1Designating October 2014 as "Pennsylvania's Promise for Children
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Currently, there are approximately 730,000 children
4five years of age or younger in this Commonwealth; and

5WHEREAS, The quality of a child's experiences before five
6years of age shapes the brain architecture and how the child
7learns; and

8WHEREAS, Quality early learning and child development plays a
9major role in a child's future success in school and in life;
10and

11WHEREAS, Young children learn best when they have proper
12health and nutrition, a safe and stable family and home life and
13activities that stimulate creativity and curiosity; and

14WHEREAS, Forty years of research shows that children who
15receive high quality early education are more likely to be
16prepared for and do better in school, graduate high school,
17attend college or job training and be better prepared for a
18competitive work force; and

1WHEREAS, Adults who had quality early learning experiences as
2children have positive social, economic and health outcomes
3which provide long-term benefits to our communities; and

4WHEREAS, Talking, reading and playing with children beginning
5at birth builds the language, math and social skills they need
6to be ready for kindergarten; and

7WHEREAS, A child's family and trusted adults play a critical
8role in the child's development; and

9WHEREAS, Choosing quality early learning programs such as
10Keystone STARS, Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Early Intervention,
11Nurse-Family Partnership and Parent-Child Home Program, which
12partner with families and provide children with good teachers
13and learning activities, sparks creativity and a love for
14learning so children can grow and develop; and

15WHEREAS, Every $1 invested in quality early education saves
16at least $7 in special education, public assistance, corrections
17and lost taxes; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 2014 as
19"Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Month" and recognize that
20every child in this Commonwealth deserves access to quality
21early learning opportunities and that it is the responsibility
22of every citizen of this Commonwealth to help our children reach
23their promise.