Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says Nearly 12,000 Children Will be Served in Second Year of ‘Pre-K Counts’

    State Invests $86.4 Million in High-Quality Early Learning Programs;

Parents Urged to Begin Enrolling Children



    HARRISBURG, Pa., July 15 /EMWNews/ -- Governor Edward G.

Rendell today announced that 11,800 3- and 4-year-olds will benefit from

the second year of Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, the quality pre-kindergarten

program that is funded by an $86.4 million investment in the new state

budget.



    The Governor encouraged parents to immediately begin enrolling their

children for the new school year.



    "Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is a resounding success for children,

families and the commonwealth," Governor Rendell said. "Data from the first

year showed that children who participated in a Pre-K Counts program are

better prepared to begin learning as they enter kindergarten, setting the

stage for greater success throughout school and into their careers."



    Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts enables school districts, Head Start

providers, child care centers or group child care homes with a Keystone

STARS rating of STAR 2 or higher and nursery schools to deliver

high-quality pre-kindergarten to more children, with an emphasis on those

who are at the greatest risk of future academic failure. Any public or

private school meeting the state's standards for educational quality was

eligible to apply for funding.



    "Families enrolling their child in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts can expect

a high quality pre-kindergarten experience," said Education Secretary

Gerald L. Zahorchak. "We are investing in the programs that are proven to

work, and as a result our youngest children will be better prepared for

their school career from K-12."



    This program was immediately successful in its first year of operation,

and many of the continuing programs are already at full enrollment. The new

grantees will help meet some of the high demand for services. Parents are

encouraged to act quickly to enroll their children for the programs, which

will start in September.



    Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts requires grantees to provide a qualified

teacher and teacher's aide, small class size, a curriculum that is aligned

with the Pennsylvania Early Learning standards, regular assessment of the

children's progress and reporting of the program's performance. These

quality expectations will ensure that children will have a high quality

early learning experience.







    Children who are at least age three and younger than the entry age of

kindergarten are eligible to apply. Priority enrollment for PA Pre-K Counts

is designed for children who are at risk of school failure, either because

of income (300 percent of the federal poverty level, or a family of four

earning $63,600 per year), language (English is not your first language),

cultural or special needs issues.







    "Reaching out to at-risk children early provides a great opportunity to

offer early education that will help put those children on a road to

success," Zahorchak said. "These additional grants will allow us to impact

the lives of even more children."







    Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is among several innovative educational

initiatives funded in the 2008-09 budget recently signed into law by

Governor Rendell. The new budget introduces a predictable state funding

formula for the first time in nearly two decades. It increases funding for

basic education by $274 million, or 5.5 percent, while also continuing to

fund successful initiatives that are benefiting children from early

childhood through graduation.



    Families interested in enrolling their child in Pennsylvania Pre-K

Counts can find contact information for programs at

http://www.papromiseforchildren.com or call 1-877-4PA-KIDS (1-877-472-5437).



    The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public

education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing

economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out

more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly

newsletter, visit http://www.governor.state.pa.us.



    EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of the grant recipients follows:







    2008-09 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees



    Many grantees listed below have partnered with other early learning

programs to provide services and may be serving other cities in addition to

those listed. Contact the lead agency for information on additional

locations. Because some funding amounts are not yet finalized, exact

funding figures will be available at a later date.







    Adams County



    -- Little Life Enrichment Center



    -- Rural Opportunities Inc.



    Allegheny County



    -- Allegheny Intermediate Unit Head Start



    -- Butterfly Garden Early Learning Center



    -- Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center



    -- Highlands K-4 Modular



    -- McKeesport Area School District



    -- Pittsburgh School District



    -- Quaker Valley School District



    -- Riverview Children's Center



    -- West Mifflin Area School District



    -- Wilkinsburg Borough School District



    -- Woodland Hills School District



    Armstrong County



    -- Armstrong County Community Action Agency



    Beaver County



    -- Ambridge Area School District



    -- Beaver County Head Start (Civic Senior Citizens Club)



    -- Big Beaver Falls Area School District



    -- Hap Enterprises Inc.



    -- Lifesteps Inc. - Beaver County



    -- Riverside Beaver County School District



    -- Western Beaver County School District



    Bedford County



    -- Chestnut Ridge School District



    -- Tussey Mountain School District



    Berks County



    -- Berks Community Action Program



    Blair County



    -- Child Advocates of Blair Co./Head Start



    -- Lily Pond Child Development Centers Inc.



    -- Tyrone Area School District



    Bradford County



    -- Athens Area School District



    -- North Penn Comp Hlth Services



    -- Wyalusing Valley Children's Center Inc.



    Bucks County



    -- Bristol Township School District



    -- Morrisville Borough School District



    -- Neshaminy School District



    -- United Way of Bucks County



    Butler County



    -- Butler County Children's Center Inc.



    -- Lifesteps Inc. - Butler County



    Cambria County



    -- Cambria Heights School District



    -- Northern Cambria School District



    -- Community Action Partnership of Cambria County



    -- Conemaugh Valley School District



    -- Greater Johnstown School District



    -- Penn Cambria School District



    Cameron County



    -- Northern Tier Community Action Center



    Carbon County



    -- Rural Opportunities Inc.



    -- Jim Thorpe Area School District



    Centre County



    -- Bennett Family Center



    -- Cen-Clear Child Services Inc.



    -- Child Development Council



    Chester County



    -- Childtime Childcare Inc.



    -- Creative Play Day School



    -- Owen J Roberts SD



    -- Phoenixville Area YMCA



    -- Warwick Child Care Center Inc.



    Clarion County



    -- Jefferson-Clarion Head Start



    Clearfield County



    -- Harmony Area School District



    -- Cen-Clear Child Services Inc.



    -- Children's Aid Society in Clearfield County



    Clinton County



    -- Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP)

Inc.



    Columbia County



    -- Columbia Child Development Program



    Crawford County



    -- Penncrest School District



    -- YWCA Twin Creeks Head Start



    Cumberland County



    -- Carlisle Early Education Center



    -- KinderCare Learning Center 301716 (Cumberland)



    -- Mechanicsburg Area School District



    Dauphin County



    -- Halifax School District



    -- Harrisburg City School District



    -- Heaven Sent Learning Center Inc.



    -- Steelton-Highspire School District



    Delaware County



    -- Chester-Upland School District



    -- Delaware County IU 25



    Erie County



    -- Benedictine Sisters of Erie



    -- Corry Area School District



    -- Dr Gertrude - A Barber Center



    -- Early Connections Early Learning Ctr



    -- Erie City School District



    -- Greater Erie Community Action Committee



    -- Millcreek Township School District



    -- YMCA of Greater Erie



    Fayette County



    -- Frazier School District



    Fayette County



    -- Private Industry Council of Westmoreland-Fayette



    Franklin County



    -- Chambersburg Area School District



    -- Fannett-Metal School District



    Fulton County



    -- Southern Fulton School District



    Greene County



    -- Community Action Southwest



    Huntingdon County



    -- Huntingdon County Child & Adult Development Corporation



    Indiana County



    -- Grand Beginnings Children Center Inc.



    -- Indiana County Child Day Care Program Inc.



    -- Marion Center Area School District



    -- Penns Manor Area School District



    Jefferson County



    -- Jefferson-Clarion Head Start I



    Lackawanna County



    -- ABC Kiddie Kampus



    -- Forest City Regional School District



    -- Infant Care Program @ Covenant Church



    -- Northeastern Child Care Services



    -- Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency Inc.



    -- Sunshine & Rainbows Day Care Center



    -- Wee Care Day Care (KMP Inc.)



    Lancaster County



    -- Cocalico School District



    -- Hildebrandt Learning Centers, LLC



    -- KinderCare Learning Center 073018 (Lancaster)



    -- Lancaster School District



    -- Little People Day Care School (SSB Corporation)



    -- Owl Hill Learning Centers



    Lawrence County



    -- Lawrence County Social Services Inc.



    Lebanon County



    -- Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13



    Lehigh County



    -- Community Services Children Inc.



    -- Lehigh Valley Child Care Inc. - Lehigh County



    -- The Cuddle Zone Learning Center



    Luzerne County



    -- Child Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc.



    -- Greater Nanticoke Area School District



    -- Hazleton Area School District



    -- Luzerne County Head Start Inc.



    -- Rainbow Hill School



    Lycoming County



    -- Jersey Shore Area School District



    -- East Lycoming School District



    -- Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP)

Inc.



    -- Montgomery Area School District



    McKean County



    -- Otto-Eldred School District



    -- Smethport Area School District



    Mercer County



    -- Community Action Partnership of Mercer County



    -- Zion Family Services Inc.



    Mifflin County



    -- Snyder Union Mifflin Child Development Inc.



    -- Hide N Seek Nursery School



    Monroe County



    -- Pocono Services for Families and Children



    -- The Growing Place Child Care Centers



    -- Tobyhanna Kids Day Care Center



    -- Wee Wons Inc.



    Montgomery County



    -- Jenkintown Day Nursery



    -- Phoenixville Area YMCA



    -- Montgomery County Children's Center



    -- Day Care Centers Inc.



    -- Pottstown School District



    -- Step By Step Inc.



    Montour County



    -- Danville Area Head Start



    Northampton County



    -- Bethlehem Area School District



    -- Community Services Children Inc.



    -- Family YMCA Early Childhood Development Center



    -- Lehigh Valley Child Care Inc. - Northampton County



    -- Northampton County Area Community College



    Northumberland County



    -- Central Susquehanna IU 16



    -- Mount Carmel Area School District



    Perry County



    -- Newport School District



    Philadelphia County



    -- Philadelphia City School District



    Pike County



    -- Delaware Valley School District



    -- Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency Inc.



    Potter County



    -- Galeton Area School District



    -- OSWAYO Valley School District



    -- Austin Area School District



    Schuylkill County



    -- Child Development Inc.



    -- Dawn to Dusk Learning and Child Care Center



    Somerset County



    -- Tableland Services Inc.



    -- Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District



    Susquehanna County



    -- Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency Inc.



    -- Mountain View School District



    -- Forest City Regional School District



    -- Northeastern Child Care Services



    Tioga County



    -- Northern Tioga School District



    -- Southern Tioga School District



    Union County



    -- Lewisburg Area School District



    Venango County



    -- Child Development Ctrs Inc.



    -- Oil City Area School District



    Warren County



    -- Warren-Forest County Economic Opportunity Council



    Washington County



    -- Community Action Southwest



    Wayne County



    -- Forest City Regional School District



    -- Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency Inc.



    -- Northeastern Child Care Services



    Westmoreland County



    -- Monessen School District



    -- Seton Hill Child Services Inc.



    Wyoming County



    -- H.A.N.D.S. of Wyoming County



    York County



    -- Crispus Attucks Association Inc.



    -- Kinder-Care Learning Center 301025 (York)



    -- York City School District



    -- York Day Nursery Inc.



    -- York Jewish Community Center



    -- York YWCA



    CONTACT:



    Chuck Ardo



    717-783-1116



    Leah Harris (PDE)



    717-783-9802