In this issue...
Advocacy News
Upcoming Activities
Professional Development
Online Opportunities and Chapter News
Early Childhood News
Resources
Federal Updates
Your Membership
logo blockPennAEYC  News
July 2009
Our vision is that every child in Pennsylvania has the equal opportunity to be a successful, responsible, and productive member of society as a result of early childhood experiences. 

 

Greetings!

Are our children statistically significant enough?
I have to admit it, I have lost my patience.   At first I convinced myself that this is just the game we have to play but it now has reached a new level of irritation for me.  I'm memorizing statistics and data; numbers and figures; values and percentages all to prove the worth of our children. 
 
The worth of our children?!  MY children for that matter!  Since when did mathematical equations become the deciding factor for a child to be considered worthy of our focus and yes, our funding?  What has happened that we now require the sign-off of economists and accountants for children to be considered important enough to be a priority?

 
I speak to people every day that ask me what the "right" things are to say to their legislator, other elected officials or members of their local communities.  They are afraid to speak out because they may not have the correct statistic or percentage.  They are afraid that their argument will not be considered legitimate enough to warrant acceptance or action. 

 
I have decided that I will no longer apologize for not knowing every research reference or not having the specific graph or chart to perfectly illustrate why I should be allowed to advocate for children.  Children should be at the forefront during budget negotiations just because they are OUR CHILDREN! 
 
I encourage each of you to continue to fight for our children and I hope that the next time you speak out that you bring with you not only all of the important findings, facts and figures but also the story behind the real reason you choose to advocate.  
I am not an advocate for children because "it makes a difference to our economy" or because "I might need someone to look after me as I age".   I am an advocate for children because there is no mechanism for their voice but through us. If you and I don't stand up for them who will?  We have to get back to believing that they are OUR children, not mine or yours and that we all have a responsibility to give them the best opportunities possible, not just so they can live but so they can thrive. 
Are our children statistically significant enough? You better believe they are, and I am proud to say that I don't need the statistics to prove it! 

Jodi Askins
Executive Director
 
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Quilt Graphics by Dawn Stewart

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 Advocacy News 
  
Advocacy continues throughout the month of July - a month in which our state should have already approved a budget.  Early Childhood advocates made sure we were heard as negoiations continue......
 

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This picture is from the Early Childhood Raise Revenue Rally on July 8.  Joan Benso is speaking, and Amber Ruch (PennAEYC Vice President for Public Policy) and Jodi Askins (PennAEYC Executive Director) are in the front row holding Child Care Works signs.  Nearly 100 people attended.  Joan Benso acted as MC. Kristen Punter, a parent of a Harrisburg Sschool District Pre-K Counts child, spoke about the impact of Pre-K Counts on her daughter's school readiness.  Sheila Forrester, Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator, Capital Area Head Start, spoke about how subsidized child care enable parents to work.  Diana Dixon, PACCA Board President, spoke about the impact on the workforce and providers. The speakers and the crowd on the steps of the rotunda called for the General Assembly to "Close the Gap! Save Early Childhood Programs! Raise Revenue!" 
 

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This picture is from the Governor's press conference on Monday, July 13.  The Governor specifically addressed in his press conference how SB850 and the House Republican Amendment hurts children dramatically.  "Are we going to be the type of place that neglects our children and sacrifices their success?"  The people in the picture are Jodi Askins (PennAEYC Executive Director), Mardi Isler (United Way of Westmoreland), Michelle Figlar, and Joan Benso (President of PA Partnerships for Children), who were among advocates from across the state that gathered in support of protecting early childhood funding in the budget.  
 
Budget Conference Committee Selected -
Will Early Education Be Protected?
The following Senators and Representatives were selected to participate on the budget conference committee with the Governor. These legislators and the Governor have begun meeting  to work out a final budget deal.
 
House Budget Committee Members

 
Rep. Todd Eachus, D- Luzerne
Ph: (717) 787-2229
Email:  
[email protected] 
 
Rep. Dwight Evans, D- Philadelphia
Ph: (717) 783-1540
Email: 
[email protected] 
 
Rep. Sam Smith, R- Armstrong/Indiana/Jefferson
Ph: (717) 787-3845
Email:
[email protected] 
 
Senate Budget Committee Members

 
Senator Jay Costa D- Allegheny
Ph:  (717) 787-7683
Email:
[email protected] 
 
Senator Jake Corman, R- Centre/ Juniata/ Mifflin/ Perry/ Union 
Ph: (717) 787-1377
Email:
[email protected] 
 
Senator Dominic Pileggi, R- Chester/Delaware
Ph: (717) 787-4712
Email:
[email protected] 
 
It has come down to these few elected officials now deciding the fate of our programs.  Let them know Early Childhood MUST remain a priority in our state budget! 
 
 
 
quilt block Upcoming Activities
To submit an event, email [email protected].   
 
August 13-14     Administrator's Summit, Best Practices in ECE: The Kindergarten Year, PA Office of Child Development & Early Learning, State College
 
August 19     Central Susquehanna AEYC Board Meeting, 5:30 PM, New Columbia
 
September 16     Central Susquehanna AEYC General Membership Meeting and Election of Officers.  2-hour professional development session.  Penn College, Williamsport.  6 to 8:30 p.m.  Topic to be announced. Free to members.

September 26     Lancaster Area AEYC Conference
 
October 3     Bucks County AEYC Annual Conference
 
October 25-26     PennAEYC Annual Board Retreat, State College
 
October 26-28     Early Childhood Education Summit, State College
 
November 18-21     NAEYC Annual Conference, Washington DC
 
May 14-15, 2010     Pittsburgh AEYC Conference--Creativity: Where the Future Begins
quilt blockProfessional Development
PennAEYC Early Childhood Fellowship Program 2009-2010

A joint project of PennAEYC and QUEST is to train a new generation of Early Childhood leaders in leadership and advocacy.  This new program will be offered in the form of five Friday/Saturday trainings in October, January, March, May and July.  Credit will be offered through St. Joseph's University.  Participants will be expected to participate in 90 hours of group work or its equivalent over the course of the year, engage in QUEST advocacy projects and other relevant local activities, and complete an individualized action plan.  In addition to the professional development received in this process, fellows will meet and work with the ECE leadership in the state, be invited to various local and statewide ECE tables, and be offered opportunities to take other leadership as appropriate.

For an application, contact Pamela Haines at:  DVAEYC, 1608 Walnut St., Suite 1400, Philadelphia, PA  19103.  Phone: 215-963-0094 Fax: 215-963-0805 or [email protected].  
quilt blockAEYC Chapter News
To submit your chapter news, email [email protected].
 
PennAEYC Online Update:
 
-New PennAEYC Website Launch October 1.  Seeking PennAEYC Members and Accredited Centers to be featured on PennAEYC's new and improved website.  Construction is well under way, and the site will be launched sometime this Fall.  A PennAEYC member and an NAEYC Accredited Center in Pennsylvania will be featured every month on the new site; if you are interested in being featured or nominating someone to be featured as a member or an accredited center, send an email to [email protected] telling us who and why. 
 
-FACEBOOK:  In the meantime, you can now become a fan of PennAEYC, DVAEYC, and the Central Region PennAEYC group on Facebook.  After you log in or create a Facebook account, just put "PennAEYC" in the Facebook search line to find us.
 
Central Region PennAEYC
is moving forward in creating a new group in Blair, Cambria, Centre, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties with three working committees:  Nominations, Kick-Off Event Planning, and Membership.  Our recrutiment brochure is almost ready, our Facebook group has been set up, and our next meeting is August 10 at Penn State. To participate or find out more, email [email protected]
 
quilt blockEarly Childhood News
From BUILD e-news:
More than 100 articles/stories were published and broadcast on Pennsylvania's early education between April - June 2009. Stories covered the federal stimulus package, getting children ready for kindergarten, PA One Book and Week of the Young Child, as well as editorial pieces in support of early education. Although the majority of stories were positive, several tragedies at child care programs also were reported in the news. Read the article summary (pdf) for information on articles published and stories broadcast in your area. This is an excellent way to become familiar with the types of stories local news reports on early education and get story ideas to pitch to media in your community. Thanks to the community engagement groups, PA Pre-K Counts and other ECE programs, Cathleen Palm and others who provided the stories for this summary.
 
If you have seen stories published not included here or would like a copy of an article, email Ingrid Molinares. Please be specific in your article request - include the title, date and paper.
quilt blockResources 
New Videos on Benefits of Early Education
 
Check out Pennsylvania's Promise for Children's three five-minute videos about the value of quality early childhood programs, featuring testimonials, interviews, and more. 
Federal Updates  quilt block 1
Exciting Opportunity for More Federal Funds for ECE
While we are still fighting the state budget battle to save and increase ECE there is an exciting opportunity to create a new pool of federal funds.
 
The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on legislation that creates a competitive state grant program for building and maintaining state early learning systems - the Early Learning Challenge Fund.
 
Last week, President Obama noted Pennsylvania's "effective model" for early learning as he discussed this potential new federal program. PA could use these competitive grant funds to support important programs like Keystone STARS, the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Program, the Early Learning Network, and other system coordination efforts.  For more information on the Early Learning Challenge Fund, please click here.  
Disclaimer:  PennAEYC provides a forum for discussion of major issues and ideas in our field. We hope to provoke thought and promote professional growth.
The views expressed or implied are not necessarily those of the Association. Acceptance of advertising, announcements, and postings does not represent PennAEYC's endorsement of any product or service, nor is PennAEYC responsible for representations made by advertisers.
quilt blockYour Membership Status
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To become a member or renew your membership, go to www.naeyc.org/membership  or call NAEYC at 1-800-424-2460.