Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Report: Pre-K investment pays for itself
“Spending $40 million to expand pre-kindergarten education for all children in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties would reverberate beyond the money going to classes and teachers, a new study claims.
It would pump $32 million into the economy through spending on things such as real estate, utilities and retail purchases.
The report, titled “Strengthening Pennsylvania Businesses through Investments in Pre-Kindergarten,” was done by ReadyNation, which bills itself as “a business partnership for early childhood and economic success.”
Read the full story here.
Generocity: Thoughts on the future of Philadelphia
“An exciting week was book-ended by two events focused on the future. The first was the Economy League and United Way event on Pre-K for PA and the other was a panel on The Future of Work with Philadelphia University’s Natalie Nixon. Both events stirred my imagination about creative new ways to create social impact in our region in the coming decades. But with only 30% of our children getting access to high-quality early learning, I fear that the future of work — and of our region — is threatened. Business leaders like Jack Brennan (Vanguard Chairman Emeritus) and educators agree: universal access to quality early learning is critical to our region’s future prosperity, not to mention the value it brings to every 2, 3 and 4 year old child whose individual future depends on it.”
Read the full story here.
Philadelphia Business Journal: Pondering quality pre-k ed
Philadelphia Business Journal’s education staff writer, Lauren Hertzler, seeks to get a more concrete answer about what constitutes high quality pre-K:
“Last week, I exclusively brought to light a report by Ready Nation/America’s Edge, which highlights the advantages of investing in high-quality pre-kindergarten education.
The report found that for every $1 invested in high-quality pre-k, Pennsylvania’s economy would see a $1.79 return.
That’s pretty significant.
But, I couldn’t help but wonder, what exactly is “high-quality” pre-k? And is it worse to attend a low-performing preschool than it is to not go at all?”
Read the full story here.
Erie Times: Erie businessman, lawyer pushing for pre-K access
“Nick Scott Jr. believes the value of prekindergarten education is apparent.
Not only does it help prepare children for kindergarten, but it helps them avoid the pitfalls that can lead to students dropping out of school and getting involved with crime in the long term, and ultimately cuts the need — and cost — of remedial education for public schools.
“This is a no-brainer,” said Scott, vice president of Scott Enterprises and a member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission. “We’re beyond the point where this is a debate about if pre-K works.”
Now, he said, is the time to get every 3- or 4-year-old child in the state into early education programs.
That’s the goal of the recently created Pre-K for PA campaign, chaired in northwestern Pennsylvania by Scott and Erie lawyer Ron DiNicola. The two announced the creation of the local version of the campaign Thursday morning.”
Read the full story here.
Main Line Times: Lower Merion School Board supports increased state funding for pre-kindergarten programs
“Lower Merion officials are getting behind a statewide initiative that could help send more students to government-funded pre-kindergarten programs.
The Board of School Directors Monday night unanimously approved a resolution supporting increased state government funding for pre-K programs across Pennsylvania.
Under the resolution that was passed, the board suggested research shows students who have access to what it called quality pre-k programs helps them perform well in school. They also concluded that spending the money on such programs is what the resolution called a “wise financial investment.””
Read the full story here.
