HARRISBURG, PA (February 3, 2026) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, expressed appreciation for the Shapiro Administration’s 2026-27 state budget proposal and its continued focus on children and early education workforce investments, while also highlighting the need for additional support in areas like infant and toddler Early Intervention and home visiting.
ELPA operates issue-based advocacy campaigns, including: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA. The partners of ELPA issued the following statements regarding the Governor’s budget proposal:
Budget prioritizes early learning workforce to address on-going child care staffing crisis
“Start Strong PA applauds Governor Shapiro for continuing to prioritize the child care workforce by building on the $25 million recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention Program funding with an additional $10 million investment. These funds will support programs as they work to recruit quality applicants and retain experienced educators.
“Child care is an economic development strategy, workforce participation strategy, and education success strategy. These investments will encourage teachers to remain in the field, allowing more parents to work, prepare more Pennsylvania children for school, and build a stronger and more prosperous Commonwealth.
“Start Strong PA looks forward to working with the House and Senate to ensure these urgently needed funds are included in the final budget so we can more fully address the child care staffing crisis and its impact on working families and employers. There is always more we can do to help families find and afford child care and build a robust early learning sector while working to improve system quality and stability.”
Proposed budget boosts Pre-K Counts and Head Start rates to tackle ongoing teacher shortage
“Pre-K for PA commends the Shapiro Administration for taking an additional step to confront the longstanding teacher staffing crisis facing the Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental programs. The proposed Pennsylvania 2026-27 state budget’s inclusion of an additional $7.5 million investment for Pre-K Counts and $2 million for Head Start will help stabilize early learning providers by increasing per-child rates – an essential step toward addressing rising costs and chronic staffing challenges driven by persistently low wages.
“For years, higher-paying opportunities in K-12 education and other sectors have pulled qualified educators away from early learning settings, forcing many providers to reduce enrollment or close classrooms altogether. This new funding represents a critical step toward reversing that trend and ensuring that state-funded pre-kindergarten programs remain strong, sustainable, and accessible to families across the state.
Budget proposal fails to recognize needed investments in infant and toddler Early Intervention
“Early Intervention is a critical and federally required component of the early care and education continuum, as all children from birth through age five with developmental delays, regardless of family income level, must be identified, referred to, and provided necessary services to help them and their families reach their fullest potential. While the increase for preschool Early Intervention in the Department of Education budget is a needed boost, the cut to infant and toddler Early Intervention in the Department of Human Services budget is deeply concerning. The reduction of funding will negatively impact the ability to adequately deliver services to more children in Pennsylvania. It is especially disappointing, as the 2024 Early Intervention Rate Methodology Study released by OCDEL found that infant/toddler rates were underfunded by more than $71 million in 2022-23 – almost 40% – a deficit that has continued to grow in the years since. Failing to address the workforce shortages caused by the ongoing rate deficit in the sector severely limits providers, making it harder for families to access services they are entitled to by federal law. We look forward to working with the legislature and the administration to change course and ensure critical investments are made in infant and toddler Early Intervention in the final budget.”
Stagnant funding reduces home visiting services for pregnant women and families with young children
“Home visiting is a vital component of the early childhood landscape, offering pregnant women and families with young children an option for support during the earliest and most critical years of life. For the fourth consecutive year, the proposed state budget level funds evidence-based home visiting programs. Without increased investments to address the rising costs of providing these life-changing services designed to strengthen and support families, local programs will struggle to serve families in their communities without reductions or be able to address longstanding workforce shortages, including factors that affect retention and recruitment. The Childhood Begins at Home campaign views the lack of an increase in the proposed 2026–27 budget as a missed opportunity, particularly as families and communities across Pennsylvania continue to face rising costs for basic needs such as food and housing. Investments in these vital services also help lower human services costs in the long run, and are critically important at a time when costs continue to grow. We will continue working with policymakers in the legislature and the administration to underscore the importance of evidence-based home visiting services for families who face disproportionate barriers to health and well-being, including families living in poverty, and to lay the groundwork for increased investment in the next competitive contract period beginning in July 2027.”
2026-27 PA State Budget Proposal Includes:
- $10 million in additional funding for the Child Care Recruitment and Retention line.
- $7.5 million in additional funding for the Pre-K Counts program.
- $2 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
- $2.2 million in additional funding for the Child Care Services and $1.6 million for the Child Care Assistance line items.
- A reduction in funding of $5.2 million for the infant and toddler Early Intervention program in the Department of Human Services budget, and an increase of $51.2 million for preschool Early Intervention in the Department of Education budget.
- Level funding for the Community Based Family Centers line and Nurse Family Partnership line.
About Pre-K for PA
Pre-K for PA launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. Learn more at www.prekforpa.org.
About Start Strong PA
Start Strong PA launched in 2019 to support healthy child development, working families, and the economy by increasing access to and affordability of high-quality child care programs for young children. Learn more at www.startstrongpa.org.
About Thriving PA
Thriving PA is a perinatal and child health campaign launched in 2021 that works to ensure each birthing person, infant, and toddler in Pennsylvania has access to affordable, quality health care. Learn more at www.thrivingpa.org.
About Childhood Begins At Home
Childhood Begins At Home is a statewide campaign launched in 2017 to help policymakers and the public understand the value of evidence-based home visiting and support public investments in the programs. Learn more at www.childhoodbeginsathome.org.
HARRISBURG, PA (November 12, 2025) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, applauded the 2025-26 state budget’s focus on children and early education workforce investments, vital commitments finalized after prolonged negotiations.
Investments that will stabilize and reverse the exodus of early educators will directly benefit tens of thousands of teachers and other professional staff and help provider businesses remain open. Additionally, these investments will help reverse the billions of dollars in lost productivity and earnings suffered by working families and employers when families don’t have the care they need.
The partners of ELPA issued the following statements regarding the 2025-26 state budget. ELPA operates issue-based advocacy campaigns including: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, and Thriving PA.
Budget establishes new initiative to address PA’s child care teacher crisis
“Start Strong PA celebrates the Shapiro Administration and General Assembly for the establishment of a new child care teacher recruitment and retention program that will help keep teachers in the classroom so that working families have access to the care they need.
“The $25 million recurring investment will benefit the teachers and other para-professionals that are directly responsible for the care of children in licensed child care programs throughout the commonwealth participating in the child care subsidy program.
“With this investment, Pennsylvania is joining 18 other states that are directly investing in teacher recruitment and retention efforts to keep child care classrooms open for the benefit of working parents and the economy at large.
“Recent estimates show that gaps in Pennsylvania’s child care system cost working families, employers, and taxpayers a staggering $6.65 billion annually — in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue.
“A September 2024 survey of 1,140 child care providers, representing 17 percent of providers, from across Pennsylvania, showed that 92% of child care programs reported challenges in recruiting staff with 85% struggling with teacher shortages leaving more than 3,000 unfilled positions statewide, thereby – eliminating child care for more than 25,000 Pennsylvania children.
“With a net loss of 590 licensed child care programs over the past five years, Start Strong PA looks forward to working with Pennsylvania lawmakers to ensure the Commonwealth focuses on building on this investment so we can more fully address the child care staffing crisis and its impact on working families and employers.”
State budget boosts Pre-K Counts rates to tackle ongoing teacher shortage; further support needed for Head Start
“Pre-K for PA commends the Shapiro Administration and General Assembly for taking meaningful action to address the historic teacher staffing shortage in the Pre-K Counts program. The 2025-26 state budget provides $9.5 million in new state funding to help stabilize early learning providers by increasing per child rates– an important measure to counter rising costs and staffing challenges driven by low wages.
“In recent years, opportunities for higher salaries in K–12 education and other sectors have made it increasingly difficult for Pre-K Counts providers to retain qualified teachers, forcing some programs to reduce enrollment or close classrooms. This new investment represents a critical step forward in ensuring that state-funded pre-kindergarten programs remain strong, sustainable, and accessible for Pennsylvania’s youngest learners.
“However, we are disappointed that the final budget fails to offer support for the commonwealth’s Head Start Supplemental programs that are facing similar staffing challenges. While the passage of a state budget will send delayed payments to Pennsylvania’s Head Start programs, we should be investing additional dollars to expand this lifeline for children and families.
“Mitigating teacher shortages in Pennsylvania’s publicly funded pre-k programs is a necessary first step in ensuring that all children have access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Currently, 78,000 three- and four-year-olds in the commonwealth are eligible but do not have access to high-quality pre-k programs.”
Enacted budget also recognizes significant workforce challenges in Early Intervention
“We are also pleased that the final budget includes a total increase of $41.7 million for Early Intervention services. Specifically, $13.2 million of the increase is allocated for the Part C (Infants and Toddlers) program in the Department of Human Services budget, with $10 million of these funds directed to increase provider rates to address key challenges in the sector including workforce shortages. The remainder of the combined increase provides an additional $28.5 million for the Part B (age three to five) program in the Department of Education budget. Early Intervention is a critical component of the early care and education system, as all children from birth through age five with developmental delays, regardless of family income level, must be identified, referred to, and provided necessary services to help them and their families reach their fullest potential. These programs show significant increases in the number of children needing these critical services each year.
2025-2026 PA State Budget Includes:
- $25 million in additional funding for child care ($25 million in the new Child Care Recruitment and Retention line with level funding in the Child Care Services and Child Care Assistance line items).
- $9.5 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program.
- Level funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
- $13.2 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS, with $10 million of these funds allocated for a rate increase for providers.
- $28.5 million increase for the Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) program through PDE.
- Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and a small reduction in the Nurse-Family Partnership line due to a change in federal matching rates.
HARRISBURG, PA (July 14, 2025) — The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, applauded the Pennsylvania House’s bipartisan passage of House Bill 1330 this evening, which includes Governor Shapiro’s proposed investments in the early care and learning workforce.
The partners of ELPA issued the following statement regarding the passage:
“The Governor and Pennsylvania House of Representatives responded to the pleas of Pennsylvanians to prioritize early care and learning by investing in early childhood educators and ensuring that their critical work of caring for and educating young children is valued. These educators are the workforce behind the workforce in Pennsylvania, and their work matters to children, families, businesses and Pennsylvania’s economic security.
“We laud the fact that House Bill 1330 includes the following investments above FY 2024-25 appropriations:
- A $55 million investment in a new and recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item to grant licensed child care providers participating in the child care subsidy program with $1,000 per educator
- $17 million in additional funding for Pre-K Counts and
- $16.2 million increase for infant/toddler Early Intervention and $38.1 million increase for preschool Early Intervention.
“The House action is a positive step toward a final budget agreement which demonstrates that Pennsylvania state lawmakers stand with families with young children on these essential pro-family, early childhood line items. Coalition partners encourage the Senate to support these investments and ensure that $9.5 million is provided for Pennsylvania’s Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs in the FY 2025-26 Pennsylvania budget.
“These urgently needed investments will stabilize and reverse the exodus of early educators, directly benefit tens of thousands of early childhood professionals and help keep child care centers open so parents can go to work. Additionally, these investments will begin to reverse the billions of dollars in lost productivity and earnings suffered by working families and employers when families do not have the reliable child care they need.”
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HARRISBURG, PA (February 4, 2025) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, applauded the early education workforce investments included in the Shapiro Administration’s 2025-26 state budget proposal.
Investments that will stabilize and reverse the exodus of early educators will directly benefit tens of thousands of teachers and other professional staff and help provider businesses remain open. Additionally, these investments will help reverse the billions of dollars in lost productivity and earnings suffered by working families and employers when families don’t have the care they need.
The partners of ELPA issued the following statements regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA.
Budget proposal takes direct action to address PA’s child care teacher crisis
“Start Strong PA celebrates the Shapiro Administration’s proposal to directly invest in a child care teacher recruitment and retention program that will help keep teachers in the classroom so that working families have access to the care they need.
“The $55 million recurring investment estimates an additional $1,000 per educator increase for licensed child care programs participating in the child care subsidy program.
“With this investment, Pennsylvania is joining 18 other states that are directly investing in teacher recruitment and retention efforts to keep child care classrooms open for the benefit of working parents and the economy at large. Recent estimates show that gaps in Pennsylvania’s child care system cost working families, employers, and taxpayers a staggering $6.65 billion annually — in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue.
“A September 2024 survey of 1,140 child care providers, representing 17 percent of providers, from across Pennsylvania, showed that 92% of child care programs reported challenges in recruiting staff with 85% struggling with teacher shortages leaving more than 3,000 unfilled positions statewide, thereby – eliminating child care for more than 25,000 Pennsylvania children.
“Start Strong PA looks forward to working with the House and Senate to ensure these urgently needed funds are included in the final budget and to the extent that state budget resources are available, increasing the investment so we can more fully address the child care crisis and its impact on working families and employers.”
Shapiro proposal increases Pre-K Counts rates to address continuing teacher shortage; additional action needed for Head Start
“Pre-K for PA applauds the Shapiro Administration’s continued commitment to address the historic teacher staffing shortage in the Pre-K Counts program. The 2025-26 budget proposal includes $15 million in new state funding to help stabilize early learning providers by boosting per child rates to help combat inflationary pressures and staffing shortages caused by low wages.
“Opportunities for teachers to earn more in the K-12 system and other sectors have challenged Pre-K Counts providers to keep classrooms open and operate at full capacity. This investment is a critical next step in preserving state funded pre-k programs for our commonwealth’s youngest learners.
“However, we are disappointed that the Governor’s budget proposal fails to offer support for the commonwealth’s Head Start Supplemental programs that are facing similar staffing challenges. Pre-K for PA urges lawmakers to include increased funding in the final state budget to stabilize the Head Start workforce.
“Mitigating teacher shortages in Pennsylvania’s publicly funded pre-k programs is a necessary first step in ensuring that all children have access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Currently, 78,000 three- and four-year-olds in the commonwealth are eligible but do not have access to high-quality pre-k programs.”
Budget proposal also gives nod to significant workforce challenges in Early Intervention
“Early Intervention is a critical part of the Thriving PA campaign, as all children from birth through age five with developmental delays, regardless of family income level, must be identified, referred to, and provided necessary services to help them and their families reach their fullest potential. We appreciate the inclusion of a $16.2 million increase in the governor’s proposal for Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) in the Department of Human Services, while noting significantly more dollars are needed to adequately deliver Part C EI to children in Pennsylvania. A total of $10 million of this overall investment aims to address key challenges in the sector including workforce shortages, and we urge policymakers to build on this momentum. The budget also includes a proposed increase of $14.6 million for Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) in the Department of Education budget.”
Fewer young children, families and pregnant women will be served by home visiting services due to continued flat funding and loss of federal funds
“The Childhood Begins at Home campaign is concerned the proposed 2025-26 budget does not account for the loss of federal funds expiring in June nor the continued rising costs of providing these life-changing services. Without any assurance that the state will account for rising costs and backfill federal dollars, this ultimately will mean fewer home visiting services for Pennsylvania families impacted by economic and social disparities.
“Home visitors are supportive partners who build a trusting relationship with families and help guide them through the early stages of having and raising a child. The evidence-based models show positive outcomes, from improving health for both children and adults to achieving economic self-sufficiency to reducing child maltreatment. Childhood Begins at Home will continue to work with policymakers in the legislature and the administration to ensure Pennsylvania does not unnecessarily see a reduction in families receiving and benefitting from evidence-based home visiting services.”
Governor Shapiro’s State Budget Proposal Includes:
- $57.7 million in additional funding for child care ($55 million in the proposed new Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item as well $1.6 million in Child Care Services and $1.1 million in Child Care Assistance line items).
- $17 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program.
- Level funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
- Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and a small reduction in the Nurse-Family Partnership line due to a change in federal matching rates.
- $16.2 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS.
- $14.6 million increase for the Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) program through PDE.
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HARRISBURG, PA (July 11, 2024) – Today, the principal partners of the Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA Campaigns issued the following statements regarding Senate Bill 1001 that awaits the expected signature of Governor Shapiro to become the enacted 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget.
No Child Care Recruitment and Retention Support Deepens PA’s Child Care Crisis and Lags Other States
“With a child care sector that is collapsing with classrooms and programs closing across the commonwealth due to the historic child care teacher shortage, the Start Strong PA Campaign is deeply disappointed by the lack of direct investment to help child care providers recruit and retain their workforce as part of the state budget bill.
“The staffing shortage within the child-care sector is driven by low wages. According to the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the average child-care teacher in Pennsylvania only earns $15.15 per hour. This average wage includes the impact of one-time federal child care stimulus funds. With the lack of direct state investment, it is unclear if even these wages can be sustained.
“More than 50 local chambers of commerce across Pennsylvania called for a state investment that directly helps child care providers attract and keep their teachers. These chamber leaders understand that alleviating the child care workforce shortage means classrooms can remain open or reopen, increasing the availability of child care for the tens of thousands of families that need it to remain in the workforce and contribute to Pennsylvania’s overall economy. Recent estimates show that gaps in our child care sector cost the commonwealth’s economy $6.65 Billion annually in lost wages, lost productivity and lost tax receipts.
“At least 18 states are directly investing in recruitment and retention strategies to solve the child care teacher shortage and ensure that child care supply can meet the demand from working families.
“The budget deal includes a tax credit for businesses that help employees pay for child care. This tax credit is a demand-side solution, helping families afford care. Pennsylvania must also invest in the supply side – stopping the exodus of child care teachers – for these tax credits to be effective.
“Child care teachers are the workforce behind the workforce. When families can’t get child care, their children suffer, their income drops and the state’s economy is shortchanged. In a time of severe labor shortages and billions in state budget surplus, the commonwealth’s failure to help child care providers recruit and retain these teachers is a tragic outcome.
Some Growth for Pre-K Counts and State Funding for Head Start but Workforce Challenges Will Remain
“The Pre-K for PA Campaign is relieved to see modest growth in the state’s publicly funded pre-k programs – PA Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
“The $15 Million increase for PA Pre-K Counts and $2.7 Million increase for Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program will make rate increases possible to pre-kindergarten providers to combat inflationary pressures and unrelenting staffing shortages. We are disappointed that the increase to PA Pre-K Counts is half of what Governor Shapiro proposed, and state support for Head Start continues to grow at a slower rate than Pre-K Counts.
“Inadequate wages across the early care and education sector are causing pre-k classrooms to close throughout the commonwealth. Pre-k teachers who have the same credentials earn roughly half of their (K-5) counterparts in public schools and face the tough choice of staying in their chosen profession as wages increase across other sectors. Future state investment is vital to continue to close this gap and ensure adequate staffing levels to operate state-funded pre-k programs at current-funded capacity.
“Currently, just over 78,000 three-and four-year-olds in Pennsylvania are eligible but do not have access to publicly-funded pre-k programs. Additional investment will be needed in future years to further mitigate the historic levels of teacher shortages in this competitive economy and ensure greater access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our preschool learners.
“Access to pre-k continues to be front of mind for Pennsylvania voters with 95% of voters believing that early childhood education is an important issue and nearly 70% of voters specifically supporting increased state funding for pre-k access.”
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA are initiatives of the broader Early Learning PA coalition that advocates for access to voluntary, high-quality early care and education and healthy development opportunities for all Pennsylvania children. Below is a summary of pertinent appropriations line items in SB 1001:
- $26.2 million in additional funding to maintain the status quo of payments in the subsidized child care system and the number of children served.
- Additional federal child care funding to meet the federally recommended child care subsidy reimbursement rate. This increase will help buffer inflationary pressures on child care providers that heavily participate in the subsidy system, however its impact on stabilizing the child care workforce will be limited.
- $15 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program to increase rates from $10,000 per child for a full-day slot to $10,500.
- $2.7 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
- $9.1 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS. While this reflects the administration’s updated budget request, it does not address broader issues within the program, including worker shortages and a long-needed rate adjustment for providers.
- $32.9 million increase for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) through PDE.
About Pre-K for PA
Pre-K for PA launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. Learn more at www.prekforpa.org.
About Start Strong PA
Start Strong PA launched in 2019 to support healthy child development, working families, and the economy by increasing access to and affordability of high-quality child care programs for young children. Learn more at www.startstrongpa.org.
Early Education Advocates Warn Historic Early Childhood Staffing Shortages will Persist
HARRISBURG, PA (February 6, 2024)–Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA.
Shapiro proposal boosts pre-k rates to begin addressing teacher shortage; work remains
“Pre-K for PA applauds the Administration’s 2024-25 state budget proposal that offers progress for a system struggling with historic teacher staffing shortages exacerbated by wage growth in other sectors. For the state’s publicly-funded pre-k programs, thenearly $33 million in new state funding for Pre-K Counts ($30M) and Head Start Supplemental Assistance ($2.7M) for rate increases will provide much-needed aid to pre-kindergarten providers to combat inflationary pressures and unrelenting staffing shortages.
“Inadequate wages across the early care and education sector are causing pre-k classrooms to close throughout the commonwealth. Pre-k teachers earn roughly half of their (K-5) counterparts in public schools and face the tough choice of staying in their chosen profession as wages increase across other sectors. This investment is a critical first step in closing this gap and ensuring adequate staffing levels to operate state funded pre-k programs at current-funded capacity.
“Currently, 87,000 three-and four-year-olds in Pennsylvania are eligible but do not have access to publicly-funded pre-k programs. Additional investment will be needed in future years to further mitigate teacher shortages in this competitive economy and ensure greater access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our preschool learners.”
Budget proposal boosts rates for subsidized care; direct action needed to solve historic shortage of child care teachers
“Start Strong PA welcomes the Administration’s proposal to increase the child care subsidy reimbursement rate to the 75th percentile of the current price of child care services. While this increase will alleviate some of the rising facility, food, utility, and supply costs for providers participating in Child Care Works, more will need to be invested to solve the unprecedented teacher shortage occurring throughout the entire system that continues to drive up waitlists for working families.
“Across the country, states are investing in recruitment and retention programs on top of boosting rates for subsidized care to ensure that child care supply can meet the demand from working families. Maine, Florida, Kentucky, and Nebraska all pay at or above the 75th percentile and have made additional investments in recruitment and retention programs to address staffing shortages and stabilize their child care systems.
“A September 2023 survey conducted by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Policy Lab showed that a significant statewide shortage of child care workers continues to dramatically reduce the availability of care options for working families. According to the survey of 726 Pennsylvania child care programs (representing 11% of licensed capacity):
- Nearly 26,000 additional children could be served at child care programs if sites were fully staffed.
- Providers reported 2,395 open positions, resulting in the closure of 934 classrooms.
- Child care providers’ inability to recruit and retain staff is having a direct impact on the quality of their programming.
“Start Strong PA encourages Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly to tackle the child care teacher shortage head-on by establishing a program that will help providers better recruit and retain their staff. Pennsylvania’s economy depends on working families and working families depend on child care.”
Home visiting campaign concerned flat funding will lead to fewer young children, families and pregnant women being served
“Childhood Begins at Home is concerned the proposed 2024-25 budget does not account for the anticipated loss of one-time federal stimulus funds that were included in the Community-Based Family Center line (in DHS) as part of the 2023-24 final budget. Further, the proposal does not recognize the impact of federal sequestration on discretionary spending, including home visiting, due to Congressional action last year. The state rightfully included funds to offset sequestration in previous budgets, including $1million in funding in the 2020-21 final budget.
“Without any assurance that the state will sustain funding to backfill for expired stimulus funds and administrative cuts due to sequestration, we worry this ultimately will mean fewer home visiting services will be provided in Pennsylvania next year. Even more sobering is that only 7 percent of children under age 6 living in low-income households statewide currently receive voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services.
“Home visitors are supportive partners who build a trusting relationship with families and help guide them through the early stages of having and raising a child. The evidence-based models show positive outcomes, from improving health for both children and adults to achieving economic self-sufficiency to reducing child maltreatment. Childhood Begins at Home will continue to work with policymakers in the legislature and the administration to ensure Pennsylvania does not unnecessarily see a reduction in families receiving and benefiting from evidence-based home visiting services.”
Budget proposal sustains current Early Intervention program
“Early Intervention is a critical part of the Thriving PA campaign, and the governor’s proposal includes an increase of $16.7 million for Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) in the Department of Human Services budget to maintain the current program and an increase of $17 million for Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) in the Department of Education budget to serve additional children. All children birth through age five with developmental delays, regardless of family income level, must be identified, referred to, and provided needed services so that they and their families reach their fullest potential.
“Thriving PA urges policymakers to build on this proposal and ensure an investment would provide for a long-needed rate adjustment for Early Intervention providers and serve additional children. Additional support would help to address key issues in the sector, including workforce shortages, achieving equitable enrollment, and addressing the growing needs of families across the Commonwealth. National data shows that not all children who are eligible to participate in Early Intervention do so.”
Governor Shapiro’s State Budget Proposal Includes:
- $32.478 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program.
- $2.7 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
- $31.709 million in additional funding for child care ($29.331 million in Child Care Services and $2.378 million in Child Care Assistance).
- Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and a minor reduction in the Nurse-Family Partnership line item to adjust for federal matching rates.
- $16.7 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS.•$17 million increase for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) through PDE.
About Pre-K for PA
Pre-K for PA launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3-and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. Learn more at www.prekforpa.org.
About Start Strong PA
Start Strong PA launched in 2019 to support healthy child development, working families, and the economy by increasing access to and affordability of high-quality child care programs for young children. Learn more at www.startstrongpa.org.
About Childhood Begins
At HomeChildhood Begins AtHome is a statewide campaign launched in 2017 to help policymakers and the public understand the value of evidence-based home visiting and support public investments in the programs. Learn more at www.childhoodbeginsathome.org.
About Thriving PA
Thriving PA is a perinatal and child health campaign launched in 2021 and is working to ensure each birthing person, infant, and toddler in Pennsylvania has the opportunity for affordable, quality health care access. Learn more at www.thrivingpa.org.
