Posted: | April 21, 2014 03:25 PM |
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From: | Senator Patrick M. Browne |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | PA Month of the Young Child |
I will soon introduce a resolution designating the month of April 2014 as “Pennsylvania's Month of the Young Child.” Forty years of research shows that children receiving high-quality early education are more likely to be prepared for and do better in school, graduate high school, attend college or job training, and have higher earnings. High-quality early learning saves taxpayer money by reducing the need for special education and remedial instruction, and it decreases drop-out rates, crime, and incarceration. Unfortunately, there is still unmet need with only 1 in 6 children able to access high-quality, publicly funded pre-k and only 4.8 percent of child care slots for children from birth to age 4 being in the highest quality STAR 4 or accredited programs. By declaring April as Pennsylvania’s Month of the Young Child, I hope to educate the public, and policymakers, on the importance of quality early learning to our children’s school readiness and future achievement. I would particularly encourage all members of the Early Childhood Education Caucus to add your name to the Resolution. |
Introduced as SR371