Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania: A Golden Opportunity

1. Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania: A Golden Opportunity

2. Early Childhood Education • The state of school readiness in Pennsylvania • Early years are prime time for learning • Enriching experiences spark brain to develop learning capabilities • Critical to literacy and numeracy • Child’s future depends on today’s learning opportunities • BUT . . . Pennsylvania is one of nine states without a prekindergarten investment

3. Early Childhood Education • Early childhood education: Three components to build learning foundation • Prekindergarten • Full-day kindergarten • Small class sizes in early elementary years • Continuum to enhance education achievement and accountability • Proven results from proven efforts

4. Early Childhood Education • Early childhood education assures accountability by helping children: • Develop their minds in their first years • Get better test scores and grades in school • Graduate from high school • Avoid trouble as teens • Mature into better citizens, with desirable job skills

5. Early Childhood Education • Early childhood education yields value for the education dollar • At least $2 saved for every $1 invested • Fewer special education and remediation referrals (RAND Corp.) • Most conservative estimate • Other studies show a return on investment ranging from $4 saved for $1 invested, to $7 to $1

6. Early Childhood Education • Early childhood education is used by stay-at-home moms and two-income families Source: W. Steven Barnett, National Institute for Early Education Research (www.nieer.org)

7. Early Childhood Education • The Pennsylvania picture • PA is one of 9 states without pre-K funding • 153,000 4-year-olds • Head Start serves half of 58,000 eligible kids • 2,550 children in K-4, in 35 districts • Districts can use state funds but get no additional funds for K-4 • 32,000 children in private nursery schools • Child care: Part of pre-K delivery system • Quality not integral to state oversight

8. Early Childhood Education • PA funds half-day kindergarten, with no extra funds for full-day K • Only one kindergartner in three in full-day program • 25 states offer direct funding • Small class sizes in the early grades • Pennsylvania has no class-size policies • Large classes a problem: 20% of elementary students in highest-poverty districts in classes of 30 or more • Education Week: D- grade for equity

9. Early Childhood Education • 2002 poll: Voters stand behind a kids-focused legislative agenda, and three-quarters support policy proposals for the well-being of Pennsylvania’s children

10. Early Childhood Education • Federal No Child Left Behind Act • PA schools must achieve 100% reading and math proficiency by 2014 • 43% of fifth graders below proficient in reading • 47% of fifth graders below proficient in math

11. Early Childhood Education • Quality pre-K: The great leveler • Study of the Early Childhood Initiative, Allegheny County’s quality preschool effort for at-risk children • School readiness: 86 percent of children started at high risk of falling behind but improved rapidly • Fewer grade retentions: Only 2% held back a grade – in districts averaging 23% retention rates • Less need for special education: 1% referred to special education, compared to 21% district average • Better behavioral and social skills

12. Early Childhood Education • Pre-K: Principles for proven benefits • Voluntary parent involvement & choice • Keystone of governor’s proposal • Parent education, and health and other social services • Connections to community services required • Governor would create Family Resource Networks in the poorest districts • Diverse array of settings • Licensed child care, Head Start, and licensed nursery schools in governor’s proposal

13. Early Childhood Education • Consider needs of families • Coordinate for full-day, full-year services • Highly competent professionals • Teachers with bachelor’s degrees • Department of Education oversight • Interagency coordination • School districts as fiscal managers, with local planning • Local planning panels of diverse community leaders, including child care, education, pre-K, faith • 65% and 75% community participation, NJ and NY • Primarily state-funded

14. Early Childhood Education • Full-day kindergarten • Full-day funding for a full day of kindergarten • Governor’s plan: All districts • Small class sizes • Voluntarily reduce to average of 17 students per kindergarten through third-grade class • All districts

15. Early Childhood Education • Strategizing for prekindergarten • Key piece of education reform • Cost-effective investment in accountability and achievement • Longstanding legislative support • Most legislative leaders and many members represent districts that benefit

16. Early Childhood Education • Key messages for ECE • Kids who start school behind, stay behind. • When kids do better in school, schools do better. • PA remains one of nine states that fail to invest in prekindergarten. • This is our chance to do more than change the way we pay for education. We can give children the keys to school success. • Pennsylvanians future economic vitality depends on its ability to produce a capable, skilled workforce – something that quality early childhood education can assure.

17. Early Childhood Education • What can you do? • Contact your state Senator and Representative • Express support for early childhood education funding • Ask legislators to tell their leaders to support early childhood education • Keep up the pressure!