Erie Times: Guest Voices of Ron DiNicola and Nick Scott Jr.: Why all kids need pre-K
Ron DiNicola and Nick Scott Jr., co-chairmen of the northwestern PA coalition of Pre-K for PA, lend their voices to the Erie Times in support for pre-K:
“Erie County has a proven economic development tool that can help kick-start northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy in the short term and build a more capable, competitive workforce for our region in the long run. In fact, a study released last week found this resource can pump tens of millions of dollars into our local economy and create hundreds of new jobs if we make better use of it.
So why haven’t you heard of it? The fact is, you probably have.
It’s high-quality prekindergarten education.”
Read the full story here.
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Report: Pre-K investment pays for itself
“Spending $40 million to expand pre-kindergarten education for all children in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties would reverberate beyond the money going to classes and teachers, a new study claims.
It would pump $32 million into the economy through spending on things such as real estate, utilities and retail purchases.
The report, titled “Strengthening Pennsylvania Businesses through Investments in Pre-Kindergarten,” was done by ReadyNation, which bills itself as “a business partnership for early childhood and economic success.”
Read the full story here.
Generocity: Thoughts on the future of Philadelphia
“An exciting week was book-ended by two events focused on the future. The first was the Economy League and United Way event on Pre-K for PA and the other was a panel on The Future of Work with Philadelphia University’s Natalie Nixon. Both events stirred my imagination about creative new ways to create social impact in our region in the coming decades. But with only 30% of our children getting access to high-quality early learning, I fear that the future of work — and of our region — is threatened. Business leaders like Jack Brennan (Vanguard Chairman Emeritus) and educators agree: universal access to quality early learning is critical to our region’s future prosperity, not to mention the value it brings to every 2, 3 and 4 year old child whose individual future depends on it.”
Read the full story here.
Philadelphia Business Journal: Pondering quality pre-k ed
Philadelphia Business Journal’s education staff writer, Lauren Hertzler, seeks to get a more concrete answer about what constitutes high quality pre-K:
“Last week, I exclusively brought to light a report by Ready Nation/America’s Edge, which highlights the advantages of investing in high-quality pre-kindergarten education.
The report found that for every $1 invested in high-quality pre-k, Pennsylvania’s economy would see a $1.79 return.
That’s pretty significant.
But, I couldn’t help but wonder, what exactly is “high-quality” pre-k? And is it worse to attend a low-performing preschool than it is to not go at all?”
Read the full story here.
Erie Times: Erie businessman, lawyer pushing for pre-K access
“Nick Scott Jr. believes the value of prekindergarten education is apparent.
Not only does it help prepare children for kindergarten, but it helps them avoid the pitfalls that can lead to students dropping out of school and getting involved with crime in the long term, and ultimately cuts the need — and cost — of remedial education for public schools.
“This is a no-brainer,” said Scott, vice president of Scott Enterprises and a member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission. “We’re beyond the point where this is a debate about if pre-K works.”
Now, he said, is the time to get every 3- or 4-year-old child in the state into early education programs.
That’s the goal of the recently created Pre-K for PA campaign, chaired in northwestern Pennsylvania by Scott and Erie lawyer Ron DiNicola. The two announced the creation of the local version of the campaign Thursday morning.”
Read the full story here.
MAY 1, 2014- Giving every child access to a quality pre-k education….
That’s the goal of a new coalition introduced this morning.
Co-chairs Nick Scott Jr. and Ronald DiNicola unveiled their “Pre-K for PA for NWPA Campaign.”
The non-partisan campaign is looking to improve and better access to pre-k learning opportunities for all children in Pennsylvania.
Scott says public funds in the commonwealth for pre-k are less than 20 percent and he says there is a need for more.
Scott and DiNicola have already gone before local stakeholders and plan to campaign for more community support in the upcoming weeks.
Read the full article on YourErie.com
