Columbia County Pre-K for PA Provider Columbia Child Development Head Start Welcomes Sen. Gordner at End of Year Event

Columbia County Pre-K for PA Provider Columbia Child Development Head Start Welcomes Sen. Gordner at End of Year Event


Bloomsburg, PA (June 1, 2016) – As priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget negotiations are being identified in Harrisburg, Pre-K for PA provider Columbia Child Development Head Start celebrated the end of the school year alongside PA State Senator John Gordner today.

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 Blair Hyatt, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, 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. Columbia County has more than 860 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds and a staggering 68 percent of them – 591 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.

Lancaster County Pre-K for PA Provider REC Child Care Center Welcomes Rep. Sturla at Moving Up Ceremony

Lancaster County Pre-K for PA Provider REC Child Care Center Welcomes Rep. Sturla at Moving Up Ceremony


Lancaster, PA (June 1, 2016) – As priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget negotiations are being identified in Harrisburg, Pre-K for PA provider Lancaster REC Child Care Center, celebrated the advancement of its pre-k class to kindergarten alongside PA State Representative Mike Sturla today at a Moving Up Ceremony.

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.

“Research shows that investment in early childhood education proves for better outcomes in the future,” Representative Mike Sturla said. “Every one dollar invested has a return rate of $7 and has a significant impact on reducing the need for social services and corrections costs. It’s a critical developmental time for children and the more learning opportunities we provide for them in the early learning stages the less we will have to invest in remedial training and incarceration costs in the future. I unequivocally support investing in early childhood education and commend Lancaster Rec Child Care Center for all they do to get children excited about learning.”

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. Lancaster County has more than 9,240 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds and a staggering 83 percent of them – 7,701 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.

Tioga County Pre-K for PA Provider Bradford-Tioga Head Start Blossburg Welcomes Member of Sen. Scarnati’s Office at End of Year Celebration

Tioga County Pre-K for PA Provider Bradford-Tioga Head Start Blossburg Welcomes Member of Sen. Scarnati’s Office at End of Year Celebration


Blossburg, PA (May 31, 2016) – As priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget negotiations are being identified in Harrisburg, Pre-K for PA provider Bradford-Tioga Head Start in Blossburg, celebrated the advancement of its pre-k class to kindergarten alongside a representative from PA Senator Joe Scarnati’s office today.

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.

“The Bradford-Tioga Head Start program has certainly been an asset to children and families in our community,” Senator Joe Scarnati said. “Programs like this one make an important investment in the education of our children at a young age and help provide them with a strong learning foundation.”

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 Blair Hyatt, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, 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. Tioga County has more than 660 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds, and a staggering 54 percent of them 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.

Pittsburgh Pre-K for PA Provider Carriage House Children’s Center Welcomes Sen. Costa and Rep. Frankel to End of Year Celebration

Pittsburgh Pre-K for PA Provider Carriage House Children’s Center Welcomes Sen. Costa and Rep. Frankel to End of Year Celebration


Pittsburgh, PA May 27, 2016 – As priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget negotiations are being identified in Harrisburg, Pre-K for PA provider Carriage House Children’s Center celebrated the advancement of its pre-k class to kindergarten alongside PA State Senator Jay Costa and PA Representative Dan Frankel today.

“I’m so proud of everything these children have accomplished this year,” Senator Costa said. “As pre-k graduates, they’ve now started down the path to one of the most exciting journeys of their life that only a great education can provide. These young minds are the reason why we need to continue investing in early education programs and continue providing kids with the key to the future to open the door to endless possibilities.”

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.

“My daughter Cara is ready to start her new school in the fall largely because Carriage House has laid a great foundation for her to build upon,” said Melissa Rackoff, parent of Carriage House pre-k student. “Her pre-k education has focused on, not just her academic progress, but on her social and emotional development. The magical mix of encouragement and support that the teachers provide has bolstered Cara’s confidence and prepared her for the next set of challenges.”

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.

“The importance of a quality pre-k education for our children cannot be overstated,” said Rep. Frankel. “It is the foundation upon which they can build their K-12 studies and ultimately become successful pillars of the community. I have always been proud to support pre-k education in my community and in the legislature.”

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. Allegheny County has more than 12,500 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds, and a staggering 58 percent of them – about 7,300 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.

Westmorland County Pre-K for PA Provider Ruffsdale Center Welcomes Rep. Harhai and Rep. Dunbar to End of Year Celebration

Westmorland County Pre-K for PA Provider Ruffsdale Center Welcomes Rep. Harhai and Rep. Dunbar to End of Year Celebration

Sen. Bartolotta Reads to Students from Community Action Southwest Head Start during Visit to Flenniken Library


Ruffsdale, PA May 26, 2016 – As priorities in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget negotiations are being identified in Harrisburg, Pre-K for PA provider Ruffsdale Center, a program of Westmoreland Community Action Head Start, celebrated the advancement of its pre-k class to kindergarten alongside PA Representative Ted Harhai and Representative George Dunbar today.

During the same time today in Carmichaels, PA State Senator Camera Bartolotta read to students from Community Action Southwest Head Start at the Flenniken Library during their visit. Community Action Southwest Head Start received Pre-K Counts expansion funds earlier this year as part of the $30 million investment in the 2015-16 state budget. This funding provides access to high-quality pre-k for more local children.

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.

“The kindergarten I attended doesn’t exist anymore,” said Scott Poloff, M.Ed., Director of Children Services Westmoreland Community Action. “What we expect kids to do in kindergarten today is dramatically different and increasingly demanding.  Kids need the Head Start and pre-k preparation to enter Kindergarten ready to learn.

“So much of what we do in early childhood is about social and emotional development, and over the course of this year we have seen these kids grow and our goal is to see every kid have the same opportunity.”

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 Blair Hyatt, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, 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. Westmoreland County has more than 3,900 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds, and a staggering 71 percent of them – about 2,790 children – lacked access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k last year. In Greene County, 59 percent of the more than 520 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds lacked access 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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Schweiker, Rendell Join Leaders from Across PA; Call on Legislature to Fund Pre-K

Schweiker, Rendell Join Leaders from Across PA; Call on Legislature to Fund Pre-K

Letter to the Legislature calls for $90 million investment to expand Pre-K to thousands of at-risk kids across PA

Harrisburg, PA (May 24, 2016) – Former Governors Edward G. Rendell and Mark S. Schweiker led a group of influential business, civic, military and law enforcement leaders from across the state today in support of continued investment in pre-k, urging the Pennsylvania legislature and the governor to expand access to thousands of at-risk kids in the final 2016-17 budget.

In a letter to leadership offices of the Pennsylvania legislature, the signers 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 proposed by Governor Tom Wolf) as part of the 2016-17 final state budget.

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 three- and four-year-olds.

Across Pennsylvania, there are more than 175,000 three- and four-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.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the full text of the letter and signatories.

You have heard from many of us on the life altering benefits that high quality pre-kindergarten can provide to our commonwealth’s youngest learners. You have also heard of the limited availability of such programs serving only one out of every six preschool age children in Pennsylvania.

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. While this investment was a positive step, the fact remains that more than 120,000 income eligible three- and four-year-olds do not have access each year due to insufficient funding.

We encourage you to work with your colleagues 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, we ask your support of $90 million in additional funding as part of the 2016-17 final state budget as yet another incremental step towards the above-mentioned goal.

Such an investment will set us on a path to reduce educational, public welfare and incarceration costs and have the most important added benefit of ensuring brighter futures for more of the commonwealth’s children.

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider this correspondence.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Schweiker, 44^th Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Ed Rendell, 45^th Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Mary Stengel Austen, President & CEO, Tierney Communications

Joe Bard, Executive Director, PA Association of Rural and Small Schools

Bruce Bartels, Former President, WellSpan Health

Dennis Benchoff, Lieutenant General (Ret.), United States Army

Don Bernhard, Former Director, Community Affairs, PP&L

Betsy Bort, Vice-President, Commercial Lending, Erie Bank

Steven Bradley, Chairman, African-American Chamber of Commerce

Jim Buckheit, Executive Director, PA Association of School Administrators

Anthony Campisi, President & CEO, Glatfelter Insurance Group

Robert Celeski, Chairman, Employees Community Service Fund of GE

Denise Cesare, Former President & CEO, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania

David Cohen, Senior Executive Vice-President, Comcast Corporation

Pete Danchak, President – Northeast PA, PNC Bank

Phil Devorris, President & CEO, Blair Companies

Ron DiNicola, Partner, DiNicola Law Offices

Stephanie Doliveira, Vice-President, Human Resources, Sheetz Inc.

Bob Esch, Vice-President External Affairs, American Refining Group

Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer, PBS-39

Varsovia Fernandez, Senior Vice-President, Phila. Market Leader, Customers Bank

Frank Ford, CEO – Allentown Campus, St. Luke’s University Health Network

Sara Furlong, Executive Communications Coordinator, American Refining Group

Robert Fyock, Sheriff, Indiana County Sheriff’s Office

Jeff Gayman, Senior Vice-President, Retail Banking & Consumer Lending, Orrstown Bank

Thomas Gluck, Executive Director, PA Association of Intermediate Units                   

Brad Gosser, Executive Director and Vice-President, Greenville-Reynolds Dev. Corporation

Michael Hanes, President & CEO, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

Bill Hankowsky, Chairman, President & CEO, Liberty Property Trust

Dave Hawk, Chairman of the Board, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates

Paul Healey, Executive Director, PA Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals

Fritz Heinemann, President & CEO, EconomicsPennsylvania

Tara Hemmer, Area Vice-President, Waste Management of Greater Mid-Atlantic

Tom Hogan, District Attorney, Chester County District Attorney’s Office

Dan Hoover, President & CEO, Roaring Spring Blank Book Company

Joe Hurd, President & CEO, Blair County Chamber of Commerce

Renee Cardwell Hughes, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross SE PA Chapter

Bill Isler, President & CEO, Fred Rogers Company

Kathy Killian, Vice-President of Human Resources & Customer Services, Philadelphia Phillies

Tom King, Chief of Police, State College Police Department

James Kinneer, Vice-President, Indiana Regional Medical Center

Robert Krasne, Chief Executive Officer, Steinman Communications

Jay Kshatri, Chairman of the Board, Community Services for Children, Inc.

Allen Kukovich, Attorney At Law

Keith Leaphart, President & CEO, Replica Creative Inc.

Alice Lindenauer, Managing Director, Global Human Resources, Hamilton Lane

Jerry Maginnis, Office Managing Partner (Ret.), Phila. Office, KPMG LLP

Nathan Mains, Executive Director, PA School Boards Association

Ed Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Goodx.com

Dwight Mathis, Market Executive, Merril Lynch

Rob McNeill, Managing Partner, Deloitte, LLP – Greater Philadelphia Region

Paula McWilliams, President & CEO, Heritage Community Initiatives

Phyllis Mundy, State Representative (Ret.), 120^th Legislative District

Dennis Noonan, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Ford Business Machines

Jerry Oleksiak, President, Pennsylvania State Education Association

Dave Patti, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Business Council

Kathleen Pavelko, President & CEO, WITF Public Media

Joseph Peluso, Management Consultant

Phil Peterson, Deputy-Director, ReadyNation

Norm Rich, Former President & CEO, Weis Markets Inc.

Kristen Rotz, President, United Way of Pennsylvania

Brian Schreiber, Executive Director, Jewish Community Center

Nick Scott, Jr., Vice-President, Scott Enterprises

Judith von Seldeneck, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Diversified Search

Sandra Strauss, Director of Public Advocacy, PA Council of Churches

Sam Talarico, President, Northwestern Region – PSEA

Stephen Tang, President & CEO, University City Science Center

Vincentina Taylor, President, Waveline Direct, LLC

Art Thomas, Vice-President, Meck-Tech, Inc.

Kevin Thomas, Executive Director, PA District Kiwanis International

John Touey, Principal, Salveson Stetson Group

James Waddington, Director Strategic Marketing Solutions, Lockheed-Martin

Seth Williams, District Attorney, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office

Andrew Williford, Vice-President, Volvo Construction Equipment Operations

Tom Wilson, Rear Admiral (Ret.), United States Navy

Colby Windholz, Vice-President of Business Banking, First National Bank

Jake Witherell, Chief Operating Officer, Schell Games

Todd Wolynn, President & CEO, Kids Plus Pediatrics

Suzanne Yunghans, Executive Director, PA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics

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. For more information visit www.prekforpa.org.

The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission is a network of business leaders that work to secure public investment in early learning by focusing on practices that are educationally, economically, and scientifically sound by increasing business, civic, and public awareness of the importance of early childhood education.

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