Members with the Pre-K for PA campaign, along with local business leaders, have a message for upcoming state lawmakers.They are urging candidates running for office to support funding high-quality, pre-k education.

They say political leaders need to recognize role of preschool education in student, economic success. Local preschool education advocates on Tuesday will urge candidates running for state and national office in 2018 to support high quality preschool education.

York County business leaders and child advocates this week urged candidates up and down the ballot in 2018 to make state funding for high-quality pre-K a major priority in their campaigns.

Funding for quality pre-kindergarten programs matters to more than students and families. Additional funding is vital for the state’s economy, said business and civic leaders Thursday.

The former governors say investing in early childhood education is key to improving Pennsylvania’s economy.