The Obama administration budget has offered some hope to preschool advocates once again with the inclusion of the Early Learning Challenge Fund, an idea similar to the Race to the Top contest at the K-12 level. The bill failed last year in a Democrat-controlled contest, however, so it would be a surprise if it has a chance in the Republican-controlled House this year, where cutting spending across the board is the focus. Still, some folks are hopeful.
Here’s what Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a call with reporters yesterday:
“States are under huge financial pressure and we understand that but when
you’re under huge pressure you have to really think about what your
states priorities are. I don’t think, frankly, we need another study to
demonstrate the long term benefits of high quality early childhood
programs.
“If we’re serious about closing the achievement gap we have to
do so much more to get our children, particularly disadvantaged
children, ready for kindergarten, ready to learn, with their literacy
and socialization skills intact and half day programs that are often…
two and a half or three hours. That’s not enough time for children and I
don’t know how a working family or a mom working two or three jobs
trying to make ends meet, I don’t see how families sort of negotiate
that or figure that out.
“I more than recognize how tough the fiscal
times are, but scaling back on early childhood programs is just
something I think is just not in the best interest of communities and
states.”
