-quality pre-k is made available to more Pennsylvania children, the sooner we can see the increased benefits to our children, our communities and the commonwealth,” Benso said. “Investing in our young learners is a smart and necessary step toward building a stronger Pennsylvania.””
Read the full story here.
Allentown Morning Call: Report: Valley falls short in pre-K programs
“”The sooner high-quality pre-K is made available to more Pennsylvania children, the sooner we can see the increased benefits to our children, our communities and the commonwealth,” PPC President and CEO Joan Benso said in a release. “Investing in our young learners is a smart and necessary step toward building a stronger Pennsylvania.”
PPC’s report, “A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-K in PA,” shows nearly a quarter of a million 3- and 4-year-olds — or one in six children in that age group — are excluded from pre-K because their families cannot find or afford such programs.
According to the report, Lehigh County has about 8,700 children in the 3-4 age group, but 85 percent have no access to high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. In Northampton County, it’s about 91 percent of 6,800 children in the age group.”
Read the full story here.
Delaware County News Network: Parent forum Feb. 26 looks at pre-kindergarten education
“The push for high quality pre-kindergarten education in the state will be the focus of a parent forum at Upper Darby High School on Feb. 26 called DelCo For Pre-K, an initiative to make sure three- and four-year-olds are ready for kindergarten.
Hosted by the Pre-K For PA coalition, DelCo For Pre-K is part of a state-wide regional series that invites parents in the county to learn about pre-k and how to make it a priority for elected leaders.
The forum will be hosted at the school’s board room at 8201 Lansdowne Ave. from 7 to 8:30 p.m.”
Read the full story here.
Keystone News Service: PA 4th Graders Improve Reading Skills, But Poverty Clouds Progress
“Fourth-graders in Pennsylvania appear to be showing progress in reading skills, but not all students are benefiting.
A new
report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reveals that the percentage of fourth-grade students reading below proficiency levels dropped from 67 percent in 2003 to 60 percent last year.
Michael Race, director of communications at Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, says the new numbers reinforce the benefits of books. “
Read the full story here.
