About QUEST
QUEST (Quality Early Education through Salaries and Training) is a comprehensive initiative to improve outcomes for children in Pennsylvania through recruitment and retention of qualified early educators. The goal is a fully-funded, well-financed system of Early Education and Care in the state that is accessible to all children who need it, offers quality programs and has well qualified and adequately compensated staff.

What's New/What's News:

Another Good Budget for Kids

 

As the fireworks were celebrating our history of independence, lawmakers were hammering out a state budget that preserved Pennsylvania’s history making investments in early education.

 

The bottom line is that even though State revenue was lower than anticipated, early education programs and the children and families they serve were spared any significant cuts.

 

Key facts about the budget:

 

*      Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts will grow to serve 11,800 3 & 4 year olds with high quality pre-kindergarten, an increase of 800 children from 07-08.  (In addition STAR 3 will be the minimum requirement for the child care providers in PA Pre-K Counts starting in FY 09-10)  Increase of $11.4 million

 

*      Child care quality and access continues to grow with additional funds for Keystone STARS (serving 175,000 children) to enable providers to earn more STARS and improve the school readiness of the children they serve; and growth in Child Care Works to provide 235,000 children with access to reliable, affordable child care, serving an additional 2,600 children. Increase of $51.22 million

 

*      Growth for Early Intervention to serve 32,600 infants and toddlers and 44,900 preschoolers with disabilities/ developmental delays, an increase of 1,450 more infants and toddlers, and 1,480 more preschoolers

 

*      Maintenance of the current number of children participating in Nurse Family Partnership, to serve 3,960 families in 2008-2009

 

*      Funding for the Early Learning Network to increase accountability and documentation of the positive impact of early childhood programs on Pennsylvania's young children

 

*      Unfortunately, two programs did incur the state’s across the board reductions of 1.3% -- the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program was cut by $520,000 (down from $40 to $39.48 million); and the Accountability Block Grant was cut by $3.575 million. (Hopefully, the impact on the number of children served will be minimal.)

 

 

There is no question that advocacy efforts are making a difference for children and families by improving the funding and the standards for early childhood programs. Here are two things you can do to continue to work for children:

 

1 - Please take some time to thank your legislators and Governor Rendell for their continued investments in our children’s early education. Click here for a sample letter and contact information.

 

2- Save the Date for 2009 Action Day, May 12, 2009 – Make plans to attend and bring your colleagues!