Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott has proclaimed August 8th as Pre-K for PA Day in the City of Erie.
The proclamation took place at the Seawolves game at Jerry Uht Park.
The goal of the bipartisan campaign is to raise support for universal pre-k for three and four year old children in the commonwealth.
Full story here.
As an early childhood educator, I know that we have only one chance to prepare our children for their future education and their future success. I see firsthand every day how children who attend preschool programs dedicated to high quality are introduced to and practice crucial life skills that serve as a foundation for academic learning in school.
Preschool programs dedicated to providing high-quality early education understand that there are many foundational skills that children need in order to be successful in school and life.
Read more at the source.
I read with interest Lee Butz’s recent Your View (“Increased funding for preschool education a wise investment”) about the impact that pre-kindergarten programs can have on young learners.
As a retired rear admiral of the Coast Guard, I know firsthand just how difficult it is to find qualified men and women to fill the ranks.
A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that the “Defense Department estimates that 71 percent of the roughly 34 million 17- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. would fail to qualify to enlist in the military if they tried.” This level of ineligibility has obvious consequences for our armed services and civilian employers alike.
The documented impact of early education is impressive, and I am encouraged by the actions of local businesses to expand access to these services through the preschool scholarship program.
Read more.
What does Pre-K have to do with crime prevention?
Considering that approximately 70 percent of our nation’s state prison population failed to receive a high school diploma, education is a pivotal factor between incarceration and productive citizenship. Long-term research is clear that high quality pre-k can boost graduation rates by as much as 44 percent and keep young people on the right side of the law.
Knowing this, district attorneys have long supported investments in high-quality pre-kindergarten as a key crime prevention strategy.
View the full letter.
A recent survey found that there are about 15,000 young Philadelphians lacking a high school diploma who are not currently enrolled in school or employed.
Full story & Interview with Pre-K for PA field organizer Della Jenkins at the source.
