Executive Director

Let’s make young children a priority for Pennsylvania

As Kiwanians, We’ve made young children our priority because we believe they are key to a bright future. As leaders in our communities, we can help make their future a priority for Pennsylvania.

At the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission’s annual summit in Harrisburg, I had the opportunity to hear first-hand from national experts in both child and economic development why giving our children quality early learning opportunities (both at home and in an early learning program) is so important. Judy L. Cameron, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh explained why quality early learning in the first five years is crucial. In the first five years, brain plasticity is very high, with the neural circuits for vision, hearing, language, and higher cognitive function peaking in the first two years of age. Experience affects which neural circuits remain and which by age six will be “pruned” or cut away. “The rate of return is much greater when early education is done early, as brain plasticity decreases with age.” stated Cameron.

By age two, our brains are peaking. After age six, connections are harder to make. This is such a small window to make a difference!

Forty years of research shows us that quality early learning makes a difference, especially for children that experience risks like living in economically at-risk families. These children make remarkable gains in development even in one year of pre-kindergarten so they enter school on par with their peers and continue to succeed throughout life.

In Pennsylvania, more than half of our children under age five live in economically at-risk families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. In 2009-2010, about one-third of Pennsylvania’s young children participated in publicly-funded quality early education programs like Nurse-Family Partnership, Parent-Child Home Program, Keystone STARS, Early Intervention, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, and Head Start. Pennsylvania has made progress in the past few years to make more quality early learning options available across the commonwealth, but we are far from giving every child the opportunity to reach their promise.

Each one of us can make a difference:

Help young children learn. Simply talking, reading and playing with children from birth helps them build the necessary language, math and social skills. Share with your friends, families, and colleagues tips on helping children learn at home and choosing quality early learning programs. Bookmarks, fact sheets and brochures are available on the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website at www.papromiseforchildren.com.

Connect with quality early learning programs in your community. As you consider volunteer and community service projects, consider reaching out to new Keystone STARS, Head Start, and Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts programs in your community.

Educate other leaders in your community. As a Kiwanian, you garner the respect of school, business leaders and public officials in your community. Don’t be shy to share with them your passion for helping our young children succeed and stories of children reaching their promise through quality early education. Simply asking them about their knowledge of and experiences with early education can start a fruitful conversation that leads to another supporter!

As Pennsylvania enters a new chapter in its government, with a new Governor and legislative session starting in January, we have a new opportunity to create urgency among our leaders that quality early education needs to be a priority for Pennsylvania. I encourage you to visit the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website at www.papromiseforchildren.com to learn more ways that you can join me to help make quality early education a priority for Pennsylvania.

Carlisle presentation

Carlisle presentation Jan 25