Tribune Democrat: Pre-k programs lagging in Pennsylvania
December 14, 2016 by John Finnerty
HARRISBURG — Most children eligible for public pre-kindergarten are shut out for lack of space, according to a report released Wednesday.
The situation is worse in rural and suburban schools, the Pennsylvania Partnership for Children found. Almost 3 in 4 children in suburban districts who are eligible for the programs don’t have access. In rural schools, more than 2 in 3 children are shut out.
“This is not a city problem, this is a Pennsylvania problem,” said state Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer County. More than half of the children in his district who are eligible aren’t enrolled.
The programs are offered by public schools, private nursery schools, highly-rated child care centers or Head Start. The group wants the state to recruit more operators to launch programs and cover their costs.
Of 300,000 preschool-age children in the state, about 177,000 are eligible for publicly funded pre-kindergarten. The group says the state has pre-K programs in place for almost 64,000 children, but nearly 113,000 are shut out.
Eligibility for the progams is based on family income, lack of English proficiency or disability.
Rural areas may have fewer private operators able to run pre-kindergarten programs, said Joan Benso, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.
School districts in those areas likely struggle to operate regular K-12 classes, so administrators feel they’re in no position to expand to preschool.
Federally funded programs, such as Head Start, are more anchored to urban areas, Benso noted.
Researchers found that 32 of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts have at least 80 percent of eligible preschoolers enrolled in pre-K programs.
Benso’s group is not proposing universal pre-K. Instead, it wants the state to pay to expand access to more children already eligible.
Eventually, if those needs are met, it would like to see programs opened to more families.
Benso’s group wants the state to boost pre-K spending by $85 million in the coming year, with a goal of increasing spending by $340 million by 2020-21.
That would be enough money to enroll all eligible children, she said.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget director, Randy Albright, noted the state is projected to have a $600 million deficit in the next budget year.
However, Wolf remains committed to boosting spending on schools and early childhood programs, he added, despite the headwinds.
Republicans who control the Legislature may be less enthusiastic.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana County, said before the state spends more on schools, it ought to ensure that money now stuck in the state Department of Education is trickling out to districts.
The state needs to find $1.7 billion just to cover existing expenses – as well as mandated increases – in the coming year, said Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford County.
“Everyone deserves a good education but the state already spends over 42 percent of the general fund budget on education items such as Pre-K, subsidized day care, K-12 education, colleges and student grants,” he said.
Researchers said about 2 in 3 children eligible for pre-K programs in Roae’s district aren’t enrolled.
There are 18 pre-kindergarten classrooms in his legislative district. Nearly three-dozen more must be added to meet all the demand, researchers estimated.
Longietti said investment in pre-kindergarten is needed to ensure new students can compete with their peers from areas where governments are spending more, even within the region.
Ontario, for example, launched a universal pre-kindergarten program in 2010. Two years ago, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio rolled out universal pre-K in the nation’s largest city.
Research supports those who say the investment pays off in the long-run, said former state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak.
Studies estimate $7 to $17 in long-term savings for every $1 spent on early childhood education, he said.
Savings come from reduced costs for services such as remedial education, social welfare programs and incarceration.
“It’s probably the most important investment we can make,” he said.
Benso said there’s no question the call for more spending on early childhood education comes as the state grapples with a difficult budget.
“The state is in a grave situation,” she said. “But budgets are about making decisions. And these children are not going to be able to be 3 or 4 again when the state’s budget is better.”
Read the article here.
Lancaster Online: 3 new pre-K classrooms for Lafayette elementary, leaders push for more funding
By Lindsey Blest
November 8, 2016
Pedro Rivera squatted on a multicolored carpet, chanting an alphabet rap with 20 pre-kindergarten students in a new classroom at Lafeyette Elementary School in Lancaster city.
“When I say ‘K,’ you say ‘kuh,’ ” the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education said.
Rivera joined a panel of local and state leaders at the School District of Lancaster school Monday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new classrooms and a roundtable discussion on pre-K funding.
“The investment in quality early childhood education will ensure that kids are on a trajectory to be successful,” Rivera said.
The three new classrooms provide spots for a total of 60 students. They were made possible by the inclusion of $30 million in additional pre-K funding in the 2016-17 state budget.
“I’m really proud to see great programs happen here at Lafayette,” said Rivera, who was SDL superintendent from 2008 to 2015.
Funding a classroom for 20 pre-K students costs $170,000, according to current SDL Superintendent Damaris Rau.
Testing results have shown that 83 percent of pre-K students are prepared for kindergarten, but only 37 percent are prepared without pre-K, she said.
ldquo;Pre-K education has to become our mission,” Rau said.
There are currently 392 pre-K students in the district with 400 more on the waiting list.
Only 17 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-K, said Randy Patterson, director of Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and board chair for the United Way of Lancaster County.
During the roundtable discussion, local leaders discussed the benefit that pre-K education brings to education, crime reduction, the military and business.
“A vital city has to have a vital education program,” Lancaster city Mayor Rick Gray said.
Studies have shown advancement in education, better suitability to society and reduction in crime begins with early education, he said.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said he sees many crime statistics, but the best statistic is “the one I don’t see.”
“I would be happy if the results here put me out of a job,” Stedman said.
Stedman said about half of state prison inmates have not graduated from high school. He added that the annual cost for incarcerating an inmate in state prison is $45,000, and that it currently costs the state about $2.3 billion annually.
“I think we’d rather pay for an education than an incarceration,” he said.
Gov. Tom Wolf pledged to introduce an “ambitious” early childhood education plan in the 2017-18 budget at a round table discussion with state and Philadelphia leaders last week.
While it’s premature to state the total amount Wolf will request, spokesman Jeff Sheridan said, he is committed to continued investment in education at all levels.
“Education is his priority,” Sheridan said. “When we provide access to early childhood education, students perform better in life.”
Read the full article here.
Lancaster Online: 3 new pre-K classrooms for Lafayette elementary, leaders push for more funding
November 8, 2016
Pedro Rivera squatted on a multicolored carpet, chanting an alphabet rap with 20 pre-kindergarten students in a new classroom at Lafeyette Elementary School in Lancaster city.
“When I say ‘K,’ you say ‘kuh,’ ” the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education said.
Rivera joined a panel of local and state leaders at the School District of Lancaster school Monday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new classrooms and a roundtable discussion on pre-K funding.
The three new classrooms provide spots for a total of 60 students. They were made possible by the inclusion of $30 million in additional pre-K funding in the 2016-17 state budget.
“I’m really proud to see great programs happen here at Lafayette,” said Rivera, who was SDL superintendent from 2008 to 2015.
Funding a classroom for 20 pre-K students costs $170,000, according to current SDL Superintendent Damaris Rau.
Testing results have shown that 83 percent of pre-K students are prepared for kindergarten, but only 37 percent are prepared without pre-K, she said.
ldquo;Pre-K education has to become our mission,” Rau said.
There are currently 392 pre-K students in the district with 400 more on the waiting list.
Only 17 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-K, said Randy Patterson, director of Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and board chair for the United Way of Lancaster County.
During the roundtable discussion, local leaders discussed the benefit that pre-K education brings to education, crime reduction, the military and business.
“A vital city has to have a vital education program,” Lancaster city Mayor Rick Gray said.
Studies have shown advancement in education, better suitability to society and reduction in crime begins with early education, he said.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said he sees many crime statistics, but the best statistic is “the one I don’t see.”
“I would be happy if the results here put me out of a job,” Stedman said.
Stedman said about half of state prison inmates have not graduated from high school. He added that the annual cost for incarcerating an inmate in state prison is $45,000, and that it currently costs the state about $2.3 billion annually.
“I think we’d rather pay for an education than an incarceration,” he said.
Gov. Tom Wolf pledged to introduce an “ambitious” early childhood education plan in the 2017-18 budget at a round table discussion with state and Philadelphia leaders last week.
While it’s premature to state the total amount Wolf will request, spokesman Jeff Sheridan said, he is committed to continued investment in education at all levels.
“Education is his priority,” Sheridan said. “When we provide access to early childhood education, students perform better in life.”
Read the story here.
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.
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.
