Delaware County Daily Times: Democrats Push for Expanded Pre-k Access
October 14, 2016 by Kevin Tustin
NETHER Providence >> Democratic leaders from all levels of government convened Friday afternoon for a discussion about pre-kindergarten services in the state and country and how to make them more accessible. Their solution for expanding access? Elect more Democrats.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., met with state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161 of Swarthmore, 9th District state Senate candidate Marty Malloy, state rep candidate in the 165th District Elaine Schaefer and state rep candidate for the 168th District Diane Cornman-Levy along with pre-K teachers and advocates on the “economic imperative” and “moral gravity” for the early education program.
“We have a lot of work to do, but I’m encouraged because you’re bringing the issue to this campaign,” said Casey to the education advocates at Helen Kate Furness Free Library in Wallingford.
According to the Pre-K for PA campaign, 77 percent of Delaware County children are eligible for publicly-funded pre-K, but there isn’t enough money from the state to give them access. Statewide, 66 percent still aren’t receiving quality Pre-K education despite a $30 million increase in state funding (to $147 million) for the current fiscal year.
Advocates claim that every $1 invested in Pre-K returns $17 back locally, there is a fight to get it funded across the aisle.
“(Republicans) totally say they’re going to fund it, they’re all behind it, and then when they get in office they go with the flow of their leadership,” said Schaefer.
“They like it until they have to vote for it, so they vote no,” Krueger added.
Krueger’s claim was backed up by Casey explaining when the Senate voted last year on his amendment to get $25 billion appropriated for Pre-K it was defeated along party lines with 52 Republican no votes trumping 45 Democratic yes votes.
“Despite that loss, I was really happy we had that vote because it put us on the record as a legislative body in the United States Senate on a big issue and a major commitment, and now we know where people stand,” Casey said.
Advocate Shawn Towey asked of the (potential) lawmakers how to get even moderate Republicans to support pre-K.
Read the full article here.
Sunbury Daily Item: Letter to the Editor: Commitment to Early Learning
October 9, 2016
The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way has for years stressed the importance of high quality early childhood education as an essential investment in our community’s future. Children who attend are more likely to start school ready to learn and perform better throughout K-12.
I was pleased to join community leaders at Susquehanna Children’s Center a few weeks ago in celebrating the fact more than 100 eligible three- and four-year-olds are enrolled in new Pre-K Counts and Head Start classrooms in Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties this fall.
I especially want to thank state leaders like state Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, who is a passionate advocate for expanded access to high quality early childhood education, and state Rep. Fred Keller, who has also been a strong supporter of our work in early learning. I hope their commitment to working to increase funding for early learning will inspire other legislators and Gov. Tom Wolf to do the same. There is no better way to ensure a healthy and vibrant future for our communities.
Joanne Troutman,
President/CEO,
Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way
See the Letter to the Editor here.
Scranton Times-Tribune: Letter to the Editor: Pre-k Expansion
October 10, 2016
Editor: As we all know, a quality education in the very early years is the best gift we can give to our children to succeed in life.
The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties has for many years been an advocate for high-quality early childhood education as an essential investment in our community’s future. Children who attend high-quality pre-K are more likely to start school ready to learn and perform on a much higher level than those without the benefit.
As the new school year progresses, we all have something to celebrate. More than 140 additional eligible 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in new Pre-K Counts and Head Start classrooms throughout Lackawanna and Wayne counties. I thank leaders like state Sen. John Blake, of Archbald, for his work to make expanded access to high quality early-childhood education a priority. I hope that his commitment in working to increase funding for early learning will inspire other legislators and Gov. Tom Wolf to do the same. Our future depends on it and it really does make a difference.
GARY DRAPEK
PRESIDENT AND CEO,
UNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA & WAYNE COUNTIES,
SCRANTON
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Erie Times: Iroquois Dedicates Expanded Early Learning Classroom
October 5, 2016
Iroquois Elementary School formally dedicated its expanded prekindergarten classroom Tuesday.
The district reinstated its prekindergarten class in partnership with the Early Connections program in February. The class served 13 students. The class this school year serves 30 students, Iroquois schools Superintendent Shane Murray said.
The expansion was funded by a $25 million increase in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts funding an additional $5 million for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program in the 2016-17 state budget.
Across Erie County, the increased funding is paying for prekindergarten education for almost 200 additional students this school year, said Ron DiNicola, co-chairman of Pre-K for PA in northwestern Pennsylvania. Early Connections, Erie and Millcreek school districts, and the Downtown YMCA received increased prekindergarten funding.
But more funding is needed to reach more children, Murray said. Almost 2,500 income-eligible children in Erie County still do not have access to publicly funded, high-quality prekindergarten education, he said.
“There are a lot of things we have to do in education, and prekindergarten is not one of them. But it definitely is one of the things we should do. Data shows that the investment in prekindergarten education is returned seven times over,” Murray said.
Those returns include savings in costs for students repeating grades or requiring special education services, higher future wages for graduates and less cost for crime, said Erie County Sheriff John Loomis. Loomis and state legislators from Erie County attended Tuesday’s Iroquois prekindergarten dedication.
A study of Pennsylvania’s inmate population shows that more than half have not graduated from high school, Loomis said.
“This revealing statistic is more reason for the imperative that law enforcement leaders place on educational success, which is best achieved by children getting a strong early educational foundation,” Loomis said.
Read the story here.
WSEE/WJET: Legislatures Head Back to School
October 4, 2016
Last spring, Iroquois Elementary started its Pre-K program. Tuesday, legislatures that helped get funding for the program, had the chance to look inside.
About 30 students make up the two Pre-K classes at Iroquois Elementary. Legislatures gathered for a round table discussion about the new expansion part of Pre-K Counts.
“Pre-K Counts is a high quality, there are measures of standards for qualifications of teachers, curriculum, how it’s integrated with the kindergarten program. So, we’re investing in programs, that are shown by decades of research that meet these high quality benchmarks,” says Bruce Clash, state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
Part of that investment, $30 million for Pre-K, included in the 2016-2017 budget, by the legislatures.
“I’m incredibly fortunate, and very proud of our students, and proud of our district, for being willing to accept this grant and collaborative effort…It’s an opportunity for our students to get a head start on learning how to be a student and learning how to treat one another,” says Iroquois Elementary principal, Brian Bronson.
After the round table discussion, everyone gathered inside for the ribbon cutting of the Pre-K classroom.
Principal Bronson says major highlights of the Pre-K classroom is learning from play.
“There’s so much brain activity going on in play…That our students wouldn’t have that organized opportunity to be with one another,” says Brian.
Co-chair of Pre-K for PA NWPA, Ron DiNicola says the sooner we get kids in school the better.
“All the studies show the good science, the solid economics shows that children that have access to pre-k are more likely to perform better in school, reduce the cost of special education, graduate with, from high school, and go on to post-secondary education,” he says.
Read the full article here.
WJET: New funding allows more Erie County children to participate in pre-K
October 4, 2016
ERIE, Pa. – The pre-K classroom at Iroquois Elementary School is a little bigger thanks to a $25 million investment in programs across the Commonwealth.
New state funding allows 200 additional children in Erie County to participate in pre-K with 30 of those children at Iroquois.
On Tuesday, the school celebrated the growing classroom.
Studies show that not only is the program important for education, but it helps to reduce disruptive or antisocial behaviors in children that could lead to criminal behavior.
In Erie County, 2,400 students living below the poverty line to not have access to pre-K.
Watch coverage here.
