Growing up in York County, I was fortunate to have opportunities many children lack, including the opportunity to receive a quality education that prepared me for my career in pediatric medicine.
Today, as a pediatric resident at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, I have experienced first-hand how challenges in a child’s growth and development – if left unaddressed – can limit opportunities, including the opportunity to learn.
That is why I want to see the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania invest more in high-quality pre-kindergarten (“pre-k”) programs in the state budget. The years before a child enters kindergarten are a critical window for healthy cognitive, physical, social and emotional development, and the circumstances and experiences children have during these early years can shape their health and impact upon their success for a lifetime. Quality pre-k programs help put our children on a path to a lifetime of good health and success.
[For more of this story, written by Jaime L. Moellman, go to http://www.ydr.com/story/opini...ren-column/85554416/]
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