Scranton Times: Letter to the Editor – Fund Pre-k Programs
Editor: As state budget talks continue, Pennsylvania parents and taxpayers should understand what is at stake regarding early-learning investments.
Right now, only about one in six of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-four-year-old children has access to quality pre-kindergarten despite the proven benefits in preparing children for success in kindergarten. That means more than 200,000 of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds do not benefit from quality pre-k. State leaders can reduce this number by boosting Pennsylvania’s investments in this year’s budget.
The budget talks also could affect access to quality child care. Child care has become the norm for young children and can be expensive. Many low-income families need assistance to pay for child care so parents can go to work and know their child is in a safe, nurturing environment that provides appropriate learning experiences for young children.
Quality child care makes employees more reliable and productive, decreases employee turnover and absenteeism and increase employee retention and productivity. Quality child care benefits children, parents, employers and society as a whole — both now and in the future.
Together, quality child care and pre-k have proved to help prepare young learners for school by building their academic and social skills. It is an investment that pays off, but we need to invest more to get a fuller return on investment.
As Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers negotiate a state spending plan, they need to make sure these early learning investments are well represented in Pennsylvania’s budget priorities.
JUDITH LOCKER FANELLI
PRESIDENT, NORTHEASTERN CHILD CARE SERVICES
TREASURE HOUSE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS,
SCRANTON
Pre-K for PA Urges Leaders in Harrisburg to Negotiate a Budget that Boosts Early Learning
Harrisburg, PA (July 1)—The Pre-K for PA campaign, along with the Early Learning PA coalition, today called on leaders in Harrisburg to continue negotiating a budget that builds on the increased investment in early childhood education.
The coalition partners called the budget passed by the House and Senate on Tuesday, which included a $30 million increase, a good first step. That increase would serve about 3,500 more 3- and 4-year-olds who can benefit from high-quality pre-k programs. The campaign urged more significant investments so more children can benefit in the coming school year.
Nearly 70 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds – more than 200,000 children in all – don’t have access to high-quality pre-k. The campaign supports an investment of an additional $120 million in fiscal 2015-16, which would allow another 14,000 children to benefit.
The principal partners of the Pre-K for PA campaign (listed below) issued the following statement:
“Our coalition leaders understand that negotiations can be difficult, particularly when it comes to expanding investments, but we know that high-quality pre-k works and the failure to invest at a higher level will have negative impacts on many children. An investment of $120 million this coming fiscal year and in the subsequent three state budgets will set us on a path that will allow every child born today who is at-risk of school failure and some middle class kids access to high-quality pre-k.
“Our coalition members have spoken to dozens of lawmakers who have enthusiastically voiced their support for investing more in our state’s youngest learners, far too many of whom are left out of this budget. Gov. Wolf’s original budget proposal only increases access to 1 in 4 of our 3- and 4-year-olds, which is why our commitment to high-quality pre-k investments needs to be a long-term one that goes beyond a single budget year.
“We urge lawmakers and Gov. Wolf to keep in mind those children who will start kindergarten behind their peers because they missed out on the benefits high-quality pre-k provides. There are no do-overs for these children.
“We encourage Gov. Wolf and all legislative leaders to advance negotiations on behalf of each kid who would gain access to high-quality pre-k and craft a budget that adequately invests in this proven learning resource.”
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. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
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The Budget passed by the House last week was passed in the Senate today. Unfortunately, the level of pre-k funding it includes for fiscal 2015-16 does not go far enough to expand access to high-quality pre-k urgently needed for Pennsylvania’s families.
While we at the Pre-K for PA campaign are very heartened that House and Senate leaders boosted pre-k funding considerably and we recognize the actions are the first step in the budget process, the budget falls short of the enormity of the need to make sure children start school ready to learn.
With fewer than 20 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds able to access publicly funded, high-quality pre-k programs, the pace of expansion must be hastened. At a minimum, the fiscal 2015-16 investment should be $120 million.
Your continued support is so valuable as we reach out to the governor and all legislators to work with them toward reaching a final budget agreement that makes the level of investment in pre-k that we all know is needed.
