Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon officials: lnvesting in early education can cut crime
“One of the best ways to fight crime is through early education.
Unfortunately, sufficient funding for those programs is lacking.
Those were the messages delivered Wednesday morning at Lebanon’s Southeast Elementary School by Steve Doster, deputy director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids PA.
Doster, whose organization boasts a membership of 5,000 law enforcement officials nationwide, was at Southeast to lobby Sen. Mike Folmer and Rep. Mauree Gingrich for more early childhood education funding, especially for children living in impoverished households.”
Read the full story here.
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Pa. Treasurer McCord sells himself as governor material
“Rob McCord looked like he’d been dropped into that ubiquitous cellphone commercial, seated in an undersized chair at a too-tiny table in a Philadelphia classroom.
But McCord wasn’t tossing out inane questions to toddlers. His topic during the visit Wednesday to an early-childhood center near Chinatown was deadly serious: how to keep children – particularly those from struggling families – in school and out of jail.
McCord, state treasurer since 2009, was on hand to make his case that if elected governor he would triple the amount the state spends on its youngest students.
“If we put $220 million more in early-childhood education, we save $3 billion in costs associated with high school dropouts,” McCord told members of the Pre-K for PA Coalition at the center, Children’s Village. “Talk about an investment that pays for itself.””
Read the full story here.
Pa. needs quality pre-K
The Philadelphia Inquirer: guest column by David L. Cohen
“It’s not always the case that the business and education sectors are in full agreement on what’s needed to improve the quality of education and skills of our students. But when it comes to prekindergarten, the stars are fully aligned.”
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20140418_Pa__needs_quality_pre-K.html#x1hJUhVzZkwBZRds.99
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Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Schwartz talks education in class visit
“Schwartz said she is concerned about those left behind. She said pre-school programs are vital not just for academics, but also that they also help children with social skills and overall health care.
“Research shows that if children get a good start, they do better in life,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz said if she were elected governor, she would reinstate the reimbursements for full-day kindergarten. She said teachers have told her that full-time kindergarten students do far better in school.
“And that’s why pre-school programs, like Head Start, are enormously important,” Schwartz said.”
Read the full story here.
Newsworks: McCord wants to nearly triple Pa. spending on early education
“Fewer than 20 percent of all 3- and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania have access to publicly-funded pre-K programs.
If elected, McCord wants to add $220 million to the state’s early childhood education budget during his first year in office, nearly tripling current state spending.
The funding boost would come courtesy of a 10 percent severance tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state.”
Read the full story here.
Centre Daily Times: Letter to the Editor – Support Early Education
Letter to the editor from Bill Frantz, State College chairman of Pre-K for PA:
“Early investments minimize the need for costly and difficult interventions meant to close the achievement gap in later years. Yet available public funds help only 50 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in Centre County get access to programs that help them get a sound educational foundation.
High-quality prekindergarten strengthens our schools because every child who arrives in kindergarten ready to learn helps the classroom become a more effective place for the learning of all children.”
Read the full story here.
