Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission

Our Approach The Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission is a partnership of business leaders dedicated to making the success of every child in Pennsylvania a top priority. We work to improve tomorrow’s economy through smart policy and investment in today’s young children by fostering public and private sector investment in educationally, economically, and scientifically sound early learning programs. These investments are essential to assure the best possible return - Pennsylvania’s edge in the national and global marketplace. ICYMI: Ten Prominent Business Leaders Join PA Early Learning Investment Commission Educational Events Philadelphia ECE Apprenticeship Model Offers a Solution for the Workforce Educational Events Prominent Business Leaders Join PA Early Learning Investment Commission Educational Events Investing in the Workforce of Today & Tomorrow: Commissioners in Action News How Inadequate Child Care Impacts the Workforce News Business Community Can Play a Key Role in Improving Early Learning Facilities News ArrowArrow Our Focus The Commission’s work raising awareness, supporting policy and budget investments, and working in local communities to expand access to high quality early learning is based on four pillars: Hand Icon The Future of Our Commonwealth Investing in early learning is critical to the future. By age five, 85 percent of the brain is wired for learning. Quality early learning programs ensure that today’s children can reach their full potential and become the next generation of entrepreneurs, scientists and business leaders. Policy Icon Our Policy Goals We work with the Executive and Legislative branches to provide advice and support for policies and investments that are educationally, economically and scientifically sound and that serve an increased number of at-risk children. We have outlined an ambitious set of policy goals that can be found here. Families and Children Families & Children When families thrive, children do too. The Commission is focused on ensuring a high-quality start for all children. We are committed to making Pennsylvania a great place to raise kids, regardless of family income or zip code. Economy Icon The Economy Early learning has a lasting positive effect on kids and our economy. Investment in early learning generates an estimated return of 13 percent a year for the economy. Children in quality early learning programs need fewer supports in school, are more likely to complete high school, earn higher wages, and avoid unhealthy behaviors. Our Commissioners TOM WOLF, HONORARY CO-CHAIR; GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA JANET HAAS, M.D., HONORARY CO-CHAIR; CHAIR AND PAST PRESIDENT, WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION KENDRA AUCKER, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL GENE BARR, PRESIDENT & CEO, PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER OF BUSINESS & INDUSTRY DONALD M. BERNHARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DOWNTOWN ALLENTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE JOHN J. BRENNAN, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS & SENIOR ADVISOR, VANGUARD PETER P. BRUBAKER, FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO, SUSQUEHANNA MEDIA CO. ANTHONY P. CAMPISI, PRESIDENT & CEO, GLATFELTER INSURANCE GROUP JOSHUA M. CARNEY, P.E., PRESIDENT, CARNEY ENGINEERING DAVID COHEN, SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, COMCAST CORPORATION HIDE PETER J. DANCHAK , PRESIDENT, NORTHEAST PA, PNC BANK PHILIP E. DEVORRIS, PRESIDENT & CEO, BLAIR COMPANIES STEPHANIE N. DOLIVEIRA, ESQ., VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, SHEETZ INC. TIMOTHY S. FALLON, CEO, PBS39 VARSOVIA FERNANDEZ, PRESIDENT & CEO, GREATER PHILADELPHIA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THOMAS FOLEY, PRESIDENT, ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES OF PENNSYLVANIA NICHOLAS J. GIANARIS, DIRECTOR, AEROSPACE GLOBAL/AMERICAS, AIR LIQUIDE BRADLEY R. GOSSER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND VICE PRESIDENT, GREENVILLE-REYNOLDS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BRAD HALL, RETIRED PRESIDENT, UGI ENERGY SERVICES CHESTER T. HARHUT, JUDGE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS JIM HOEHN, REGIONAL PRESIDENT, PNC BANK MARY ANN HOOD, SENIOR VP OF HR, EEO OFFICER, AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA DANIEL B. HOOVER, PRESIDENT & CEO, ROARING SPRING BLANK BOOK CO. WILLIAM H. ISLER, PRESIDENT EMERITUS, THE FRED ROGERS COMPANY JULIA H. KLEIN, CHAIRWOMAN & CEO, C.H. BRIGGS COMPANY ROBERT M. KRASNE, CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, STEINMAN COMMUNICATIONS DARSHAN KULKARNI, VICE PRESIDENT, REGULATORY STRATEGY & POLICY, SYNCHROGENIX LLOYD H. LAMM, CO-CHAIR; RETIRED REGIONAL BANKING EXECUTIVE, CAPITAL REGION, FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA – CO-CHAIR HUGH J. LAVERY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY AND JEFFERSON HEALTH MARK LEE, PARTNER, BLANKROME LLP WILLIAM LEHR, JR., CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CAPITAL BLUE CROSS ALICE G. LINDENAUER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES, HAMILTON LANE GERALD J. MAGINNIS, RETIRED OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER, PHILADELPHIA, KPMG LLP CHRIS MARSH, CHIEF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, ERIE INSURANCE PHYLLIS A. MUNDY, RETIRED STATE REPRESENTATIVE, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA ALAN J. OTTINGER, PRESIDENT, QIS, INC. KATHLEEN A. PAVELKO, PRESIDENT & CEO, WITF PUBLIC MEDIA P. TIMOTHY PHELPS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CHESTER COUNTY NORMAN S. RICH, FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO, WEIS MARKETS INC. DEBBIE RITTENOUR, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT MARKETS, CAPITAL BLUE CROSS AUDREY RUSSO, PRESIDENT & CEO, PITTSBURGH TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL KURT A. SCHERTLE, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICE, WEIS MARKETS KEVIN SCHREIBER, PRESIDENT & CEO, YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE MARK S. SCHWEIKER, FORMER GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA; SVP CORP. DEV. OFFICER, RENMATIX NICK SCOTT, VICE PRESIDENT, SCOTT ENTERPRISES MICHAEL SMELTZER, PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC TROY STANDISH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF LOAN SERVICING OPERATIONS, NAVIENT J. DONALD STEELE, JR., CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, THE NORTHUMBERLAND NATIONAL BANK VINCENTINA C. TAYLOR, PRESIDENT, WAVELINE DIRECT LLC JAMES R. WADDINGTON, JR. , DIRECTOR, STRATEGY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, SPARTON CORPORATION ANDREW B. WILLIFORD, VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS AMERICAS JAKE A. WITHERELL, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SCHELL GAMES CATHERINE J. WOODS, J.D., M.P.H., COMPLIANCE OFFICER & EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER, SCHWEIGER DERMATOLOGY GROUP STEVEN T. WRAY, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR AT ECONSULT SOLUTIONS, INC. (ESI) Our Impact While a young child experiences a safe, colorful place to go where learning is fun and friends are all around, the Commission knows that high quality early learning is serious business. We advocate for smart early learning policies and public investments, while tracking key metrics to gauge our progress, identify gaps, and maintain momentum to meet our goal of ensuring that young, at-risk children get early learning opportunities vital to their long-term development. 60 Percent of Children Live in Economically At-risk Families 1 Billion Dollar State Investment in Pennsylvania's Early Learning Programs 33 Percent of Children Participate in Publicly Funded, High Quality Early Learning Programs