(Pictured above the Staff of Johnson's Child Care Center)

Nearly 100 members of the Provider Committee boarded buses in Germantown, West Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, Center City and King of Prussia at 6:30 a.m. on May 12, 2009 to join over 500 early childhood educators and their supporters from around the Commonwealth in Harrisburg to lobby state legislators for continued funding of Early Education programs.  This year, Johnson’s Childcare Center, Woodland Academy, and Piney Grove Day Care centers closed their centers and brought staff and parents along to send the message that early education funding is crucial to the children, families, and communities they serve. Providers met with their legislators delivering the message “We’re On the Right Track,” explaining the benefits of investing in quality and preserving  early care and education programs such as Pre-K Counts and Keystone Stars.  Delivered to each legislator was a packet containing information on these programs and how they impact learning, as well as a copy of the children’s book, The Little Engine That Could.  The Senate has passed a budget bill - Senate Bill 850 - which would eliminate early childhood services for 20,000 children in Pennsylvania.  Funding for Pre-K Counts would be but 55%.  Head Start funds would be cut by 50%.  Child care services for working parents would be slashed and the waiting list of 16,000 families would continue to grow.  Luckily the House still has to pass a budget bill, and then the two versions will be reconciled.  We still have a lot work to do before the budget vote.  Our Providers will be working tirelessly to ensure that our legislators understand that an investment in our children is imperative to the future of Pennsylvania.