News, Op-eds, Advisories, and Releases
State Budget Fails to Address Crisis in Early Childhood Sector to the Detriment of Working Families and Employers
HARRISBURG, PA (July 11, 2024) – Today, the principal partners of the Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA Campaigns issued the following statements regarding Senate Bill 1001 that awaits the expected signature of Governor Shapiro to become the enacted 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget.
Shapiro Budget Offers Progress - Early Education Advocates Warn Historic Early Childhood Staffing Shortages will Persist
HARRISBURG, PA (February 6, 2024) - Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA.
Historic Shortage of Child Care Teachers Shrinks Child Care Availability for PA Families by 26,000 Slots
HARRISBURG (January 2024) – A recent survey conducted by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Policy Lab on behalf of Start Strong PA demonstrates Pennsylvania’s ongoing child care crisis continues to threaten parents’ ability to work and the overall economy. The survey, conducted between August 29, 2023 and September 21, 2023, details the child care staffing crisis in 762 of Pennsylvania’s child care programs and its effects on working families' ability to access care.
According to the survey:
● Nearly 26,000 additional children could be served at child care programs’ sites if they were fully staffed.
● Programs reported 2,395 open positions resulting in the closure of 934 classrooms.
● Child care providers’ inability to recruit and retain staff is having a direct impact on the quality of their programming.
This historic shortage of child care workers is dramatically reducing the availability of care options for working families, and these incredible numbers are only those reported by a fraction of the total number of child care programs in the state.
PA Senate Passes Budget with NO Funding to Address Early Learning Workforce Shortage
PA Senate Passes Budget with NO Funding to Address Early Learning Workforce Shortage
HARRISBURG, PA (June 30, 2023) — Today the Pennsylvania Senate passed its version of the state budget that fails to address the historic early learning workforce shortage. No new money was included for PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program or efforts to stabilize the child care workforce. This means early learning providers will continue to lose teachers and close classrooms jeopardizing families’ ability to work.
Early Care and Education in Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 State Budget Proposal
HARRISBURG, PA (March 7, 2023) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2023-24 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Start Strong PA, Pre-K for PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.
Budget Proposal “Maintains” Child Care System in Crisis
“Governor Shapiro correctly emphasized the importance of high-quality child care for working families and the need to boost child care wages to get “more teachers and professionals on the job,” and eliminate growing wait lists. Unfortunately, the Administration's $66.7 million proposal merely maintains a system already in crisis.”
New Survey: Historic Staffing Shortage Eliminates At Least 30,000 Early Care and Education Slots; Over 38,000 Children Sit on Waiting Lists - Low Wages to Blame
HARRISBURG (March 1, 2023) – Partners of the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA advocacy campaigns released new survey results detailing the historic staffing crisis in the early care and education sector that continues to contract the capacity of child care, Pre-K Counts and Head Start State Supplemental programs. Advocates are calling on Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly to increase investment in early care and education programs using recurring funds as part of the 2023-2024 state budget.
The new survey, conducted between January 31, 2023 and February 12, 2023, details the current staffing crisis in Pennsylvania child care, Pre-K Counts and Head Start State Supplemental programs and its effects on working families' ability to access care.
It’s Unanimous! 98% of PA Voters Believe Early Childhood Education is Important
HARRISBURG, PA (February 21, 2023) — Just weeks before Governor Shapiro’s first state budget address and negotiations begin, partners of the Early Learning PA Coalition held a Capitol Rotunda press conference today releasing new polling data on voter support for early childhood care and education programs.
The poll, commissioned by the Early Learning PA Coalition and conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research from February 1-7, 2023, found that 98% of PA voters believe that early childhood education is important. It also showed strong voter support for increased investment for early care and education programs like pre-k, high-quality child care and home visiting services. Voter’s overall support has grown several percentage points since a June 2022 poll, when 90% of voters said they found early childhood education to be important.
New Survey: Sunsetting Pandemic Relief for Pennsylvania Child Care Sector will Raise Tuition for Working Families
HARRISBURG (December 15, 2022) – According to a new poll from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), 62% of Pennsylvania child care center directors surveyed reported that they will have to raise tuition as one-time federal pandemic relief comes to an end. Additionally, 29% reported they will have to cut staff salaries, as they will be unable to sustain the increases the federal funds allowed them to offer. This is bad news for working families in Pennsylvania who are struggling to find and afford child care.
Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Provider Advisory Board Budget Statement
(August 2022) Members of the Pennsylvania Provider Advisory Board issued the following statement regarding the final 2022-23 Pennsylvania state budget. The Pennsylvania Provider Advisory Board is made up of 40 early childhood professionals from across the state working to identify the needs of the early childhood workforce and using the experiences shared from those in the field to inform the advocacy efforts of the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA campaigns.
2022-23 State Budget: Growth for Pre-k, Child Care and Home Visitation
HARRISBURG, PA (July 8, 2022) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding the final 2022-23 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.
Thousands of Advocates Call on PA General Assembly to Raise Child Care Wages
HARRISBURG (May 19, 2022) – Today, Start Strong PA, delivered a petition containing 4,565 signatures to members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly urging them to “Raise Child Care” by allocating sustainable state and/or federal funds as part of the final state budget to help solve the child care sector’s current workforce crisis. The petition calls for a $2 per hour wage supplement for child care teachers and staff.
Advocates Applaud Wolf Administration’s Release of One-Time Federal Funds to Boost Pay in Child Care Sector
HARRISBURG (May 17, 2022) – The principal partners of Start Strong PA, applaud the Wolf Administration’s release of $98 million in one-time federal child care funding to provide support to providers seeking to recognize staff dedication through retention bonuses and assist with personnel development and recruitment. The Administration expects to release these funds in one lump sum to approved providers beginning July 1 until September 30.
Gov. Wolf Announces $98M Grant Opportunity Investing in Child Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Human Services Press Release
HARRISBURG (May 16, 2022) Governor Tom Wolf today announced a $98 million grant opportunity for certified child care providers to support workforce recruitment and retention. Funded by American Rescue Plan Act funding received specifically for child care providers and their critical workforce, this funding can support providers seeking to recognize staff dedication through retention bonuses and can assist with personnel development and recruitment.
New Survey: Staffing Crisis Eliminates At Least 30,000 Child Care Slots
HARRISBURG (April 12, 2022) – Child care providers and advocates gathered in the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda this morning to release the results of a new survey showing that the historic child care staffing crisis- caused by low wages- continues to contract the capacity of Pennsylvania’s child care system. In response, advocates are calling on the General Assembly and the Wolf Administration to “Raise Child Care” by allocating $115 million in sustainable state and/or federal funds as part of the final state budget to provide a $2 per hour wage supplement for child care teachers and staff.
Early Care & Education in Governor Wolf's 2022-23 State Budget Proposal
HARRISBURG, PA (February 9, 2022) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s 2022-23 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.
Child Care Workforce Shortages Eliminate more than 34,000 Spots for PA Children
More than 25,000 children sit on wait lists, according to new survey; state and federal action desperately needed to stabilize and strengthen system
HARRISBURG (September 16, 2021) – A new survey conducted by partners of the Start Strong PA Campaign quantifies Pennsylvania’s current child care crisis, which threatens parents’ ability to work and the overall economy. The survey, conducted between August 30, 2021 and September 8, 2021, details the current child care staffing crisis in 1,163 Pennsylvania child care programs across 63 counties and its effects on working families' ability to access care.
2021-22 State budget: growth for pre-k; ignores recommendations prioritizing child care and fails to expand evidence-based home visiting services
HARRISBURG (June 25, 2021) – The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, believes the Commonwealth’s economic recovery hinges on helping working families by prioritizing greater state investments in high-quality pre-k, child care and evidence-based home visiting.. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA. Reaction statements from three of these campaigns regarding the FY 2021-22 state budget follow:
Federal Child Care Funds Critical to Reopening PA Start Strong PA Campaign Releases Plan to Utilize $1.2 Billion in Federal American Rescue Funds
HARRISBURG (June 10, 2021) – Start Strong PA hosted a virtual press conference to release recommendations for Pennsylvania’s $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) child care funding. The recommendations were developed with feedback gathered from over 1,000 child care providers and working parents as well as a statewide survey conducted in May 2021.
Advocates Applaud Stimulus Deal Allocating $125 Million to Saving Early Learning in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG (May 28, 2020)— The anticipated stimulus deal between the Pennsylvania House and Senate authorizing the spending of most of the $3.9 billion in federal CARES Act funding includes substantial economic relief for the Commonwealth’s early learning sector.
Pennsylvania’s Child Care System in Urgent Need of Stimulus to Prevent Collapse
HARRISBURG, PA (March 24, 2020) – Principal partners of the Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA advocacy campaigns called for swift action by PA policymakers to save the state’s child care system. Advocates touted a recent survey by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association showing that of the 605 child care providers responding (serving more than 44,000 children across the Commonwealth), nearly one-third indicated that they would not be able to reopen if the state mandated closure lasts for longer than one month.