PRESS RELEASES & ADVISORIES
New Survey: Historic Staffing Shortage Eliminates At Least 30,000 Early Care and Education Slots; Over 38,000 Children Sit on Waiting Lists – Low Wages to Blame
Partners of the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA advocacy campaigns released new survey results detailing the historic staffing crisis in the early care and education sector that continues to contract the capacity of child care, Pre-K Counts and Head Start State Supplemental programs. Advocates are calling on Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly to increase investment in early care and education programs using recurring funds as part of the 2023-2024 state budget.
It’s Unanimous! 98% of PA Voters Believe Early Childhood Education is Important
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Carolyn Myers(Childhood Begins at Home & Thriving PA)cmyers@papartnerships.org717-756-8992 (mobile) Kate Philips(Pre-K For PA)philips@parkerphilips.com 215-850-4647 (mobile) Jodi Askins(Start Strong...
Pre-K Kids Join Governor Wolf, First Lady Frances Wolf at Tree-Lighting Ceremony
The Pre-K for PA campaign joined Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf 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 Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, Carbon County was decorated by pre-k students from all corners of the commonwealth who crafted hundreds of original ornaments.
Leaders Celebrate New Pre-K Counts Classroom
Local, state and federal government leaders visited a new Pre-K Counts expansion classroom at Amazing Kidz Academy LLC in Philadelphia today. Officials visited with students and participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate state funding increases for early care and education and the Amazing Kidz Academy LLC acquisition of the real estate comprising of 3 buildings, where they opened their first child care center, in Oxford Circle. Participants included Mayor Jim Kenney, State Senators Christine Tartaglione and Sharif Street, State Representatives Jason Dawkins and Danilo Burgos, City Councilmember Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, and students, teachers and administrators at Amazing Kidz Academy LLC.
Local Leaders Celebrate New Pre-K Counts Classroom
Somerset County Commissioners and other local leaders visited a new Head Start expansion classroom at the Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District. The Commissioners were joined by Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District and Tableland Services officials, as well as Head Start students to mark the new classrooms with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
State Leaders & Families Celebrate New Pre-K Counts Classroom
Pennsylvania State Senator Camera Bartolotta and staff from Representative Tim O’Neal’s office joined Blueprints for a visit to the new Pre-K Counts expansion classroom in the Frank Sarris Public Library. They were joined by the CEO of Blueprints, Darlene Bigler, the Executive Director of the library, Peggy Tseng, and Vice Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, Marsha Blanco, staff from Blueprints, WQED, and Trying Together, and pre-k students and families to mark the new classroom with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Children’s Center Welcomes Governor Wolf and Local Leaders
Pre-K Counts provider The Children’s Center/Volunteers of America welcomed Governor Tom Wolf and local leaders today to mark the $79 million pre-k expansion included in the final 2022–23 Pennsylvania budget.
2022-23 State Budget: Growth for Pre-k, Child Care and Home Visitation
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 the final 2022-23 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.
Child Development Centers Welcomes State Senator Dan Laughlin and Local Officials to New Downtown Site
Head Start and Keystone STAR 4 child care provider Child Development Centers, Inc. welcomed PA State Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49), Erie County First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Reger and Nick Scott, Vice President, Scott Enterprises, today for a tour and conversation at its new Downtown location at 121 East 10th Street in Erie.
Early Care and Education in Governor Wolf’s 2022-23 State Budget Proposal
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 Governor Tom Wolf’s 2022-23 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.
