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Early Education in Pennsylvania

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According to the US Census Bureau, Pennsylvania's 2009 population was 12,604,767, an increase of 2.6% since 2000. 81.9% of the population have earned at least a high school degree, with 22.4% of the population having earned a bachelor's degree or higher. The most frequently reported industry in Pennsylvania counties is Manufacturing, followed by Health Care/Social Services. The median household income in 2008 was $50,702.

More than 15,000 individuals and families in the Commonwealth have signed the PA's Promise declaration, including:

Lana McFarland, Jim Thorpe
Megan Mignot, State College
Nichole Garthwaite, DuBois
Sean Nestor, Erie
Kay Ann Wetzel, Harrisburg
Sandra Vanblarcom, Milanville
Ellen Stephens, York

View all declarations | Sign the declaration

In Pennsylvania:

There are 737,202 children from birth to age five living in the commonwealth.

Risk Factors affecting children's success in school. Risk factors like those listed below can hurt a child's chances of doing well in school.

58.3% of children under age five live in economically at-risk families
16.1% of births to mothers with less than a high school education
22.3% of third graders scored below proficient on the 2009 PSSA reading test

Quality early education. Quality early education like the programs listed below helps children overcome risk factors and succeed in school!

Of children from birth to age five:

1.6% participate in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts
14.9% participate in Keystone STARS
11.6% participate in Child Care Works
8.6% participate in Early Intervention
0.6% participate in Nurse-Family Partnership
0.8% participate in Head Start Supplemental Assistance
4.6% participate in federal and state Head Start
0.2% participate in Parent-Child Home Program
0.5% participate in pre-kindergarten funded PA PACT (formerly ABG)
2.4% participate in school-based pre-kindergarten

Download and print PA's ECE profile page (PDF)

Learn more about the commonwealth by viewing the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning 2009-2010 Reach and Risk Report.

PA County Map
Return to the Main Early Education in Pennsylvania Page.