Carlisle Sentinel: Report: 70 percent of Pa. children can’t access preschool
“The report is part of a new push by a coalition of 10 nonprofit organizations to ensure every child has the opportunity to attend a strong preschool program. The coalition launched the “Pre-K for PA” campaign last month, in hopes of spurring lawmakers to devote more resources to early education as they develop the 2014-15 budget.
“Pennsylvanians want to see their tax dollars invested wisely in areas that benefit all of us, and they increasingly recognize that high-quality pre-k is one of those areas,” said Joan Benso, president of the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. “It has a ripple effect throughout a child’s life and throughout a child’s community.”
Advocates say expanding public preschool programs will send children to kindergarten with more advanced math and language skills, reduce special education placements and grade repetition, and increase high school graduation rates and college enrollment. They highlight research that identifies long-term economic benefits of affordable preschool for all, including helping students achieve higher-earning potential and reducing the costs of crime and public assistance.”
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Ellwood City Ledger: Report: 70 percent of Pa. children can’t access preschool
“Nearly 209,000 young children lack access to pre-kindergarten programs because their families either can’t find or can’t afford it, the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children found in its new report,“A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-k in PA.”
Less than 18 percent, or about 53,000 children, are enrolled in publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs statewide.
The report is part of a new push by a coalition of 10 nonprofit organizations to ensure every young Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to attend a strong preschool program. The coalition launched the “Pre-k for PA” campaign last month, in the hope of spurring lawmakers to devote more resources to early education as they develop the 2014-15 budget.”
Read the full story here.
Delco Times: Parent forum Feb. 26 looks at pre-kindergarten education
“The push for high quality pre-kindergarten education in the state will be the focus of a parent forum at Upper Darby High School on Feb. 26 called DelCo For Pre-K, an initiative to make sure three- and four-year-olds are ready for kindergarten.
Hosted by the Pre-K For PA coalition, DelCo For Pre-K is part of a state-wide regional series that invites parents in the county to learn about pre-k and how to make it a priority for elected leaders.
The forum will be hosted at the school’s board room at 8201 Lansdowne Ave. from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
“Children with access to high-quality, pre-k are more likely to advance grades and have improved social skills,” says a promotional flyer. “When all children arrive ready to learn, all of our schools are better.””
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Explore Venango: New Report Finds High-Quality Pre-K Benefits Only 1 in 6 Young Learners
“Only about 18 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds – or 1 in 6 children – are able to access high-quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs, despite the proven benefits and growing public support for these programs, according to a new report from Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC).
This lack of access to high-quality pre-k not only means missed learning opportunities for young children, it also results in additional long-term costs for Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. These issues can be addressed through stronger public investments in high-quality pre-k, PPC President and CEO Joan Benso said.
“The sooner high-quality pre-k is made available to more Pennsylvania children, the sooner we can see the increased benefits to our children, our communities and the commonwealth,” Benso said. “Investing in our young learners is a smart and necessary step toward building a stronger Pennsylvania.””
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Allentown Morning Call: Report: Valley falls short in pre-K programs
“”The sooner high-quality pre-K is made available to more Pennsylvania children, the sooner we can see the increased benefits to our children, our communities and the commonwealth,” PPC President and CEO Joan Benso said in a release. “Investing in our young learners is a smart and necessary step toward building a stronger Pennsylvania.”
PPC’s report, “A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-K in PA,” shows nearly a quarter of a million 3- and 4-year-olds — or one in six children in that age group — are excluded from pre-K because their families cannot find or afford such programs.
According to the report, Lehigh County has about 8,700 children in the 3-4 age group, but 85 percent have no access to high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. In Northampton County, it’s about 91 percent of 6,800 children in the age group.”
Read the full story here.
