Morning Call: State Rep. Dan McNeill and retired Rear Admiral David W. Kunzel: Quality pre-k programs build essential foundation for children
November 10, 2016
On this Veterans Day, we take time to honor the men and women among us who served in the Armed Forces. From World War II to present-day engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan — whether they served in war or peace — our veterans went where their nation needed them and served with honor and integrity. They are deserving of our gratitude.
Of course the Army GIs, the Navy sailors and aviators, the Marines, the Coast Guardsmen, or the Air Force fliers of World War II might not recognize the high-tech trappings of today’s military, but they know they can shake hands with men and women who bring the same heart and dedication to service that they did. Even as the military changes, the dedicated people needed to carry out their duties remains constant.
That is why we are troubled by the findings of a recent report from the Council for a Strong America. According to the 2016 citizen-readiness index, 72 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 17 to 24 are ineligible for military service due to problems with obesity, education, drug abuse or crime.
The index also found that, in Pennsylvania, 13 percent of youth ages 16 to 24 are unemployed and not in school, and that 13 youths out of 100 who are 17 to 24 have an arrest record.
If the military can’t call on these young adults to serve, it’s likely businesses can’t, either. Any institution, whether business or military, thrives and grows on the talents and work ethic of its people. When the talent pool is so depleted that employers can’t find innovators and team players to fill their jobs, then the economy will suffer.
As we pause to think about the veterans who served this country, we should also be searching for solutions to maintain the future strength of the armed forces they so ably served. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders both in the civilian workforce and the military. One of the most effective tools for assuring their citizen-readiness is high-quality early childhood education.
Groundbreaking research has revealed the remarkable development of the brain from birth to age 5, when the foundation is built for a lifetime of academic achievement, social functioning and physical health. Children from high-quality prekindergarten go on to experience fewer grade repetitions and special education placements, lower rates of crime and incarceration, and increased graduation rates. They even learn healthy eating and exercise habits that substantially reduce rates of childhood obesity.
In the overall equation, these young people cost us less in taxpayer dollars spent on education, health care and criminal justice. More importantly, they are likelier to be fully contributing citizens, ready for military service and good jobs.
Unfortunately, too few children get the opportunities that prepare them for success. In Lehigh County, 74 percent of at-risk children don’t have access to publicly funded, high-quality prekindergarten. In Northampton County, it’s 78 percent. Pennsylvania has made great strides in committing to early learning, but as the county numbers show, it’s not enough.
In fact, Pennsylvania could follow the example of the Department of Defense, which has made a substantial commitment to early learning. On military bases worldwide, the department has established high-quality prekindergarten, so personnel can work on their vital missions with the comfort of knowing that their children are enjoying days of fun and learning in safe environments.
And because so many military personnel don’t live on bases, the Defense Department offers vouchers that substantially reduce the cost of prekindergarten. These vouchers must be spent in facilities meeting measurable standards of excellence.
Military service is filled with difficult decisions, but this time, the choice is simple. Pennsylvania’s commitment to high-quality prekindergarten will produce a corps of young Americans who, like the veterans we honor today, are citizen-ready.
State Rep. Dan McNeill of Whitehall Township, who represents the 133rd District, previously served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. David W. Kunkel of Allentown is a retired rear admiral with the Coast Guard and serves on the executive advisory committee of Mission: Readiness – Military Leaders for Kids.
Read the article here.
Lancaster Online: Editorial: On this day after the election, we turn our attention to other concerns
November 9, 2016 by LNP Editorial Board
Do you hear that?
The blessed silence, we mean.
No more screaming political ads on the TV and radio. No more heart-poundingly ominous warnings about the fate that awaits us if we don’t vote for a particular candidate.
Let’s enjoy it while it lasts, because campaigning seems to have become the new American pastime, one with an exhaustingly long season and no all-star breaks.
So for just one day at least, let’s turn our attention to the world outside of politics.
It turns out there is one.
The new classrooms will provide spots for 60 students. As LNP reported Tuesday, they were made possible by the inclusion of $30 million in additional pre-K funding in the 2016-17 state budget.
It costs $170,000 to fund a classroom for 20 pre-K students, according to city schools Superintendent Damaris Rau.
But the benefits are enormous.
When you test preschoolers who have attended pre-K, 83 percent are prepared for kindergarten, Rau noted. When you test preschoolers who haven’t attended pre-K, only 37 percent are prepared for kindergarten.
Research shows that 90 percent of brain development takes place in the first five years of a child’s life. How much a child learns in those formative early years — and, in particular, how great is his or her exposure to language — can determine how that child does in school and ultimately in life.
So it’s wonderful that three more pre-K classrooms have opened in Lancaster city. But there’s still a way to go in meeting the early education needs of our children.
Four hundred students in the School District of Lancaster remain on the pre-K waiting list.
Only 17 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-K, said Randy Patterson, director of Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and board chair for United Way of Lancaster County.
The implications of failing to provide children with the education they need are far-reaching.
As Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman pointed out, about half of state prison inmates have not graduated from high school. The annual cost of incarcerating someone in state prison is $45,000; incarceration costs the state about $2.3 billion annually.
“I think we’d rather pay for an education than an incarceration,” he said.
We agree. Funding early education is the fiscally smart choice. And it happens to be the morally right one, too — because every child, no matter the ZIP code in which he or she resides, deserves to get the best possible start in life.
Read the editorial here.
Lancaster Online: 3 new pre-K classrooms for Lafayette elementary, leaders push for more funding
By Lindsey Blest
November 8, 2016
Pedro Rivera squatted on a multicolored carpet, chanting an alphabet rap with 20 pre-kindergarten students in a new classroom at Lafeyette Elementary School in Lancaster city.
“When I say ‘K,’ you say ‘kuh,’ ” the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education said.
Rivera joined a panel of local and state leaders at the School District of Lancaster school Monday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new classrooms and a roundtable discussion on pre-K funding.
“The investment in quality early childhood education will ensure that kids are on a trajectory to be successful,” Rivera said.
The three new classrooms provide spots for a total of 60 students. They were made possible by the inclusion of $30 million in additional pre-K funding in the 2016-17 state budget.
“I’m really proud to see great programs happen here at Lafayette,” said Rivera, who was SDL superintendent from 2008 to 2015.
Funding a classroom for 20 pre-K students costs $170,000, according to current SDL Superintendent Damaris Rau.
Testing results have shown that 83 percent of pre-K students are prepared for kindergarten, but only 37 percent are prepared without pre-K, she said.
ldquo;Pre-K education has to become our mission,” Rau said.
There are currently 392 pre-K students in the district with 400 more on the waiting list.
Only 17 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-K, said Randy Patterson, director of Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and board chair for the United Way of Lancaster County.
During the roundtable discussion, local leaders discussed the benefit that pre-K education brings to education, crime reduction, the military and business.
“A vital city has to have a vital education program,” Lancaster city Mayor Rick Gray said.
Studies have shown advancement in education, better suitability to society and reduction in crime begins with early education, he said.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said he sees many crime statistics, but the best statistic is “the one I don’t see.”
“I would be happy if the results here put me out of a job,” Stedman said.
Stedman said about half of state prison inmates have not graduated from high school. He added that the annual cost for incarcerating an inmate in state prison is $45,000, and that it currently costs the state about $2.3 billion annually.
“I think we’d rather pay for an education than an incarceration,” he said.
Gov. Tom Wolf pledged to introduce an “ambitious” early childhood education plan in the 2017-18 budget at a round table discussion with state and Philadelphia leaders last week.
While it’s premature to state the total amount Wolf will request, spokesman Jeff Sheridan said, he is committed to continued investment in education at all levels.
“Education is his priority,” Sheridan said. “When we provide access to early childhood education, students perform better in life.”
Read the full article here.
Lancaster Online: 3 new pre-K classrooms for Lafayette elementary, leaders push for more funding
November 8, 2016
Pedro Rivera squatted on a multicolored carpet, chanting an alphabet rap with 20 pre-kindergarten students in a new classroom at Lafeyette Elementary School in Lancaster city.
“When I say ‘K,’ you say ‘kuh,’ ” the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education said.
Rivera joined a panel of local and state leaders at the School District of Lancaster school Monday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new classrooms and a roundtable discussion on pre-K funding.
The three new classrooms provide spots for a total of 60 students. They were made possible by the inclusion of $30 million in additional pre-K funding in the 2016-17 state budget.
“I’m really proud to see great programs happen here at Lafayette,” said Rivera, who was SDL superintendent from 2008 to 2015.
Funding a classroom for 20 pre-K students costs $170,000, according to current SDL Superintendent Damaris Rau.
Testing results have shown that 83 percent of pre-K students are prepared for kindergarten, but only 37 percent are prepared without pre-K, she said.
ldquo;Pre-K education has to become our mission,” Rau said.
There are currently 392 pre-K students in the district with 400 more on the waiting list.
Only 17 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-K, said Randy Patterson, director of Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and board chair for the United Way of Lancaster County.
During the roundtable discussion, local leaders discussed the benefit that pre-K education brings to education, crime reduction, the military and business.
“A vital city has to have a vital education program,” Lancaster city Mayor Rick Gray said.
Studies have shown advancement in education, better suitability to society and reduction in crime begins with early education, he said.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said he sees many crime statistics, but the best statistic is “the one I don’t see.”
“I would be happy if the results here put me out of a job,” Stedman said.
Stedman said about half of state prison inmates have not graduated from high school. He added that the annual cost for incarcerating an inmate in state prison is $45,000, and that it currently costs the state about $2.3 billion annually.
“I think we’d rather pay for an education than an incarceration,” he said.
Gov. Tom Wolf pledged to introduce an “ambitious” early childhood education plan in the 2017-18 budget at a round table discussion with state and Philadelphia leaders last week.
While it’s premature to state the total amount Wolf will request, spokesman Jeff Sheridan said, he is committed to continued investment in education at all levels.
“Education is his priority,” Sheridan said. “When we provide access to early childhood education, students perform better in life.”
Read the story here.
Lancaster Mayor, County Officials Host PA Education Secretary Pedro Rivera for Pre-K Roundtable; Opening of New Pre-K Classrooms
Advocates Urge Continued Investment
Lancaster, PA – Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Pedro Rivera joined Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray alongside state, county and local officials for a roundtable discussion on pre-k today. Officials took the opportunity to mark the statewide expansion of a pre-kindergarten with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the new pre-k classrooms at Lafayette Elementary School.
“As we invest in the education of our children, we are investing in our city’s future,” said Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray. “Pre-k programs are backed by decades of research showing that children who attend have a more positive trajectory in life. This means more kids finishing high school, getting a job, less reliance on social services and less crime in our community.”
The expansion of high-quality pre-k was made possible by the infusion of an additional $25 million in funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and $5 million for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program in both the state’s 2015-16 and 2016-17 budgets. Lancaster County early learning providers received new funding for more than 320 expansion seats. Pre-K Counts and the Head Start State Supplemental are the primary state funding sources for high-quality pre-k in Pennsylvania.
Randy Patterson, Director of Economic Development & Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and Board Chair for the United Way of Lancaster County, noted that the added capacity to high-quality pre-k is welcome news as only 17 percent of income eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded high-quality pre-k.
“While I join you to celebrate this new classroom, I must be clear that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Patterson. “More than 7,700 income eligible three- and four-year-olds in Lancaster County still lack access to this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.”
More than 120,000 eligible children, or 69 percent of all three- and four-year-olds, across the commonwealth lack access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k each year.
Robert M. Krasne, Chief Executive Officer of Steinman Communications and member of PA’s Early Learning Investment Commission, noted that Pennsylvania is experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. An effective and comprehensive pre-k program is a way to begin to address that shortage.
“A recent survey from the statewide chamber of business and industry showed that more than half of the 400+ Pennsylvania employers who were surveyed reported trouble finding people with adequate skills, training, or education. This was especially true of technical and skilled job openings,” said Krasne. “The proven benefits of pre-k establish that developing a competent workforce should start at a young age. The lack of access statewide to pre-k is particularly troubling.”
Mr. Krasne referenced a large body of research that shows children who benefit from high-quality pre-k:
- Enter kindergarten with stronger literacy, language, math and social/emotional skills;
- Are less likely to need special education services, less likely to repeat grades, and more likely to graduate and enroll in college.
- Over a lifetime, these young learners will see stronger employment opportunities and increased earning potential, and they are less likely to commit juvenile and adult crimes.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman stressed the role high-quality pre-k plays in reducing disruptive or anti-social behaviors that, if unaddressed, can lead to delinquent and criminal behavior later in life.
“A review of Pennsylvania’s state inmate population reveals that more than 50 percent of inmates have not graduated from high school,” Stedman commented. “This revealing statistic is more reason for the imperative that law enforcement leaders place on educational success, which is best achieved by children getting a strong early educational foundation.”
Retired Army Lieutenant General Dennis Benchoff of Lancaster informed the group that the military is also concerned about a future qualified workforce and its potential impact on national security.
“Unfortunately, we know we have our work cut out for us,” said Lt. Gen. Benchoff. “According to the Department of Defense, 72 percent of Pennsylvania’s 17-24 year-olds are not eligible for military service due to inadequate education, a criminal record, or obesity or other health condition. In this way, an unqualified workforce has real national and economic security concerns for the future. It’s my hope that Pennsylvania continues to prioritize early learning.”
Also participating in the event were State Representative Bryan Cutler; State Representative Mike Sturla; Deputy Secretary Suzann Morris, Office of Child Development and Early Learning; Lancaster Police Chief Keith Sadler; Dr. Damaris Rau, Superintendent for the School District of Lancaster; Karen Wynn, Coordinator of School Improvement and Federal Programs, School District of Lancaster; Andrea Heberlein, Lead Director of Community Impact, United Way of Lancaster County; and Dr. Jill Koser, Education & Child Development Impact Team Leader, Community Action Partnership.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by thousands of individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is a necessary and urgent priority. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is one of 10 founding partners. For more information, visit prekforpa.org.
