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Pennsylvania Action Center
Updated August 31, 2010
August 16: Rendell Moves to Close Remaining Budget Gap
While the budget was passed June 30, there still remains a $282 million budget deficit for FY2010-2011 as a result of smaller than expected federal dollars. Governor Rendell has announced a plan that calls for a 1.9% cut in spending across all departments and agenices. At this point, it's unclear what this will mean for specific programs, including Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, and Keystone STARS.
Pennsylvania Budget Approved, Major Cuts to Early Learning Avoided
On June 30, after negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders, the Pennsylvania General Assembly agreed to and passed the FY2010-11 budget.
The final state budget includes the following for early learning programs:
- Child Care Services (which includes funding for Child Care Works, Keystone STARS and T.E.A.C.H.) - Funding maintained at FY2009-2010 levels. (And, thanks to the investment by Congress in the Recovery Act, even more can be done for child care in the state.)
- Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts - Funding cut by $1.172 million (1.4%) from FY 2009-2010 levels.
- Head Start Supplemental - Funding cut by $1.096 million (2.8%) from FY2009-2010 levels.
Given the large budget deficit and fiscal pressures faced by the state going into negotiations, early learning faired significantly well, especially compared with many other programs and departments that saw spending decreases of over 10%.
Thank you to all those who took action and told the Legislature why it was important to invest in these vital programs!
Pennsylvania's Early Learning Programs Promote School Readiness, New Data Shows
Newly released 2009-2010 child outcomes data shows that Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS, and the Head Start Supplemental help to promote school readiness and parepare childhood for the classroom. Children who attended these programs are much more likely to have age-appropriate or emerging age-appropriate proficiency in literacy, numeracy, and social skills then their peers. These programs also promote and increase access to high-quality early learning programs.
Hundreds Come to the Capitol to Rally for Early Learning Programs
On June 8, hundreds of advocates from around the state came to Harrisburg to meet with their legislators and to show their support for critical investments in early learning programs for Pennsylvania Early Childhood Action Day.
In addition to legislative visits, the day featured a graduation for T.E.A.C.H. scholarship recipients and rally at the Capitol rotunda in which a number of state representatives and senators participated and reiterated their commitment to Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, Keystone Stars, and Head Start. Mark Kehoe, CEO of Brightside Academy and member of the Early Care and Education Consortium, also spoke at the event.
FY2009-2010 Budget
In October, three months overdue and with no payments made to providers in the meantime, the FY2009-2010 state budget was signed by Governor Rendell. The compromise state budget plan will maintain funding for Child Care Works, Keystone Stars, PA Pre-K Counts, and several other early learning programs.
ECEC and Pennsylvania Child Care Association members contributed to a video message to the Legislature during the budget stalemate. Check out the video here.
In the News
Pennsylvania group places focus on early childhood education. The Patriot News. August 31, 2010.
Rendell moves to close state budget deficit. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 19, 2010.
Funding preschool programs now will pay dividends later. The Morning Call (Allentown). July 7, 2010.
Pennsylvania Passes On-Time Budget for First Time in 8 Years. The Bulletin (Philadelphia). June 30, 2010.
Op-Ed: Give kids a head-start. The Centre Daily. May 28, 2010.
Erie business leaders urged to invest in early childhood education. Erie Times-News. May 28, 2010.
Parents ask Pre-K program be continued. Greene County Messenger. May 28, 2010.
Your view: Why Erie needs early childhood education. Erie-Times News. May 26, 2010.
Poll: Early-childhood education has wide support in Pa. Philadelphia Daily News. February 17, 2010.
Pennsylvania Voters Support State-Funded Early Childhood Education. Press Release, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children. February 16, 2010.
State budget impasse: Some child care centers in Berks shut; others on brink of closing. Reading Eagle. October 8, 2009.
Eight day care centers cite loss of subsidies as reason for their closings. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. October 7, 2009.
Pennsylvania budget bills anticipated within week. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. September 29, 2009.
Child Care Providers Want to Know How Long They Must Wait! Pennsylvania Child Care Association. August 28, 2009.
Daycare In Jeopardy For Working Families. KDKA-TV (Pittsburgh, PA). August 18, 2009.
State budget impasse putting pinch on children's programs. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 18, 2009.
Day care operators 'dangling by a thread' without Pa. funding. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 14, 2009.
State budget impasse impedes child care. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. August 14, 2009.
Day care providers forced to make difficult decisions to survive during budget impasse. The Patriot-News. August 13, 2009.
Impasse could end day care for many children. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. August 12, 2009.
Rendell vetoes leave some state agencies in limbo. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 6, 2009.
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