A new poll shows that more and more people are supporting voluntary, high quality Pre-K education for all kids in Pennsylvania.
Regardless of political affiliations, people of all backgrounds are showing their support for Pre-K reform in Pennsylvania. Research shows only 28 percent of Erie County three and four year olds have access to publicly-funded Pre-K education but recently, a new poll reveals that more and more people are pushing for voluntary, high-quality Pre-K education for all.
Local Pre-K for PA Co-Chair Ron Dinicola says Pre-K helps kids in their learning cycle. cycle. “If they’re in the circle at the beginning, they will stay in the circle, if they come to kindergarten and they’re outside of the circle, the data shows that they tend to stay outside the circle. We want every child, three/four year old, they don’t get a do-over, we want to make sure they’re ready to learn when they get to kindergarten,” Dinicola said.
Three retired U.S. Army generals, including Kingston resident Maj. Gen. Joseph Perugino, came to Wilkes-Barre this morning to push for what they argued is a critical national security need: high-quality pre-school programs.
“The current military involves complex technology,” Lt. Gen. Dennis Benchoff said. “We no longer recruit from pool halls and gas stations.” The military looks for high school graduates, he added, yet 72 percent of Pennsylvanians ages 17 to 24 don’t make muster for military enlistment.
When the emphasis is kept on how it’s good for business, early-childhood education is popular. Just don’t call it childcare.
In Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, education has emerged as one of the most heated issues. A Quinnipiac University poll released this month found education ranked as the most important issue for voters, after jobs and the economy. Despite contentious politics surrounding reform of public education from kindergarten through twelfth grade, Republican incumbent Tom Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf have discovered that plugging expansion of pre-kindergarten programs wins them political points without treading into treacherous waters. That is, as long as they don’t mention the mothers who will inevitably benefit, too.
“Dozens of pre-schools and daycare centers came together on Tuesday to sing, dance, draw and rally in Franklin Square Park as part of the Pre-K for PA campaign to influence voters and elected officials to prioritize accessible early education for Pennsylvania’s 3 and 4 year olds.”
“We know that students, children, who have access to high-quality pre-k do better in school,” Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite said. “We also know that students who have access to high-quality pre-k learn to read by the time they’re in third grade. We also know that children who have access to high-quality pre-k get to graduation from high school.”
Representantes de centros de educación preescolar y guarderías llevaron a cabo una movilización el 16 de septiembre en la que los más pequeños cantaron, bailaron y alzaron la voz en Franklin Square Park parte instar a los electores de Filadelfia a hacer de la educación temprana una prioridad a la hora de votar.
La movilización formó parte de la campaña “Pre-K for PA” que promueve el acceso a la educación temprana para los pequeños de 3 y 4 años de edad.
“Sabemos que a los niños y estudiantes que tienen acceso a una educación preescolar de calidad les va mejor en la escuela, aprenden a leer para el tercer grado, y se gradúan de high school”, dijo el superintendente William Hite.
