HARRISBURG – The state’s continuing investment in early childhood education is making a strong impact for children, according to the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts year-end report released this week by Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak.
The report, from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, highlights the accomplishments of the 155 grantees and 161 partners who benefit from Pre-K Counts funding.
“Pre-K Counts is giving many of our most vulnerable children a strong start to school,” Zahorchak said. “This report reinforces the great effort taken by Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees to target services to children who are most at risk for school failure because of factors such as living in low-income families or learning English as a second language.”
With an investment of $86.4 million, approximately 11,800 young children participated in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts for the 2008-09 school year. Grantees reported that more than 7,800 children were on waiting lists for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts at the start of the 2009-10 school year – twice the number of children on waiting lists at the start of the 08-09 school year – reflecting strong parental demand for the program.
“With nearly every child in the program this year affected by at least one risk factor and most affected by two or more risk factors, the positive child outcomes are even more impressive,” Zahorchak said. “Now these children can start school on par with their peers and are less likely to require expensive special education services, remediation, or be retained a grade.”
According to the report:
• Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts expanded its reach in 2008-2009, serving children in 62 counties and 391 school districts. Approximately 4.5 percent of 3 and 4 year olds in the rural/rural-mix counties were served and 3.5 percent of the 3 and 4 year olds in the urban/urban-mix counties were served in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts.
• We are reaching our most vulnerable children. Children affected by risk factors such as living in low-income families, learning English as a second language, or having special needs often enter school without all the academic and social skills they need to succeed unless they receive quality early education. Approximately 95 percent of children enrolled in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts are affected by at least one risk factor, 77 percent are affected by two or more risk factors.
• Children are making excellent progress in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and entering kindergarten ready to learn. Nearly every child (99 percent) showed age-appropriate or emerging age-appropriate proficiency in literacy, numeracy, and social skills after attending the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program. School Districts report that Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts children entered kindergarten with age-appropriate skills, were more prepared for kindergarten than their peers, and are meeting development expectations throughout kindergarten.
• Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts teachers and classrooms are high quality. Approximately 80 percent of lead teachers have a bachelor’s degree, and 77 percent either have their ECE certification or are working toward ECE certification. With an average of 16 children per classroom with at least one lead teacher and one teacher aide, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is exceeding recommended best practices.
• Thousands of parents are demanding quality early education for their children. At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, more than 7,800 children were already on waiting lists for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts for 2009-2010.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning, overseen jointly by the departments of Education and Public Welfare, was created under Governor Rendell to bring a stronger focus to helping Pennsylvania’s youngest children develop and learn to their fullest potential.