Help With Vital Preschool Funding
By Marciene Mattleman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Within the last two years Pennsylvania's budget cuts resulted in the loss of 10% of pre-k capacity at the School District of Philadelphia. That means 1,000 fewer children have access to vital programs that prepare them to succeed in school.
President Obama's proposal is important - partnering with states to offer pre-k to every 4-year old, and incentives to fund more high quality projects, ultimately saving money on special education and grade remediation… helping kids to get the right start, improving their literacy and graduation rates.
According to Michael Alison Chandler in The Washington Post, more than 1.3 million 3- and 4-year olds attended state-funded preschools in Arlington County northern Virginia last year and came in 1st in the country for preschool access; but funding now has dropped.
Legislators should heed research showing that high quality programs boost children's academic performance in the short term and long term employment prospects.
