QCCC Report Card The Bucks County Quality Child Care Coalition Bucks County LEARN Team April 2015 Did You Know? *There are 296 regulated child care providers in Bucks County, and 57% of them participate in Keystone STARS. *10,286 3 and 4 year-olds (72% of Bucks children) do not have access to high -quality Pre-K. *90% of brain development occurs between birth and age 5. *High quality Pre-K significantly improves early literacy, language and math skills as chil- dren enter kindergarten. *Children who start behind often stay behind. IMPORTANT DATES April 2015: Bucks County’s Month of the Young Child Friday, April 10: Annual BCAEYC Advocacy Breakfast April 12-18: NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child April 22: Early Childhood Action Day in Harrisburg Work Still Needed to Move Forward for Quality Early Care & Education In spite of continuing and growing agreement about the importance of investing in quality early education, there are still some disturbing facts: *A recent report finds that Pennsylvania ranks 41 st nationally in early childhood education access and equity. More than two-thirds of children from Pennsylvania families with yearly incomes above $100,000 are enrolled in quality early childhood education programs. For families making less than $20,000 a year, that number is only about one in five. Pre-K for PA has made recommendations for policy changes in 2015 in Keystone STARS quality improvement, child care subsidy, and high quality pre-k programs, including: *Investing more to achieve high-quality Pre-K for all Pennsylvania three-and four- year old children *Providing high-quality Pre-K at no cost to all low and moderate-income families with a sliding scale option for middle class families. *Increasing the reimbursement rate for the Pre-K Counts program to help providers bear the burden of increased operating costs and hire and maintain a qualified workforce. (PKC has been flat-funded for grantees during past years, while costs have increased.) The early years are a crucial time that determines educational and social development. The percentage of 4-year olds with proficient academic and social skills more than tripled from 22% to 82% after participating in PA Pre-K Counts and from 12% to 76% after participating in Head Start Supplemental in 2012-13. In spite of strong statewide public support and data showing the values of high quality early education, limited access and equity hurts the future of children and of our state. Limited spending for early education also results in significantly increased spending later on. Universal Pre-K makes quality early education available for all 3- and 4- year olds, rather than a privilege for only those who can afford it.
Transcript
QCCC Report Card
The Bucks County Quality Child Care Coalition
Bucks County LEARN Team
April 2015
Did You Know?
*There are 296 regulated
child care providers in
Bucks County, and 57%
of them participate in
Keystone STARS.
*10,286 3 and 4 year-olds
(72% of Bucks children)
do not have access to high
-quality Pre-K.
*90% of brain
development occurs
between birth and age 5.
*High quality Pre-K
significantly improves
early literacy, language
and math skills as chil-
dren enter kindergarten.
*Children who start
behind often stay behind.
IMPORTANT DATES
April 2015: Bucks County’s Month of the Young Child
Friday, April 10: Annual BCAEYC Advocacy Breakfast
April 12-18: NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child
April 22: Early Childhood Action Day in Harrisburg
Work Still Needed to Move Forward
for Quality Early Care & Education
In spite of continuing and growing agreement about the importance of investing in quality early education, there are still some disturbing facts:
*A recent report finds that Pennsylvania ranks 41st nationally in early childhood
education access and equity. More than two-thirds of children from Pennsylvania families with yearly incomes above $100,000 are enrolled in quality early childhood education programs. For families making less than $20,000 a year, that number is only about one in five.
Pre-K for PA has made recommendations for policy changes in 2015 in Keystone STARS quality improvement, child care subsidy, and high quality pre-k programs, including: *Investing more to achieve high-quality Pre-K for all Pennsylvania three-and four-
year old children *Providing high-quality Pre-K at no cost to all low and moderate-income families with
a sliding scale option for middle class families. *Increasing the reimbursement rate for the Pre-K Counts program to help providers
bear the burden of increased operating costs and hire and maintain a qualified workforce. (PKC has been flat-funded for grantees during past years, while costs have increased.)
The early years are a crucial time that determines educational and social development. The percentage of 4-year olds with proficient academic and social skills more than tripled from 22% to 82% after participating in PA Pre-K Counts and from 12% to 76% after participating in Head Start Supplemental in 2012-13. In spite of strong statewide public support and data showing the values of high quality early education, limited access and equity hurts the future of children and of our state. Limited spending for early education also results in significantly increased spending later on. Universal Pre-K makes quality early education available for all 3- and 4- year olds, rather than a privilege for only those who can afford it.
QCCC Report Card Page 2
Workshops have been offered to support alignment of “new” early learning standards and PA Core Standards for K-12. Information regarding School District Kindergarten Registration dates and requirements has been updated and shared. If families have not already registered children who will be 5 by September, they are urged to check their School District website or call to do so in the spring.
Support Continues for Smooth Pathway to Kindergarten
Language and Literacy
Begin With You
The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. This is especially so during the preschool years but also important during the elementary years. What skills are needed?
Vocabulary
Print Motivation
Print Awareness
Narrative Skills
Phonological Awareness
Letter Knowledge These six pre-reading skills help children become good readers so that they can focus on reading to learn effectively by third grade. Families can work with early educators and local library programs to help children get ready to read and to develop a love of reading and learning. During the April Month of the Young Child, libraries, the Regional Key, and United Way of Bucks County bring special community readers to early education programs and libraries to increase awareness of the importance of reading.
High School students from Pennsbury LYFT worked with United
Way of Bucks County Success by 6 to box more than 3,500 books
from the Barnes & Noble Book Drive this winter. Books were
distributed to Head Start and PA PKC youngsters as well as to
agencies serving families with young children, including the
Homeless Shelter.
Sarah Shoffler reviews progress on
achieving the QCCC PATH Strategic Plan
goals adopted for 2014-15, including
support for Professional Development,
Kindergarten registration, Family
Engagement, and collaboration with other
groups to achieve our goals.
New Mandated
Reporter Requirements
Act 31, which took effect this past December 31st, requires new “Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania” training and new criminal history clearance requirements be implemented by July 1, 2015. New clearances will need to be obtained every 36 months.
Page 3
How might you use your strengths to support quality early education experiences for a young child or a group of young children in your part of
Bucks County?
Focus on Family Engagement Grows Nothing is more important to quality early learning than caring and knowledgeable family supports and resources. Activity calendars, “Who to Call in Bucks County” resource information, family workshops and events continue to be available. The updated GPS (Guiding Parents Smoothly) at www.papromiseforchildren.com offers an online tool for families with young children. It is an interactive way for families to think about what they can do to support their children’s early learning and receive simple steps they can take and reliable resources for more ideas. The website also includes information about Head Start, Early Intervention, Keystone STARS, and PA Pre-K Counts with tips about the importance of choosing quality early learning experiences. The Bucks County Library System is continuing to introduce new resources for families and young children as well: Buckslib.org/letsplay – a fun, online badge program that prepares youngsters for school. “Cruise into Kindergarten” offers tips, activities and more to families about the importance of play,
exploring community, growing up healthy, reading and writing, exploring math and science, and enjoying arts and music. “Kindergarten Here I Come” events are being planned for August.
Young advocates from Elbow Lane Preschool sent art
work to legislators urging their increasing
support for quality early education.
Pre-K for PA Continues
to Lead Advocacy Efforts
Bucks County continues to be actively involved in the Pre-K for PA statewide campaign to edu-cate the public, policy makers and taxpayers about the benefits of high-quality pre-K. Their mission is to ensure that every 3- and 4-year old in Pennsylvania will have access to high quality pre-kindergarten. Business leaders, policy officers and military officials provide active sup-port. To offer support and access reports, visit www.prekforpa.org Advocates urge policy makers to make a committed and sustained investment in early childhood education.
Help us ensure the legislature makes kids a priority by investing in high-quality early childhood programs. Governor Tom Wolf proposed an ambitious budget that would increase funding for Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs by $120 million and nearly double the number of children enrolled in publically supported, high quality early learning. As the Governor and the legislature work together to negotiate a final budget, we need you to remind them why it’s so important to maintain these proposed increases and invest in kids. Join us in visiting legislators in Harrisburg on April 22nd, visit them in their local offices, call or e-mail your State Representative and State Senator telling them that quality early education matters!
The Bucks County Quality Child Care Coalition is a group of individuals and groups committed to supporting quality early care and education for ALL young children in Bucks County. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday every other month at Holy Family University – Newtown. Send Coordinator Pat Miiller your name and e-mail address to receive meeting and other notifications. We work to support communication and collaboration to achieve our mission “Broadening and Bettering Early Care & Education in Bucks County.” This year we added a Facebook page to provide current updates. Visit us to see some recent postings designed to inform, educate, and motivate the community about early learning. We work with United Way of Bucks County Success By 6 sponsoring Family Literacy and Family Math events. QCCC organizes quarterly meetings and regular communication among PA PKC grantees here in Bucks County. Serving as an Advisory Group for the Bucks County Community College early education department, we have supported delivery of credit bearing Professional Development at child care locations and a new certificate program to support Keystone STARS. We work with the Northeast Regional Key to provide professional development with PQAS credits for early educators through the PD Registry. Collaboration with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit led to the establishment of Tender Bridges; visit the BCIU website to learn more about this unique partnership among early educators, school districts, early intervention, and higher education (www3.bucksiu.org) Partnerships with a wide-variety of groups and individuals including early intervention, the Bucks County Library System, the Bucks County Association for the Education of Young Children, Bucks County CCIS (Apple),The Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition, and Pre-K for PA seek to broaden communication and collaboration supporting quality early education. You are welcome to join us !
Get Involved In QCCC Collaborations
Follow us on the web: www.bucksqccc.org www.facebook.com/QCCCBucks www.twitter.com/QCCCBucks
