As Indiana pushes ed reform, pre-k lags
There may be a lot of talk about education reform in Indiana right now, but it’s become increasingly clear that Tony Bennett, the new superintendent of instruction, won’t be emphasizing early childhood. And he’s citing the usual issue: lack of money.
Pre-k not at the top of Indy’s reform agenda
Indiana has long trailed other states when it comes to public support of pre-kindergarten; it’s one of just eight in the U.S. that don’t fund it at all, according to NIEER. In addition, the Indianapolis Star reported recently, Indiana’s state laws don’t even require children to begin school until the fall when they turn seven.
While there’s new legislation introduced that would lower the age, financial issues could interfere.
“I would always say I support early childhood education, and when the economic climate affords itself, we must afford ourselves the opportunity to finish the job,” Bennett said in a recent interview with the Courier Press.
A recent piece by Scott Elliott in the Indy Star called pre-kindergarten “the missing piece in Indiana education reform.”
