We continue to advocate, provide resources and educate for the benefit of the youngest children in Pennsylvania.
Partner with Early Learning Investment Commission
Kiwanis in Pennsylvania continues to work and partner with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission as a strategic partner of the Commission. Kiwanis is represented at all state-wide Commission meetings and Commission members participate in many Kiwanis sponsored presentations. Commission members have joined Kiwanis and through the Commission, Kiwanis is well recognized in Pennsylvania State Government for its work in the area of Early Childhood Education and Development. At the annual commission meeting on October 10, 2014 the work of Kiwanis was featured prominently. While I will touch on our learning guides program shortly, our association with the Commission has brought us the program and strongly leveraged the dollars we have invested in the program. Kiwanis will be addressing a planning session of the Early Learning Investment Commission on September 18, 2015 and was represented at a meeting on Early Childhood Development of World business leaders on October 1, 2015.
Research has shown that 90% of the brain’s development occurs by age 3 and 95% by age 5.
The basis for such things as working memory, mental flexibility and emotional self-control are largely developed by age 5.
From ages 1 -4, the brain is particularly receptive to learning math and logic.
The brain is most receptive at a very early age, even in the first few months of life.
Until age 8 or the 3rd grade a child learns to read. After the 3rd grade a child reads to learn. If by 3rd grade a child isn’t reading to grade level, they will struggle to do math, science and other subjects. They will be at greater risk of dropping out of school and not being prepared for available jobs. 3rd grade reading scores can be used as a predictor of the need for prison beds in the future.
If by age 6 a child hears 30,000,000 words, their chance of school success is greatly increased.
Without a quality early childhood education, not only will many kids struggle in school and fail to graduate, but they will likely make bad life decisions that lead to crime, teen pregnancy, and dependence on government programs.
Investments in quality early learning opportunities for young children yield impressive returns on investment and are more effective than remediation attempts later in life.
Pennsylvania Kiwanis Gets Involved in Advocating for Early Learning Programs
In the area of advocacy, over 100 Kiwanis Clubs wrote to their State Representatives and Senators in the past to express our support for the programs in the State budget that support quality early learning and development opportunities for young children. The good news here is that the Kiwanis efforts combined with the Early Learning Investment Commission and other groups and organizations across Pennsylvania helped procure funding increases for virtually all items in the state budget dealing with early development and learning.
Pennsylvania Kiwanis Club Partnering with Child Care Facilitates and Providers
Kiwanis Clubs are increasingly partnering with child care facilities and providers across the District; several clubs have “adopted” centers; some of the clubs which have been particularly proactive in this area include State College, Meadville, Nittany, Lewistown and Dillsburg.
Pennsylvania Kiwanians are asked to Support the Pre-K for PA Program
Kiwanians are, also, receiving information on and being asked to support the Pre-K for PA program, which would insure quality early education opportunities for all Pennsylvania Children. Kiwanis in Pennsylvania is a supporting organization for this campaign and recently joined the Pre-K for PA Leadership Council. We held a Kiwanis for Pre-K Day at the State Capital on June 17, 2015.
Partnership with the Nurse Family Partnership Program and Other Ways of Involvement
We are also developing a partnership with the Nurse Family Partnership program, a highly effective early childhood intervention program. We are involved in efforts to advocate for their continued funding from the Federal government.
Our Early Learning Involvement
We continue to advocate, provide resources and educate for the benefit of the youngest children in Pennsylvania.
Partner with Early Learning Investment Commission
Kiwanis in Pennsylvania continues to work and partner with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission as a strategic partner of the Commission. Kiwanis is represented at all state-wide Commission meetings and Commission members participate in many Kiwanis sponsored presentations. Commission members have joined Kiwanis and through the Commission, Kiwanis is well recognized in Pennsylvania State Government for its work in the area of Early Childhood Education and Development. At the annual commission meeting on October 10, 2014 the work of Kiwanis was featured prominently. While I will touch on our learning guides program shortly, our association with the Commission has brought us the program and strongly leveraged the dollars we have invested in the program. Kiwanis will be addressing a planning session of the Early Learning Investment Commission on September 18, 2015 and was represented at a meeting on Early Childhood Development of World business leaders on October 1, 2015.
Pennsylvania Kiwanis Gets Involved in Advocating for Early Learning Programs
In the area of advocacy, over 100 Kiwanis Clubs wrote to their State Representatives and Senators in the past to express our support for the programs in the State budget that support quality early learning and development opportunities for young children. The good news here is that the Kiwanis efforts combined with the Early Learning Investment Commission and other groups and organizations across Pennsylvania helped procure funding increases for virtually all items in the state budget dealing with early development and learning.
Pennsylvania Kiwanis Club Partnering with Child Care Facilitates and Providers
Kiwanis Clubs are increasingly partnering with child care facilities and providers across the District; several clubs have “adopted” centers; some of the clubs which have been particularly proactive in this area include State College, Meadville, Nittany, Lewistown and Dillsburg.
Pennsylvania Kiwanians are asked to Support the Pre-K for PA Program
Kiwanians are, also, receiving information on and being asked to support the Pre-K for PA program, which would insure quality early education opportunities for all Pennsylvania Children. Kiwanis in Pennsylvania is a supporting organization for this campaign and recently joined the Pre-K for PA Leadership Council. We held a Kiwanis for Pre-K Day at the State Capital on June 17, 2015.
Partnership with the Nurse Family Partnership Program and Other Ways of Involvement
We are also developing a partnership with the Nurse Family Partnership program, a highly effective early childhood intervention program. We are involved in efforts to advocate for their continued funding from the Federal government.
Facebook Posts