Early Childhood Action Day Draws Advocates Rallying for Pre-K; Gov. Wolf Addresses Energetic Crowd
New National Report Shows PA Failing to Make Gains in Pre-k Access
Harrisburg, PA – Pre-K for PA supporters and early childhood advocates from across the state gathered in Harrisburg today for the annual Early Childhood Action Day. Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas led a special kickoff event in the Forum Auditorium in the morning, followed by an afternoon rally in the Capitol Rotunda.
“I’m proud to welcome the over 200 pre-k and early childhood education advocates to the Capitol today that are here to encourage the General Assembly to meet the need for more high-quality early education programs for thousands of children across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “I value the support of the strong Pre-K for PA coalition for my budget, which makes historic and significant investments in early childhood education. My proposed $120 million increase in high-quality early childhood education is projected to create 14,000 new slots for children to enroll in early childhood education – growing enrollment by 75 percent.”
Gov. Wolf has proposed increasing state funding for high-quality pre-k by $120 million in the coming fiscal year so about 14,000 more Pennsylvania 3- and 4-year-olds can benefit from this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
“Over the past year and a half, Pre-K for PA has been leading the push for expansion alongside the thousands of early childhood advocates who have been fighting for kids’ access to early learning for so many years,” said Jodi Askins, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), a founding partner in the Pre-K for PA campaign.
“We are encouraged by the governor’s proposal and enthusiastic support of individual legislators from across the state, but urge action in this budget year. Each year that passes without a substantial commitment to early childhood education, another group of young learners is missing the crucial elements of development only a young mind can experience.”
A new report out Monday from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) shows Pennsylvania is failing to make any notable progress on expanding pre-k access. NIEER’s latest “State of Preschool” report shows:
- Pennsylvania dropped to 15th in the nation in pre-k access for 3-year olds in 2013-14, down from 14th the prior year.
- Pennsylvania remains stuck at 30th in the nation in pre-k access for 4-year olds – the same ranking we held the prior year.
The Rotunda rally included: Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster); Rep. Mark Longietti (D-Mercer); Steven Wray, Executive Director of the Economy League of Philadelphia; Michelle Figlar, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children and incoming deputy secretary for Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development & Early Learning; early childhood educators; and parents.
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. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
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ReadyNation Report Outlines Business Case for PA to Invest More in Early Childhood Education
HARRISBURG (April 15, 2015) – A ReadyNation report examining the benefits of quality early learning on the economy was released today as business leaders from across Pennsylvania convened for the annual Early Learning Investment Commission’s (ELIC) Economic Summit on Early Childhood Investment.
The report, Business Case in Pennsylvania for Early Childhood Investments, outlines the business case for investing in pre-k. Pennsylvania businesses are in need of job-ready, team-capable and well-prepared employees, and high-quality early learning programs help build the foundation for these attributes.
“As business leaders, we know that we get better employees in the long-term when we prioritize high-quality early childhood education,” said Nick Scott Jr., a Pennsylvania business owner (Scott Enterprises, Erie) who serves on the Pre-K for PA Executive Leadership Council. “An investment in our youngest learners is an investment in our state’s economy, and right now we are falling behind.”
The report finds that smart, proven investments in Pennsylvania’s youngest learners are critically needed to protect the commonwealth’s competitive edge in a global marketplace. Such investments:
- Benefit children and parents: Twenty-three percent of children in Pennsylvania under six are from low-income, working families, yet only 5 percent of 3-year-olds and 13 percent of 4-year-olds are enrolled in state-funded pre-k programs.
- Prepare children for the classroom: Early deficits are reflected in school, where at-risk students who have missed out on early education opportunities often struggle to keep up with classmates, even from the first day of kindergarten. Many students fail to catch up: a full 44 percent of Pennsylvania fourth graders perform below grade level in math, and 40 percent perform below grade level in reading.
- Help earn caps and gowns: Fourteen percent of high school students in Pennsylvania still have not donned a cap and gown after four years. And among high school graduates, only 38 percent meet the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks in the four core areas (English, reading, math, and science) and may not have the skills necessary for postsecondary education.
- Aid in college and careers: By 2020, 63 percent of jobs and 62 percent of job vacancies in Pennsylvania will require postsecondary education. Longitudinal studies of the Abecedarian
project have shown that high-quality early learning from six months to age 5 can improve students’ rates of college completion. Higher education often means higher earnings: one study estimated that the additional lifetime income if Pennsylvania’s dropouts had graduated with their class in 2011 was over $4 billion.
Today’s ELIC summit convenes nearly 200 business and civic leaders from across the commonwealth to discuss early learning and child development. The commission is made up of governor-appointed business leaders who understand the value of investing in early learning as a means to build an effective, competitive workforce and a stronger economy.
ReadyNation is the preeminent business leader organization working to strengthen business and the economy through effective investments in children and youth. For more information, visit www.readynation.org.
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. The campaign’s 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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Early Childhood Educators Present Pennies for Pre-K to Governor Wolf at Annual DVAEYC Conference
PHILADELPHIA (March 20, 2015)– Gov. Tom Wolf was presented with “Pennies for Pre-K” today at the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) annual conference. The Governor spoke to the group of more than 1,500 early educators about the importance of a high-quality preschool education and outlined his plan for expanded access in Pennsylvania.
“Early education programs provide the foundation children need to enter school ready to learn. My plan increases enrollment in early childhood education by 75 percent,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “I’m honored to be among the many educators, administrators and parents here at the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children that share my commitment to make the necessary investments in our children’s futures.”
DVAEYC is a founding partner of Pre-K for PA, a non-partisan statewide issue campaign formed to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in the commonwealth will have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten by 2018.
DVAEYC Executive Director, Sharon Easterling, kicked-off a statewide Pre-K for PA “Pennies for Pre-K” initiative that highlights the importance of providing adequate funding for early childhood education and showcases support for the $120 million increase in preschool funding outlined by Gov. Wolf in his 2015-16 state budget proposal. Easterling called on the more than 1,500 early educators to engage their neighbors and urge their legislators to support early learning.
“Access to early learning is key to a child’s early development and their success throughout school and future earnings,” said Sharon Easterling. “The investment proposed by Governor Wolf goes a long way toward our goal of providing the opportunity to learn to all 3- and 4-year-olds. Now, early educators, community leaders, neighbors and families must rally together and send a message to leaders in Harrisburg that we need more ‘Pennies for Pre-K!’”
Earlier this month, Gov. Wolf presented his 2015-2016 budget, which proposed substantial increases to state investments in high-quality pre-kindergarten and child care – investments that will help Pennsylvania make up lost ground and increase access to high-quality early learning programs for more children. Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget includes:
- A $120 million increase in early childhood education with $100 million going to Pre-K Counts and $20 million going to the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. Both programs target low-income and high-risk children.
- The increased funding would allow for the enrollment of more than 14,000 additional children (approximately a one-third increase).
- The increased funding would also create 3,400 new jobs in Pennsylvania.
The annual DVAEYC Conference is the premiere event for the early education community in the Delaware Valley. The DVAEYC 2015 “Early Learning: What’s Play Got to Do with It?” brings together more than 1,500 early educators, nationally recognized presenters, innovative exhibitors, and public officials for two days of exciting idea-sharing and discussion of one of the most crucial elements of early childhood — the importance of PLAY.
Conference attendees and educators across the state are being encouraged to collect pennies for pre-k and talk to parents and community members about the educational, emotional and developmental value of early learning. Children will decorate collection containers, gather pennies, and participate in counting activities. All the pennies collected will be delivered to state officials in Harrisburg this spring.
Despite the proven benefits of high-quality early learning, too few Pennsylvania children have access to these programs. Only about 1 in 6 of PA’s 3- and 4-year olds is enrolled in publicly funded, high-quality pre-k, a statistic that has remained unchanged in recent years due to the sluggish state investments.
The Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) champions high-quality early care and education for all young children in southeastern PA. The Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) is a non-profit, member organization working on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being primarily of children aged birth through eight and their families. DVAEYC offers professional development opportunities for early childhood educators and professionals and advocates to improve quality compensation and affordability in the early care and education system. www.dvaeyc.org
Pre-K for PA was launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. This statewide coalition includes: Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children; Economy League of Greater Philadelphia; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids; Mission: Readiness; Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children; Pennsylvania Head Start Association; Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children; Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children; Public Citizens for Children and Youth; and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. www.prekforpa.org ###
A Good Day for Pre-K!
Pre-K for PA, Early Learning PA Supporters Cheer Governor Wolf’s Proposed Investments in Early Learning
HARRISBURG (March 3, 2015)– The Pre-K for PA campaign, along with the Early Learning PA coalition, today applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for substantial increases to state investments in high-quality pre-kindergarten and child care – investments that will help Pennsylvania make up lost ground and increase access to high-quality early learning programs for more children.
Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget for fiscal 2015-16 calls for:
- Increasing funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts by $100 million, which will nearly double the commonwealth’s current annual investment of $97.3 million.
- A $20 million increase in state funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, which would bring total funding to $59 million.
- Investing nearly $36 million in available federal funds to increase the availability of high-quality child care programs.
Despite the proven benefits of high-quality early learning, too few Pennsylvania children have access to these programs.
Only about 1 in 6 of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds is enrolled in publicly funded, high-quality pre-k – a statistic that has remain unchanged in recent years due to sluggish state investments. If the governor’s proposal is enacted, access would increase to about 1 in 4 of the commonwealth’s 3- and 4-year-olds.
While this is a laudable first step, it still leaves a majority of young learners missing out on the once-in-a-lifetime benefits high-quality pre-k provides. Pennsylvania will need multiple years of similarly substantial investments to reach Gov. Wolf’s stated goal of making high-quality pre-k universally accessible.
Among children age 0-4 in need of child care, only about 1 in 13 benefit from high-quality care. The governor’s proposal means child care access will be improved, but the commonwealth needs more aggressive investments in the years ahead to increase child care access.
The principal partners of the Pre-K for PA campaign (listed below) issued the following statement in response the Gov. Wolf’s spending plan:
“Today is a good day for pre-k! Governor Wolf’s proposed $120 million investment in early learning programs is a solid first step toward increasing access to high-quality pre-k, and on behalf of the more than 11,000 supporters of the Pre-K for PA campaign, we thank the governor for his vision.
“Early learning investments pay off for the entire commonwealth. Based on economic models created by Ready Nation, the governor’s proposed $120 million increase in pre-k funding would have a short-term economic impact for the commonwealth of nearly $215 million and long-term economic benefits of about $840 million. Nearly 3,400 new jobs would be created as a result of this increased pre-k investment. Similarly, every dollar invested in high-quality child care generates up to $1.79 in short-term economic benefits and up to $7 in long-term benefits.
“As the budget process unfolds, legislative leaders who support pre-k can work with Gov. Wolf to ensure these proposed new investments happen in fiscal year 2015-16 and continue to grow in the years ahead.”
Pre-K for PA was launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. This statewide coalition includes: Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children; Economy League of Greater Philadelphia; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids; Mission: Readiness; Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children; Pennsylvania Head Start Association; Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children; Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children; Public Citizens for Children and Youth; and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
Early Learning PA also was launched in 2014 with the vision that, by 2020, all Pennsylvania children will have access to high-quality early learning opportunities. Its founding members include: the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids; Mission: Readiness; Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children; Pennsylvania Child Care Association; Pennsylvania Head Start Association; Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children; Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children; and Public Citizens for Children and Youth.
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Pre-K Teams Up with Rep. Adolph and The Cat in the Hat in Celebration of ‘Read Across America’
Capitol Caravan Rolls in From Pittsburgh
HARRISBURG (March 2, 2015)– Pre-K for PA teamed up today with Rep. William Adolph and Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat to celebrate the sixteenth annual National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America Day.
In celebration, Rep. William Adolph joined The Cat in the Hat in reading Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham in the Capitol Rotunda to a group of preschool students from Harrisburg’s Hansel & Gretel Early Learning Center.
“An early love of reading is one of the most important qualities we can impress upon our young learners,” said Rep. Adolph. “Preschoolers, in particular, have the most to gain from being read to both at home and at school. There’s no better way to help a 3- or 4-year old prepare for a successful future than with a solid foundation of reading.”
Research has proven that reading to a young child is an important factor in future academic achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a division of the U.S. Department of Education, children who are read to frequently are more likely to count to 20 or higher, write their own names and read or pretend to read than those who were not.
Pre-K for PA supporters from partner organization Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC) hit the halls of the Capitol today to kick off a three-day Capitol Caravan. As part of the ongoing statewide Caravan effort, parents and early childhood educators deliver Pre-K for PA Education Kits to members of the legislature in support of its mission to expand access to high-quality pre-k for all of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds.
Read Across America Day, which celebrates Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the joys of reading, expects more than 45 million readers, both young and old, to pick up a book and read today.
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. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
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Capitol Caravan Parks in Harrisburg; 253 Pre-K for PA Education Kits Delivered to Legislators
HARRISBURG (February 2, 2015)– Pre-K for PA supporters hit the halls of the Capitol today to kick off a two-day Capitol Caravan. Parents and early childhood educators delivered Pre-K for PA Education Kits to members of the legislature as part of an ongoing effort in support of Governor Wolf’s campaign commitment to expand access to high-quality pre-k for all of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds.
“I joined the Pre-K for PA campaign because I believe that when parents raise their voice together, Harrisburg listens,” said Patricia Hunter Executive Director of Spring Garden Children’s Center in Easton. “I hope that traveling to Harrisburg will send a message that there is no more urgent issue than access to quality early learning facing our legislature and Governor in the 2015-16 session.
“As an early childhood educator it breaks my heart that not all young learners get the opportunity to enter kindergarten with an equal and solid foundation,” Hunter continued.
“I am encouraged by Governor Wolf’s campaign promise to expand access to high-quality early education and hope that the legislature will work with him to accomplish this laudable goal.”
Parents and early learning educators traveling to Harrisburg were among our nearly 11,000 supporters statewide. The Pre-K for PA campaign has successfully engaged communities and citizens throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to influence the platforms of the gubernatorial and legislative campaigns. In just one year, we have gained nearly 11,000 individual supporters, 550 organizations, and over 100 civic and business leaders in our Leadership Council.
In recent years, about 53,000 Pennsylvania children benefitted from high-quality pre-k funded through state or federal sources. But that represents only about 18 percent of the nearly 300,000 3- and 4-year-olds in the state. It means about 244,000 children lack access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k every year.
The Pre-K for PA Capitol Caravan will consist of a series of journeys from all corners of Pennsylvania to help establish Pre-K for PA as a persistent presence in Harrisburg during legislative session days.
The Pre-K for PA Campaign was launched by a statewide coalition including: Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Mission: Readiness, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, Pennsylvania Head Start Association, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
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. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
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