From Lehigh Valley News.com 10/27/2025
Every working parent who sends their 3- or 4-year-old to a “free” pre-kindgergarten classroom under the Pre-K Counts (PKC) or Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) programs should pause and ask: Who is paying?
In theory, the state of Pennsylvania underwrites these seats so that low‐ and moderate-income families can access high-quality early learning at no cost. In reality, providers — early learning centers, Head Start operators, and school districts are being forced to absorb costs and wait for state funding, while the regulatory demands mounted by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and elected officials continue to grow.
The result: a system that is broken and failing the children it is meant to serve.
Read more: https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/state-regional-news/commentary-pa-s-early-learning-crisis-providers-bear-burden-as-hibernating-lawmakers-leave-bills-unpaid