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State's $2.4
billion share of cost 'a hurdle.'
by Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle, January 22, 2004
A statewide coalition of educators on Wednesday proposed sweeping changes
for Texas preschool programs.
The plan, both ambitious and costly, seeks to provide free preschool for
children of families with low and moderate incomes. The $5.6 billion
proposal -- requiring $2.4 billion a year in new state money -- would
subsidize children attending public and private facilities meeting
specific standards for curriculum, teacher-student ratios and other
criteria.
Studies strongly suggest the most critical time for children to develop
mentally is in their early years. Such development, research shows, leads
to lower dropout and crime rates and a more highly skilled work force.
Texas educators are selling the new program as a key initiative to ensure
the state's future competitiveness.
"This idea would deliver not only a return on education itself but a
ripple effect on all elements of society," said Alvin Tarlov, a senior
fellow in health policy at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public
Policy and a co-author of the plan.
No state officials have yet backed the proposal, although supporters say
it has not yet been presented to Gov. Rick Perry and legislative leaders.
Proponents are participating in a meeting today and Friday at Rice
University to refine the plan and begin the process of gaining political
support.
This could be a tough sell, particularly at a time when Texas legislators
have had to cut the popular Children's Health Insurance Program and are
struggling to fund K-12 education.
"The governor certainly supports making available to parents and schools,
including private day care, information about early childhood learning,"
said Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt. "But a request for $2.4 billion a year
is a bit of a hurdle at this point."
In 2001, then-Houston Independent School District Superintendent Rod Paige
named full-day preschool for all children a top legislative priority. The
initiative by Paige, now U.S. secretary of education, went nowhere in a
legislative session dealing with a budget surplus. The last legislative
session, in 2003, faced a $10 billion deficit.
Proponents of the new preschool plan -- prepared during the last two years
with input from dozens of child-advocacy groups -- said investing in young
children yields nearly $8 for every $1 spent, based upon a 30-year study
of children in Chicago who participated in similar programs.
"This is an investment that more than pays for itself," said Rob Mosbacher,
chairman-elect of the Greater Houston Partnership.
No state in the country offers universal preschool education. In Texas,
there are about 700,000 children ages 3 and 4, and the plan is estimated
to cost about $10,000 per child. Officials believe about three-fourths of
children would take part in the program.
Under the proposed plan the state would be asked to kick in $2.4 billion a
year, about 40 percent of the plan's costs. The remainder would come from
redirecting federal and state money for the Head Start and
pre-kindergarten programs for low-income children and tuition from parents
with higher incomes.
The program would fully subsidize the cost for families with incomes less
than three times the federal poverty level, which was $18,400 for a family
of four last year. Families at between three and four times the poverty
level would receive a 50 percent subsidy and those above four times the
poverty level a 25 percent subsidy. Parents could choose the school their
children would attend.
Mosbacher and other proponents said they realize such a costly plan cannot
be instituted immediately. They have suggested implementing the program
during the next decade, perhaps beginning with 4-year-olds.
One local school district has not waited for state-sponsored preschool.
Three years ago, Spring Branch Independent School District began offering
the full-day program free to 2,200 4-year-olds, although some may be
forced to pay tuition in the upcoming school year because of a tightening
budget.
The program has "absolutely" benefited participants, said Susan Smith,
director of one of the district's five preschool centers, Wildcat Way
School. Children meet or exceed everything they need in language arts,
math and sound recognition before kindergarten. The program also includes
lessons on sharing, working in groups and playing fair.
Smith said extending a similar program statewide would improve the
education system. Students would be much better prepared for grade school
and life in general, she said.
"The kindergarten teachers are thrilled when they get these kids," she
said.
DIVIDENDS TO
SOCIETY
Returns on investment in education and development programs from
infancy to young adulthood, per dollar spent:
• Prenatal: $3.01
• Infancy: $4.42
• Preschool: $7.94
• School-age: $1.66
• Youth job training: $0.45
Returns on investment include higher income for participants, criminal
justice savings because fewer children go on to commit crimes, increased
tax revenues generated by participants and education savings due to fewer
grade repeats.
Source: Arthur J. Reynolds, professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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