Save Preschool
Since Iowa has one of the highest numbers of families with both parents working full-time jobs, the voluntary preschool program was launched four years ago to help middle class families and boost the skills of Iowa’s workforce. It also ensures that families play an active role in their child’s preschool experience. School districts partner with public and private preschool providers for the statewide initiative that currently serves 20,000 Iowa four year olds.
Democrats believe the statewide preschool initiative is sustainable and is a wise investment for our future. The state should not reduce access to public or private preschool and make it more difficult for middle class families. The state must also continue to guarantee quality instruction for children by certified teachers.
In the first bill of the 2011 legislative session, Republicans in the Iowa House voted to end statewide preschool for 20,000 Iowa four year olds ( House File 45). Governor Branstad has also proposed ending statewide preschool and using vouchers instead. However, the Governor’s plan would reduce access to preschool and give parents no guarantee of quality because it doesn’t require a certified teacher.
Sign the Petition!
Iowans are encouraged to sign the “Save Iowa Preschool Petition.”
For more information on Iowa’s preschool program, click here.
Click here to see the number of kids in each school district enrolled in preschool.
To find or contact your legislator, click here.
Click here to read the bill summary.
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441 Comments for “Save Preschool”
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I am very concerned about the future of the Voluntary Preschool Program. Kindergarten is no longer the place for play, as it was when we were growing up – children are expected to enter knowing so much! Quality preschool programs, such as the SVPP, provide children with the academic and social skills they’ll need to succeed in school, and later in a business/work environment. Quality programs have quality teachers, and doing away with the funding will force families to either not send their chilren or give them options of poor quality programs without certified teachers. In addition, we provide parent education, which benefits the whole family. I hope you’ll support the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program to help the children.
Having been involved with the Early Learning program this year for my child, I wanted to take a moment to plead the case of keeping this wonderful program available to 4 year old children. It has been a wonderful experience for both my child and myself. The program provides exceptional education for my child, parent involvment and gives a stepping stone to future years of education for my child. Please consider voting to keep this program available for the sake of the children who are currently and those who may benefit from this program in the future.
I am very concerned about this possible change in the preschool system. As a parent of a preschooler, I have seen the positive effects of children that attend, not only at the 4 yr old level, but also at the 3 yr old level. I have also seen children whose parents do not take advantage of a preschool program for them, and they are so much further behind in learning than my daughter. It is overwhelming. I cannot see how that could not effect children as they enter in kindergarten, and therefore into the rest of their learning “career”. I am amazed at the strides Iowa has made in regards to the preschool program and it would be an absolute shame to move back in time. I can’t believe the amount of learning that goes into a day at my daughter’s preschool and she loves every day of it. Please continue this positive progression of our preschool system and please make sure that this is available to all children.
Please save free, public preschool. Gov. Branstad says he wants a world class education for our children. Preschool is part of that equation. Children who do not get preschool start out behind and some never catch up. Some will get discouraged and drop out of school before they graduate. Give our kids every chance to succeed. Preschool is cheaper than more social services.
No change in education has had a more profound impact on education in the past ten years than the public preschool program. We finally have students from all households receiving an education from quality teachers, rather than just a few. My colleagues working in the elementary schools see a huge difference in the students as they come in to kindergarten and move through the early grades. The kids that will now be left behind are those from the middle class and working families who do not qualify for Head Start, but yet cannot afford private preschool. In fact, many of the teachers who work with me and have young children will not be able to have their children go to preschool. This is a no-brainer.
I have twins that are currently in 3 year old preschool and will be attending 4 year preschool. We have to pay tuition for two at this time and that becomes costly. Having experienced our oldest child going through 3 yr and 4 yr preschool, I can attest to the benefit that it has provided my oldest child. My oldest is currently 6 and she benefited from the grant when she was 4. I feel that the early preschool programs benefit children by teaching them appropriate social skills and by getting them interested in learning (i.e., reading books, counting, naming things, etc.). I have noticed a natural progression in learning in my children and there is more enthusiasm when it comes to learning activities. Thus far, preschool has provided all of my kids opportunities to learn and engage in activities that they would not normally have obtained via their daycare. I ask that the grants remain in place. As a state, we used to be one of the top education states. We have to ask ourselves now why are we slipping? Getting kids engaged with preschool activities is a good start in my opinion.
I agree that the change will have Iowa go backwards in education for our children if we do not stick with the grant for free preschool for four year olds. This is very important to our future and the future of the children in the state of Iowa. It shows us that governor Brandstand does not care about the education of his grandchildren or the children of Iowa:(
Preschool is a place where children get that important school start. Parents work with the preschool staff to get education rolling. So much is expected for incoming kindergarteners and preschool had become a necessary step in the learning process. It is necessary to make the playing field as even as possible. Preschool is not a luxury, but a necessity.
at the beginning of the year most of the children could not write there name.after winter break they all can write there name, i think preschool is very good for the four year olds if they discontine the program the children will not have a chance to be ready for kindergarten
I have a 3 year old who is in preschool. He learned so much this year, and I couldn’t imagine him taking a step back because the state doesn’t want to pay for it. From birth to five are the most important years of a child’s life, so please save the preschools for my child and others children, for their ongoing learning process.
I am a parent of a four year old that currently participates in the Voluntary Preschool Program. It is very disappointing to me that it is possible that this program may be discontinued. Many parents want the best for their children and want to be able to give their children the things that they did not have as a child. Preschool is an opportunity to provide our children with opportunities that were not available to us when we were kids. Education is very important in today’s world. We constantly hear about how the higher paying jobs require more education and how we (the state of Iowa) want our children to have the highest quality of education possible. Education for children starts at birth and it is imperative that the early years are considered part of that education. Children are constantly learning and preschool helps provide the important tools and resources necessary for their development. By taking away the preschool program, you are taking away opportunities from children to learn these important skills that will carry them through life. As a former director of a child care center that offered preschool, I saw first hand how children thrived and what they learned. I have also seen the impact that preschool has had on my own child. I truly believe that our children are our future and we will be letting them down by taking away this opportunity. It is disappointing to think that people do not understand the importance of early childhood and preschool. I want all of you to ask yourselves, “Why would we not want what is best for our children?” Many of you are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Why would you take away the opportunity for these children in your lives to participate in a quality program?
Iowa is supposed to be known for its world class education system. Why is it that our teacher pay is down near the bottom of all states? Why is it even a question that education budgets should not be cut? Early education is important especially if we are to compete in the global market place with future generations. Not all families can afford quality preschool, yet those families are expected to have their children perform adequately in a Kindergarten that is not even close to the “play-environment” of years past. Some families just cannot provide an environment for early education at home either, and Universal Preschool put every family that wanted to be-on an equal playing field, persay. Cutting funding for Universal Preschool, AEA, and ICC will have Iowa going backwards in education. All of these programs are very important to our future and the future of the children in the state of Iowa.
Please do not cut the education benefits for our children. They are our future and the future of Iowa and the Nation. There is other fat that can be trimmed from the budget to get things in line, but do NOT cut the preschool program or any other beneficial educational program!
As a parent of a child in preschool this year I urge lawmakers to find a way to keep Preschool free and available to all children. I have seen first hand the benifits of what preschool can do. I can’t understand how its not a 100% return on investment in preparing our children for school.
Not only as a parent but as someone who has grown up in Iowa my whole life I really don’t understand this state or its “leaders” at times! Schooling is such an important right that all children should have, no matter the income level of their parents. By cutting the Voluntary Preschool Program you are taking that right away from some children! Come on Iowa lets stand out, lets make a difference and lets be smarter about the future of our state, the children. I truly can’t believe something as important as this has to have citizens, parents, teachers and children begging you not to cut, but here it goes, Please reconsider cutting the Voluntary Preschool Program or making any changes to such a benificial program!
Please end “free” preschool and make parents responsible for their own chilren. My taxes do not need to pay for other peoples kids. Plus you get what you pay for. The 4 year old preschool program is nothing but free play without any acedemics being taught. Wouldn’t you rather pay and get a quality education for your children?
save preschool!!!
The idea of cutting the voluntary preschool program is the wrong decision. Everyone deserves an education it equals the playing field. As someone who has worked in education for over 13 years I have seen first hand how a quality education can make a profound difference. DON’T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM OUR KIDS!! THEY DESERVE IT!!
As a 4th grade teacher and parent of twins, I wish to express my sincere concern of taking away public preschool for Iowa families. Every day in my classroom I see the benefits of those children who were able to attend preschool. We all know educaiton is changing and no longer is preschool a time for singing, playing, and resting. The children learn how to become a student. These social skills are necessary to be successful in a classroom, they learn how to listen, how to sit still, how to get along with their peers, understand grooming skills, and even solve problems. Teaching CANNOT even begin until these social skills are in place. The later we wait to teach this, the further behind our children are, and not just low income children. The new govorner cannot govern as he did 12+ years ago. Much has changed, as it should, and our legislature needs to adjust and recognize the real needs of our citizens! As a parent, who is a teacher, and presumably in the middle class, I would not be able to afford a private preschool for my twins at this point. Not everyone has the resources the legislators may think we do. I invite any legislator to come and visit my classroom for a FULL day to see what a day in an elementary school is all about before they make decisions that affect us!
As an educator, parent and preschool and daycare board president for our local preschool and childcare center I feel that eliminating funding for preschool is highly risky for many families. I do not believe that all or even most of the families who do not meet the income requirements will make the room/have the room in their family budget to make preschool a priority for their child.
It is proven and research shows that the brain makes the most connections and is at the prime for learning new things between the ages of birth to 5. Kindergarten is different than it used to be. We expect them to know so much more when they enter and by the end they are reading and able to add and subtract numbers, not just know their names, letters and numbers as in the days of old. Being a teacher puts me in the unique situation of knowing what is expected and teaching special education an even more unique situation. I see gaps but I also see where children have really stretched and learned more than I ever thought they would be required to know throughout my years of teaching. I feel we are doing better each year at preparing our future. Cutting funding will damage this progress.
Iowa should not stop funding this in lean times. Our future lies within our children and their quality education. We should not short change them for the sake of a few dollars. How can we promote and strengthen our position as a leader in education when we cut the most basic of services in the most critical of developmental years.
Preschool is critical for every child’s development physically, emotionally, socially, and academically. Through various activities, literature, and tasks students learn to develop early skills they will need for later learning. Without preschool children will lose the time from kindergarten and first grade to learn social skills that are being learned and taught in preschool now. We are so worried about our test scores and how well we rank to other countries when compared. Why not worry about the opportunities we are taking away from our students instead.
Fine take away preschool, then make sure you expect time for instruction to be taken away in kindergarten and first grade to teach social skills. Then, it will snowball and instead of providing skills in technology or in other skilled areas in high school that will help our country, our economy, our communities, our families, and our students to achieve better success. We will fall further behind than we are now.
Why not provide a chance for every student to learn information and have opportunities at a younger age when things are less stressful and easier to learn. Please ask yourself a few questions before you choose to take away preschool. “Why are you taking preschool away? Is it worth taking it away for money? What are we going to be taking away from our kids (our future?) Is taking it away still worth it?”
Please do not end the free 4 year old preschool program. For all the reasons stated in all these comments and for my children, please do not end this program! Organized classrooms now begin at age 3. If kids don’t/can’t go to preschool (and they won’t due to cost), they will be behind in kindergarten both in their education and social skills. Cut the budget somewhere else! Preschool has so many proven benefits! In fact, it will save money in the long run. I believe I read on this site that for every $1 put into the free preschool program, $7 is saved in the longrun. This is a no brainer! SAVE THE FREE 4 YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL PROGRAM!!! My family is middle class. It is us who will feel the effects of it not being free because I’m sure we won’t qualify for assistance even though we are a far cry from rich. If you cut this program, it will be an example of squeezing the middle more. Pretty soon there will be no middle class and that will be a shame! SAVE FREE 4 YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL!
I urge the legislature to work together to preserve the free 4 year-old preschool program. I have one four year in the program now at Wapsie Valley and it seems to be wildly popular and successful program. Also, the program has been called an “entitlement” program by some; this is an absurd comment as educating are youth at there most earliest ages is the best way to make them successful in a global economy.
Please save PRESCHOOL! As a preschool special education teacher and mother of 2 young children I see the benefits of preschool everyday. I can not begin to tell you the impact quality preschool has on children. I see the impact this program has on students everyday. Students who were not able to interact appropriately with peers at the beginning of the year have now formed friendships. Students who were not able to name letters upon entering school are now naming letters and are writing their names. We MUST continue to support our youngest citizens and help them gain the skills they need to be productive citizens. Preschool is money well spent. Students who attend a quality preschool need less remediation in K-12 schooling, are less likely to become part of the court system and it costs less money to educate them in future years. Please support our most needy kids and help them access a quality education.
As a Preschool teacher and a grandparent of a grandchild in Preschool, I am very concerned about the possible loss of our free 4 year old Preschool program. Seeing the children at the beginning of the year and then at the end and what they have learned and are able to do I can’t imagine a child that’s parents can’t afford Preschool going to Kindergarten without going to Preschool first. Kindergarten isn’t what it use to be the children have to be ready to go academically and emotionally, if not they will start out behind the rest of the children. Aren’t our children and their future worth it to keep the program. I urge you to strongly consider not cutting this program.
As a mother of 3 year old twins, I have watched them grow and evolve through the year. When I saw my son come home so excited that he wrote his name at school, I couldn’t believe my ears. Then, to see him write it…..I almost cried! Pre school is an amazing program and if the Governor decides to cut the free 4 year old program, this would hurt children and teachers alike. If they decide to make it on income guidelines, you will have parents that a) don’t qualify for the guidelines or b) flat out don’t want to pay for it! They are severley hurting their children!! So when they are ready to move on to kindergarden, the poor teachers are going to have 2 levels of children if parents choose not to send their kids. The little things of standing in a line, or staying quiet during carpet time, or recognizing letters or even writing their names. These are things that are the beginning of our childrens educational journeys and you want to take that away? Shame on you!! For those who think it is a “waste of their tax dollars”, you obviously have no children or no children at that age that you can clearly see them grow and turn their little minds on. I believe that it would hurt Iowa’s children so much to take this away……would you truly want to do that? Oh, I forgot, we are only looking at the money aspect and not the future of Iowa!!!! You can’t put a price on education, but I don’t think you should take it away from them. We will do everything we can to send our kids. It will strain our budget, big time, but I would NEVER take that away from them and not all families see it that way. I think this needs to be looked at with open eyes and see every angle of the program. Please reconsider, Mr. Branstad and keep our young minds and the future of Iowa growing and learning.
I thought I would go right to the source–my preschoolers and see what they thought if there was no free preschool. Their comments were:
*My mom can’t afford preschool. My mom has to work and go to school and I would be at a baby sitter. I do not learn as much at the sitter.
*We have got to share at preschool and be kind to others.
*At preschool we learn to play, wash hands, brush teeth, read books, sing, dance, put on our own winter coat, write our name, learn about letters and numbers, work as a team, and feed our fish.
*My little brother needs preschool; he needs to share.
Dear Legislators, Please save our preschool. These children are our future and we in Iowa believe Education is the Foundation for creating positive productive citizens.
Last year we were fortunate enough to take advantage of the 4 year old preschool grant and it was wonderful. The opportunity was a blessing. My child is younger for the class and it showed in comparison to some of the others. What it showed us was he needed to attend A-K for this year and what a great choice we made. He thrives in A-K and I just know that this year would have been a struggle if we would have sent him to kindergarten. A child that starts off struggling in school is catching up the rest of their life. This program offered my child a chance to start off loving going to school instead of dreading it. Don’t take away one of the best programs this state has ever offered. Let’s do the right thing and invest in our children and their education to give them a head start in life.
From my understanding, the Iowa preschool program will not be cut, but the program will be funded by parents who do not qualify for free or reduced funding. In other words, the lower socioeconomic status parents will receive a free education, the middle class parents will have to pay by barely making ends meet, and the upper class will have no problem affording it. The middle class is always taking a hit! For once Iowa did something right by providing a preschool program for all, no matter what a family’s income is or their race. We need to continue the program for our children and our country’s future. We need to continue doing what is right and stop the segregation! It is disturbing to know that our country is at its worst with segregation-more so than in the 50’s, and mainly due to our government separating people and data by their income and race. Iowa, be a leader in making right choices for our state, our country, and our future.
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Take Action to Save Preschool
Posted by Sam Roecker on Friday, January 14, 2011 · View Comments
Join the fight to save preschoolAs Republicans continue their efforts to eliminate preschool for Iowa children, citizens of Iowa have a chance to take action and stand behind Iowa’s progress.
Over the past four years Democrats have upheld their commitment to preschool and education in Iowa. Today, 20,000 Iowa children in 90 percent of our school districts have access to this preschool and are building a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning.
This investment in Iowa’s future not only prepares children across the state, it has a long-term financial benefit to the state. Research shows that for every dollar spent on preschool education saves taxpayers $7 in the future. Those who attend preschool are more likely to graduate high school and less likely to face legal trouble or depend on welfare programs in the future.
Eliminating preschool will undoubtedly have a negative impact on our economy and well being of Iowa children for decades to come.
How you can help:
* On Tuesday, January 18th at 6:30 PM the House will hold a public hearing where Iowans can testify in defense of preschool and the other programs cut in House File 1. To schedule time to speak, call the legislature at 515-281-3221.
* If you aren’t able to testify publicly, call or write your legislators and tell them to support education in Iowa. Find your legislators by clicking here.
* Spread the word! Click on the Facebook and Twitter links at the bottom of the page and ask your friends to join you in defending preschool.
For more information, including the number of children enrolled in preschool in your area, visit the Iowa House Democrats’ Save Preschool website.
Together we can protect the promise of a quality education for future generations.
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Janet – Davenport [Moderator] 0 minutes ago
Our own Iowa State University has studied, researched and reported on the importance of teacher/caregiver education to the quality of learning experiences for young children. Iowa’s preschool program built that in. Iowa did it right: making sure that all children can access preschool during a time when their minds are most sensitive to learning and making sure that the programs were high quality. This is NOT wasteful spending that should be cut. This is an investment that has been proven to pay off in accelerated learning and fewer problems for children later in life.
I am very concerned about this new governor already hitting our next generation with cutting preschool. We need these classes for these children and can never start too early. Why would you come into a position and make extreme changes right away, the prople need to speak’
Thanks
I am very concerned about the plan to cut the funding for preschool for four year olds. I have a ten year old that has always struggled in school and I feel it is because she didn’t have the opportunity to learn the basics at an early age. I also feel that preschool is a way to ease children into the social requirements needed in the kindergarten classrooms. Today with the amount of information and learning that is required daily, teachers at the Elementry level do not have time to socialize children, this needs to happen prior to elementry school. My fear is that this will be cut and my other two children will not have the opportuinty to take advantage of this program. I myself have an education and a job, on paper I should be able to afford preschool but with the rising cost of sending children– 200-300 dollars per child/per month, I simply cannot afford to send my child without assistance.
I am extremely concerned for the future of our state and our K-12 education system if the SVPP is eliminated. The amount of dollars that have been spent to provide training and improve quality have been well invested. We now finally have a quality zero to five system that develops the whole child (socially, emotionally, and academically). We have quality, professional providers who are respected and EMPLOYED. How will these cuts affect our unemployment rate? How will the “vouchers” that have been discussed be allocated and monitored?
I moved back to Iowa to raise my family because Iowa values education. I hope my new governor and the Senate and House realize that eliminating early childhood education will cause more and more families to rethink their decision to live, work, and raise their families in Iowa!
Preschool has made a huge impact on my child’s life. He needs to be exposed to other children his own age. He has learned so much just by watching other students! Please don’t take that away from other children. Preschool is not something that can just be taken away. It should be available for all children.
As an educator and a parent of a 4 year old that participates in the 4 year old preschool program I have many concerns about Branstad’s plan for education. My son has grown so much socially from the Creative Curriculum. I feel that he will have the social skills to be successful in kindergarten next fall. I am very concerned about the future of our young children if this program gets cut. As a educator many children are coming to school lacking the social and academic skills needed to be successful. In kindergarten we do not have the time to work on these social skills and some children are already starting behind others. I feel that the statewide preschool is helping to close the learning gap and is trying to not leave any children behind.
I am a grandmother of 7. I see first hand how preschool benefits. We must all work together to save preschool in the schools. Children are our future.
The state has no obligation to provide cradle to grave care of you. If you want to send your childrento preschool fine. PAY YOUR OWN WAY. It is the parents responsibility to provide for their OWN children.
When I heard about the preschool grant in jeopardy I was outraged!!! I can not believe that are Government leaders who want to help the community and our children, want to take this away from our children!! I have two kids in preschool and if it was not for this grant there is no way we could afford for our kids to go to preschool!! My kids love school and everything that goes with it and now if the grant is gone I have to turn around and tell one of my boys that next year he might not be able to go because we can’t afford for him to go or he may have to go to a different school when he loves the one he is at! This grant is to help the children who will indeed one day run our government and preschool may not seem much to some but it helps in the formation of our children, those who can not afford to go miss out on that!! I feel very strongly on this issue as it will affect one of my children next year and also another after that!! Whoever thought of the idea to end this grant should not be in the position they are because apparently they do not care what happens to the children in the school systems!!!!!!!!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We live in a different culture than 10 or 20 years ago. We need to do things differently to make sure education is a priority for our young and therefore Iowa.
As a tax payer/teacher/principal and a parent, I know this: there are many other programs that can be cut in the education area that will allow for funds for pre-school. Higher paid teachers are not better teachers. If higher pay made better teachers it would make sense that public school test scores would outdo private school test scores. We all are aware that this is not the case. Stop the incentive pay that is automatically provided to everyone. Other than in a few subject areas, we are in a time when there are many qualified teachers who do not have jobs, yet we continually raise the pay thinking we will get more qualified people. They are qualified…they are out there….more money will not make them better teachers. Also, take a look at the mentoring programs that are being funded. Have the statistics changed as to the number of teachers who stay in the profession since we have spent MILLIONS of DOLLARS on a variety of programs? I know the answer…do you?
Can local high schools offer classes such as higher level foreign language at community colleges for a much smaller cost? YES. Can they offer other classes there as well? YES. These opportunities have been in place for many years. Yes, it is an inconvenience for the high school student but these savings can be used for the pre-school children.
How about this type of program that is being used in several locations: Early graduation – full dual credit programs. The high school student attends college receiving high school (without ever stepping back into the school except for extracurriculars or graduation)credit towards graduation and credits for college. The colleges receive funds for this program and the difference goes to the preschool program.
We need to get to them as soon as possible for educational purposes. They has been so much extensive research showing the imnportance of early education. I am old enough to remember the divisive nature of half-time versus full-time kindergarten.
I ask this of the decison makers: please think outside of the box. Don’t look at this as we can’t spend money there…so we will cut. Think outside of the box…there are many solutions in which will provide you the opportunity to save a VERY important program. Have a great day.
I am in awe as I read these comments. As a parent and a preschool teacher, I understand and appreciate the benefits of preschool. I also understand the changing dynamics of working families. That being said, it saddens me to read these comments. First of all not all children are being served. I believe it is one thing for a private preschool to turn kids down due to space but it looks horrible for the public school systems to do the same. Would you ever hear “Sorry, we don’t have space for your child in 1st grade.” Second, as a tax payer, my tax money to going to empowerment (to supply low income families tuition money), it is going to the grant, and guess what…parents are still paying tuition at a majority of the schools. Finally, as a teacher, when I go into homes to do home visits every year, I can’t help but notice the large flatscreen tv with the xbox and wii sitting next to it, the blackberry in the hand of the parent and the quads parked right next to the SUV in the driveway.
In a perfect world the state would have enough money to cover three and four year old preschool, but it doesn’t. People lets get our priorities straight. In the time that you just spent complaining about the State cutting the funding, you could have spent that time with your child.
I am in favor of saving the preschool program. It is important to give the youth, that will one day be running this state, the headstart they need.
Iowans did not vote to eliminate accessible preschool in November. Please listen to everyday Iowans, not a very narrow base.
I am the mother of 4 children 2 that had never really been around children their own age except for each other. I currently have children in the 3 year and in the 4 year program. My daughter that is in the 4 year program I have my doubts on her being ready for kindergarten that is with her going to preschool and her going through extensive speech therapy and occupational therapy. She has come a long way with all this assistance. My daughter that is in the 3 year program has picked up many of her older sisters habits and since being enrolled in the 3 year program and being split from her sister has shown that the speech problems she has encountered were picked up traits that she is over coming. I see many parents that would send their kids to school just to have the time away from them. I have my children enrolled in an am program and in an afternoon program, if I had to pay for my children to attend preschool neither one would be able to attend and the issues that I have seen going away would continue. The preschool programs have proven very critical in the development of my youngest 2 daughters. Why take that away when it is needed and proves helpful.
Having worked in Kindergarten for 6 years as assistant, I can tell you how important pre school is for ALL children. Children coming to school without any experiences puts them at such a disadvantage. Once they fall behind, the frustration shows and they develope a lack of love for school. At the beginning years, it is crucial to tap their interests and foster a love for education. Having pre school for all children puts them at a more level playing field.
What a shame. Shame on any Iowa leader to even consider cutbacks to the 4 year old preschool program. This program has proven effective in preparing our children for Kindergarten and helping them to all receive the exposure they so desperately need to succeed in the early years of school. I have been a Para Educator in Iowa schools, and have seen far too many children “fall through the cracks” in Iowa schools. We OWE it to our children and our future to give these kids the chance they deserve in education. CUT SOMETHING ELSE! I see government dollars wasted every day, in our city and county facilities and on our streets. Find it elsewhere!
Three years ago, our family was faced with a difficult decision: should my husband accept a new faculty position in Iowa? We weren’t thrilled with the prospect of moving to a smaller community (QC area), that was farther away from all of our family. We did our research, and took a lot of things into consideration, and one of the more appealing aspects of moving was the free 4 year old preschool program. As a family with twins living off an annual income of $50,000, we could not possibly afford a quality preschool program for 2 children atat the same time. They are currently in preschool this year, and I cannot believe how much they have learned in just one semester. One son, who could not write a single letter at the beginning of the year, could spell his name after the first 10 days of school, and can now spell his full name. His brother could count to 10 at the start of school, and can now count up to 100, and do simple addition. As a mom who works part-time while staying at home with them, there is now way I could have been as successful teaching them these skills by myself. And we all know that preschool today is what kindergarten was for us 30 years ago. Children are expected to know the alphabet and how to count before they reach kindergarten. I am shocked that legislators in the state of Iowa – the state that has claimed to be “first in education” – would consider, let alone act upon, the idea of eliminating funds for voluntary preschool. Is saving some money now really worth sacrificing the future of childrens’ potential?
I have a child that is in 3 year old preschool right now. The preschool that she is in has taught her so much already this year. I am looking forward to them teaching her even more next year. But I am also a divorced single mom. My ex-husband does not keep a job and I struggle to make it from day to day. With out this program I will not be able to afford to send her to preschool next year and she will miss out on the necessary learning that 4 year old preschool will give her. You need to keep this program it is a great program. It gets the children ready to go to school. Just remember these children in several years will be running this country and if you keep this program them might not cut your stuff you need or might need when you get older and get put in a home for the elderly. So please keep this program…
I am from a town of slightly over 400 people. We have a wonderful preschool program! My grandson, who is a third grader now, had this program. He learned many skills, but more importantly, a love for learning was instilled at an early age! He is a straight A student and I give much credit for this to the early start he received from a great teacher & wonderful school! My younger grandson is in the 4yr old preschool this year under the preschool grant program. If not for this program,he would not be going to preschool as it would not be possible do to financial reasons! I am very thankful that he is able to have this exceptional start to his formal education. I feel all children should have this kind of opportunity. We used to be number one in education and I realize we didn’t have this preschool program then, but we had better! We had many stay at home moms teaching their children, more stable families, and less stress & expectations for the children! Anyone who has children in school knows how hard they are pushed now days. Kindergarten children are behind if the cannot write their names, count, do simple math, know their alphabet, etc! Not to mention, they must have appropriate behavior that is not the typical five year old behavior, if they have never received formal instruction or interaction with peers. I feel the push in education is critical, do to our falling behind much of the world in this area! So, to me it seems a very backward step to do away with this program! The future of our country will soon be in the hands of these children! I know people in this very small community wrote letters to receive this grant, myself being one of them. Many in our community spent much time getting this grant and doing things to make it possible. All of their work was so appreciated! Will taking this program away make people less likely to come to the aid of their community in the future? All people concerned with this issue need to write, call, tweet, email, text, and let our voices be heard!! Our legislators and governor need to hear us loud & clear! We, who go before the young, have a responsibility to give them the tools to succeed! It is in the best interest for all of us! No child left behind, why would Iowa let 12,000 kids be left behind each year?
It amazes me that educated people are comtemplating cutting a much needed program, preschool. There is an inbalance in allocating funding in this country and education always seems to be on first to get cut. The strength of our country will depend upon how well we prepare our youth for the future. I am a retired teacher and truly took pleasure in ’seeing a child’s eyes light up when a light bulb went on’; the more prepared a child is when entering first grade, the better the formal school can help them. I don’t blame the government for all the problems in education, but feel we need to work on performance accountability techniques rather trying to immaturely reach a solution without evaluating its consequences. We need more emphasis on education rather than less. I am not pleased with the way my taxes are spent,as a whole, but feel other ways of balancing our spending should be reviewed by a unified legislature before we undertake drastic moves so quickly. Our future is at stake, so please, let’s work on long range planning and not put our children (our future) endangered.
I am very upset to hear that the preschool programs may be eliminated. My son who has a speech delay started to work with AEA when he was 2 and when he turned 3 he then went to our districts preschool program. He will be 4 next week and his speech has improved greatly, mostly in part because of the preschool program and the services that are provided. I urge everyone to voice their concerns to our goverment in an attempt to save the preschool program.