Why is it that only low income gets accepted into the public school pre-k?

Question

I went to sign my daughter up for pre k at the public school here in Maryland and found out today that she wont be accepted due to the fact that they only take low income for the state funding. There isnt a daycare that gives her the schooling that would be necessary because most of them are just babysitters, not real teachers. Why is there nothing for the working parents??? I work my a** off and pay taxes, for what!! I want my children to have an education, the lower incomes just want somewhere to take there kid. Now Im not trying to be rude or judgemental but for the most part that is what is going on... ITS NOT FAIR!!!

I did say that it is only most of the daycares that are just babysitters, and yes I have seen some where they only hire young kids to watch the children. If you have a degree then I wish you were here, but around here its not like that.

I have wrote our governor on this issue and maybe it will ruffle a few feathers for someone to finally look at it all, Head Start is only for the lower income, when it comes to public schools if the PreK is available it should be available for all.

Answer 1

Funding public school pre-k for all children would cost taxpayers a TREMENDOUS amount of money. It's probably coming someday, but the school districts need to pass their budget, and if they add in that expense all at once, the budget would probably get voted down. If you want universal public school pre-k, talk to people in your district and talk to the district- show them that there is support among the voters for the cost increase for this program.

In the meantime, the public schools are doing pre-k through state funding, which is targeted to low-income students because these students are typically lower-achieving in the schools. The idea is that they are already behind upon entering kindergarten, so it is best for society as a whole if they are given a chance during pre-k to catch up to where they should be. I know it stinks that you need to pay for pre-k for your child, but that's the way it is for now- for the reasons described above. Drum up voting support if you want it to change!

Answer 2

That's not true in every state that has a state-funded pre-k. Here in Georgia it's first-come-first served and it fills up VERY quickly as soon as registration begins.

However, the philosophy behind serving the children from lower-income families is this: These are the children who do not have the advantages of higher-income families and will start school far behind those who have the advantage of more $$ to spend on food, better housing, adequate clothing, books, trips, parents' education, etc. This is why Head Start is primarily for children from low-income families. Pre-K (including Head Start) offers exposure to books, stories, basic knowledge, socialization, good role models in the form of educated adults, and field trips to places they may not otherwise be able to visit. They also furnish nutritious meals that are, unfortunately, sometimes the only food the children receive.

For the average child, from an average-income home with parents who have a reasonably good education and pay adequate attention to their children, preschool is not necessary. People have done well without it for generations!

Answer 3

First of all, Not all day cares are babysitters. !!!!!! I do work in a daycare and I work in New York, I have an Early Education Degree and I have the exact same curriculum as the Syracuse City School District, which received a three million dollar grant from the government to teach early literacy to preschoolers. The preschool program that I work at was chosen because we have high quality, educated teachers, the center that I work at is NAEYC accredited. I have been observed every week/month by early childhood educators and students wishing to become teachers/nurses, I have had the opportunity to have high profile people to my room. New York has a high standard of education.

Answer 4

I think you are looking at this program the wrong way. It is not so much a public preschool program as it is an intervention program.

Do you expect to have your child on free school lunch? Are you already on WIC or medicaid for your child? This preschool program is along the same vein as those.

It is a well-documented fact that children from lower socio-economic statuses start off school way behind children from even just the lower middle class. It has to do with a lack of access to print and number concepts in their homes. Rather than do remediation in grade school, they give the child some of the background that would already be there if the child was from a better off family.

Besides, I am fairly certain that it is funded by the federal rather than state government. In which case, the school itself has no real say in what the guidelines for entrance into it are.

Answer 5

You woudl fill out the FAFSA and what they offer you is all you get. You WILL NOT get grants that cover your full college expense, not even close. You will likely get offered subsidized and sunsubsidized loans, and possible also work-study. Otherwise you can apply for scholarships, if you get something, great...if not, nothing you can do. Just fill out the FAFSA and hopefully you will be ok. In the meantime also apply for jobs and hopefully you get one. Then save up. (Whatever you do try to avoid unsubsidized loan and private loans...you would be better off not goign to college and instead working to save up and then go. Likely you will be offered a pell grant and possible a state grant (but there is a max to them). For work-study, I can make-up to 1500 a semester (but won't help you pay for that semester, only next semester). Oh, and you would also be offered this parent-plus type loan (loan where you need a co-signer. In this type of loan if you don't pay back the loan then the co-signer would be the one in trouble, not you...although the co-signer might come after you then) For me, I go to an inexpensive college. I get offered all three of the types of loans I described to you and once I got a state grant (grant amount will depend on how many credits you take. So if you got awarded a grant of $1200 dollars but only too 12 credits, grant would reduce to somewhere around 700 dollars.). My parents don't help me pay for college at all so I have to come up with the money somehow on my own.

Answer 6

For some reason .... they feel that they are underprevilaged... when it fact they are some of the smartest children. They get so much hands on...especially with counting, colors, socialization, one on one correspondance, language, etc... And as far as daycares in your area... check for ones that require for their teachers to have a degree... be it an associates or bachelors. Also, try home schools... and one mor thing... children learn from children...although u feel that your daughter is only being babysat, she will learn from her peers.

Answer 7

Nope it is not fait. the basic premise is to give the poor kids an extra boost before school so they do not start behind their 'richer' peers. Sadly, today the problem in our area is not lack of resources. We have a ton of freebies in museums, a lake, and reduced bus passes for the poor. The problem is PARENTING. Free preschool should also require the parents to take parenting classes too. Then, test scores in the country will rise.

Answer 8

I agree with you!!! My son only qualified for preschool/headstart because he has a disability, and they still put him on a waiting list for a year. I don't agree with their policy because like you mentioned we work hard and our children deserve to go to school and get an education.
It doesn't make sense that the emphasize on the "first five" and "no child left behind" because they only take low-income children. I believe every child you have the opportunity to attend preschool no matter how much their parents make.

Answer 9

You are so right, but the powers that be are starting to wise up. Here in PA there is a trend toward providing pre-k for 4 year olds regardless of income. It's just getting going well this year so it is somewhat limited, but we are very enthusiastic about it and hope to make a tremendous success of it. Write to your state government officials and ask them to look into what's happening in other states with regard to pre-k education. Maybe you can make a difference.

Answer 10

In California our schools are starting to offer it for all families regardless of income. I think it really depends on your district in what they offer. This is the second year they have offered preschools at the Public schools in our city. I suggest if you want something done about it go to the city counsel meetings they have open to the public and say something. Get people to sign petitions and maybe something will be done in your town.