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Support Pre-Kindergarten in Pennsylvania 

    The benefits of high-quality pre-kindergarten experiences are irrefutable. Decades of child development, education and economic research demonstrate both the immediate benefits of Pre-K, such as increasing vocabulary and social skills; as well as the long-term benefits as they become adults, such as reduced grade repetition and higher high school graduation rates.

    The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts pre-kindergarten program proposed by Governor Rendell for FY 2007-2008 would provide quality pre-kindergarten opportunities for 11,000 three and four year olds throughout the Commonwealth. Your help is essential if we are to make Pre-K a reality.

 Call, write or visit your state Senator and Representative. Tell them:

 ·        Quality Pre-K prepares children for reading and math, but also for paying attention, following directions and getting along with others. It gives children a chance to learn, become excited about school and be better students.

 ·        Quality Pre-K makes early learning a family activity. Parents and teachers work together to provide learning activities in the classroom and in the home that meet the individual needs of the child.

 ·        Pennsylvania’s investment in quality Pre-K could save $100 million in future special education costs. (It costs $7,000 for one year of Pre-K v. $27,000 for a year of special education.) Additional future tax savings are possible because children who are better educated are more productive as adults, pay more taxes, are less likely to require public assistance or to have encounters with the criminal justice system.

Want to help?  Here are two easy things you can do TODAY:

1) Send a letter to your Senator and Representative using our Capwiz program.  Click here!

2) Join the statewide "Pre-K Today" Coalition.  Click here for more information: www.prektoday.org.

Information for Parents:

Information for Child Care Teachers and Directors