MEDIA REPORTS

A coalition of advocates on Tuesday asked state lawmakers to authorize more than $100 million in stimulus aid for the state’s ailing childcare sector, which they say could collapse as the COVID pandemic disrupts business and employment across the Commonwealth. 

In a report released Tuesday, the campaign says that Pennsylvania ranks 19th out of 28 states that provide high-quality, publicly-funded prekindergarten when it comes to how much money the states provide per student. The $966 per capita spending in Pennsylvania is less than a third of what the top state, New Jersey, spends.

An 18-foot Douglas fir from Carbon County decorated with more than 900 LED lights and 1,600 handmade ornaments adorns the Capitol Rotunda after Monday’s tree-lighting ceremony.

A strong economy, coupled with a rising number of ineligible Pennsylvanians, has contributed to all-time lows in the number of people enlisting in the military, a new report revealed.

A report released Tuesday details how the majority of today’s youth are not qualified to service in the military. Retired generals and admirals with Mission Readiness, joined by Governor Tom Wolf, and several lawmakers unveiled their ‘Workforce Readiness – The National Security Threat from Within’ report.

Retired military officers joined the governor Tuesday to call for increased early childhood education spending and fairer school funding to help increase the number of high school students capable of meeting the requirements to join the Armed Services.

A group of retired military leaders says too many young Pennsylvanians don’t meet standard eligibility requirements for serving in the armed forces, and the country’s “thriving economy” makes the recruiting challenge even more difficult.

With help from a boost in state funding, what used to be empty space at the Learning Station is now home to a classroom for 3- and 4-year-olds who receive what director Lynda Mussi calls an “authentic” and high-quality early educational experience.

A new full-day pre-kindergarten classroom in Hempfield was cause for celebration Thursday, but the celebration was muted because of the ongoing unmet need in Westmoreland County.Leaders of Westmoreland Community Action Head Start met with area lawmakers to officially open the classroom and to advocate for more funding for pre-K classrooms in the 2020-21 state budget.

Extending access to pre-kindergarten education access in Interboro School District was lauded by early-education advocates and state lawmakers Wednesday morning.