Is MontCo Ready for Kindergarten?

Montco County Commissioner Castor Visits Local Preschool, Highlights the Need for Access to Pre-KMontgomery County Leaders Join Pre-K for PA in Stressing Importance of Being Ready for the First Day of Kindergarten   Philadelphia, PA—Friday, September 5, Pre-K for PA was joined by County Commissioner Bruce Castor and other Montgomery County leaders, educators and preschoolers at Play & Learn Providence Pointe in Royersford, PA, a STAR 3 pre-k program, to highlight the importance of high-quality pre-k in preparing children for kindergarten and beyond.   As teachers and educators welcome kids to the first day of kindergarten this week, Pre-K for PA is holding a series of “Back to School” events at preschools across Pennsylvania to underscore the need for every 3- and 4-year-old in the commonwealth to be ready for kindergarten through access to high-quality pre-k.   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.

The Phoenix: PHOTOS: Castor reads to local preschoolers at Pre-K for PA event Montgomery County Commissioner BruceCastor reads “The Little Engine That Could” to children at Play & Learn Providence Pointe in Upper Providence on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. Castor‘s visit was part of a series of back to school events held by Pre-K for PA to support quality preschool access throughout the state. Photo courtesy of Pre-K for PA. Upper Providence — Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor visited Play & Learn Providence Pointe Friday to show his support for Pre-K for PA. During his visit, Castor read “The Little Engine That Could” to the children and spoke with parents, Pre-K for PA representatives and Play & Learn Program Coordinator Melanie Godhania about the importance of quality preschool education for Pennsylvania children. Pre-K for PA is a statewide group that campaigns for access to quality preschool education in Pennsylvania. Castor’s visit was one of a series of back to school events the organization is holding at preschools across the state, according to a press release from Pre-K for PA.

YourErie: Pre-K for PA Day in City of Erie

YourErie: Pre-K for PA Day in City of Erie

Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott has proclaimed August 8th as Pre-K for PA Day in the City of Erie.

The proclamation took place at the Seawolves game at Jerry Uht Park.

The goal of the bipartisan campaign is to raise support for universal pre-k for three and four year old children in the commonwealth.

Full story here.

For Release: Erie School Board Passes Resolution in Support of Pre-K for PA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northwest PA Contact: Kate Phillips: (215) 850-4647

Erie School Board Passes Resolution in Support of Pre-K for PA, Calls on Leaders in Harrisburg to Fund Early Learning

NWPA Campaign Co-chairs Encourage County School Districts to Pass Similar Resolutions

Erie, PA (June, 25, 2014) – The Erie School Board today passed a resolution in support of Pre-K for PA.  The resolution recognizes the value of early learning and calls on leaders in Harrisburg to fund Pre-K for all Pennsylvania children.  Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania advocating for access to high quality pre-K for all three and four-year-olds.

“We are joining other school boards across the state to rally state officials around an investment in early learning, ” said resolution sponsor and School Board Director Bob Casillo.  “There is overwhelming evidence and educators will attest that investing in quality pre-k can cut special education placements by nearly half through 2nd grade and reduce grade repetition by as much as a third through 8th grade – significantly reducing the costs associated with remediation and special education for school districts.

NWPA campaign co-chairs Nick Scott, Jr. and Ron DiNicola commended the Erie school board for their support of Pre-K for PA.

“Investing in early childhood learning is an investment in Erie’s future,” said co-chair Nick Scott, Jr.  “This resolution affirms that the Erie School District recognizes the importance of that and we are thrilled that they are taking a distinct leadership role in advocating for access to quality early learning for all kids.”

“School boards and administrators play a crucial role in influencing legislators in Harrisburg who we are beginning to recognize the building chorus of support for investment in Pre-K, said co-chair Ronald A. DiNicola.   “We encourage School Boards across the region to pass similar resolutions.”

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.

Pre-K for PA Announces Growing Support for Pre-K Among Superintendents and School Boards

Philadelphia, PA – While Pennsylvania’s high school seniors are proudly standing with their classmates and teachers this month as they accept their diplomas, superintendents and school boards across the commonwealth are expressing their support for Pre-K for PA’s goal of ensuring access to high-quality pre-k for every 3- and 4-year-old.

Since the campaign launched just a few months ago, more than two dozen of Pennsylvania’s school superintendents signed an open letter calling for investment in high-quality pre-k and seventeen school boards have passed resolutions sending the same message to policymakers in Harrisburg. This growing number of “Supers for Pre-K” are joining the more than340 supporting organizations and 5,500 Pennsylvanians that support Pre-K for PA – and is yet another example of the vast and diverse bipartisan support for this issue.

“Considering all of the benefits of quality early learning opportunities – particularly when it comes to preparation for school – ensuring access to high-quality pre-k for all children should be a state budget policy priority,” said Dr. Natalie Thomas, Superintendent of the School District of Cheltenham Township. “As I see day in and day out, if all children have the same chance to attend a quality early learning program, we can ensure they will be ready for kindergarten, future academic achievement and lifelong success.”

Superintendents see firsthand every day what decades of research supports –that a high-quality K-12 education starts with high-quality pre-k – which greatly increases the likelihood of high school graduation and college enrollment, in turn leading to stronger employment opportunities and increased lifetime earning potential. They also know that enrollment in quality pre-k can cut special education placements by nearly half through 2^nd grade and reduce grade repetition by as much as a third through 8^th grade – therefore significantly reducing the costs associated with remediation and special education for school districts.

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.