The Kennett Times: DAs back pre-K to fight crime
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.
The Times Leader: Giving children a head start can help Pennsylvania’s economy
A recent commentary on the economic benefits of early learning (“For region’s sake, let’s rally to deliver top-notch early childhood education,” June 26) gave The Times Leader’s readers an excellent overview of how high-quality early childhood education programs save money for taxpayers while helping to build a better educated, more competitive workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Over the course of my career in early learning, I have seen firsthand how quality programs such as Head Start prepare children for success in school and life – particularly among children who are at higher risk of academic failure due to poverty or other circumstances that are beyond their control. When we nurture these young minds at such a critical period in their development, we prepare them to persevere and succeed despite the obstacles they might face.
Read more at the source.
Business570: Quality pre-K education reaps long-term economic benefits
The bottom line for business is that early learning opportunities for our children have tremendous long-term benefits for our workforce.
Beyond business, high-quality pre-k helps virtually every aspect of our communities and our quality of life. Let’s track some of those benefits through the life of a child:
■ By better preparing children for kindergarten, high-quality pre-k has been shown to save money in our K-12 schools by reducing the need for special education and remedial instruction.
■ By better preparing young learners for K-12 (particularly kids at high-risk of academic failure) pre-k has been shown to decrease dropouts and increase the rates of graduation and college enrollment.
Read the full story at the source.
Centre Daily Times: Support Early Ed initiatives
Norman Rich’s recent oped, “Quality early learning instills STEM skills and core character traits,” CDT, June 23), does a terrific job in identifying the impact that high-quality early learning can have on young learners and the future workforce.
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.
Knowing this connection from research and experience, law enforcement leaders have long supported investments in high quality pre-kindergarten as a key crime prevention strategy.
by Brandon Phillips
I spent June 3 in our Capitol championing for high-quality pre-k.
The atmosphere was exciting – parents and advocates from around the state came together to demand that our legislators take action now!
Far too many children attend pre-k programs that lack the key elements to ensure they are ready for kindergarten. Only 1 in 6 of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds have access to high-quality, publicly funded pre-k. Those remaining 5 in 6 can be at a significant disadvantage when they start kindergarten – less likely to read at grade-level, less likely to graduate from high school, less likely to find employment later in life.
Investment in early childhood education must happen now. It is time our elected officials understand they are allowing an achievement gap to widen and it will be very costly to overcome. Each year that passes without meaningful access to high-quality pre-k means another group of young learners is losing this opportunity.
Take Action Now! Demand from our elected officials that they do what’s right and provide our 3 & 4 year olds with access to high quality pre-k!
Brandon Phillips
Parent & Family Services Specialist
Pittsburgh Public Schools
PennLive Letters to the Editor:
Pre-K education is an issue for the military, too
Research is clear that the education process should start early with high-quality pre-kindergarten that capitalizes on a child’s most rapid period of brain development. It also shows this high quality start results in improved long-term academic performance and can increase graduation rates by as much as 44 percent.
Unfortunately less than 30 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3 and 4-year olds have access to high-quality Pre-K. When state lawmakers return to Harrisburg in June, they should ensure that more kids are served by accepting Governor Corbett’s proposed increase to Pre-K Counts as part of the final budget.
Like futuristic weapons, investing in future human capital is also a critical national security strategy.
Read more at the source.
