By Rhian Evans Allvin, Executive Director of The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
As the mother of three young children, I was fortunate enough to have people around me that supported my desire to give them the best start possible. Among them were family, friends, our pediatrician and their early childhood educators. With that support network coaching, guiding and building my confidence, Austin, Eli and Isabel were afforded the opportunity to walk into kindergarten the first day of school ready to learn and face the expectations of classroom learning that awaited them. If all parents and children were supported in the same way with high-quality early learning experiences, our outlook would be much different.
That is why it is with great pleasure that, as the Executive Director of The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), I’m proud to share with you the launch of NAEYC’s 2014 Week of the Young Child™ (April 6-12, 2014). This year, with our theme “Early Years are the Learning Years,” we draw attention to how a high-quality early childhood experience and the professionals that help to create that experience set a child’s path for success in school and beyond.
We will spend this week in partnership with our 300 affiliates around the country and the world reinforcing how critical the early years are to building the skills to get along with others, and succeed in school and life – and the important role early childhood professionals play in that process. Some of those partners are in Pennsylvania and are active supporter of Pre-K for PA: PennAYEC, the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC), and the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC). Pre-K for PA is an important effort to ensure all 3-and 4-year-old children in Pennsylvania have access to high-quality early education opportunities.
So please join us in this celebration by learning more about our special events in your community via our interactive event map HERE or our special music event for teachers, parents and children HERE or share these helpful tips that outline the hallmarks of an NAEYC accredited center for parents and caregivers who might be navigating the decision making process of choosing an early childhood program. Please join us during NAEYC’s 2014 Week of the Young Child™ to celebrate our children, families, educators and staff for the wonderful work they do each and every day.
To see Pre-K for PA’s Week of the Young Child “One Action A Day” campaign, click here.
By Bruce Clash, Pennsylvania State Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
There is no doubt that high-quality pre-kindergarten programs prepare young children for school and contribute to their social and emotional development. But investment in high-quality pre-k pays dividends far beyond readiness for a kindergarten classroom. High-quality early learning programs can return as much as $17 in savings for every $1 invested over the long term.
Pennsylvania’s police chiefs, sheriffs and district attorneys know from experience and from research that at-risk kids who get the right start in life with high-quality pre-k are less likely to commit crime, drop out of high school or be a drain on taxpayers later on.
Law enforcement leaders know we can’t just arrest and imprison our way out of the crime problem. We have to prevent kids from ever becoming criminals in the first place. One of the most effective ways to reduce crime in our communities begins with investment in our youngest citizens. Nearly 70 percent of America’s state prison inmates fail to receive a high school diploma – roughly equal to the percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania who do not have access to the critical high-quality pre-k programs that will help them be better prepared for school and reinforce socially acceptable behaviors. Research shows that high-quality pre-k jump starts the learning process for children, ensuring they enter school ready to learn, have a much better chance of completing high school, and go on to become productive members of society.
Unfortunately, public funding for access to high-quality pre-k in Pennsylvania only provides this critical opportunity to fewer than 20 percent of all 3- and 4-year-olds. Law enforcement leaders view this inadequate access as a crime prevention gap that compromises the futures of at-risk children and leaves every Pennsylvanian at needless risk of becoming a victim of crime. We can pay now to provide at-risk kids a solid chance to succeed, or pay a whole lot more for failure later on.
Pennsylvania needs to be as willing to guarantee every child access to high-quality pre-k programs as we are willing to guarantee every criminal room and board in a jail cell.
By Sharon Easterling, Executive Director, DVAYEC
Thousands gathered this weekend at the 2014 DVAEYC Early Childhood conference, and took the opportunity to show their support for access to high-quality, affordable pre-k in a clever way: More than 1,000 attendees stood up during the plenary session and took “selfies” that they shared on social media using the hashtag #IamPreK.
Generating awareness and support for Pre-K for PA among this important group of committed early childhood professionals, including directors, teachers, administrators, therapists, doctors, and consultants is critical. Because this group speaks for children, and children can’t vote.
To achieve our goal that every preschooler in Pennsylvania will have access to a high-quality early learning program, public or private, we must raise the visibility of early childhood education so that every candidate – from governor on down, will understand the urgency of ensuring access to early learning.
Eighty-two percent of Pennsylvania children do not have access to high-quality, publicly funded pre-k. Those who signed on to join the statewide Pre-K for PA campaign just this weekend agree that is unacceptable.
So while it may seem silly to join the “selfie” trend, it’s a big step in showing we are a force for children in Pennsylvania and we will be seen and heard! Please snap a picture and post it to Twitter with the hashtag #IamPreK. Ask your friends and colleagues to as well.
By Diane Castelbuono, Vice President, Impact
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
At United Way, we see education as a community responsibility. It takes all of us – parents, teachers and other caring adults – to help a child succeed in school and in life.
Teachers know better than any of us that a child’s ability to arrive at school ready to learn is a key indicator of that success. And teachers know that a child who attends a high-quality pre-k program is much more likely to succeed in Kindergarten.
Research shows that students who attend high-quality pre-k are more likely to read at grade level by 3rd grade. And children who read well by 3rd grade are more likely to stay on track through the middle grades have lower drop-out rates, higher graduation rates, and an overall better chance at success later in life.*
At United Way, we believe children who are ready to read are ready to learn. This is one of the many reasons we have joined the coalition supporting Pre-K for PA, a statewide organization that advocates for access for all of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4 year olds to high-quality pre-school education.
The United Way and our supporters work hard to ensure children have every opportunity to succeed, and access to high-quality pre-k is one of the most important ways to make that vision a reality for our region’s children.
Pre-K for PA brings together a coalition of organizations from across the Commonwealth that recognize that ensuring every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to participate in high quality preK is one of the most important things we can do for our children. — Over 1,600 individuals and organizations have already signed up to support Pre-K for PA.
Please join us in supporting Pre-K for PA: (click here for more info on how to join)
Award-Winning Pre-K for PA Video (Facebook):
Award-Winning Pre-K for PA Video (Twitter):
By Joan Benso, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Not long after the statewide “Pre-K for PA” campaign launched in January, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC) released a report showing only about 18 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds – or 1 in 6 children – are able to access high-quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs.
That means nearly a quarter of a million Pennsylvania children are missing out on the once-in-a-lifetime benefits high-quality pre-k provides. This lack of access not only means lost learning opportunities, it also results in additional long-term costs for Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. These issues can be addressed through stronger public investments in high-quality pre-k.
PPC’s report, A Smart Choice for a Solid Start: The Case for Pre-k in PA, details the proven benefits of high-quality pre-k for 3- and 4-year-olds, including stronger academic and social skills in kindergarten and later grades, reduced costs for special education services, and an increased likelihood of high school graduation and better employment opportunities. The report also includes local data showing how many young learners lack access to high-quality pre-k in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Pre-k has earned growing support among elected leaders from both major parties, business leaders, and military and law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania and across the country. And most Pennsylvania voters support increased funding for pre-k, even if it means increased taxes.
Yet despite this strong support, Pennsylvania’s investments in high-quality pre-k have not significantly increased in recent years, even as several other states are making or moving toward stronger investments. Most of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states – including Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia – have higher rates of pre-k participation among 4-year-olds, underscoring the need for Pennsylvania to do more.
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