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WILKES-BARRE — They came with a bag of books and asked for half a billion dollars, and while the aim was the same for both books and bucks — to help tots under age 5 get ready for school — the scope was obviously very different.

The books were doled out to a class of clamoring pre-kindergarten students at the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, after leaders of several non-profit advocacy groups released a new report “The case for Pre-K in PA,” and called for a dramatic boost in state money for high quality pre-school programs.

United Way of Wyoming Valley President Bill Jones noted one third of Wyoming Valley’s children are in poverty, adding often-cited research shows “statistically these children are more likely to grow up having social and emotional problems, drop out of school, be less healthy and experience addictions and commit crimes.”

Jones noted the agency has shifted focus to school readiness and now spends $370,000 annually “in early care and education programs, and $395,000 in other education support services support services.” But, he added, “The United Way and our community partners simply don’t have adequate resources to reach all the children in need. We must encourage our state government to consider its investment to ensure all children benefit.”

The National Institute for Early Education Research annually ranks states that offer publicly funded pre-k by the percentage of children with access to high quality pre-k, and Jones noted in the last five years the Keystone state slipped from 11th to 15th for children age 3, and from 24th to 30th for age 4.

PA Partnerships for Children President Joan Benso put a number on what she believes the state should do: Increase pre-k money by $500 million in five years. Availability of public resources to help provide pre-k for at-risk children — low income, English language learners and those with disabilities is “woefully inadequate,” she said.

The state is at a competitive disadvantage with neighbors, Benso said, noting 94 percent of children attend high quality pre-k in West Virginia, 54 percent in New York, 42 percent in Maryland and 35 percent in New Jersey. By comparison, only 26 percent attend pre-k in Pennsylvania.

While advocates are asking for “a lot of money” from the state, Benso reiterated the payback, with lower costs in health care, addiction treatment, prisons and other social services typically required more by adults who did not get high quality early education before starting kindergarten.

“It’s not like pre-k is a silver bullet,” Benso said. “It’s a pretty darn good long-term inoculation.”

Others who spoke included United Way of Pennsylvania President Kristen Rotz and United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties President Gary Drapek. United Way of Greater Hazleton President Pat Ward also attended, but did not offer comments during the event.

After the media conference, they went to a pre-k classroom in the YMCA and distributed books, with Jones taking a few moments to read to one student.

Bill Jones, president and CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley, talks about the value and the need for pre-kindergarten classes in the Wyoming Valley at a morning press conference at the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012016prek1.jpg.optimal.jpgBill Jones, president and CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley, talks about the value and the need for pre-kindergarten classes in the Wyoming Valley at a morning press conference at the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre.

After handing out story books to a pre-k class at the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre Bill Jones, president and CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley, reads a story to one of the students in the class.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012016prek2.jpg.optimal.jpgAfter handing out story books to a pre-k class at the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre Bill Jones, president and CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley, reads a story to one of the students in the class.

By Mark Guydish

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Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish