Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Public Policy Priorities for 2007- 2008

Early Care and Education
Why it matters:  High-quality early care and education improves the school readiness of young children by enhancing their social, emotional and cognitive development.

• Assure availability, affordability and quality of child care for infants through school-aged children.
• Develop a dedicated funding stream to support the expansion of pre-kindergarten programs in Pennsylvania in order to assure that every Pennsylvania preschooler has a high-quality experience.
• Support legislative and regulatory efforts to ensure high-quality pre-K.
• Support increased Accountability Block Grant funding and Head Start funding until a dedicated pre-kindergarten funding stream is developed.

High-Quality Public Education 
Why it matters:  Education is the foundation of a child’s future.  All children in PA deserve the same quality education, regardless of family income status or where they live.

• Assure equity and adequacy in school funding so that all students have a quality education.
• Provide direct support to school districts to pay for a full day of kindergarten.
• Promote small classes in kindergarten through third grade.
• Take steps to improve high school graduation rates in Pennsylvania and assure that more young people graduate ready for postsecondary education and work. 
• Support improved guidance, career explorations and work-based learning opportunities. 
• Improve the quality and value of career and technical education.

Children’s Health
Why it matters: Lack of health care or delays in treatment can negatively impact cognitive, emotional, behavioral and physical development.

• Build on the success of CHIP and Medicaid to assure that every Pennsylvania child is insured and receives the benefits and services they need.
• Advance strategies that assure that young people who are aging out of our delinquency and dependency systems continue to have access to health benefits.
• Explore strategies to better deliver health services in Pennsylvania schools.
• Build an accountability system designed to track the delivery of health care services through Medicaid and CHIP and take steps to assure that all children receive comprehensive health services designed to assure their wellness.

Family Support  
Why it matters:  A wide array of parents could benefit from counseling, mentoring, information and other forms of support that can help prevent long-term social and family problems, saving money – and even lives – in the process.

• Expand research-based family support services, such as nurse-family partnerships.
• Explore the development of an expanded model of family resource centers to better meet the needs of Pennsylvania’s young children as well as adolescents and teenagers.