 Take Action on May 12Early Childhood Education Action Day
Can't come to Harrisburg? You can still participate!
This year the governor has proposed in his budget nearly doubling the number of state-funded free high quality pre-kindergarten slots in Pennsylvania. If passed, 14,000 additional children would receive a high-quality pre-kindergarten experience and more likely to enter kindergarten with age-appropriate skills, do better in school, graduate and attend college or career training.
In order for the governor's proposed budget to become a reality, school and community leaders and state legislators need to make quality early education a priority.
You can help make quality early education a priority for our state leaders by telling your story and participating in Action Day. Early Childhood Action Day is an opportunity to come to the Capitol and together with advocates, teachers and families share your story with your state legislators and other leaders. Participate in the rally at the Capitol and visit legislators. Just announced - Governor Wolf will be participating! If you cannot come to Harrisburg, you can still participate in Virtual Action Day.
Updated "Smart Investments: Big Returns" fact sheet As you educate leaders and share your story, you may also want to share research and data on the impacts of Pennsylvania's early education programs. This fact sheet highlights research on the impact of quality early education and provides brief descriptions and successes of OCDEL programs.
Make the most of your pre-k graduations May is graduation season, even for early learning programs. These are wonderful events for families and can also raise awareness school and community leaders and legislators about the importance of quality early education to their community.
If you are holding an early childhood education/ pre-k graduation, consider:
Including talking points on the importance of quality early education in your remarks.
Inviting local leaders and legislators. Assign a family or staff member to greet the leader, share why quality early education is important, and answer questions.
Inviting local media. Graduation ceremonies make wonderful photo/video opportunities for media, but you can also highlight that the key to successful high school graduations starts in early childhood. Make sure you have photo/video waivers for children that will be filmed or photographed.
Write a short article with photos to send to leaders and media after the event. If leaders or media cannot attend, send them a short article and photos that they can use in their newsletters, website and social media. Post the event on your website and share a link on your facebook page and the facebook pages of local school and community leaders and legislators. They will likely share your post.
Submit a letter to the editor about your event. You can use the preschool graduation as the basis for writing about the importance of quality early education for all children.
Attention Keystone STARS Directors! Attend a free one-hour online training and get new STARS window clings for your families.
Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool for increasing awareness about your program. The new "Using Keystone STARS to Market Your Program to Families" (D8.17.C2) online course highlights some interesting results of family focus groups that shared, in their own words, the reasons why they chose a Keystone STARS quality-rated program. You can take the course online anytime in the PD Registry.
Thank you for your stories! - Dominique Jospitre, Tobyhanna Kids Inc. (Monroe)
- Martha Hoover, Child Development Centers Inc. (Venango)
- Jason Fine, Montgomery Early Learning Centers (Montgomery)
- Linda Fafalios, PA Pre-K Counts/School District of the City of Monessen (Westmoreland
- Pat Miiller (Bucks)
- Joanne Blass (Columbia & Montour)
- Mary Rieck (Montgomery)
- Stephanie Spitz (South Central Regional Key)
- Gina Covelli, Kiddos Center for Learning (Washington)
- Joann Bollinger, Kids World (Washington)
Thank you for everything you do to help Pennsylvania's young children reach their promise. Because every child is Pennsylvania's future.
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