• 2 out of every 5 PA students are below proficiency in math and 1/3 below standard in reading (If 100 students leave first grade as "poor readers", 88% of them will still be poor readers after the 4th grade)
   
• 15% of children birth to five in PA live in the full federal definition of poverty.
   
• From birth until about five a child undergoes tremendous growth including cognition, language, motor skills, adaptive skills, and social-emotional functioning.
   "0-4 yrs. -children learn to read... 4 yrs. and on they read to learn"
   
• Research shows that investing $1 in a child's success early on saves $17 down the road.

Keystone Stars is a continuous quality improvement plan for early learning programs in Pennsylvania. It has four STAR levels. Each STAR designation has its own research-based performance standards. 

• Keystone STARS provides professional development, targeted financial assistance and other supports to help early and school age education programs increase quality.
   
• 100% of child care centers in Mifflin and Juniata County participate in Keystone STARS.

Pre-K Counts

• PA Pre-K Counts provides high quality pre-kindergarten opportunities to three and four year olds at no cost to the family.
• PA Pre-K Counts classrooms offer teachers with education and expertise to teach young children, small class sizes and curriculum that is aligned with the PA Early Learning Standards.
• Approximately 65 children were served in Mifflin County in 2007/2008.