LCPRINTER'S 129NO. 0416 Senate Resolution 456 By:

Senator533 HarbisonTHE ofGENERAL theASSEMBLY 15thOF APENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION RecognizingSession April 5-11 as the Week of theNo. Young Child;

and62 for2025 otherINTRODUCED purposes.BY HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, ISAACSON, McNEILL, GIRAL, KENYATTA, POWELL, HANBIDGE, MAYES, HOWARD, NEILSON, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, DALEY AND RIVERA, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 A RESOLUTION Recognizing the week of April 5 through 11, 2025, as "Week of the Young Child" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS,thefirstyearsofachild'slifearetheperiodofthemostrapidbraindevelopmentWHEREAS, andThe layNational Association for the foundationEducation forof allYoung futureChildren learning;(NAEYC) is celebrating "Week of the Young Child," April 5 through 11, 2025;

and WHEREAS, children'sThis cognitive,organization physical,is social-emotional,working andto languageimprove andearly literacylearning developmentopportunities that are builtcrucial onto athe foundationgrowth and development of children'syoung positivechildren interactionsand withto adults,building peers,better futures for children in this Commonwealth and theirthroughout environment;the United States;

and WHEREAS, high-quality"Week earlyof childhoodthe programsYoung provideChild" importantis benefitsan annual celebration sponsored by NAEYC to children,highlight families,early andlearning, ouryoung statechildren, andtheir nationalteachers economies;and families;

and WHEREAS,high-qualityearlycareandeducationcanhelpamelioratetheeffectsofpoverty,WHEREAS, detectThe andpurpose remediateof delays,"Week identifyof andthe helpYoung preventChild" childis neglect,to focus public attention on the needs of young children and leadtheir families and to positiverecognize outcomesforindividualchildren,helpingthembebetterpreparedforschoolandmorelikelythe toearly succeedchildhood inprograms life;and services that meet those needs;

and S.WHEREAS, NAEYC first established "Week of the Young Child" in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years, from birth through eight years of age, lay the foundation for children's success in school and later in life;

R.and WHEREAS, "Week of the Young Child" is a time to plan how we, as residents of a community, State and nation, will better meet the needs of all young children and their families;

456and -WHEREAS, 1All -young LCchildren 129and 0416their WHEREAS,high-qualityearlychildhoodeducationdependsonhigh-qualityearlychildhoodfamilies educatorsdeserve whoaccess ensureto thathigh-quality children, supported by families, have the early experienceseducation theyand needcare; for a strong foundation;

andtherefore WHEREAS,tuitionfromfee-payingparentsandsubsidyratesforfamilieswithlowincomesbe aretypicallyinsufficienttoaffordhighly-qualified,consistentearlychildhoodeducatorsandit payRESOLVED, forThat the lowHouse child-to-educatorof ratiosRepresentatives thatrecognize ensurethe week of April 5 through 11, 2025, as "Week of the healthYoung Child" in Pennsylvania and safetyencourage ofall children;residents to work to make a good investment in early childhood education in their local communities, across this Commonwealth and this nation;

and WHEREAS,be youngit childrenfurther needRESOLVED, earlyThat childhoodthe educatorsHouse whoof areRepresentatives incentivizedrecognize and supportedsupport tothe providepeople, high-qualityprograms careand policies that are committed to thosehigh-quality withearly highchildhood andeducation specialas needs;the right choice for young children.

and20250HR0062PN0533 WHEREAS,- working2 families- need sufficient high-quality childcare spaces beginning at birth to be available in the community;

and WHEREAS,earlychildhoodeducatorsneedtheabilitytoearnafamily-sustainingwagethat is commensurate with the required education and skills they bring to the complex and valuable work they do;

and WHEREAS, it is urged by members of our community to support efforts that increase children's and families access to high-quality early childhood education and commit to investments that stabilize, sustain, and support childcare and early learning so this essential workforcecancontinuetosupportchildren,families,andoureconomythroughthepandemic crisis, recovery, and beyond.

NOWTHEREFORE,BEITRESOLVEDBYTHESENATEthatthemembersofthisbody hereby recognize the complex, valuable, essential, and demanding work of the early childhood educators and recognize, April 5-11 as The Week of the Young Child.

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456 - 2 - LC 129 0416 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to The Week of the Young Children community members and other parities.

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