March 16, 2007
The Honorable Gibson Armstrong
Senate of Pennsylvania Senate
Box 203013
281 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Senator Armstrong:
Just four years ago, Pennsylvania was among only nine states that made no investment in preK programs. Two state funding sources now contribute to increased pre-K opportunities for our
youngest learners – the Head Start Supplemental Appropriation and a portion of the Education
Accountability Block Grant. At their current funding levels, these programs fall short in assuring
that all Pennsylvania children at-risk of education failure can access high quality pre-K to
assure that they enter school ready to learn.
In his Executive Budget, the Governor proposed to invest $75 million to create Pre-K Counts
to help our children enter kindergarten ready to learn. Any school district, Head Start
program, child care center or nursery school that complies with the early learning standards
and the quality pre-K program standards that have been set by the State Board of Education
can apply for funding. Priority will be given to programs in school districts serving 30 percent
or more children participating in the free and reduced lunch program or individual programs
focusing on the needs of at-risk children. It is important to note that every community will be
eligible for funding. The proposal will fund approximately 11,000 children on a voluntary
basis.
Research has proven that children who attend high quality pre-K enter school more prepared
and achieve greater education success, including fewer grade retentions, less remediation,
fewer special education placements, higher standardized test scores and higher graduation
rates. Pre-K funding yields significant return on investments – as high as $17 for every $1 of
investment.
A recent Pennsylvania study shows that school districts investing in pre-K could recoup as
much as 78 percent of their pre-K spending in other education savings. Some school districts
with very high special education expenditures could recoup as much as $1.16 for every dollar
invested.
States across America are making wise investments in pre-K. For example, Illinois is
currently investing over $283 million in pre-K services for 3 and 4 year olds and is
expanding its program as a result of a state statute that passed last spring to serve all
children whose parents choose to participate. New York is currently investing $198 million
in pre-K and is considering a pledge from its governor to make pre-K universally available
to all 4 year olds. Pre-K is already fully funded in Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma.
As members of a statewide coalition, Pre-K Today, we respectfully urge you to support the
Governor’s $75 million proposal in the 2007-08 budget to create Pre-K Counts. If enacted, PreK Counts will provide approximately 11,000 3- and 4-year-olds with voluntary, high-quality pre-K
delivered through a mixed service delivery system in which all providers comply with State
Board of Education pre-K regulations and the state’s early learning standards.
Investing in high-quality pre-K creates successful students and successful communities, and is
for the betterment of the entire Commonwealth. We hope you agree. More information on Pre-K
Today and the many benefits of pre-K can be found at our website, www.prektoday.org.
Sincerely,
A Child’s World Education Centers—Langhorne, PA
A Mother’s Touch—Sharon, PA
ABC Academy—Carbondale, PA
ABC School House-Uniontown, PA
ABC’s For Children—Pittsburgh, PA
Ages and Stages Child Development Center—Waymart, PA
All About Kids Early Learning Center—Harrisburg, PA
All Hallows Episcopal Nursery School—Wyncote, PA
Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3—Homestead, PA
Amy Pyshers Child Care Center—Bath, PA
Angela’s Child Development—Stroudsburg, PA
Appalachia IU8—Altoona, PA
Apple Pie Day Care— Upper Darby, PA
Armstrong county CAA Head Start—Kittanning, PA
Armstrong County Early Care and Education Committee—Kittanning, PA
Arnot Child Care and Learning Center—Port Allegany, PA
Associated Day Care Services, Inc. –Philadelphia, PA
BARC Early Intervention Services—Holicong, PA
BCAEYC (Bucks County Association for the Education of Young Children)—Warrington, PA
Beaver County Early Care & Educational Council – Monaca, PA
Beaver County Head Start—Aliquippa, PA
Beaver County YMCA Child Care—New Brighton, PA
Becker’s School Supplies – Philadelphia, PA
Begin With Us Child Care and Preschool, Inc. – Altoona, PA
Beginnings, Inc. – Johnstown, PA
Bennett Family Center—University Park, PA
Beth El Nursery School—Pittsburgh, PA
Beulah Christian Preschool—Pittsburgh, PA
Blair County Head Start—Altoona, PA
Bloom Early Education—Forty Fort, PA
Boyertown Area YMCA—Boyertown, PA
Bright Futures Program – Philadelphia, PA
Bright Futures School District of Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
Bring ‘Em Young Child Care Center—Frazer, PA
Bundle of Care, Inc.—Meadville, PA
Butler County Early Care & Education Council – Butler, PA
Butler YMCA Child Care – Butler, PA
Butterfly Garden—McKees Rock, PA
Cambria County Community Engagement Team—Johnstown, PA
CAPCC Head Start—Johnstown, PA
Capital Area Association for The Education of Young Children—Lykens, PA
Capital Area Head Start—Harrisburg, PA
CARE-A-LOT Learning Center—Philadelphia, PA
Caring People Alliance @ WPCC – Philadelphia, PA
Carlisle Family YMCA Child Development Center—Carlisle, PA
Carlow University Early Learning Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Cat Pickering – Pottstown, PA
CCIS of Pike County—Shohola, PA
Center for Arts & Technology Pickering Campus – Phoenixville, PA
Center for Community Action—Everett, PA
Center for Creative Play – Pittsburgh,, PA
Central Regional Key – Williamsport, PA
Chester County Intermediate Unit – Downingtown, PA
Chestnut Ridge School District – New Paris, PA
Child and Family Studies Program – Indiana, PA
Child Care Information Services—Chambersburg, PA
Child Development—Schuylkill Haven, PA
Child Development Program CAP of Lancaster—Lancaster, PA
Child Watch of Pittsburgh—Pittsburgh, PA
Childcare Training Solutions—Mount Joy, PA
Childhood Education Coalition of Chester County—Exton, PA
Children’s Aid Society—Clearfield, PA
Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley – Bethlehem, PA
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA
Children’s Village Child Care Center – Philadelphia, PA
ChildTime School Age Care – Carlisle, PA
Childspace CDI—Philadelphia, PA
Choices for Children at the The Western PA School for the Deaf—Pittsburgh, PA
Churches Affiliated Child Care Center—Enola, PA
Clarion University of PA –Clarion, PA
Clearfield County League of Social Services, Inc.—Clearfield, PA
Clearfield CELC—Philadelphia, PA
Clinton County Early Care and Education Initiative—Mill Hall, PA
Cocalico Care Center—Denver, PA
Columbia County Community Engagement for Early Care & Education—Bloomsburg, PA
Community College of Allegheny County—Pittsburgh, PA
Community College of Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
Community Concern #13, Inc.—Philadelphia, PA
Community Education Alliance of West Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
Community Engagement Group of Greene County—Waynesburg, PA
Community Services for Children—Allentown, PA
Community Services of Venango County—Oil City, PA
Community Women’s Education Project—Philadelphia, PA
Country Charm Early Learning Center—Drums, PA
County YMCA/ELU—Edinboro, PA
CPC Head Start—York, PA
CSAEYC—Williamsport, PA
Creative Kids Club—Bethlehem, PA
Cuddle Zone Learning Center—Allentown, PA
Cumberland Cares—Carlisle, PA
DVAEYC—Philadelphia, PA
Daisies Child Development Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Danville Child Development Center—Danville, PA
Dauphin County Capital Beginning, TFEC—Harrisburg, PA
Day Nursery Association—Scranton, PA
Delaware County Human Services/ Office of Early Intervention—Upper Darby, PA
Delaware County Literacy Council—Chester, PA
Delaware Valley AEYC—Philadelphia, PA
Delco Early Learning Centers—Drexel Hill, PA
Derry Area School District—Derry, PA
Devereux Early Childhood Initiative—Villanova, PA
Dickinson Mental Health Center—Community –Based Children’s Services—Saint Mary’s, PA
Discovery and Learning Center—Upper Derby, PA
Discovery Child Development Center—State College, PA
Diversified Community Services—Philadelphia, PA
Diversified Human Services/ SPHS Child Care—Monessen, PA
E Jones Family Child Care Home—Bethlehem, PA
Early Care and Education Coalition of Pike County—Milford, PA
Early Childhood Consultant—Pittsburgh, PA
Early Care International—Pittsburgh, PA
Early Childhood Partnerships—Pittsburgh, PA
Early Childhood Program/Harrisburg School District—Harrisburg, PA
Early Connection, Inc.—Erie, PA
Early Intervention—Allentown, PA
Early Intervention Program—Ridgway, PA
East Mountain Child Care—Wilkes-Barre, PA
Eastminster Child Care—Pittsburgh, PA
ECE Community Engagement Team—Mifflinburg, PA
Educational Consultant—Wynnewood, PA
Educational Development Specialists, Inc.—White Haven, PA
Elbow Lane School—Warrington, PA
Elizabeth Seton Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Elwyn—Philadelphia, PA
Elwyn Development Center—Elwyn, PA
Elwyn Development Center—Media, PA
Episcopal Community Services—Philadelphia, PA
Family and Community Service of Delaware County—Media, PA
Family Foundations Early Head Start—McKees Rock, PA
Family Service Association of Bucks County—Langhorne, PA
Family Support Services—Philadelphia, PA
Federation Early Learning Services—Ambler, PA
Federation Early Learning Services—Philadelphia, PA
For Kid’s Sake Child Care & Learning Center—King of Prussia, PA
Frazier School District—Perryopolis, PA
First Bethel Kings School Kids—Bethel Park, PA
Future Leaders Early Learning Academy—Media, PA
Garrison’s Inc.—Harrisburg, PA
Germantown Academy—Ft. Washington, PA
Germantown Settlement—Philadelphia, PA
Good Schools Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, PA
Grand Beginnings Children’s Center, Inc—Indiana, PA
Greater Latrobe School District—Greensburg, PA
Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way—Sunbury, PA
Greene County Community Engagement Group—Waynesburg, PA
Greenville Early Childhood Council—Greenville, PA
Gettysburg’s Growing Place—Gettysburg, PA
Grandview Heights Christian Academy and Daycare—Ephrata, PA
Growing in Faith Daycare—Bellefonte, PA
H.A.N.D.S of Wyoming County—Tunkhannock, PA
Hansel and Gretel Early Learning Center—Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg Preschool Program—Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg Public School Foundation—Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg School District—Harrisburg, PA
Head Start Sunbury I—Sunbury, PA
Head Start of York County—York, PA
Hildebrandt Learning Center—Dallas, PA
Hildebrandt Learning Centers—Harrisburg, PA
Hildebrandt Learning Center—Lancaster, PA
Hill House Association—Pittsburgh, PA
Hollidaysburg Child Development Center—Hollidaysburg, PA
Homewood-Brushton Child Care Services—Pittsburgh, PA
Hosanna House Child Development—Wilkinsburg, PA
Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers—Pittsburgh, PA
Human Development & Environmental Studies Department—Indiana, PA
Huntingdon Area School District—Huntington, PA
Huntingdon Area School—Standing Stone—Huntingdon, PA
Huntingdon County United Way—Huntingdon, PA
Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers—Pittsburgh, PA
IU#13—Lebanon, PA
Indiana County Child Care Program, Inc.—Indiana, PA
Infant Care Program @ Covenant Church—Scranton, PA
Jeffersonville Country Day School—Norristown, PA
Jenkintown Day Nursery—Jenkintown, PA
Jennifer’s Stay ‘N’ Play Preschool, Inc,--Philadelphia, PA
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
JLC Daycare, Inc.--Pittsburgh, PA
Jolly Toddlers Nursery and Child Care Center—Southampton, PA
Jubilee Association, Inc.—Pittsburgh, PA
Juniata College—Huntington, PA
Juniata College Early Childhood Education Center—Huntingdon, PA
JSM Consulting, Inc.—Kittanning, PA
Kentucky Avenue Children’s Center—Pittsburgh, PA
KID Biz LLC—Washington, PA
Kids Korner Children’s Center—Greenville, PA
Kiddie Academy of Collegeville—Collegeville, PA
KidZone Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
Kinder Academy—Philadelphia, PA
King’s College—Wilkes-Barre, PA
Labor and Industry Child Care—Harrisburg, PA
Lala’s Daycare Center—Carmichaels, PA
LANAEYC—Bethlehem, PA
Lancaster Day Care Center—Lancaster, PA
Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, Early Intervention—Lancaster, PA
Law Office of Joan Smith—Melrose Park, PA
Lawrence County Community Action Partnership—New Castle, PA
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania—Harrisburg, PA
LeapFrog SchoolHouse—Hershey, PA
Lehigh Valley Child Care, Inc.—Allentown, PA
Lil’ Bits Day Care—Philadelphia, PA
Lily Pond Child Development Centers, Inc.—Altoona, PA
Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12—New Oxford, PA
Little Angels—Philadelphia, PA
Little Friends Nursery School—Mechanicsburg, PA
Little Learners Nursery School, Inc.—Troy, PA
Little Life Enrichment Center—New Oxford, PA
Little Mates Child Development Center—Morgantown, PA
Little Meadows Learning Center—Dallas, PA
Little Pond Child Development Centers, Inc.—Altoona, PA
Long Run Children’s Learning Center—McKeesport, PA
Lutheran Settlement House—Philadelphia, PA
Mansfield Area Nursery School—Mansfield, PA
Marian Manor Child Development & Learning Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Mary Morange Shule—Philadelphia, PA
Maternity Care Coalition—Philadelphia, PA
McKenzie’s Christian Learning Garden—Muncy, PA
McKinney Family Day Care Home—Sunbury, PA
MELC—Narberth, PA
Meridian UP Church Day Care—Butler, PA
Mi Familia Child Care Center—Philadelphia, PA
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools—Bala Cynwyd. PA
Millies Creative Childcare—Bethlehem, PA
Mitchell School—Philadelphia, PA
Monroe County Advocates for Children—Danville, PA
Monroe County Association for the Education of Young Children (MCAEYC)—East Stroudsburg,
PA
Montessori Children’s House of Erie, Inc.—Erie, PA
Montgomery County Child Care—Norristown, PA
Montgomery County Child Care Consortium—Narberth, PA
Montgomery County Community College—Pottstown, PA
Montour County Advocates for Children—Danville, PA
Morrisville Branch YMCA—Morrisville, PA
Morrisville School District—Morrisville, PA
Mt. Airy Christian Day School—Philadelphia, PA
Mt. Pleasant Nursery School—Twin Oaks, PA
Mount Union Area School District—Mount Union, PA
Mrs. Cynthia’s Munchkin Romper Room—Philadelphia, PA
Myrtis’s Preschool & CLC—Honesdale, PA
Nat’s Day Care—Philadelphia, PA
National Council of Jewish Woman-PA – Doylestown, PA
Neumann College Child Development Center—Aston, PA
Neighborhood Information Movement—Philadelphia, PA
New Kensington-Arnold School District—New Kensington, PA
New Life Child and Family Development Center—Norristown, PA
Noah’s Ark Daycare—Beaver Falls, PA
Nonprofit Finance Fund—Philadelphia, PA
North Light Community Center—Philadelphia, PA
North Penn United Way—Hatfield, PA
North Pocono Preschool—Moscow, PA
Northampton Community College Children’s Center—Bethelehem, PA
Northern Cambria School District, Title 1 Pre-Kindergarten—Northern Cambria, PA
Northern Lehigh School District—Slatington, PA
Northern Tier Community Action—Emporium, PA
Northwest Children’s Centre, Inc.—New Tripoli, PA
Nurse-Family Partnership—Kingston, PA
Office of Child Development—Pittsburgh, PA
Office of Early Childhood/The School district of Philadelphia, PA
Old Pine Community Center—Philadelphia, PA
Our Lady of Victory Preschool—State College, PA
Our Little Rascals Childcare Center, Inc.—Philadelphia, PA
Overbrook School for the Blind Early Childhood Program—Philadelphia, PA
Owl Hill Learning Center—Lancaster, PA
PA Child Care Association—Harrisburg, PA
PA Key—Harrisburg, PA
Paddington Station Preschool & Childcare, Inc.—Duboistown, PA
Partners in Rehab—Bedford, PA
PathWays PA—Holmes, PA
PEAK/ Pottstown School District—Pottstown, PA
Penn Foundation, Inc.—Sellersville, PA
PENNCREST Head Start—Townville, PA
Penn Pals Child Care Center—Irwin, PA
Penn State University—Sharon, PA
Penn Valley Area School District—Spring Mills, PA
Penn Valley Elementary School—Spring Mills, PA
Pennsylvania Association for the Education for Young Children—Lykens, PA
People’s Emergency Center—Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Alliance for Better Child Care c/o Philadelphia Safe and Sound—Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth—Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Early Childhood Collaborative-PECC-Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Safe and Sound—Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia School District—Philadelphia, PA
Phoenixville Area YMCA—Limerick, PA
Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children—Pittsburgh, PA
Pocono Healthy Communities Alliance—Stroudsburg, PA
Pottstown School District—Pottstown, PA
Precious Children Learning Center—Philadelphia, PA
Pre K Counts of Southern Tioga School District—Mansfield, PA
Pre-K Counts United Way of Bucks County—Fairless Hills, PA
Pre K Counts Wilkinsburg Schools—Wilkinsburg, PA
Pre K Counts in PA –Bellefonte, PA
Pre-K Now—Washington, DC
Premier Child Care Center—Emmaus. PA
Prevention Research Center—State College, PA
PSEA—Harrisburg, PA
Pumpkin Patch Daycare Center—Vestaburg, PA
Purchase Line South Elementary—Commodore, PA
QUEST—Philadelphia, PA
Quality Child Care Coalition of Bucks County—Doylestown, PA
Rainbow Academy for Little Scholars—Ivyland, PA
Rainbow Day Care—Conway, PA
Rainbow Hill—Shickshinny, PA
Rainbow Trail Child Care—Stroudsburg, PA
Rainbow’s End Learning Center at UCP of SW PA—Washington, PA
READ ! 365—Pittsburgh, PA Reading Specialist—HASD—Huntingdon, PA
Reaves Family Daycare—Philadelphia, PA
Rebersburg Elementary School—Rebersburg, PA
Rising Sun Children’s Center—Philadelphia, PA
Riverview Children’s Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Robinson Family Child Care—Howard, PA
Rose Tree Day School—Media, PA
Rosedale Early Care and Learning—Pittsburgh, PA
Rubber Ducky Family Day Care—Penndel, PA
SDP Office of Early Childhood—Philadelphia, PA
St. Francis Nursery School—Melvern, PA
St. Paul Children’s Center—Chambersburg, PA
School District of the City of Erie/ Erie Family Center—Erie, PA
School District of Lancaster—Lancaster, PA
School District of Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
Seneca Valley School District—Cranberry Township, PA
Seton Hill Child Services, Inc.—Greensburg, PA
Settlement Music School—Philadelphia, PA
Shady Lane—Pittsburgh, PA
Shadyside Presbyterian Church Nursery School—Pittsburgh, PA
Shawmont Bright Futures—Philadelphia, PA
Shiloh Development Academy, Inc.—Chester, PA
Shirley Hough Childcare—Mr. Pleasant, PA
Somerset County Head Start—Somerset, PA
Sonia Crissman’s Child Care—Strattanville, PA
Sonshine Christian Academy—Drexel Hill, PA
Sound Start Childcare Center—Philadelphia, PA
South Coatesville Life Center—Coatesville, PA
Southminster Child Care Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Success By 6 @ United Way of Bucks County—Fairless Hills, PA
Success By 6/United Way of Lancaster County—Lancaster, PA
Sunset Hills Nursery School—Pittsburgh, PA
Sunshine & Rainbows Day Care Center—Moosic, PA
Susquehanna Consulting—Harrisburg, PA
Tabernacle Lutheran Church—Philadelphia, PA
Tabor Children’s House—Doylestown, PA
Tender Care Learning Center—Bethel Park, PA
Tender Care Learning Center—Monroeville, PA
Tender Care Learning Center—New Kensington, PA
Tender Care Learning Center/ McCandless—Pittsburgh, PA
Tender Love for Children Childcare & School Program—Altoona, PA
Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation—King of Prussia, PA
The Alliance for Infants & Toddlers/ The Hough Building—Pittsburgh, PA
The Art Learning Center—East Stroudsburg, PA
The Caring Center, Inc.—Philadelphia, PA
The Children’s Ark @ St. George—Ardmore, PA
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
The Early Learning Institute—Pittsburgh, PA
The Growing Tree Learning Center—Greensburg, PA
The Growing Tree Learning Center—East Stroudsburg, PA
The guidance Center—Bradford, PA
The Learning Tree School—Greensburg, PA
The Lighthouse—Philadelphia, PA
The Parent-Infant Center—Philadelphia, PA
The Salvation Army—Philadelphia, PA
The Strawberry Garden Preschool—Harrisburg, PA
Tiny Tot Child Development —Beaver, PA
Tiny Tot Child Development Center—Monaca, PA
Tiny Tot Child Development Center—Rochester, PA
The Tot Shop—Bentleyville, PA
Tioga County Partnership for Community Health—Wel, PA
Tiny Town Child Care Center—Greensburg, PA
Titusville Area United Way—Titusville, PA
Today’s Child Learning Centers, Inc.—Sharon Hill, PA
Toddler University Daycare and Preschool, Inc.—Blossburg, PA
Training Wheels Preschool—Pittsburgh, PA
Travelers Aid Philadelphia/ the Kirkbride Center—Philadelphia, PA
Treasure House CDC—Scranton, PA
Tri-County Community Network, Inc.—Pottstown, PA
Tuscarora Intermediate Unit—McVeytown, PA
Tyrees Toddlers Daycare II—Donora, PA
Tyrone Area School District—Tyrone, PA
Union Church Child Care—Mckees Rock, PA
United Communities the Kids’ Place c/o Beacon @ Bok High School—Philadelphia, PA
United Communities Southeast Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
United for Children—Oakdale, PA
United Way of Beaver County—Monaca, PA
United Way of Bucks County—Fairless Hills, PA
United Way of Bucks County—Erie, PA
United Way of Erie County—Erie, PA
United Way of Lackawanna County—Scranton, PA
United Way of Lancaster County—Lancaster, PA
United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, PA
United Way of Wyoming Valley—Wilkes-Barre, PA
United Way of York County—York, PA
University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center—Pittsburgh, PA
Valley Community Services—Cheswick, PA
Valley Points Family YMCA—New Kensington, PA
Warren Library Association—Warren, PA
Warren Library Organization—Warren, PA
Warren-Forest Early Care & Education Coalition—Warren, PA
Wayne County Children’s Coalition—Honesdale, PA
Waynesboro Day Care Center—Waynesboro, PA
Wee Care Early Learning Center—Langhorne, PA
Wee R The World Early Learning Center, Inc.—Willow Grove, PA
West Philadelphia Child Care Network—Philadelphia, PA
West Point Child Learning Center—Lansdale, PA
Western Center for Technical Studies—Limerick, PA
Western Wayne School District—Hamlin, PA
Wilkes-Barre Area School—Wilkes-Barre, PA
Woodland Hills School District—Pittsburgh, PA
Women’s Christian Alliance—Philadelphia, PA
Wyalusing Valley Children’s Center, Inc.—Wyalusing, PA
Wyoming Seminary—Forty Four, PA
YMCA Child Care—York, PA
YMCA Early Head Start—Philadelphia, PA
YMCA of Lancaster—Lancaster, PA
YMCA of Greater Erie—Erie, PA
Upper Bucks YMCA—Quakertown, PA
YWCA of York Early Learning Center—York, PA
Young Miracles Child Development Center—Philadelphia, PA
Young World Early Learning Center—Philadelphia, PA