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PRINTER'S NO. 970
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
176
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY MURT, BISHOP, BOBACK, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE,
CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, SCHLEGEL CULVER, DiGIROLAMO,
DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FARINA, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HARHAI,
A. HARRIS, HENNESSEY, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE,
MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, McNEILL, MILLARD, O'BRIEN,
C. PARKER, READSHAW, ROSS, ROZZI, SAYLOR, SCHLOSSBERG,
SCHWEYER, THOMAS, VEREB, WARD, WATSON, WHEELAND AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 24, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 24, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2015 as "The Month of the Young
Child" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, There are more than 730,000 children from birth to
five years of age in Pennsylvania today; and
WHEREAS, A young child's brain forms 700 neural synapses a
second, and the circuits for key functions such as vision,
hearing, language and higher cognitive function develop the most
in the first five years of life; and
WHEREAS, The creation of these circuits is affected by a
child's early learning environment; and
WHEREAS, Young children learn best when they have proper
health and nutrition, a safe and stable family and home life and
activities that stimulate creativity, curiosity and all the
skills they will need to succeed; and
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WHEREAS, High-quality early learning and child development
play a major role in a child's future success in school and in
life; and
WHEREAS, Talking, reading and playing with children from
birth builds the language, mathematics and social skills they
need to be ready for kindergarten; and
WHEREAS, Forty years of research show that children receiving
high-quality early education are more likely to be prepared for
and do better in school, graduate high school, attend college
and participate in job training; and
WHEREAS, Children attending high-quality early learning
programs are better prepared for the competitive work force,
including opportunities in law enforcement and the military; and
WHEREAS, High-quality early learning is especially beneficial
to children whose educational opportunities are hindered by
poverty or other circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Parents and guardians are able to be productive,
engaged and focused employees when they have stable, affordable
and high-quality early learning settings for their children; and
WHEREAS, Research demonstrates high-quality early learning
saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the need for special
education and remedial instruction and decreases drop-out rates,
crime and incarceration; and
WHEREAS, High-quality early learning programs in Pennsylvania
such as Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance
Program, Keystone STARS, Early Intervention and evidence-based
home visiting are sound investments that are preparing our
youngest children for success in school and in life; and
WHEREAS, Supporting and retaining a well-trained, early
learning staff is critical as a highly qualified work force is
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an essential element of a high-quality program; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, the number of high-quality learning
programs in Pennsylvania falls short of meeting the needs of
Pennsylvania children; and
WHEREAS, Only one in six children is able to access high-
quality, publicly funded prekindergarten and only 4.8% of child
care openings for children birth to four years of age are in the
highest quality STAR 4 or accredited programs; and
WHEREAS, Children only have one early childhood experience,
and delayed investments are lost opportunities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of April 2015 as "The Month of the Young Child" in
Pennsylvania and recognize that every child in Pennsylvania
deserves access to high-quality early learning opportunities.
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