CNN Money reported that 57,000 children will lose out on Head Start due to the Sequester and $85 billion in federal budget cuts. Head Start staffers, some who are parents of the children, will see pay cuts or be fired.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/19/news/economy/headstart-funding-cuts/
One would think preschool for the poor would be improving. But maybe when you use the word “rigor,” to describe the program, instead of “nurture,” Americans feel less compassion.
You also can’t help but wonder why children have to race against each other to get to the top.
Don’t get me wrong. If anyone can race, as parents all know, it is 3 year olds. They sprint physically and mentally. Young children are definitely like sponges, but they can’t soak up grandiose learning experiences if there are few or none to be had. That has always been the problem for very poor children.
Thus far, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin are victors for federal early childhood funding ($89 million to share). If you are poor and have got small children in other states, well…I hope your state cares.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/barack-obama-administration-early-education-95459.html
Personally, I’d like to hear exactly why children in the big six won the gold and kiddies in other states fell short. I mean how do you really test children at this age?
I also wonder why, if the winners did everything so well, the failed early childhood programs wouldn’t need the money more to rev up their programs.
The bottom line—when you see 57,000 disadvantaged children being denied access to early childhood care, due to the demise of their Head Start program, you have to question why.
Helping children get over the devastation of poverty shouldn’t put them in a chapter out of the Hunger Games. We already see that scenario unfolding in K-12.
The president’s “fact sheet” is also incorrect. The title is “President Obama’s Plan—Early Education for All Americans.” Like No Child Left Behind, 57,000 disadvantaged very young children just lost out on preschool. These children were very much left behind.
I lost the lottery for kindergarten and started school at first grade. All but 2 or 3 of my peers started in kindergarten.
Speaking from experience, such action DOES make a huge difference. The deficit is hard to conquer at such a young age.
I’m pulling for sensible school reforms for all, too.
You go, Nancy, in your quest to bring understanding to us all in this confusing area!!
Thanks Donna. You are correct. Sensible is the key word. There is a lot of evidence for what makes good early learning as you know. I wish more attention would be paid to the research. We are hearing more and more about 3-year-old accountability. It seems that would raise a red flag with parents. But small children can certainly benefit from a good early childhood experience in an appropriate age-appropriate setting.