PRINTER'S NO. 622
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
96
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, SCHWANK, CAPPELLETTI, TARTAGLIONE,
BOSCOLA, HAYWOOD, STREET, BREWSTER, BROWN, MILLER AND
LAUGHLIN, APRIL 20, 2023
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 20, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of April 2023 as "The Month of the Young
Child" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In the first years of life, human brains grow faster
than at any other time; and
WHEREAS, At no other time in a human's life will the brain
develop at this remarkable speed or with such intricacy; and
WHEREAS, This is the foundation upon which all later
learning, behavior and health depend; and
WHEREAS, There are 1.2 million children between birth and 8
years of age in this Commonwealth, 17% of whom live in low-
income families; and
WHEREAS, High-quality early childhood programs provide
essential benefits to children, families and our national and
state economies; and
WHEREAS, Participation in high-quality early childhood
education saves taxpayer dollars, makes working families more
economically secure and prepares children to succeed in school,
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earn higher wages and live healthier lives; and
WHEREAS, Parents will always be the most important influence
on their children; and
WHEREAS, There are nearly 796,000 working parents with
children under six years of age in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Evidence-based programs that strengthen our families
and ensure access to high-quality early care and education are
needed to maximize children's potential in the first five years
of life; and
WHEREAS, Despite the proven benefits of high-quality early
care and education, more eligible Pennsylvania children and
families need access to these services; and
WHEREAS, Just 2% of all children under six years of age and
only 5% of low-income children under six years of age are
receiving publicly funded, evidence-based home visiting
services; and
WHEREAS, Only 45% of subsidized children under five years of
age and 42% of subsidized infants and toddlers attend a high-
quality child care program; and
WHEREAS, Only 46% of child care capacity in this Commonwealth
meets high-quality standards; and
WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of eligible children under five
years of age and 79% of eligible infants or toddlers are not
enrolled in the Child Care Works subsidized child care program;
and
WHEREAS, Fifty-seven percent of eligible children, three and
four years of age, do not have access to high-quality
prekindergarten; and
WHEREAS, High-quality early childhood education depends on
high-quality early childhood educators who ensure that children,
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supported by families, have the early experiences they need for
a strong foundation; and
WHEREAS, Early childhood educators and professionals should
be valued, respected and compensated for the crucial roles that
they play; and
WHEREAS, Payment rates provided to early childhood programs
to provide high-quality early care and education services to
low-income children do not cover the costs of quality; and
WHEREAS, The continued staffing crisis can be detrimental to
the development of young children and families' ability to work;
and
WHEREAS, Young children need skilled, educated, competent and
consistent early childhood educators; and
WHEREAS, Working families need sufficient high-quality child
care spaces beginning at birth to be available in the community;
and
WHEREAS, Early childhood educators need the ability to earn a
family-sustaining wage that is commensurate with the required
education and skills they bring to the complex and valuable work
they do; and
WHEREAS, The Senate acknowledges the 52nd anniversary of the
"Week of the Young Child" to advance the early childhood
education profession; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of April 2023
as "The Month of the Young Child" in Pennsylvania.
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