2022-23 PA Budget Overview

The following are highlights from the 2022-23 Pennsylvania Budget as they pertain to early childhood education professionals.

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Child Care

  • Child Care Services - increase of $25 million (total appropriation of $181.42 million)

    • The increase will specifically serve families currently enrolled in Child Care Works up to 300% of poverty or the state median income (whichever is lower). These new funds should also have the flexibility to support the 160,978 children younger than age five who are eligible but have yet to be served.

  • Child Care Assistance - level-funded (total appropriation of $109.88 million)

    • To support families receiving TANF, Former TANF and SNAP benefits.

The budget proposal also includes $90 million in federal funding to provide one-time child care staff recruitment and retention bonuses.

Early Childhood Education

  • PA Pre-K Counts - increase of $60 million (total appropriation of $302.28 million)

  • Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program - increase of $19 million (total appropriation of $88.17 million)

Together, this $79 million expansion will serve over 2,300 additional young children and increase rates for providers to support the early care and education workforce and address rising costs. 

Evidence Based Home Visiting and Family Supports

  • Community-Based Family Centers - increase of $15 million (total appropriation $34.55 million)

    • The increase in state funds, combined with available federal funds, will serve approximately 3,800 additional families in 2022-23.

  • Nurse Family Partnership - increase of $1 million (total appropriation of $14.13 million)

    • Continues Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) Evidence Based Home Visiting services for approximately 2,831 pregnant women and families - can serve 200 more families.

Early Intervention

  • Infants and Toddlers Early Intervention - $12.2 million increase (total appropriation of $174.74 million)

  • Preschool Early Intervention, 3-5 - $10 million increase (total appropriation of $346.5 million)

The 2022-23 budget also includes the creation of a Pennsylvania Child Care Tax Credit equal to 30% of the federal credit to support working families.

To view the full budget, visit the Pennsylvania Office of Budget website.

NewsHeidi Winkler