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 PennAEYC Newsletter
July 2010
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. |
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Greetings!
Pennsylvania passed a budget, no impasse this year and things are looking pretty good for the early learning field!!! Right? Well, not exactly. Pennsylvania's recently-passed budget is based on $850 million in federal funding that Congress has not approved. This week begins serious talks in the administration about what they must cut if this funding does not come through soon. Any discretionary spending is at risk. That would be everything you and I have worked so hard to keep establish and in place over the past several years. Child care subsidy, Keystone STARS, Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental......many other social service and education programs. Of course these dollars, when cut, will mean the loss of programs, jobs and safe, reliable, quality care and education for our children. There is some very serious work still to be done to secure the Federal Medicaid Matching Assistance Program- FMAP funding (the $850 million Congress has not yet approved). How is the loss of teaching jobs and child care funding related to funding Medicaid? Any state has financial obligations that are, by law, mandatory and obligations that are discretionary. Medicaid is one of the state's mandatory expenses - the state must cover this before covering discretionary expenses, including some education and some early childhood education costs. If Pennsylvania doesn't receive the enhanced FMAP money, increased Medicaid costs are funded through the General Fund. This puts more pressure on General Fund line items that are discretionary, including Pre-k Counts, HSSA and some Child Care Works and Keystone STARS funding. As we know local school districts are having their own share of financials problems and so any decrease in state dollars just compounds their local issues as well. The US Senate is most likely going to vote on a bill on Monday with FMAP funding included. Both of the Pennsylvania Senators are supportive of this funding but all of our Congressmen and Congresswomen are not. The US House will not return to vote until this fall but we need to keep information in the public eye as to how important this is to our field. Please take the time to send a letter, e-mail or call your United States House Representative and let them know what this funding means to you and the families you serve! You can find your Congressperson by clicking this link. Thank you for taking the time and making this important effort on behalf of our children, families and early learning programs! Jodi Askins, Executive Director |
 PennAEYC News
DUES TO REMAIN THE SAME
In light of the current economic climate in the country and in this state, PennAEYC decided NOT to raise its dues structure.
Comprehensive - $105; Regular - $70; Student - $50
PennAEYC Hires Staff to Meet New Demands
Four new positions have been filled at the PennAEYC office to meet the growing demands of new work.
LaTosha Stoney, the new fulltime PennAEYC Administrative Assistant was brought on to the staff this spring. Stoney, who is a native of Harrisburg, Pa. worked in the health care field for more than 10 years in many capacities. She also had the opportunity to work as a youth program specialist through a faithbased nonprofit. "I am elated at the opportunity to be a part of the nonprofit community again at PennAEYC," Stoney said. "It gives me pleasure to support an organization dedicated to the future of our country through the advocacy of early childhood education funding."
Taking on the roles of Outreach Coordinators for the BEST Initiative are Tracy Weaver and Larry Roberts. Weaver has a Bachelor of Arts from degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her experience includes industry, higher education and social services that runs the gamut from marketing and advertising to facilitating tobacco cessation classes to being a Community Engagement Coordinator for seven years in Jefferson and Clarion Counties. With respect to her PennAEYC work, Weaver said, "So far, I have attended three school board meetings and received generous input and made valuable contacts." Roberts, who is a Clarion University of Pennsylvania graduate has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education. He was worked exclusively with "at risk" youth and families. He has experience as special needs counselor and sports coach; mental health family therapist; community engagement coordinator and early Head Start transition coordinator and a coordinator of non-federal programs. Roberts said he believes,"No task will be too hard or too tall because these children are our future and we must do this for them now before time passes us and them by."
David Pribish also was hired in the early spring as the new communications director for PennAEYC in a part-time capacity. Pribish holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Pittsburgh. He has nearly 10-years experience in the newspaper industry as a reporter and editor as well as eight years nonprofit experience with a western Pennsylvania-based local education fund. "I am truly excited to be a part of a statewide organization that focuses its efforts on the needs and rights of children and those who advocate on their behalf," Pribish said. |
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 Upcoming Activities
August 14: 9:00 - 1:00, Kindergarten!...Here I Come!,
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. This event is free to children entering kindergarten & one adult. Meet Mr. Mcfeely from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Curious George from the "Curious George: Lets Get Curious" exhibit and Ready Freddy school readiness mascot. Free book, T-Shirt and more for kindergartners while they last. No registration is required. Questions: 412.322.5058 x213 or www.kindergartenhereicome.org
October 13 - 15: Early Childhood Summit at the Penn Stater.
November 13 - 14: PennAEYC annual board retreat at the Penn Stater
The Child Care Health Advocate course is a 15 session, 3 credit hour online college credit activity for directors and lead teachers offered by Northampton Community College. Since 2007, this NCC has taught this course with ongoing collaboration between Northampton Community College and the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. This course continues to receive accolades from all the enrolled students because it not only offers a unique opportunity for directors and lead teachers to acquire academic credit applicable toward undergraduate and graduate degrees, but also to immediately improve the performance of their programs. The mentored course assignments involve implementation of nationally recommended best practice in the student's work setting and access to national resources. For more information, see the flyer on the Northampton Community College website.
Early Childhood Fellowship Program
A cohort of 12 to 16 providers in the field of early care and education from around the state will participate in this year-long leadership program, which is designed to educate, connect, and support emerging leaders working to effect positive change in the field of early childhood. Next year's cohort is being formed now. Click here for the 2010-2011 program application. |
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 State Public Policy News
Early Childhood Action Day 2010
Record Attendance Set in Capitol Rotunda Tuesday, June 8
Close to 650 early childhood education teachers, parents and advocates were accompanied by a contingency of state law makers to show their support for early childhood education (ECE) funding  and the passage of a timely state budget.
The congregation, which gathered inside the Rotunda, discussed how in investing early care and education can positively impact the lives of children and the families who utilize the programs. Coupled with that, was the message of how the legislature must increase revenue streams to maintain or even increase funding to keep the programs from being impaired.
"It was a tremendous show of support," said Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children Executive Director Jodi Askins. "To have all those teachers, parents - close to 650 strong from across this Commonwealth - and even members of the legislature on hand to speak and show support is truly amazing. We truly hope this sends the message that we do not want a repeat performance of a lengthy impasse."
The Early Childhood Education Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Pat Harkins and Senator Pat Browne as well as Senator Jay Costa; Representatives Dwight Evans, Ron Waters; Tony Payton; Vanessa Lowery Brown; Cherelle Parker, Rosita Youngblood; John Siptroth; Louise Bishop;Jewell Williams; and Scott Conklin were on hand to speak the importance of investing in early care and education as the smart and right action for the legislature as the June 30 budget deadline approaches.
Sen. Costa introduced gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato as "one of the best early childhood advocates he personally knows." According to Onorato, early childhood education is a good economic development policy. "This gives families the opportunity to maintain a job knowing that their children are in a quality place that is safe and will educate and nurture them," Onorato said. If elected governor, he pledged to do two things: make sure public education is funded and to find more funding for
early childhood education adding rather than spending so much money on the department of corrections, "we should be starting early, to keep kids out of jail in the first place." Though Onorato's gubernatorial competitor Tom Corbett was unable to attend, Jim Cawely the republican candidate for lieutenant governor shared similar sentiments stating, "the better education our children have, the better off we'll all be."
Cheryl Gerhing, Director of Children's Services at YWCA of Lancaster spoke first hand of the program improvements she has seen and experienced through funds provided by the state and the importance of those funds in their ability to provide high quality care. And CEO Mark Kehoe of Brightside Academy said that children are the "most valuable asset in any community." The entire rally echoed a chant by mistress of ceremonies Yvonne Thompson Friend of "Early Childhood is in the House" and was chanted continuously after every speaker. The session concluded with the message urging attendees to "Stand up, Speak up, and vote, so that our children don't wind up as statistics."
PENNAEYC HOSTS PUBLIC POLICY FORUM
Sharon Wa rd, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center was the keynote speaker at the annual Public Policy Forum day held at the Crowne Plaza in Harrisburg, PA. Ward, who received her B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany, and pursued an M.S. in Political Science with a concentration in statistics and methodology at the Rockefeller Institute Public Policy. Sharon has worked as an advocate on behalf of children, consumers, and the environment for more than 20 years lead the group in a discussion about the state budget and the outlook for the next year. Break-out sessions were conducted for the attendees and included topics such as building relationships with your legislator; the challenging environment of the elections of 2010; the basics of media relations, building early care and education leaders in your local community; an overview of Action Day; conversations with a lobbyist; federal early childhood education issues and engaging parents. The day concluded with a dinner and address from guest speaker Rep. Patrick Harkins.
First Steps Pennsylvania  What is First Steps Pennsylvania?
First Steps Pennsylvania (First Steps PA) is a statewide non-partisan campaign supported by a broad-based coalition from around the Commonwealth committed to raising the visibility of high-quality early childhood education during the 2010 gubernatorial election and partnering with the next administration to continue to build Pennsylvania's high-quality early learning system.
Campaign partners are galvanizing resources to advance voter registration, voter education and get out the vote strategies in order to assure that gubernatorial candidates address children's early learning needs and parents' needs for workforce supports in Pennsylvania. |
 B.E.S.T. Initiative
B.E.S.T. INITIATIVE TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL BOARDS
The BEST Initiative (Building Early Childhood Support Through School Boards) has kicked off its work this spring. The initiative is designed to build leadership support for early childhood education within targeted Pennsylvania school districts in order to increase school board support for and funding of quality early learning programming. Since launching in April, the BEST team reviewed all 501 districts in the state and began the process of whittling it down to a focus of 70. There are two objectives planned which will be focused on simultaneously throughout the three year initiative. Those objectives are: support mechanisms for existing school board members to share information with the colleagues about the benefits of quality early childhood education; outreach to identify and support individuals who may file and run for their local school boards with a platform of supporting Pre-Kindergarten programming. The BEST team also incorporated an enhanced professional development training day to learn more about the role of a school board member. That training, which was held June 29, included an overview of K-12 governance, roles and responsibilities of school board members; K-12 funding issues and getting started as a candidate. |
 Federal Public Policy News
BIG FEDERAL NEWS!!! After our exciting success in the House appropriations process, the Senate has also included a major increase for child care and Head Start!
The subcommittee's appropriations bill includes a $1 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and a $990.3 million increase for Head Start/Early Head Start, maintaining the important investments previously made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In addition, the appropriations bill added $300 million for the Early Learning Challenge Fund, signaling a greater recognition in Congress of the need to raise the quality of early learning programs.
As you know, we still have some more steps to climb before funding is finally approved, but these are major advances in the process. Thank you for your continued efforts to ensure that the appropriations increases become a reality.
And the good news doesn't stop there. Before Congress adjourns for the August recess, we have another opportunity to help families afford stable, good-quality child care.
The Children First Act of 2010 was introduced this week by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in the Senate and Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY) in the House. The Children First Act would increase mandatory child care funding by $800 million in FY 2011, with provisions for inflation adjustments beginning in FY 2012 through FY 2015. Additionally, the Act ensures that providers receiving funding through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program would have to meet the same minimum standards for CCDBG-funded providers. If enacted, this would provide an even greater expansion of sorely needed child care funds and improvements in quality. |
 Early Childhood K-3 News
The New York Times The case for $320,000 kindergarten teachers
David Leonhardt 7-27-10 Students who had learned much more in kindergarten were more likely to go to college than students with otherwise similar backgrounds. Students who learned more were also less likely to become single parents. As adults, they were more likely to be saving for retirement. Perhaps most striking, they were earning more. Click here for full article |
 NAEYC News
NAEYC has compiled a webpage of quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) resources, available on our website here. We hope that this will prove to be a useful resource for our affiliates, policymakers and decisionmakers, and advocates. |
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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. | |
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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.
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