Pre-K for PA Movement Gaining Momentum
September 30, 2014
A new poll shows that more and more people are supporting voluntary, high quality Pre-K education for all kids in Pennsylvania.
Regardless of political affiliations, people of all backgrounds are showing their support for Pre-K reform in Pennsylvania. Research shows only 28 percent of Erie County three and four year olds have access to publicly-funded Pre-K education but recently, a new poll reveals that more and more people are pushing for voluntary, high-quality Pre-K education for all.
Local Pre-K for PA Co-Chair Ron Dinicola says Pre-K helps kids in their learning cycle. cycle. “If they’re in the circle at the beginning, they will stay in the circle, if they come to kindergarten and they’re outside of the circle, the data shows that they tend to stay outside the circle. We want every child, three/four year old, they don’t get a do-over, we want to make sure they’re ready to learn when they get to kindergarten,” Dinicola said.
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Military Brass Push for More Pre-Kindergarten Access
September 30, 2014
Three retired U.S. Army generals, including Kingston resident Maj. Gen. Joseph Perugino, came to Wilkes-Barre this morning to push for what they argued is a critical national security need: high-quality pre-school programs.
“The current military involves complex technology,” Lt. Gen. Dennis Benchoff said. “We no longer recruit from pool halls and gas stations.” The military looks for high school graduates, he added, yet 72 percent of Pennsylvanians ages 17 to 24 don’t make muster for military enlistment.
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PA has a Fine Model to Follow when Offering Pre-K to More Children
By: Sue Smith, Director or Early Childhood Development, Capital Area Head Start, Susquehanna Twp.
September 27, 2014
“The editorial in Sunday’s Patriot-News makes a strong argument for Pennsylvania’s continued investment in early education and the importance of parent participation. Head Start, although not mentioned in the article, understands the crucial role of parents in their children’s education. In fact, parent participation is a requirement for enrollment in Head Start.”
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Make Pre-K a Priority
September 25, 2014
Pre-K for PA’s mission ought to be a cakewalk. After all, few people don’t support high-quality early education.
And why not?
It’s an investment that provides young children the solid start they need to succeed both academically and socially in school.
That, in turn, increases the likelihood they’ll stay out of trouble, graduate high school and enroll in college or join the military, leading to better career opportunities.
High-quality pre-K programs also boost local economies by eventually producing the skilled workers new businesses need.
That’s why 10 organizations representing education, business, law enforcement and the military earlier this year launched Pre-K for PA, a campaign to ensure every 3- and 4-year-old has access to high-quality pre-K in Pennsylvania.
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New Poll Finds Strong Support for Access to High-Quality Pre-K Among Likely PA Voters
Survey Conducted by National Pollsters Reveals Bipartisan Support for Pre-K, Strong Support Among Seniors
Philadelphia, PA (Sept. 19, 2014) – As the November election approaches, likely voters in Pennsylvania are demonstrating clear, bi-partisan support for access to high-quality pre-k. According to a recent poll commissioned by Pre-K for PA and conducted by national pollsters Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research & Consulting, a majority of Pennsylvania voters favor access to voluntary, high-quality pre-k programs for every 3– and 4-year old. The poll also revealed that support for pre-k is particularly strong among seniors – 60 percent of whom favor ensuring access to high-quality pre-k.
“This latest poll released today demonstrates the clear recognition among those who will vote in the November election, that pre-k must be part of a viable solution to our education system in Pennsylvania,” said Steve Wray, Executive Director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia – a Pre-K for PA coalition member. “Our research supports what voters are saying – high-quality pre-k is crucial to ensure the right start for our kids and is a sound investment for Pennsylvania taxpayers.”
“What we are seeing around the country in the campaigns of many candidates this election cycle is broad support for access to high-quality pre-k – and no where is that more prevalent than right here in Pennsylvania,” said Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners.
Christine Matthews, President of Bellwether Research & Consulting, added: “This latest research underscores that access to high-quality pre-k for all young children is an issue that has bipartisan support among Pennsylvania voters.”
“Pennsylvanians want smart public policy that gets results and has a strong return on investment, so it shouldn’t be surprising that most voters, regardless of party, are increasingly supportive of high-quality pre-k,” said Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, one of the founding organizations of the Pre-K for PA campaign. “Given only 1 in 6 of our 3- and 4-year-olds has access to publicly funded high-quality pre-k, it seems voters are willing to seek out candidates who are committed to boosting pre-k access.”
A summary of the full poll findings can be viewed on Pre-K for PA’s website here.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by thousands of individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. While the campaign neither endorses nor opposes candidates, it advocates on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities.
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CONTACTS:
Philadelphia:
Andrea Mead, Pre-K for PA
215-2805-3746
andrea@jacobsonstrategic.com
Harrisburg:
Mike Race, Pa. Partnerships for Children
717-236-5680
mrace@papartnerships.org
Pittsburgh:
David Caliguiri, PAEYC
412-613-7266
david@caliguirigroup.com
