On February 11, the Upper Darby Board of School Directors passed the below resolution in favor of expanded state investment in high-quality pre-k:
“THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, we the Upper Darby Board of School Directors, support the adoption of state funded policies that ensure every three and four year old child in Pennsylvania can access high-quality Pre-K education and as a result will more likely be ready for kindergarten, as well as academic and lifelong success.”
Public Citizens for Children and Youth’s latest Bottom Line reports on Early Care and Education in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County highlight the following discrepancies in early education in the following areas due to lack of sufficient state funding:
Montgomery County Report: Less than a third of low-and-moderate income children have access to high quality early learning programs. Nearly seven thousand additional seats are needed to fill the gap.
Delaware County Report: Only 37 percent of low-and-moderate income children have access to high quality early learning programs. About 8,500 additional seats are needed to fill the gap.
Chester County Report: Less than a quarter of low-and-moderate income children have access to high quality early learning programs. More than 6,000 additional seats are needed to fill the gap.
Bucks County Report: Only about a third of low and moderate income children have access to high quality early learning programs. More than 5,000 additional seats are needed to fill the gap.
Visit the PCCY website to view all of the Bottom Line reports.
“Fourth-graders in Pennsylvania appear to be showing progress in reading skills, but not all students are benefiting.
Michael Race, director of communications at Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, says the new numbers reinforce the benefits of books. “
“Pre-K for PA is a campaign that aims to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania has access to high-quality pre-kindergarten.
Last week a statewide coalition of non-profit organizations launched “Pre-K for PA: All Children Ready to Succeed.” The campaign seeks to “expand access to critical, high-quality pre-k learning opportunities to ensure that all children are able to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to learn and succeed,” according to a press release.The campaign states that research finds that children with access to high quality pre-k are more likely to advance grades and have improved social skills.”
Read the full story here.
“A statewide coalition has kicked of a campaign to ensure every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania has the chance to attend a high quality pre-kindergarten program.
Pre-K for PA was launched in events across the state Thursday with civic, education, business and military leaders signing on to the effort aimed at boosting pre-K offerings across the commonwealth.
Many Pennsylvania families cannot afford high quality pre-K.
Fewer than 20 percent of Pennsylvania 3- and 4-year-olds have access to publicly funded, high quality programs, said Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, one of 10 nonprofit organizations involved in the campaign.”
Read the full story here.
“Kicking off a campaign to advocate for greater investment in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs on Thursday, a statewide coalition of non-profit organizations launched “Pre-K for PA: All Children Ready to Succeed” to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to access these initiatives.
“The public funds currently available for pre-k in Pennsylvania help fewer than 20 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds access high-quality programs. As a result, far too many families cannot access or afford the high-quality pre-k that is so essential to their children’s success,” said Jill Michal, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.”
Read the full story here.
