The evidence is clear that access to a high-quality early care and education system positively impacts the lives of Pennsylvania’s children and prepares them for a successful life. Unfortunately, the state is falling short for children across the commonwealth and for the providers investing their time, money, and careers in teaching our youngest children. Comprehensive policy solutions and increased investments are needed to change the system’s trajectory. It is not an easy, one-time fix. Pennsylvania’s early care and education system must be continually evaluated to ensure Pennsylvania’s children have a better chance for success. Collaboration between families, providers, policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders will ensure the policies have the intended changes. Working together, we can build Pennsylvania’s early care and education system to be a leading model within the nation while solidifying our state’s future for future generations. Policy Recommendations to Strengthen Pennsylvania’s Early Care and Education System 1. Increase state and federal funding for the child care sector to serve more infants and toddlers and incentivize more child care providers to open, especially in child care deserts. 2. Increase state pre-k investments in Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental
Assistance Programs to expand access to more 3- and 4-year-olds.
3. Increase state funding for the child care sector to help build an infrastructure that will support providers to cover the true cost of providing high-quality care. 4. Implement a child care workforce wage scale to diminish teacher turnover and stabilize the child care sector. 5. D evelop a pay parity policy for pre-k teachers that reflects wages provided to teachers in the K-12 system with the same degrees and credentials. 6. Require OCDEL to produce a report every three years that provides a clear picture of the early childhood workforce, using state- and county-level data, and include recommendations on how Pennsylvania can better support the early childhood profession. 7. Expand the number of high-quality providers by increasing incentives within Pennsylvania’s QRIS, Keystone STARS. 8. P rovide additional opportunities for professional development and career advancement. 9. Conduct an equity audit of Pennsylvania’s early care and education system to understand better changes needed to ensure equitable access for all children. 10. C ease the use of market rate surveys and instead conduct cost estimation studies using an approved cost modeling tool to determine the true cost of care. We need to change the current methodology and payment mechanisms, including increasing the use of grants in child care.
2023 State of Early Care and Education
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