Harrisburg, August 7, 2013 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said he is pleased that Allegheny County school districts will receive millions of dollars worth of grants that benefit pre-kindergarten children.
“Pre-K Counts helps provide half-day and full day pre-kindergarten services to children across Pennsylvania,” Brewster said. “Thanks to an increase in funding in this year’s budget, nearly 12,000 kids will benefit from $84.5 million worth of Pre-K Counts grants.”
The grants will be distributed throughout 59 counties, including Allegheny County.
Grants in Allegheny County include: $123,420 to Highlands School District, $392,360 to McKeesport School District and $2,162,390 to the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, a division of Pennsylvania’s public education system that serves 42 suburban school districts and five technical schools in Allegheny County.
The pre-kindergarten services are for children at least three years old who are more likely to experience roadblocks in school, such as those with disabilities or developmental delays. Children must live in a family earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify.
“A quality, engaging education early in a child’s life can make a huge impact on his or her academic success in the future,” Brewster said. “Pre-K Counts helps give these kids a level-playing field from the very beginning.”
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