PA expert advises parents on keeping kids healthy, insured while learning

As Pennsylvania children return to school, health advocates stress the importance of keeping them insured. The 2023 State of Children’s Health in Pennsylvania report found more than 145,000 children are without health insurance. Becky Ludwick, vice president of public policy at the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said the back-to-school season is an ideal time to raise awareness […]

PA pre-K advocates back governor’s funding boost to expand access

Recent data on pre-K education in Pennsylvania revealed much work remains to improve investments in pre-K education in the state. In Pennsylvania, about 54% of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds, or about 78,000 kids, do not have access to pre-K. The Pre-K for PA campaign is asking lawmakers to boost funding in the fiscal budget as the June […]

With Allegheny County and Pa. desperate for more pre-k teachers, Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposal offers some hope

For equivalent experience and credentials, kindergarten teachers and elementary school teachers make double that of a preschool teacher. On top of that, they can earn much more generous health and PTO benefits, said Kari King, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. “Historically, there’s always been a lack of investments in the field, especially […]

Pa. seeks to boost kids’ health coverage with Medicaid waiver

“We were pushing the administration pretty heavily starting about this time last year” to apply for a waiver to give kids multi-year Medicaid enrollment,” said Becky Ludwick, vice president for policy at the PA Partnerships for Children. “Pennsylvania is one of about ten states now that have gotten or are seeking this,” Ludwick said, and […]

Loss of child care providers in region: ‘That’s crisis-level’

Early childhood education and child care across the region remains in flux, data indicate. Roughly 17 providers in Cambria County and two in Somerset County closed from 2019 through 2023, said Jen DeBell, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children. Those numbers were determined by comparing pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers to […]

State of the Child

 

Register with PPC to stay informed.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel