PathWays PA Policy Blog

From our friends at PCCY Next week, on Tuesday June 3rd, hundreds of advocates for early childhood education -- staff, teachers, program directors, parents, early intervention workers, and more -- will stream to the state Capitol in Harrisburg for an annual day of advocacy. In the morning there will be information sessions and you'll visit your state representative and/or state senator with other advocates; at 2 PM there will be a rally in the Capitol Rotunda. Click here for more information on the day. So PCCY can match participants with legislative visits, please register here! At least three buses are scheduled to leave from the Southeast. To reserve a seat on a bus, you must fill out and return this form.

Lucian Perkins: A Future for homeless children from Facing Change on Vimeo . (h/t to our friends at PEC ) Every year, over 6,000 PA infants from 0-3 years old are classified as homeless. Senator Chuck McIlhinney has recently proposed legislation that would help these children be tracked by Early Intervention Services with the goal of ensuring that these children can be screened and monitored for developmental delays, emotional and behavioral problems, and other issues that may affect them negatively throughout their lives. If you support this issue, please call your Senators today and share your support. There is information below that can help you make your case. I urge you to become a cosponsor of legislation being offered by Sen. Charles McIlhinney that immediately makes homeless infants and toddlers (age birth to 3) eligible for identification and tracking in Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention system. The bill will help prevent youngsters from falling through system’s c...

From our Friends at PCCY The General Assembly and governor have less than two months to agree on a budget by the June 30 deadline. It is critical we make our voices heard to protect and increase investments in early care and education. It is important for state legislators to hear from you now in support of increased early learning investments.  Click here to send a message to your state legislators in support of additional funding for early learning programs in the state budget. PathWays PA works closely with PCCY on early childhood education initiatives and policies.

From our friends at MomsRising The Strong Start for America's Children Act would increase access to affordable, high-quality preschool and early learning and child care programs for children under age 5 through state and federal partnerships. Your help is needed to ask Senators co-sponsor the Strong Start for America's Children Act to make early childhood education a priority. It's time for the Strong Start for America's Children Act. Senators need to hear from voters like you today . PathWays PA partners with MomsRising and other organizations to educate elected officials on the need for early childhood investment.

From our friends at the Pre K for PA Campaign  The Pre K for PA campaign will be holding an event on February 26 from 7:00PM-8:30PM at Upper Darby High School located at: 8201 Lansdowne Ave in Lansdowne, PA. The event will provide information on the Pre K for PA campaign and explore easy ways everyone can make sure elected officials make early learning a priority. The campaign is advocating for all children to have access to free, quality Pre-K. Children with access to high-qaulity Pre-K programs arrive in kindergarten ready to learn and are more likely to advance grades and have improved social skills.

From our friends at Maternity Care Coalition MCC will host a twitter chat this afternoon on Early Childhood Education for all (Immigrant and Non-Immigrant) South Philadelphia Babies and Infants using #SPhillyBabies @MccPolicy . Sample tweets can be seen here. For more information contact Koyuki Yip, kyip@maternitycarecoalition.org , 215.989.3563.

20% of the child care subsidy funding has been cut over the last two years. Without additional funding, thousands of low-income parents have no opportunity to afford adequate child care. Currently, the waiting list for subsidized child care is at more than 8,000 children waiting eight months or more. The full increase in funding would reduce the waiting list for quality child care by 1,400 children.  Additional funds will also ensure more at-risk children can participate in high-quality child care programs through Keystone STARS. Currently, only 20% of children in subsidized child care attend the highest quality STAR 3 and 4 provider. The Senate will take up the budget this week. Ask them to restore $3 million to the child care services appropriation.

This year the Governor proposed a small budget increase for Pre-K and Head Start, and an even smaller one for subsidized child care. We know these increases aren't nearly enough to meet the needs of young children and families in this region. Nevertheless, the legislature is poised to act on the state budget in the next few weeks. Unfortunately state revenues are tight so some legislators are considering cutting the modest increases for child care and other early learning programs so they can balance the budget. Click here to urge your legislators to voter against any cuts to early childhood programs.

Your legislators need to hear from you about the importance of investing in quality early childhood education and afterschool programs! Come tell your story about: The CHILDREN and the difference that a quality early education and afterschool programs make in their lives.  The TEACHERS, STAFF and the critical role their skills and expertise play in a quality program.  The CHALLENGES (subsidy waiting lists, health insurance, staff turnover, unmet needs of Keystone STARS, and Pre-K Counts).  The SUCCESSES that investing in quality produces (early brain development, school readiness, family economic success, connections to community, and saving in future social service costs). Register here no later than Wednesday . If you have any questions, please contact Suzann Morris at suzann@dvaeyc.org or (215) 893-0130.

SPECIAL EVENT: DELAWARE COUNTY HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP Invites you to attend the Third Annual Partnership Celebration Date: Thursday May 19, 2011 Time: Networking 8am            Program 8:30-10:30am Location: Drexelbrook Corporate Events Center     4700 Drexelbrook Drive     Drexel Hill, PA 19026 Join us as we recognize workers' achievements, honor the contributions of employers and the dedication of our educators and award our second annual scholarships for continuing education. To RSVP for this event, contact Ann DelCollo at 610-543-5022 x221 or adelcollo@pathwayspa.org We would like to thank the following organizations for their support: Delaware County Office of Employment and Training Department of Labor & Industry Job Opportunity Investment Network PA Fund for Workforce Solutions State Policy Updates AFTERSCHOOL FOR ALL...