OPINION PAGES
PennLive: Oped: Get this Done – Pre-K for PA
Few issues in Pennsylvania have united Republicans and Democrats over the years like the prospect of ensuring that our youngest learners are ready to succeed through high-quality pre-k programs like Pre-K Counts and Head Start. In fact, a September 2023 Susquehanna Polling and Research poll showed that 94% of PA voters believe that early learning is important, and 71% support increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-K programs.
Northeast Times: Op-Ed: Teaching Our Youngest Children Deserves a Living Wage
We are educators, who help young children develop cognitively, physically, emotionally and academically – with benefits to themselves and society that last as long as they live. We are qualified and we do quality work. We deserve to be able to make a decent, living wage doing it.
The Daily Item: Editorial: Funding Early Childhood Education is Always Money Well Spent
New analysis from the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children presents a lot of the same conclusions and data stakeholders have long known about the impact of funding early childhood education. Essentially, you can never go wrong putting money into programs that boost high-quality programs and make them more accessible to more people.
Opinion: Pa. must increase its commitment to pre-K education
As the new school year begins, I feel hopeful and energized. This year, we are able to open more Pre-K Counts classrooms serving an additional 38 full-time and 21 part-time students thanks to funding provided in the 2022-23 Pennsylvania state budget. That’s 59 more children who will be leaving Children of Joy Christian Academy ready to begin kindergarten next year.
Letter to the Editor: Pa. budget gets it right on Pre-K funding, but more must be done to avert crisis
If child care and Pre-K providers continue struggling to recruit and retain staff to keep classrooms open, more families are going to suffer. We need to continue investing in our early care and education system, paying teachers and providers adequately and ensuring that all kids have access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Pottstown Mercury: Guest Column: Pre-K Counts Continues to Make a Difference
The investment that Pennsylvania has already made into publicly funded pre-k is making an impact on the children who participate in high-quality pre-k programs. I personally got to see this happen in our PEAK classrooms over the years as superintendent. This investment in young children is one of the most important the commonwealth can make.
northcentralpa.com: LTE: Is there a crisis in childcare?
Healthcare access, educational inequities, and racial disparities are issues that are not new to the United States, but COVID-19 has certainly brought new attention to these issues and others and forced the nonprofit community to speak out and advocate for systemic change.
Morning Call: LTE: Early education still a priority
My son started preschool this week. I know I’m not alone with all of my questions and anxieties, as I send him each day.
Pocono Record: LTE: Pennsylvania Needs to Invest in Pre-K Programs
In our community alone, there are nearly 3,000 children ages 3-4 that are income eligible for Pre-K classrooms, but only 584 children are served. We need a much stronger commitment to ensure every child has the opportunity to be ready for success entering kindergarten and throughout their educational journey!
Lehigh Valley Live: LTE: Child care providers getting some financial help in PA
The stimulus bill passed on May 28 by the Pennsylvania Legislature showed that our elected officials can work together. I am so thankful that the bill includes $116 million for child careand also money for pre-k and Head Start.
