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.
AP: More Pre-K Programs Closing Amid Pennsylvania Budget Battle
By Associated Press December 2, 2015
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – With budget talks dragging on in the Pennsylvania capitol, more early childhood centers certified under Pennsylvania’s state-subsidized pre-kindergarten program are closing without state aid.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education said Wednesday that 15 Pre-K Counts programs have closed. It says 538 children were enrolled in the programs.
This year’s prolonged budget impasse has entered its sixth month, forcing school districts, counties and social and human services organizations to shutter services, lay off employees, put off bills or go into debt to survive.
Children from low-income families qualify for Pre-K Counts, which serves nearly 14,000 children. Other Pre-K Counts providers are laying off staff or asking them to work for free.
Read more here.
NBC10: Local DA’s: Pay for Pre-K or Pay for Crime Later
A conference advocating for early education and pre-k programs that proponents say could boost graduation rates and reduce the number of people who wind up incarcerated if every three and four-year-old had access.
PA has a Fine Model to Follow when Offering Pre-K to More Children
By: Sue Smith, Director or Early Childhood Development, Capital Area Head Start, Susquehanna Twp.
September 27, 2014
“The editorial in Sunday’s Patriot-News makes a strong argument for Pennsylvania’s continued investment in early education and the importance of parent participation. Head Start, although not mentioned in the article, understands the crucial role of parents in their children’s education. In fact, parent participation is a requirement for enrollment in Head Start.”
Click Here to Read the Whole Letter
Jeff Jubelirer on 6ABC’s Inside Story: “We don’t realize that the problems of education start when our children are 3 and 4, not getting access to high-quality pre-k opportunities.”
