Is Pre-K the Way?

06/12/2007

Achievement is made using the faith of optimism.
Helen Keller

Pre-K programs have become the hottest ticket in early childhood in the past decade. Today, all but eleven states are in some stage of implementing publicly supported services for four year olds. During this time, "competition from the public schools" has consistently been rated by center directors in Exchange surveys as the biggest threat faced by their organizations.

On the plus side, this movement has infused billions of dollars into the early childhood community. On the minus side, in states where planning has not involved all the players, Pre-K programs run in public schools end up, as feared by directors, competing with existing community programs.

In her Exchange article (which can be viewed in its entirety, "Trends in Early Care and Education," Gwen Morgan in looking at Pre-K initiatives across the country asked advocates in each state to consider: "Is the state changing its programs into an organized system? Or is the pre-kindergarten expansion simply adding one more “program” to an unconnected non-system?"

I recently visited Oklahoma, which many have rightly lauded for their progressive steps in improving early care and education. Its "STARS" licensing systems led the way in recognizing levels of quality child care and implementing a tiered set of standards. The state has supported this with significant training efforts to support directors' efforts to enhance quality. At the same time it has enacted a universal Pre-K program that enjoys the highest level of participation (70%) of Pre-K programs. Unfortunately, despite the intent of planners, the Department of Education has directed the vast majority of Pre-K funds to programs operating in the public schools, causing considerable distress for community centers across the state.

Exchange is interested to learn how Pre-K programs are playing out in real life in your states. Are they enhancing the strength and quality of the overall early childhood delivery system, or undermining it? To share your experiences for an upcoming Exchange article, scroll down and click on the "Comment on this article" link. We appreciate your input!

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