American kids losing the academic “medal count”

American kids losing the academic “medal count”
PA sports champions urge further state investment in quality pre-k to level the playing field for PA kids

Harrisburg, PA, January 25 ⎯ It is time to level the playing field and scale up access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs that prepare kids for academic and lifetime success, top Pennsylvania athletes said at a Capitol news conference today.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris and four-time Olympic medalist wrestler Bruce Baumgartner helped release a new report from the nonprofit Champions for America’s Future entitled, “High-Quality Early Education Can Help Kids Win the Academic ‘Medal Race.’”

The report brings to light new data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showing that American children are far back in the pack when it comes to the international “medal count” on academic achievement.  America’s 15-year-old children finished 25th in science and 40th in math out of the 72 countries taking the (OECD) PISA exam in 2015.  This is in stark contrast to the USA’s dominating performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics winning 121 medals compared to second-place China’s 70 medals.

Recalling the great amounts of support he received along the way to becoming an NFL Hall of Famer, Franco Harris noted that far too many kids lack adequate support for becoming competitive students. Harris pointed to research showing 60 percent of the “achievement gap” in reading and 70 percent of the achievement gap in math between low-income and higher-income children in high school is already present at the start of kindergarten.

“Access to prekindergarten creates an opportunity to level the playing field for all children to achieve their full potential regardless of the income level of the families they inherited,” Harris said.

The report documents studies across the nation showing high-quality pre-k helps children develop in all areas⎯social, emotional and behavioral skills⎯along with essential pre-math and pre-reading skills. Additionally, the analysis team at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development identified high-quality pre-k as one of the common characteristics among the world’s “smartest countries.”

Pennsylvania has made strides in expanding access to high-quality pre-k, but more needs to be done, the athletes stressed. They noted that 112,900 three- and four-year-olds qualify for high-quality, publicly funded pre-k that remain unserved due to lack of funding⎯that’s enough to fill Penn State’s Beaver Stadium and leave another 7,000 children in the parking lot.

Former Olympian freestyle heavyweight wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, one of just eight athletes in U.S. history to medal in four different Olympiads (two gold, one silver and one bronze), emphasized his desire to see all children achieve their full potential on and off the field and become champions in life. “Athletes know that every medal we earn represents a team effort,” he said. “Our youngest children deserve the same team effort guiding them toward success on and off the field. Unfortunately, far too many kids don’t have access to quality pre-k, which hampers their chances for success before they even reach the starting line of life.”

Bruce Clash, on behalf of the Pre-K for PA Campaign, explained that all Pennsylvanians bear the brunt of children being left behind academically. “When a child starts school already behind, the cost to educate that child already begins to escalate,” said Clash. “Kids that continue to fall behind in school have a greater risk of dropping out and engaging in criminal activity. This is why the research on pre-k shows that it can return over $29,000 on average, net benefits to society for every child served.”

The athletes join a growing chorus of voices across Pennsylvania that are part of the Pre-K for PA Campaign in calling on Pennsylvania lawmakers and Governor Wolf to expand access to publicly funded high-quality pre-k for all eligible children and begin to address affordability issues among the middle class. Specifically, the Campaign is calling for an $85 million increase to state pre-k funding in the 2017-18 state budget to serve 10,000 additional children.

Also participating in the event were State Senator Pat Browne and Representative Mark Longietti, who are Co-Chairs of the bicameral, bipartisan Early Childhood Education Caucus; and Suzann Morris, the Deputy Secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning within the PA Departments of Education and Human Services.

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Lancaster Mayor, County Officials Host PA Education Secretary Pedro Rivera for Pre-K Roundtable; Opening of New Pre-K Classrooms

Lancaster Mayor, County Officials Host PA Education Secretary Pedro Rivera for Pre-K Roundtable; Opening of New Pre-K Classrooms
Advocates Urge Continued Investment

 Lancaster, PA – Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Pedro Rivera joined Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray alongside state, county and local officials for a roundtable discussion on pre-k today. Officials took the opportunity to mark the statewide expansion of a pre-kindergarten with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the new pre-k classrooms at Lafayette Elementary School.

“As we invest in the education of our children, we are investing in our city’s future,” said Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray. “Pre-k programs are backed by decades of research showing that children who attend have a more positive trajectory in life. This means more kids finishing high school, getting a job, less reliance on social services and less crime in our community.”

The expansion of high-quality pre-k was made possible by the infusion of an additional $25 million in funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and $5 million for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program in both the state’s 2015-16 and 2016-17 budgets. Lancaster County early learning providers received new funding for more than 320 expansion seats. Pre-K Counts and the Head Start State Supplemental are the primary state funding sources for high-quality pre-k in Pennsylvania.

Randy Patterson, Director of Economic Development & Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Lancaster and Board Chair for the United Way of Lancaster County, noted that the added capacity to high-quality pre-k is welcome news as only 17 percent of income eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Lancaster County have access to publicly funded high-quality pre-k.

“While I join you to celebrate this new classroom, I must be clear that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Patterson. “More than 7,700 income eligible three- and four-year-olds in Lancaster County still lack access to this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.”

More than 120,000 eligible children, or 69 percent of all three- and four-year-olds, across the commonwealth lack access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k each year.

Robert M. Krasne, Chief Executive Officer of Steinman Communications and member of PA’s Early Learning Investment Commission, noted that Pennsylvania is experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. An effective and comprehensive pre-k program is a way to begin to address that shortage.

“A recent survey from the statewide chamber of business and industry showed that more than half of the 400+ Pennsylvania employers who were surveyed reported trouble finding people with adequate skills, training, or education. This was especially true of technical and skilled job openings,” said Krasne. “The proven benefits of pre-k establish that developing a competent workforce should start at a young age. The lack of access statewide to pre-k is particularly troubling.”

Mr. Krasne referenced a large body of research that shows children who benefit from high-quality pre-k:

• Enter kindergarten with stronger literacy, language, math and social/emotional skills;
• Are less likely to need special education services, less likely to repeat grades, and more likely to graduate and enroll in college.
• Over a lifetime, these young learners will see stronger employment opportunities and increased earning potential, and they are less likely to commit juvenile and adult crimes.

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman stressed the role high-quality pre-k plays in reducing disruptive or anti-social behaviors that, if unaddressed, can lead to delinquent and criminal behavior later in life.

“A review of Pennsylvania’s state inmate population reveals that more than 50 percent of inmates have not graduated from high school,” Stedman commented. “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.”

Retired Army Lieutenant General Dennis Benchoff of Lancaster informed the group that the military is also concerned about a future qualified workforce and its potential impact on national security.

“Unfortunately, we know we have our work cut out for us,” said Lt. Gen. Benchoff. “According to the Department of Defense, 72 percent of Pennsylvania’s 17-24 year-olds are not eligible for military service due to inadequate education, a criminal record, or obesity or other health condition. In this way, an unqualified workforce has real national and economic security concerns for the future. It’s my hope that Pennsylvania continues to prioritize early learning.”

Also participating in the event were State Representative Bryan Cutler; State Representative Mike Sturla; Deputy Secretary Suzann Morris, Office of Child Development and Early Learning; Lancaster Police Chief Keith Sadler; Dr. Damaris Rau, Superintendent for the School District of Lancaster; Karen Wynn, Coordinator of School Improvement and Federal Programs, School District of Lancaster; Andrea Heberlein, Lead Director of Community Impact, United Way of Lancaster County; and Dr. Jill Koser, Education & Child Development Impact Team Leader, Community Action Partnership.

Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by thousands of individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is a necessary and urgent priority. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is one of 10 founding partners. For more information, visit prekforpa.org.

Governor Wolf’s Commitment to Pre-K Goes Down the Chute

Governor Wolf’s Commitment to Pre-K Goes Down the Chute
Campaign urges legislative leaders to put pre-k back in the game


Harrisburg, PA (June 23, 2016) –While pre-k advocates and legislators show their continued support for pre-k expansion by trying their hand at a life-sized Chutes & Ladders game in the East Wing Rotunda today, the Pre-K for PA Campaign expressed its disappointment with Governor Tom Wolf stepping back on his commitment for meaningful pre-k expansion from his list of “must haves” in the final 2016-17 state budget agreement.

The principal partners of the multi-year Pre-K for PA campaign to increase funding for high-quality pre-k issued the following statement regarding the governor’s announcement:

“The governor’s backtracking on his campaign priority is a huge setback for the 120,000 3- and 4-year-olds who currently lack access to high-quality pre-k programs that will prepare them to enter school ready to learn. This pace of growth is inadequate.”

“In spite of this setback, the pre-k campaign remains hopeful that legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle will remain responsive to young children’s needs in their districts and boost pre-k funding beyond the governor’s current request.”

“Over the past several months a wide show of force that includes local philanthropic groups, mayors and municipal leaders, pediatricians, chamber of commerce officials, and an ever-growing corps of highly respected business, military and law enforcement leaders, have joined the Pre-K for PA campaign’s call for a $90 million expansion for Pre-K Counts and Head Start State Supplemental in the 2016-17 state budget. Such an investment would allow 7,400 more Pennsylvania children to attend high-quality pre-k next year in addition to making the 6,200 half-year slots full-year. These children will not have another chance to reap the benefits of high quality pre-k. The time to invest is now.”

Pre-K for PA and MomsRising are teaming up for a “Moms for Pre-k Day” at the State Capitol in Harrisburg today. Legislators, staffers and visitors to the Capitol are invited to join moms and kids for Chutes & Ladders fun.

Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity.  Its vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information visit www.prekforpa.org.

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Pennsylvanians to Legislature: Fund Pre-k

Pennsylvanians to Legislature: Fund Pre-k

Hundreds sign letters to the legislature calling for $90 million investment to expand pre-k to thousands of at-risk kids across PA


Harrisburg, PA (June 13, 2016) – Hundreds of Pennsylvanians are waging a campaign to ensure pre-k is a top priority at the 2016-17 budget-negotiating table. The letters from military leaders, philanthropic groups, CEOs and citizens urge the Pennsylvania legislature and the governor to expand access to thousands of at-risk kids in the final 2016-17 budget.

In three separate letters to leadership offices of the Pennsylvania legislature, signers from the United Way of Pennsylvania, Mission: Readiness and supporting organizations of the Pre-K for PA campaign, urged leaders in Harrisburg to cement bi-partisan consensus around a multi-year goal for growing access to high-quality pre-k for all of the income eligible children and begin looking at pre-k affordability issues regarding middle class families. Specifically, they called for $90 million in additional funding as part of the 2016-17 final state budget. A similar letter signed by Pre-K for PA Executive Leadership Council members landed in Harrisburg last week.

“We need the commonwealth to step up its efforts to fund high-quality pre-k so we can reach those children who are missing out, particularly those at risk of academic failure,” said Kristen Rotz, President of United Way of Pennsylvania in the letter. “On behalf of the United Way of Pennsylvania and our local United Ways across Pennsylvania, we support the Pre-K for PA campaign’s request to increase state pre-k funding by $90 million for fiscal 2016-17 and urge lawmakers to make this a clear priority in the coming budget deliberations.”

This proposal builds on the $30 million in new funding already enacted for the second half of the current school year. If realized, $120 million in additional funding over two years for high-quality pre-k will serve an additional 14,000 3- and 4-year-olds.

“For years, the military has provided high-quality early learning programs for all active-duty service personnel,” said Steve Doster, Pennsylvania State Director, Mission: Readiness – Military Leaders for Kids. “Pennsylvania should take the military’s lead and continue to prioritize greater access to pre-k.”

Across Pennsylvania, there are more than 175,000 3- and 4-year-olds who are at-risk because they are in lower income households – 70 percent of these at-risk young learners – more than 120,000 children statewide – had no access to publicly funded pre-k last year. Full text of all letters and lists of signers can be found at www.prekforpa.org/dearlawmaker.

Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Its vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information visit www.prekforpa.org.

Bucks County Pre-K for PA Provider Jolly Toddlers Welcomes Rep. Farry at End of Year Event

Bucks County Pre-K for PA Provider Jolly Toddlers Welcomes Rep. Farry at End of Year Event


Southampton, PA (June 3, 2016) – As priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget negotiations are being identified in Harrisburg, Pre-K for PA provider Jolly Toddlers celebrated the end of the school year alongside PA State Representative Frank Farry today.

“The benefits of pre-k learning last a lifetime,” said Rep. Farry. “Investing in quality early learning programs, like Jolly Toddlers, will help us close the achievement gap, increase graduation rates, create productive citizens, and make Pennsylvania a place where all children have access to a quality education.”

Studies show that children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.

Pre-K for PA providers across the state support continued investment in pre-k, and are urging the Pennsylvania legislature and the governor to expand access to thousands of at-risk kids in the final 2016-17 budget. Specifically, they are calling for $90 million in additional funding part of the 2016-17 final state budget.

“A multi-year goal for growing access to high-quality pre-k for all of the income eligible children and begin looking at pre-k affordability issues regarding middle class families must be identified as an urgent priority at the negotiating table this month,” said Jodi Askins, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), a Pre-K for PA Principal Partner.

While the 2015-16 budget investment was a positive step, the fact remains that more than 120,000 income eligible 3- and 4-year-olds do not have access each year due to insufficient funding.

The 2015-16 state budget included $30 million in additional funding for PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance programs – expanding access to more than 6,000 at-risk children. Bucks County has almost 5,400 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds and a staggering 82 percent of them – 4,446 children – lacked access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k last year.

Across Pennsylvania, there are more than 175,000 3- and 4-year-olds who are at-risk because they are in lower income households—70 percent of these at-risk young learners – more than 120,000 children statewide – had no access to publicly funded pre-k last year.

Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Its vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. For more information visit www.prekforpa.org.

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