Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts                (last updated: 3/12/09)

If we want a good quality of life, high quality jobs and a strong economy for Pennsylvania, we need to provide opportunities to every Pennsylvanian. Early education can open the doors of opportunity for every child to do well in school, in the workforce, and in life.

Quality pre-kindergarten benefits children and families today and tomorrow, and greatly benefits Pennsylvania in the future.

The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts pre-kindergarten program, established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, will make quality pre-kindergarten opportunities available to children and families across the Commonwealth. Governor Rendell’s proposed investment of $75 million in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, as a new component of the Accountability Block Grant, will provide funding for more than 11,000 of our 3- and 4-year olds to attend quality half- and full-day pre-kindergarten in schools, Head Start, child care centers and nursery schools in the 2007-2008 school year.

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program:

  • is based on the quality components adopted for pre-kindergarten by the State Board of Education;
  • provides families in participating communities with a choice of quality pre-kindergarten options – in a school, child care center, Head Start, or nursery school;
  • increases access to quality pre-kindergarten to children and families throughout the Commonwealth with a priority in at-risk communities;
  • builds on the work of the Pre K Counts Public-Private Partnership for Educational Success, a three-year project funded by leading Pennsylvania foundations and supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Early results from this public-private initiative find that children’s early learning improves when all early learning programs in a community share resources to improve quality and coordinate early learning experiences in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and beyond.

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts at a glance:

What can I expect from a PA Pre-K Counts classroom? Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts classrooms will:

  • have teachers with the education and expertise to teach young children;
  • use a curriculum that will help your child grow, academically and socially;
  • regularly review your child’s progress and choose teaching and learning activities that are best for your child;
  • help you and your child adjust to pre-kindergarten and smoothly move on to kindergarten;
  • offer a small class size (20 students per one teacher and one aide) so that your child can have plenty of one-on-one time with the teachers.

By enrolling your child in PA Pre-K Counts, you can give your child a great start to a bright future.

Who is eligible for PA Pre-K Counts? Each program offering PA Pre-K Counts classrooms will have their own guidelines, but PA Pre-K Counts is designed for children who

  • are between age 3 and younger than the entry age for kindergarten;
  • are at risk of school failure, either because of income (300% of the federal poverty level, or a family of four earning $66,150, language (English is not your first language), or special needs issues. If your child falls into these categories, you may be eligible to apply.

How much does PA Pre-K Counts cost? PA Pre-K Counts is free to families.*

* The portion of the day that is funded through Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is free to families; the program may charge for additional portions of the day (wrap-around care, etc.)

How can I enroll my child in a PA Pre-K Counts classroom? There are PA Pre-K Counts classrooms in 57 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.  Please note: Many grantees have partnered with other early learning programs to provide services and may be serving nearby cities as well as the ones listed for the lead agency. Contact the lead agency for more information.  Click HERE for a list of grantees for the 2008-2009 school year.

Estimated number of children served: In 2008-2009, approximately 11,800 3 and 4 year olds are being served.

2007-2008 PA Pre-K Counts End of Year Report

On October 1, OCDEL released the 2007-2008 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts year end report. The report highlights the positive impact of the program for children and families across the commonwealth:

  • Children are learning. Ninety-four percent of Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts children finished the school year with age-appropriate skills and behavior or emerging age-appropriate skills and behavior–a stunning success rate.
  • Parents are engaged. Parents’ involvement in their children’s early learning is increasing as they conduct learning activities at home and volunteer in programs.
  • Children at risk of school failure are receiving access to this high quality program. Ninety-five percent of children in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts are affected by at least one risk factor for school failure; 75% are affected by two or more risk factors.
  • Teachers are qualified. Sixty-three percent of lead teachers have obtained or are working towards teacher certification in early childhood education.
  • Class sizes are small. Average class size of 16 children per lead teacher and teacher aide surpasses best practices in the field.
  • The program is a sound public investment. Grantees are following strict fiscal guidelines and are being monitored to insure best use of public dollars.

 

PA Pre-K Counts Mid-Year Report

As per statute, OCDEL submitted its mid year report on Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts to the General Assembly today. The report highlights the amazing progress our 146 grantees with 179 partners have made to offer quality pre-kindergarten to 10,980 children in 845 classrooms.

According to the report: 

  • Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is serving three and four year olds in every region of the state in a mix of settings (school-based and community-based programs). (pp 9-10)
  • In a comparison of PA Pre-K Counts quality expectations to the National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) benchmarks for a quality early education program, PA Pre-K Counts meets or exceeds nearly every benchmark (p. 12)
  • Of the 827 lead teachers in PA Pre-K Counts classrooms, 86% have their Bachelor’s degree, and 72% either have earned their ECE teaching certificate or are pursuing ECE certification.* (p 13)
  • Average class size of a PA Pre-K Counts classroom is 15 children, which is fewer than the PA Pre-K Counts expectation of no more than 20 students and provides even greater one-on-one time between the teacher and students.

The report also highlights the extremely positive feedback from school administrators, teachers and parents about how Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is changing the lives of thousands of our young children and their families.

*as per the State Board of Education regulations, lead teachers in Head Start and child care programs have until December 2011 to meet ECE certification requirements, but now must have an associate’s degree or higher in early childhood education. Licensed nursery schools must have a BA and private teaching license.

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2009-2010 GUIDANCE AND APPLICATION 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009-2010 school year.

For FY 2009-2010, the Guidance and application for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, www.pde.state.pa.us or by clicking here. 

To register for the upcoming Bidders Conference and TA calls, click here.

To access the 2008-2009 ELS Memos and Poverty Information, click here. These are posted for your information, dates may change and there may be minor content changes for 09-10 but these give you an idea of the program structure.

To access the Guidance, letter of intent and resource materials, go to http://www.pde.state.pa.us/early_childhood/ and click on  “Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts.”

To access the application, you will go to the e-Grants portion of the PDE website. If you have used the e-Grants system before, you may log in using your e-Grants username and password. If you have not used the e-Grants system before, you will need to register for a username and password.

  • To register for a username and password, go to www.pde.state.pa.us and click on the e-Grants button in the left menu column. Then click on “Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts” and “Sign up your agency.” Once you’ve submitted your form, you will be emailed a confirmation within one business day.
  • If you already have a username and password, go to www.pde.state.pa.us and click on the e-Grants button in the left menu column. Then click on “Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts” and click on the flashing “Login to e-Grants” button in the upper left corner of the page to enter your username and password.

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