Pre-K for PA

Tell Pennsylvania legislators that continued investments must be made to solve the historic staffing crisis in the early care and education workforce. prekforpa.org/take_action/

Gov Shapiro delivered his Administration’s 2026-2027 Pennsylvania budget priorities which include an additional $10M for the Child Care Recruitment and Retention Program, $7.5M for Pre-K Counts, and $2M for Head Start! Send him a thank you using the link! startstrongpa.org/take-action?em…

In a recent letter to the editor, pre-k parent Alecia Fegley expresses her gratitude to lawmakers for the recent investment in pre-k programs and explains what that opportunity has meant for her family. (scroll down to the last letter) mcall.com/2026/01/20/let…

A coordinated early care and education system is vital to the economy, enabling parents to work with confidence that their children receive high-quality care and education.

Gov. Shapiro’s 2026-27 state budget proposal prioritizes the ECE workforce! Let’s show our love by sending the Governor a thank you at: startstrongpa.org/take-action?em…

Please join us for our next Working Together Webinar on February 17th. Register at: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

This new funding represents a critical step toward reversing the trend of qualified educators leaving for higher paying opportunities and ensuring that state-funded pre-kindergarten programs remain strong, sustainable, and accessible to families across the state. @JoshShapiroPA

“So this budget doubles down on that work, and includes an additional $10 million to raise that recruitment and retention bonus from $450 to $630. More money in the pockets of our child care workers — and more available child care for Pennsylvania families.” @GovernorShapiro

“We’ve already received more than 4,300 applications from child care centers to pay their workers and recruit more. The demand is overwhelming." @GovernorShapiro #PABudget

The proposed 2026-27 state budget’s inclusion of an additional $7.5M for Pre-K Counts and $2M for Head Start will help stabilize early learning providers by increasing per-child rates – an essential step toward addressing rising costs and staffing challenges driven by low wages.

"We came together to create the first state-funded Child Care Recruitment and Retention grant in Pennsylvania history. We gave $450 to 55,000 child care workers across our Commonwealth — and showed them the respect they deserve.” @GovernorShapiro

“Last year, we all identified a problem — we don’t have enough child care workers, and that’s because we don’t pay them enough." @GovernorShapiro #PABudget

Tune in: @GovernorShapiro's budget address starts in 10 minutes! pcnselect.com/videoplayer.ph…

The PA budget includes $25M in new funding for recruitment & retention that is available to qualified DHS-certified providers in order to support existing child care staff and recruitment of new staff within the field. Applications are due on January 29th! pakeys.org/elrc-25-05/

“This report is a wake-up call. Pennsylvania’s youngest learners are being left behind, and our economy is paying the price.” Take a closer look at how PA can better support young learners. prekforpa.org/wp-content/upl…

Most Americans think raising children is unaffordable, with finances as the major factor in determining family size, a new report found. The cost of child care is a big contributing factor to the financial strain. washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/11…

As we move into the new year, we do so with gratitude for how far we’ve come and determination for the work still ahead. We hope you’ll continue this journey with us—pushing forward, building on what we’ve achieved, and creating even greater change together.

Child care is the workforce behind the workforce, and PA’s child care problems have cost the Commonwealth’s economy $6.65 billion in earnings, productivity, and revenue every year.

Thank you! Your ongoing support and commitment to early care and learning has helped to bring about some real progress in PA this year. Happy Holidays!

The preschoolers from Woodland Academy Child Development in Philadelphia put a lot of love and creativity into these handmade ornaments. So happy to have them included on the 25-foot tree in Harrisburg’s Capitol Rotunda! @RepHarris @SenTonyWilliams