Philadelphianeighborhoods.com: Data Shows Lack of Quality Pre-K Childcare
Data released in March suggests residents in South Philadelphia west of Broad Street severely lack access to quality pre-kindergarten care.
Of the 114 certified childcare facilities in the area, just eight rated high-quality by Keystone STARS, an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Keystone Stars rates childcare programs on a scale of one to four stars, with three and four star programs considered high-quality.
Those eight high-quality programs only have about 800 slots though, leaving a significant shortage of quality care. Forty-three percent of childcare facilities in the area either rated at zero stars or were not certified altogether.
Read the full story on Philadelphianeighborhoods.com.
ABC Erie Jet 24 Action News: Former Govs Show Support for Pre-K Expansion
Former Governors Ed Rendell and Mark Schweiker spoke to local educators, elected leaders, and community members about a need for universal pre-k education in Pennsylvania. This morning a Pre-K for Pa. rally focused on why support for early education is so important. Campaign officials told us that it’s been proven that pre-k education can change lives and the community.
Ron Dinacola, Pre-K for Pa. NWPA campaign co-chair said this about the effort “if we invest in three and four year old universal education, we’re gonna have a multiplier effect of savings in special education, grad repetition, literacy problems, dropouts…with more students going on to college and with more students becoming responsible earners.” Campaign officials also told us this is just the beginning of the push for pre-k. And that more rallies, meetings, and forums will be taking place in the near future.
Mom’s Rising: Pre-K in PA Crosses Party Lines
by Mary E. Mannix
Former Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and Former Gov. Mark Schweiker (R) toured the state from Erie to Philadelphia to encourage their state leaders to commit to pre-k for all Pennsylvania 3 & 4 year olds by 2018. Convening in Philadelphia at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Governor Mark Schweiker noted how the investment makes solid business sense.
“I have seen the benefits of investment in pre-k to the economy in Oklahoma and Georgia. I am lifelong Pennsylvania resident. I won’t see the benefits of that investment [here]. Pennsylvania needs to invest in Pennsylvania – not only for the academic benefits but also the economic growth and opportunity,” he shared.
Read more at the source.
GoErie.com: Rendell, Schweiker to stop Monday in Erie
Former Pennsylvania Govs. Ed Rendell and Mark Schweiker will visit Erie on Monday to urge more access to quality prekindergarten education for children ages 3 and 4.
They also will urge leaders in Harrisburg to expand access to early childhood learning to give children a better chance to succeed in school and to improve the state’s economic competitiveness.
The Pre-K for PA rally will include Erie educators, administrators, community leaders and preschool children. The event is scheduled at 9 a.m. at the United Way of Erie County, 420 W. Sixth St.
Read the full story on GoErie.com.
LevittownNow: 72% of Bucks Children Will Not Be Ready for Kindergarten in the Fall
By Amanda Kuehnle
…only 28% of children in Bucks have access to high-quality Pre-K, only 6% of which is publicly funded. That means majority of the counties children will enter Kindergarten without some of the necessary skills to survive there.
While there are some opportunities for families to get their child enrolled in a high-quality Pre-K program, of the 14,384 three and four year old children in Bucks, 37% of them live in families 300% below the poverty line. Despite its benefits, far too many families cannot afford to enroll their kids in high-quality Pre-K programs and often resort to programs that lack elements essential to their child’s success out of dire necessity.
Read the full column here.
