Pennsylvania Voters Support State-Funded Early Childhood Education

New Poll: by near three-to-one margin, ECE top priority

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --An overwhelming majority
of voters across all regions of Pennsylvania support continued government
investment in quality early childhood education (ECE), according to a new poll
released on February 17, 2010 by the Pennsylvania Association for the
Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), the Delaware Valley Association for
the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) and the Pittsburgh Association for
the Education of Young Children (PAEYC).

More than four in five voters across the Commonwealth (81%) support providing
early childhood education to all children in Pennsylvania, with a near
three-to-one margin of voters who believe ECE should be state-funded (71% in
favor).

Support for the programs also crosses ideological lines. Approximately seven
in ten conservatives (70%) favor quality early childhood programs, while nine
in ten self-described liberals (92%) and moderates (88%) also express support.

Support of quality early childhood education programs is consistent across the
state:

* In the T, the rural swath of the state outside of Pittsburgh and
Philadelphia, voters indicate strong support for quality early childhood
education, with 88 percent in the Scranton- Wilkes Barre media market, 81
percent in Johnstown-Altoona, and 69 percent in Harrisburg-Lancaster-York
favoring the programs;
* In Western Pennsylvania, three in four voters (75%) in the Pittsburgh
media market favor early childhood education; and
* In Southeastern Pennsylvania, over four in five voters (81%) favor early
childhood education, including an overwhelming 96 percent in Philadelphia, 80
percent in the suburbs, and 87 percent in the Berks-Lehigh area.

Voters express a commitment to continue the investment Pennsylvania has
already made, with three in four voters (75%) favoring reliable and affordable
education for children in quality early childhood education programs. Voters
also firmly oppose cutting funding for quality early childhood education
programs for children 0 to 5 years of age in order to balance the state's
budget. Even in the context of addressing Pennsylvania's budget deficit,
three in five voters (62%) oppose slashing funds for early childhood
education, with only one in three voters (33%) in support. The two-to-one
margin is indicative of voter priorities toward maintaining funds for these
programs.

"Pennsylvania voters recognize the importance of quality ECE because of its
meaningful and lasting results in educational performance. Young children
(0-5 years old) must have access to high-quality, developmentally-appropriate
education, as it provides key resources to children during the most critical
stage in brain development," said Sharon Easterling, Executive Director of
DVAEYC. "We urge all gubernatorial candidates and Pennsylvania lawmakers to
speak out about the scientific logic, the fiscal prudence and the moral
imperative of investing in Pennsylvania's youngest children - answering the
call the voters of the Commonwealth have made for ECE."

According to an analysis conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis, for every dollar Pennsylvania spends on early childhood
education, society reaps a return of up to 17 dollars through reduction in
criminal activity, remedial education, and public assistance costs.

"The short-term economic benefits of early childhood education are savings in
education costs, a more stable/productive workforce, gains for working
families in health, schooling and earnings, and decreased child abuse," said
Michelle Figlar, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Association for the
Education of Young Children (PAEYC).

"Pennsylvania stands to save money by saving quality early childhood
education programs rather than cutting them," says Jodi Askins, Executive
Director of Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children
(PennAEYC). "Governor Rendell announced a 4 percent increase in spending for
education in his 2010/2011 Budget Address, bringing the investment to $11.8
million. PennAEYC and its partners are working to ensure the Pennsylvania
Legislature and citizens continue to recognize the importance of providing and
investing in early childhood education across the Commonwealth for the benefit
of children and adults."

The long-term economic benefits of quality ECE, as shown in forty years of
research across the country, include reduced crime, higher education levels,
and higher employment and earnings for participants in high quality early
education programs, with calculation of returns ranging from 3% to 17%.

About the poll:

Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC),
Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) and
the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC) hired
Tulchin Research to conduct a poll measuring aspects of voter support for
quality early childhood education across the state of Pennsylvania. From
December 15 - December 20, Tulchin Research conducted a telephone survey of
650 likely voters in Pennsylvania, with 600 voters statewide and an
oversample of 50 voters in the Southeastern PA. The margin of error is +/- 3.9
percentage points for the statewide sample. For the full three-page summary
of results, please contact Kathleen English at 267-974-1250 or
english922@gmail.com.

About PennAEYC:

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children and its two
largest affiliates in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia represent nearly 5,500
early childhood education professionals in the Commonwealth. The AEYC groups
are affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young
Children and work to improve educational opportunity for young children by
improving program quality and public support for early childhood education.
www.pennaeyc.org

SOURCE Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children
(PennAEYC)

Kathleen English for PennAEYC, +1-267-974-1250, english922@gmail.com