Vermont

Just another look at the 4K issue in the nation.

Senate committee drops preschool bill
March 3, 2006
Associated Press

MONTPELIER — The Senate Education Committee on Thursday tabled a controversial proposal that would have set rules for public preschool programs and instead asked state officials to study the issue further.

The panel voted 3-2 in favor of a committee bill that directs the education commissioner and the head of the Department of Families and Children to develop models for assessing early education needs in communities. The study also would look at how school districts would work with private providers to offer preschool programs.

The bill also prohibits the state Board of Education from changing state rules regarding early education services or funding.

The committee had been considering a bill that would set standards for how public schools work with private preschool providers. It would have offered preschool programs and standards for teachers who lead them. The programs would be funded by counting 3- and 4-year olds in the school's student population for state education funding.

About 131 school districts around the state already offer preschool programs to 2,950 students, education officials said.

But the bill has faced scathing criticism from opponents who say it would lead to publicly funded preschool programs for all students, drive up education spending, and unfairly compete with private day cares.

"It responds to those people who didn't understand it," Senate Education Committee Chairman Donald Collins, D-Franklin, said of the compromise bill.

But Sen. Jim Condos, D-Chittenden, who had supported the original bill, said he wasn't pleased with the proposal, although he voted for it.

"We didn't get what we wanted so what we did was take what will have the least amount of damage and send it over to the House," he said.

Collins said he expected the commissioners "to look in total at what's happening with child care and early education" in the state.

"This gives us a chance to say what is best for our young children," he said.

The new proposal asks the state officials to report back to the Legislature with their recommendations by January of next year.