BUDGET
Pre-K for PA commends the Shapiro Administration for taking an additional step to confront the longstanding teacher staffing crisis facing the Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental programs. The proposed Pennsylvania 2026-27 state budget’s inclusion of an additional $7.5 million investment for Pre-K Counts and $2 million for Head Start will help stabilize early learning providers by increasing per-child rates – an essential step toward addressing rising costs and chronic staffing challenges driven by persistently low wages.
For years, higher-paying opportunities in K-12 education and other sectors have pulled qualified educators away from early learning settings, forcing many providers to reduce enrollment or close classrooms altogether. This new funding represents a critical step toward reversing that trend and ensuring that state-funded pre-kindergarten programs remain strong, sustainable, and accessible to families across the state.
State Budget Delivers Modest Gains for the Early Learning Workforce but Leaves Out Critical Supports for Pennsylvania’s Youngest Children
Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates, expressed appreciation for some small steps forward in addressing early education workforce shortages in the 2026–27 state budget. They also emphasized that the commonwealth must do far more to support programs such as infant and toddler Early Intervention to ensure that every Pennsylvania child from birth to age five has access to affordable, high-quality early care and education by 2030.
PA Partnerships for Children Pre-K Data
This interactive review at the Pennsylvania House, Senate and school district levels includes local data on children served, unmet need, the number of high-quality providers, current capacity and much more. Not sure where your legislative districts or school district are on the maps? No problem. Use the convenient search functionality on each map to look up your legislators or school district.
The link of the sources and methodology: 2025-26 Pre-K for PA Data Sources and Methodology
