A new report, “Pre-K Works, So Why Not PA?“, released by Pre-K for PA principal partner organization Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children shows that PA ranks 18th out of the 30 states that make public investments in high-quality, publicly funded pre-k, despite having increased its per capita investment by $30 million for the current fiscal year.
Neighboring New York invests $812 million in state funding for publicly funded pre-k annually compared to Pennsylvania’s $226.4 million – we’re falling behind. We are behind West Virginia, Georgia and Oklahoma, all of which offer pre-k to every 4-year-old child. And, we’re late to the game. West Virginia launched its pre-k program in 1983 and made it universal in 2012; Pre-K Counts in PA didn’t begin until 2007.
Right now, 106,200 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds in the commonwealth start kindergarten behind their peers who were given the opportunity to attend a high-quality pre-k classroom.
Our neighbors are making high-quality pre-k a priority, so Why Not PA?
“Why Not PA” in the News
> WJET: PA ranks 18th out of 30 states in funding pre-k programs
> York Dispatch: York-area business leaders urge candidates to support pre-K push
> Bucks County Herald: Schweiker, Rendell visit Bucks to advocate for state pre-K education funding
> Reading Eagle: Ed Rendell, Mark Schweiker push pre-K programs
> Scranton Times-Tribune: Scranton-area leaders push for greater funding for pre-K
2018 is a big election year in Pennsylvania. It’s more important than ever to ensure that candidates prioritize pre-k. Check out our Election Center to see how you can help!
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Pre-K for PA’s work is possible only through generous contributions from the 1675 Foundation, The Donley Foundation, GE Employees Community Service Fund, The Heinz Endowments, The Lenfest Foundation, The Philadelphia Foundation, Samuel S. Fels Fund, and William Penn Foundation.