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10-8-08 GSCS spotlights preschool expansion implementation issues as a prioirty
GSCS is currently talking with advocates for preschool expansion, as well as the Department of Education, legislators, and the Governor's office about about emerging implementation issues arising under the preschool initiative. An Op-Ed piece by Patrick Martin, Ringwood superintendent of schools, in the 10-8-08 Bergen Record well-underscores some of the very same points (e.g., program equity for 1/2 day special education preschool students, half day kindergarten 'downside' at approximately 1/3 of NJ's Schools, lack of facilities, transportation and other ancillary costs) that GSCS continues to bring on behalf of its members to the attention of state leadership. Click More here to read the Op-Ed.

 

 

 

 

 

Preschool may come with out-of-reach price tag

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Last updated: Wednesday October 8, 2008, EDT 12:27 PM

BY PATRICK MARTIN

The money will have to come from either raising taxes or reducing services to other children.

THE STATE Department of Education is mandating that, beginning next September, public school districts provide free, full-day preschool classes for qualified 3- and 4-year-olds.

This seems like a good idea, getting young people off to an early educational start, and it is. But, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, hold onto your wallets.

Many public schools are already "packed to the rafters" with students and do not know where they will find additional classrooms for preschool classes. Even if classrooms can be found, however, serious problems begin to surface when one considers the ripple effect of this program.

First, across the state tens of thousands of special education children who are 3 or 4 currently receive free preschool classes. In many school districts, these classes take place for 2 1/4 hours each school day. When low-income 3- and 4-year-olds begin to receive a full six-hour day of classes, the families of the special education preschool students will probably demand similar services, and I believe they will receive them. Not only do I support this, but Education Department regulations ensure equal services for these children. The difficulty is that no additional funding is scheduled to come from the state to support the expansion of the preschool special education classes.

In Ringwood, we educate three sections of preschool special education students daily. If each of these 2 1/4-hour sessions is given its own equipped classroom along with a full-time teacher and paraprofessional, the additional yearly cost would exceed $100,000. If, as another option, our school district enrolls these students in an existing preschool for part of their day, the tuition, transportation expenses and related special education costs will also exceed $100,000. From where will this money come? Not from the state. I know because I have asked repeatedly and loudly.

The $100,000 will have to come from either raising taxes or reducing services to the other children in the district.

Our school district, for example, could solve this problem by reassigning an existing teacher to teach in the preschool class. We could then add her former students to other existing classes, thus increasing the class sizes throughout the school. The drawbacks to this, of course, are that with enlarged classes, attention to individuals decreases, student achievement declines and behavioral problems advance.

Would you want your child or grandchild to be part of such an enlarged class?

Following suit

The second ripple has to do with half-day kindergarten. Many New Jersey school districts offer half-day kindergarten. One of the most frequently cited reasons why districts have remained with half-day kindergarten is that they simply cannot afford full-day programs. Logically, moving from half-day to full-day kindergarten entails doubling the number of classrooms and teachers involved. Hundreds of thousands of dollars each year would be required to support such a move.

But if 3- and 4-year-olds are being given a full-day educational experience, how do school districts now justify a half-day experience for 5-year-old kindergartners? The state includes no provision for financial assistance for kindergarten expansion.

Children could be squeezed into existing classes and teachers could be reassigned to additional kindergarten sections. Art and music programs could go "on the cart" and their classrooms could be used for kindergartens. Other classes could take place on the auditorium stage or in the cafeteria.

Ironically, when these undesirable actions take place and parents rightfully complain, it is usually the state that appears and reprimands school districts for poor planning and oversight.

To do it right, more teachers will need to be hired, more classrooms will need to be built and boards of education will eventually, reluctantly look to local property taxes to foot the bill.

Full-day preschool and kindergarten classes are desirable, but they are not free. I urge our legislators and state Education Department officials to study the projected financial ramifications of programs prior to enacting them.

Meaningful pedagogical advancement requires forethought, and the taxpayers' purse is not bottomless.

Patrick Martin is superintendent of the Ringwood school district.

 

 

 

 

 

Find this article at:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/njpolitics/30609499.html