The Intelligencer: Give every child a good start for learning
January 9, 2018
When I welcome kindergartners on the first day of school, I don’t see them only as little ones eager to learn. I also picture them 13 years later, attired in cap and gown, proudly accepting their hard-earned and well-deserved high school diplomas.
However, I worry that the road ahead is rocky for some of our most vulnerable children. Through no fault of their own, they have not been exposed to the tools they need to learn, and that’s why I’m speaking up for high-quality prekindergarten that prepares all children for academics even before they enter school.
For two decades, Pennsylvania leaders in government, business, law enforcement and the military have supported public investments in high-quality pre-K. Now, elementary school principals have joined the chorus. In a 2017 survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Principals Association in conjunction with the Pre-K for PA Campaign, nearly 99 percent of us agreed that publicly funded, high-quality pre-K is an important tool in preparing at-risk children for kindergarten.
This nearly unanimous show of support is remarkable but hardly surprising. As a principal, I see the difference that early learning makes. Children who have had an opportunity to attend high-quality pre-K come ready for school. They already know the basics of reading, mathematics, getting along with others, building friendships and sharing.
Unfortunately, some children who do not attend high-quality pre-K programs do not have the readiness skills needed to prepare them for standards-based curriculum instruction. Their teachers, then, are required to spend more time on classroom management and social skills rather than engaging them in meaningful learning experiences.
Many children who have not been exposed to a high-quality pre-K are at a greater risk of doing poorly in school, due to adverse circumstances. These are the students my kindergarten teachers and I lose sleep over. We strive to bring them to the same developmental and academic playing field as their classmates; but for many, time is not on their side.
High-quality pre-K helps close the learning gaps. In the years from birth to age 5, when 90 percent of brain development occurs, scientifically proven, carefully crafted enrichment prompts strong growth in the brain’s neurological pathways. Without those rich learning opportunities, the once-in-a-lifetime chance for kindergarten readiness is lost.
The evidence I see in the classroom every day validates years of research findings. Children who attend high-quality pre-K are much more likely to demonstrate age-appropriate behaviors. They grasp basic numeracy concepts and show reading readiness. They are much less likely to be retained in a grade, require remediation or receive special education services. As time goes on, they are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to graduate and pursue a postgraduate degree.
Unfortunately, too few children get to experience high-quality pre-K. Statewide, 64 percent of eligible preschool-age children miss this opportunity, and in Bucks County, it’s even worse at 76 percent. In my school district, Centennial, 92 percent of local children don’t enjoy the school-readiness benefits of publicly funded, high-quality prekindergarten.
Pennsylvania needs to do more. Building off recent growth in state funding, our commonwealth should invest another $315 million by 2022. This investment would make publicly funded, high-quality pre-K available to every eligible child and help improve affordability for middle-class parents.
I believe in the promise of every kindergartner, but it saddens me to think that some have a late start on the journey to graduation day. With high-quality pre-K, every child in Pennsylvania starts a lifetime of learning, preparing to contribute to the community and pursue their dreams.
Shawanna James-Coles is principal of Davis Elementary in Centennial School District.
WBRE: Governor Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf Light the 2017 Capitol Christmas Tree
December 8, 2017 by Jayne Ann Bugda
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf flipped the switch lighting the Capitol Christmas Tree in the Rotunda.
The tree is a 22-foot Douglas Fir from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, Carbon County. It is decorated with more than 900 LED lights and more than 1,600 hand-made ornaments from senior centers throughout the commonwealth coordinated by the PA Department of Aging and Pre-K/Head Start students through Pre-K for PA.
The Rotunda tree will be lit daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the Capitol Steps and Soldiers’ Grove trees will be lit daily from 5 p.m. to midnight. All trees will be lit daily through the week of
January 8, 2018.
Watch the video here.
Gant News: LTE: Clearfield Area United Way Believes in Early Learning
November 28, 2017
Dear Editor:
The Clearfield Area United Way (CAUW) believes in early-learning and school readiness.
CAUW member agencies are making differences in the lives of children daily. Our Reading Ripples project has distributed over 5,000 books to area children.
Research continues to confirm that high-quality Pre-K is among the best and most cost-effective initiatives.
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 300,000 three- and four-year-olds, including 1,700 in Clearfield County. However, only a small fraction of those children are enrolled in publicly-funded Pre-K.
Many of those who are missing out are at-risk of academic failure. In fact, 542 children lacked access to publicly-funded, high-quality Pre-K last year.
Community philanthropic organizations have made efforts to promote high-quality Pre-K but cannot get the job done alone.
We need the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to bolster its efforts to fund Pre-K programs and to reach those children who are missing out.
A new report by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and the non-partisan Pre-K for PA outlines a multi-year investment that could help reach nearly 71,000 additional three- and four-year-olds over a four-year span.
If Pennsylvania would follow through on the proposed investment strategy, it could make publicly-funded, quality Pre-K available to more than 40 percent by 2019, as compared to fewer than 20 percent who benefited in 2013.
We could reach all of our Commonwealth’s at-risk three- and four-year-olds, helping them succeed.
United Way and other organizations across Pennsylvania have been doing their part to make Pre-K a priority because we know it works.
Pre-K benefits our children, our communities and our entire Commonwealth.
We are requesting the Commonwealth to make Pre-K a budget priority this year and in the years ahead, so that our region’s children can reach their fullest potential.
Most sincerely,
Nancy M. Pinto
Clearfield Area United Way
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Trib Live: LTE: In Praise of Pre-k
November 15, 2017
Pre-K really does work.
Each school year, I look forward to seeing children just starting out, young minds ready to be developed. Teachers in our pre-K classrooms provide structure, tools, exploration and fun to set students on the path to success. Pre-K provides valuable social, behavioral and academic skills that help children succeed in academics and in life.
As someone who has volunteered in a kindergarten classroom, I can often tell which children have had the benefit of quality pre-K experiences. They are more comfortable in a school environment and interacting with others. They have command of numbers and pre-reading skills. They are actively engaged in learning.
Many studies point to the advantages of having a quality pre-K experience. Pre-K affords children the opportunity to have the fundamental skills to “hit the ground running” when they start school. The benefits last a lifetime and result in higher achievement overall.
Unfortunately, not all children have this opportunity. The article “Not enough seats for Southwest Pa. preschoolers, advocates say” is a compelling case for expansion.
Current demand far outweighs capacity to serve preschoolers. This means that many children are being denied this tremendous opportunity. Investments must be made to increase accessibility to quality pre-K and provide enough resources for programs for all children.
This is not just an investment in the future; it is an investment in our children.
LYNDA WRENN
Point Breeze
The writer is a member of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors.
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Citizens Voice: Letter to the Editor: We Need to Better Prepare Our Children
November 5, 2017
Where there is a need, there are U.S. military personnel. They assist our allies in ousting terrorists from their strongholds. They transport food and water to flood and hurricane victims.
They have been in the news constantly this fall. We are gratified to see them, and whether we know it or not, they are operating with help from highly sophisticated technology that protects their bodies and enhances their powers of detection.
Still, no matter the mission, technology can never take the place of highly qualified people. Dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are the backbone of the military, and on Veterans Day and every day, they deserve our gratitude and thanks.
It’s disturbing to consider, but most Americans do not qualify for military service. According to the Department of Defense, 72 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 17 to 24 are ineligible for military service. Three young adults out of four aren’t qualified to serve our country due to problems with obesity, education, drug abuse, or crime.
The Citizen-Readiness Index, produced by the Council for a Strong America, found that 13 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 16 to 24 are unemployed and not in school. Plus, 13 youth out of 100 ages 17 to 24 have arrest records.
Pennsylvania businesspeople are also alarmed. Many employers offer good, family-sustaining jobs, but they can’t find the people with the specialized training and academic skills to fill those positions.
These findings should worry us all. In this era of conflict and rapid change, our nation must operate smoothly and yet be capable of responding to any and all threats. It’s an imperative for our national security and our economic vitality. When too many citizens are unskilled, our danger from security threats and a faltering economy is magnified.
Instilling needed skills and capabilities in every citizen goes back to childhood. Education systems partner with families to ensure our next generation is one of good students and lifelong learners. Unfortunately, many areas in Pennsylvania lack adequate resources for quality pre-K and K-12 education.
Roughly 64 percent of eligible preschool-age children are unable to access high-quality, publicly funded pre-K due to limited state funding. Additionally, Pennsylvania is home to the widest per-pupil K-12 spending gap in the nation between wealthy and poor school districts. The result: larger class sizes, cuts in academic offerings, and outdated equipment.
These limited pre-K opportunities and inadequately resourced schools, put together, demonstrate that we are not committing to the classroom success of every child in Pennsylvania.
Our children deserve the best we can provide. With a strong basis in learning, character development, and teamwork, they will be ready to take their places in our communities and our businesses.
Pennsylvania must adequately invest in pre-K and in all of our public schools, preparing our next generation for the day they are contributing to our economy and, if they choose, serving with pride in the U.S. military.
Major Gen. (Ret.) Joseph F. Perugino, U.S. Army, Former Commander, 28th Infantry Division, PA National Guard
KINGSTON
Read the letter to the editor here.
