From birth to age five, young children’s brains make millions of neural connections every second — forming brain architecture for life. This is the foundation upon which all later learning, behavior, and health depend.

Parents will always be the most important influence during this time of a child’s life. But with 70% of Pennsylvania children under age six having both parents in the labor force, state policymakers must support evidence-based programs that strengthen our families and ensure access to high-quality early care and education in order to maximize the potential of the first five years.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION POLICY PRIORITIES

• Expand availability of high-quality, affordable child care and pre-k so parents can work and young children get an early start on lifelong learning.
• Increase wages of early education teachers to reduce turnover, increase availability, and deliver continuity in children’s learning experiences.
• Ensure that racial equity is embedded in all aspects of child care quality improvement such as program development, business development, and the definition of quality.

MOST RECENT RESEARCH

• REPORTS: The Case for An Ambitious Rebound: 2022 Regional Reports on COVID’s Impact on Children
• REPORT: Getting Back to Business: Non-Traditional Hour Child Care
• REPORTS: Underwater: 2019 Regional Reports on Child Well Being

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COALITIONS

Comience PA fuerte

Start Strong PA supports healthy child development, school success, working families, and the economy by ensuring everyone in Pennsylvania has access to high-quality child care choices.

Pre-K para PA

Pre-K for PA is a statewide coalition fighting to ensure that all children enter school ready to succeed by making high-quality pre-k accessible to every three- and four-year-old in Pennsylvania.