Letter to Governor Rendell and your state senator and

							Template letter to Governor Rendell and your state senator and state representatives regarding
the Reach and Risk data

Contact information is at end of template letter



Dear [Governor/legislator]:

Recently, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning released their
second Program Reach and County Risk Assessment report for 2007-2008. I wanted to share
with you important information regarding our young children’s risk of school failure and access
to quality early education.

According to the report, children in [county] county are at [risk level] risk for failure in school.
Of the approximately _____ children under age five living in our county:
       Go to “ECE_ Analysis_June 2008” and click on Tab 18, Column C for info

    ____% live in households earning less than 200% of poverty (2000 US Census defines
     “low income” as below 200% of federal poverty level, which was equivalent to $34,058
     for a family of four in 2000)
     Go to “ECE_ Analysis_June 2008” and click on Tab 18, Column F & E for info
    _____% live in families whose mother has less than a high school degree
     Go to “ECE_ Analysis_June 2008” and click on Tab 18, Column M for info

___ % of 3rd graders in local school districts scored below proficient on PSSA in Reading in
2008
     Go to “ECE_ Analysis_June 2008” and click on Tab 18, Column O for info

Children affected by such risk factors are more likely to fail in school, but quality early
education can help bridge this achievement gap before it begins.

Quality early education programs such as Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS, Early
Intervention and Nurse-Family Partnership provide our young children with quality early
learning opportunities that set them on the right track for school. I would be happy to share with
you some examples of how these programs are helping children and families reach their promise
in our community. [You may want to send parent testimonials with your letter or include an
example here]

Approximately ___% of [county] county’s children under age five participates in quality early
education programs. [You may want to compare this to the state average of 38%]

Attached is a county profile sheet which gives more details on children participating in key early
childhood initiatives.
The benefits from these programs will continue throughout these children’s lives, helping them
achieve in school and in the workforce. Their success means a brighter future for all of us, in a
more skilled workforce, savings in public costs such as special education, public assistance and
crime control, a more attractive community and stronger economy.

Please make quality early education a priority investment as we look to 2009.

Sincerely,


CONTACT INFORMATION:


To contact the Governor:
The Honorable Edward G. Rendell
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

You can also email him using this online form:
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html

Please cc your letter to the Governor to:
The Honorable Donna Cooper
Secretary for Policy and Planning
238 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Email: doncooper@state.pa.us


To contact your State senator and representative:

You can find contact information for your state senator and representative at
www.papromiseforchildren.com and click “tell your story”

If your state senator and/or representative retired or did not win in November’s election, please
also send a copy of your letter to the legislators that will begin serving you in January, 2009. You
can find out who they are and their contact information at www.votesmart.org – Click on
“Candidates” and “State Officials” and then enter your zip code in “find your representatives” on
the left menu