Uncategorized | Pre-K for PA

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Report: County lags others in pre-k access

“Barely a third of children ages 3 and 4 in Luzerne County are enrolled in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, according to a new report, leaving about 4,500 children without access to such programs.

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children issued the report, titled “A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-k in PA,” touting the value of high quality pre school programs, a recurring theme with the advocacy group.

The report contends “a growing body of research shows that gains made by 4-year-olds in publicly supported pre-K programs lead to improved early literacy language and math skills entering kindergarten, reduced special-education placement through second grade, reduced grade repetition through eighth grade, and increased likelihood of high school graduation and college enrollment.””

Read the full story here.

Smart Talk from WTIF: “Kids for Cash” documentary and early education

“Later we’ll discuss another issue important to parents: early childhood education. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children President and CEO Joan Benso and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Pennsylvania State Director Bruce Clash will join us to discuss the new “Pre-K for PA” campaign and what the research says about early learning.

A new PPC report finds that 70 percent of the state’s 3 and 4 year old children don’t have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The numbers for some midstate counties are even higher.

Governor Corbett has proposed an 11.5 percent increase in “Pre-K Counts” funding in next year’s budget. We’ll ask our guests how much progress that investment would make toward the campaign’s goal of ensuring quality Pre-K access for all children.”

Listen to the full program here.