PRESS RELEASES & ADVISORIES
State Representative Michael Schlossberg and State Representative Peter Schweyer Tour Luv N Hugs Learning Center
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign partner the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children hosted a virtual classroom tour at Luv N Hugs Learning Center in Allentown today describing the challenges COVID-19 has caused the child care industry. State Representative Michael Schlossberg and State Representative Peter Schweyer participated in the tour and discussion.
Representative Jordan Harris Tours Gray’s Ferry Learning Academy, Care-A-Lot Learning Center and Brightside Academy
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign partner First Up hosted virtual classroom tours at Gray’s Ferry Learning Academy, Care-A-Lot Learning Center and Brightside Academy in Philadelphia today describing the challenges COVID-19 has caused the child care industry. Senator Anthony Williams staff and Representative Jordan Harris both participated in the tour and discussion.
Senator Camera Bartolotta and Representative Tim O’Neal Tour The Village of FPC
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign partner Trying Together hosted a virtual classroom tour at The Village of FPC in California, PA today describing the challenges COVID-19 has caused the child care industry. Senator Camera Bartolotta and Representative Tim O’Neal participated in the tour and discussion.
Senator Anthony Williams and Representative Joanna McClinton Tour KenCrest West Early Learning Center
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign partner First Up hosted a virtual classroom tour at KenCrest West Early Learning Center in Philadelphia today describing the challenges COVID-19 has caused the child care industry. Senator Anthony Williams and Representative Joanna McClinton both participated in the tour and discussion.
House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander and Clarion County District Attorney Drew Welsh Tour Keystone Smiles Child Learning Center
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign partner the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children hosted a virtual classroom tour at Keystone Smiles Child Learning Center in Knox, PA today describing the challenges COVID-19 has caused the child care industry. House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander and Clarion County District Attorney, Drew Welsh both participated in the tour and discussion.
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody Tours Riverview Children’s Center
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign partner Trying Together hosted a virtual classroom tour at Riverview Children’s Center in Verona, PA today describing the challenges COVID-19 has caused the child care industry. House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody participated in the tour and discussion.
PA Stimulus Deal Saves Early Learning as Working Families Prepare to Get Back to Work
The economic stimulus bill that authorizes the spending of most of the $3.9 billion in federal CARES Act funding includes $125 million in economic relief for the Commonwealth’s early learning sector, which will be critical in supporting Pennsylvania families returning to work.
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.
Pennsylvania’s Working Families Need Greater Investment in Early Learning Services
The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, are calling on the General Assembly to go beyond Governor Wolf’s budget proposal and prioritize greater state investments in high-quality pre-k, child care and evidence-based home visiting services to help Pennsylvania’s working families. ELPA operates three issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, and Childhood Begins at Home. Reaction statements from these respective campaigns regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposal follow.
