Nebraska

Will this 'option' become 'mandate?'
By TERESA WICKENS, The North Platte Telegraph
10/16/2005

Today, early childhood education programs are an option for school districts in Nebraska, but school officials worry about when that option becomes a mandate.

The Nebraska State Legislature has allocated more than $3.5 million to early childhood education programs approved by the State Board of Education.

According to an administrator from the Nebraska Department of Education, under Chapter 11, early childhood education programs are an option for school districts and communities, but not a requirement.

The North Platte Public School board discussed the 13-page regulation during its meeting Oct. 10. Board member Jim Paloucek was just one member expressing his reservations.

"We're talking about taking early education away from moms, dads, private programs and churches," he said. "I'm not sure that is a road we want to go down.

"Marcia Corr is the administrator with the office of early childhood in Lincoln. She said that by themselves, schools are not in a position to provide required early childhood education programs. Corr said the requirements are designed to encourage schools and communities to work together, not compete.

"We are a long way from schools having the capacity to operate required pre-kindergarten programs," Corr said. That is why the regulation requires schools to work with community organizations and existing programs.

According to Corr, schools are expected to be leaders for providing pre-kindergarten programs.Jack Price is the director of curriculum for North Platte Public Schools. His concern is what happens in the future. He has seen recommendations change into mandates, with no additional funding coming from Lincoln or Washington, D.C.

"Government says they want you to do this, but we won't pay for it," Price said. "Historically, the schools are expected to fix society's ills. As examples, Price cited the drug awareness and character development programs included in student class time. "Schools seem to be the one constant that all children are exposed to," Price said. "We work with daycares and agencies right now," he said. "Are there children not being served? Sure."

Corr said some of the schools that operate pre-kindergarten programs have one or more classrooms set aside for those programs. Price said there are not a lot of open rooms at North Platte schools to set aside special classrooms for pre-schools. He also expressed concern about how state aid would figure into the formula if the option turned into a mandate. As far as state-aid funding is concerned, Corr said that right now, four year olds in a Chapter 11 pre-school program count as .6 of a student, while elementary students count as one.

Corr said that across Nebraska, the legislature approved funding of 38 grants, adding $2.97 million this year to the $1.68 million from last year. Schools that apply for grant funds have to show how they are working with existing programs and how they will use the funds. Corr said that each all-day pre-kindergarten program could apply for up to $50,000 in grants per classroom. Half-day programs can apply for up to $40,000 per classroom. Funding sources for the other half can come from a variety of sources, including local district funds.

Price is concerned about the day the state funds are not approved."Schools start out by paying half, but what happens when it is required to pay all of it?" he said. "Schools have then created an expectation but can't fund all of it. Do you pay for all of it or close it down?"