What's New? Follow the links below to find out the latest that's happening at PennAEYC and in your community...
CUTS TO CHILD CARE THREATEN ACCESS AND QUALITY
The
Senate budget (SB 1466) supported quality early learning programs by making
funding restorations to Pre-K Counts, Head Start and some of the Accountability
Block Grant.However, it included $8.7
million in additional cuts to Child Care beyond the $24.15 million in
reductions in Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed FY 12-13 budget. Child care could
lose nearly $33 million.
What
Does this Mean?
$8.7 million in cuts target the heart
of Keystone STARS
- Infrastructure and administration of
STARS at a regional level
- Professional development for teachers
- Technical Assistance to programs to
help them move up the quality ladder including specialized supports like early
childhood mental health consultation
$24.15 million in cuts to Child Care
Works- Longer waiting lists and increased
waits for low income working families
- Fewer subsidized children to fill
slots in programs jeopardizing your program’s participation in Keystone STARS
--- if there is a Keystone STARS program!
SB 1501 T.E.AC.H. Scholarship Bill- Funding cuts jeopardize chances of
restoring T.E.A.C.H.
Where
Are We Now?
The
budget passed by the Senate now moves to the House for their consideration.
It’s not too late! House members can help us restore cuts to Child Care Works
and Keystone STARS.
What
Can You Do?
- Download the template (PDF or Word document) to tell your House members why quality child care is important to
you, your staff, your families, and children. How has your program used their
Keystone STARS award?
- Have families share their stories,
have staff share stories, have children draw pictures of themselves, their
friends, their classrooms.
- Send your pictures to your House
members
- Go to www.legis.state.pa.us and in the
top right hand corner click on “Find members by address”
- Enter your program’s or parent’s
address and click “go”
- Both the House and Senate members will be displayed. Click
on the member to display his/her contact information.
A RECAP OF THE 2012 LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC POLICY FORUM
Renowned
advocate, and President and Founder of the CAYL Instritute, Valora
Washington was the Keynote speaker at the 2012 PA Early Childhood
Leadership and Public Policy Forum. Check out out pictures from the event and stay tuned for information on the 2013 Forum!
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ACTION DAY
2012 ECE Action Day took place on May 1, 2012. With more than 500 people from all over Pennsylvania visiting legislators, Action Day participants delivered the message to our elected officials to not leave children behind in the 2012-2013 state budget. Check out the Action Day page for pictures from the big day, and stay tuned for more ways you can communicate to your elected official.
BEST INITIATIVE TAKES OFF
Learn more about our BEST Initiative -- putting an early childhood focus on PA school boards this year.
A new episode from NAEYC radio