Darcy Stiteler – 6/22/08

This page was last updated on June 22, 2008.

Early education pays off; Darcy Stiteler, Project Coordinator - Beaver County Early Care and Education Council; Beaver County Times; June 22, 2008.

This letter is pretty much a rerun of Ms. Stitler’s letter of June 20, 2006, entitled “Early learning is critical.” As a result, my critique of that letter applies to this one as well.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In the flurry of short-term strategies to boost our economy, I urge our legislators to remember a sure-fire strategy — investing in quality early education.”

[RWC] Remember, using today’s language, Ms. Stiteler represents a special interest group.

“Now is a time when our leaders need to take a serious look at how they spend our tax dollars. Providing access to quality early education for all children is one of the best investments we can make for Pennsylvania’s economic future.

“There has been a vast amount of research studying child outcomes when young children have access to a high-quality early education compared to those who do not.

“Most recently, results released from the Pre K Counts Public-Private Partnership show that access to quality early education programs makes it possible for all children, especially those at risk of academic failure, to come to kindergarten with the skills they need to learn and to achieve and can catch up with their peers developmentally before they reach kindergarten.”

[RWC] If you check the Pre-K Counts website, you’ll find the “results released” were generated by the program itself, not an independent monitoring group.

“Quality early education follows young children throughout their lives so that they are more likely to graduate high school, attend college or a solid job training program, retain quality employment and own a home.

“Studies show that for every $1 we invest in quality early education, we can save between $7 and $17 in the future.”

[RWC] The claims made in the previous two paragraphs are the same as made in Ms. Stiteler’s previous letter. Then as now, Ms. Stiteler didn’t tell the whole story.

“If your family has benefited from any of these quality early childhood programs or will in the near future, please contact your legislator today and tell them that you support the governor’s proposed increases to Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS, Child Care Works and Early Intervention.”

[RWC] Two years ago Ms. Stiteler lobbied for handouts to Keystone STARS. Now Ms. Stiteler has added Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Child Care Works, and Early Intervention.

“This is an investment for the future that we cannot afford to ignore today.”

[RWC] Why not let parents pay for their kids to attend pre-school?