Tribune-Review: LTE: Money for pre-K a wise investment
April 12, 2018
Investment in high-quality early education is a crucial component in the development of communities across the state. I commend Gov. Tom Wolf for his proposed expansion of pre-K with an additional $40 million investment that will serve 4,400 more children statewide.
Despite this gain, 100,000 Pennsylvania preschoolers are still left out of this essential educational opportunity. As the leader of a foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for Westmoreland County residents, I am challenging our legislative leaders to go further. Focusing on giving children the best prospects for success in their formal education should be a top priority.
Research validates high-quality pre-K as the program to ensure children develop the skills needed for success in school and in life. It is particularly valuable for preschoolers at greatest risk. Without the foundation provided by high-quality pre-K, the opportunity gap faced by children from economically disadvantaged circumstances widens each year.
Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 30 states investing in high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. New Jersey spends five times more per capita than Pennsylvania. West Virginia has offered universal pre-K access since 2012. If Pennsylvania wants to compete, we must put our future first.
I urge our state Legislature to fully fund this $40 million investment and develop a plan to cover all the state’s preschoolers. What could possibly be a smarter investment in the future well-being of this state than providing every child a strong educational foundation?
Phil Koch, executive director of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County
Greensburg
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Morning Call: Make pre-K education a priority
April 12, 2018
We at Cuddle Zone are writing to recognize Sen. Pat Browne’s recent visit to our center. Sen. Browne has long supported public investment in pre-K education, and his visit is evidence that it remains a legislative priority for him.
Pennsylvania ranks 18th of the 30 states investing in high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. Our state is slipping in the race to expand access.
The new $40 million investment being discussed as part of the 2018-19 budget will serve 4,400 more kids, which represents progress. But what about the more than 100,000 Pennsylvania kids who will not get the opportunity to start kindergarten on par with their classmates who experienced pre-K education?
New Jersey is spending four times more per capita than Pennsylvnia, and even West Virginia, with universal access for pre-K since 2012, is way ahead of Pennsylvania. If Pennsylvania wants to compete, we have to commit to educating our kids.
We are encouraged that Sen. Browne remains committed to expanding pre-K opportunities to more children.
Michele McEllroy, owner/director of Cuddle Zone Learning Center, Allentown
Upper Saucon Township
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Governor and First Lady Host Annual Easter Egg Event to Highlight Importance of Pre-k Investment
Harrisburg, PA (April 3, 2018) – Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf today hosted pre-school classes from across the commonwealth at the annual Easter Egg Event at the Governor’s Residence. The event was co-sponsored by Pre-K for PA, a non-partisan advocacy group that supports the expansion of publicly funded pre-k.
“Frances and I are proud that Pennsylvania delivers high-quality, publicly-funded pre-k to many children, but over 106,000 kids remain unserved and a serious investment must be made to continue toward the goal of providing access to all at-risk kids,” Governor Wolf said. “Pre-k doesn’t just benefit the children fortunate enough to access a high-quality program, it benefits the entire commonwealth. We must get serious about investing in early childhood education to make sure all of Pennsylvania’s children enter kindergarten ready to learn.”
In his 2018-19 budget, Governor Wolf proposed an additional $40 million to support high-quality pre-k programs in the commonwealth. This expansion would mean access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k for 4,400 more kids.
“Today, only 39 percent of eligible children in Pennsylvania benefit from the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend high-quality publicly funded pre-k,” said Jodi Askins, founding partner of Pre-K for PA. “With Governor Wolf’s proposal to invest $40 million in this year’s budget, 4,400 more children will be able to access high-quality pre-kindergarten, a fundamental building block of our state’s education system that helps ensure children have the strong foundation necessary to enter kindergarten ready to learn.”
Studies show that children who participate in high-quality pre-kindergarten perform better in school, graduate at higher rates, and earn more throughout their working lives compared to peers who do not have access to early learning programs. Additionally, children who were previously enrolled in Pre-K Counts outperform their economically disadvantaged peers in third grade math and reading.
Governor Wolf’s 2018-19 budget proposal contains education investments at all levels, including:
* $100 million increase in Basic Education;
* $40 million increase in Pre-K Counts and Head Start;
* $20 million increase for Special Education;
* $15 million increase for the State System of Higher Education; and
* $10 million increase for Career and Technical Education
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. Its vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information visit www.prekforpa.org
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West Chester Daily Local: Local officials advocate for pre-K funding to prevent crime
April 3, 2018 by Bill Rettew
WEST CHESTER >> The consensus around the county commissioner’s board room table was that you can pay now or pay later when it comes to preventing crime.
About two dozen law enforcement leaders and members of the Chester County state legislative delegation talked Tuesday about the benefits of funding pre-K education for three- and four-year-olds.
The law enforcement leaders are members of “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.”
A new report, “Pre-K Key to Cutting Pennsylvania Prison Costs and Boosting School Success,” was recently released.
The report cites “state and national research studies showing that quality early learning programs have been proven to reduce disadvantages resulting in fewer behavior problems, better school outcomes, increased high school graduation rates, and ultimately less criminal activity.”
District Attorney Tom Hogan said that providing a solid Pre-K education serves as an “inoculation and antibiotic” to keep kids from ending up in prison.
“Crime doesn’t pay, but like it or not, we do pay for crime,” West Chester Police Chief Scott Bohn said. “The investment saves us far more than the cost.”
“No child is destined at birth to end up in jail,” Sherriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh said. “If you are bad, we will be waiting for you with expensive solutions.”
Law enforcement leaders urged the state lawmakers to prioritize a $40 million expansion for high-quality Pre-Kindergarten within the 2018-2019 budget.
Additional funding would allow 4,400 more eligible children to get the schooling.
About 106,000 eligible three- and four-year-olds statewide, along with about 3,500 youngsters in Chester County, lack access to a good Pre-K education.
State Rep. Duane Milne, R-167, released the following statement:“The connection between well-funding early education initiatives and the later effects on reducing the likelihood of someone engaging in criminal activity and becoming a ‘regular’ of the criminal justice system is clear, convincing and compelling.
“Strategic investments of public dollars into education can save taxpayers billions of dollars in the longer run, by decreasing levels of welfare, crime and other challenges facing our society.
“This is a classic (policy) case that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound (and then some) in cure.”
State Sen. John Rafferty, R-44, said that in the long run the added funding would save money.
State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156, asked her fellow elected officials how to best push for the funding and subsequently not “pay out down the road.
“For a while, it’s going to cost more.”
Veteran state Rep. Becky Corbin, R-155, said that in the end increasing funding will pay off.
“You just have to make your case,” Corbin told Comitta.
Moderator and state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Bruce R. Clash, noted that 40 percent of first-time prison inmates have no high school degree.
Hogan said that many inmates never learned to read.
“If you can’t read, you can take the pipeline straight into prison,” Hogan said. Hogan also said that with a simple investment in education, many more of the youngest will live “productive, happy, and free lives.”
State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, talked about the trauma for many three- and four-year-olds growing up in a negative environment.
“It doesn’t matter what your party is,” Dinniman said. “And we can’t give up on middle school or high school kids either.”
County Commissioner Michelle Kichline said that lawmakers are often tasked with making choices. She said that public officials need to look at how to best spend the dollars.
Christine Fox, curriculum director for Warwick Child Care Center said that the child care provider was able to expand from 90 to 110 students because of expanded funding.
“High quality early childhood educators provide an atmosphere where children feel safe and eager to learn new things through hands-on learning experiences,” Fox said. “Children who attend high-quality learning programs will enter kindergarten ready to learn, do better in school, are more likely to graduate high school and college and become thriving citizens within the community.
“It takes a community to raise a child and we need everyone’s help to do this well.”
Read the full article here.
WFMZ TV: Berks pre-K students invited to Pa. governor’s Easter event
April 3, 2018
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pre-school students from across Pennsylvania, including some from Berks County, traveled to Harrisburg on Tuesday for an Easter event with the state’s first couple.
Gov. Tom Wolf and his wife, Frances, welcomed the children to the governor’s residence for an event that included the opportunity for them to visit with the Easter Bunny and pet some of his furry friends.
“These are our future, all these kids, and they’re going to determine how Pennsylvania is 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now,” Wolf said. “We got to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to get them the education they need.”
The event was co-sponsored by Pre-K for PA, a nonpartisan group that advocates for the expansion of publicly funded pre-kindergarten.
“Pre-K doesn’t just benefit the children fortunate enough to access a high-quality program, it benefits the entire commonwealth,” Wolf said. “We must get serious about investing in early childhood education to make sure all of Pennsylvania’s children enter kindergarten ready to learn.”
Read the full article here.
