Interview with Kim Follett, Chief Executive Officer
P&L : Can you tell us when and how you became an advocate for Early Childhood Education?
KF: I came to the early childhood education (ECE) field seven years ago, relatively new to this space but with 15 years of experience in nonprofit management. I was unexpectedly recruited into this work, but I quickly saw it as both a challenge and an opportunity—a chance to leverage my skills in a new way while contributing to a field that is foundational to the well-being of our children, families, early educators, and our communities.
P&L: What are some of the things you’ve learned?
KF: What I’ve learned in my time in ECE is that this field is at a crossroads. Early childhood educators are a qualified and highly dedicated workforce that is underpaid. We want caring and qualified educators taking care of and teaching our children at the age when the most brain development occurs, but we don’t fund childcare the way we fund school-age education. Childcare and early education organizations are funded by what families in the communities they serve can afford, and by state subsidized care rates that do not fund the full cost of delivering high-quality care. One of the costs of underfunding childcare and early education is a shrinking availability of qualified educators who can afford to stay in the field—and even the declining interest among students in pursuing ECE careers—all of which poses a threat to the infrastructure that supports working families. Without a strong and well-funded early childhood education system – the health and vitality of our communities are at risk.
P&L: How has this impacted Play & Learn directly?
We continue to have a wonderfully dedicated and qualified staff at Play & Learn, but it is more challenging than ever in childcare to recruit and retain the most credentialed teachers who are also attractive candidates for school districts, intermediate units, or private behavioral health providers. We have worked hard to address wage and benefits competitiveness through wage increases, retention bonuses, tuition assistance and other strategic workforce investments. Additionally, like many childcare providers we also see a growing number of entry-level candidates exploring entry into the field. We invest in training and development for those motivated employees who want to build a career in early childhood education, as these investments are important now and for the future of our organization and the field overall. As a tenured organization, we leverage our experience and resources to address these challenges with creativity, grit and determination, but resources are limited. The reality remains that childcare and early education providers, the families they serve, and the early educators they employ need an intentional, more robust funding response from federal, state and local partners.
P&L: How will Governor Shapiro’s funding proposal benefit ECE?
KF: Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget includes $55 million in ECE funding for teacher recruitment and retention. It also includes $15M in additional funding for the state’s PreK Counts program, which is offered at several Play & Learn locations, and $10M in additional funding for Early Intervention providers, who are key partners in supporting childcare providers serving children with developmental and behavioral support needs. The Governor’s proposed additional funding for ECE is a step in the right direction. It isn’t a complete solution, but it is a crucial starting point, and it sends a powerful message that Pennsylvania values its early childhood educators and the vital work they do.
P&L: Who will the ECE investments benefit most?
KF: I want to emphasize that investing in ECE is not just about supporting childcare programs; it’s about supporting working families, strengthening our economy, and ensuring that every child has access to high-quality early learning experiences. It’s about recognizing that the early years are the most critical for brain development and that the educators who guide our children during this time deserve to be compensated fairly and supported fully.
P&L: How can parents help?
So today, I urge you to join me in advocating for the $55 million in funding for childcare teacher recruitment and retention. Let’s work together to ensure that this funding is not only secured but also built upon in the years to come. Our children, our families, our teachers and our communities are counting on us.
Be an advocate for ECE and contact your local legislator using the link provided below:
Find My Legislator – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
