NEWS ROOM
Passage of Stopgap Budget Demands Immediate, Robust Economic Stimulus to Preserve Capacity of Early Learning Sector
The anticipated five-month stopgap state budget will preserve Pennsylvania’s current investment in publicly-funded, early learning programs. Under the proposed agreement, PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start State Supplemental, and state funding for child care and evidence-based home visiting services will remain level funded for at least the first five months of the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Pennsylvania’s Child Care System in Urgent Need of Stimulus to Prevent Collapse
Principal partners of the Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA advocacy campaigns called for swift action by PA policymakers to save the state’s child care system. Advocates touted a recent survey by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association showing that of the 605 child care providers responding (serving more than 44,000 children across the Commonwealth), nearly one-third indicated that they would not be able to reopen if the state mandated closure lasts for longer than one month.
Post-Gazette: Mission: Pre-K: More state support for early education is vital
Early-childhood education is so important that even retired admirals and generals are fighting for it.
Delaware County Daily Times: Guest Column: Why boosting pre-K spending is a good investment
In our work in pediatric medicine at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center, we see first-hand how challenges in a child’s growth and development — if left unaddressed — can limit opportunities, including the opportunity to learn. That’s why we want to see Pennsylvania invest more in high-quality pre-K programs in the state budget.
Trib Live: LTE: In Praise of Pre-k
This is not just an investment in the future; it is an investment in our children.
Citizens Voice: Letter to the Editor: We Need to Better Prepare Our Children
Pennsylvania must adequately invest in pre-K and in all of our public schools, preparing our next generation for the day they are contributing to our economy and, if they choose, serving with pride in the U.S. military.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kate Philips
215-850-4647
kphilips@prekforpa.org
EARLY EDUCATION EXPERTS
If you are a reporter looking for comment or background from one of our early education experts, please Kate Philips at kphilips@prekforpa.org.
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WHYY: Child care centers in Pa.: bellwether for how tricky it will be to fully reopen economy
“Child care is a business, like all of the others that are struggling through this crisis,” said Jen DeBell, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children. “But this business is the one that everyone else relies upon, to make sure families can work.”
Post-Gazette: Expect more cleaning, temperature-taking, and some masks when child care centers reopen
Closed child care centers will be able to reopen Friday, when the region moves from “red” into the “yellow” partial reopening phase of pandemic mitigation.
Whether they all will choose to reopen, or have enough youngsters to reopen, is another matter.