The Notebook: State groups make a push for early education funding
“Ten advocacy groups across the state are making a push for more pre-K funding in Pennsylvania. This new coalition is seeking to use this year’s gubernatorial race as an opportunity to campaign for high-quality pre-K care for every family.
The coalition includes Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia (ELGP), Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
Shawn Towey, child care policy coordinator at PCCY, said polls they’ve conducted indicate bipartisan support for increased funding for higher quality and more pre-K programs. She said investing in children early benefits everyone.”
Read the full story here.
WESA: Life of Learning Forum: Investment in Pre-K Critical to Future Educational Success
“Last week, a panel of experts gathered at the Community Broadcast Center to discuss what the future of the learning/education system should look like to be as effective as possible for the region’s children. The public forum tackled a range of questions from the audience, including the state of early childhood education.
Panelist Patrick Dowd, executive director of Allies for Children, said in recent years more attention has been paid to the importance of early childhood education, but added there are still too many children who don’t have access to pre-K programs. In addition to lack of access, another panelist said there is an opportunity gap among very young children.
“We have children who come to school who have no food,” said Olga Welch, dean of the School of Education at Duquesne University. “We have children who come out of homes where parents are struggling to make a living and to provide a roof, we have children who are homeless.”
Because so many children come from so many difference backgrounds, Welch said an effort must be made to ensure safe learning environments for children. She said access to quality pre-K must be thought of as a community-wide issue.”
Read the full story here.
CBS Philly: Area Early Education Advocates Send A Message — With A Face — To Harrisburg
“Each year, the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children holds a conference, but executive director Sharon Easterling says this is a particularly important year for the conference because of the Pennsylvania governor’s race.
“When folks are running for office they tend to listen to what constituents want. About 80 percent of people in Pennsylvania think investing
in pre-K is a good idea,” she said today.
To get that message across, her organization has launched the “PreKforPA” web site and is pushing its #IamPreK social media compaign.”
Read the full story here.
Bucks County Courier Times: No question about it, pre-K helps children succeed
Guest opinion from Bensalem Township School District superintendent David E. Baugh and president of the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition Nancy Morrill:
“Most professional educators, no matter whether we are public, private, parochial or charter school, believe that expanded investment in early learning is essential, because it helps ensure that every child has the best chance possible for academic and social success. Obviously this has long-term benefits for the country and the child.
Support for high-quality pre-K is reaching a tipping point in Pennsylvania. This is one issue that has bipartisan support in the state Legislature’s 127-member Early Childhood Education Caucus. Think about that!”
Read the full story here.
The Reporter: Study: Two-thirds of Montgomery County preschoolers lack access to high-quality pre-K
“Leaders from the coalition Pre-K for PA released statistics last week saying 12,731 out of 19,320 of Montgomery County’s 3- and 4-year-olds, or 66 percent, do not have access to high-quality pre-K.
The statistics were released as part of an initiative to provide reports on the status of early care for each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Montgomery County’s percentage of children without access high-quality early care equals that of Philadelphia, but is less than Bucks and Chester counties, which have 72 and 73 percent without access, respectively.”
Read the full story here.
