D.C. COUNCIL
Bill Would Put More Children in Pre-Kindergarten
DC Council Chair Vincent Gray introduced landmark public education
reform legislation on Dec 11, 2007 that promises to revolutionize
the way in which District families prepare their children
for school. The legislation establishes new, high-quality
pre-k classrooms for three- and four-year-olds who lack access
to pre-k and improves the quality of many existing classrooms.
For the first time, DC families will have access to high quality
pre-k across community-based programs, public schools and
public charter schools. For the first time, legislation paints
a clear picture of what high-quality pre-k looks like and
draws the clear, research-based link between quality pre-k
and school success.
“Our city’s children deserve
nothing less than a first-rate public education system that
can transform all of their hopes and dreams into reality.
High-quality pre-k for all will ensure that children enter
Kindergarten with the skills and knowledge to succeed in school
and in life,“ said DC Council Chair Vincent Gray.
Decades of research demonstrates that a high-quality
pre-k education can lead to improved school achievement, health
and better life outcomes for children, as well as financial
savings for the District. In fact, in a recent report conducted
by the Economic Policy Institute, award-winning economist
Robert Lynch found that if the District began investing immediately,
a pre-k for all system would begin paying for itself in just
seven years.
A majority of three- and four-year-olds already
attend pre-k in the District. However, as a whole, these programs
are not preparing our children for the K-12 system. Nearly
80 percent of pre-k programs do not meet national standards
for quality – a leading indicator of whether programs
are able to meet their objectives.
“With Chairman Gray’s announcement
today and the public support of other Council members, it’s
clear that policymakers increasingly recognize that the District's
pre-k programs are sorely under-funded,” said Carrie
Thornhill, Pre-K for All DC Campaign Co-Chair. “If programs
are adequately funded and closely monitored for quality, than
we will see the sort of positive outcomes we have long desired
for our children.”
The legislation is supported by a diverse
coalition of business, community, and education reform partners.
On December 5, over 30 university presidents, CEOs, and business
association leaders sent an open letter of support for this
initiative to the Chair and urged the DC Council to follow
the Chairman’s lead. The leadership of the Federal City
Council, the DC Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington Board
of Trade also signed the letter.
The letter states, “By taking this step, the city can
make a sound investment in the future that will bolster current
education reforms, strengthen the city’s workforce,
and accelerate our economic growth.”
During the 2006 elections, the Pre-K for
All DC Campaign met with Gray and then-Mayoral candidate Adrian
Fenty and requested that pre-k become a priority for them.
In return, a long-time champion of children’s issues,
Gray prioritized the issue in his inaugural address, citing
pre-k for all as one of the top four education reform measures,
“to prepare our children for a successful education
experience.”
In his First 100 Days and Beyond Plan, Mayor
Adrian Fenty stated, “We envision a city where every
child starts school ready to learn; where all three- and four-year
olds will have access to high-quality early childhood education
programs.”
“Both the Council and the Mayor understand
that pre-k for all is not only the right thing to do for our
children but it also makes great economic sense,” said
Pre-K for All DC Campaign Co-Chair Terry Golden.
The proposed legislation establishes 125
new, high-quality pre-k classrooms for the three- and four-year-olds
who lack access to pre-k and improves the quality of 125 existing
classrooms. It will continue using the current diverse delivery
system of providers by ensuring DC families can access pre-k
for their children in community-based programs, public schools,
and public charter schools – free of charge. The legislation
also reserves 10 percent of the total number of slots for
children with special needs.
Pre-K is currently funded through the District’s
Uniform Per Pupil Funding Formula. Under this legislation,
the formula is adjusted to incorporate the research-based
components that lead to school success. The Pre-K for All
DC Campaign estimates that investing in pre-k will be a $48
million investment spread over six years.
Hearings on the legislation are expected
in mid to late January, and passage is expected by the end
of March.
More information about the Pre-K for All
DC Campaign or Chairman Gray’s legislation, please visit
www.prekforalldc.org.
Reports
Pre-K for All DC Amendment Act
- 12.11.2007
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Legislative Primer >
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Legislation >
Analysis
of the Proposed FY 2008 Budget for the Early Childhood Development
Program, DHS - 03.23.07
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