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 incarcerated later in life and more likely to graduate from high school.
“Pre-K is one of the most cost-effective investments that the state can make,” said Rep. Sean Dougherty (D-Philadelphia). “High-quality early childhood education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and better health outcomes.”