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.

The FY 2019-20 budget agreement allocated $27 million in new federal resources to expand subsidized child care in Pennsylvania and invest in quality improvements to the system. Start Strong PA stands with state policymakers in its firm belief that this is an example of a budget that “funds what works” and helps “put Pennsylvanians to work”. However, these federal gains in the child care line items were offset by a $36 million reduction in state funding which was replaced with federal dollars.

Start Strong PA observed the 2019-20 PA budget as an important down payment to ensure all infants and toddlers learn, grow, and succeed. The following statement was issued by the ten principal partners leading Start Strong PA, a campaign to ensure that children across the state can access affordable, high-quality child care programs during the most critical period of brain development, the first three years of life.

Today, Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Start Strong PA hosted its launch event at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where approximately 75 early childhood advocates including state legislators, professionals, and families with children in child care were in attendance.

Guided by this evidenced-based research, legislators, their staff, families, and the press are invited to attend the launch of Start Strong PA, a statewide initiative to help ensure every Pennsylvania infant and toddler starts off strong.