Source: Washington Times Herald
By: Lindsay Owens Times Herald
They say it takes a village and right now many in the village that is the Hoosier state are focused on expanding access to high-quality pre-kindergarten education in Indiana.
All IN 4 Pre-K, a group of advocates, business leaders and families, is working to expand opportunities for youngsters throughout Indiana. A program called On My Way Pre-K already exists in Allen, Jackson, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties. The program provides scholarships to children at or below 127 percent of poverty. There are also early education matching grants that allow facilities to offer tuition-free attendance for children at or below 100 percent of poverty. Indianapolis offers its own preschool scholarship program, but there are still thousands of children that are not being reached.
Last month, representatives from Early Learning Indiana, as well as others interested in increasing the availability of high quality early education, met at Washington Catholic Preschool with Sen. Eric Bassler. Hosted by Washington Catholic, preschool director Jane Seidel said the expansion of high-quality pre-k is important.
“It’s so important we prepare children the best we can for kindergarten and beyond,” said Seidel.
While few details of the meeting were released, representatives with All IN 4 Pre-K said they were pleased with how the meeting went.
“We had a very promising conversation,” said Kofi Darku, with All IN 4 Pre-K, who said state-wide coordinated advocacy events will be planned for January at the Indiana Statehouse.
It’s not just all All IN 4 Pre-K, which is led by Early Learning Indiana, that is working toward giving every student a chance to succeed in the classroom. Several United Way agencies are also jumping on board to play a role in the expansion of early education.
In a joint press conference held in August, after announcing the business community had reached its goal of raising $10 million for the city’s own pre-K program, Indianapolis leaders launched a broad initiative to encourage Hoosier lawmakers to expand the opportunities for low-income families to receive high-quality pre-K across the state.
In a release, United Way of Central Indiana President and CEO Ann D. Murtlow said research shows dramatic brain development takes place in the first five years of a child’s life. The research also shows building a strong academic foundation leads to positive academic and life outcomes.
“We need to ensure more Hoosier children-especially students from low-income families who stand to benefit most-can access high-quality pre-k so they start kindergarten ready to succeed,” said Murtlow, adding all this has a ripple effect on not only communities but the entire state.
Mark Hill, president and CEO of the Knox County, Indiana, and Crawford County, Illinois United Way, is also an advocate of the educational expansion.
“Pre-K is an idea whose time has come,” said Hill, adding that the success of children attending early education programs translates into positive outcomes for Southwestern Indiana families and the state as a whole.
According to Hill, seven out of 10 Hoosier voters said they support expansion of pre-K to many more low-income families in the next legislative session, per a statewide representative poll.
“If the statements made by the state’s gubernatorial campaigns are any indication, Indiana has the political will to expand pre-k in the next legislative session,” said Hill. “And as our lawmakers put forth a budget that builds on the tremendous gains we’ve made in education, investing in pre-k should be a top priority. The time is now to make a significant down payment that will ensure Indiana’s next generation of leaders has the chance to flourish in school and in life.”
Newly-elected Republican Governor Eric Holcomb said he would expand state-funded pre-K for low-income families, but not to all 4-year-olds. His plan would also be expanded in stages.
For more information on All IN 4 Pre-K, visit www.allin4prek.com