SPIN Hosts Roundtable discussion by PA State Representative Mike Driscoll & PA House Democratic Policy Committee on PreK Reimbursement Rates and Early Childhood Education

PHILADELPHIA (January 17, 2020) – SPIN, hosted a roundtable discussion by Representative Mike Driscoll and the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee focused on PreK reimbursement rates and early childhood education. Testimony was provided on the importance of PreK and Head Start programs for young children and the request better funding to help keep early childhood education programs operating.

With a roughly 30 percent gap in current funding provided by the state and the operational costs of these programs at SPIN, early childhood education programs at SPIN and across the state become underfunded resulting in underpaid teachers and programs that operate in a deficit.

Speakers included Kathy McHale , SPIN President & CEO, Tracey Campanini, Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Fred Wright, AFSCME Local 1739 President, Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PCCY), Tyronne Scott, Director of Government and External Affairs, First UP, Ann O’Brien CEO, Wonderspring and Maddy Malis, President & CEO, Federation Early Learning Services. 

Once the panelists concluded their remarks, opportunity for public comment was given and many of the teachers and parents in the packed theater spoke on their own behalf about the sacrifices, teachers must make to continue to work in this field and the struggles many have to make ends meet.  Family members in the audience stressed the importance of continuity of the teachers in their children’s lives and how much of an impact those teachers have made. 

About SPIN:

A regional 501(c)(3) non-profit, SPIN is a leading provider of supports for children and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disability in Greater Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley. SPIN also provides high-quality, early childhood education for children of all abilities. Headquartered in Northeast Philadelphia, SPIN has been named a Top Workplace for ten consecutive years by Philly.com. SPIN has also been named an Autism Center for Excellence by Community Behavioral Health. For more information, visit www.spininc.org or www.facebook.com/SPINInc  #LoveHopeGrow