Lehigh Valley Locals Attend Early Childhood Action Day

In the early morning chill two buses roll out of the Lehigh Valley loaded with over sixty participants on their way to the state’s capital for an annual event known as Early Childhood Action Day.  Crowding the buses sponsored by the Lehigh and Northampton Association for the Education of Young Children (LANAEYC), are early childhood educators and staff, business owners, professors, local college students, community leaders and parents en route to meet up with a contingent of like minded others from throughout the state to rally for early childhood education programs

The day, equal parts rally, professional development, and meet and greet with legislators, gives people a chance to voice how important early childhood education programs, like Keystone STARS, Child Care Works, Head Start Supplemental, and Pre-K Counts, are to communities in Pennsylvania.

For business owner Lynne Butler, this marks the third time she’s gone to Harrisburg for Early Childhood Action Day.  She’s been co-owner of The Children’s Garden in Easton for nine years, and every day she sees the benefits of state funded programs for parents and children.  This day gives her a chance to talk to her legislators about why they should increase funding for early childhood education programs. 

“I see early childhood education and afterschool programs as an investment and not a cost,” says Butler, whose center participates in Keystone STARS, which is a continuous quality improvement program.  “I see parents who want to work and by making funding available for quality child care they can be self-sufficient.”

 The day, which swells the Capital with over 700 people, was started in 2005 by the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) a state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).   

 According to PennAEYC’s website “For every dollar invested in quality early childhood education, seven dollars are saved in future costs.  Child and youth who regularly attend high quality afterschool programs have better attendance, grades, and conduct in school, and lower incidence of  drug use, violence and pregnancy.”

 Crystal Messer, Pre-K Counts Director for the Family YMCA of Easton, and her staff of eight teachers and assistant teachers, are armed with stories and statistics to share with their legislators about the families their program serves, including one from a parent who credits the Pre-K Counts program with her child’s current accomplishments in kindergarten.

The program Messer oversees is a prekindergarten program funded by the state which offers full- and part-time programs for children who have special needs, are English language learners, or are at-risk because of their families’ economic situation.

 “Our program relies on the budget and we need to let legislators know how effective our program is,” says Messer who was a first timer at Action Day.  She and her staff don’t just rely on Action Day to communicate this message, but they regularly invite legislators into the Pre-K Counts program during the school year so they can see firsthand how it helps three-and- four year olds learn important skills so they’re ready for kindergarten.

 And what about those parents who benefit from these programs but couldn’t take off of work?  They are able to participate virtually by emailing or phoning their representatives.