Scranton Times-Tribune: Scranton-area leaders push for greater funding for pre-K
January 19, 2018
SCRANTON — Funding for quality pre-kindergarten programs matters to more than students and families. Additional funding is vital for the state’s economy, said business and civic leaders Thursday.
“Supporting early learners means a bright future for Pennsylvania and is an essential element to ensuring our region’s strong economic development,” said Peter Danchak, regional president for PNC Bank.
The comments came as Harrisburg organization Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children released its study, “Pre-K Works, So Why Not PA?” The report calls for the state to increase access to pre-K programs for the children who would benefit most.
Only 36 percent of the state’s eligible children benefit from the public funds, and the organization and business leaders are calling for the state to invest an additional $85 million in 2018-19 — with a goal of an additional $225 million by 2020-21 — to serve all at-risk children. The state budgeted $172.3 million for the Pre-K Counts program this year.
Research shows that investing in pre-K saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the need for special education and remedial instruction, and children who attend pre-K are less likely to commit a crime later in life. Every dollar invested in high-quality pre-K returns the state $4 in savings and benefits in the form of reduced crime and increased earning power, according to the organization.
Of the 30 states that make public investments in pre-K, Pennsylvania ranks 18th.
“We know that pre-K works and the widespread, bipartisan support it enjoys is undeniable,” Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said at the news conference at the offices of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. “The 2018 elections present an opportunity for those seeking public office to commit to making Pennsylvania a top state for pre-K investments.”
Ann L. Pipinski, Ed.D., president of Johnson College, said she has seen the impact pre-K programs can have on the workforce and that policymakers should support programs that help children in the most formative years of their lives.
“High-quality pre-K is good for kids, businesses, and it’s good for Pennsylvania,” she said.
Read the article here.
WBRE: Report: PA Pre-K programs need more money
Study finds Pennsylvania ranks 18th out of 30 states
January 18, 2018 By Eric Deabill
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – A new report says Pennsylvania is not making the grade when it comes to funding Pre-K programs.
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children says its study found the commonwealth ranks in the bottom half, 18 out of 30 states, that make public investments in Pre-K programs.
The report found that only 36-percent of eligible children in Pennsylvania benefit from high-quality, publicly funded Pre-K programs.
Researchers found that per-student spending is drastically lower than neighboring states like New Jersey, New York, Maryland and West Virginia.
At the United Neighborhood Centers in West Scranton, Eyewitness News found four and five year olds enjoying dance lessons Thursday. They were learning to socialize and follow directions while also having fun.
What the kids don’t know now is the skills they’re learning today will most likely help them succeed in school growing up and later in life.
“Some of these kids, they come to us and their speech is delayed. By the time they leave us, they’re on par with other children,” Tammy Marcinkevich with United Neighborhood Centers said.
On Thursday morning, business and education leaders joined together to urge state lawmakers from the governor down to state representatives to provide more money for Pre-K programs.
A new report found that 64-percent of at-risk, eligible kids in Pennsylvania, roughly 113,000 in total, aren’t able to attend a program.
“Ninety percent of a child’s brain is formed by the age of five. Think about that! Ninety percent! If you can fill up that kid with all the right ideas and all the right habits!” Peter Danchak, PNC Bank Regional President said.
The people in this room know most politicians “say” they support Pre-K programs but now they need to back up those words with dollars.
Read the full article here.
Pre-K for PA campaign, Rendell and Schweiker urge 2018 election candidates to support pre-k investments to improve PA’s economic competitiveness
New report shows Pennsylvania ranks in bottom half of per capita investments in high-quality pre-k
Doylestown, PA (January 17, 2018)—During a news conference today, the Pre-K for PA Campaign, former Governors Edward G. Rendell, Mark S. Schweiker and Todd Alderfer, SVP/Commercial Lending of QNB Bank urged candidates for governor, the state legislature and U.S. Congress to support high-quality pre-k to improve Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness. Year after year, the economy and education are among the top issues weighing on the minds of voters.
According to “Pre-K Works, So Why Not PA?” Pennsylvania ranks 18th out of 30 states that make public investments in high-quality, publicly funded pre-k, despite having increased its per capita investment by $30 million for the current fiscal year.
“We’ve got a big decision to make this November – as do voters in 12 of the 17 states that invest more than Pennsylvania – when we head the polls to elect a new governor,” said Rendell. “Candidates seeking public office must commit to getting Pennsylvania out of the bottom half of states and make it a top state for pre-k investments.”
“High-quality pre-kindergarten is not a luxury. It is an investment in Pennsylvania’s economy,” said Schweiker. “An educated workforce is essential if Pennsylvania hopes to compete in the regional and global marketplace, and high-quality pre-k helps prepare our future workforce for success.”
Presently only 36 percent of eligible children in Pennsylvania benefit from the opportunity, according to the report. Without expanded access, school success and skill development for early learners will be weakened, ultimately compromising the state’s ability to develop a stronger workforce.
Joan Benso, President and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, noted that a mix of red and blue states invest more per capita than Pennsylvania including Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.
“We know that pre-k works and the widespread, bipartisan support it enjoys is undeniable,” she said. “Candidates who support stronger state investments will be proposing a winning combination for voters on both fronts and will enjoy support from a broad array of business leaders.”
Alderfer added, “As a local business leader, I understand the value of high-quality pre-k and its return on investment for Bucks County and the Commonwealth. Creating a competitive economic advantage for Pennsylvania starts with strong investments in high-quality, publicly funded pre-k.”
To reach all children who would most benefit, state policymakers should invest $85 million in the 2018-19 fiscal year to double the expansion of the last three years, and grow the investment with an additional $225 million by the 2020-21 fiscal year to serve all at-risk children.
“Pre-K Works, So Why Not PA?” can be found at www.papartnerships.org/prekinpa.
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Public News Service: Report Shows PA Lagging in Pre-K
January 17, 2018
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Investing in pre-K is investing in a strong future for Pennsylvania, according to a new report from Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.
The study says the Keystone State ranks 18th out of 30 states that put state money into quality pre-K programs.
While neighboring New Jersey, the national leader, puts more than $3,200 per capita into publicly funded pre-K, Pennsylvania spends less than $800.
According to Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, years of research have shown that high-quality early childhood education is an investment that pays off.
“Public investments in pre-K get kids ready for school, help them succeed in school, make it likely they will not engage in juvenile crime and, ultimately, be productive members of the workforce,” she points out.
The state did increase funding by $30 million for the current fiscal year, but only 36 percent of eligible children currently have access to quality pre-K programs.
Studies have shown that every dollar of public investment in quality pre-K returns $4 in savings for social costs such as remediation and juvenile crime.
Benso points out that there’s also a long-term multiplier effect.
“The contributions of someone who graduates from high school, goes on to post-secondary education and goes into the workforce skilled ends up being another big return,” she states.
Benso says the state could serve all at-risk children by investing $85 million in the next state budget, and an additional $225 million by the 2020-to-2021 fiscal year.
This is a pivotal year for electoral politics at both the state and national level. Benso maintains early childhood education is an issue that candidates need to address.
“And one of the wisest public investments voters can be seeking in their candidates for office includes high quality pre-K,” she stresses.
Voters in 12 of the 17 states that invest more in pre-K than Pennsylvania will elect governors this year.
Listen to the report here.
The Intelligencer: Former governors Rendell, Schweiker urge more funding for pre-kindergarten
January 17, 2018 by Chris English
The two former Pennsylvania chief executives spoke during a press conference at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Doylestown Township.
Former Pennsylvania governors Ed Rendell and Mark Schweiker lent their voices to the call for more state funding for quality pre-kindergarten during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Doylestown Township.
During the event organized by the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and Pre-K for PA, both Rendell and Schweiker said they placed high priorities on pre-K spending during their administrations but were often thwarted by their legislatures.
The administration of Gov. Tom Wolf is making good progress, both former governors said. In 2017-18, state funding for pre-K is $226 million — a $30 million increase from last fiscal year and a $90 million hike over the last three years, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children President and CEO Joan Benso said.
But more needs to be done, Rendell and Schweiker said.
“The private sector has stepped up to make contributions to pre-K, but it’s not the private sector’s job,” Rendell said. “The education of our children is one of the core responsibilities of state government. There should not be one child in Pennsylvania not receiving a high quality pre-K education. Our children do better if we lay a foundation of pre-K education and full-day kindergarten.”
A report released Wednesday by Pre-K for PA said that only 36 percent of eligible children in Pennsylvania receive high quality, publicly funded pre-K. That means 112,900 children are not getting it, the report said.
Of the 30 states that publicly fund pre-K at current educational standards, Pennsylvania ranks 18th with per capita spending of $792, the report said. New Jersey is first at $2,706, it added.
According to the report, pre-K investments save taxpayer dollars by reducing the need for special education and remedial instruction in later years, and increases graduation rates and college enrollment, among other benefits.
“Gov. Wolf has made important strides, but the other states are still boxing our ears off,” Rendell said. “If we want to attract the Amazons and other cutting edge businesses to our state, we need to properly educate our kids.”
Both former governors said one of the main reasons Pennsylvania lags behind other states in pre-K funding is simply a reluctance among lawmakers to commit the funds.
“Good or bad, there is a philosophical take on state government that it shouldn’t be responsible for education below kindergarten,” Schweiker said.
Politicians want to look good during campaigns by boasting that they didn’t vote to raise taxes but that is a misguided notion, Rendell said.
“People don’t mind a raise in taxes if they see they are getting something for it,” he said.
Read the full article here.
