(File Photo of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Logo)

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) A Pennsylvania nonprofit is praising Governor Josh Shapiro’s new budget proposal, which includes a funding increase for early childhood education. The budget boosts support for child care, pre-K, early intervention and other programs, and addresses staffing shortages. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children CEO Kari King says low wages fuel child care worker shortages, with pay of just over 15 dollars an hour. She hopes the governor’s proposed 55 million dollar funding package for child care workers will strengthen programs statewide. The budget proposal contains an additional 17 million dollars for Pre-K Counts, while funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program would remain unchanged. The state House and Senate must vote on the budget by June 30th.