Less than half, or 44%, of the state’s 3- and 4-year-olds participate in high-quality, publicly funded pre-K, according to Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. An estimated 84,000 children are left out and Black children are less likely to attend high-quality programs. Research indicates that a quality pre-kindergarten education prepares children for kindergarten and beyond. Attendees are less likely to be […]
Shapiro wants to move ahead with pilot Medicaid program after Trump declines to ax federal funds
Gov. Josh Shapiro is again asking the legislature to fund a trial run of extra Medicaid benefits, saying that the Trump administration will honor a Biden-era approval despite Republicans’ desire to clamp down on Medicaid spending. The pilot program would fund medication for those leaving prison, housing assistance for the homeless, and specialized meal delivery […]
Education advocates: PA budget addresses child care staffing crisis
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s latest state budget proposal lays out a sweeping economic plan, and education advocates say it maintains a strong focus on fixing Pennsylvania’s child-care staffing crisis. Kari King , president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said her group and the Early Learning Pennsylvania coalition are encouraged by the proposal, which includes a $10 million increase […]
Proposed State Budget Strengthens Support for Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Workforce
HARRISBURG, PA (February 3, 2026) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, expressed appreciation for the Shapiro Administration’s 2026-27 state budget proposal and its continued focus on children and early education workforce investments, while also highlighting the […]
Number of uninsured children in Pennsylvania surges to highest number in a decade
More than 153,000 children in Pennsylvania are uninsured — the highest number in a decade — as rising costs, policy changes, and expiring federal supports make it harder for families to keep coverage. That’s about 5% of children in the commonwealth. “We’re moving into a time period where we’re just going to see the connection […]
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💙 Today is National Child Health Day!
Every child deserves a healthy start and the opportunity to thrive. That means access to quality health care, perinatal health services, health coverage, immunizations, early intervention, behavioral health supports and the resources
October is National Children’s Health Month! 💙
Every child deserves a healthy start and the opportunity to thrive. That means access to perinatal health care, health coverage, vaccinations, early intervention and the resources families need from the very beginning.
💙 As Kinship Care Month comes to a close, we’re highlighting why kinship care matters.
📊 Research is clear: when children can’t stay with their parents, they do best with kin.
Kinship families can provide stability, cultural identity, resilient mental health & behavioral