Early Care and Education Programs Advancing in Erie - PA Early Learning Investment Commission

Erie’s Future Fund recently shared the results of the 2016-2017 school year at the St. Martin Early Learning Center related to five identified Key Learning Areas and found that:

an average of 99% of 3-year-old scholars were in process or proficient.
an average of 98% of 4-year-old scholars were in process or proficient.

The identified Key Learning areas include: Mathematical Thinking and Expression, Scientific Thinking and Technology,Language and Literacy Development, Social and Emotional Development and Learning Through Play.

Beginning in the fall of 2012, administered by Early Connections, Erie’s Future Fund began providing scholarships to qualified children from low income families throughout Erie County to attend a high-quality early childhood education program during the school year. Scholarships pay for three half-days a week; the educational component of a program. The scholarships help remove financial barriers to families choosing high-quality child care and early education opportunities. The Scholarship Director monitors the programs to make sure they maintain their quality status, and also keeps track of the attendance of the scholarship children. Erie’s Future Fund’s scholarship program was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Senator Dan Laughlin, Representative Ryan Bizzarro, and Representative Pat Harkins joined business and community leaders for a tour of the St. Martin Early Learning Center, a contracted program with Erie’s Future Fund. It was hosted by Early Connections, Inc. and a video of the event from LiveErie.com is available HERE

(Pictured Left to Right): Angela Rentschler, St. Martin Early Learning Center Administrator, Carey Harris, Executive Director, PA Early Learning Investment Commission; David Gonzalez, CEO, St. Martins; Stacey Hellman, St. Martin Early Learning Center Administrator; State Representative Ryan Bizzarro; State Representative Pat Harkins; State Senator Dan Laughlin; Kimberly Beers, Scholarship Director, Erie’s Future Fund; Michelle Harkins, Associate Executive Director, Early Connections.

Part of the day also included a donation presentation from The Scott Family, long-time supporters of Erie’s Future Fund and quality early learning in Erie, PA. Nick Scott Jr. is Vice President of Scott Enterprises and also a Commissioner with the Early Learning Investment Commission.

Pictured (left to right): Kimberly Beers, Scholarship Director, Erie’s Future Fund; Michelle Harkins, Associate Executive Director, Early Connections; Nick Scott Jr., Vice President, Scott Enterprises; Chris Scott, Vice President, Scott Enterprises; Darlene Kovacs, Executive Director, Early Connections; Carey Harris, Executive Director, PA Early Learning Investment Commission.

Erie’s Future Fund was formed in 2011, an outgrowth of the Erie Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Advisory Panel in partnership with United Way of Erie County, Success By 6, members of the Early Learning Investment Commission and Erie Together. Leaders from the foundation, corporate, nonprofit and civic sectors sought to address growing concerns about the lack of school readiness among many children entering kindergarten, and the significant impact this was having now, and would have in the future, on Erie County’s economy and quality of life.

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