Dear Friends,
While we have made some minimal progress on the budget which I will discuss next week, I remain disappointed that the Senate has failed to propose their own version of a state budget so we can move the process along. This is our duty as legislators, and the Senate’s failure to proceed is a dereliction of that duty. In the House, we recognize the need to responsibly govern and compromise with our counterparts in the Senate. With that being said, we have sent a budget proposal to the Senate that is a billion dollars less than what the Governor proposed while continuing to invest in Pennsylvanians. I remain hopeful we will soon see progress.
In lieu of being able to discuss a finalized budget, I do want to share a little about one of my bills which recently passed the House. I’ve been fortunate this year that six of my bills have already gone to the Senate, and that one has been signed into law. One of those bills, HB 1505 ensures that Pennsylvania’s youngest learners can continue to access high-quality Pre-K education through Pre-K Counts. Pre-K Counts is a state-wide program designed to ensure quality pre-kindergarten education is accessible to economically disadvantaged 3- and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania.
Programs like Head Start and PreK Counts do more than simply prepare children for school—they deliver strong economic returns for society. Research shows that every $1 invested in high-quality early education yields between $7 and $10 in long-term benefits, including higher lifetime earnings, better health outcomes, and reduced need for public assistance. A National Bureau of Economic Research study found that Head Start participants are more likely to graduate high school and pursue college, setting them up for better-paying jobs. At the same time, the program helps working parents—especially mothers—rejoin the workforce by providing reliable childcare. Over time, this leads to lower crime rates, stronger families, and healthier communities. The economic benefits even extend to the next generation, making early education not just a social good, but a smart investment in our future.
Pre-K Counts has served nearly 27,000 children across the state through funding grants to various eligible entities that provide Pre-K services, such as school districts, licensed childcare facilities, private licensed nursery schools, and most notably—Head Start. Entities that are not included under current law as grantees for Pre-K Counts are Intermediate Units which is what this bill seeks to resolve.
Intermediate Units (IUs) are regional educational service agencies that support school districts across Pennsylvania. Established by Act 102 in 1970, IUs serve as a vital link between the Pennsylvania Department of Education and local school systems. There are 29 IUs throughout the state, each offering specialized services to public, private, and charter schools, as well as to adult learners and community organizations. While IUs do not have taxing authority, they are funded through a combination of state and federal grants, district contributions, and service fees.
IUs play a crucial role in enhancing educational opportunities by providing services such as professional development for teachers, special education programs, curriculum support, early childhood education, and more. They also help districts implement new technologies, deliver online learning, and meet compliance with state and federal mandates. By consolidating these services at the regional level, IUs help school districts save money and operate more efficiently. Whether it's offering speech therapy, autism support, or innovative teaching strategies, Intermediate Units are behind-the-scenes partners working to improve education for all Pennsylvania students.
Pre-K Counts grants are utilized by 12 of the 29 IUs in the commonwealth, providing full day Pre-K to more than 2,500 disadvantaged children. However, because of the way the law is written Pre-K Counts programs run by an IU require a Head Start affiliation status to receive funding. Head Start provides essential pre-kindergarten programming to over 750,000 children and families each year, however, recent federal budget proposals and administrative downsizing have threatened its long-term sustainability. With federal cuts on the horizon, my bill will ensure that those receiving Pre-K through this grant program will not be impacted, even as other might be. This is a critical issue: in Pennsylvania 70 grants currently fund 23,322 Head Start slots, totaling a nearly $385 million in early childhood education. Head Start isn’t just a program—it’s a foundational support system for tens of thousands of disadvantaged families across the state and a gateway to future success.
Without the protections of HB1505, if Head State programming ceased, nearly 600 children in our community would lose access to Pre-K Counts. Across the commonwealth, should Head Start funding be reduced or eliminated, as many as 2,500 children would be at risk of losing access to Pre-K Counts. This bill ensures that Intermediate Units can maintain their Pre-K Counts grants even without a Head Start affiliation. Our children deserve uninterrupted, high quality early education, and Pennsylvania must act to secure it. If you support this bill, it is currently in the Senate Education Committee – so please contact your Senator to advance this bill. If you live in North Wales Borough, Upper Gwynedd or Towamencin Townships, Senator Tracy Pennycuick represents you. If you are in Lower Gwynedd or Whitpain Townships, Senator Maria Collett represents you. If you wish, you may also reach out to Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Lynda Schlegel Culver to share your support.
I will keep you updated throughout the budgeting process and continue advocating for a fair and balanced budget. As I’ve said before, this budget reflects the values and priorities we hold as a commonwealth. Our communities can no longer endure delayed payments, and I urge the Senate to do its part in moving the state budget forward without further delay.