Delaware County News Network: 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.”
Read the full story here.
Keystone News Service: PA 4th Graders Improve Reading Skills, But Poverty Clouds Progress
“Fourth-graders in Pennsylvania appear to be showing progress in reading skills, but not all students are benefiting.
A new
report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reveals that the percentage of fourth-grade students reading below proficiency levels dropped from 67 percent in 2003 to 60 percent last year.
Michael Race, director of communications at Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, says the new numbers reinforce the benefits of books. “
Read the full story here.
Radnor Patch: Campaign Pushes for ‘High-Quality’ Pre-K
“Pre-K for PA is a campaign that aims to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania has access to high-quality pre-kindergarten.
Last week a statewide coalition of non-profit organizations launched “Pre-K for PA: All Children Ready to Succeed.” The campaign seeks to “expand access to critical, high-quality pre-k learning opportunities to ensure that all children are able to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to learn and succeed,” according to a press release.The campaign states that research finds that children with access to high quality pre-k are more likely to advance grades and have improved social skills.”
Read the full story here.
Lehigh Valley Live: Pennsylvania nonprofits launch campaign to push for more pre-kindergarten funding
“A statewide coalition has kicked of a campaign to ensure every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania has the chance to attend a high quality pre-kindergarten program.
Pre-K for PA was launched in events across the state Thursday with civic, education, business and military leaders signing on to the effort aimed at boosting pre-K offerings across the commonwealth.
Many Pennsylvania families cannot afford high quality pre-K.
Fewer than 20 percent of Pennsylvania 3- and 4-year-olds have access to publicly funded, high quality programs, said Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, one of 10 nonprofit organizations involved in the campaign.”
Read the full story here.
Norristown Times Herald: Statewide Coalition Kicks off Effort to Expand Access to High-Quality Pre-k
“Kicking off a campaign to advocate for greater investment in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs on Thursday, a statewide coalition of non-profit organizations launched “Pre-K for PA: All Children Ready to Succeed” to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to access these initiatives.
“The public funds currently available for pre-k in Pennsylvania help fewer than 20 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds access high-quality programs. As a result, far too many families cannot access or afford the high-quality pre-k that is so essential to their children’s success,” said Jill Michal, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.”
Read the full story here.
