Tribune-Review: LTE: Money for pre-K a wise investment
April 12, 2018
Investment in high-quality early education is a crucial component in the development of communities across the state. I commend Gov. Tom Wolf for his proposed expansion of pre-K with an additional $40 million investment that will serve 4,400 more children statewide.
Despite this gain, 100,000 Pennsylvania preschoolers are still left out of this essential educational opportunity. As the leader of a foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for Westmoreland County residents, I am challenging our legislative leaders to go further. Focusing on giving children the best prospects for success in their formal education should be a top priority.
Research validates high-quality pre-K as the program to ensure children develop the skills needed for success in school and in life. It is particularly valuable for preschoolers at greatest risk. Without the foundation provided by high-quality pre-K, the opportunity gap faced by children from economically disadvantaged circumstances widens each year.
Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 30 states investing in high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. New Jersey spends five times more per capita than Pennsylvania. West Virginia has offered universal pre-K access since 2012. If Pennsylvania wants to compete, we must put our future first.
I urge our state Legislature to fully fund this $40 million investment and develop a plan to cover all the state’s preschoolers. What could possibly be a smarter investment in the future well-being of this state than providing every child a strong educational foundation?
Phil Koch, executive director of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County
Greensburg
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Morning Call: Make pre-K education a priority
April 12, 2018
We at Cuddle Zone are writing to recognize Sen. Pat Browne’s recent visit to our center. Sen. Browne has long supported public investment in pre-K education, and his visit is evidence that it remains a legislative priority for him.
Pennsylvania ranks 18th of the 30 states investing in high-quality, publicly funded pre-K. Our state is slipping in the race to expand access.
The new $40 million investment being discussed as part of the 2018-19 budget will serve 4,400 more kids, which represents progress. But what about the more than 100,000 Pennsylvania kids who will not get the opportunity to start kindergarten on par with their classmates who experienced pre-K education?
New Jersey is spending four times more per capita than Pennsylvnia, and even West Virginia, with universal access for pre-K since 2012, is way ahead of Pennsylvania. If Pennsylvania wants to compete, we have to commit to educating our kids.
We are encouraged that Sen. Browne remains committed to expanding pre-K opportunities to more children.
Michele McEllroy, owner/director of Cuddle Zone Learning Center, Allentown
Upper Saucon Township
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Carlisle Sentinel: Letter to the Editor: Commit Resources to Early Learning
February 22, 2018
Having raised four children all of whom attended pre-k programs over 20 years ago, I know that early learning programs provide children with opportunities to learn essential emotional and cognitive skills. Children in pre-k learn social skills, such as sharing, empathy, and self-control and gain exposure to pre-math and pre-literacy activities. My first grandchild is now in a high-quality child care program and preparing to begin his pre-k experience next school year.
Knowing the value of these programs, I commend Gov. Wolf for his $23 million proposal for child care services as well as his commitment to the state’s expansion of pre-k with a new $40 million investment which will serve 4,400 more kids. However, what about the more than 100,000 Pennsylvania kids who will still not get the opportunity to start kindergarten on par with my grandson and other classmates who were able to experience a pre-k education?
Pennsylvania ranks only 18th of the 30 states investing in high-quality, publicly funded pre-k. New Jersey is spending five times more per capita than Pennsylvania and West Virginia is leaps ahead of Pennsylvania providing universal access for pre-k aged kids since 2012.
If Pennsylvania wants to compete, we must commit resources to early learning. I hope and urge the legislature to fully fund the governor’s $40 million pre-k investment — it is an absolutely necessary, all be it a relatively small, step toward reaching those more than 100,000 Pennsylvania kids who otherwise will totally miss this chance!
Gant News: LTE: Clearfield Area United Way Believes in Early Learning
November 28, 2017
Dear Editor:
The Clearfield Area United Way (CAUW) believes in early-learning and school readiness.
CAUW member agencies are making differences in the lives of children daily. Our Reading Ripples project has distributed over 5,000 books to area children.
Research continues to confirm that high-quality Pre-K is among the best and most cost-effective initiatives.
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 300,000 three- and four-year-olds, including 1,700 in Clearfield County. However, only a small fraction of those children are enrolled in publicly-funded Pre-K.
Many of those who are missing out are at-risk of academic failure. In fact, 542 children lacked access to publicly-funded, high-quality Pre-K last year.
Community philanthropic organizations have made efforts to promote high-quality Pre-K but cannot get the job done alone.
We need the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to bolster its efforts to fund Pre-K programs and to reach those children who are missing out.
A new report by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and the non-partisan Pre-K for PA outlines a multi-year investment that could help reach nearly 71,000 additional three- and four-year-olds over a four-year span.
If Pennsylvania would follow through on the proposed investment strategy, it could make publicly-funded, quality Pre-K available to more than 40 percent by 2019, as compared to fewer than 20 percent who benefited in 2013.
We could reach all of our Commonwealth’s at-risk three- and four-year-olds, helping them succeed.
United Way and other organizations across Pennsylvania have been doing their part to make Pre-K a priority because we know it works.
Pre-K benefits our children, our communities and our entire Commonwealth.
We are requesting the Commonwealth to make Pre-K a budget priority this year and in the years ahead, so that our region’s children can reach their fullest potential.
Most sincerely,
Nancy M. Pinto
Clearfield Area United Way
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Trib Live: LTE: In Praise of Pre-k
November 15, 2017
Pre-K really does work.
Each school year, I look forward to seeing children just starting out, young minds ready to be developed. Teachers in our pre-K classrooms provide structure, tools, exploration and fun to set students on the path to success. Pre-K provides valuable social, behavioral and academic skills that help children succeed in academics and in life.
As someone who has volunteered in a kindergarten classroom, I can often tell which children have had the benefit of quality pre-K experiences. They are more comfortable in a school environment and interacting with others. They have command of numbers and pre-reading skills. They are actively engaged in learning.
Many studies point to the advantages of having a quality pre-K experience. Pre-K affords children the opportunity to have the fundamental skills to “hit the ground running” when they start school. The benefits last a lifetime and result in higher achievement overall.
Unfortunately, not all children have this opportunity. The article “Not enough seats for Southwest Pa. preschoolers, advocates say” is a compelling case for expansion.
Current demand far outweighs capacity to serve preschoolers. This means that many children are being denied this tremendous opportunity. Investments must be made to increase accessibility to quality pre-K and provide enough resources for programs for all children.
This is not just an investment in the future; it is an investment in our children.
LYNDA WRENN
Point Breeze
The writer is a member of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors.
Read the Letter to the Editor here.
Citizens Voice: Letter to the Editor: We Need to Better Prepare Our Children
November 5, 2017
Where there is a need, there are U.S. military personnel. They assist our allies in ousting terrorists from their strongholds. They transport food and water to flood and hurricane victims.
They have been in the news constantly this fall. We are gratified to see them, and whether we know it or not, they are operating with help from highly sophisticated technology that protects their bodies and enhances their powers of detection.
Still, no matter the mission, technology can never take the place of highly qualified people. Dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are the backbone of the military, and on Veterans Day and every day, they deserve our gratitude and thanks.
It’s disturbing to consider, but most Americans do not qualify for military service. According to the Department of Defense, 72 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 17 to 24 are ineligible for military service. Three young adults out of four aren’t qualified to serve our country due to problems with obesity, education, drug abuse, or crime.
The Citizen-Readiness Index, produced by the Council for a Strong America, found that 13 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 16 to 24 are unemployed and not in school. Plus, 13 youth out of 100 ages 17 to 24 have arrest records.
Pennsylvania businesspeople are also alarmed. Many employers offer good, family-sustaining jobs, but they can’t find the people with the specialized training and academic skills to fill those positions.
These findings should worry us all. In this era of conflict and rapid change, our nation must operate smoothly and yet be capable of responding to any and all threats. It’s an imperative for our national security and our economic vitality. When too many citizens are unskilled, our danger from security threats and a faltering economy is magnified.
Instilling needed skills and capabilities in every citizen goes back to childhood. Education systems partner with families to ensure our next generation is one of good students and lifelong learners. Unfortunately, many areas in Pennsylvania lack adequate resources for quality pre-K and K-12 education.
Roughly 64 percent of eligible preschool-age children are unable to access high-quality, publicly funded pre-K due to limited state funding. Additionally, Pennsylvania is home to the widest per-pupil K-12 spending gap in the nation between wealthy and poor school districts. The result: larger class sizes, cuts in academic offerings, and outdated equipment.
These limited pre-K opportunities and inadequately resourced schools, put together, demonstrate that we are not committing to the classroom success of every child in Pennsylvania.
Our children deserve the best we can provide. With a strong basis in learning, character development, and teamwork, they will be ready to take their places in our communities and our businesses.
Pennsylvania must adequately invest in pre-K and in all of our public schools, preparing our next generation for the day they are contributing to our economy and, if they choose, serving with pride in the U.S. military.
Major Gen. (Ret.) Joseph F. Perugino, U.S. Army, Former Commander, 28th Infantry Division, PA National Guard
KINGSTON
Read the letter to the editor here.
