Earlier this week, Governor Tom Corbett unveiled his budget for next year. He proposed an additional $3 million for education.
41% of the state's general fund budget, which is around $11.7 billion dollars, is slated for early, basic and higher education and public libraries. In previous years, he'd been strongly criticized for failing to provide enough money.
On Friday, Corbett was joined by supporters at the Crispus Attucks Early Learning Center in York.
Corbett referenced Keystone STARS and Rising STARS programs. These programs increase the quality of child care programs and promote greater access for at risk-children to higher quality child care to better prepare them for kindergarten.
"We're proposing $348 million in early childhood programs and another $6.4 million toward our pre-k count and head start supplemental assistance program. this money will provide daytime and summer pre-kindergarten services to 3,200 more children." Corbett said.
The Governor also outlined his passport for learning block grant program. This is a one-time only offer. Money will come from the sale of the state liquor system. "The funds can go for supporting or enhancing quality education programs that meet our academic standards and enhance elementary reading and math through third garage. We need to be able to have our children do math and reading at the third grade level when they hit third grade. We know from the research that if they're at third grade level when they hit third grade the possibility of success increases tremendously."
Corbett said every child in Pennsylvania deserves the chance of an equal start in life. He also said, what they learn the years before kindergarten can make the difference. Their first years in school will mark the beginning of a lifetime of success.
41% of the state's general fund budget, which is around $11.7 billion dollars, is slated for early, basic and higher education and public libraries. In previous years, he'd been strongly criticized for failing to provide enough money.
On Friday, Corbett was joined by supporters at the Crispus Attucks Early Learning Center in York.
Corbett referenced Keystone STARS and Rising STARS programs. These programs increase the quality of child care programs and promote greater access for at risk-children to higher quality child care to better prepare them for kindergarten.
"We're proposing $348 million in early childhood programs and another $6.4 million toward our pre-k count and head start supplemental assistance program. this money will provide daytime and summer pre-kindergarten services to 3,200 more children." Corbett said.
The Governor also outlined his passport for learning block grant program. This is a one-time only offer. Money will come from the sale of the state liquor system. "The funds can go for supporting or enhancing quality education programs that meet our academic standards and enhance elementary reading and math through third garage. We need to be able to have our children do math and reading at the third grade level when they hit third grade. We know from the research that if they're at third grade level when they hit third grade the possibility of success increases tremendously."
Corbett said every child in Pennsylvania deserves the chance of an equal start in life. He also said, what they learn the years before kindergarten can make the difference. Their first years in school will mark the beginning of a lifetime of success.