South Pittsburgh Reporter: Councilwoman Rudiak in NY, NY to learn more about pre-school
The Grable Foundation has partnered with The Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC) to design a series of learning tours to foster innovative early childhood education, strategies and policies.
Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak will represent Pittsburgh City Council on the first of these learning tours to New York City Monday and Tuesday, July 14-15, to learn about New York City’s universal Pre-K program.
Councilwoman Rudiak has advocated for a “Pittsburgh Promise for preschoolers,” in which every pre-school age child living in the City of Pittsburgh would have access to a free, high-quality preschool education. She has also been an early champion of the Pre-K for PA Campaign (http://www.prekforpa.org), a project of the The Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC).
Read the full story here.
MetroKids: The Pre-K for PA Campaign
When Tonja Claxton’s daughter started Kindergarten this past school year, she was well prepared. After attending a state-funded preK program for two years, school was nothing new.
“I’m thankful that my child was exposed to an amazing curriculum in pre-Kindergarten,” says the Philadelphia mom, who says she could not have afforded preschool without financial assistance. “As a low-income parent and single mother, I knew that early childhood education was important, and I noticed a difference between my child’s development with a supportive system and without.”
Because Claxton believes that every child, regardless of family income, should have that same advantage, she now advocates for early childhood education as a volunteer for Pre-K for PA.
More at the source.
Citizens’ Call: Cheltenham Schools Superintendent, Other Education Leaders, Assert Pre-K Priority
PA’s grassroots advocacy campaign for a statewide program of quality pre-kindergarten education services recently won the endorsement of Cheltenham Superintendent Natalie Thomas. Pre-K for PA, which aims to be a bullhorn for the notion that every three and four-year-old in the state should have an open door to an education program of high standards, has gained the support of more than two dozen PA school superintendents, including Thomas, who signed an open letter calling for state investment in high-quality pre-k.
“Considering all of the benefits of quality early learning opportunities – particularly when it comes to preparation for school – ensuring access to high-quality pre-k for all children should be a state budget policy priority,” said Thomas. “As I see day in and day out, if all children have the same chance to attend a quality early learning program, we can ensure they will be ready for kindergarten, future academic achievement and lifelong success.”
Read the full story at the website.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northwest PA Contact: Kate Phillips: (215) 850-4647
Erie School Board Passes Resolution in Support of Pre-K for PA, Calls on Leaders in Harrisburg to Fund Early Learning
NWPA Campaign Co-chairs Encourage County School Districts to Pass Similar Resolutions
Erie, PA (June, 25, 2014) – The Erie School Board today passed a resolution in support of Pre-K for PA. The resolution recognizes the value of early learning and calls on leaders in Harrisburg to fund Pre-K for all Pennsylvania children. Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania advocating for access to high quality pre-K for all three and four-year-olds.
“We are joining other school boards across the state to rally state officials around an investment in early learning, ” said resolution sponsor and School Board Director Bob Casillo. “There is overwhelming evidence and educators will attest that investing in quality pre-k can cut special education placements by nearly half through 2nd grade and reduce grade repetition by as much as a third through 8th grade – significantly reducing the costs associated with remediation and special education for school districts.
NWPA campaign co-chairs Nick Scott, Jr. and Ron DiNicola commended the Erie school board for their support of Pre-K for PA.
“Investing in early childhood learning is an investment in Erie’s future,” said co-chair Nick Scott, Jr. “This resolution affirms that the Erie School District recognizes the importance of that and we are thrilled that they are taking a distinct leadership role in advocating for access to quality early learning for all kids.”
“School boards and administrators play a crucial role in influencing legislators in Harrisburg who we are beginning to recognize the building chorus of support for investment in Pre-K, said co-chair Ronald A. DiNicola. “We encourage School Boards across the region to pass similar resolutions.”
Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities.
Pre-K for PA Announces Growing Support for
Pre-K Among Superintendents and School Boards
Expanding Group of “Supers for Pre-K” Reflects Recognition that the Best Possible K-12 Education Begins with High-Quality Pre-K
Philadelphia, PA – While Pennsylvania’s high school seniors are proudly standing with their classmates and teachers this month as they accept their diplomas, superintendents and school boards across the commonwealth are expressing their support for Pre-K for PA’s goal of ensuring access to high-quality pre-k for every 3- and 4-year-old.
Since the campaign launched just a few months ago, more than two dozen of Pennsylvania’s school superintendents signed an open letter calling for investment in high-quality pre-k and seventeen school boards have passed resolutions sending the same message to policymakers in Harrisburg. This growing number of “Supers for Pre-K” are joining the more than340 supporting organizations and 5,500 Pennsylvanians that support Pre-K for PA – and is yet another example of the vast and diverse bipartisan support for this issue.
“Considering all of the benefits of quality early learning opportunities – particularly when it comes to preparation for school – ensuring access to high-quality pre-k for all children should be a state budget policy priority,” said Dr. Natalie Thomas, Superintendent of the School District of Cheltenham Township. “As I see day in and day out, if all children have the same chance to attend a quality early learning program, we can ensure they will be ready for kindergarten, future academic achievement and lifelong success.”
Superintendents see firsthand every day what decades of research supports –that a high-quality K-12 education starts with high-quality pre-k – which greatly increases the likelihood of high school graduation and college enrollment, in turn leading to stronger employment opportunities and increased lifetime earning potential. They also know that enrollment in quality pre-k can cut special education placements by nearly half through 2nd grade and reduce grade repetition by as much as a third through 8th grade – therefore significantly reducing the costs associated with remediation and special education for school districts.
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by 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. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate Phillips: (215) 850-4647
Employees Community Service Fund of GE Commits $30K to Pre-K for PA; Pledges 3,000 Signatures
Pre-K for PA efforts would increase access for middle class families; Supporting organizations line up behind Pre-K for PA effort
ERIE, PA (June 16, 2014) – The Employees Community Service Fund of General Electric, representing the union workforce, today announced its commitment to supporting access to quality early childhood education for all three and four-year-olds in Pennsylvania. In addition to a $30,000 grant to be used to help raise awareness for the importance of quality Pre-K and increase support for expanded access, the member run organization pledged to collect 3,000 signatures to be sent to lawmakers in Harrisburg.
“The goals of this campaign align with our needs of the communities we support and the members who support the fund,” said Rob Celeski, Employee Community Service Fund Chairman. “Advancing access to early childhood education to all families—especially middle class working families—helps to level the playing field and create a more qualified workforce. The forward progress of generations will be supported by the advancement of access to quality learning to all families.”
“More and more studies show that early childhood learning benefits our families and strengthens our communities,” said UE 506 President Scott Duke, whose members committed to collecting 3,000 signatures to support the Pre-K for PA efforts. “Every parent who wants their child to experience the benefits of early childhood learning, should have access to quality programs as part of the public education continuum.”
“At a time when good-paying, family supporting jobs are becoming harder to find access to early childhood education is becoming increasingly valuable to the next generation,” said Pre-K for PA Co-Chair Ronald A. DiNicola. “The employees at GE understand the value of early childhood education and we salute them for recognizing that the time for access for all kids has come.”
“As a business owner employing more than 2,000, I understand the value of a well educated workforce with access to early child hood education helping build a solid foundation for each and every kid,” said Pre-K for PA Co-Chair Nick Scott Jr. “I could not be more proud to stand alongside the team at GE as they pledge their support to Pre-K for all kids and thank them for their continued commitment to enhancing the communities they live in.”
Last week Former Pennsylvania governors, democrat Ed Rendell and republican Mark Schweiker, stopped in Erie to highlight the need for expanded access to high-quality pre-k as a necessary step toward growing Pennsylvania’s economy and building the skilled work force required to attract businesses and create jobs new jobs. The following supporting organizations and individuals have signed on to help advance the goals of the Pre-K for PA campaign:
Employees Community Service Fund of General Electric
United Way of Erie County
Erie Community Foundation
PSEA Northwest Region
Erie Central Labor Council
Erie Regional Chamber of Commerce
PNC Bank
Erie Bank
Erie Together
The Jefferson Society
Former Erie Mayor Joyce Savacchio
Mercyhurst Prep High School President, Mary Ellen Dahlkemper
PSEA Northwest Regional President, Sam Talarico
Iroquois Superintendent, Dr. Shane Murray
Erie School District Superintendent Dr. Jay Badams
Erie School Board member, Bob Casillo
Erie’s Future Fund, Michelle Harkins
Keystone Research Corporation, Joyce Miller, PhD.
Barb’s Care-A-Lot, Barbara Gainer
Penn State Behrend Early Learning Center, Eunice Moore
Early Connections, Nancy Kalista
St. Stephens Episcopal Church Nursery School, Kristen Fisher,
Millcreek School District preschool education Director, Sara Grutkowski
YMCA of Corry Child Care Director Michele Brady
A Child’ World Daycare & Learning Center, Theresa Mitchell
Gertrude Barber Center, Kathy Bastow
County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper
State Senator Sean Wiley
Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott
State Representative Ryan Bizarro
State Representative Flo Fabrizio
State Representative Pat Harkins
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by 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. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities.
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