Findings Will Help State Target Funding for Programs Like Pre-K Counts,
Head Start
HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than
two-thirds of Pennsylvania's counties have social and economic conditions
that put young children at a higher risk of academic failure, according to
a new state report.
The report, conducted by the state's Office of Child Development and
Early Learning, will help state officials and educators better target
funding for early childhood programs such as Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and
Head Start, said Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak and Public Welfare
Secretary Estelle B. Richman.
"This information helps us gauge our efforts in reaching those children
who face the greatest risks and obstacles to learning," Zahorchak said.
"When we are able to identify these at-risk children, we can invest our
precious education funds more strategically."
"There is no better gift to give children than to provide them with the
tools necessary to help them enter school ready to succeed," said Richman.
"With this new information, we are more prepared than ever to continue
working with families to ensure that vital funding is available for
necessary services and support to reach those most in need."
The report compiled information from 2006-07 on the number of children
served by state and federal early childhood programs and the funding levels
for those programs. It includes an analysis of educational and family risk
factors and identifies counties most likely to benefit from early childhood
investments based on those risk factors.
Each county's risk level was calculated using seven criteria:
-- The percentage of children under age five living in low-income families
(based on 2000 U.S. Census data that defines low income as below 200
percent of federal poverty level).
-- The percentage of families with children under age five living below
poverty level.
-- The percentage of single mother-lead families with children under age
five living below poverty level.
-- The percentage of children receiving aid through the federal Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program.
-- The rate of births to mothers with less than a high school degree.
-- The percentage of students who were below proficient in 3rd grade math
on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.
-- The percentage of students who were below proficient in 3rd grade
reading on the PSSA.
Counties were given numeric "average risk levels" that ranged from 1.00
to 4.00. Those at 1.00 or lower were deemed low risk, while levels from
1.01 to 2.00 were considered moderate-low risk. Counties with risk levels
ranging from 2.01 to 3.00 were considered moderate-high risk, while those
above 3.00 were classified as high risk.
Only two counties -- Bucks and Montgomery -- were classified as low
risk, while 16 were high risk, including two -- Fayette and Green -- that
had risk levels of 4.00. Another 31 were classified as moderate-high risk,
while the remaining 18 were moderate-low risk.
The statewide average risk level was 2.49.
On average, the report found, state and federally funded early
childhood programs reached about 26 percent of the approximately 728,000
Pennsylvania children under age five during 2006-07.
Research shows children who attend high-quality pre-kindergarten
programs tend to do better in school, are less likely to repeat a grade,
and are more likely to attend college and be more productive adults.
Recognizing these outcomes, the 2007-08 state budget signed into law in
July by Governor Edward G. Rendell included $75 million for the launch of
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. The funds will enable 11,000 Pennsylvania three-
and four-year-olds to have access to pre-K programs.
The budget also increased funding for Governor Rendell's Accountability
Block Grant program to make an additional $20 million available for
full-day kindergarten to nearly 7,600 more families. The budget also
continued Pennsylvania's landmark funding for Head Start. In all, the
budget invests at least $95 million this year in quality early childhood
programs.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning, which is overseen
by the departments of Education and Public Welfare, was created under
Governor Rendell to bring a stronger focus to helping the commonwealth's
youngest children develop and learn to their fullest potential.
Detailed information on the Office of Child Development and Early
Learning study, including county-by-county statistics, can be found at the
Pennsylvania Department of Education Web site at
http://www.pde.state.pa.us, the Department of Public Welfare Web site at
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/, or at
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/early_childhood/cwp/view.asp?a=179&q=106802&earl
y_c hildhoodNav=|10723|&early_childhoodNav.
CONTACT: Michael Race (PDE)
(717) 783-9802
Stacy Witalec (DPW)
(717) 787-4592
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SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education
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Related links:
http://www.pde.state.pa.us
CONTACT:
Michael Race of the Pennsylvania Department
of Education, +1-717-783-9802; or Stacy Witalec of the Department
of Public Welfare, +1-717-787-4592
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