NEWS ROOM
Pre-K Students Join Gov. Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Davis at Tree-Lighting Ceremony
The Pre-K for PA campaign joined Governor Shapiro at the Pennsylvania Capitol tree lighting ceremony to mark the official start of the holiday season today. The 20-foot Douglas Fir Christmas tree from Crystal Springs Tree Farm in Lehighton, Carbon County, was decorated by pre-k students from all corners of the commonwealth who crafted hundreds of original ornaments.
State Budget Fails to Significantly Invest in Early Care and Education Amid Historic Labor Shortage
Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding House Bill 611 that still awaits the signature of the Senate President Pro Tempore and finally Governor Shapiro to become the enacted 2023-24 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.
York Dispatch: Editorial: More Pre-k Funds Needed
An additional $25 million in funding was added to the state budget this year for early childhood education — $20 million going to PA Pre-K Counts programs and $5 million to Head Start Supplemental.
That’s a good start, but experts say much more is needed to reach all of Pennsylvania’s eligible children.
Sunbury Daily Item: Op-ed: Pre-k changes lives, saves millions of dollars
If we can instill positive values in children through early childhood education, that is a huge step forward. It’s a way to break the cycle that brings inmates here, because generations of problems tend to create generations of more problems
Unionville Times: LTE: Childcare Centers Will Need Help to Reopen Safely
Our number one priority has always been to keep the children, families, and teachers safe and that is even more in the forefront during these times. We are dedicated to serving our community, but really need support from the state and federal government to do this. Without a safe, high quality Early Learning Center for children to attend, there will be no true economic recovery.
University City Review: OpEd: Early childhood providers navigate this crisis
The extended closure of early childhood centers is pushing many centers out of business forever, and those of us who manage to weather this closure with the help of donations, the Paycheck protection program, or state support, are afraid that the cost of reopening with new requirements and decreased enrollment will put us out of business. If we manage to get through this extended closure, we also know that we will need support, innovation, and a whole new way of working to reopen again. As we watch the changing CDC guidelines for childcare centers open right now and listen to our peers operating to serve the essential workforce, it is very clear that reopening will be another crisis for us to navigate.
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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WBRE: Pennsylvania voters believe early childhood education is important; coalition poll
Pennsylvania voters believe early childhood education is important; coalition poll
Penn-Capital Star: Ahead of Pa. Gov. Shapiro’s first budget, advocates stress support, funding for early childhood programs
With Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget address now just two weeks away, advocates and lawmakers pressed the case Tuesday for increased state support for early childhood programs, buttressing their arguments with new polling data showing widespread public support for such efforts.