Pocono Record: Letter to the Editor: PA’s Children Need Quality Pre-k Care
As state budget talks continue, it is important for Pennsylvania parents and taxpayers to understand what is at stake regarding early learning investments.
Right now, only about I in 6 of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-old children has access to high quality Pre-K, despite its proven benefits in preparing children for success in Kindergarten. That means more than 200,000 of Pennsylvania’s 3 and 4-year-old children are not benefitting from high quality Pre-K. In Monroe county, there are 3,645 children, ages 3 and 4. Of those, 2,757 of them, 76%, do not have access to high quality Pre-K. State leaders can reduce this number by boosting Pennsylvania’s Pre-K investments in this year’s budget.
The budget talks also could impact access to high quality child care. Child care has become the norm for young children and it can be expensive. Many low-income families need assistance to pay for child care so parents can go to work and know their child is in a safe, nurturing environment that provides appropriate learning experiences for young children. High quality child care makes employees more reliable and productive, decreases employee turnover and absenteeism and increase employee retention and productivity. High quality child care benefits children, parents, employers and society as a whole — both now and in the future. In 2014, accredited high quality child care was available to just 11.9% of Monroe county children ages infant to four.
Together, high quality child care and Pre-K have been proven to help prepare young learners for school by building their academic and social skills. It is an investment that pays off, but we need to invest more to get a fuller return on investment.
As Governor Wolf and lawmakers negotiate a state spending plan, they need to make sure these early learning investments are well represented in Pennsylvania’s budget priorities.
Judith Locker Fanelli
President Northeastern Child Care Services
Treasure House Child Development Centers
Scranton
Scranton Times: Letter to the Editor – Fund Pre-k Programs
Editor: As state budget talks continue, Pennsylvania parents and taxpayers should understand what is at stake regarding early-learning investments.
Right now, only about one in six of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-four-year-old children has access to quality pre-kindergarten despite the proven benefits in preparing children for success in kindergarten. That means more than 200,000 of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds do not benefit from quality pre-k. State leaders can reduce this number by boosting Pennsylvania’s investments in this year’s budget.
The budget talks also could affect access to quality child care. Child care has become the norm for young children and can be expensive. Many low-income families need assistance to pay for child care so parents can go to work and know their child is in a safe, nurturing environment that provides appropriate learning experiences for young children.
Quality child care makes employees more reliable and productive, decreases employee turnover and absenteeism and increase employee retention and productivity. Quality child care benefits children, parents, employers and society as a whole — both now and in the future.
Together, quality child care and pre-k have proved to help prepare young learners for school by building their academic and social skills. It is an investment that pays off, but we need to invest more to get a fuller return on investment.
As Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers negotiate a state spending plan, they need to make sure these early learning investments are well represented in Pennsylvania’s budget priorities.
JUDITH LOCKER FANELLI
PRESIDENT, NORTHEASTERN CHILD CARE SERVICES
TREASURE HOUSE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS,
SCRANTON
PA has a Fine Model to Follow when Offering Pre-K to More Children
By: Sue Smith, Director or Early Childhood Development, Capital Area Head Start, Susquehanna Twp.
September 27, 2014
“The editorial in Sunday’s Patriot-News makes a strong argument for Pennsylvania’s continued investment in early education and the importance of parent participation. Head Start, although not mentioned in the article, understands the crucial role of parents in their children’s education. In fact, parent participation is a requirement for enrollment in Head Start.”
Click Here to Read the Whole Letter
Invest in Kids
By Ann M. Lynady, Program Director SLHDA Head Start
August 20th, 2011
As the director of an early childhood program at the Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency Head Start, I can attest to the benefits early learning has on our youngest citizens, who will grow up to be our region’s next leaders.
I have seen children come into our program who already are behind their peers at the age of just 3 or 4. These children often face challenges that are beyond their control and lack the resources needed to gain ground during this critical time in their development.
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The Mercury Letters: Pre-K education is needed throughout Pennsylvania
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.
The Morning Call: Pre-K programs help prepare next generation
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.
