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Shapiro Budget Offers Progress

Shapiro Budget Offers Progress

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

  • 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.

 
governor.pa.gov: PA Reaches New Milestone by Expanding Early Learning to More Children and Acts to Stabilize Child Care Industry

governor.pa.gov: PA Reaches New Milestone by Expanding Early Learning to More Children and Acts to Stabilize Child Care Industry

Governor Wolf: PA Reaches New Milestone by Expanding Early Learning to More Children and Acts to Stabilize Child Care Industry

September 30, 2021

After reaching another milestone that expands early education to more than 3,200 additional young children, Governor Tom Wolf ​today visited Community Services for Children’s Learning Hub in Allentown. During the visit, the governor highlighted the $30 million increase in state funding so more children can attend a quality pre-k program and the $655 million in federal funding available to help child care providers stabilize during the pandemic, allowing more parents to return to work.

“Studies show that children who learn in high-quality pre-k programs perform better in school and are more likely to graduate,” said. Gov. Wolf. “We know that early childhood learning programs are good for children, especially those affected by socioeconomic risk factors, but they’re also good for families and our economy, too. Parents and caregivers rely on affordable, accessible child care to go to work every day. When we ensure high-quality learning programs are available for children, we are making an economic investment to our communities.”

Since taking office, Gov. Wolf has increased funding for Pre-K Counts by 149% and for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (Head Start) by 77%. Both state programs ensure access to high-quality early learning programs for low-income families with children.

The $25 million increase this year allows Pre-K counts to serve an additional 2,900 children, while the additional $5 million for Head Start will serve 300 more children and their families.  

Read full press release here.

The full virtual visit can be found here.

Centre Daily Times: Preschool fair showcases local early education options

Centre Daily Times: Preschool fair showcases local early education options

Centre Daily Times: Preschool fair showcases local early education options
January 7, 2017 by Britney Milazzo

Aiden Hall will turn 3 in March.

That’s when he’ll be eligible to attend some preschools for next school year.

But his parents Carrie and Landon Hall said they don’t want to send their son to a place that is just a day care.

“If that’s the case, I would just send him to my mom’s all the time, but I want him to learn, to interact with other kids and teachers, and have that experience before he actually goes to school,” Carrie Hall said.

She said they teach the 2-year-old structure and etiquette at home, but it’s limited.

“We do as much as we can, but don’t have all the tips for the right behavior at school or at the playground when he’s among a group of others,” she said.

That’s why the Ferguson Township couple attended the annual preschool fair Saturday morning hosted by the Moms Club of State College at Mount Nittany Middle School.

Moms Club annually organizes the fair as a way to help educate local families about preschool and early childhood intervention care in the community, organizer Nicki Rusca said.

The event included 20 early childhood care programs, a majority from the Centre region.

“The process can be a little overwhelming, so the goal is to educate families on the options they have,” Rusca said. “They can narrow down what preschools they like and follow-up at the open house later.”

Some early childhood educators said preschool and early intervention is an important part of a child’s life.

At KinderCare, preschool teacher Chris Miley said preschool helps with the transition into kindergarten and helps expose children to different things.

“It plants the seed for their future,” she said. “If they stay at home with a parent, they can fall behind because they might not necessarily get the kind of exposure they would when they’re in a preschool setting.”

Miley said preschool exposes children to social, emotional and physical traits, but also exposes them to sicknesses, which could be a good thing.

“It can help build their immune system,” she said.

At KinderCare, preschool is available to children ages 3 to 5. It’s a paid program, but offers tuition assistance to eligible families.

The goal, Miley said, is to help the child learn basic skills that lead them to think “outside the box.”

“It’s age appropriate, but they learn things like numbers and letters and how to play with each other,” she said. “It’s play-based, but they still get educated.”

However preschool isn’t an option for everyone.

And a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit called Pre-K for PA is trying to change that by raising money and advocating for affordable, yet high quality preschool for every child in the commonwealth.

“We have had several successes this year,” spokeswoman for the central Pennsylvania area of Pre-K for PA Tracy Weaver said. “For example, we reached out to legislators, including Sen. (Jake) Corman, to advocate for increased pre-K funding. We were successful in getting the legislature to follow through in funding the increase, which ultimately made preschool available to more children.”

In 2016, Pre-K for PA was able to help expand the number of high-quality pre-K centers, made possible by the additional $25 million in funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and $5 million for Head Start in the state’s 2015-16 budget, Pre-K for PA spokeswoman Kate Philips said.

Read the article here.
Centre Daily Times: Preschool fair showcases local early education options

Morning Call: State Rep. Dan McNeill and retired Rear Admiral David W. Kunzel: Quality pre-k programs build essential foundation for children

Morning Call: State Rep. Dan McNeill and retired Rear Admiral David W. Kunzel: Quality pre-k programs build essential foundation for children

November 10, 2016

On this Veterans Day, we take time to honor the men and women among us who served in the Armed Forces. From World War II to present-day engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan — whether they served in war or peace — our veterans went where their nation needed them and served with honor and integrity. They are deserving of our gratitude.

Of course the Army GIs, the Navy sailors and aviators, the Marines, the Coast Guardsmen, or the Air Force fliers of World War II might not recognize the high-tech trappings of today’s military, but they know they can shake hands with men and women who bring the same heart and dedication to service that they did. Even as the military changes, the dedicated people needed to carry out their duties remains constant.

That is why we are troubled by the findings of a recent report from the Council for a Strong America. According to the 2016 citizen-readiness index, 72 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 17 to 24 are ineligible for military service due to problems with obesity, education, drug abuse or crime.

The index also found that, in Pennsylvania, 13 percent of youth ages 16 to 24 are unemployed and not in school, and that 13 youths out of 100 who are 17 to 24 have an arrest record.

If the military can’t call on these young adults to serve, it’s likely businesses can’t, either. Any institution, whether business or military, thrives and grows on the talents and work ethic of its people. When the talent pool is so depleted that employers can’t find innovators and team players to fill their jobs, then the economy will suffer.

As we pause to think about the veterans who served this country, we should also be searching for solutions to maintain the future strength of the armed forces they so ably served. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders both in the civilian workforce and the military. One of the most effective tools for assuring their citizen-readiness is high-quality early childhood education.

Groundbreaking research has revealed the remarkable development of the brain from birth to age 5, when the foundation is built for a lifetime of academic achievement, social functioning and physical health. Children from high-quality prekindergarten go on to experience fewer grade repetitions and special education placements, lower rates of crime and incarceration, and increased graduation rates. They even learn healthy eating and exercise habits that substantially reduce rates of childhood obesity.

In the overall equation, these young people cost us less in taxpayer dollars spent on education, health care and criminal justice. More importantly, they are likelier to be fully contributing citizens, ready for military service and good jobs.

Unfortunately, too few children get the opportunities that prepare them for success. In Lehigh County, 74 percent of at-risk children don’t have access to publicly funded, high-quality prekindergarten. In Northampton County, it’s 78 percent. Pennsylvania has made great strides in committing to early learning, but as the county numbers show, it’s not enough.

In fact, Pennsylvania could follow the example of the Department of Defense, which has made a substantial commitment to early learning. On military bases worldwide, the department has established high-quality prekindergarten, so personnel can work on their vital missions with the comfort of knowing that their children are enjoying days of fun and learning in safe environments.

And because so many military personnel don’t live on bases, the Defense Department offers vouchers that substantially reduce the cost of prekindergarten. These vouchers must be spent in facilities meeting measurable standards of excellence.

Military service is filled with difficult decisions, but this time, the choice is simple. Pennsylvania’s commitment to high-quality prekindergarten will produce a corps of young Americans who, like the veterans we honor today, are citizen-ready.

State Rep. Dan McNeill of Whitehall Township, who represents the 133rd District, previously served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. David W. Kunkel of Allentown is a retired rear admiral with the Coast Guard and serves on the executive advisory committee of Mission: Readiness – Military Leaders for Kids. 

Read the article here.

Pre-k / Early Learning Advocates Call for Renewed Commitment to Pre-k, Quality Child Care and Home Visiting Programs

Pre-k / Early Learning Advocates Call for Renewed Commitment to Pre-k, Quality Child Care and Home Visiting Programs

Pre-k / Early Learning Advocates Call for Renewed Commitment to Pre-k, Quality Child Care and Home Visiting Programs

HARRISBURG (July 15, 2016)— Partners in the Pre-K for PA and Early Learning PA campaigns credited nearly 20,000 supporters for the adoption of a budget that maintains the commonwealth’s investment in high-quality pre-k programs. The Campaigns renewed a call for making more substantial progress in its efforts to expand essential early childhood programs.

The principal partners of the Pre-K for PA and Early Learning PA Campaigns issued the following statement regarding the enactment of the final 2016-17 state budget:

“Given the obvious constraints of this year’s state budget negotiations, we are heartened by the fact that the final 2016-17 budget puts the funds on the table to essentially maintain the capacity of the state’s pre-k programs. Had the legislature and governor not provided a combined $30 million increase in the appropriations for Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental, these programs would have been forced to weather significant cuts and thousands of children would have lost access to these critical early learning opportunities.

“We will continue to urge lawmakers to make more progress next year, as current state funding represents a small portion of investment needed relative to the needs of our children. During the upcoming school year, Pennsylvania will leave nearly 200,000 3- and 4-year-olds without the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn in a high-quality pre-k program. Even with the funds provided for pre-k in the FY ‘17 budget only 31% of kids eligible for state funded programs like Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance will have access.

“Our coalition of educators and pediatricians standing alongside law enforcement, military, business and community leaders as well as nearly 20,000 citizen supporters will be redoubling our efforts over the coming months to demonstrate support for state budgets that generate the revenue necessary to make the urgent and substantial investments needed in child care, home visiting and pre-k programs that ensure our kids will enter school ready to learn.”

Partners of the Early Learning PA Campaigns also expressed disappointment that the final budget included:

A $20 million reduction in state appropriations for child care services. The budget agreement compensated for this cut by tapping federal funds that otherwise could have been used to expand child care access and quality;

Level state funding for evidence–based home visiting programs that support higher-risk, low-income children and their parents despite a growing unmet need.

 

Pennsylvania’s early childhood education system is a continuum of programs including quality pre-k, child care and home visiting services that are vital components to closing the achievement gap, producing qualified workers and providing short- and long-term economic returns to Pennsylvania taxpayers.

 

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 and has 13,000 members. This statewide coalition’s leadership group 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

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.

Centre Daily Times: Preschool fair showcases local early education options

The Daily Item: LTE: A Long-Term Investment

The Daily Item: LTE: A Long-Term Investment

As the Snyder County District Attorney, keeping our residents safe from crime and violence is priority number one. Obviously this involves prosecuting, and in appropriate cases, incarcerating those that break the law. Yet a comprehensive approach to keeping our communities safe must also include proven strategies that prevent individuals from turning to crime in the first place.

This is why I support the expansion of high quality pre-kindergarten programs. Research is clear that at-risk kids who participate are more ready for school and life and avoid crime and violence along the way.

I agree with Joanne Troutman’s recent op-ed (“My Turn: Giving can only help pre-K so much,” Feb. 10) urging our legislators to prioritize the expansion of high quality pre-K to an additional 14,000 at-risk kids in 2016 and all at-risk kids by 2019. Such an investment will not only contribute to brighter futures for at-risk children, but will keep our communities safer and save taxpayer dollars in the years to come.

Mike Piecuch

Snyder County District Attorney

Member of the Early Learning Investment Committee of the Susquehanna River Valley and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

Read the LTE here.