HARRISBURG, PA (November 12, 2025) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, applauded the 2025-26 state budget’s focus on children and early education workforce investments, vital commitments finalized after prolonged negotiations.
Investments that will stabilize and reverse the exodus of early educators will directly benefit tens of thousands of teachers and other professional staff and help provider businesses remain open. Additionally, these investments will help reverse the billions of dollars in lost productivity and earnings suffered by working families and employers when families don’t have the care they need.
The partners of ELPA issued the following statements regarding the 2025-26 state budget. ELPA operates issue-based advocacy campaigns including: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, and Thriving PA.
Budget establishes new initiative to address PA’s child care teacher crisis
“Start Strong PA celebrates the Shapiro Administration and General Assembly for the establishment of a new child care teacher recruitment and retention program that will help keep teachers in the classroom so that working families have access to the care they need.
“The $25 million recurring investment will benefit the teachers and other para-professionals that are directly responsible for the care of children in licensed child care programs throughout the commonwealth participating in the child care subsidy program.
“With this investment, Pennsylvania is joining 18 other states that are directly investing in teacher recruitment and retention efforts to keep child care classrooms open for the benefit of working parents and the economy at large.
“Recent estimates show that gaps in Pennsylvania’s child care system cost working families, employers, and taxpayers a staggering $6.65 billion annually — in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue.
“A September 2024 survey of 1,140 child care providers, representing 17 percent of providers, from across Pennsylvania, showed that 92% of child care programs reported challenges in recruiting staff with 85% struggling with teacher shortages leaving more than 3,000 unfilled positions statewide, thereby – eliminating child care for more than 25,000 Pennsylvania children.
“With a net loss of 590 licensed child care programs over the past five years, Start Strong PA looks forward to working with Pennsylvania lawmakers to ensure the Commonwealth focuses on building on this investment so we can more fully address the child care staffing crisis and its impact on working families and employers.”
State budget boosts Pre-K Counts rates to tackle ongoing teacher shortage; further support needed for Head Start
“Pre-K for PA commends the Shapiro Administration and General Assembly for taking meaningful action to address the historic teacher staffing shortage in the Pre-K Counts program. The 2025-26 state budget provides $9.5 million in new state funding to help stabilize early learning providers by increasing per child rates– an important measure to counter rising costs and staffing challenges driven by low wages.
“In recent years, opportunities for higher salaries in K–12 education and other sectors have made it increasingly difficult for Pre-K Counts providers to retain qualified teachers, forcing some programs to reduce enrollment or close classrooms. This new investment represents a critical step forward in ensuring that state-funded pre-kindergarten programs remain strong, sustainable, and accessible for Pennsylvania’s youngest learners.
“However, we are disappointed that the final budget fails to offer support for the commonwealth’s Head Start Supplemental programs that are facing similar staffing challenges. While the passage of a state budget will send delayed payments to Pennsylvania’s Head Start programs, we should be investing additional dollars to expand this lifeline for children and families.
“Mitigating teacher shortages in Pennsylvania’s publicly funded pre-k programs is a necessary first step in ensuring that all children have access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Currently, 78,000 three- and four-year-olds in the commonwealth are eligible but do not have access to high-quality pre-k programs.”
Enacted budget also recognizes significant workforce challenges in Early Intervention
“We are also pleased that the final budget includes a total increase of $41.7 million for Early Intervention services. Specifically, $13.2 million of the increase is allocated for the Part C (Infants and Toddlers) program in the Department of Human Services budget, with $10 million of these funds directed to increase provider rates to address key challenges in the sector including workforce shortages. The remainder of the combined increase provides an additional $28.5 million for the Part B (age three to five) program in the Department of Education budget. Early Intervention is a critical component of the early care and education system, as all children from birth through age five with developmental delays, regardless of family income level, must be identified, referred to, and provided necessary services to help them and their families reach their fullest potential. These programs show significant increases in the number of children needing these critical services each year.
2025-2026 PA State Budget Includes:
- $25 million in additional funding for child care ($25 million in the new Child Care Recruitment and Retention line with level funding in the Child Care Services and Child Care Assistance line items).
- $9.5 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program.
- Level funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
- $13.2 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS, with $10 million of these funds allocated for a rate increase for providers.
- $28.5 million increase for the Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) program through PDE.
- Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and a small reduction in the Nurse-Family Partnership line due to a change in federal matching rates.
