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Early Education
Every Child, Every School: Success from the Start a guide
to early childhood education implementation
In phase two of the state budget process, lawmakers can assure education
accountability by addressing the three planks of early childhood
education proven to promote school success: prekindergarten, full-day
kindergarten, and small classes in the early grades, according to
Every Child, Every School: Success from the Start, issued by Pennsylvania
Partnerships for Children in March 2003.
Every Child, Every School details the three programs noted by Governor
Rendell as key factors in education reform, with a research-proven
early childhood education approach to boost test scores, grades,
and student success throughout the school years.
As Pennsylvania faces a mandate to achieve 100 percent proficiency
in reading and math by 2014, the children with the farthest to go
are those facing the strongest obstacles to success, the report
notes. As groups, low-income, minority, and limited-English-proficiency
children score lower on state achievement exams, so PPC's report
recommends that, in large part, implementation begins with them:
- High-quality prekindergarten: Pennsylvania remains one of
nine states without a prekindergarten investment. The state
should phase in voluntary, universal prekindergarten for 4-year-olds,
provided in a variety of settings to fit parents' needs and
encourage community planning. To emphasize prekindergarten's
educational aspects, the state Department of Education should
have oversight, and local school districts could administer
services.
- Full-day, developmentally appropriate kindergarten: The state
should fund full-day kindergarten by including it in an overhaul
of the basic school funding formula. Currently, districts get
no extra funding for an additional half-day.
- Small class sizes in the early grades: To boost students'
report cards and test scores, even in later grades, the state
should help high-poverty districts achieve average class sizes
of 17 students in kindergarten through third grade.
While lawmakers debate Governor Rendell's early childhood education
plan, they should also strive for education finance reform, restoring
equity and adequacy to education funding to further assure the school
success of every child, the report states.
As lawmakers consider their options, PPC will offer its help to
the Rendell Administration and legislators in developing and implementing
effective early childhood education policies that promise school
success for every child and position Pennsylvania for accomplishment
of No Child Left Behind mandates.
This Page Last Modified
September 28, 2004
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Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
116 Pine Street, Suite 430
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-236-5680 / 800-257-2030
Fax: 717-236-7745
Contact PPC/Questions
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